Book Review - The Country Village Christmas Show by Cathy Lake

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Title: The Country Village Christmas Show

Author: Cathy Lake

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Zaffre

Publication Date: 29th October 2020 

Rating: 4 Stars

Recently divorced, the family home sold and her son all grown-up, Clare is at a crossroads. She's dedicated her whole adult life to her family, and now it's time she did something for herself.

In the lead up to Christmas, Clare decides that a bit of time in the countryside might be just what she needs, so she moves back to Little Bramble, the village she grew up in. But living with her mum for the first time in years - and not to mention Goliath the Great Dane - can be challenging.

When Clare finds herself running the village Christmas show, it feels like she has purpose in her life again. Bringing together people from all sides of the community, and all walks of life, will Clare manage to pull off a festive feat like no other? And will she find the new start in life - and possibly love - that she's been looking for?

The Country Village Christmas Show is the perfect romantic read to get cosy with this winter.

I'll admit it did take me a while to get into this book, but once I worked out who the characters were, and got used to the, I really did find it to be a very enjoyable story. 

It's all about family, and finding yourself, and rebuilding yourself after a divorce.  

I really loved Kyle, Claire's grown up son, who seems just a lovely young man (I can't be old enough to be saying things like that surely?).  Then there is Claire's mother Elaine who is interesting character, and I did enjoy the eventual reveal as to why she is the way she is, even if it did come almost too late into the book. 

And I loved the sections focusing on Sam, the local vet, and his relationship with his sister Alyssa. 

Easily my favourite character though was Goliath, the Great Dane, from his battles with the postman, to the situations he gets into, including dragging Clare through a hedge - he is also instrumental in a hilarious incident in the vet surgery between Clare and Sam! 

In fact I think most of the comic moments probably feature Goliath in some way shape or form, he is just one big lovely doggy. Although coming up quick second is the first few meetings between Clare and Sam which are awkward and amusing, 

A slow but lovely story that I found really got going once plans for the Village Christmas Show start, and I loved everything relating to the show. It left me with a sense of community and Christmas spirit. 

Thank you to Zaffre and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.