Synopsis
If you received a mysterious invitation for a fun-filled festive train ride the week before Christmas, would you go?
When teacher Dee Nicholls receives her invitation, she isn’t sure what to make of it. Surely it’s some kind of joke to get her out of bed early on a weekend? Perhaps a clever festive marketing ploy?
But as the Christmas countdown begins, it becomes clear that Dee isn’t the only “Jingle Bells Express” invitee. There are other people out there who have received the same invitation: Tom the intern, Rachel the aspiring writer, Dylan the musician and his dog Muttley – and they’re not the only ones!
Could the unusual festive journey they eventually take together show them all the true meaning of Christmas, and also that happiness is sometimes right in front of you – if you just take the time to look?
Berni Stevens
Berni Stevens lives in a four-hundred-year-old cottage in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, son and black cat. She trained in graphic design and has worked as a book cover designer for more than twenty years.
Books and art remain her passion, and her love of the paranormal began when she first read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, aged fourteen. She is now on both the committee and the book panel of the Dracula Society, a society for fans of gothic literature and film.
Berni writes contemporary and fantasy romance.
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|
FREE Audio Story
Listen to this lovely FREE audio short story from Berni Stevens.
The Bookshop on the Corner by Berni Stevens narrated by Charlotte Strevens. Click the play button to listen.
Laughing all the way on the Jingle Bells Express and yes I did, thank you Berni.
We are all told all characters need to go on a journey, so the idea of setting the novel in a train that is clearly going to have an impact on all your characters is inspired. This a lovely light, feel good novel that kept me smiling all the way through. Great idea, great characters, great story. I am starting to feel really Christmassy already.
This is a great, unusual and happy Christmas story. An unrelated group of people brought together for a ride on the Christmas Express and the reactions to their invitations and the ride make fascinating reading. A heart lifting tale which will make you feel a warm glow for longer than just whilst you are reading it. Lovely for Christmas, but there again, it’s not just for Christmas!
Highly entertaining
A quick and very enjoyable read and, yes, I was laughing all the way through. Even discovered I was humming Christmas music to accompany the book.
An intriguing idea, funny, imaginative, guaranteed to put a smile to your face.