Santa always leaves me a 'Christmas' themed book of his choosing so I dipped into this on Boxing day. It is based in a Cornish harbour village with Alexandra having left her home town in Scotland for a complete change and get-away life. Her unusual job has the new neighbours sceptical at first but they soon learn that she is more than capable and she is taken into the friendly community making the move interesting for her. She finds new friends and takes on care of the Harbour Master's old dog too.
Being cagoled into taking part in the Christmas pageant, which is the very old tradition of Poldore, she reluctantly steps out of her comfort zone - she has gone there to change herself anyway. She is befriended by Lucy and they share their secrets of life 'before' and Alex finds this frees herself to hope for love again.
Being so far from home and making this little place her own, she doesn't expect any visitors. She becomes the Virgin Mary and local lad Ruan, who lives in the lighthouse, plays Joseph. Trouble is around every corner and drama, confusion, love and doggie delights will have you laughing and crying in equal measure.
When you dive into a book and it delivers a 5 star read it's hard to put it down. I really didn't want it to end and have kept the epilogue for later today.
Well done Scarlett Bailey and Penquin Publishers for producing another seasonal winner.
