It’s Christmas Eve. And I am late.
I’ve just had another minced pie while I write this book review. It seems I am a tad late with it – I was scheduled to be on the book tour on December 20th.
Sorry!
Anyway. Here is my review. Enjoy…
…and, Merry Christmas one and all.
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 – “We Three Kings”:
Maggie Field was looking forward to a solo Christmas in her cosy London flat – before her three workmates decided to liven things up for her.
Maggie loves her job as head of IT at a financial firm, and her three geeky but lovable work buddies. And when they invite her to stay with each of them for the holidays, she can’t resist the chance to get to know them better.
But then her boss tells her she has to make one of her beloved team redundant, and Maggie is distraught. Frank’s work is his world, Jasper’s sarcastic humour is everything, and Leo…well, he’s talented, professional, confusingly attractive, dependable, and funny… Maggie definitely doesn’t want to lose him.
With her career and her heart on the line, Maggie sets off on the Christmas adventure of a lifetime, from playing fake girlfriend at a lavish wedding, to rescuing baby foxes on a posh country estate, to chasing a very confused donkey on Christmas Day in the Lake District. She can’t ignore the sparks between her and Leo – but she also can’t avoid her dilemma.
Can she find a way to keep her work family together, and maybe even find true love under the mistletoe?
The review:
“We Three Kings” by Kristen Bailey
“Have we got inappropriate again?”
Of course we have.
For, just like Santa is renowned for rummaging around in his bulging sack, being appropriately inappropriate is how Kristen Baily is making her name. And what’s more, following on from last year’s excellent and fabuously festive “Five Gold Rings”, this is another tremendous tinsel-trimmed treat from Ms. B for us readers to enjoy this Christmas season.
I have had a preview copy of this book for a month or two now. It has been tempting me from the depths of my Kindle each time I open it. (Other e-readers are available, but, hey, we all know Kindles are the reindeers antlers when it comes to reading e-books. *Amazon folks, a brand spanking new model would be appreciated for my earlier endorsement. Thank you in advance.). However, despite my fondness for, and sheer delight in, reading her work, I have stopped myself from eagerly ripping the wrapping paper off this particular gift that Ms. B kindly sent me.
Why wait? You cry with egg-nog baited breath. Why? If you love Kristen’s books so much, why delay? Gavin, please, tell us, we need to know! I hear you scream as you furiously stuff the turkey.
Well, if I am honest, I’m a tad Grinchy about Christmas. Don’t get me wrong. I am not at all a Scrooge. (Am I?) I especially enjoy giving gifts; I like spending time with family and I rather enjoy munching on all the goodies that the festive season brings. That’s the point about my Grinchy-ness. It has to be the festive season before I start to get my “festive” on. I can’t be too early in December with the tree – about a fortnight before the big day is my ideal (my wife and I still have healthy debates on this) – nor can I watch Christmas themed movies until a day or two before the twenty-fifth.
That’s why I refrained from reading “We Three Kings” until only a few days ago. Then, with the very first page of Ms. B’s inappropriate words, my Christmas began.
This is another splendid read from Kristen. It has almost everything needed to make an ideal seasonal rom-com; laughs and tears, hope and joy, love and despair, heroes and villains, baubels and snow. It even has donkeys and orgasms. Although those two are not in any way connected…heck, that would be wildly inappropriate from Ms. B.
Maggie, the focus of this novel, is yet another wonderful creation from one of my favourite British writers. She is feisty yet fragile, sure but uncertain. The thing I liked most about Maggie is her loyalty. She is a friend anyone would be proud to have.
As with her previous books, Ms. B brings one or two of her earlier characters back to delight us. It is always nice to have our favourite folk pop around, especially at Christmas time. Although, Christmas would never be complete without a tiny touch of sadness; and, for me, a (festive) seasoned Kristen Bailey reader, this sadness comes with not having a Callaghan girl to share this season with.
Don’t forget, Ms. B, this particular reader does love Lucy. You know how to make me extra happy next year! Now that would be very appropriate..
Gavin Dimmock. Writer. 