I really love spending time with these lades. They have fast become my favorite female fictional friends. When we sit around the patio at sunset, I feel like I'm part of the group. I love how strong these women have become and how they have grown together as their lives and situations have changed. Wendy Wax is a wonderful writer who clearly knows female friendships can last.

The women of Bella Flora feel like family and this quick visit to celebrate Christmas with them is a perfect Christmas present. Everyone comes together to celebrate Christmas but for Kyra the holiday is marred by a decision regarding her son and his movie star father. A Christmas of family and love and tough choices.

Nice little prequel novella.
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I enjoy these great little novellas that catch us up with the friends we make within our stories. With a new novel in sight, this book will get us ready for what’s to come.

It’s Christmas time at Bella Flora and we get to celebrate with a great group of people. But it’s not without some trials and tribulations. One that will bring the friends closer together.

Having a support network like the strong women in this book is something we all crave. And the author does great job telling each person's story and yet blending it into a quickie little read that leaves you with anticipation for what’s to come.

I really wanted more from this novella but I guess, unfortunately, I will have to wait to see what is to come, just like you. A bit of a cliffhanger ending that leaves me wanting the next book now! Ugh

Wendy Wax is a solid writer and treats her readers with characters that we wish were in our own life. She is a go to women’s contemporary fiction writer that shows all sides of life, but mainly the bright side.

Everyone is coming home for Christmas. It's a good thing they have a big house!

Berkley and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published November 7th.

Kyra was hoping for a nice, peaceful Christmas before she has to move out and let the new tenant move in. The problem is that she has to make a decision very soon over whether she will let her son act in a movie with his father. She's not sure she wants to do that and she knows it will cause trouble if she doesn't.

She's trying to act happy but everyone knows she isn't. More secrets are shared on the back deck in the evenings as they have a drink at the end of the day. The women say they will support her. It hurts when the woman he lives with calls and threatens to hurt her family and friends if she doesn't decide in favor. She doesn't react well to bullying. Then she finds out her girlfriend that was her only friend after her affair was made public has already had a phone call from her saying she might lose her job. Those with power like to use it for their advantage.

This is a novella and Kyra struggles through the Christmas activities still dithering over the decision. Her mother says to do what is best for her child. She finally decides by the end of the story.

There will be more in this series. Kyra's story isn't over yet.

I have been a big fan of the Ten Beach Road series and I thoroughly enjoy the writing style of Wendy Wax. This book, however, was a bit of a disappointment to me. It was more of a re-hash of all the previous books, describing each character and previous plots. The only thing "new" was Max... the new puppy (although I did chuckle at some of the names the ladies came up with).

There was a bit of intrigue, trying to figure out who the mysterious renter was, but we never found out. The book just ended. Kyra made a decision and then... it ended.

On a positive note, the cover is lovely and the first couple of chapters described some nice Christmas traditions. And Wendy Wax does a very good job of describing the scene, making you feel like you are right there.

If you’re up to date with the Ten Beach Road series this novella will tide you over until the release of Best Thing Ever next May. If you’re not, you’ll get to know the principal characters and a basic idea of how they fit into the storyline of the series. It’s the week before Christmas and all is not calm. Bella Flora, the gorgeous home that brought the women together in the first place, is filling up with Maddie and daughter Kyra’s friends and family.They’ll celebrate the holiday together and then move out so the home can be rented. The rent will help save Bella Flora from going into foreclosure. A Bella Flora Christmas is told from Kyra’s POV which made me feel her anxiety over a decision she has to make by the first of the year. That decision will impact all of her friends – so no pressure there! Since I’ve read the entire series I know the history and cause of her indecision. I expect that thread will carry through the next book. It was fun to find out what was going on in each woman’s life and I’m eager to see the direction Wendy Wax steers them next. Recommended to fans of the Ten Beach Road series.

A spotlight will go up at http://dewonthekudzu.com on the book's release date.

I cannot reiterate enough how much I dislike novellas. Rarely do they move a book forward and are only used as unnecessary fillers that rarely affect the overall outcome of the series. A Bella Flora Christmas is no different.

Wendy Wax spends half of the book explaining to her readers who each character is and their relationship to each other in addition to their personal relationships. If you have been reading since the beginning, you already know whom everyone is and how Bella Flora plays into their lives.

Kyra is the main character of this novella and you get to hear her incessant whining when it comes to the father of her son, his over the top wife and the threat that they are holding over her.

There is a possibility that this is a small lead into her next book, “Best Thing Ever” due to release the end of May (2018) since the reader was never told the full outcome of the two things that were keeping Kyra up at night. Granted, one was partially decided, but the full consequence of events with the Deranian’s could fill a book all on their own. And what is going to happen over the next year with Bella Flora? That could be entertaining as well since the women tend to confuse situations more than they solve their own problems.

'm guessing that this book would be a lot more fun if I had read the other books in the series. As it was, to me, there were far too many characters doing far too little and nothing ever quite grabbed me.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley. Grade: C

A Bella Flora Christmas
Wendy Wax
Available: November 7. 2017
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I love most of the ladies of the Ten Beach Road series but Kyra is not my favorite. I’ve always found her to be standoff-ish, guarded, and cold. Not that I side with the witch of a wife, but Kyra did have an affair with a famous married man which resulted in an adorable son – she kind of brought all of her problems on herselfThat being said – I wish there was more Nikki and Avery (my favorite) but the plot on this really isn’t about them.
What I loved: Dustin is just the cutest fricken thing of all time. With his heart of gold, innocence, and adorable lisp – I would devour a whole Avery and Dustin book hands down.
What I didn’t love: This novella could have just been an edited “A Few Months Earlier” section in the next book in the series instead of something stand alone that could be read in an hour. Daniel is an ass – who does that to someone without talking first? I don’t know if I like Sydney yet – she seems a little too into herself and not sure if she will be a friend or foe.
What I learned: . Let’s quote an Atlanta housewife here , “Close your legs to married men!”.
Overall Grade: B

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