Bluebell's Christmas Magic Paperback – October 12, 2021

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story set in the beautiful Lake District it was well written and had a touch of everything - romance, humour and mystery. Cassie's sparkling personality shone through as she determines to lift the spirits of the Stefan, a troubled French helicopter pilot struggling to recover from traumatic war injuries. She is employed to take care of him at an old house and at first he finds her efforts nothing but irritating. Cassie's family and village community are important to her and when they run into trouble she needs Stefan's help. Whether he will give it and open himself up to the emotional healing he desperately needs is at the core of this book. Not just for Christmas this could be enjoyed at any time of the year.

The owner of Bluebell cleaning service, Cassie Bell, faces a grumpy French client who is physically and internally wounded from a horrible wartime experience. Following his stay, his friend and client promises Cassie a much needed bonus. The compensation will help maintain her business. But all he wants is silence and solitude and makes her job more difficult. The story is heartwarming and very enjoyable.

I would liken this book to a modern version of “Beauty and the Beast” or “The Ugly Duckling.”That was the first thing that crossed my mind when I closed the book. Beautiful, heart-meltingly sweet Christmas romance mixed with some mystery elements. I enjoyed reading this book throughout.Stefan Lambert was both mentally and physically battered and bruised from a very traumatic incident during his stint in the French Army. He has been battling with a severe sense of guilt since the incident, he literally fled from home to Belhorn Manor not only to convalesce but also escape from Christmas – a sharp reminder of bitter memories he would rather live without.There comes a cheerful, effervescent cleaning lady, Cassie Bell, who is assigned with a job to take care of Stefan during his stay at Belthorn Manor. Their very first encounter wasn’t a very pleasant one with Stefan being crude and grumpy and wanting nothing to do excessively exuberant Cassie, but little did he imagine she, the self-proclaimed “good mood fairy”would actually wipe away the dust from his heart and put him in a good mood…I have read a lot of Christmas romances this year but I must say this stood out from the rest of the pack for intertwining some mystery elements and historical romance-ish vibes into it. The mystery surrounding a 1919 diary, in particular, caught my attention and I really liked it was closely tied in with Stefan and Cassie. Both Stefan and the author of the journal were recuperating at Belthorn Manor (they were both injured army pilots) and Cassie has a strong connection to the woman the pilot loved. This certainly added to the intrigues and kept me engaged the entire time, making me wonder what really happened in the 1919 romance and how untangling this mystery would affect the dynamics between Stefan and Cassie.The romantic development between Stefan and Cassie is, and should be of course the center of the story, but I was also intrigued by their sad romance a great deal.The romance between Stefan and Cassie is… simply romantic and really, really sweet. It did take quite a while to develop and blossom with them both being in denial and going through some “no, he/she cannot have any feeling for me, it can’t be” stage, but I would say it was totally worth the wait and I promise there are not many romances that can be any sweeter than this one.Sure, they go through some rough patches here and there and become judgmental when assaulted by their own insecurities, but they come back to each other eventually, missing each other terribly – the golden “absence makes the heart grow fonder” trope. It did indeed. My heart went to them both.Their romance and relationship also bring changes to both Stefan and Cassie. Being loved by Cassie, Stefan gradually starts to appreciate life once again and shows affection toward others rather than keep them at arm’s length wallowing in own his own grief and sense of guilt. Meanwhile, Cassie also develops herself into a stronger woman who can stand up for herself when necessary. No longer a pushover she used to be. I really appreciated these character developments.I personally found the romance between Stefan and Cassie a bit too sugary for my liking and I would have ended up romance overdose had this book been all about it, but the side stories of Ruth and Andre as well as some disturbing burglaries which conveniently happened to Cassie’s clients tightened up the overall story, and the rustic feels generated through the depiction of Cassie’s family kept me engaged till the end. Cassie’s grandfather, Joseph Bell is absolutely endearing and I wish I had a grandpa like him!Everything was nicely and neatly wrapped up in a cute festive bow without leaving any loose ends, I am happy with the ending which is romantic down to the very last line.Bluebell’s Christmas Magic is a romantic, beautiful story of love, family and self-development. If you are looking for a truly romantic holiday read yet with a bit of unexpected twists (mystery twists in this case), this is for you.4 stars go to this book.

I first discovered Marie Laval in the Miss Moonshine series and found her writing so charming. She doesn't disappoint in this lovely, cozy Christmas tale. From the start, she invests you in her characters as their stories unfold. I love her writing and the way she bridges countries and cultures. Looking forward to reading more from her. Pick this up - you won't be disappointed!

BLUEBELL’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC has a little bit of a whole lot of things that I love about Romance, particularly Christmas Romance. Take one super optimistic, bubbly heroine add one grumpy, growly wounded (both mentally and physically) hero, a definite danger lurking around the edges, a villain(s) skulking around being nasty and with very bad intentions, a crew full of funny, ironic, quirky secondary characters and maybe a ghost mixed liberally with humor, tears, and that pesky unexpected part about falling in love – really, what more could I ask for?I had such fun with Cassie and Stefan. If you’re in the mood for a story that will make you smile, sigh, and flip pages quickly then you’ll want to check out BLUEBELL’S CHRISTMAS MAGIC. The story is fun, the characters believable and the tensions, in all areas, were strong enough to keep me up later reading than I should have been. This is the first story I’ve read by this author, and I’ll definitely be looking for her backlist.*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Choc Lit/ Ruby Fiction. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This is a wonderful story of how someone can change the life of another person through their charm and character. Clare and Stephen’ story is full of push and shove in the beginning but with time their relationship blossoms. Clare’s family is a fun mix and enjoyable to meet. There is a bad guy who takes advantage of the elderly and Clare gets caught in the scheme of his and must clear her name. Also, Clare witnessed a murder years ago and it has been buried in her subconscious for years and she finally get resolution with the help of Stephen. Great story with romance, suspense and twists and turns. Must read.

I loved this book, the magic of the story can be felt. I especially loved how Stefan turned from a grouch into a wonderful loving man, with the help of Cassie of course. I recommend this book completely.

A well plotted story with twists and turns, some of them sinister with a good helping of tinsel and sparkle leading up to Christmas. There's a little bit of the supernatural thrown into the mix as well as we follow the story of Stefan and Cassie. There is a large supporting cast of well developed characters which gives the hope that a series set in Cassie's home village of Red Moss might be on the cards.I'm not going to spoil the story by telling you what it is about but in my opinion it's so much more than the average Christmas story. Buy it whatever time of the year you are reading, you will really enjoy it. A lovely story - Highly recommended.

This was an enjoyable read set within a close community. There was Christmas sparkle and likeable characters, including the lovely Stefan Lambert, a French ex-army helicopter pilot who, with his physical and emotional scars, makes for a wonderful, brooding hero. Cassie Bell was a joy, as was her nickname and her grandfather. Overall, this was another fabulous read from Marie Laval.

Loved this book, it was so exciting & very romantic with a a bit of a thriller reaction thrown in. Also loved the payback for nasty Nathan. Piers the pain was also a good character or should I say a bad character. I look forward to reading more of your books.Many thanks.

Just like the main character, Cassie, this book was really cheerful and uplifting. It kept me hooked all the way through, and I loved the descriptions of the Lake District. The French hero was intriguing too; wounded and haunted by his experiences in the armed forces, he had his own internal battles to overcome. A delightful, feel-good read that I recommend at any time of year, not just Christmas.