A Bella Flora Christmas

Wendy Wax

Nov 2017 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

A TEN BEACH ROAD NOVELLA
 
The ladies of Ten Beach Road are home for the holidays in this brand-new novella.

Although their lives have changed since their first desperate renovation of Bella Flora, friends Madeline, Avery, and Nicole have always been there for each other. Now they’re returning to Bella Flora for Christmas—where Maddie’s daughter Kyra isn’t feeling particularly celebratory.
 
Kyra was hoping for a peaceful holiday at Bella Flora—a last gathering before a wealthy, mystery tenant moves into the home she’s been forced to rent out. Instead, she must make a life altering decision by New Year’s—a decision that becomes even more difficult when unexpected guests arrive at Ten Beach Road on Christmas Eve. Now Kyra, Maddie, Avery and Nikki will need to pull together to secure Bella Flora’s future, as well as their own.

Includes an excerpt from Best Thing Ever

Ratings and reviews

A Bella Flora Christmas by Wendy Wax is a Ten Beach Road Novella (#5.5). It is almost Christmas at Bella Flora in Pass-a-Grille, Florida. Kyra Singer is worried about losing Bella Flora thanks to the loan she took out to finance the remodel of the Sunshine Hotel (and get control of their show Do Over). Kyra will be hosting Christmas for family and friends at Bella Flora before decamping. She has rented out Bella Flora to a mystery tenant who will be arriving at the beginning of January. Kyra also needs to decide whether to let her son (Dustin) act in Daniel Deranian’s (Dustin’s biological father) new movie. The money will be helpful, but it will mean six weeks in the company of Daniel’s wife, Tonja. Nicole, Avery, Madeline, Kyra, spouses, significant others, children and friends come together for Christmas. It is a joyful holiday only marred by an unexpected and unwelcome arrival. What decision will Kyra make about the movie? Can they save Bella Flora once again? A Bella Flora Christmas is a very short novel. I recommend reading the Ten Beach Road books in order. While details from the previous books is rehashed in A Bella Flora Christmas (unfortunately), new readers to the series will be confused (all the characters, various relationships). I wish the author had not tried to make it a standalone. A Bella Flora Christmas was too short, and it left fans of the series disappointed. I wanted more Christmas and less reiteration. There is more drama between Kyra, Daniel and Tonja along with the Christmas celebration. Kyra makes her decision and then the book ends (rather abruptly). The story alludes to the mysterious renter, but readers are not told the persons identity. We will have to wait for Best Thing Ever. I was entertained by the names the ladies came with for Dustin’s new puppy. The book is nicely written, but the pace was a little slow. Kyra agonizing over decision dominated the book (with characters being introduced in between). I found myself yelling at my e-reader telling her to decide already (she really needs the money and it is only six weeks) and to quit lusting after Daniel. The series has well-developed characters that people will like and relate to with the exception of Tonja (every story needs a villain). I am giving A Bella Flora Christmas 3 out of 5 stars. While I found A Bella Flora Christmas lacking, it will not keep me from reading the next book in the Ten Beach Road series.

About the author

Wendy Wax, a former broadcaster, is the author of fourteen novels, including One Good Thing, Sunshine Beach, A Week at the Lake, While We Were Watching Downton Abbey, The House on Mermaid Point, Ocean Beach, and Ten Beach Road. The mother of two grown sons, she lives in Atlanta with her husband and is doing her best to adjust to the quiet of her recently emptied nest.