Friday 10 November 2017

Book Review - Snowflakes on Christmas Street by Ivy Pembroke

Title: Snowflakes on Christmas Street
Author: Ivy Pembroke
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Sphere
Publication Date: 17th October 2017
Rating: 5 Stars


On a little street in a big city, everything is changing

Bill has lived on Christmas Street since he was a young man. He's seen families come and go, watched children grow up... Now he wants to be left alone.

Everything seven-year-old Teddy loves is in America. But his widowed father, Sam, has brought them both back to England to be closer to their family. Sam's one wish is for Teddy to be happy again.

As Teddy and Sam settle into their new life, a very special four-legged neighbour is determined to make them feel at home. Jack, the Christmas street dog is welcome in everyone's house - but will it be in his power to help a little boy and a lonely old man remember the true meaning of the season?

As the snow sparkles on the ground, one small act of kindness will give a whole street a happy Christmas...

Uplifting and heartwarming about one rather special street in London, called Christmas Street.  

Before Sam and Teddy moved to Christmas Street, no one really interacted with each other, they were pleasant of course, but no real sense of community.  They did and do still have Jack, a rather special dog who was left behind from his previous family and the street has sort of adopted him. 

Jack goes from house to house, bringing people together, and of course on the scrounge for more food. It is through Jack and also Sam's desire for him and son Teddy to make new friends that very slowly the neighbours all start to get to know each other in unlikely ways. 

The book even within each chapter does small segments about the residents of each house in the street, so you really get a good glimpse at all of their lives and just what is going on with them all. I really loved all the families, although there were a few characters that I wasn't as keen on until towards the end. 

Although the street is called Christmas street - it isn't purely set at Christmas, as the story spans the summer through to the day itself, so its easily a story that would be quite easily read all year around.  The messages throughout the book though most identify with the season of goodwill - its uplifting, slightly emotional and heartwarming. 

I read the whole book in a few short hours as every time I tried to put it down to get on with life, I found it was calling me back for "just one more chapter" until I ran out of chapters!  Any book currently that can hold me attention to that extent deserves special praise, and I just thoroughly adored this story. 

This was the first book I have read by Ivy Pembroke and I'm already very curious as to what she has in store for us next, as this is a very accomplished debut novel. 

Thank you Sphere and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

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