Sunday 27 October 2019

Blog Tour Book Review: Notting Hill in the Snow by Jules Wake



Synopsis:
It's mayhem in Bethlehem…unless they can work together!

Viola Smith plays the viola in an orchestra (yes really!), but this year she's been asked to stretch her musical talents to organising Notting Hill's local nativity.
Nate Williams isn't looking forward to Christmas but as his small daughter, Grace, has the starring role in the show, he's forced to stop being a Grinch and volunteer with Viola.

With the sparks between them hotter than the chestnuts roasting in Portobello market, Nate and Viola can't deny their feelings. And as the snow starts to fall over London, they find themselves trapped together in more ways than one…


My Review:
Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Jules Wake's newest read 'Notting Hill in the Snow'. I love a Jules Wake book, her writing style engages me from the first page until the very last sentance.

This story focuses mainly on Viola Smith, Viola, a kind and thoughtful soul who works at the London Metropolitan Opera Company playing in the orchestra with none other than the viola! Yep that's right!

After being asked to help with a local school nativity play through a Primary School outreach progrm and not being able to say no (which you end up finding out happens a lot!) It's not long before she meets Nate Williams, a lawyer and a governor at the same school, also father to Grace who attends the school and is part of the nativity.

Nate is struggling, balancing working full time as well as being a father and wanting to give Grace the best Christmas and it's not long before Viola is offering to help. It soon becomes clear just how selfless Viola is, putting everyone first but herself. With such a demanding family being pulled from all angles and called upon by everyone. There were a few occasions where I felt angry on Viola's behalf, her family just didn't seem to respect her, constantly leaning on her without even asking her first. I really wanted Viola to stand up for herself and push back!

With Viola helping Nate with home life it's soon evident that there is an attraction between them but Nate soon puts a stop to anything happening due to his daughter Grace and a past relationship stopping him from going further.  At times I felt frustrated for Viola and Nate, clearly seeing the chemistry between them and how easy Viola slips into family life with Nate and Grace.

I absolutely adored Grace and her cheekiness, I loved reading of her excitement for all things Christmas, building a gingerbread house, decorating the tree and sending out Christmas cards. But at times I also felt for her, at how vulnerable and sad she was, it would seem Grace had to grow up too fast and be mature in certain situations when she shouldn't have needed to.

The nativity was a fun part to read about in the book and one I really wanted to see in real life! The storyline sounded such a hoot and the characters so much fun, especially Jack who wanted to be nothing but an armadillo! A Christmas armadillo at that! Viola being the loveliest person ever manages to write a part just for him.

This story is heartwarming, about family, trust and love. I really enjoyed reading this story with all the festivites on the run up to Christmas in Notting Hill.  I highly recommend you reading this book over the Christmas holidays, I also recommend having a hot chocolate on the go at all times while reading as this book made me want one!

Big thank you to Jules Wake and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC and for the invitation to the Blog Tour!  A fab read! 



Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Notting-Hill-Snow-heartwarming-uplifting-ebook/dp/B07RNFF9Q1/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Notting-Hill-Snow-heartwarming-uplifting-ebook/dp/B07RNFF9Q1/








Author Bio

Jules Wake announced at the age of ten that she planned to be a writer. Along the way she was diverted by the glamorous world of PR and worked on many luxury brands and not so luxury brands. This proved fabulous training for writing novels as it provided her with the opportunity to hone her writing and creative skills penning copy on a vast range of subjects from pig farming and watches, sunglasses and skincare through to beer and stationery.

She writes best-selling warm-hearted contemporary fiction for One More Chapter as Jules Wake and under her pen name Julie Caplin, she writes the Romantic Escapes series.

Between them, the two Js have written twelve novels, Notting Hill in the Snow being the latest.

Social Media Links

@Juleswake

https://www.facebook.com/juleswake.co.uk/

Instagram: juleswakeauthor




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