Fairly insubstantial, but a fun and undemanding Christmas read from an experienced author who knows what her readers want.

Fear not...Your eyes aren't deceiving you. I am reviewing a Christmas book outside of the confines of November/December. The truth is I am a terrible human being who has a desire to read ALL the books. Therefore I am slightly behind with some of my reading and I finished this lovely little gem from Katie Fforde two months late in true bad-book-blogger style.
However, the fact that the decorations are long packed away in the loft, and the only remaining Quality Street are the coconut eclairs (DOES anyone actually like these? Please feel free to take them off my hands, if so...) is irrelevant and didn't hinder my enjoyment of these wonderfully warm and feel-good stories one teeny, tiny bit.

Katie Fforde releasing a Christmas book has fast become a tradition in my world and it's one of the things I enjoy most about the festive season (along with the food, the presents and the Only Fools and Horses re-runs.) I was extremely excited to get my mitts on this collection of festive-themed short stories and they certainly didn't disappoint.
There are six stories within the collection, but bear in mind that two of them (Candlelight at Christmas and A Christmas in Disguise) were already published as ebooks, so they may sound familiar...Being the mahooosive fan of Katie Fforde that I am, I naturally had read these two stories before, but this in no way hinder my enjoyment. It was a while ago when I read these stories originally so I couldn't really remember what happened, but at the same time I love Katie's writing so much, she is an author I can happily re-read, and the stories were so good I felt as though they made a nice addition to the collection anyway.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the stories, the only one I perhaps didn't love as much as the rest was The Christmas Stocking, purely because I found elements of it a teeny bit hard to believe, but maybe that's just me being cynical - after all, it's Christmas! Anything can happen! The story was still brilliantly written, I just questioned certain aspects of it. The other stories were classic Katie Fforde. And by that I mean, warm, romantic, funny & feel-good. If you're a big fan of Katie's novels then you will recognise some of the characters from previous books too, which was a lovely touch.
If I had to choose my favourite it would be The Christmas Fairy. Brilliantly executed and based on such a good idea, this was a wonderful story to finish the collection with.

This is the perfect companion to Christmas, it will put you in a festive mood within seconds. It's also great to read over Christmas because usually there is so much going on (or Selection Boxes to be eaten) that you just find yourself looking for a light, easy-going read to fit in between watching Mary Poppins. Or if, like me, you're reading this book out of season, you'll still enjoy these stories for what they are - fun, sweet, heart-warming and full of romance.

I am now even more excited to get hold of a copy of A Country Escape, which was released on the 22nd Feb. After all, the more Katie Fforde the better...

Delving into a Katie Fforde book is like climbing into the most perfect of perfect beds, pulling up the comforter, snuggling in with a cup of tea and shortbread biscuit and spending the most delightful of times while the world waits outside not daring to disturb you. I have been a massive fan for many a long year of her books. She sold me with her blurb in the front explaining all about her - it made me smile and I never stop smiling when I read one of her stories.
This collection of short stories is wonderful - little snapshots that allow you to reenter the lives of some familiar characters while introducing you to new ones. Even if you haven't had the pleasure of reading Katie's books you will thoroughly enjoy the way the stories unfold. She is an old-fashioned storyteller who shapes the places and the people with ease - you honestly believe you could open your front door and meet these people in real life. I have to say my only problem with this book at all was that it gave a taster of 'A Country Escape' and I kept tapping on my ipad to see if there was just a little more to explore - it was that interesting.
As the title of the collection indicates this is a collection of Christmas stories and they really capture the spirit of this time of the year. Once again as I have indicated in other reviews of Christmas stories I don't think you have to read them only at Christmas - there is never a bad time for a story filled with laughter, happiness and goodwill. Without a doubt, this is a book worth reading for Katie Fforde fans and to discover a new author if you haven't spent time with her stories yet.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this collection in return for my honest opinion. It was fabulous.

A fabulous festive fireside read featuring a whole host of likeable characters in bite-sized stories.

As always from Katie Fforde this is a great book to pick up in winter and will leave you feeling good in minutes!

A collection of short stories all set during the Christmas holidays: young people in unhappy relationships and alone who find love on Christmas; two newlyweds who, after a disastrous wedding, have a romantic and perfect honeymoon; families getting together; friends helping each other; a Christmas fairy brings joy to children spending the special day without their parents.

The stories are very Christmassy but they are also predictable and similar to each other. They didn't captivate me and most of the time I knew exactly how the story was going to end. The characters are realistic but slightly boring but at least they'll get you in the Christmas mood.

This is a lovely collection of short christmas stories- only two have been published before. These stories are ideal to settle down to read with a nice mug of hot chocolate when making your Christmas list or taking a break from shopping. I loved Katie's books- so it was a real treat to have some shorter stories to read with a Christmas theme. It's my favourite time of year. This collection will have you reaching for the mince pies and finding a radio station playing those Christmas songs.

The Christmas Stocking and other stories is the second collection of festive themed short stories from Katie Fforde following on from publication of A Christmas Feast back in 2014. This new collection features six stories only two of which have been published before or featured in magazines. Those two being A Christmas in Disguise and Candlelight at Christmas. I have read and reviewed both of these before and out of the two I would say A Christmas in Disguise is the better one. Short stories really divide readers, you either love them or hate them and rarely fall in between with your opinion. I'm on the side that loves them because I feel they are perfect to dip in and out of at a time of year when you are always rushed off your feet amidst frantic preparations for Christmas. I think the stories provide the perfect opportunity to grab a few minutes to yourself and curl up and enjoy a wonderful tale without the added pressure of knowing it is a long book and one in which you will have to keep track of so many characters and plot-lines. What sets short stories apart from normal length books is that they always have a twist towards the end and that is what I look forward to the most when I am reading. I raced through this collection one afternoon and overall enjoyed the characters I met but felt some stories were stronger than others.

In the Christmas Stocking we met Romy who is selling her hand-crafted Christmas decorations at a Cotsworlds market. She is frozen standing there but thinking of the flight she has to catch to spend Christmas with her boyfriend Gus and his parents in France. Like a ray of sunshine Felix steps up to the stall and buys everything she has left. Relief for Romy that she can get out of the cold but also the thoughts that her trip is drawing ever closer don't bode well as Christmas with a man she wonders how she could be attracted to is not really top of her priorities. Through one thing and another Romy ends up bringing the decorations to Felix's house deep in the woods and she becomes stranded there. It almost felt like the pair were cut off from the world, all contact and communication was gone and it meant the pair could get to know each other despite each having a partner of their own. The story was short and sweet but perhaps not the best in this collection. I got the message towards the end how it related to the title but for me it was missing that special magic moment of revelation and surprise. The events do change Romy's life and maybe the Christmas magic did come into play.

A Dream Christmas certainly lived up to its title and could best be described as a fairytale for grown ups as strange things start to happen to Ginny and Ben on their honeymoon. Their wedding had taken place on Christmas Eve and although your wedding day is meant to be one of the happiest days of your life, Ginny can't say that is the case for her. Ginny was a person who gave into the pressures of others most noticeably her mother instead of just standing up for what she wanted. Now the wedding is over she is at the stage where she questions whether she wanted any of it all even Ben. But someone out there knows just a little magic and a few special touches will bring everything back into focus for Ginny and maker her stop questioning herself. To some, elements of this story may have seemed over the top but somehow it just worked here. The reader needs to suspend their disbelief and go with the love and enjoy the beauty and message within the story.

As previously mentioned I had read both Candlelight at Christmas and A Christmas in Disguise so I skipped these two stories. Candlelight at Christmas sees the return of Rupert and Fenella who featured in the full length book Recipe for Love. They are supposed to be organising the perfect Christmas in their home until a phone call announcing the imminent arrival of her ghastly parents in law scuppers all their plans. Can a smooth Christmas ensue? A Christmas in Disguise follows Jo as she attempts to do a favour for a friend leading to some unexpected events and a little white lie or two. Will Jo be able to fulfil her promise without discovery? Can she produce the most mouthwatering, tantalising Christmas feast on a par with the usual fair Andi is capable of producing? Will a bargain lead to her downfall or will Katie Fforde produce a twist that all short stories deserve? If you buy this collection you'll discover all the answers.

Dogs are for Christmas and The Christmas Fairy were without doubt my favourite stories in this collection. In my eyes having dogs in a story means you are straight away onto a winner. On Christmas morning as Stella is walking up to the top of the common to scatter her Dad's ashes and those of his beloved dog Geoffrey she encounters a pair of boisterous pups Tris and Izzy followed by their harassed looking owner Fitz. Little does Stella know that this brief encounter will change her entire plans for Christmas and maybe her outlook on life. Stella is a bit lost after the death of her father. Combined with that she is on a break from boyfriend Piers and looking to spend Christmas alone in her father's cottage to take stock and see what her next move should be. Adorable but naughty pups Tris and Izzy put paid to her plans and soon she finds herself with guests for Christmas dinner. I did think woah would you really take in people on the most special day of the year although you had literally only met them that morning? But as the story developed and the main idea and message behind it became more evident, I loved how the strands began to come together and made the message and spirit of Christmas shine through. Fitz's mother Mac, although now in a care home, was a lot smarter than one would give her credit for. That little twinkle in her eye might have meant mischief but in the most beneficial way to all.

The Christmas Fairy ended this book in the most perfect way. Ella stands at the door of a cottage In Cairn, Scotland hoping to make the Christmas wishes of a family come true. She has the most unusual of jobs which she has created to keep her going in between searching for acting jobs. For Ella is the Christmas Fairy, not one who sits and surveys all at the top Of the tree. No she fulfils all your Christmas wishes to such high standards you wonder why you never had an Ella in your life before. Through one thing and another she is needed to help out Uncle Brent to make Christmas just as it always had been for Judith, Mia and Bill. I loved every minute of this story and Ella's enthusiasm for everything she does was just so infectious. She thought of every little detail and everyone's needs were catered for. She certainly used her 'fairy magic' to the best of her ability leaving no stone unturned. Ella had such heart and soul. She was kind and genuine that the reader hoped some magic would work it's way into her life and that she would find the ending she deserved. In this story it was brilliant to see the reappearance of Rebecca, Emily and Alasdair who had featured in the full length book A Summer at Sea. Again another book I loved. It's fun to spot characters you have read about before.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Christmas Stocking and other stories and yes it would be an ideal gift for someone to find in their stocking on Christmas morning. The sneak peek of Katie's new novel A Country Escape at the very end has more than whetted my appetite for its publication in February 2018.

The first thing to note is that this publication has two short stories which have previously been published around Christmas time. However they are short stories and so wonderfully written that it will do you no harm in reading them all over again - just like I have!

Candlelight at Christmas (previously published) - featuring characters from Recipe in Love (which I still have not read) shows how Christmas can be as much fun, even if you have the in-laws from hell, too many guests and suddenly no electricity to cook the turkey!

A Christmas in Disguise (previously published) - can Jo really pull of not just being someone else but also cooking a Christmas Dinner and pretending to be a girlfriend all in one day!

The Christmas Stocking - Romy is busy selling decorations and gifts on her stall at the market. The weather has taken a turn for the worse and the cold is really starting to bite Romy.

When a mysterious man brings her a hot drink to warm her up, so begins an unlikely friendship which is intensified by it being Christmas Eve the next day, the snow, the music studio all in the depth of the woods. Romy's Christmas this years is going to be very different from what she planned.

A Dream Christmas - getting married on Christmas Eve is a dream for many (me included) and when Ginny and Ben finally make it out of their wedding reception and have some time for themselves.

When the taxi drops them at Withycome Lodge, the housekeeper's cottage it seems to be in the middle of nowhere almost a dream.....log fires, warming baths, snow and an unseen member of staff mean this is going to be the honeymoon that everyone dreams of.

Or is it?

Dogs are for Christmas  - Stella  goes for a walk early Christmas morning to the Dog Walker's Christmas Tree where people come to remember their treasured pets that are no longer around. She wants to put her dad's dogs ashes there. Her dad's beloved dog, died a few days after its owner.

Stella did not think she would suddenly have company so early and especially not from two exuberant misbehaving dogs, Tris and Izzy and an apologetic dog sitter, Fitz.

Perhaps Stella's Christmas is going to be full of dogs after all.

The Christmas Fairy - everyone needs one surely? Ella is sent to help Brent look after his two nieces and nephew when their parents have to make a mad dash to France to look after sick relatives. Ella as the fairy is there to make sure everything is going okay and occupy them all in the depths of Scotland and so they don't miss their parents too much.

Trouble is Ella seems to be sprinkling a bit of fairy dust very close to home. Perhaps she will get her Christmas wish too.

This is a collection of wonderful stories which can be read time and time again. Perfect for getting into the Christmas Spirit whatever the month or the weather! In fact I think they would make great Christmas Eve afternoon stories, curled up in the front of the log fire. A hot toddy, a mince-pie warm oozing with Brandy Butter, the tin of Roses open with wrappers left about in gay abandon like coloured snowflakes. Indulge it may be the only time you can in what can be a busy time!

This also includes a preview of Katie Fforde's new novel, out in 2018. As with such things when they appear in books I do not read them, as the frustration of not being able to continue the story is incalculable!

A gentle, delightful collection of Christmas stories for the festive period. They are perfect length to read with a cup of tea when you can snatch a few moments in between the hectic Christmas preparations.
I enjoyed them but prefer the author's longer work where you can connect to the characters more.

If you’re looking for soft, fluffy Christmas fun this collection is for you. Each story is crafted to inject joy into you, and as an avid reader of Katie Fforde’s books some familiar faces popped up - which was an added bonus! Thanks to the fact this book contains 6 stories they were (obviously!) all very short. That would be my only criticism. I wanted more; more development for the characters, some of which felt very two-dimensional. The story which hosted ‘already established’ characters was one of the best, as they were familiar and they felt more real to me. But arguably six happy endings are better than one. I adored the first story - a delightful narrative surrounding an artist who makes decorations, a man who loves to buy them, and a stocking. The format of each story was similar and this book of short romantic stories is by an author whose novels are more than guaranteed to gift you a happy ending good enough for Cinderella. I enjoyed this, it was exactly what I will be looking for this Christmas.

Review: Katie Fforde is by far one of my favourite authors, so when I got the chance to review this I jumped at the chance.

Katie Fforde has written some truly amazing festive short stories. Each is just as magical as the other but all stand out. I won't give any plots away but the ideas for these stories are great and some of Katie's other characters make an appearance, now that I loved!

Katie Fforde will make Christmas that extra bit more festive with The Christmas Stocking.

Look out for Katie Fforde's new book out February 2018 called A Country Escape.

A great book of short Christmas stories and the sneak preview for the new book. Perfect for getting into the festive season. Looking forward to reading the new book too

I love all of Katie Fforde's work but Christmas stories are special all ready to get you into the festive spirit. Even though I had read one before it was such a good read it didn't matter in the slightest. I particularly liked the Christmas fairy which took us back to Crinan the setting of one of Katie's previous books. And the best bit was a chapter of her new book.