Synopsis
Do you believe in Father Christmas?
For Melissa, Christmas has always been overrated. From her cold, distant parents to her manipulative ex-husband, Lawrence, she’s never experienced the warmth and contentment of the festive season with a big, happy family sitting around the table.
And Melissa has learned to live with it, but it breaks her heart that her seven-year-old son, William, has had to live with it too. Whilst most little boys wait with excitement for the big day, William finds it difficult to believe that Father Christmas even exists.
But then Daniel McCormick comes into their lives. And with his help, Melissa and William might just be able to find their festive spirit, and finally have a Christmas where all of their wishes come true …
Kathryn Freeman
Kathryn was born in Wallingford, England but has spent most of her life living in a village near Windsor. After studying pharmacy in Brighton she began her working life as a retail pharmacist. She quickly realised that trying to decipher doctor’s handwriting wasn’t for her and left to join the pharmaceutical industry where she spent twenty happy years working in medical communications. In 2011, backed by her family, she left the world of pharmaceutical science to begin life as a self-employed writer, juggling the two disciplines of medical writing and romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero…
With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) the romance in her life is all in her head. Then again, her husband’s unstinting support of her career change goes to prove that love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes can come in many disguises.
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reviews by the boekenfans member panel
Written by Just Jessica
A second christmas wish – Kathryn Freeman
“For Melissa, Christmas has always been overrated. From her cold, distant parents to her manipulative ex-husband, Lawrence, she’s never experienced the warmth and contentment of the festive season with a big, happy family sitting around the table.
And Melissa has learned to live with it, but it breaks her heart that her seven-year-old son, William, has had to live with it too. Whilst most little boys wait with excitement for the big day, William finds it difficult to believe that Father Christmas even exists.
But then Daniel McCormick comes into their lives. And with his help, Melissa and William might just be able to find their festive spirit, and finally have a Christmas where all of their wishes come true …”
Melissa, an ex-model and divorced woman, tries to build up her life with her very shy son William. She has banned all men. But when her friend Alice found a place for her son for tennis lessons, her wall starts to crumble when she mets Daniel McCormick. A former tennis legend and her secret crush for years.
William, 7 year old son of Melisa and Lawrence, is a very shy boy. Melissa tries her best to break down his shell and it finally happens when he started to follow lessons with Daniel. His relationship with his mother finally blossems. But then his father comes back in his life after years of silence. And Willam is truly petrified by the thought of spending time with his father. Afterall it was his father who told him father Christmas don’t exist.
Daniel, former Wimbledon tennis champion and familyman, has his own tennis school. He was first not so exited when his sister Alice asked if he’s still got a spare place for a shy boy, but who can refuse his own sister? And allthought his sisters warning about Melissa, when he met her, he’s instantly attracted by her and vice versa. He’s not only warms the heart of Melissa, he also helps William coming out of his shell and trying to convince him that father christmas really exists.
A real Christmas story about love, family, friends and of course Santa. I love reading it. A real feelgood story, a little predictable but who cares? It’s Christmas!! And then we only just need happy endings. So thank you Choc Lits and Boekenfans!!
Written by Tiziana Langone
Even though it’s still a couple weeks left until Christmas, I started this book with curious anticipation.
Already in the prologue you get to know the main character and her sad story. Instantly you despise her husband and you cheer for a happy end.
Melissa never experienced the true Christmas spirit thanks to her ex-husband and distant parents.
When she finally stands up for herself, her first and only priority is her son William.
And a new love interest? Totally not in her plans…
But that’s only until William starts with taking tennis lessons from Daniel.
Both characters aren’t looking for falling in love again, but of course you cannot just decide to not fall in love.
This isn’t a simple love story where you just get to know all the characters superficially.
The writer really explains the thoughts of each person, so that you really get involved into the story and cheer for them.
And how not to adore little William??? He is the reason Melissa and Daniel bond. This little shy guy takes tennis lessons from super-hunk Daniel who proves himself more than just a teacher.
Melissa sees how William opens up and starts to feel more than just friendship for the man responsible for the changes in William.
The story is very easy to read. No chapters that never end and you’re looking for the end of it so you can take a break.
Every chapter has the perfect length. But that didn’t stop me from binge-reading and the book was finished quicker than I thought.
This writer has just found an extra fan!
Written by Kim Wymeersch
A second Christmas wish’, my faith in santa is back again!
‘A second Christmas wish’ is written by Kathryn Freeman. On the cover you see a cosy house, Christmas trees, snow and santa’s sled. The quote on it is very stimulating to start reading. You immediately expect a nice and beautiful story.
‘A second Christmas wish’ tells the story of Melissa and her son William. Mellissa escaped a terrible marriage, her son became a victim of it as well. Because of his past he’s a very shy and timid boy.
My favourite character is Daniel.
The way Kathryn made him come alive is amazing. If the book was written in a different way it wouldn’t been as strong as it is now. Now it’s on point. In the middle of the book I hoped that everything would be allright, that everything would work out.
His sister, Alice, is another awesome character. She isn’t present very much but she does some things that decide the story. Beautiful done.
The end is done lovely.
The whole story gets an beautiful closure while it still keeps an open ending.
‘A second Christmas wish’ is ideal if you want to drown in the Christmas spirit. A lovely book to dream for a while.
Written by Lie Frooninckx
Such a pageturner … Once you start reading you can’t stop!
A beautiful Christmas story!
At a familydinner, just before Christmas, Lawrence tells his parents that Melissa is leaving him. Her dreamwedding was over from the moment Lawrence’s true caracter started showing: he is the lord and master, everyone does wat he wants.When she became pregnant, Lawrence wanted an abortion, which she refused. After the birth of her son, the boy was tolerated by Lawrence but no more.
Two years later, Melissa and her son William live in a modest house, and Melissa has been designing clothes. The now 7-year-old William is a very shy boy with few friends. Melissa’s best friend Alice has a son who is taking tennis lessons and proposes to enroll William in the same group. The tennis teacher is her brother Daniel.
William enjoys the lessons more and more and can’t stop talking about the teacher and the fun they are having. Melissa sees Daniel as a good friend.
Christmas is getting closer and so a letter must be written to Santa. William no longer believes in Santa and Melissa wants to change this. Usually she helps William with the letter, but this year it’s different. To prove that Santa still exists and that it is not mom who buys the gifts, the letter must be written without any help. If the right gift is placed underneath the tree, then there is a Santa. Daniel finds out that there are two wishes in William’s letter. The first wish is a new racket and the second …..
Are both wishes being fulfilled?
Young and impressionable model Melissa marries much older fashion designer Lawrence but soon realises far from living happily ever after, she has tied herself to a cruel and controlling man. Now with a seven year old son, William, she has finally divorced him and is busy designing clothes for her own label. Daniel McCormack is an ex-tennis professional who quit the game after injury and now runs a tennis school. Encouraged her best friend, who also happens to be Daniel’s sister, Melissa enrols William hoping it will help him gain confidence and bring him out of his shell after the bullying he experienced from Lawrence. Daniel falls for Melissa but having just escaped a very toxic relationship she is reluctant to become involved with another man…even one as wonderful as Daniel appears to be. Daniel is an amazing character; attractive, kind, patient, but every time he thinks he’s making progress with Melissa, something goes wrong. They’re obviously meant to be together but can Melissa overcome the past to find true happiness? A lovely warm festive read….