Book News: The Magic of Christmas by Trisha Ashley

Posted By Chloe on May 18th, 2011

I am a bit of a sucker for Christmas novels, so when I found out Trisha Ashley was back this winter with a festive book, I couldn’t wait! It’s due out on 27th October! Please be aware this was previously published as “Sweet Nothings”, but has been extensively been reworked by Trisha to include new material. Here’s the synopsis:

“In the West Lancashire village of Middlemoss, Lizzie Pharamond is cooking up a defensive storm of comfort food as she becomes increasingly estranged from her serially unfaithful husband, Tom.
Then fate takes a hand and when Tom is killed in a car accident, Lizzie has to deal with his quarrelling mistresses and devious friends – and to top it all – The Mystery Play steering committee have to find a new Lazarus. Middlemoss is already gearing up for its annual performance due to take place on Boxing Day with Tom’s elderly uncle Roly Pharamond as the Voice of God.

As a distraction, Lizzie’s Christmas Pudding Club is about to have the first meeting of the year to swap baking tips for traditional puddings, cakes and mince pies. Lizzie’s growing rivalry with her husband’s cousin, celebrated cookery writer Nick Pharamond, is coming to boiling point. Having snatched the Best Mince Pie prize away from her at the village show, he is certainly the last man she wants to play Adam to her Eve in the Mystery Play.

Meanwhile, her best friend Annie has developed an unsuitable crush on local resident Rick Rainford, the handsome and charismatic star a popular TV soap. But it becomes clear that Rick is more interested in Lizzie who, desperately in need of comfort, might just be a tiny bit tempted.

The Voice of God will have one or two things to say about these and other village affairs at the Mystery Play, in a performance that will be a hard act to follow next year.”