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Rebecca Boxall
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Christmas at the Vicarage Kindle Edition

by Rebecca Boxall (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 14,615 ratings

It’s been fifteen years since Rosamunde last lived at the vicarage in Potter’s Cove, the pretty coastal village where she grew up, experienced her first true love—and a heartbreak that changed her life forever. But now Potter’s Cove is calling her back: it’s time to make peace with the past and go home.

Rosamunde’s return to the vicarage in the days before Christmas is a whirlwind of festive cheer and heartwarming reunions with friends, family and her loving father, the vicar. And while seeing the old place after all this time stirs painful memories of long-ago grief, it also reminds her of all the love she left behind. Fifteen years ago she vowed never to let herself be vulnerable again—but now that she’s back she’s not so sure. Is it possible that real happiness could strike more than once?

Spanning three decades of family life, Christmas at the Vicarage is a warm, feel-good tale that examines what it means to love and to lose—and to be brave enough to try again.

Revised edition: This edition of Christmas at the Vicarage includes editorial revisions.

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  1. Print length
    242 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Lake Union Publishing
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    17 Nov. 2015
  6. File size
    2.5 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. Western culture was almost exclusively focused on doing whilst Eastern life made time for just being, whether this involved meditation, prayer or simply people-watching by the side of the street.
    Highlighted by 97 Kindle readers
  2. The memories could never really disappear. The best you could hope for was that they would fade, and lose their power, with time.
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Product description

Review

‘Really enjoyable—and very readable!’ —Robin Pilcher, bestselling author of The Long Way Home

About the Author

Rebecca Boxall was born in 1977 in East Sussex, where she grew up in a bustling vicarage always filled with family, friends and parishioners. She now lives by the sea in Jersey with her husband and two children. She read English at the University of Warwick before training as a lawyer, and also studied Creative Writing with The Writer's Bureau. Her latest novel, Home For Winter is out now.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00YH13LJU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 17 Nov. 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.5 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 242 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1503933927
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 14,615 ratings

About the author

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Rebecca Boxall

Rebecca Boxall

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I was born in beautiful East Sussex and spent my childhood in a wonderfully lively vicarage, always brimming with family, friends, and the occasional surprise visitor from the parish. It was a home full of love, laughter, and endless cups of tea—perhaps where my love for heartfelt stories first began.

I went on to study English at the University of Warwick, which only deepened my passion for books and storytelling. After university, I trained as a criminal lawyer (yes, really!) and more recently worked as a mental health advocate at a psychiatric unit—work that has stayed with me to this day.

These days, I live by the sea in Jersey with my lovely family, and I really make the most of coastal life. Whether I’m bodyboarding in the waves or taking long, blustery walks along the cliffs, there’s something about the sea air that clears my head and fills my heart. I also enjoy the occasional boxing session to blow off steam, and I’m ever so slightly obsessed with board games—Cluedo is my all-time favourite!

My novels are all about love, family, and finding joy in the everyday. I’m beyond grateful that they’ve resonated with so many readers, with two of them reaching No. 1 on the UK Kindle charts. In 2020, I was honoured to be nominated for the Romantic Novel Awards—a moment I’ll always remember.

I was inspired by Rosamunde Pilcher, my favourite author, whose books I've re-read so many times. There's something wonderfully poignant and uplifting about her novels and so when I set about writing my first novel, I wanted it to be similarly feel-good. For me, writing is about escaping from the real world just as much as I want my readers to feel they’re escaping when they read my books.

They always say write about what you know and so I decided to focus on vicarage life as I grew up in a village parish as the daughter of an eccentric vicar. When my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer it was the final push I needed to write a book based on life at a vicarage, with a character inspired by him (the vicar, of course!).

My dad read the book in draft but sadly died before it was published. He'd have been really thrilled to know that I'm now working full-time as a writer, something I’d dreamed of doing since I was a child.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
14,615 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a delightful and easy Christmas read, with a storyline that feels like real life and plenty of plot twists. The characters are well-developed without being overly complicated, and customers appreciate the heartwarming narrative that keeps them engaged throughout. The book effectively bridges different eras through its alternating past and present-day chapters, and customers describe it as lovely and easy to follow. While customers enjoy the mystery elements, some find the plot predictable.

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483 customers mention ‘Readability’476 positive7 negative

Customers find the book a delightful and cozy read, particularly enjoying it during the Christmas period, with one customer mentioning it was a cheerful read through a miserable winter.

"...rather trying, her sister funny, father a treasure and Betty totally delightful. As was the secretive hero. Definitely a "keeper"...." Read more

"I enjoyed reading this book over the Christmas period. It had a loose charm about it and the pages turned easily...." Read more

"This was an excellent book for an author's first book. A real page turner from the start...." Read more

"A relaxing read,enjoyable...a book you can put down and take up when in the mood for a bit of me time" Read more

263 customers mention ‘Story quality’230 positive33 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a lovely narrative with good twists in the plotline that feels like real life. One customer particularly appreciates the entertaining descriptions of village life.

"...let your imagination run with seeing the characters and story pass before your eyes." Read more

"...The characters were fairly convincing and they illustrated situations and emotions which were identifiable, familiar and common to many...." Read more

"...This is a story that really tugs at the heart strings and even though things do eventually work out well for Rosamunde you are still left feeling..." Read more

"...is not at all saccharine sweet but rather bitter sweet and is more realistic for that...." Read more

77 customers mention ‘Character development’67 positive10 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are three-dimensional without being overly complicated.

"...The characters were fairly convincing and they illustrated situations and emotions which were identifiable, familiar and common to many...." Read more

"...A real page turner from the start. I immediately identified with the main character, Rosamunde, through her romantic ups and downs of both herself..." Read more

"...It's not a heavy read and the characters are sufficiently imaginative to keep you guessing...." Read more

"...The vicar is very fond of his tipple and he is a very human character...." Read more

26 customers mention ‘Heartwarming’26 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, with one customer noting its real sense of community spirit and another mentioning its right mixture of emotions.

"A lovely heart warming read.A book that you can just let your imagination run with seeing the characters and story pass before your eyes." Read more

"...with possibly situations as far as emotional ones go... Also Full of glimpses of Hope..." Read more

"...Perfect to read at Christmas ( or anytime ). A heartwarming and cosy story, made you want to snuggle up with a glass of mulled wine!" Read more

"...to repeat but instead choose the pathway of hope, love & joy; a heartwarming read and a little lesson in learning to listen to the prompting of your..." Read more

24 customers mention ‘Difficulty to follow’20 positive4 negative

Customers find the book easy to follow and hard to put down, with one customer noting it is told in a straightforward manner.

"...Easy going and I couldn't put it down." Read more

"Difficult to put down. So many twists and turns. A cleverly woven story. Well worth reading. You’ll enjoy the plot" Read more

"Engaging story, told in a straight forward manner that kept my interest from start to finish. No unnecessary sex & bad language." Read more

"This was a comfort read, easy with some nice characters, set around Christmas time in a village. Festive holiday read." Read more

21 customers mention ‘Charm’18 positive3 negative

Customers find the charm of the book lovely, with one customer noting that the children are always cute and angelic.

"I was riveted.... This book from start to finish was a beautiful place to be. Thank you Rebecca Boxall. Tada....." Read more

"Good points: nice book cover, interesting construction through flashbacks, articulate writer...." Read more

"What a fun filled, lovely, enticing story!!! Could not put this down. Loved getting to know the characters. Lovely read just before Christmas!" Read more

"Lovely, feel good Xmas read with some good characters. However, there are some random and poorly thought out twists which spoil it." Read more

20 customers mention ‘Time span’14 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the time span of the book, with chapters alternating between past and present throughout the narrative.

"...It takes place over several decades - the main thread being the present and in between covering periods in the late '70s, '80s and 90's - filling..." Read more

"Good points: nice book cover, interesting construction through flashbacks, articulate writer...." Read more

"...She relates the characters stories but not in the same timescale...." Read more

"...Loved the ‘80s nostalgia too, and now happily have the taste of Discos and the music of A-ha! in my head. Look forward to more from this author :-)" Read more

25 customers mention ‘Mystery content’13 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the mystery content of the book, with some finding plenty of surprises and keeping them guessing, while others find it predictable.

"...enjoy as I read it on 4day... had a nice main character, with possibly situations as far as emotional ones go... Also Full of glimpses of Hope..." Read more

"I liked the characters and enjoyed the story even though it was fairly predictable." Read more

"...between the past and present were very interesting and gives you more interesting facets. However I was disappointed with the end." Read more

"...Quite an interesting plot with a good range of characters. Predictable ending but never the less something to settle down with and escape the wet..." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 November 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A lovely heart warming read.A book that you can just let your imagination run with seeing the characters and story pass before your eyes.
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars A bit of a challenge.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The story bobbed about time wise and I found myself wondering where we were more than once.
    There were several small stories because of this and many characters..
    The settings were well described and felt familiar.
    The characters were fairly convincing and they illustrated situations and emotions which were identifiable, familiar and common to many.
    I found the heroine rather trying, her sister funny, father a treasure and Betty totally delightful. As was the secretive hero. Definitely a "keeper".
    I used the audio version.
    At times, the narration was dreadful. It seemed as though the narrator was rushing to get to the end of a section and we, the listener, had little choice but to hang on tight. I was very tempted to return the book each time this happened but the author deserved to be heard/read.
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  • Havana Moon
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quite a nice read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 December 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed reading this book over the Christmas period. It had a loose charm about it and the pages turned easily. I found some of the characters like Bernie and Rachel to be quite imaginable. I would, however, have liked to have seen the characters of Rosamunde, Stephen, and Benedict developed much more and rounded off. More descriptions of nature, atmosphere, and mood would have been welcome too. My bete noir is always the ending of a book and, for me, this novel tripped itself up on the final chapter which was completely unnecessary to the plot. The story could have ended quite neatly on the penultimate chapter using the final line of the story to finish off the last line of the penultimate chapter. The way it was published just made it 'fizzle' out rather than Rosamunde having a punchy final word.
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  • journojohnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Christmas read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 January 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This was an excellent book for an author's first book. A real page turner from the start. I immediately identified with the main character, Rosamunde, through her romantic ups and downs of both herself and her friends. The main story takes place around the vicarage with Rosamunde's endearing father, Bernie and her friends, Benedict and Kizzie, brother and sister, but some of the action also takes place in France where both Rosamunde and the reader discover more about Rosamunde's family's back story.
    The author switches time from the past to the present chapter by chapter to explain Rosamunde's past story too but this is a very helpful rather than confusing ploy and works very well.
    I would highly recommend this book for a good Christmas read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Joyce
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A relaxing read,enjoyable...a book you can put down and

    take up when in the mood for a bit of me time
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  • Mrs. Susan Masterton
    4.0 out of 5 stars Feel good read for Christmas
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 January 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this as a light Christmas read over the Festive period and have to say, that is exactly what I got. I read this book over three days and found it very enjoyable. It's not a heavy read and the characters are sufficiently imaginative to keep you guessing. I didn't see the final ending coming so that was something of a surprise - in a good way.
    This is a book to lighten the senses and give you a warm feel good feeling. To be recommended as good holiday reading.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Book Maniac
    5.0 out of 5 stars Liked it
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This book will make you feel sad for the heroine of this tale. It is written in a very gentle way with some funny moments and is all about the interactions of village life. The vicar is very fond of his tipple and he is a very human character. Rosamunde has not fared well in her love life, thanks to a mean and selfish act. You want her to have the love of her life but things don't always work out the way you would wish. This is a story that really tugs at the heart strings and even though things do eventually work out well for Rosamunde you are still left feeling very sad that this did not have the ending that you might expect. A well written story and I would recommend this to anyone who prefers taste over tacky.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Zelda
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too lengthy!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The sound of the title was good for the festive season but I find it most annoying for a book to be written in two/three/four separate times - difficult to follow. The description of the characters needs to be reiterated if changing from one time to another as it is hard to recall from the start of a long book, who the characters are and their backgrounds without reminding. If it was a short book, then one would recall the background of the characters, but as a long book it is hard to follow and remember all the characters and their backgrounds especially also swapping dates.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Gully
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pleasant Read
    Reviewed in the United States on 30 January 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I don't often read novels, as I prefer non-fiction. This book appeared in my recommendations, and looking for a light hearted read, I gave it a try.

    Reminding me of the wonderful descriptive settings of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple villages, and the warmth of the Christmas season, I settled right in. Much like the wonderful cozy mysteries, but with no murders in sight, if you like that type of writing, you will enjoy this one.

    Delightful characters, romance joys and heart breaks, and believable scenarios held my interest to the very end. I wish I could spend a few cozy winter evenings at the Vicarage myself.
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  • mepeewee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Comfortable read, interesting twists
    Reviewed in Australia on 11 April 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A neat "then & now" alternating of chapters quickly becomes comfortable, as the story of a family emerges. Developments along the way - in both time frames - will keep the reader interested, and the story ends pleasingly. Characters are realistic and easy to like, and the village setting is warmly created. An enjoyable read.
    Report
  • Lisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!
    Reviewed in Canada on 5 January 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I appreciate this author she is so fun and her books are a delight!
    I love her twists and for once it’s so nice when dreams do come true!
    Report
  • W.R. B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars A LOVELY BOOK!
    Reviewed in Germany on 8 January 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I may be biased, as I also grew up in a small village in East Sussex like the author, but found the story a heartwarming tale. I have lived abroad for 30 years and she brought me back home again. Rebecca sets a scene and brings characters vividly alive in the imagination. A wonderful feel good story that has helped me to beat the January blues, what with reading this two weeks to the day since Christmas Day. For a first novel it is pretty impressive. I couldn't put it down. Loved the twist on the usual love story angle. Highly recommend this new author. I will be looking out for the next one! Thanks, Rebecca.
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  • Digital Panache
    4.0 out of 5 stars A very introspective book which would overwhelm you
    Reviewed in India on 27 August 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The author Rebecca has written a very overwhelming book where Rosamunde, the key character, returns to her village Potter's cove. The blurb is just an introduction to the book, so don't mistake it for a simple read. There is so much more in this book which will keep you hooked. Must admit that it is a bit predictable and won't surprise you much but again, it is not meant to be. Sometimes, simple stories make you so emotional that you start introspecting the same in your own life. This book made me do so. The juggling in Rosamunde's life, her dream, her return to the village, meeting her lost people and lighting up the old flame is something at many of us would also long for as life takes us away from our roots over time. A very emotional read for me.
    Customer image
    Digital Panache
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    A very introspective book which would overwhelm you

    Reviewed in India on 27 August 2018
    The author Rebecca has written a very overwhelming book where Rosamunde, the key character, returns to her village Potter's cove. The blurb is just an introduction to the book, so don't mistake it for a simple read. There is so much more in this book which will keep you hooked. Must admit that it is a bit predictable and won't surprise you much but again, it is not meant to be. Sometimes, simple stories make you so emotional that you start introspecting the same in your own life. This book made me do so. The juggling in Rosamunde's life, her dream, her return to the village, meeting her lost people and lighting up the old flame is something at many of us would also long for as life takes us away from our roots over time. A very emotional read for me.
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