A heartwarming and uplifting summer read for fans of Heidi Swain and Phillipa Ashley, by the author of The Country Village Christmas Show, The Country Village Summer Fete and The Country Village Winter Wedding. At eighty-two years old Zelda Grey is tired. Tired of how much slower she is physically and mentally. Tired of technology. Tired of being alone since her beloved cat, Flint, died just before Christmas. And tired of life. The only thing that brings Zelda joy these days is her allotment in the gorgeous village of Little Bramble, where she has lived her whole life, and her three cranky goats. Widow Mia Holmes always loved visiting Little Bramble Allotment with her husband, Gideon. But since his death she can't motivate herself. Despite putting on a brave face for her three sons and four grandchildren, she's reached breaking point, and isn't sure she can carry on. And history teacher Liz Carter thought she had it all. The perfect job, perfect boyfriend in Rhodri and the perfect wedding to plan. Until she found Rhodri in bed with the neighbour. Holed up in her sister's box room she wonders how it all went so wrong. As she wallows in her misery, her sister takes her in hand and drags her to Little Bramble Allotment and suddenly she discovers the wonders of planting, growing and getting her hands dirty. In an increasingly lonely world, these three women strike up an unlikely friendship and find that community, female friendship and the wonders of nature can truly be powerful healers.

'A gorgeous festive treat of a story, glowing with warmth and Christmas spirit.' Phillipa Ashley 'A fabulous slice of village life!' Heidi Swain A feel-good, festive read to keep you cosy this winter. For fans of Heidi Swain, Sarah Morgan and The Archers. 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. Return to Little Bramble in The Country Village Summer Fete and The Country Village Winter Wedding, available now. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Authors and readers are already loving The Country Village Christmas Show: 'A gorgeous, uplifting festive read. I loved it.' Holly Martin, author of Christmas at Mistletoe Cove 'A great read full of festive magic. One to enjoy this Christmas.' Bella Osborne, author of Escape to Willow Cottage 'As warm as a hot chocolate on a winter night.' Laura Kemp, author of The Year of Surprising Acts of Kindness 'A joyous read celebrating love, community and Christmas spirit.' Julie Caplin, author of The Little Cafe in Copenhagen 'Everything you need for entertainment of the best possible kind . . . I loved it.' Raven McCallen 'A heartfelt and uplifting read - the perfect book to get into the festive spirit!' Andrea Michael, author of The Book of Us 'A fun and festive read and has to be one of my favourite reads of 2020.' gingerbookgeek blog 'I love Christmas stories and this didn't disappoint!' Netgalley reviewer 'I loved everything about this book.' Netgalley reviewer 'Everything I hoped it would be - and so much more!' Netgalley reviewer 'The PERFECT Christmas read!' Netgalley reviewer 'Wonderfully festive to get you in the Christmas mood!' Netgalley reviewer

A feel-good festive read to get cosy with this winter. For fans of Heidi Swain and Sarah Morgan. By the author of The Country Village Christmas Show and The Country Village Summer Fete. 'Little Bramble is the perfect country village. Brimming with community spirit and warmth.' Phillipa Ashley Clare Greene and Sam Wilson are getting married and everyone in Little Bramble is excited for the event of the year. But Clare and Sam are busy people and have left organising their wedding to the last minute. Luckily, wedding planner Hazel Campbell has recently moved to the village. She had what she thought was a wonderful life in Edinburgh with a successful business, a loving fiance and her own wedding coming up. But when she caught her groom-to-be in bed with her best friend she fled, leaving everyone and everything behind. Little Bramble seems like the ideal place for Hazel to start over. As she throws herself into planning the perfect country village winter wedding, she starts to find herself again. And soon she realises that a second chance at happiness might just be on the cards . . . Escape to Little Bramble with the rest of The Country Village Series - The Country Village Christmas Show and The Country Village Summer Fete, available now. - - - - - - - - - - - - Readers are loving The Country Village Winter Wedding: 'A warm and uplifting read that is a perfect pick me up . . . I look forward to the next instalment in this series.' Netgalley reviewer 'There's a lot of warmth to this . . . [an] uplifting story with a good mix of feelings and emotions thrown in.' Netgalley reviewer 'The characters are instantly lovable.' Netgalley reviewer 'With a warm, delightfully cosy setting, a colourful cast of characters and an appealing storyline this is a slice of festive escapism for a cosy evening next to a roaring fire.' Netgalley reviewer 'Such a warm and uplifting read that is a perfect pick me up. I would love to go to Little Bramble.' Netgalley reviewer 'The Country Village series by Cathy Lake has been a wonderful series and this one is no exception. Full of warmth and emotion with the sound of wedding bells too. Pleased to see there is another in the series next year.' Netgalley reviewer 'I loved it. Such a festive feel good read that has got me wishing for snow, festivities and carols.' 'The Country Village Winter Wedding is an easy, feel good read. It will leave you full of warm and fuzzies.' 'I can't wait to see what comes next in Little Bramble. This was a wonderfully festive winter read.' Netgalley reviewer - - - - - - - - - Praise for The Country Village series: 'A fabulous slice of village life.' Heidi Swain 'A gorgeous festive treat of a story.' Philippa Ashley 'A gorgeous, uplifting festive read. I loved it.' Holly Martin 'A heartwarming and charming story about love, friendship and village life.' Holly Martin 'A great read full of festive magic. One to enjoy this Christmas.' Bella Osborne

From the author of Chocolat, an intoxicating fairy tale of alchemy and love where wine is the magic elixir. Jay Mackintosh is a 37-year-old has-been writer from London. Fourteen years have passed since his first novel, Jackapple Joe, won the Prix Goncourt. His only happiness comes from dreaming about the golden summers of his boyhood that he spent in the company of an eccentric vintner who was the inspiration of Jay's debut novel, but who one day mysteriously vanished. Under the strange effects of a bottle of Joe's '75 Special, Jay decides to purchase a derelict yet promising château in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes. There, a ghost from his past waits to confront him, and his new neighbour, the reclusive Marise - haunted, lovely and dangerous - hides a terrible secret behind her closed shutters. Between them, there seems to be a mysterious chemistry. Or could it be magic? Joanne Harris's previous novel, Chocolat, was both a dazzling literary success and a commercial triumph. Chocolat, the major motion picture directed by Lasse Hallström (The Cider House Rules), was released in December 2000, starring Juliette Binoche, Johnny Depp, Dame Judy Dench, Alfred Molina, and Lena Olin.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1881.