
273 pages Hera publisher Sep 5,2024 publish date
ABOUT THE BOOK
What if a last wish could mean a new love?
When Olivia’s beloved Aunt Grace passes, she leaves everything to her niece, with one condition: Travel to Prague and deliver a message to Grace’s long-lost true love, Marek.
The trouble is, Olivia’s world is getting smaller. Since her husband left her one heartbreaking Christmas Eve, she has found even getting into town a challenge, let alone travelling by herself to a different country.
But this is one adventure she has to take, if she is to honour Grace.
The snowy, magical city of Prague slowly starts to awaken her festive spirit, and as Marek’s nephew, Tomas, shows her around the gorgeous Christmas markets, Olivia begins to feel she can truly live again.
Grace never had her chance at love, but might Olivia’s secret Christmas wish come true and grant her a second chance at romance?

MY THOUGHTS
When you read a book by a new to you author and you’re just blown away. Now I realize I have a lot of catching up to do.
This book may have made me wipe a few tears away and more than ever I realize not to let a once in a lifetime opportunity slip away. Oh, my heart! The perfect book with all the feels, such a charming and delightful book that had me smiling the whole while I read it.
I’ve never read a book taking place in Prague and my journey was full of delightful scenery, fun customs, delicious foods and enchanting dialogue.
Olivia is devested when her Aunt Grace passes. She was like a grandmother to her, and they were very close. She is set to inherit everything her aunt owns but must first pass on a message to her aunt’s lost true-love, Marek.
Having never been to Prague she really doesn’t want to go but her aunt’s solicitor talks her into it. Jumping on a plane to Prague at Christmas time is not idea with the business but is preferable to sitting around thinking about her divorce she has recently gone through.
Finding Mareck is not easy but does happen, well his family anyways as they say he has passed years ago. Mareck was her Aunt Grace’s lost love but circumstances beyond their control kept them apart and Olivia was to give him a last message from her aunt.
As she meets Marek’s nephew, Tomas she starts to once again come alive after being belittled and made to feel inadequate in her marriage. Oh, I loved the Christmassy descriptions of Prague. It was so refreshing to see Olivia regain her self-confidence with Mareck’s family as they go through letters sent by her aunt so long ago.
Will Tomas and Olivia let their special chance at love slip away when she has to return home just like her aunt has or will this fairytale romance continue to shine bright for all time?
Pure delight can’t wait to look up more by the author and get reading.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR

Helga Jensen is an award-winning British/Danish best selling author and journalist. Her debut novel was a winning entry in the 2017 Montegrappa First Fiction competition at Dubai’s Emirates Literary Festival. Her debut was also a contender for the coveted 2021 Joan Hessayon Award for new writers. Helga’s second romantic comedy, A Scandinavian Summer, went straight to number one on the Amazon Kindle charts for Danish travel on its publication day. Helga holds a BA Hons in English Literature and Creative Writing, along with a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University. She is currently working on a PhD.
Helga, who lived in the Middle East for much of her life, continues to work as a freelance journalist when not writing books. A former airline stewardess, she now has her feet firmly on the ground and lives with her wonderful family, including a crazy Labradoodle who never stops making her laugh.

Thank you for stopping in. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful day.

16 replies on “A Christmas in Prague: A gorgeously festive later in life romance ”
This is a great review! And the book looks fantastic!
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Such a wonderful read. I’m loving these Christmas reads already especially after reading some historical books that are great but a bit sad.
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Yes, that makes sense. Breaking up the sadness with Christmas stories is a good idea. 🌺🩷
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I have been thinking about requesting this, now reading your review I do believe I will. Great review 😊
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You still have time, get that request in now. You won’t regret it. It’s heartwarming and teaches a bit of a lesson. Thank you, I’m enjoying getting into my new Christmas books already. 💕📚
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I actually did spend a Christmas in Prague, when we lived there. Unfortunately, it didn’t snow and there were no Christmas markets (it was under Communist rule) but we had a tree with candles.
Check out:https://saylingaway.com/2022/12/24/a-czech-christmas-in-prague/
Unfortunately the pictures didn’t come up for me because it is an older post.
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I found your post fascinating. Thank you for sharing it with me and how interesting their customs are. In this book I just read it did say one of the characters had to get a fish for their dinner and I didn’t know this was a custom as well. Sounds like Malida was a wonderful cook and you all ate delicious very well while you were there. Do you ever cook any of the foods you learned about while you were there? Yikes, real candles on trees. I’ve read this was a much more common practice for us back in the 1800’s on Christmas trees but stopped because of the danger of fire.
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I worried about the candles on the tree constantly. But it was the custom and I didn’t hear of any fires! I did learn to cook quite a few Czech dishes, which I make from time to time. I have two Czech cook books – somehow what I make is never as good as I remember! And it’s extremely hard to find authentic Czech dishes in restaurants in Prague now.l
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Such intrigue! Having been to Prague twice in the past 8 years (not during the Christmas season regrettably) I am all the more interested in accompanying her on this journey
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Prague sounds remarkably beautiful and my wish is for you to be able to soon experience a Christmas season there.
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I’m really looking forward to reading this book. Prague is one of the places I visited in June with my daughter and I am hoping to see some familiar landmarks and places. Nice review, Deanne.
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It’s such a heartwarming book Carla. I’m hoping you’ll find some familiar landmarks as you read and really enjoy it. Prague sounds like such a beautiful place to visit.
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I love Christmas stories
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Aren’t they great? I have so many of them to read.
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I need to come to your house. lol. I can always do with one more. 😁
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You would definitely find them here. 🙂
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