The Christmas Postcards
by Karen Swan
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Pub Date Oct 04 2022 | Archive Date Sep 30 2022
Pan Macmillan | Macmillan
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Description
In a chocolate-box Cotswolds village, a marriage is at breaking point when a surprising connection is made, in this unmissable Christmas story, from Canadian bestseller Karen Swan.
Natasha Stoneleigh's marriage is hanging by a thread when her husband Rob books a make-or-break family holiday to the Maldives. With their two year old daughter Mabel splashing in the surf and the problems back home feeling far away, paradise works its magic and by the week's end, they've decided on 'make'. The only fly in the ointment is when Mabel's beloved toy Moola is left behind somewhere on their stopover in Amsterdam.
Back home in the Cotswolds and with Mabel unable to settle, Natasha posts a Missing plea online which is shared far and wide. It's an act of desperation, but to her amazement, she receives a bemused email. The good news is a man called Duffy found Moola and picked her up in Amsterdam as a lucky mascot. The bad news is he's travelling in a remote part of Asia, with no way of sending her back soon. However, when he hears of Mabel's distress, he offers, by way of compromise, to send over daily pictures showing Moola on her adventures.
The plan works and Mabel is instantly soothed to see her beloved toy waving at her from exciting places each day. Natasha too gets drawn in to this stranger's world, so different from her own, and before long, she's looking forward to the daily communiqué as much as her child. Their pen pal is witty, warm and wise and sometimes she feels he understands her better than the man sleeping beside her. But as the weeks pass and Duffy heads deeper into the mountains of Nepal, Natasha begins to notice a change in him. Then one day, he doesn't write. Nor the next.
Is Moola lost to them? Is Duffy? Because too late, Natasha begins to wonder why Duffy had needed a lucky mascot in the first place.
Author Bio:
Karen Swan is the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail bestselling author of over twenty novels, which are sold all over the world. She writes two books each year: one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Karen's previous summer titles include: The Secret Path, The Hidden Beach, The Spanish Promise, The Rome Affair, and The Paris Secret. Her winter titles include: Midnight in the Snow, Together by Christmas, The Christmas Party, Christmas Under the Stars, and many more.
Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.
Most recently, Karen debuted a five-book historicial fiction series, The Wild Isles, based upon the dramatic evacuation of Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930. The first novel in the series, The Last Summer, was published in May 2022.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781529084245 |
| PRICE | CA$24.99 (CAD) |
Featured Reviews
Jenna B, Reviewer
I’ve only read one other “Swan” book but I knew going into this that it would be a quick read. And it was. Easy to read, easy to put down, I would say it was a good one after reading a couple harder topic books. If you enjoy books that give you a handful of hours of entertainment but you know that you won’t feel dragged down after, then this is for you. My mom and aunts love her books so I will 💯 be adding to their library with this one. 3.5 stars
Norma F, Reviewer
Hey diddle-diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the ….
You finished the line, right? This book is about a cow, a precious stuffed animal named Moolah, who jumped over the moon. Well, not literally. But close. Moolah gets lost at an AirBnB and the next person to stay a night there takes the stuffed animal as a mascot on his journeys. Moolah sends postcards back to the family, ultimately bringing joy to three heartbroken souls.
A learning experience for those of us without children as much a sweet reminder for those who do, Moolah’s travels are Swan’s way to take us on the journey of the parenting ‘rite of passage’ no mother wants to go through ~ the lost toy! Swan knows how to tap into readers’ emotions and feel the anguish both the mother and child feel. The quest to be reunited with Moolah propels the story as much as the side plot of two people also trying to recapture what they’d lost.
The Queen of Destination Fiction sweeps readers away on an armchair travel via postcards from a stranger! Her Christmas read about reuniting lost souls is the book you didn’t know you needed.
I was gifted this advance copy by Pan Macmilian and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Lindsay H, Reviewer
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy of this book.
Oh Karen Swan, how I love thee! I am a huge fan of this author and this newest novel does not disappoint. It follows the story of Nats whose child loses their favorite toy on a stopover in Vienna. It then follows Duffy who finds the toy. This story has everything. Mystery, suspense, love, hope and despair. I could not put this down. When I had to put it down, I was thinking about it and couldn't wait to get back to it. I am still thinking about it now and its tugging at my heart.
I strongly recommend this novel and if you haven't picked up a Karen Swan novel yet, do so NOW. I have read all her books and recommend them all.
Tammy B, Reviewer
Well, Karen has done it again. Another winner. Wow. A story full of love and hope and wow, the truths that come out….
I would consider it a happy story with a hard middle. I love all the flashbacks to different times, as is the case in a lot of her books, and to have the dual storyline from a female and male perspective was refreshing.
I honestly don’t now how else to describe my love for this story without spoiling anything. Travel along with Moola, Natasha, Duffy and their friends. Learn a bit about painting, mountaineering, and love that stands the test of time ❤️
Thank you to Karen Swan, MacMillan, and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Bethany G, Reviewer
This GAVE exactly what I wanted it to give!! I love Karen Swan's books specifically for the settings, and the English countryside was lovely in this, but the real standout was the parts about the Himalayas. I felt really transported and even tabbed some poignant quotes.
Plot-wise, it was incredibly obvious where this was going, but that is exactly what I want and expect from a book like this LOL. I also didn't guess some of the side parts that brought us to the ultimate ending. This is definitely one of the slowest-burn romances I've ever read.
Overall, another winner!!!!
Li Carol L, Reviewer
this is my second Karen Swan, The first one was Ok for me, when i see this one on Netgalley, I thought, ok, I will give her a second try.
OMG, this book is phenomenal. I really should get into it sooner. Duffy and Nats met days before Nats' wedding. everything is too late. Nat's find out what is really between them, Duffy is dying on the mountain, it is too late. !!??
this book is not just a destination vacation love story. it's full life and hope.
the little girl is so cute. those letters (postcards) are so sweet, and the mountain clime is atmosphere. i have to say this book starts slow, it start to pick up about 50%, my motions rise with Duffy's clime. it reach to the peak at the end. I cried through the last 2 chapters.
5 starts
I add Karen Swan's other works to my backlist.
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