Banner photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash
I am so excited to welcome Madeline Martin, author of some of my absolute favorite historical fiction novels, to the blog today to share a short Christmas bonus story from my favorite book of hers, The Last Bookshop in London! I fell in love with historical fiction this year, and read all three of Madeline’s currently released historical fiction novels. They’re all wonderful, but The Last Bookshop in London has burrowed into my heart. I love that book so much, and I love this short little treat that Madeline wrote just for A Bookish Little Christmas! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Read more about Madeline and her books below!
The Last Bookshop in London
A Christmas List
by Madeline Martin
December 1, 1942
London England
Christmas would arrive soon and Grace had much to do to prepare.
She stared down at the careful list of names written on the back of an old order confirmation. One had to reuse what they could these days.
Her Christmas list for friends should have already been written out a month ago, the gifts purchased and neatly wrapped. But this marked the fourth Christmas since war broke out, and the first year without Mr. Evans. A hollow ache resonated in her chest had made rallying a cheerful disposition somewhat difficult.
Many others in England were in a similar mindset. She’d heard as much from her patrons. Parents were missing children who had been evacuated and once who had been sent to war, families were displaced and broken apart. They needed something to warm their spirits.
And a bookshop was the best place to make that happen.
Which was why she’d been preparing for the Christmas day celebration at the shop Mr. Evans had left to her, Primrose Hill Books. She scanned the preliminary plans that included her reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, a nativity play Jimmy was writing with Mrs. Weatherford’s assistance, and carols to be sung by Mrs. Nesbitt.
Grace had concerns about the latter, but was sure all would be well.
She hoped.
Anyway, she’d already accepted Mrs. Nesbitt’s offer and there was no going back.
Instead, Grace turned her attention to the list once more. There had to be just the right book for each person on her list. Otherwise, she had entirely no business owning a bookshop.
She addressed the first name on her list and wrote the book in careful script.
Viv – Lady Chatterly’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence
It was a fortunate thing Grace owned her own bookshop and could easily procure a copy. Having to purchase one from an employee would leave her red as Santa’s coat.
Mrs. Weatherford – Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
If ever there was a book about the bonds of family, it was Little Women. And if ever there was a woman who could take strangers into her home and make them family, it was Mrs. Weatherford. Grace smiled, knowing full well how the book would warm Mrs. Weatherford’s heart.
George – A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Truth be told, Grace didn’t need to add George onto the list, but she liked seeing his name on the page alongside the others of all those she loved. His gift had already been sent several weeks earlier to ensure its arrival by Christmas. One never knew how long the post would take to reach him. Wherever he was. There were too many censorship holes cut through his last correspondence to deduce any specific location.
Sarah – Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Mongomery
Sarah and Jimmy had been living with Mrs. Weatherford now for well over a year, her adopted children, making the Grace’s former landlady a mother once more. Though Mrs. Weatherford loved both Jimmy and Sarah as any mother would, Sarah struggled with being an orphan, and confess to Grace once that she wondered whether she might truly belong anywhere. It was Grace’s hope that Sarah would see how much Anne was loved by the Cuthberts and help her realize how well she fit into Mrs. Weatherford’s life and heart.
Jimmy – The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Knowing how much the book had meant to George as a boy made it the perfect option for Jimmy who craved adventure. Especially being such a large book, reading it might actually take a full week or longer. Maybe.
Mr. Stokes – Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
Mr. Stokes had come a long way from the disparaging ARP warden she’d been stuck patrolling the streets with and had because a dear friend. But that didn’t mean he still didn’t sometimes fall prey to his ready judgments. This book would remind him of the stories that existed behind people’s actions. And if nothing else, it would be an entertaining read.
Mrs. Nesbitt – First edition copy of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
It was terribly difficult to find just the right book for a woman who also owns a bookshop. But through various means, Grace knew the first edition of Mrs. Nesbitt’s favorite book would be the ideal present for the woman who had become a close friend.
And for Tabby, he would get the bits of wrapping and string to bat around and pounce upon after the presents were opened.
Grace leaned back, satisfied with the list. Now she just had to prepare a list of what needed to be done before the Primrose Hill Books Christmas Program. Tapping the pencil against her lip, she considered. Jimmy and Sarah would likely enjoy decorating the shop. She could put them on a committee to do so.
A chime sounded at the door, interrupting her thoughts. The post woman stepped in, a smile on her face as she wished Grace a Happy Christmas and deposited several parcels and envelopes on the counter.
Thanking her, Grace began sorting through the stack, seeking out anything from George. There were none in the small pile of envelopes. Her shoulders fell slightly, as they always did when there was nothing from him. She glanced at the parcels and immediately recognized the handwriting.
George.
The weight and shape of the item suggested a book was wrapped within. Already loving whatever it was, she hastily drew the brown paper off and seeing what lay beneath, she laughed.
She held his present in her hands, its red cover soft with a velvet-like material and gold letters spelling out the words: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
They had given one another the exact same book for Christmas.
—
Thank you so much for reading this little short story of Grace’s Christmas list. I’ll have a slightly longer story coming out in my newsletter in December detailing the Primrose Hill Books Christmas Program. If you’d like to make sure you receive that, please sign up for my newsletter.
Several books included in Grace’s Christmas list are ones featured in my other books as well:
The Last Bookshop in London (the story I used to create this Christmas list read) is about a woman’s unexpected love of books during the Blitz in London and how it brought together a book community around one little bookshop. This book features The Count of Monte Cristo and A Christmas Carol.
The Librarian Spy features an American librarian sent to neutral Portugal to gather pamphlets and other intel amid a world of spies and secrets, as well as a woman with the French resistance who runs the printing machine to create those clandestine papers. This book features Little Women.
The Keeper of Hidden Books is based on the journals of Warsaw’s public librarians and their efforts to save books from Nazi looting and destruction and how they ran secret libraries when they were ordered to shut down. This book features Les Miserables.
My upcoming book, The Booklover’s Library (Sept 10, 2024) is about a widowed single mother who must send her daughter away with the evacuations and finds solace in the book community at her job at a lending library. This book features Lady Chatterly’s Lover, Anne of Green Gables and Jane Eyre.
I am a huge advocate for shopping independent bookstores. As such (and back by popular request), I will be stopping by my local bookstore San Marco Books & More on December 12th to personalize all orders for my books. If you would like to order a personalized copy of any of my books, please contact Desiree at San Marco Books for more information.
Thank you so much, everyone!! Happy Holidays <3
The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
Published by Hanover Square Press on April 6, 2021
Add to Goodreads • Buy on Amazon (also part of Kindle Unlimited)
Inspired by the true World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz, The Last Bookshop in London is a timeless story of wartime loss, love and the enduring power of literature.
August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and blackout curtains that she finds on her arrival were not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London.
Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war.
About Madeline Martin
Madeline Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and internationally bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance with books that have been translated into over twenty-five different languages.
She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters (known collectively as the minions), two incredibly spoiled cats and a man so wonderful he’s been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she’s not writing, researching or ‘moming’, you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves to travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.
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The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy
Holly Cassidy is the pen name for internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon. Her suspense novels include The Revenge List, The Neighbors, Her Secret Son, Sister Dear, You Will Remember Me, and Never Coming Home. McKinnon was born in England, grew up in Switzerland, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and three sons. The Christmas Wager was her first novel writing as Holly Cassidy.