It’s Day 7 of my Twelve Books for Christmas blog, where I introduce you to twelve romance books to warm your heart and make you feel all Christmassy. 🙂 They’ll all make wonderful presents for a friend, or you could even treat yourself. Today’s festive treat is Underneath the Christmas Tree by Sunday Times Bestselling author, Heidi Swain. Isn’t the cover gorgeous?
Blurb
Underneath the Christmas Tree
Wynter’s Trees is the home of Christmas. For the people of Wynmouth it’s where they get their family Christmas tree, and where Christmas truly comes to life.
But for Liza Wynter, it’s a millstone around her neck. It was her father’s pride and joy but now he’s gone, she can’t have anything to do with it. Until her father’s business partner decides to retire and she must go back to handle the transition to his son Ned.
When Liza arrives, she discovers a much-loved business that’s flourishing under Ned’s stewardship. And she’s happy to stay and help for the Christmas season, but then she has other plans. But will the place where she grew up make her change her mind? And can it weave its Christmas cheer around her heart…?
Welcome to my blog, Heidi. When does Christmas begin for you? When do you put up your Christmas tree? Do you go mad with the decorations or do you just put up a tree?
As I write a Christmas book every year, I’m always thinking about the season, but on a more personal level the excitement really begins to build after November 5th. I love Christmas with a passion, but I try to contain it to a few weeks so as not to dilute it. The tree and decorations go up during the second weekend of December and fill the sitting room, kitchen and hall. I’m very tempted to extend into the bedrooms with festive bedding, but I’m not sure where I’d put it from January to October!
What is your earliest Christmas memory?
I can’t pinpoint just one as they’re all a bit of a merry jumble. Mum and I always spent the day with her parents, my dear Nanna and Grandad, when I was growing up and I can remember those happy days so vividly. I can recall everything about them – the ancient artificial tree, the smell of lunch cooking, the heat from the blazing coal fire – it was bliss!
What is your favourite Christmas tradition?
I have two. Is that allowed? The first is, I always read A Christmas Carol on December first and the second is that I watch Carols from King’s on Christmas Eve. I have lots more traditions, but those are my favourites.
Which author, dead or alive, would you like to invite for Christmas dinner?
This is such a difficult question to answer, however, as I cheated with the tradition question, I will stick to just one author. I’m going to invite Dame – she should be – Milly Johnson. Not only because I learn something whenever I listen to Milly, but also because I always have a good laugh too. This year has been packed with as many lows as highs, so time with Milly on Christmas Day would be a wonderful tonic.
If you could travel anywhere you want in the world where would you like to spend Christmas day?
I’ll stay at home with my family. I know I’ve barely been anywhere else for the last few years, but that’s my favourite place to spend Christmas day. I would love to go on a trip to see the northern lights, but I would happily do that before or after Christmas day.
What would make a perfect Christmas for you?
I’m not going to state the obvious, as we’re all wishing Covid didn’t exist… It might sound corny, but the perfect Christmas is actually the one I’ve already created. Family, friends, food, and a bottle of decent bubbly at home are all I ever have on my wish list.
Aw, that does sound a perfect Christmas, Heidi.
Meet Heidi
Heidi Swain Author Bio
Although passionate about writing from an early age, Heidi Swain gained a degree in literature and flirted briefly with a newspaper career before she plucked up the courage to join a creative writing class and take her literary ambitions seriously.
A lover of vintage paraphernalia and the odd bottle of fizz, she now writes feel good fiction with heart for Simon and Schuster. Her debut novel, The Cherry Tree Café was published in July 2015 and she became a Sunday Times Bestseller in 2017. Heidi writes two books a year – a summer and winter title.
She is represented by Amanda Preston and lives in the east of England with a mischievous cat called Storm.
Links
Website: http://www.heidiswain.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Heidi_Swain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterHeidiJoSwain?ref=hl
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heidi-Swain/e/B00YNN3LDI?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1620727029&sr=8-1
Publisher: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/
Thanks so much for dropping by and sharing your Christmas traditions with us, Heidi. Wishing you and yours all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
Karen King: Author 