Publication: 12th October 2023 – Simon & Schuster UK
Holly has the place to herself this Christmas. It’s not her place, though – she is house-sitting for friends who live on Nightingale Square – just there to keep the place warm and cosy and only for long enough for her to sort her life out. Newly single and finding herself unsure about next steps for her career, she plans to hunker down and make some life decisions.
To clear her mind, she sets off on early morning walks around a nearby lake and bumps into May, an older lady who is also new to the area, and her dapper Dachshund Monty. Quickly, a firm friendship blossoms. Then when Holly meets Bear, a rather large and rather attractive man, at the local pub, and his rescue dog Queenie, her stay at Nightingale Square suddenly feels even more appealing.
As the community comes together for the season’s festivities, Holly must start thinking about where her life will take her next. Some big decisions need to be made, but distractions close to home make thinking about the future more tricky than ever…
Will she get that festive feeling this Christmas…?
Holly thought she had her life all planned out, but then her now ex-husband changed his mind about their future and she is now preparing to move back to her family home as she tries to figure out what to do next. Her relationship with her parents is not warm or close and she is not very looking forward to living with them, so when her friends ask her to housesit their house in Nightingale Square, Holly is happy to accept. All Holly wants is to be left alone as she decides about her future, but it’s not very easy when her new neighbours are determined to involve her in the community activities. And, as she finds new friends, including the lovely May and her adorable stylishly-dressed Dachshund Monty, and the handsome new gardener Bear with its unique horse box home, Holly realizes that maybe she doesn’t need to be alone at Christmas.
This is the perfect novel to read in front of a fire with a blanket and a mug of chocolate in your hands. I spent hours happily immersed in the stories, secrets, and matchmaking of the residents at Nightingale Square. Having read some of the author’s previous novels, I was happy to see some of the characters again and read what they are up to, and being introduced to new ones.
I liked the character of Holly. Newly divorced and without a home, she needs to decide about her career and her life and meeting new friends help her make choices and develop.
That Festive Feeling is a fantastic, heartwarming, and delightful Christmas novel that you will enjoy from start to finish. Highly recommended!
A huge thank you to Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.
Heidi lives in beautiful south Norfolk with her family and a mischievous cat called Storm. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her TBR pile is always out of control! To find out more, follow Heidi on twitter @Heidi_Swain or visit her website: heidiswain.co.uk.
Book After Book 
Just started reading this last night!
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