It’s Christmas Eve and, as well as munching on mince pies and hoping to avoid hearing that damn Wham song ever again, I am thrilled to be the final destination of the Instagram Launch tour for the latest read from the ever brilliant Kristen Bailey.
Ms. B kindly granted me an early digital review copy of “Five Gold Rings” in exchange for my honest review.
And that is exactly what you will find a bit further down this page following a brief bio of Kristen and a taster for her new book.
A link to where you can purchase your very own copy of Five Gold Rings” is given below my review.
The author – Kristen Bailey:
Mother-of-four, gin-drinker, binge-watcher, receipt hoarder, enthusiastic but terrible cook. Kristen also writes. She has had short fiction published in several publications including Mslexia & Riptide.
Her first two novels, “Souper Mum“ and “Second Helpings” were published in 2016.
In 2019, Kristen was long listed in the Comedy Women in Print Prize. She writes women’s fiction and hopes her novels have fresh and funny things to say about modern life, love and family.
You can find out more about Kristen at her website: www.kristenbaileywrites.com
You can also follow Kristen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The taster – “Five Gold Rings”:
Five gold rings. Delivered to the wrong addresses. Five Christmas proposals and weddings ruined. Unless Eve can save the day…?
As Christmas lights twinkle around London, twenty-eight-year-old Eve arrives home ready to celebrate her favourite holiday, only to find… her boyfriend in the shower with a pretty blonde.
Heartbroken, Eve throws the gifts she’s selflessly bought and wrapped for HIS family out of the window, then heads to Caspars’ Jeweller’s, where she works, for some tea and sympathy.
But there she discovers another drama unfolding; five rings have gone AWOL, and unless she can track them down and deliver them to their rightful owners five perfectly planned festive weddings and proposals will end in disaster.
Eve’s colleague Joe – moonlighting as a naked butler at a Christmas party – races to assist on her wild goose chase across London, dressed as a sexy elf.
Together they set off on a mission to save Christmas. And along the way, just maybe, some of that festive cheer and romance might rub off on Eve and Joe, and help heal Eve’s broken heart…
An utterly hilarious novel for anyone looking for festive romance with all the feels. If you have a hot date with Love Actually every Christmas you will adore this gloriously funny and unmissable festive read.
The review:
“Five Gold Rings” by Kristen Bailey
“IT’SSSSSSS KRIST(en)MAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSS!”
…and nobody should argue with the great Noddy Holder.
No matter the time of year, any upcoming new book from the adorable Ms. B is eagerly anticipated by readers – no more so than me – keen to plunge right back into the pages of the wonderful world she weaves for us. The days leading up to publication of her books are like the countdown to the festive season itself; full of expectation, hope and longing for the delights in store.
“Five Gold Rings”, the latest from the mishievious elf-like Kristen, hits every single seasonal note that you could wish for. It is a wonderful tale that would, I am sure, melt the heart of old Ebenezer himself – without the need for visiting ghosts – and set the old miser shouting loudly from his window:
“You boy! What day is this? Christmas Day? Well then, sod the turkey in the butcher’s window, here’s a guinea*, go to the bookshop on the corner and buy every copy of “Five Gold Rings”. Then deliver one book to each household in this parish!”
This is a joyous, warm, tender and, typically Bailey-esque, chaotic tale. Like the best mince pies, it is filled with goodness – a lot of it pleasantly fruity – that leaves you feeling satisfied and full of Christmassy cheer. Ms. Bailey has successfully navigated – like Rudolph and his big red nose lighting Santa’s way – that difficult route between over-egging the pudding and getting the mixture just right. And, like the ever-reliable, festive favourite Nigella, Kristen gets the recipe absolutely spot on.
Eve and Joe, the two characters we end up hoping and wishing the best for, are splendidly realised; not too twee, not too saccharine sweet. They are charming, delightful, poignant and funny. They are two fictional folk we can really invest in and root for. It’s a “will they, won’t they?”, “do they, don’t they?” ride across London as they deliver golden rings to various awaiting couples. Think of Eve and Joe as the Three Wise Men bearing gifts; only there are just the two of them and they have a green Mini instead of camels.
Like Joe, I fell in love head over heels for Eve. I wanted to comfort her, protect her and make everything all right for her. But, as you will find out as you read this tale, the path of love doesn’t always run smoothly.
As I was reading, I found myself thinking this is, perhaps, my most favourite festive read. It has all the right bits and bobs, just enough schmaltzy joy and seasonal trimmings. If this was a dinner laid out for you on the big day itself, it would be absolutely perfect.
I mean, come on! Who doesn’t love a Rom-Com? Especially at this time of year? This book is the pagebound equivalent of “Love Actually”. I am sure that “Five Gold Rings” will become a classic and much-loved festive read for many.
My Christmas wish is that the book gets made into a film. I have already decided who I think would make the ideal Eve on the big (or small) screen. And, I hear you ask above the sound of bells jingling and snow falling, who would that be? It is the super talented and utterly adorable Esther Smith; to my mind she would (to mis-quote a festive tune) be simply wonderful.
I found this book to be magical. Like gaily wrapped packages on Christmas morning, I tore through this book with gusto. My only quibble was, as with Christmas Day itself, it was all over far too soon and I now have to wait for my next fix of Ms. B’s delights.
And, the fabulous Ms. Bailey – any relation to George Bailey? – really made this “a wonderful life read” with the inclusion of my favourite Callaghan sister. Thank you, Ms. B!
Heck, how I do love Lucy!
So, if you have been good little boys and girls, and if Santa has brought you some gift vouchers, a book token or, even some of that old-fashioned stuff called cash, why not treat yourself – or a loved one? – to this delightful and warming Christmassy treat.
Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas to one and all.
(* A guinea may not be enough to buy every copy.)
Gavin Dimmock. Writer. 