Halley has been running from her problems for years.
On a courier trip to Tallfors, deep in Swedish Lapland, everything is going to plan. Halley has her bag, with two precious wedding rings inside for delivery... until she doesn't.
The only way to save the wedding is to team up with mysterious reindeer herder Bjorn, the one person who can lead her across the snowy tundra to be reunited with her bag.
On a journey of a lifetime beneath the stars, with only the reindeer and a bad-tempered stranger for company beside the fire, Halley realises that she will need to confront her past heartaches in order to let the warmth of love in once more...
Many thanks to Headline via NetGalley for my copy of A Winter Beneath the Stars to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
What an absolute treat to have two books from Jo Thomas published this year. She is the queen of Summer reads and has never disappointed with any of her books instead they just get better and better. Now she has given us a Christmas book, A Winter Beneath the Stars, and it turned out to be as delightful and wonderful as all her other books. If she could provide her readers with two books every year I for sure amongst many others would be very happy indeed. Jo takes us on a magical if somewhat Wintry journey through the Swedish countryside, more specifically Tallfours in Lapland, as Halley who works as a courier delivering precious and unusual items all around Europe has an important delivery to complete before a wedding can take place.
Right from the outset this story was so vibrant and descriptive that even though you may never get to visit the area you feel like you have been there thanks to such beautiful writing from Jo. It was filled with stunning imagery so easy to conjure up in ones mind and what's better is you are curled up in a warm cosy house whilst reading yet you can sense the cold, the snow, the isolation of the journey Halley undertakes but it still inspires warm and feel good emotions inside you. Combined with such a fantastic storyline it certainly is a Christmas read that you will want to read in as few sittings as possible.
Halley Hopkins is a seasoned traveller thanks to her job and she carefully plans for every eventuality. She loves what she does but from the beginning I could sense that she was a person who always wanted to be on the go in the sense that she was fleeing or maybe even avoiding someone or something. The reasons behind this did become clear much later on in the story but I had guessed this fairly early on. That said knowing what was going on in Halley's mind didn't detract in any way my overall enjoyment of the story instead it only enhanced it and made me understand what was motivating Halley to act and express her emotions in the way she did.
No doubt about it Halley is efficient and reliable so when a mix up occurs with her baggage, and the precious cargo she is transporting gets lost somewhere, she doesn't stop and all out panic instead she thinks how can I resolve this problem. Little does she realise locating the person who has her bag will provide her with a very special and unique journey of her own. One which will test her to her limits but yet allow her to see a different side to the world. A world where rushing from one job to another is not ones sole purpose. It's a different way of life where you go back to nature and stop and assess everything and literally go back to basics.
As the reader could see Halley was hiding something and hurting also, I did hope that this journey she was embarking on to find a man called Daniel who had her suitcase would prove to be pivotal in changing her mindset both in terms of Christmas and her general life and work attitude. Was she ready to open up and let warmth and love find its way into her heart and mind in order to change her whole outlook on life, only time would tell.
I loved the descriptions of the hotel where Halley was staying. It was like it was cocooned in the wilderness and cut off from everything and really anything could have happened there. It had the ability for magical and surprising things to happen but where the true magic occurred was out on the tundra as Halley takes a major step outside of her comfort zone to find Daniel. This showed her complete dedication to her job that she would literally do anything to be reunited with the bag but really all this was meant to happen. It was Halley's fate written in the stars and although she writes of such wonderful adventures and trips in her travel journal that's all well and good but it is a front and one she cannot keep portraying for much longer.
As she finds a man called Bjorn, deep in the countryside who can reunite her with Daniel she thinks an easy swap will occur. One bag for another, job done, deliver the contents and she is out of here. But Bjorn has other plans as he runs a reindeer herd which must be brought back to local pastures for winter feeding and he cannot bring her to Daniel before the migration is complete. The reader is privy to a little more information regarding Bjorn that is kept secret from Halley and I did question several times why hasn't she realised certain things but I think she was so caught up in the experience and just getting through herding a group of reindeer that she literally took things one hour at a time.
Halley agrees to accompany Bjorn dog sledging and herding the reindeer across the tundra. Initially I thought are you out of your mind? Would you not just go back to the hotel and stay warm by the fire and even be entertained by Lars, the concierge and tour guide, who has an eye for the girls and wait to meet this elusive Daniel? But then I began to understand that deep down Halley wanted to challenge herself, to step out of her comfort zone but also to stay in the good books of her employers in the hopes of gaining a promotion. What followed was simply a brilliant and emotive journey.
A transformation of sorts began to occur as Halley and Bjorn were alone in the wilderness. There was little choice but to keep on going, to march on and deal with her fears as she learns all about the reindeer and how to manage the sled dogs. Such research must have been undertaken into this aspect of Arctic life, even the Northern Lights make an appearance. The descriptions of the tundra were simply breathtaking and all the little details regarding the caring of and transport of the herd were fascinating and so interesting and they really added such depth to my overall reading experience. Halley does find the experience strange, tough and exhausting but I did think this was going to make her a better person in the end. That it would help attempt to get over the hurt she had been harbouring deep inside her. The forest gives both Bjorn and Halley time to think due to the freedom and silence.
Bjorn was an unusual character given that we are privy to more about him than Halley and knew why he acted the way he did. He came across as cold and aloof but I desperately wanted him to open to Halley and for her to do the same with him. Both have their guard up and are lonely and hurt for different reasons but life has thrown this pair together and maybe they should grab the opportunity with both hands and see what path is in store for them. The characters involved in this book have built up defences around themselves and enshrouded themselves in an invisible armour and, yes they're reasons are justified, but sometimes you have to let love and others in to help to comfort, advise and to offer love and support.
Witnessing Bjorn and Halley together was such a joy to read but at times it was frustrating because I wanted to be able to tap one or the other on the shoulder and let a few home truths come out into the open. Saying that this did add to the tension and the sense of urgency and the many surprises that were present in the book and really Halley's story is one you will love from start to finish. So may questions arise the further we race towards the conclusion. Will they reach the new pastures safely and on time? Will Halley get the bag back she so desperately needs to make a wedding a happy and joyful occasion? Will she finally get to meet Daniel? Will either Halley or Bjorn find happiness? Make sure you pick up a copy of A Winter Beneath the Stars to discover the answers and so much more. It's a beautifully crafted festive treat that was enjoyable from the first word to the last.
Huge thanks Emma and Sharon xx
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