Callie's Christmas Wish

Callie's Christmas Wish

by Jessica Redland

4 out of 5

Synopsis
Christmas is approaching and love is in the air at Bay View Care Home. Supervising carer, Callie Derbyshire, is blissfully happy with new boyfriend, Rhys. The tree’s up, the lights are twinkling, and, with the Christmas Eve wedding of one of the residents, Iris, to look forward to, everything is perfect.

Well, almost.

Rhys’s ex has him at her beck and call, yet refuses to let Callie meet their baby daughter. Callie’s ex is intent on stirring up trouble. And Callie’s favourite resident, Rhys’s nanna, Ruby, hasn’t been her usual self since Iris announced her engagement.

Convinced that Ruby’s lonely, especially after discovering the truth about her lost love, Callie’s determined to give Ruby’s romantic story the happy ending it deserves. Ruby might be adamant that the past should be left in the past. But, when it comes to true love, surely a little well-meaning meddling and a Christmas wish or two can’t do any harm. After all, it’s never to late to let love in again. Or is it?

A heartwarming Christmas story of finding new love, and the courage to revisit a love that was lost long ago.



Review
Callie already has everything she could wish for, with a job she loves and her perfect man. Is it wrong to wish that her closest friends could be so happy?

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a sweet and heart-warming little read.
I really like Redland's style of writing, it's relaxed and I loved how refreshingly real it was, with all the little touches we recognise in our own lives (note: I am so having a scone-eating contest this weekend). All the while, it pulls you along and keeps you entertained.

The story follows Callie, who already has her dream man, and a job she is passionate about. Again, there's a refreshing realness, as Callie is a carer in an old people's home; and her boyfriend Rhys is a gardener.
We arrive in the middle of their relationship, and it often reflects on Callie escaping her cheating ex, and how much nicer Rhys is. I thought it made a nice change from the usual romantic plot, to start at this point - I didn't realise that there is a prequel which tells this story. To be fair, this explained a lot, as I was a little perplexed why there was such an emphasis put on certain characters, and their outcomes. I realise now, it may be building on the previous story.

As Callie's romantic arc is kinda already steady, the book focuses instead on Ruby - Rhys' Nanna.
Ruby is my idol, I love her! She's so confident, and witty, and has embraced life to the full. It was so interesting to see her story unfold, and some of the very hard decisions she had to make.

All the little side plots build together nicely, with serial-cheater-Tony and Callie's ex-best-friend-Maria; Rhys' psycho-ex-Izzy and their little girl Megan.
There are several threads that catch your curiosity, especially in the first half.

In the second half, Ruby's story is definitely the strongest and brightest part. The other side-stories  start to be tied up, mostly through Callie's stubbornness.
Personally, I found it a bit too cute that Callie (after brazenly telling Rhys' father that he was giving his opinion where it hadn't been asked for), proceeds to give her two-penneth to anyone and everyone, regardless of how hostile they are. And then because she's a Christmas angel, it all works out. 
I think I was a little disappointed that this fresh, realistic story; it was all tied up with many neat, cute bows.

Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I will definitely be reading more of Redland's work.

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