This is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be the last I really enjoyed this sweet easy to read Christmas story.
Anna and her son Freddie have been offered a chance to house sit over Christmas only this isn’t your normal house this is a castle and she sees it as a wonderful opportunity for her 7 year old to meet new people and experience Christmas in a village. Freddie is excited to spend Christmas away from London and deep down he is hoping his one Christmas wish will finally come true and that’s “A Dad of his Own”, losing his father before he was born has been hard on Freddie he has never had that connection to a man every little boy needs. Everyone in the village is gearing up for Christmas and it seems that they all spend the festive season together but just a few days before the big day a day of storms leads to flooding and the only dry place is in the castle so not only will these group of people be spending Christmas Day together they are becoming roommates until things dry out. Will Freddie’s wish be amongst the people now living under the same roof in the castle .........
This book has just the right amount of humour it’s a wonderful story about friends and workmates helping each other when things get hard, it’s a magical Christmas story and if like me Christmas is your favourite time of year you will want to one click A Dad Of His Own.

This is a lovely Christmassy feelgood book. You need a fire, a cup of coffee and a cat on your lap and your all set for a Christmas miracle. Anna and Freddie her 7 year old son, stay in a working castle over Christmas. Which is as magical and wonderful as they hoped. And Freddie’s wishes for a dad for Christmas as his own dad tragically died
Wonderful characters and a light but engaging storyline

This was a sweet and lovely Christmassy novel. Even though reading them in July and August seems a bit weird (especially with this heatwave we're having at the moment!) it was really nice and I really enjoyed it. It was romantic, entertaining and in some parts emotional and quite dramatic.

I really loved reading this novel by Minna Howard and even though I'd never read anything by this author before, I'll be on the look out to read more in the future!

A sweet Christmas romance featuring Anna and her young son Freddie, who is looking for a new dad. An opportunity to "house sit" in a castle is just the change that Anna needs. There are multiple contenders for a new dad for Freddie, each with his own charms. A disastrous flood in the village adds interest to the story.

Oh! If I could clap in a review I would! Lovely and wonderful and every other word you can think of :c) Very good :c)

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Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

Minna Howard has crafted an incredibly sweet winter tale.

Anna and her seven-year-old son, Freddie, are living a dream: house-sitting a castle over the Christmas season. However, not everything is perfect. What Freddie wants more than anything is a father after his own tragically died in a car accident before he was born. As the two settle into their new community, Anna begins to wonder if there’s a special someone who could help with this Christmas wish.

There are a lot of wonderful characters lurking around the village, and the most enjoyable parts of this novel are when Anna and Freddie mingle with their neighbors. A flood destroys portions of the town early on, requiring neighbors to come together for a successful Christmas. This sense of community works beautifully and is really the essence of the story that author Minna Howard returns to time and time again.

And, of course, there aren’t many things more charming than a castle during winter.

Some of the action is drawn out, and there are moments that could have been trimmed. Some of this stems from Anna’s inability to make solid decisions, causing some reputation as she goes over events. However, the great setting and fun characters kept things moving, making for a fun book.

I received a digital review copy from NetGalley and Aria.

The idea of spending Christmas in a castle caught my attention and made me want to read the book. The author's description of the countryside and the castle made me feel that I could really imagine the scene.
I liked most of the characters, though I felt that Anna the main character was a bit wimpy and naive.

The story took a few turns that made me wonder what would happen next. The story ended on a good note.

A beautiful Christmasy romance. Great characters and setting. My first by Minna, will be looking out for more!

Anna is a young widow with a 7 year old son, Freddie. They have a been given a wonderful opportunity. They can spend Christmas in a castle. Portions of the castle are open to the public, there are garden tours, during the right seasons produce is for sale, weddings and events can be held at the castle. In short, in order for the survival of the castle as well as the village surrounding the castle, this castle is a business.

Freddie is excited to be in the country and outside London. Freddie, Anna and the guinea pig, Ozzie, all move into their temporary home and prepare for the adventure.

Freddie has told his mother that for Christmas, he wants a Dad of his own. His uncle cannot be a substitute, he wants his very own Dad. His father died before he was born so he has never known the connection to a man in his life.

When they first arrive at the castle, they find friendly employees and friendly villagers. There are people who want to get to know them and make them feel at home. Freddie even has a new friend who is exactly his age.

All is going wonderfully, until there is a flood which causes terrible damage in the village and creates problems for people right at Christmas.

Anna and Freddie are the main characters in the story. Both of them are well rounded and complete human beings. Freddie is a little boy who acts like a little boy. At times, Anna was problematic for me. I got tired of her dithering. She is an intelligent woman but at times she acts as though it is impossible for her to make a decision.

We meet friends from Anna's London life and also employees at the castle and interesting villagers. At the castle, there are 3 men who are charming and friendly to Freddie and he becomes attached to each of them. Simon, Luke and Julius all have their own story. All of them are friendly and all of them are fond of Freddie.

In the village there are very entertaining people. We meet, one elderly lady who has a hat for every occasion, a baker who has a portable wedding cake and many people who pull together to help their neighbors who have been affected by the flood damage.

The plot moves quickly. I did feel that at times there were events which were thrown in for no particular reason. But,the plot does move forward and the reader moves along to a conclusion which is very satisfying for everyone involved.

Basically this is a book about people and life. No one is immune to pain and problems. The good in life is as universal as the not so good.

There are events both large and small within the story. It is very much like real life.

This is the first book I have read by Ms Howard. She has humor and humanity within this book. Her characters are people who would make good neighbors and good friends.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

Sadly this falls into the it’s not you it’s me category and I struggled to connect with this story. Don’t get me wrong, it has a lovely family-feel and is set in a lovely location, however it never felt overly romantic and I wasn’t struck with how things were speedily wrapped up at the end despite it having a HEA. Definitely one to check out for yourself.

There are many engaging characters filling this story of a young widow, Anna Gordon, and her son, Freddie, coming to stay at a working castle in England. Freddie, age seven, is asking for a dad for Christmas and hopes to find one at Norbrook Castle. There are men working at the castle that could surly fit the bill: Simon, Luke and the estate manager, Julius. Anna is not looking for a husband over their four week stay but rather the freedom from her home in London and the chance to meet people. A town disaster tests everyone’s mettle and out of the mess romance may happen.

I really liked this book . It took forever but Freddie got his wish in the end. All the things that Cathy put Anna through I do not know if I could have dealt with if I was her. She clearly was not flirting with Simon . I would recommend this to everyone.