When Christmas brings people together, perhaps even a bit forcedly…

Synopsis

Fate may have brought them together, but secrets seem destined to keep them apart…

An accident and a lost passport mean Gemma’s six-month sabbatical to go travelling is not off to a strong start. She heads to Polkerran Point to stay at her aunt’s while her new passport is processed and to find temporary work in the meantime.

Enter musician Matt. Newly moved into a secluded, renovated mill – complete with a recording studio – Matt is preparing for his band’s big reunion tour. Focused on writing new music for the album, he needs a live-in housekeeper.

Even as sparks fly, Gemma can sense Matt’s keeping secrets and with her role ending once Christmas is over, will there be anything to keep her in Polkerran?

A cosy, festive Cornish romance for fans of Phillipa Ashley and Cressida McLaughlin.

My review

With Gemma losing her passport in an accident during her sabbatical, she has no other choice to stay with her aunt at Polkerran Point waiting for her new papers. But she knows that bureaucracy can take a while, thus is Gemma looking for a temporarily job, to pass the time and to have at least some income. And that is how she ends up working for Matt, a former musician, staying for the moment in a reclusive and secluded mill, which includes also a recording studio. As Matt is preparing for a reunion with his former bandmates and a tour, he needs to have a live – in housemaid. Even if Gemma isn’t all that certain about her capabilities as such, with the help of Matt’s sister and Gemma’s aunt, she accepts the job. While Gemma and Matt couldn’t be more different, and Matt isn’t a ray of sunshine, something ignites in Gemma, even if Matt seems to be having many secrets. But what will happen when Gemma’s papers are ready, Christmas will be over and their lives will take a different direction?

It has been a while since my last visit to Polkerran Point, yet the reunion couldn’t be more delightful! And as it has a while, I was happy to quickly realize that having read the previous books of the series isn’t mandatory.

Gemma of course doesn’t start off in the best situation, as she has been in an accident, and has lost not only all the possessions she had with her during her sabbatical, but also important treasures that kept her company during her travels. But she also lost her passport, and that keeps her a little bit trapped at one place.

But that doesn’t mean that I didn’t think that Gemma is a courageous, adventurous character. Because it’s not for anyone to just take a sabbatical and visit places on your own. I know for sure that I am not that adventurous at all!

Gemma is also a bubbly character, she doesn’t let her accident curb her enthusiasm. On the contrary, her moment of standstill, gives her the chance to think about future plans.

She absolutely loves Christmas, goes completely into it. But she is also this funny young woman, even ironic at moments. She also isn’t afraid to mock herself.

I don’t know if Gemma is a lost talent as a housemaid, because her cooking… well let’s say I was happy for Matt that there were other options available 😊.

Matt… I have to say that he for a long time is a real enigma. He is Gemma’s complete opposite as he isn’t a cheery character at all. He is rather grumpy, secretive and even dark in moments. It isn’t that I immediately fell in love with him, but just like it was with Gemma, it was a slow burn.

Obviously Matt has his reasons for being the man he is during in the book. And we see that being a musician, isn’t at all a world filled with glitter and glamour. Because his past for sure left its mark on Mark, and even now he is still struggling with some demons.

Gemma and Matt start off as just employer and employee; but living together if course also brings them closer. They slowly start to understand each other, and realize that how someone acts, isn’t perse a proof of someone’s real character. Sometimes life makes you a different person, it scars you. But the essence will always be the same. And that is something Gemma starts to understand from Matt, and that we see and understand too.

There are several funny moments in this book, yet also a few frustrating ones (of course when Matt is being a bit obnoxious and too mysterious). But that is all part of the journey both Gemma and Matt are having. They don’t only learn to trust each other, they also learn to believe each other, making them also want to help each other.

And of course, seeing some old friends again was truly amazing, and seeing how well they are doing and still are so lovely characters truly warmed my heart all over again.

But my heart warmed the most seeing how two lovely yet somehow broken or hurt characters are finding comfort with each other, find each other to have personal growth too. And that, together with the Christmas – aspect in this book, made me truly enjoy reading this story!

Giveaway!

Yes, there is also a giveaway!

Giveaway to Win a paperback copy of Christmas at Polkerran Point along with a small gift bag(Open Int)

The gift bag contains a pack of Christmas post-it notes, a Cornish coaster, a gingerbread tree ornament and some festive-wrapped Tic Tac mints!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494601/?

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.