Can you believe the Holidays are almost here?! Forgive me if I sound like I’m on repeat, I’ve been saying that to myself since Halloween! Today I’m excited to share my review on T.A. William’s latest novel called What Happens at Christmas, in addition to an excerpt of the novel, plus a giveaway at the end š
What Happens at Christmas⦠by T.A. Williams
Release Date: October 22, 2015 by Carina UK
Book Summary:
For the perfect Christmasā¦
When career-girl Holly Brice learns that her estranged father has died, she decides to take a trip down memory lane and find out about the man she never knew. Arriving in the sleepy little Dartmoor village, sheās shocked to discover that sheās inherited the cosy little cottage she remembers so fondly, a whole load of money āand her fatherās adorable dog, too!
Head to snow-covered Devon!
And as the first snowflakes begin to fall and Holly bumps into her gorgeous neighbour, Jack Nelson, life gets even more complicated! Men have always been off the cards for high-flying Holly, but thereās something about mysterious writer Jack that has her re-thinking her three-date ruleā¦
A fabulous, feel-good festive read, perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Carole Matthews.
My Review – What Happens at Christmas
About the Author ā T.A. Williams
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
Author Bio:
Firstly, my name isnāt T A. Itās Trevor. I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book, āDirty Mindsā one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldnāt possibly comment. Ask my wifeā¦
Iāve written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now Iām enjoying myself hugely writing humour and romance. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isnāt always very fair. It isnāt always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. If my books can put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know Iāve done my job.
Iāve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. I love the place. Thatās why youāll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in most of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.
Iāve been writing since I was 14 and that is half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope sheās right.
Excerpt – What Happens at Christmas…
We were given four excerpts of the novel to choose from to share. This one was my favorite as it mentions Holly’s love of expensive shoes by my favorite designer [Alexander McQueen] and it’s a funny scene with her lovable new dog Stirling. <3Ā
That evening, Holly decided once again to go for dinner at the Five Bells. She made a resolution not to let this become a nightly occurrence or she would need a whole new wardrobe in a larger size. In fact, most of that afternoon she had been considering what items she might want to buy to add to her existing wardrobe, now that she had suddenly become super rich. Shoes, definitely. She hummed to herself as she brushed her hair and put on her Alexander McQueen heels that made her about three inches taller.
She pointed them out to the dog when she came back downstairs again, just in case he hadnāt noticed. āYou never know who we might meet in the pub after all, Stirling.ā
He leapt out of his basket and headed for the door. Was the āPā word part of his canine vocabulary, Holly wondered, as she put on her jacket and picked up his lead. He was looking very smart in his new red collar and she patted him on the head. She had become unexpectedly fond of him in a very short space of time. Somehow, the fact that he was her fatherās last companion made him more than just any old dog. She got the feeling it would be hard to give him away when she returned to London, but she had no choice. Then she had a sudden thought; maybe Jack might like him. They both got on so very well together. She decided to float the idea across him next time they met.
Thought of Jack reminded her of the wine. She had bought a couple of bottles of a good Meursault for him, to say thank you for his help and hospitality. She glanced out of the back window, but his Land Rover wasnāt parked behind the house. Presumably he was still out at work. Picking up a pen, she scribbled a thank you note and tucked it into the bag with the bottles. As she and Stirling left the house, she popped next door and set the bag on Jackās doorstep. She wasnāt worried about somebody coming along and stealing it. She had already worked out that the only visitors to this part of the village after dark were badgers or foxes, neither of which were likely to have developed a taste for white Burgundy.
There was one little contretemps on the way up the dark lane to the pub. As they passed under the trees by the village green, she distinctly felt her right foot land in something soft. She checked to see that nobody else was around and then bent down to smell it. She straightened up again in annoyance.
āHorse shit!ā
The dog came back to see what she was talking about, but he had the good sense and the night vision to avoid stepping in it as well. She went over to the long grass and did her best to wipe the shoe clean. Without being able to see what she was doing, it wasnāt easy. She muttered a few unprintable imprecations directed at horses, riders, stables and anything to do with equitation as she did so. Finally satisfied, she set off once more for the pub.
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