Christmas in July :D

I loved the small town setting and holiday cheer of The Perfect Christmas Village.

I felt Blythe was a bit pushy and over the top. This girl had a lack of boundaries in some situations.

Sam was sweet, and whilst I understand his aversion to Christmas, he too was a bit much with his inability to just get on board.

The supporting characters were pleasant, but their enthusiasm for the holiday celebrations could at times come across as overbearing. Some people dont want to celebrate holidays, you cant just force people to get on board.

I also felt the shifting POVs between Blythe and Vicky was a bit odd - why was Vicky important enough to get a POV and not Sam?

All in all, an easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. All views are my own.

The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne is a delightful holiday romance set in the charming village of Holly Cross.

*British Rom-com

*Christmas

*Closed door

Book Blurb:
When Christmas-hating Sam moves to Holly Cross, he thinks he’s found the perfect home, until he discovers that, each year, Holly Cross transforms into the most Christmassy village in the whole country. Blythe is just one sale away from being Real Estate Agent of the month, so she twists the truth to sell a home to city boy, Sam, who is looking for the perfect house in the perfect location. Little does he know he’s just bought a cottage in the middle of the most Christmassy village in the country. And if there’s one thing Sam loathes it’s Christmas. Sam’s arrival puts Holly Cross’s chance to win the title of Britain’s Most Perfect Christmas Village now in jeopardy, and the villagers are soon up in arms. Meanwhile, Sam is in his own personal hell surrounded by fairy lights and everyone is looking to Blythe to fix things. But as the festive season looms, maybe there’s more than just Christmas in Holly Cross for Sam to fall in love with…

Yes, it’s only July but I love Christmas romance books and read them year round. I also love British authors and recently discovered Bella’s books. A must read for fans of romance, Christmas, and fans of Bella Osborne.

The book is centered around the joy of Christmas and the importance of family, friends, and community spirit.

I loved the characters, the descriptions of the village’s decorations, holiday fayre, and small town charm. The humor sprinkled throughout was laugh out loud. A delightful book filled with Christmas cheer, love, friendship and the magic of the season.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the advanced ARC for my reading pleasure in exchange for my honest opinion.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The perfect Christmas Village - Bella Osborne

This book had the perfect mixture of pure festive feels alongside great background story lines. I liked how the author highlights that the Christmas period is not always such a happy occasion for everyone. I thought the characters had some good backstories, and this gave a greater depth to the book. This will be lovely to read again closer to Christmas, and had a real small town village feel, that just warms and uplifts you. Perfect for fans of Festive Hallmark movies. Thanks so much Netgalley and Aria & Aries for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

"The Perfect Christmas Village" by Bella Osborne is a heart-warming holiday tale set in Holly Cross, a village that transforms into the most Christmassy place in the country. Sam, a Christmas-hating city boy, unknowingly buys a cottage there, much to his dismay. As he clashes with the villagers and jeopardizes their chances of winning the coveted title of Britain's Most Christmassy Village, the pressure falls on Blythe, the real estate agent who sold him the house. Amidst the twinkling fairy lights and festive chaos, Sam starts to see the magic of the season and finds unexpected love in Holly Cross. A delightful and charming read.

This is a really warm and uplifting read which focuses on both the relationship between estate agent Blythe and village newcomer Sam as well as the villages focus on their annual Christmas display. The village is very full on with its approach to Christmas whereas Sam, whose house is very central to the village, would rather pretend it didn’t exist leading to frustration between him and the villagers which Blythe is tasked with resolving. Both the main characters have good backstories which are shaped by issues with some of their parents and whilst this s a very positive read it does go a small way to highlighting how difficult christmas can be for some people. Overall this is a lovely village read with many heartwarming moments and some great storylines running through it.

The story is set within Holly Cross, an idyllic village community, with lots of friends and neighbours. Sam hates Christmas, and all it involves, but when Blythe (an estate agent) sells him a house, she fails to tell him that Holly Cross is the most Christmassy village in the country. This sets the tone for their relationship as they become to know each other better.
I like the easy, light hearted writing style and vivid descriptions of the characters and village, the author brings them alive with a stroke of the pen. Lots of humour and a good storyline which keeps pace as the story unfolds.
The book is about friendships, developing romance between Blythe and Sam, and the ongoing adventures of Turpin, the mischievous cat. Blythe and her friend Vickie write their own stories. Blythe is busy getting Christmas trees and decorations sorted, while chemistry sizzles between her and Sam. Vickie is a single mum and doing her best to look after her daughter.
Delightful winter read.

The Perfect Christmas Village was exactly the heart warming Christmas filled story I had hoped for.

Set in the idyllic village of Holly Cross with Estate Agent Blythe leading the story we are introduced to an array of colourful characters who all hold a special place within the village. As we learn of the community spirit to come together and celebrate the years celebrations along with the desire to create the best Christmas display yet newcomer Sam doesn't seem as taken with Christmas as the rest of the village and as such a battle of wills begins.

The addition of characters such as Vicky, Murray, Arthur and Leonora helps to build on the community feel of the village that helps draw the reader in and give a great sense of the village and its inhabitants. Their stories however are limited in areas and not fully explained leaving me to wonder if we may in the future hear more from Holly Cross.

For anyone who loves Christmas, this story certainly covers all bases! Like other reviewers I do appreciate that at times the pressure on Sam's character to conform to the wishes of others can appear rather strong and unsympathetic to his personal history. However I feel that the underlying story of Christmas being a time for community, human connection and giving people a sense of purpose, helps to balance this viewpoint and give greater meaning to the strength of wanting all to take part in events.

An absolutely lovely story about a Christmas loving village and a new resident who hates Christmas. It is a great read . You have love forbidden and new. A great estate agency. A pushy father and a fab step dad. . A perfect read. Bella Osborne is fantastic writer

Another Bella Osborne that I couldn't put down - a heart warming story of community spirit and a mystery as to who the woman is that's looking around the village that nobody knows? Also there is a lesson to be learnt, if you hate Christmas Holly Cross is not the village to move to - a lesson Sam learnt too late! As a hater of Christmas this is his nightmare, will he manage to get over this to become a villager? A prefect Xmas read to curl up with.

The Perfect Christmas Village is a seasonal heartwarmer. Full of interesting characters, stalwarts of the village that am sure anyone living in smaller communities might recognise.

The action centres around Blythe a friendly young woman, always keen to help out and very active in the community. She had a close friendship with an older resident, Murray, who sadly passed away recently. Her father is a high flying estate agent in the city and she is so keen to be the top seller at the local estate agency she works at, to make him proud of her, she “sells” Murray’s cottage before it actually goes on the market.

To make the situation more complicated she sells the village life perfectly to the new owner, without mentioning the most important aspect, how massive Christmas preparations and celebrations are to everyone living there. In particular the fact that the cottage is always lit up and fully decorated the literal centre of the display. Not something the owner can duck out of and essential to winning the Perfect Christmas Village competition. Complicated by lies but mainly by the new owner, Sam, who doesn’t like Christmas in any shape or form.

I enjoyed reading the book. I love the sense of community it evokes. To be honest Blythe frustrated me a little with her competitive nature, naivety and determination to prove herself to her Dad but her honesty and kindness won me out in the end.

The story comes with it’s own little mystery as to why Murray had a funeral in Manchester, when he had no family there. I liked this addition to the story as it added depth to the final chapters. I also loved reading about Turpin the ferral cat and his madcap attempts to sleep in weird comfy spaces inside the cottage despite the humans that actually live there.

Lots of love and laughter are to be found inside the “Perfect Christmas Village”

Another gorgeous romantic book from Bella set around Christmas. Enter Sam who absoutely hates Christmas so when he moves into the village of Holly Cross, he's walked into his worst nightmare..

But could a worse nightmare actually be a place where Sam falls in love with Blythe, the woman who tricks him into buying a house in the world's most Christmas place?

Find out in the latest offering from Bella which is perfect for Christmas 2023.

This is such a cute and fluffy Christmas romance, a village obsessed with Christmas and a newcomer who hates it, I really enjoyed it, such a delight to read

Blithe only needs one more sale to get Real Estate Agent of the Month, so she twists the truth just a bit to make a sale to Sam. The only problem is, Sam is the Grinch, and their little village is very enthusiastic about Christmas!

This is a feelgood holiday romance, Hallmark style. The characters are loveable and realistic, and it's fun and heartwarming to watch the relationship between Sam and Blithe grow slowly over the course of the story. Sometimes the villagers are a little over-the-top with the Christmas stuff, but that's half the fun of getting on Sam's last nerve! I loved watching Sam come around to appreciate the season.❤️

Wonderful Christmas romance to curl up next to the fire with. Definitely would recommend this one if you're looking for something to give you happy feels!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blythe sells a house to Christmas-hating Sam, except she's not told him the village loves Christmas or that she hasn't actually got permission to sell the house. Gradually Sam starts to enjoy life in the village, but still can't face Christmas. When disaster strikes the Christmas Village competition, will he save the day?

I love cheerful books set at Christmas (basically anything with a plot that could be a Hallmark movie) - this was one of those.

The characters were complicated (I didn't see the 'who owns the cottage' twist coming) and had interesting backstories.

The Sam/Blythe romance felt a little rushed in the end but it was lovely festive feelgood romance.

I'll be checking out Bella Osborne's other books now as well.

Perfect Christmas book and would make an ideal Christmas gift. The story is set in a pic village which is seemingly centred around Christmas decorations but is so much more. Fab characters and lots of Estate Agent sidelines with Office politics. All in all a wonderful read.

It’s never too early for a Christmas book! This latest read from one of my favourite authors was a true delight. We meet estate agent, Blythe, who is trying to beat her fellow colleagues to be estate agent of the month! When Sam comes to the agency, Blythe thinks she’s found him the perfect home…but neglects to tell him that the little village of Holly Cross is the most Christmassy place in the country! Not a problem you think, but Sam hates the festive session with a passion!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really got into the storyline almost immediately! I liked Blythe’s character, and whilst you might think her competitive nature is a little too much, it’s always good to have an aim in life!! Her relationship with Sam was fun, initially being very businesslike (despite there being a spark between them), with them then becoming friends. There are some obvious issues that both of them need to deal with in their lives, with the main one being Sam’s hate for Christmas and the reason why. The storyline flowed well between, not only them, but the other villagers as well. I loved the side storyline of Blythe’s late friend, Murray and really enjoyed the twist to his story at the end.

All in all, this was an easy to read, light-hearted and romantic story with more Christmas bells, baubles and tinsel than you could shake a Christmas tree at! The chapters flew past and before I knew it I was coming to the end, and was sad to be finishing it. My first Christmas read of the year and what a book to start with! Would definitely recommend!

You had me at Christmas! I’ll be buying this for Christmas presents for sure! I even curled up with a blanket & a hot chocolate to enjoy this & get myself fully into the Christmas vibe 😍

I loved this book! The plot was always unpredictible and made it un-put-down-able. Osborne did a wonderful job of describing the characters and the village to the point that I wish I lived there. I loved Blythe and her relationship with her stepfather and her complicated relationship with her bio-dad. I also loved Vicky and her enterprising, can-do attitude. The relationship between Blythe and Sam was unpredictible - especially Sam. I loved the community feeling I got while reading and it inspired me. I read a lot of Christmas themed books and this one kept me interested and guessing what what happen next. I think it would be marvelous if Ms. Osborne continued the story of these great characters.

I really enjoyed this book. Very Christmassy and heartwarming, I found myself smiling to myself numerous times whilst reading. Lovely supporting characters, especially Turpin the cat! I struggled to warm to Sam at first but by the end he had won me round. Just a lovely, lighthearted Christmas read, I’m a bit sad to have finished it!

This was an easy read, good but not brilliant. A bit unbelievable at times but it is a good story. It did make me laugh at times. I am not sure if there are whole villages that come together and decorate the whole village for Christmas with such precision but it is a nice idea. Typical Christmas book with a character that is a typical Grinch who is eventually won round to the idea of Christmas.

This perfect Christmas village puts you in a jolly mood. I enjoyed the focus on community and family, and how it all comes together. This is a sweet book that is age appropriate for most of my older teen students and up. I would recommend this for anyone needing a Christmas pick me up.

I love Bella Osbornes books, always beautifully written and full to the brim with love, laughter and heart and this one was no different.
“The Perfect Christmas Village” is a gorgeous read filled with the joy and magic of Christmas. The writing style is both engaging and humorous bringing to life the cast of charming and quirky characters who make up the village of Holly Cross and transporting the reader right to its heart. The author skillfully weaves together a number of plot lines that keep you engaged and the pages turning, exploring themes of love, community and the magic of Christmas. The main love story between Sam and Blythe has plenty of ups and downs to keep you guessing but their chemistry positively crackles off the page and leaves you rooting for them from the off. I’m essence it is a perfect cosy piece of romantic escapism guaranteed to put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart. One to snuggle up with on a cold day.

As always Bella has developed a set of characters that are more interesting than the main protagonist. I liked this story and would love to hear the stories of some of the other villagers.

This is a fantastic Holiday Rom-Com a perfect Grumpy/sunshine romance. I love love love this! I read it inbone sitting it was so good!! I LOVE and English village christmas story and I can't get enough of Sam and Holly. 5 star read!
I just reviewed The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne. #ThePerfectChristmasVillage #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne

Another great character driven book by this great author.
Her description of Holly Cross was so wonderful I could imagine one of those Christmas Villages you can buy as a decoration coming to life as Holly Cross !
Loved Blythe & ' bah humbug ' Sam , a perfect Christmas read or even a Christmas film.

I just love a Christmas read and was delighted to be approved for the ARC.

We meet best friends Blythe and Vicky, who both live in a village called Holly Cross. Holly Cross residents love everything about Christmas, and the whole village gets involved in decorating the houses for the festive season.

Blythe is an ambitious estate agent who is trying to beat her colleagues Amir for estate agent of the month. Therefore, she sells a rececent becoming available cottage to Sam Ashton, but the only problem is that he hates everything about Christmas. Blythe has to try to convince Sam to get involved in the community to become Britain's Most Christmassy Village. Will she be able to convince him?

Vicky is a single mum to adorable Eden and always comes up with different ideas to earn money. She really gets thrown when former love Oliver turns up in the village again.

Bella Osborne has a great way of bringing to life the wide range of likeable & fun characters. This is a well-written story about a community coming together to raise money for charities, and Holly Cross village feels like the perfect place to live. The author definitely brought the story alive with her vivid descriptions, and I would love to be part of this community.

Holiday Rom-Com at its best!

Thank you Aria & Aries and Netgalleyuk for the advanced copy.

The Perfect Christmas Village by Bella Osborne is the ideal book to put you in the mood for the holiday season.
This well-written story of the goings on in a small village that goes all in on Christmas in order to raise money for charities, features a wide range of likeable and fun characters and not one but two romances.
Osborne brings the setting of Holly Cross to vivid life, and her characters' drama keeps you turning the pages to the very end. If you are a fan of romances set around Christmas, this is the book for you!
I was flattered to be offered an ARC of #ThePerfectChristmasVillage from #Aria&Aries and #NetGalley.

"Tis the season.... for a Christmas cynic to have his frozen heart melted by festive magic"


I only tend to choose a couple of Christmas books to read and review each year, as like Sam in this particular story, Christmas is not my favourite time of year, plus I often find the rom-com storylines a little too banal and 'cheesy'. Having spent almost thirty subsequent Christmas and New Year periods in Disney World, Florida, you might wonder why my non-committal attitude towards the season; which I can only really explain as the difference between the ready-made festivities laid on by Disney, versus the unimaginative British tradition of too many people crowded around too small a dining table, over-eating on what is usually, by the time it is all served up, a mildly lukewarm, full English roast dinner, followed by the fight for a semi-comfortable easy chair and an afternoon with the television on, playing to itself, while everyone talks over it. Call me 'Bah! Humbug' and I'll willing put my hands up to it!!

Anyway, let's see if the villagers of Holly Cross have more luck persuading Sam that he really does want to do Christmas after all...



It is late spring in the fictional, 'chocolate box' village of Holly Cross, Warwickshire. Amir and Blythe are competitors for top-dog sales position in the Happy Homes Estate Agency, which is owned and manged by Ludo. With only a weekend and Bank Holiday Monday to go before the end of the month, Blythe looks set to be knocked off pole position by a very smug Amir and it isn't sitting too well with her! Unusually for the profession, Ludo maintains a very strict code of ethics in his business, which puts the customer front and centre of every interaction and transaction, so when Blythe has the temerity to sell a property which isn't even on the market, Ludo is not best pleased when he finds out about it and removes all of Blythe's long service privileges and salesperson accolades, as punishment.

Blythe's potential client Sam Ashton, who is relocating from London and has very specific ideas of what he expects from a property, is also unaware of her deception, when he falls in love with the cottage she shows him, around the village green of Holly Cross, unaware that this is her last ditch attempt to bag that all important end-of-month sale. He is even more annoyed when he discovers too late, that despite him making it clear to Blythe just how much he dislikes the festive season, the cottage is located in one of the most Christmassy villages in the country, which regularly participates in a national Christmas competition, with each and every inhabitant being expected to take part in proceedings. Even more unfortunately for Sam, the previous owner of the property, an elderly gentleman called Murray, was one of the most staunch supporters of the HCCC (Holly Cross Christmas Committee), putting his own cottage up as a front and centre exhibit. So Sam is up against it almost from the very moment in September, when the sale finally completes and he moves in.

Following the recent break-up of her relationship, Blythe is now living back in Holly Cross herself, with her mother and stepfather. Her relationship with her birth father, who left the marital home when she was very young, is very stilted and never spontaneous, always a diarised event organised by his secretary and only happens once or twice a year. That he is a property guru in London, causes Blythe to feel she has something to prove, working as they do in arguably the same profession. She and Murray had been close friends, although he had been a very private person, so the mystery surrounding his life, continued unabated following his demise, made even more confusing when his daughter Denise arrives on the scene and evidence of the double life Murray was living becomes obvious.


Murray had also almost befriended a stray and very feral cat called Turpin, which Blythe had carried on feeding after his death, so she and Sam agree that the arrangement should continue, although things blow hot and cold between the two of them every time they meet, as everything about the village seems set to wind Sam up, making him wish he had never set eyes on either the place or the over-eager estate agent he finds himself falling for. When Sam does finally open up to Blythe about the reasons for his complete aversion to Christmas, she decides that this is going to be the year all that changes and Sam becomes a fully paid up member of the season of goodwill. However, we all know what happens to those best laid and well intentioned plans, don't we? So when everything contrives against the village celebrations this year, even Sam finds himself willingly playing his part to make the event the best it can possibly be for everyone.

And his reward?...



Author Bella Osborne's writing style was warm, fluent, and inviting, and whilst I couldn't escape the obvious fact that this engaging, multi-layered storyline was essentially about the ups and downs of an evolving and flourishing romance, with all the 'happy ever afters' that engendered, she cleverly managed to weave a couple of mysteries into the mix, which were such a good fit that they never threatened to overwhelm the heart and humour of the main event, but certainly added that much needed depth of interest for me personally. The chapters were also well-signposted, short and punchy, which meant that I was able to dip in and out of the storyline, as 'real life' dictated, without needing to backtrack for a recap; although as I became so engrossed by life and love in Holly Cross that I finished reading the book in less than forty-eight hours anyway, there was no chance of me being too side-tracked.

The colourful cast of quirky characters, while maybe appearing a little larger than life, I felt were probably truthfully drawn and an honest representation of the diverse mix of residents you would find in any such small and insular community in the UK. From Blythe's childhood friend, the garrulous, slightly scatty and straight-talking Vicky; to Norman the baker, who believes that all the ills of the world can be solved by feasting on one of his homemade delicious cakes or pastries. From the two mouse-like, elderly sisters who sit and knit for charity all day long; to the inimitable, larger than life Leonora, chair of the HCCC, a force to be reckoned with and someone who definitely takes no prisoners. There were inevitably some well-kept secrets, as you would expect, however each character was compelling, relatable, authentic and genuinely believable. Their addictive verve and the vibrant synergy between them, caused a few amusing moments, although I was always laughing with them and never at them! If the numerous events and the wonderful location are the threads which hold this community together, then the characters are definitely the very fabric and glue which gives it its strength and resilience.

Whilst Holly Cross in Warwickshire is a fictional location, the picturesque village of Eathorpe, which the author took as inspiration for this story, is very real. The physical footprint of the story is confined to this single, quite niche location, so for anyone looking for travel to far flung places, there may be slight disappointment. However, my journey as an 'armchair traveller' has never felt more cosy and comfortable, as Bella used the full palette of words at her disposal to capture the essence and heart-warming charm of village life through the seasons of the year, whilst bringing the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas magic to life, lifting the images off the pages and into my reading space, thus affording me an excellent visual depth and a profoundly perceptive and immersive sense of time and place, that I could almost step into.

This book has as its message, the importance of family, friends, and community spirit. Or as Blythe was heard to say “Holly Cross isn't about Christmas.. What it's really about is community. It's the people. Christmas is just an excuse. It gives them a purpose to get together, to support each other and create something special that benefits others. It's the people who make Holly Cross, not Christmas”

This book was a very cute Christmas romcom. The side characters (including the village) were cute and I loved Blythe and Sam's story. Made me want a mince pie!

Enormously cute. A competitive real estate agent needs to sell one more house to be #1 in the monthly rating. Finally on the weekend before the end of the month and the official town Christmas season gets a client and a sale. From there on things to downhill for the agent and the buyer. Funny and with lights!

I always enjoy a Christmas story by Bella Osborne, so I was happy when I saw her book for 2023. I did have a bit of a difficult time getting into the story, since it began with focusing on a real estate office and the personnel (and personal) issues going on there. Also, the main character was very unlikeable to me at the start. I am very glad to admit that soon went away after a few chapters and the story began to explore other events going on in this very Christmassy village.

This is a lovely story about diving deeper into a person’s character than what is seen on the surface. Many of the people in the story do not show their true self to others. It was very interesting to experience getting to know them.

The town is all abuzz with trying to decorate everything in hopes of winning the award for the Perfect Christmas Village. All residents usually participate, but this year, there is a new resident that is a bit of a gump. That makes the story special, to see if the Christmas spirit can change him.

I want to thank Aria & Aries and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

This is an easy, enjoyable read set in the run up to Christmas within the fictional 'Holly Cross' village. It is humorous and entertaining but it also has a more serious storyline underneath as you try to work out why Sam is so averse to Christmas. There is also a bit of a mystery running throughout the book that is not revealed until the end so it will keep you reading...!

The perfect festive romance to curl up with!

Lovely easy to read story. Slightly predictable but aren't all books of this style.
Really enjoyable

I quite enjoyed this festive offering from Bella Osborne, loved the mix of characters and the other little stories running through it. Brilliant ending brought a tear to my eye. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy. Side note can't believe the amount of reviewers getting there knees in a knot over one mention of Donald Trump. It was a passing comment and not worthy of a reduction in stars

Blythe embellished the truth about a cottage to get her sales person of the month at her estate agent job. Sam who hates Christmas buys it not knowing the village is full of Christmas

Sam, a self-proclaimed Christmas hater, relocates to Holly Cross, believing he's found his dream home. However, he soon discovers that Holly Cross is known for transforming into the most Christmassy village in the country every year.

Blythe, a real estate agent desperate to secure a sale, bends the truth to sell Sam a cottage in Holly Cross, not realising the extent of his Christmas aversion. Sam's presence jeopardises Holly Cross's chances of winning the title of Britain's Most Christmassy Village, and the villagers are not pleased.

As the town's festive reputation hangs in the balance, the villagers look to Blythe to resolve the situation. Amidst the chaos, Sam may find more than just a holiday nightmare in Holly Cross. A humorous tale of love, community, and the magic of Christmas.

I love a good romance, and this one was wonderful! It had witty banter, and lovable characters. I was rooting for them the whole way through!

One of my guilty pleasures that never fails to bring me comfort are holiday rom-coms, and The Perfect Christmas Village provided the same comfort. There were several layers of this plot that involved more than just the main 2 characters that resulted in a final plot twist I didn’t see coming. The grumpy, or in this case grinch, sunshine trope is really well executed and creates great banter between the 2 main characters. I found myself laughing out loud and looking forward to finding out what happens next. Plus, who doesn’t love a plot line involving an adorable cat. For anyone looking for a light rom com with a holiday theme this is a great pick.

First things first let's give credit to the beautiful stunning cover which totally made me want to dive into this book.

I enjoyed every aspect of this story from Blythe selling Sam a property in the most Christmas village to finding out how much Sam hates it, and that the property actually comes with a cat.

This is a cosy entertaining Christmas themed sparkly story, this was a pleasure to devour even in this hot weather.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria, Head of Zeus/Bloomsbury Publishing PLC for a copy of "The Perfect Christmas Village" in exchange for my honest review.

Blythe Littlewood is an estate agent who is in competition to be the top selling agent. She sells the home of a recent deceased villager to Sam Ashton to meet her quota for the month. Blythe is hilarious she falls into ponds, meets people for the first time with twigs and leaves in her hair and dirt smudges on her face. Another great character is Phyllis who is hoping to meet Sean Connery even though everyone keeps telling her that he's no longer with us. Vicky is Blythe's best friend but can be a bit of an annoying character.

Sam Ashton didn't know he was moving to the UK's most perfect Christmas Village. He is very against the holiday. Leonora is the head of the HCCC (Holly Cross Christmas Committee) and she is determined to win the best Christmas Village competition.

My favourite character has to be Turpin the feral cat. Murray was slowly getting him used to being around him when he passed. Blythe has promised to continue feeding him even though he lives in Sam's garden. Once he decides to live indoors he takes to sleeping in woks, pillowcases - while Sam's head is still on the pillow. He doesn't let Sam come down the stairs at one point or out of the utility room.

Bella Osborne always writes uplifting books. This is a perfect one to read in the lead up to the holidays.

Poor Sam.

I felt sorry for his when he discovers just how Christmassy Holly Cross is!

This is a great festive story and it mattered not one jot that I read it in the middle of August. I can imagine that reading it approaching the festive season would be even more delightful.

It's a gentle tale but thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC to review. Opinions are my own.

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

I want to live in Holly Cross and be on the HCCC. What a picture the author builds for us when talking about this festive Christmas village and the community in it. I will admit I cried throughout the book, both happy and sad tears and fell in love with pretty much all of the characters. My problem...I'm left wanting to know more. I want to see what happens with the couples...I want to go back to Arthur and his little piece of happiness and I want to find out what Holly Cross does each and every year.

Bella Osborne just became my favourite Christmas author and I hope we get to go back to Holly Cross every year for Christmas. Thank you Netgalley, Bella Osborne and Aria and Aries for the opportunity to read this delight in return for an honest review.

What a perfect Christmas read with a perfect small town setting and of course a perfect 'Grinch' who just doesn't like Christmas. Who doesn't like Christmas I ask!?

This is a book about not only Christmas but about the joy of being with friends and family, community and even, if you have it, romance. I loved the characters as they each were very individual and had their own personalities but complimented each other. The setting was perfect and I could picture it in my head. Oh and I loved some of the over-the-top Christmas themes as that is what it is all about.

A lovely, fun, entertaining and holiday inspired read. Easy to read and just a light, enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

An undeniable Christmas novel! A wonderful community to belong to - unless you have a reason to hate Christmas! And being lied to makes it even worse. This is a great Christmas read, a bit predictable but all the components to make you feel warm and cheered.

Another Bella Osborne book that I could not put down. I enjoyed everything about this so much so that you could say it was perfect.

if you love a festive read you will love "The Perfect Christmas Village".

It is everything you would expect in a christmas story, it is set in the suitably named Holly Cross, a village that shouts christmas cheer. Throw in your city boy and your country girl, you have the setting for a christmas romance.

The story takes place when Holly Cross sets out to win the title of Britains most christmassy village. This is a real fun festive read perfect for those winter days (or summer too!)

This is one of the best Christmas books I’ve ever read! Absolutely delightful. It has all the right ingredients: empathetic characters, a festive setting, romance, a hint of mystery and a cute village. It would make a great movie. Highly recommended!

Holly Cross pulls out all the stops when it comes to Christmas. The whole village take part in making it the most Christmassy they possibly can. When Estate Agent Blythe sells a cottage to Sam he makes it clear he hates Christmas. He must be exaggerating, right? No one can hate it that much.
Blythe soon realises that Sam wasn’t exaggerating, and if the whole of the Christmas festivities are going to go as planned, Blythe is going to have to talk Sam round. This will make you feel all festive and warm inside. It’s lovely, funny and full of Christmas spirit.

The thing that I really loved about this fabulous festive read was how the story wasn’t all about main characters Blythe and Sam. All the characters were realistic and their own stories were threaded through the story. This had a sense of community, looking out for each and more importantly being there for each other, especially in times of need. The story focuses around the village of Holly Cross and how they celebrate Christmas in a huge way. Estate agent Blythe sells a house on the village green to Sam who really really doesn’t like Christmas and most definitely doesn’t want to be involved in the village festivities. Can Blythe change his mind? One of my favourite characters would have to be Turpin the cat who had a personality all of his own! Thank you to Aria and Aries and Netgalley for the ARC