Review: Let the Bells Ring Out

Let the Bells Ring Out by Milly Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars.

Seven people on their way to 'celebrate' very different Christmases get stuck in a snow storm in Yorkshire.

Frank and Gracie, a middle-aged couple who run a pub, this Christmas was supposed to be his last chance to rescue their marriage but everything has gone wrong from the start.

Elizabeth, a young woman on her way to spend Christmas with her fiancé (who also happens to be a director in her father's business), his family, her father, and various relatives, being driven by Vincent.

Jane, a widowed octogenarian en route to spend Christmas with her stepson and his wife.

Roo, an orphan in a dead-end job, who was expecting to spend Christmas alone after her fiancé and best friend had an affair, got pregnant and are planning a Christmas wedding.

And finally Tim, a retired businessman who was going to play Father Christmas at a corporate event.

They all meet at a small train station, some of them awaiting a replacement train service, Tim because his car breaks down, and Elizabeth and Vincent because the snow is making driving conditions too difficult. When a train arrives to take them to the next main station where they can get connections it is not just a normal train. This is the Yorkshire Belle, an American millionaire's pet project en route to Scotland for him and his family to spend the holidays travelling in style - think the Orient Express but fancier. When the brakes seize up due to ice on the tracks the guard and driver go off to get the engineer, leaving the seven passengers on the train.

In their own ways each of the passengers is feeling unhappy or unfulfilled, but spending a few days together, trapped on a train, with only the dulcet tones of Brian 'the real BBC' on the radio to keep them company, friendships develop and they may even make some life-changing decisions.

If you like a bit of fantasy with your cosy Christmas stories then this is the one for you. Although I could see the twist I still enjoyed it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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