The 12 Days of Christmas

By: Poppy Alexander

Narrated by: Helen Keeley

The most magical time of the year....

For the first time in 10 years, Freya is back in the little village of Middlemass for Christmas. The streets might be twinkling with fairy lights, but after the recent loss of her mother, she's never felt less festive.

Forced to sleep under the same roof as her handsome neighbour Finn, Freya realises she's going to need a distraction—fast! So she sets herself a challenge: to cook the '12 Days of Christmas'. Her delicious food soon brings the villagers together, and as each day passes, old friendships are renewed, memories stirred and there's even the flickering of romance....

She was only meant to stay for the holidays, but could Middlemass—and Finn—steal her heart forever?

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 Poppy Alexander (P)2021 Orion Publishing Group

Critic reviews

"A real festive treat." (Jules Wake)

"All the joy of Christmas in one delicious, utterly mouth-watering package." (Julie Caplin)

"Charming, full of festive fun and romance." (My Weekly)

worth the time

While many Christmas stories are saccharin sweet, this story is full of heartbreak. Freya has returned home just in time to say goodbye to her dying mother. What follows is Freya's attempt to right her rather tilted world. With the help of Finn, a childhood acquaintance, and her passion for cooking, Freya traverses a gambit of emotions: loss, guilt, regret, hope, friendship, and love.

A rather unusual Christmas story, but beautifully told. Worth the time.

Blew my mind

This story will make you laugh scream and cry out loud. Poppy A Lebanese is such an amazing story teller.

A woderful story about going home snd finding a place for yourself in the hearts of old friends

The author spins her tale while savoring delicious recipes for new love and delicate cuisine. A must read.

Another wonderful tale from Poppy Alexander

Another precious story with some familiar characters. Deep into the life of someone facing grief, it was very moving at times. But I appreciate the lightheartedness and life-goes-on attitude that bolsters Freya and friends throughout.

Helen Keeley’s Performance is Top Notch

Loving Helen Keeley’s narration! Fun, simple rom-com. Moving on to their next book together!

Fantastic!

Great writing and excellent narration. I was pleased to discover that nearly all mouthwatering dishes described in the book (the protagonist is a chef who cooks to cope with her emotions, and the author a high-level cook herself) were included at the end! they are worth getting the paper copy which I am setting off to do. I am having a great time discovering British Christmas novels while on winter break from university studies, and I have another week to polish off a few more, starting with another by the same author!

Repetitive internal dialogue

I never really warmed up to the main character. She came across as selfish and self absorbed which never really changed. I didn’t like her much and she had the same internal dialogue over and over. No depth to this book and problems resolved like magic…I guess it is a Christmas book. Just okay

Wonderful Characters!

A wonderful listen! I enjoyed every bit of this story. In fact the only thing I was left wanting for at the end was what happens next! I actually cared and was interested in all of the characters in this book and wonder how they are all doing. The recipes and cooking throughout the story were inspired and an added bonus! Thoroughly enjoyed! Kudos for the narrator and her excellent narration!