In this endearing story by Tracy Rees, Holly Hanwell gets a second chance at love. Heartbroken due to a major betrayal from her boyfriend, the Christmas season seems bleak. She definitely does not have the Christmas spirit. However, as a teacher, part of her duties was to participate in a yearly Christmas pageant. Working with her young students always brought her joy. Despite her heartbreak, she wants her students to be happy.

Holly soon finds another reason to be happy. She soon meets Edward, the father of one of her students and the new owner of a place that ends up proving quite special for more than one reason, and it is called the Christmas House. Not only does Holly soon find Edward someone difficult to resist, his darling eight-year-old daughter Eliza tugs on her heartstrings as well. The holiday season starts to get brighter.

Despite Holly being quite sure being alone was in her future, chance meetings at a lovely local café bring the unlikely trio together in what just might be a fresh start to all of them. Holly always found Eliza to be more than a bit special. Then there is the picturesque village where Holly lives, Hopley, and it is a wonderful little village. In fact, after having read Ms. Rees' previous book, Hidden Secrets at Little Village Church, I was already enamored with the small village, so it was the perfect setting for this holiday romance.

Holly soon discovers that she was not alone with the baggage from a previous relationship. Edward and Eliza have their own story and are working past some difficult things. In this sweet story it was nice to see them work through these challenges, even if things proved rocky at times. In fact, in this endearing story, Eliza's point of view was quite touching and her role in this story was pivotal. The Little Christmas House was a wonderful story that brought hope, light and love.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This was a comfy read and a enjoyable Christmas read, story line lovely and definitely a lovely Christmas read no to be missed

This was such a lovely read. As a teacher, I was reminded of the madness that is the Christmas play and got caught up in memories of this time of year.
The blossoming friendship between Edward and Holly was delightful and while I guessed what would happen in the end, the build up to it and the exact details were charming.
I would recommend snuggling up with this book on a wintry day and getting lost in the story of Holly and the village of Hopley.

I absolutely adored every page of this utterly gorgeous book!
Firstly it is so magically Christmassy, secondly the characters are just wonderful, I adored them all, other than Cressida of course, the most self absorbed human ever born, but it it just wonderful, it feels like a warm, cosy Christmas movie.
10/10, loved it! I have ordered a paper copy as this is one of those Christmas books I will definitely read on the run up to December every year!.

This is my first book by Tracy and I absolutely loved it! I'm hoping there is a second one to this that doesn't leave us hanging on how well it all works out!!!! Such a cute story. I enjoyed reading different POV from the main characters. Holly seems like the dream teacher everyone wants their kids to have!! Can't wait for more books by Tracy!

If you are looking for…
A Christmasy setting
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Warm characters
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No angst
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Clean, slow burn romance
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Then The Little Christmas House is a good bet. It delivers just that. I found this to be a relaxing read because, even though the leads have pain in their lives, I never felt anything but a sense of warmth and a promise that everything would be ok.

The Little Christmas House would make a brilliant festive film, It’s delightfully charming, a real festive winner!

This tells the story of two lonely, heartbroken people who with the help of some Christmas magic and a gallon of velvety hot chocolate with cream this could be the makings of a beautiful relationship, that it’s both can let go of the past and their heartbreak to allow themselves to be happy.

Holly and Edward are both trying to find their feet after having their lives turned upside down, Holly is devasted when her boyfriend callously informs her is having a baby with another woman. I suppose in a way you can give it to him that at least he is doing the right thing by one of the women in his life, just don’t say it to Holly as this news has broken her. How can she move on with that bombshell hanging over her head?

Edward is equally devasted when his with does a bunk leaving him alone to raise their daughter alone, the no-good trollop!! Edward must put aside his sadness and think of his daughter who needs stability and a father who isn’t broken – even though he is deep inside. He chooses to move them to little Hopley to start a whole new life, but the house move turns out to be hell as the house (aptly named Christmas House) is all but falling apart.

As is the case with festive romances, there is a little Christmas magic in the air when a chance meeting between Edward and Holly changes everything, a new friendship blossoms and romance swirls with the help of hot chocolate – after all everything is better with hot chocolate with extra cream ad double sprinkles.
This is the first book I’ve read by Tracy Rees, it certainly won’t be the last, I can’t wait to read more from her. I loved her feel-good and cheerful writing, it’s full of heart and makes you feel incredibly uplifted and happy by the end.

What more could you ask for in a book?

This is the second book in this charming little series which is set in the equally charming village of Hopley, I love my first visit to this picturesque village and can’t wait to return – I do hope there will be more stories set in Hopley it’s so charming – forget more stories I want to live there!!.

The Little Christmas House is a gloriously festive and heart-warming romance, it has all the magic of Christmas mixed with real warm emotion and charm, a definite must-read for this season!

This was my 1st book by Tracy but wont be my last! I really enjoyed this story of family ties. Edward's wife leaves him with custody of their 5 year old daughter Eliza. They go through hard times until eventually moving away for a fresh start in another area. He constantly wonders if he is good enough as a Father and is often questioned about the same thing by his interfering Mother! Holly is a wonderful primary school teacher going through issues of her own. She and Eliza take a shine to each other and the three of them become friends. The Christmas Pageant, written and produced by Holly is a main feature in the story as are Edward & Eliza's early years. A fabulous story I definately recommend at Christmas or any time of year.

What a gorgeous festive read this proved to be,
With an eight year old lass who's so cute, you'll see!
She's instrumental in healing two broken hearts
Whose first love for each have departs.
They've both suffered grief for lost hopes and chances
And neither were seeking future romances.

Edward and his daughter have recently moved home
Looking for a fresh start where they're not known,
Christmas House needs a lot of work but still
Getting is sorted to make it home is what they will.
A new school for Eliza, a new job for Edward
Both are hopeful of reaching a new accord.

Holly Hanwell is Eliza's new teacher at school.
She's fun, loves drama and Eliza thinks she's cool.
Get ready for festive fun and good cheer
As Christmas itself is drawing near.
There's festive crises, with surprises and dread
With family dramas also coming to a head.

With inspirational folks helping both to heal,
The sense of community and family feel so real.
The characters are easy to relate to, too,
Making this a delightful read I highly recommend to you.
I read a complementary copy of this read
And this is my honest review, hope it's what you need!

A great warm-filled holiday story full of angels, twinkling lights, and fluffy white snow. And yes, Bob the reindeer. This is a charming delightful book that you can read in one sitting that will make you feel warm and cozy.

Holly had so wanted to have a baby of her own, but discovered that she can’t. Heartbroken from being dumped by her long-term boyfriend, Holly is not looking forward to the upcoming Christmas holiday that she will now have to face alone. She wants nothing better than to hide away and avoid anything Christmas. But having a job as a school teacher, she loves her kids and decides to throw herself all in by putting on a holiday play. To top it off, someone has been playing elf and leaving Christmas goodies on her doorstep.

New to town, Eliza and her father Edward needed a fresh start and move to Christmas House. Just the name alone conjures up images of magic and twinkling lights. Edward wants so badly to have Eliza be happy and feel secure after having dealt with bullying at her old school. Eliza is everything that Holly would love if she were her daughter and with Edward, it’s not just that the hot chocolate that makes Holly feel all warm and tingly inside. Edward finds Holly a great confidante and slowly begins confiding his troubles about dealing with his mother, Eliza’s mother, and doubts about himself. Still nursing her bruised heart and not wanting to get involved, it becomes hard for Holly to resist the feelings that are growing for Edward and Eliza. Circumstances keep throwing them together in their small little town. What will Christmas bring for Holly? Will there be magic and promise at Christmas?

I really enjoyed this book and it has all the aspects that a holiday book should have, including angels and reindeer. Add this to your list to put in someone’s stocking.

Many thanks to #netgalley #thelittlechristmashouse #tracyrees #bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Holly Hanwell’s Christmas spirit hits rock bottom when her boyfriend leaves her right before Christmas. She doesn’t feel like celebrating Christmas at all this year. She decides to hide away in her little house. She plans on not attending any traditional Christmas festivities in her village. But with a little Christmas magic in the air, all her plans quickly change when she meets Edward. He is new in town and has bought the Christmas House at the edge of town. The house is a fixer-upper but, is turning out to be a fix it project that is bigger than what he expected. Edward finds solace in the little village cafe, and it has become a favorite place to be while the Christmas snow continues to fall. Holly enjoys running into Edward at the cafe, and as they get to know each other, Edward is the only person that makes Holly laugh again. We all know that laughter is good for the soul so Holly enjoys the small moments of it. Holly keeps running into Edward around town as she soon finds herself joining in the Christmas festivities in the village. Holly’s plans of spending a quiet Christmas alone are soon derailed because she is enjoying anytime she has with Edward. But, soon Holly discovers a secret from Edward’s past and she finds herself wondering if he really is the person she thought he was. This Christmas story was a wonderful and delightful read. It has all the holiday feels and will make you feel like you have stepped into the little Christmas village of Hopley. It’s truly an amazing Christmas holiday escape. This book is a magical Christmas read that is so inspirational and heartwarming that you can’t help but devour in one sitting. Light a fire, grab a blanket, pour some hot cocoa, and settle in with this fantastic read.

Thank you Tracy Rees for such a warm, wonderful and delightful book. This uplifting and festive story is an absolute must read. I genuinely loved it! I highly recommend this book.

The Little Christmas House is a delightful holiday read which is perfect to curl up with on the sofa now the weather is turning colder. It was a quick read that has really helped get me into the festive spirit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Good, but could’ve been better.

It’s Christmas time in Hopley village, and what’s Christmas when wounded hearts don’t heal? Holly loves to teach little kids and is a drama teacher in the village school.
Edward and his eight-year-old daughter, Eliza, have recently moved into the Christmas House that’s a bit away from the village. Eliza is in the same class Holly teaches and is trying to adjust to the new place. Holly is nursing heartbreak after Alex ended their 10-year relationship.
Holly, Edward, and Eliza are struggling with issues from the past. When fate brings them together, will they manage to look past the wounds and find each other? How will the past affect their present and future?
The story is told in the limited third person from three perspectives- Holly, Edward, and Eliza. My favorite character in the book is Eliza. To say she’s the life of the story wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Holly and Edward are sweet people who want to do the best they can. The book is pretty much a Hallmark movie kind of story. While it was enjoyable, the overall impact wasn’t as good as I expected. I’ve read the author’s first book and was impressed by it.
This one, though sweet and inclusive, was more of a tell than show when it came to backstory. While it contained the length, it dimmed the effect on readers (at least me). Also, there wasn’t an epilogue! The last chapter has a decent, hopeful ending, but that’s not enough. I wanted something more concrete.

Three things I loved the most:
• Eliza is an absolute sweetheart, and so were the other kids at school.
• Holly is a wonderful teacher. Sensitive, attentive, and assertive.
• Edward is a great dad.

Things that could have been better:
• Cressida’s character. We never really get to understand her.
• A little more show than tell.
• A couple of more chapters from Eliza’s POV.
• More interaction between the lead characters.

To sum up, The Little Christmas House is a sweet book to pick up between heavy reads or on a lazy afternoon.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

*****
P.S: Can we please not rely only on 'Fatima' in so many books? There are many other beautiful Arabic names for girls.

Indira Khan sounds a bit awkward, especially without the backstory, and I kept wondering if the parents were a fan of the late Indira Gandhi.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Perfect Christmas book! So cozy and sweet. I loved every word

💕 The Little Christmas House by Tracy Rees, is charming.

Holly Hanwell is a relatively new teacher at the primary school in Hopley, where amongst her many pupils, she meets Eliza Sutton.
Eliza is an enchanting little eight year old, with a bright mind and adventurous spirit that Holly is drawn too immediately.

One evening, whilst out exploring the village, Holly meets Edward, Eliza's father. Whilst sheltering from the snowy weather in a village café, Edward and Holly begin to form a friendship. But, despite the obvious spark that is igniting between them, Holly feels she must protect her already fragile heart and to not fall in love.

Just as Holly realises her feelings are growing for handsome but complicated Edward, she discovers that there is a big secret that Eliza and Edward are keeping, which intrigues Holly.

Through her growing affection for Edward and Eliza, and her concern as Eliza's teacher, Holly finds herself being drawn in and wanting to help them both.

Holly has an emotional journey of her own to travel, but with the help of her friends, old and new, she begins to unburden herself of the past.
With Edward and Eliza's help, Holly finds that she can begin to find a way forward and put the past behind her.

This is a beautiful Christmas story, full of hope and possibilities which makes for a touching yet humorous and enjoyable Christmas read.

This was a. slower book. It really puts the spirit of the holidays first. It was heartwartming. It reads back and forth from Holly's story to Edward and his daughter Eliza's story.
It is a delightful story. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, a blanket, and curl up while reading this.


** I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review**

🎀A joy to read!👩‍🏫👨‍👧

What a beautiful story about and perfect for the holidays! The main characters are lovely. Village newcomers Edward and his young daughter Eliza are looking for healing and a new start and they could not have found a better person to help them adjust than kind and caring primary teacher Holly.

I was totally swept up in their lives and sorry when I arrived at the last page. I look forward to reading more by author Tracy Rees. This sweet, family-oriented romance was just the ticket to brighten my day.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Well this is just the perfect Christmas read. The characters are all so rich and warm that it made me want to sit down and have some mulled wine and pull a cracker with them. Some great back stories and great sense of community shines through. Definitely wish I was an audience member in the school play.

Holly, Eliza and Edward all need a new start after a difficult year .

You know, The Little Christmas House is one of those ‘women’s fiction’ books that I wish those who deride the genre would read, because although it might have all the elements readers expect from a ‘happy ever after’ book, it also exemplifies how excellent writing is, indeed, excellent writing whatever the genre. Tracy Rees has such a fluid style that manages to have a literary quality as well as a light hearted deftness that draws in her reader, entertains them perfectly and makes them feel better about the world. I thought Tracy Rees’s descriptions, especially of the natural world and settings, were so evocative. There’s a poetic touch in The Little Christmas House that is equally as good as any literary fiction because it creates vivid images in the reader’s mind. I loved the way the story is positive and uplifting without contrived humour too. The Little Christmas House is glorious.

There’s a plot that engages the reader from the very first moment because Tracy Rees has the ability to show the perspectives of Edward, Holly and Eliza with sparkling clarity in a way that made me care about them completely. This is no mean feat as I’m not a lover of children, but Eliza feels so authentic and genuine that I would happily have her in my life. I loved the way Clarissa’s personality balances Holly’s too and provides a pitch perfect equilibrium so that all life is here in Hopley. The school term, the Christmas pageant, Edwards’s attempts to manage single parenthood, and Eliza’s development, give super interest and engaged me throughout.

Whilst The Little Christmas House is a positive read, that doesn’t mean Tracy Rees shies away from more difficult topics. Not all can be mentioned here for fear of spoiling the read for others, but her exploration of relationships, of genuine emotions and of different forms of love and support covers a wide range of experiences for her characters. Through both character and theme Tracy Rees conveys the concept that happiness isn’t about materialism, but rather is about developing our potential whilst accepting our flaws. I finished this book genuinely feeling inspired and happier than I have in a long time.

The Little Christmas House is the perfect winter read. It’s warm hearted, charming, uplifting and filled with positivity and cheer. The Little Christmas House seems written not just about love, but with it too. I thought it was wonderful.

Holly’s life has been well and truly upended in her boyfriend leaving her to have a baby with another woman. She plans to take refuge in her cozy little home to have a quiet Christmas and heal.
Enter Edward, the new owner of Christmas House on the edge of the village and his daughter Eliza. Holly begins to develop feelings towards Edward but will his past shatter her fragile heart again?
Set in the quaint and beautiful Hopley Village, this is the perfect picturesque setting for this heart-warming story.
Alternating viewpoints give you different perspectives, willing the story on and short to the point chapters keep you reading and interested to see what happens next.
Despite the layout it is a slow paced story that leaves you waiting eagerly anticipating the outcome. It’s a real uplifting and warm fuzzy read.
I found the relationships between the characters really special. They all help each other to heal and move forward in their own way. I especially enjoyed the connection with Holly and Eliza.
A gorgeous, heart-warming and realistic story told within the festive season to add just that little extra magic!
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Tracey Rees for this fabulous read!