While doing the morning school run, Binny escapes from the clutches of another Mum (wearing a complete Xmas “ensemble” of a festive jogging suit, with matching red fur ears and gloves) who wants to know if Binny is “ready for Christmas” or maybe even the nativity play that is on that afternoon at the school. Her writing is so neat and controlled, no time is wasted on explanations and our understanding of the situation unfolds as the story progresses. Marketed as a Christmas story, I found Christmas to be incidental and that this tale could have been set at any time of year. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book prize and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In her busy life, while feeling sorry for herself Bin must prepare for Christmas without any joy or desire to celebrate.

A Faraway Smell of Lemons is a Christmas Short Story by actress, radio playwright and author, Rachel Joyce. Not all of the characters are well developed, primarily because of the short-story format, but there is enough flesh on them to make the story feel real. A tinsy sad but at last hopeful short story, to remember of all the human beings in our life whom we care about and not to forget the importance of small things and gestures. Proof that you never know when you might have significant impact upon someone else's life in the seemingly most insignificant interactions.

She has lost her parents not so long ago, but refused to cry or show her emotions at that time, then when her current "partner," Oliver ups and leaves her, confessing his affair with another woman who is now pregnant, she is beside herself yet still willing herself to remain stoic. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. She moved to writing after a long career as an actor, performing leading roles for the RSC, the National Theatre and Cheek by Jowl.

It is Christmas Eve and Binny has just four hours in which to make Christmas happen for her children. Perfect is a poignant and powerful book, rich with empathy and charged with beautiful, atmospheric writing. Smitten with British author Rachel Joyce, I immediately downloaded her short e-story A FARAWAY SMELL OF LEMON to my Kindle. Imagine my surprise when I opened it up and discovered it was a short story, quite apt for the time of year, and indeed, for this extraordinary year! Rachel Joyce, internationally bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Perfect, delivers an unforgettable Christmas story of moving on from lost love, now available exclusively as an e-short.No sermons, without sentimentality Joyce's words wash over you and through these fictional events a deeper truth is revealed. Wonderfully written this account moves you emotionally and allows you to reflect on Christmas and truely prepare for this special time of year.

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I've been wanting to finish The Grapes of Wrath for more than 3 decades but it was a book that I put on hold in my late teens and never came back to. Rachel has also written over twenty original afternoon plays and adaptations of the classics for BBC Radio 4, including all the Bronte novels.