Holly Cross sounds like the most Christmasy village around. I loved the community spirit - not just the encouragement to join in with the decorating but the support each household gave to eachother - the realisation that it takes a whole community working together to achieve something good. I liked Blythe’s never say die attitude and was willing for her to prove a number of doubters wrong. A feel good read which will certainly put you in the Christmas mood.

I confess I choose to read this book because of the gorgeous cover and because I love Christmas and I am keen to get a head start on my Christmas reading but after reading it I am so excited to say that it is a funny, festive, romantic comedy with my most favourite thing featured Dog's!! Although it is set around Christmas it can easily be read at any time as the main plot isn't focused on Christmas. The plot is more rom com with Blythe the real estate agent trying to make a sale and she manages to sell a house to Christmas hating Sam. What Sam doesn't realise is that he has moved to the most Christmas loving village ever. Will Blythe bring Sam any festive cheer? I had a joyful time reading this book and I found it to really get me in a upbeat mood and it was soo much fun.

I received this book as an ARC from Aria&Aries through NetGalley and this review is based on my own opinion.

Blythe has to sell one more house to become real estate agent of the month so she bends the truth to sell a new house to city boy Sam.
Christmas hating Sam moves to Holly Cross, thinking that he found the perfect house. But little does he know that Holly Cross turns into the most Christmassy village in the country.
Sams arrival might cost the town their chance to win Most Perfect Christmas village and everyone expects Blythe to fix things but Christmas might not be the only things that Sam falls in love with this year.

The Perfect Christmas Village was just as the title says; perfect.
The story really made you feel as if you were spending Christmas in a cosy village and it had a lot of funny scenes that had me laughing out loud on thr couch.
I would really recommend this book if you want to get cosy with a blanket and a cup of tea, or a hot chocolate and if you like Hallmark movies 🥰.

The Holly Cross Christmas Fayre is going strong and attendance is always huge.

Blythe and Amir are in competition for most sales this month at the Happy Homes Estate Agency. The end of the month is near and Amir is one sale ahead of Blythe. She must sell one more place.

She remembers a home on the Green whose owner recently passed away and she knows it will be sold. However, as it’s not currently listed for sale, she takes a chance and shows it to a man named Sam who wants to move to the area. She has a key to the house as she had promised the previous owner she would feed his feral cat, Turpin. It took a little time, but she finally got a call from a solicitor for the deceased and arranged to sell the house to Sam.

Ah, but Sam has a big dislike of Christmas which is not good because this village is really big on Christmas, plus the lights and other celebrations are numerous. But Sam continues to nix any plans of lights or decorations. But Blythe doesn’t let that stop her.

Blythe’s best friend, Vicky, is a single mother to young Eden. She is struggling to make ends meet and has added dog walking to her to-do list to make extra money.

It’s nice to see how Blythe tries to slowly break down Sam’s disdain for Christmas. But when she learns the reason why, she is more understanding of him. As a huge cat lover, I really liked Turpin and how he brings Blythe and Sam together all the time. In addition, the humor with bits of risqué comments thrown in, made me laugh out loud. I just loved this book which came at a time when I really needed a good laugh.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A festive read set in a village community that loves Christmas with a new resident who has his reasons for not liking the festive season. Blythe is active in the community and a good person, but she is also driven by her need to prove herself. This leads to complications when Sam buys a cottage in the village. What happens next is an engaging mix of conflict, community, friendship and romance. There is also a mystery to solve. I like the village setting, the characterisation and the twists and turns of this festive tale.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

3.25 Stars
One Liner: Okayish read

Blythe doesn’t like it when a fellow agent records more sales than her. She is determined to be the Real Estate Agent of the Month and, in a desperate attempt, manages to sell a house to Sam Ashton (by hiding certain truths). While Sam loves the house, he doesn’t like Christmas.
With the house being the center of the village’s Christmas activity (which they take very, very seriously), things get difficult for Sam and Blythe. Holly Cross Village has a chance to win the title of Britain's Most Perfect Christmas Village if not for Sam. The responsibility falls on Blythe to fix things. Maybe a Christmas Miracle can help her.
Vicky is a single mother to a five-year-old Eden and Blythe’s best friend. She is trying to manage her boring part-time job and the new business venture. But her happiness is threatened with the news of an ex. Can Christmas bring hope for her?
The story comes in the third-person POVs of Blythe and Vicky.

My Thoughts:
Though the official blurb doesn’t mention Vicky anywhere, her story takes up over 30% of the book. She also gets her own POV, which Sam doesn’t.
The story occurs over seven months, starting at the end of May and ending on Boxing Day (December 26th). While this gives enough time for the lead couple to get to know each other and fall in love, the results are mixed.
I do love the setting and the enthusiasm they have for Christmas. There’s quite a lot of competitiveness and almost military-style planning to set up the annual event. The stakes are higher this time due to the contest.
The village has an array of characters to bring enough variety to the setting. They add to the warmth and humor.
Turpin is the highlight of the book. He is a semi-feral who wipes to take a swipe at anyone or anything he doesn’t like. All scenes with Turpin are my favorite (and he did save the book).
The premise of Grumpy vs. Sunshine and Grinch vs. Christmas (or something like that) is fun. However, I’m not that convinced by the execution. While Blythe and Sam have a fine banter, I couldn’t feel any chemistry between them for most of the book.
While I understand Blythe’s character (and how her relationship with her father shaped her life), I didn’t like how she kept pushing Sam despite repeatedly telling her he didn’t like Christmas. TBH, if someone sells me a house without revealing certain info and expects me to jump into the local madness, I will kick them out and lock the door. There’s a thin line between being persuasive and forcing a relative stranger to do something they don’t want (if the roles were reversed, it’d be called harassment).
In a way, I liked Vicky’s character a little better. She is a single parent with some not-so-good business ideas to make more money for her child. She’s a flawed character but someone who gives good ideas to Blythe. However, her track with Owen is not well-structured. Though it makes some good points, characters cannot move on without acknowledging their past. Important discussions should occur on the page.
Everything ends well, of course. The mystery around Murray is solved, and we get HEA. The ending is stronger, but the path to it is rocky and not as enjoyable as I expected. Furthermore, the pacing is slow and seems to have substantial filler content.

To summarize, The Perfect Christmas Village might have a perfect Christmas at the end but doesn’t manage to inspire the same level of feelings. It’s a decent read but not something I would add to my top seasonal reads.
Thank you, NetGalley and Aria & Aries, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This is a lovely cosy festive read with relatable characters. My favourite character was definitely Turpin the cat and I loved reading about his escapades.
Holly Cross takes Christmas very seriously and it was fun to read about the celebrations. There were also some serious subjects in this book but overall it was a nice, heartwarming read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

With a father involved in the property business who seems to find her a constant disappointment, it means a great deal to Blythe to be recognised as Estate Agent of the Year in the village of Holly Cross – even if it means selling a house that’s not even on the market, and hoping everything can be put right later. The house belonged to her friend Murray, recently passed away – and the (at first) delighted buyer is Sam, who had been a particularly difficult client to please until she showed him the house of his dreams.

The sale works itself out – with a bit of a mystery attached – but Sam, who hates Christmas with a passion, is horrified to find that he’s moved somewhere that’s in contention for the title of the UK’s Most Perfect Christmas Village, with a community for whom success means so much and whose efforts are managed with military precision by the redoubtable Leonora, with firm plans for his house to be the centrepiece of their display that it’s always been. When he absolutely refuses to engage, Blythe doggedly sets about trying to change his mind – with an adopted semi-feral cat (the wonderful Turpin) who needs feeding, she’s a regular visitor, chipping away at his reluctance to join in, their friendship growing as she begins to find that he’s not quite the miserable so-and-so he at first appears to be.

I really must say that I loved everything about this book – that grumpy/sunshine relationship between Blythe and Sam (both of whom turned out to be such likeable characters, with particular issues in their past lives), the community of Holly Cross with its quirky and such wonderfully drawn individuals, the subplot with friend Vicky and her attempts to find a source of extra income while managing a relationship of her own, and all the many activities in the build-up to Christmas that really were absolutely everything I could possibly have wished for. There’s a lot of laughter, the humour so perfectly judged – but there’s plenty of poignancy too, with all the issues really sensitively handled, along with a few elements of mystery and moments of particular drama.

It’s all just so perfectly paced, thoroughly enjoyable, and the warmth of the writing really is exceptional – the whole book felt like the most gorgeous festive hug, and I adored every single moment. This is one I’d urge every lover of Christmas romance to add to their reading list – I promise you won’t be disappointed, and that it’ll delight you in every way. It might be only October, but I found myself buying some new fairy lights and a far-too-large nutcracker ornament today – and it’s all because of Bella Osborne…

(Review also copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

A pleasant Christmas story based in an adorable festive setting.
I loved how the two opposite characters were drawn together.
I really wanted Blythe to succeed! With her unwavering dedication to work, her friend and the community, you couldn’t help but like her!
Sam was an interesting character, a bit mysterious and aloof, it was fun to see him deal with the wayward cat Turpin ( great name!) and to eventually fit in more with the community.
Some unexpected twists added another element to the story and meant it was quite the page turner!

Thank you NetGalley, Bella Osborne and Aria & Aries for the copy of the book The Perfect Christmas Village. This is my personal review.
I was so excited to read a book by author Bella Osborne. I have read many of her books and loved reading them. For me this one just fell short of my expectations.
The town named Holly Cross was perfect. The characters were likable. The romance was easy and just right for the story. And yet it was missing something for me. I wanted a heartfelt tug as Blythe and Sam grew closer.
This book would make an excellent holiday Hallmark movie.

A very cute read! It wasn't my favorite book ever, it was unremarkable, but it was cute. It was good. It was solid and predictable and everything I wanted to escape the real world for awhile. The tone was positive and clean, and the dual story lines between blythe and Vicki worked. Dogs are never a bad addition, and I found myself blissfully distracted by a good (albeit shallow) read. I'd recommend this for a good holiday escape!

Another lovely read from this author.
As Blythe takes on challenges at work, she will do whatever it takes to win - even sell a house that isn’t on her books as an estate agent to sell!
Sam buys this house, totally unaware of this and without being fully informed of the village’s love of Christmas!
As the story weaves itself around you and sucks you in so you don’t want to put it down, the characters become more your friends than something in a book.
I really enjoyed the slightly side story of best friend Vicky and her family.
All in all a great read, the characters are well developed and I became so engrossed I read into the night, or early morning!
A lovely mix of Christmas festivities and lots of different personalities, but with meaning behind them all, showing why you really shouldn’t judge someone when you don’t know their story.
I would love to know what happens next in Holly Cross!

This book has a lovely cover and the story is just as nice.
Blythe pushes Sam into buying a house but doesn’t tell him it’s on Christmas row. The town is big into celebrating Christmas and each chapter counts down to that day.
There’s some interesting characters and there was some funny parts too. It will definitely put you in the holiday mood.

In Holly Cross, a little village with a big heart –estate agent Blythe needs one last sale to clinch the target she has been working for all year. Sam Ashton has rejected every house she has suggested, with a big move from city to countryside any house has to meet Sam’s idea of the ideal home. When Sam unexpectedly turns up the next day, Blythe is determined to get her sale whatever it takes, and if it means a few white lies then so be it!

Holly Cross has a reputation to hold up as the most Christmassy village, its traditions go back years, so when Christmas loathing Sam, finds out his home is the centre point of the display, he’s furious. When the villagers find out that Blythe purposefully kept the Christmas traditions from Sam, they are all looking to her to fix things. Can she get Sam to fall in love with Christmas or will he literally be the Grinch.

A heart warming cosy read, perfect for curling up with a hot chocolate and losing yourself in the spirit of Christmas.

I received an early copy of this book from Netgalley and Publisher Aria in return for my honest review.

The Perfect Christmas Village has oodles of holiday charm.

Bella's books are always fun, light-hearted romances. I enjoyed reading Blythe and Sam's story. They have great banter and this delicious tension you cannot help but devour. If you like it when your romances take place in a small town full of quirky characters, then you will enjoy this book. The residents of Holly Cross are incredibly passionate about Christmas, and their love for the holiday season is infectious. I always enjoy a small-town romance because I love that feeling of community and togetherness. Beth does a wonderful job at bringing this tiny village to life, and I enjoyed spending time there.

The story has this nice flow to it. The pacing is perfect. I never once felt like anything in the story was lagging. There were some interesting (and drama-filled) twists that I really enjoyed. I loved Vicky's (Blythe's best friend) side story. We spent some time with her throughout the book, and I loved her quirky energy. I definitely laughed out loud when she was trying to come up with a name for her dog-walking business. Blythe is a great character, and I enjoyed spending time with her. She is an upbeat, cheerful woman who tries to prove that she is good at her job. This woman works hard, and I felt people should have cut her a bit of slack over selling Sam a house in the village issue. It's not her fault the man doesn't like Christmas. Sam is like an onion; he has some layers that I loved peeling back. The man may come off as a Grinch, but he does have a heart of gold under that prickly exterior.

This is a grumpy sunshine romance, which is my favourite trope. I thought Beth did a great job at creating this real and raw relationship between Sam and Blythe. There are a lot of miscommunications and hurdles these two have to overcome. They have plenty of sweet moments that are usually connected to Turpin (the feisty feline that came with Sam's new home). They also have meaningful conversations filled with so much understanding and compassion they made my heart melt.

The Perfect Christmas Village is a vibrant holiday romance and a must-have for any bookworm's collection.

Thank you, Rachel Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this heart warming tale.

Blythe, works at the local estate agents and helps Sam buy the property he’s looking for. But, she doesn’t tell him one thing, and that is that the village is known for its Christmas celebrations. But Sam hates Christmas, due to something that happened in his childhood has made him feel this way.

So now, it’s up to her and her friends to help him realise that Christmas is a time to be spent having fun and also enjoy spending time with others, and definitely not something to hate.

The characters were relatable and the storyline was lovely.

I recommend this book.

What a glorious, festive read The Perfext Christmas Village is. Full of Bella's wit and warmth, you're automatically drawn into the lives of the people from. Holly Cross. With a strong sense of community spirit, there are such heartwarming parts of this book which will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. Sam and Blythe are hugely likeable characters with such depth to them but there are very strong supporting characters too which make this one of my favourite Christmas books I've read so far this year.

It was like reading a hallmark movie. The little town, with quirky personalities. That always have each other backs.
I loved this town, can I be a part of it pretty please. Oh the inhabitants, you just want to squeeze and love them , And be a part of them. The lovestory it was sweet, but nothing new. I highly recommend this book
Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

The Perfect Christmas Village is one of the coziest books I’ve ever read! Reading this made me much more excited for Christmas. It’s the perfect book to read while sipping a warm cup of coffee as you feel the weather getting cooler and cooler.

This book was written beautifully, the build up was just right and the scenes didn’t feel forced. The characters were all lovely that I lowkey wished I was part of the Holly Cross neighborhood. It has a great mix of drama and humor—some of the pages made me laugh out loud, no kidding.

I especially enjoyed how the book emphasized the importance of being one with your community and gaining that sense of belonging that you wouldn’t trade for anything else.

If you’re looking for a cozy Christmas book, give this one a try! Bella Osborne is now one of my favorite ‘cozy book’ authors, highly commendable!

I absolutely love Bella Osborne’s writing and look forward to each of her books. Her Christmas books give her an opportunity to really flex her comedy skills, and this was no exception. There are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments, and I had tears rolling at one point.
The village of Holly Cross was charming, and I would love to visit. It reminded me of a town where we stayed in Colorado. Maybe not to the extent of the Christmas decorations, but certainly the strong sense of community. The characters were all perfectly drawn to the point that I could almost feel some of the wonderful hugs that were passed around. However, I’m not going to discuss how delicious Norman’s sausage was!
Blythe is possibly my favourite character from Bella’s writing. Her determination to be the best in her field was at odds with her kindness and willingness to help others. She certainly went out of her way to welcome city boy, Sam to the village.

Sam was slightly more complicated and whilst I ultimately loved him, I had to try a little harder to like him. It was obvious that he had a backstory and I had to wait patiently for his big reveal. Despite this being a romantic comedy, there were some lovely moments that were handled with real empathy. It takes skill to take the reader from raucous laughter to shedding a sentimental tear. Bella Osborne has perfected the technique.
With an impeccable supporting cast, this was a non-stop book that is filled with warmth and the best kind of people. Well, mostly the best, I reserve judgement on Blythe’s Dad. I adored Dick Turpin and if you want to know more about him, you need to read this fabulous book.