Book Review - A Little Christmas Panto by Angela Britnell

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Title: A Little Christmas Panto

Author: Angela Britnell

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Publisher supplied copy

Publisher: Choc Lit

Publication Date: 31st October 2022

Rating: 5 Stars

Can a little Cornish village panto convince a troubled Hollywood heart throb to act again?

Oh no it won’t! At least that’s what Zach Broussard initially thinks when the eccentric Anna Teague tries to railroad him into helping out with her community pantomime production in the run-up to Christmas. Zach has his reasons for leaving Hollywood behind, and his retreat to the remote village of Polcarne in Cornwall signals the start of a new acting free life for him.

But when Zach meets Anna’s daughter, Rosey – an ex concert pianist who has swapped Mozart for panto tunes – he starts to wonder whether he could change his mind, and not just about acting.

If nothing else, will the residents of Polcarne ensure Zach has a Christmas he never forgets?

Oh yes they will!

It has been a while since I last read an Angela Britnell novel but when I saw the words Christmas Panto in the title of this one, I knew I would succumb. 

And wow I'm glad I did, as this was such a lovely romance, between two characters with a clear connection and all set to the backdrop of trying to get a panto ready to perform. 

We have Rosey who is an ex-concert pianist, and Zach who was a Hollywood actor but is in Cornwall to get over a big loss, and both of them are just wonderful people.  I loved getting to know them both,  in addition to Rosey's mum Anna. 

Now Anna is a larger than life character who is in charge of the panto and is just marginally obsessed with it in a good way. But not everything seems to be going smoothly with this years production of Aladdin - between some things going missing (which escalates),  some cast members with absolutely awful attitudes, to well the most amazing Panto Dame - this is just superb. Oh yes it is! 

There is more to the book than just a panto though, and there is a great deal of character growth within Zach, and I loved his budding friendship with Joe too. 

This is a light hearted, festive story that brings with it some of the traditions of Zach's part of America together with Cornish traditions in addition to the great British tradition of Pantomime! It's an all around enjoyable story, that I couldn't get enough of. 

Thank you to Choc Lit for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.