I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS - Karen Clarke

WARM AND HOMEY - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Nina decides to visit her aunt for the holidays, to get over the fact that she broke up with her fiancé and broke off her wedding a few weeks earlier. But when she gets to France, she discovers an attractive man is also staying there, and her aunt is matchmaking.

Writing - 4 stars - I felt at home right from the beginning. The characters are warm, the setting is beautiful, and the story is charming.

Characters - 4 stars - Nina is cute, but it's clear she's going in the completely wrong career direction. She's planning to start a travel blog, but she hates to travel and isn't very good at taking pictures. Funny Instead, she's great at organizing and rearranging, but she clearly has few plans to pursue those skills. Ryan, the other half of her aunt's matchmaking designs, is an accountant turned author, with a surprisingly successful crime book. He's also off a failed relationship, is friendly but fairly distant, and he's, of course, her perfect match. Her dry sense of humor and comfortable relationship with cousin Charlie and her brother Ben added some amusing moments.

Title - 4 stars - Pretty self-explanatory, although Nina is actually visiting relatives in France rather than being in her own home for Christmas.

Cover - 4.5 stars - A beautiful holiday cover, showing a small town winter scene.

Overall - 4 stars - This is a nice, holiday-based romance in the lovely setting of a small town in France. We can enjoy the nosy locals, a sweet village and cafe, as well as the beauty of the holiday season. Aunt Dolly is definitely pushy, but she's so kind that you can't help but support her obvious matchmaking efforts. I loved Frank, the Salsa king, as well as Charlie, the brotherly cousin. The romance is predictable (in a good way), and I was so pleased to have all the loose ends tied up at the end in such a charming way. I'm a big White fan and will definitely go back and read the first two in this series.

Nina just had a really bad breakup when she was about to get married. To get away from it, she travels to the charming French village of Chamillon to spend some quality time at her aunt and cousin and focus on her new career as a travel blogger. Romance is far from her plans, but her aunt Dolly is trying to set her up nonetheless with her son’s best friend Ryan. He is also staying at their house and is also going through a tough breakup. As first impressions go, let’s just say they didn’t hit the jackpot, but will Dolly’s skills as matchmaker change that?

This is a super cute and heart-warming story with Christmas at its centre. It’s also all about finding one’s self and what makes us happy, be it personally or professionally.

I especially enjoyed the family element in this book. Nina and her aunt and cousin have such a nice relationship! I was definitely rooting for Dolly’s matchmaking skills to work. She is such a happy and energetic character! She totally gave life to the book and I loved how enthusiastic she was about life. She is the type of character that no matter what will bring a smile to your face.

I could also totally feel for Nina and how much she tried to find what she wanted in life. It took her a while but she totally made the best of her skills to bring happiness to others. I’m definitely not like her, I don’t have the gift of putting things simple and right in a room, I’m a bit of a clutter type of person, so it was interesting to see spaces through her eyes.

I also quite like the romance in this book, it’s simple, slow burning and although predictable at times, super cute. But the best part? I love small towns/villages in books. They have the best feeling and I love to see how everyone knows each other and works together to bring the best daily life possible. And that feeling is even stronger when you pair it with Christmas time! This is definitely a cozy read that will make your Christmas spirit high, especially when you have to wait more than 300 days for the next one!

I have loved this series of books and this one doesn't disappoint, a great cosy read to get you in the mood for Christmas with lovely characters and plenty of fun

I love Karen Clarke’s books. This one was really enjoyable and I loved the scenery. I didn’t realise this was the third in a series but I’ll definitely read the other two. Real Christmassy book and I loved Dolly. Predictable ending but you wouldn’t want it any other way...! Thank you for accepting my request. I’d definitely look out for Karen’s next book

Sadly not for me. I struggled to get into it and never actually finished it unfortunately. I struggled to click with the main character

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

What a cute holiday read! This is about Nina who found that her fiance was cheating on her and had to call off her wedding. She ends up going to stay with her aunt during the holiday season, and soon finds out that she is falling for another guy who also had a broken engagement. This is definitely just a fun and cute holiday read.

I’ll be Home for Christmas was a great finale for The Little French Cafe series. It was lovely to go back to see what the characters were up to, so much so that I struggled to put it down. I have loved this series and looking forward to my next book by Karen Clarke.

Loved this Christmas theme book. karen Clarke is one of my favourite authors. Enjoyed every page. Relaxing way to end the day

This book was a brilliant read and one that is perfect to escape for a few hours and loose yourself.
Characters that fall out of the pages of the book and make you fell apart of the story, the setting is lovely and captured well with words.
A great read. that I would highly recommend.

A nice, gentle festive read with a heroin who had yet to find her way in the world and a hero who has writers block. Lots of misdirection and misunderstandings lead to the start of a stuttering, will-they-won't-they romance, which ends on a lovely ahhh note, as Nina rediscovers the joy of Christmas and realises the true meaning of home.

This was such a fun, cozy and festive read. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a light book to get into the christmas spirit!

I’ll Be Home For Christmas is a lovely tale of the importance of finding yourself and loving yourself before trying to find someone else to love you.
Nina Bailey is visiting France to stay with her cousin Charlie and aunt Dolly who we met in Karen Clarke’s last book (Summer at the Little French Cafe).
She is at a crossroads in her life: no job but the idea of starting a travel blog, no fiance after discovering he was unfaithful and cancelling their wedding, and griefstricken after the death of her grandmother. All of these are bitterly linked and she needs time for her heart to heal.
Her aunt has other ideas and immediately begins to matchmake with Charlie’s friend Ryan who is also visiting after the breakdown of his previous relationship but his ex won’t leave him alone.
The developing relationship and antagonism between Nina and Ryan is gentle and fun, with plenty of feel good moments and a sprinkling of humour. The main characters have been given an emotional depth and misunderstandings ramp up the drama.
Plus there is a Christmas theme! There is a lovely festive feel to the whole book and a reminder that Christmas is only as special as the people you spend it with.

Well written, funny, descriptive and heartwarming. The characters jump from the page and the story is very engaging. This is the best read for Christmas time!

Nina Bailey usually loves Christmas, but after having her heart broken she runs away to spend some time with her aunt and cousin at their cosy café. Her plans for a fuss-free Christmas go out the window when she meets handsome writer Ryan. Sparks fly and Nina has to decide what she really wants.

This is a really lovely Christmas read with interesting and quirky characters. Nina and Ryan have great chemistry together but I also loved the interactions between Nina and her family and the other people in the village.

I really liked the setting of the quaint snowy island village and the sense of community and great festive atmosphere. There’s some humorous scenes and banter which I really enjoyed. The ending is absolutely wonderful and left with me a huge smile.

This is book three in the Little French Café series, which I didn’t realise when I requested a copy of this book. The first two books focus on characters mentioned in this book but I’ll Be Home For Christmas is absolutely fine to read as a stand-alone. I loved the characters and setting so much that I bought the first two books straight after finishing this one.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cosy festive reads full of romance and humour.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I didn’t realize this was a series but you could totally read this book and enjoy it! Nina goes off to spend Christmas with her Aunt in Paris and start a new career after caking off her wedding. I enjoyed watching Nina grow and realize what she truly wanted to do with her life and that she should do something she loves. I will definitely go back and read the first two books in this series as I just love Aunt Dolly!

I found this novel really relatable it's about trying to heal after a broken heart. Nina goes to visit her aunt to try to get over things and get her mind off things the last thing she wants is a man entering her life right now. She meets Ryan and this isn't what she needs or wants right now. Will this bump in the road be good for her or will it only make matters worse? Despite her breakup, this was a feel-good and fun read. I liked the banter between the characters and its what you want in a holiday book.

I was excited to read another book by Karen Clarke but unfortunately this story didn't do it for me... I just wasn't drawn to the characters and to their stories. I found myself bored throughout most of the book. I am sure some readers will love this book but unfortunately this one was not for me. I love Karen Clarke book usually so I am still hopefull that her next one will be for me! I am giving this book a 3 stars out of 5 because I liked the romance in this book and the settings.

Wow, this was such a great read. What an awesome storyline. This book grabs you at page one and doesn't let you go. I really like her writing style. This is an author I will definitely continue to follow. I highly recommend this series. You won't be disappointed. Keep them coming Ms. Clarke.

A feel-good Christmas romance novel that takes place in a tiny French village, what's not to love?

A months ago, Nina cancelled her wedding and lost her gran. Still mourning both losses, she isn't feeling up to a traditional Christmas. Thank god for her aunt Dolly and cousin Charlie, who own a charming little café in the picture-perfect French village of Chamollin. Nina plans to avoid Christmas and other people in Charlie's flat above the café. There are only two problems with her plan. One: Charlie's friend Ryan, a best-selling author with writer's block has also picked Charlie's flat to hide away from the world. Two: aunt Dolly, a notorious matchmaker, is determined to give her favourite niece a perfect Christmas.

This was a very quick read. I pretty much finished it in little more than a day. Nina was a funny and relatable main character, and her interactions with Ryan were equal parts flirty and awkward. The side characters are entertaining in their own way, but they also don't take away the focus from the love story. There's a nice side story about Nina's gran that offered a glimpse into the loving family relationships between everyone.

At times it really felt like I was walking through town with Nina, I could picture it perfectly in my mind. I hadn't read the first two books in this series, nor any other books by Karen Clarke, but I am definitely going to read more from her.