This is part of the Little Duck Pond Café series, but can be read as a standalone. However, as it’s part of a trilogy of Clara’s story, I’d recommend you at least read Clara’s Secret Garden first.
I love Rosie Green’s books. The characters are so believable, the setting is wonderful and her writing is full of warmth and heart. A Winter Wish also has lots of lovely horses in it and the stepsisters beginning riding lessons reminded me of when I learned to ride at the age of 48.
This novella begins in October, so we get to experience Hallowee’en and Bonfire Night through the characters, as well as the build-up to the festive season. The final part in the trilogy will cover Christmas itself – Clara’s Christmas Magic.
Lois and Rory are still together and Clara is still going out with Shaun. I feel a bit sorry for Shaun, as he seems a lovely guy, but Clara still cares about Rory – though she is pretending she didn’t have feelings for him and that he is nothing more than her stepsister’s boyfriend.
Lois is very annoying and often insulting to Clara, who I love, so I spent a lot of my reading time tutting at Lois and her behaviour and rudeness. I desperately wanted Clara to find her happy ending, while wishing Lois would fall headfirst into a pile of horse poo.
One of my favourite characters is Elsie, Rory’s little sister. She has really flourished since the first book and I loved following her journey and seeing how her dancing was improving. Bertie is adorable too, of course, and I enjoyed following the progress of Clara’s lovely Gran.
It was also really good to find out more about Irene (Lois’s mum and Clara’s stepmum)’s backstory, which sheds some light on why she is as troubled as she is. I felt real sympathy for her and it really seemed like I knew her better after reading this second book.
As this story follows on from Clara’s Secret Garden, I immediately felt I was back there in the pages, in Sunnybrook, catching up with a whole host of familiar faces. The action continues, it’s well-paced and holds your interest and I’m now looking forward to the final part of the trilogy to see how things end up.
And Lois is right, we could all #BeMoreClara
BLURB
A Winter Wish, Little Duck Pond Café
With her new-found happiness unexpectedly crushed, Clara is struggling to move forward. It’s hard – especially with step-sister Lois bouncing around the place with joy and making all sorts of plans for the future. And when the household is shocked by a mysterious break-in and a neighbour makes a shocking accusation, Clara finds herself in an impossible position. It’s a situation that threatens to destroy her blossoming romance almost before it’s begun . . .
Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3JYkLI5
Author Bio –
Rosie’s series of novellas is centred around life in a country village cafe. ‘Clara’s Secret Garden’, the first in a trilogy telling Clara’s story, was published in August, and ‘A Winter Wish’ is Book 2. Look out for ‘Clara’s Christmas Magic’, the third and final book in the trilogy, out in November 2022.
Follow Rosie on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green88
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