The Winter Garden: the perfect read this Christmas, promising snowfall, warm fires and breath-taking seasonal romance

I was thrilled to be taking part, the very first of Heidi’s books that I read was a Christmas one and it was there that I fell in love with her books. So when the opportunity came to get an early peak of this one I couldn’t say no.The Winter Garden revisits Nightingale Square which we have seen in two previous books, Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square and Poppy’s Recipe for Life. This time round the story centers on Freya, a gardener, who, by luck, moves to Nightingale Square to create a winter garden to open in time for Christmas.During this book we see characters return from the previous two; Luke, Kate, Graham, Carole, Poppy, Ryan, Jacob and more, but we are also introduced to some more including Finn and Chloe.Finn is living in the studio within the grounds of the garden and he and Freya clash from the start. We see them try to navigate their personal lives and professional relationship.This book, like the others, all has a wonderful sense of community, and they all welcome Freya, and Finn, into the fold with open arms. They both become an essential part and for Freya she finds a sense of belonging.The Winter Garden has definitely got me in the festive spirit. I’m left wanting to start celebrating, getting the decorations up, making wreaths and going to Christmas markets.Although this is the third book that is set in Nightingale Square you can read this as a standalone. But I would highly recommend the others as well as this one as they are all wonderful.Perfect to enjoy curled up in a blanket with a glass of mulled wine.

I am always a sucker for Heidi Swain books and this one is no exception.Full of winter wonders, mulled wine and love. Not too christmassy for those who are not keen on Christmas reads... More of a winter dream.Just enough sparkle that would rival a winters morning frost.Freya fuller is a wonderful character as is Finn. Together they seem to rub each other up the wrong way although they do really want to be friends!Heidi's writing style always gets me wanting to read one more page, this book was definitely no different.. Now I just have to wait for the next instalment.. Hurry up please Heidi!!

I wondered after a while if I was reading the same book as the other reviewers. I started out enjoying the story, but lost interest because there was no real development of the characters, and nothing to make them credible. Sorry. Really wanted to like it.

I want to say sorry to Heidi. I wanted to like this book. I’ve read all her other books and was excited to buy this new one.The story was ok. I read it to the end but by the time I did I was irritated and cross. There were a few things that just made me keep putting the book down in a huff.I didn’t much like Freya. The claustrophobia storyline just seemed to be an add on and only served to make her seem needy and pathetic. I had liked some of the characters in previous books but this time the community spirit bit seemed a bit over done - they all had to walk to town together for the lights switch on like a school trip for example, and Kate and Luke seemed to have turned into a benevolent lord and lady of the manor buying chips for everyone and providing the tree and endless amounts of food. The other thing was that I just couldn’t picture the ages of Freya and Finn especially. I guessed they were supposed to be a young couple but the over use of the phrases ‘I dare say’ and referring to people as ‘folks’ got on my nerves. Maybe it’s a typically Norfolk thing but it just felt like the story which was supposed to be in Freya’s voice was being narrated by my elderly mother. So I am so sorry Heidi but I didn’t like this one.

I absolutely love Heidi Swain’s books and was so looking forward to The Winter Garden. It is a joy to read. We are back in Nightingale Square, but this time we meet Freya and Finn, both newcomers to the square. Freya is a gardener at a beautiful property in Suffolk, but when her friend dies, it results in her having to leave her job and home. She finds work and a home in Nightingale Square. Everything seems perfect apart from her relationship with Finn. Things just don’t seem to go right for them and they keep clashing. A misunderstanding seems to have caused problems between them despite Freya having feelings for him.This is a lovely winter / festive read, I love Heidi’s characters, she writes with such warmth, you cannot but help love them and want them to have a happy ending. A great read, well written and a good story. A real cosy, feel good story. Although we meet previous characters, you don’t need to have read any other of Heid’s books, but I would recommend reading them, simply because they are so wonderful. In fact, I think I am going to reread all her Christmas books again before Christmas this year.