Book Review - Christmas For Beginners by Carole Matthews

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Title: Christmas For Beginners

Author: Carole Matthews

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Sphere

Publication Date: 29th October 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR . . .

Christmas is fast approaching at the new Hope Farm. Owner Molly Baker has been convinced to organise an open day to raise some much-needed funds ahead of the New Year, but the nativity tableau is proving challenging. With anti-social sheep, awkward alpacas and a seriously sequined Santa Claus to assemble, Molly is feeling overwhelmed, and in desperate need of some Christmas spirit . . .

Despite the chaos of the farm getting in the way of her event planning, Molly is looking forward to spending the holidays with boyfriend Shelby and his son, Lucas, hopeful that a happy family Christmas is exactly what they need to draw them all together. But while she is busy making plans on the farm, Shelby, it seems, has ideas of his own.

As the nativity draws near, the team are working hard to pull off a spectacular festive fete - and make sure the animals and humans remain on their best behaviour.

Will this Christmas be merry and bright... or is there more than one surprise in store for Molly and Hope Farm?

I was a few chapters into Christmas for Beginners when I realised how much I'd been missing Hope Farm and how good it was to be back with Molly, Lucas and easily the best cast of animals in any book around at the moment. 

We have mischievous alpacas who had me laughing out loud at one point, adorable bunnies, troublesome dogs, a reclusive cat, an antisocial sheep, and all manner of other animals resulting in general hilarity! 

Like in Happiness for Beginners I love the concept of this farm, and just what Molly is trying to achieve and getting to know all the characters so much better in this sequel has been a joy.  And the various children she is trying to help really do get under your skin, they are just fabulous. 

And Molly who finds it easier to be among animals than people is preparing for  a Christmas Open day, which has the potential to either be a fabulous fundraiser or a disaster.  Add in a new gorgeous local mayor who seems to enjoy life on a farm, and her own boyfriend Shelby seemingly being more distanced and it has all the ingredients to be a really wonderful book. 

To which Carole Matthews doesn't disappoint and proves herself to be a rather handy poet to, with more poetry from Lucas too, and there are some gripping storylines going on all over the book.  There is so much fitted in, its no wonder I have sat there going just one more chapter for a few hours until I well ran out of pages! 

There is enough backstory for me to believe it can be read as a standalone, and definitely enough to remind this forgetful reviewer of key points from the previous book. 

Such a wonderful book, truly enjoyable and one for animal lovers as well as Carole Matthew fans, women's fiction fans and those that enjoy a bit of festive fiction too!  

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