Winter's Children

by Leah Fleming

Grieving widow Kay Partridge and her daughter Evie, unable to face the oncoming Christmas festivities, move into a cottage at majestic Wintergill Farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Kay wants to shut the door and forget about everything. Evie, struggling to come to terms with the concept of death, just wants her Daddy to come home for Christmas. But Wintergill is far from the quiet refuge that they expected. Devastated by Foot and Mouth, Nik Snowden and his Mother Nora are facing a bleak future. The two are at loggerheads. Nora has had enough of the hard life but Nik wants to keep the house and lands that have been in his family for generations. But Nik is not the only one attached to the house. In the distant past, a terrible tragedy occurred and ever since a restless spirit has haunted the land, seeking a child that once was lost. Through the generations, the ghost has brought misery and pain to bear on the inhabitants. But where one spirit has sown despair, others have sought to protect the children of Wintergill.

Genres: Christmas, Historical Fiction, Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 11, 2010

About the author

Leah Fleming was born in Lancashire and is married with three sons and a daughter. She writes from an old farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales and an olive grove in Crete.

See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com.a...

Reviews

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A

[Marlene Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful tale Leah Fleming tells in a Winter’s Children. The reader is transported to Wintergill Farm and can almost feel the warmth of the hearth against one’s legs - and smell Jacob’s Yorkshire Christmas pie baking away in the oven! It is definitely a book to read during winter!

On the surface, it is a story about Kay and her daughter Evie, who have lost the man in their lives due to a fatal car accident. Kay wants to avoid the sorrowful emotions of their first Christmas without him so she sets off, with her daughter in tow, to the isolated Yorkshire Dales. What she thought would be an uneventful break from routine turns out to be the complete opposite.

On a deeper level, it is a tale about the need to deal with the past in order to fully embrace the future. Because if one does not, it is likely to come back to haunt you- literally!
Ms Fleming does an exceptionally good job of interweaving the present day stories of Kay Partridge and Nora Snowdon with those of the two earthbound spirits, Hepzibah and her wayward cousin, Blanche. All these women have issues that they must overcome if they are to become unstuck from their current anguish and move forward. Evie, provides the catalyst for this to happen.

It is an unusual and quirky story that sets it apart from many current novels. I found it engrossing and delightful. It contains nothing overly ghastly or exhausting for the reader to deal with, just a very enjoyable, comfortable read. I’d thoroughly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good tale, and wants something a little different. A great read.

[Donna Boultwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story took a while to get going for me but on the whole I enjoyed it. Would probably rate it 3.5 if there were halves! Not quite a 4 as I got a bit confused who all the previous residents were and their importance, but all became clear in the end. What a house! It's the sort of book that would make a good study as there are lots of themes running through and interesting characters. Lovely ending, you feel Kay's excitement!!

[Ramona Lazar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a brilliant book! A real book, you know what I mean? With real people and their problems, trials and tribulations (of, I love this expression!), a couple of ghosts, a troubled story from the past, lots of love and lore. And of course, a happy ending.
I think I will re-read it during Christmas...

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is totally atmospheric. Wintery-old rambling house, old cozy farms, country farm living, small town community-old times. So if you like that, dive right in and you get a bit of a mystery to boot!

[Gala · Rating 3 out of 5]

у книзі є велика ложка дьогтю - редагування, бо то там, то тут в перекладі трапляються неузгоджені речення, а люди починають вживати енвідповідні до ситуациї та їх лексики вирази.
інша проблема - в кульмінації. історія з родинними духами, що захищають чи занапащують родину упродовж сторічь написана гарно(власне минуле цієї родини мені здалося цікавішим від сьогодення), але закінчилася несподівано й нелогічно - чому привиди упокоїлися і все стало добре саме тієї миті а не будь-якої іншої? ніякий відьмак їх не винаняв, жодного обряду чи навіть перепрошування з боку живих, жодних накладених умов що врешті були виконані, то чому? таке враження, що або з історія викинули важливий шматок, або автору набридло розповідати.

загалом же, як я писала, минуле тут цікавіше від сьогодення, навіть минуле ще живих. і цю частину історії мені читати сподобалося.

гарною мені видається й ідея написати про інше різдво - пов'язане з тяжкими спогадами чи великими втратами. таке враження що неріздвяний настрій посеред сніжинок і ялинок вдався авторці значно краще від намагань звести все до різдвяного дива.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect, dual-timeline festive wintry read for over the Christmas season. Loved it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up for a bargain and didn't expect much from it, but found myself buried in the story and mystery quickly. If you love the romance of the English countryside in winter, and Christmas around the fire then this might be for you. The book goes through different generations of the same family, setting up mysteries and answers in relation to the present day story the book is telling. It all weaves together well and left me satisfied at the end. Defintely worth a read.

[Fran Mewse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book but got a little confused with the ancient ancestors. I would love to know if Kay did fulfil her wish and if the farm was restocked. I loved reading about Christmas traditions from the past and about farming in the dales.

[Tatyana Naumova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Прелестная рождественская история, волнительная, с мимими и Йоркширом.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure whether "frailty thy name is woman" is a theme the author was semi-deliberately playing with or if the misogyny is internalised but this book was hard to get through. Over so many generations women damaged their children by having interests, passions, emotional or intellectual needs or seeking autonomy. They let each other down. They failed to protect. Meanwhile the men engage in various creepy behaviours to win the women in the first place but then seem to fade out of the frame and do nothing to help.

The modern day version of all these couple and child stories is Kay Partridge a recent widow who spends most of the story beating herself up for not being able to process her extreme grief and exhaustion more heroically. Enter love-interest a man who scorns housework and cooking as "women's work" and seems proud of this hot take, who is great at ignoring the emotional needs of women around him and seems to not value washing or laundry...I mean what a catch right?

There are ghosts, the very spoilt child is in danger and we are meant to think this is cute because it's Christmas. Predictably the woman decides to stay in that part of the world and the man decides it won't be too bad having her around, presumably for the "women's work" since he is too manly to wash a dish. There are old-style recipes scattered through with the ghosts. There's also a reductionist version of religion insterted awkwardly into some scenes.

Suitable for anyone who thinks maternalism, heteronormativity and Christmas are "beautiful"

[Srikumar Krishna Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well written, switching back and forth between different generations, and keeping the pace up right till the end.
Loved all the women characters belonging to different generations/ eras/ century who play a important role in respective families during their time.
Would be a treat for all Christmas lovers, as the story unfolds during the extreme winter during Christmastides.
Nice to note that the language is almost old English style, maybe it sounded to me so because of the multi-generation scenarios involved in the novel.
Just under 400 pages (paperback), it would be a easy read during a bus or train read, or a casual 1 week read.

[Laeba Haider | Readgret · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing tale. One of the books that I just read the synopsis of and felt like it's going to be worth a read and Leah Fleming did not disappoint me. The characters in the movie are so real, with real issue and challenges. You read about their lives and there's always one thing or the other that you can connect with, whether it is about overcoming the loss of a loved one or of saving your life long possessions or should I say, family inheritance. The book leaves you with a feeling of content and the ending leaves you in happy spirits. Certainly a Christmas read! ❤️

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good story from Leah Fleming, set in Yorkshire Dales. It could be classed as a Christmas book, but I think it’s readable any time of the year. A recently widowed young woman and her child decide to get away from all the painful memories Christmas holds and hires a cottage on an old farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Kay just wants to shut herself away from everything but her daughter Evie is unhappy about the lack of preparations for the season. She decides to take matters into her own hands and stirs up remembrances and happenings at the old farmhouse from centuries ago.

[Melissa Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely Christmas/winter read. Whilst it had its fair share of tragedies and mishaps it's all turned out ok in the end!

I loved the innocence of Evies view compared to her mum's adult view of the situation. And I loved the good old fashioned community spirit, you don't get it much these days!
I loved the added twist of having the ghost of the past intertwined with the modern day. Right up my street!
Would be interesting to read a sequel to see whether Kay and Nik get together and how their plans for the farm turn out!

[Little Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

While beautifully crafted, this novel took me a long time to read. I think due to the number of characters from the past coming to the fore to tell part of their story. By the time I had pinned the character, and was hooked by their story, it all moved on. It took a lot of concentration and needed more sustained focus than I was able to afford it.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy books by this author. This novel was set at the time of the Foot and Mouth outbreak which serves as a reminder that there are always crises to be overcome! I liked the layered approach, showing the history of the house telling the reader about the previous generations, but I am not too sure about the ghostly goings on as I feel they are very overdone generally.

[Christine Duckhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written but ...

I dislike books which jump around in the time line as this one does. It was a quick pre holiday download and a giant mistake. I wouldn't have bought it if I'd realised .

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a struggle to get through this book. So many characters and really not enough about any of them to form any kind of opinion about them. The ending was predictable and the story long winded. Not the best read of this year.

[Colleen Sutcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read...


A well written modern story... I wasn't sure when I bought it that it was something I would like, but I have to say I couldn't put it down.

[Cathi Penman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to read in the middle of lockdown. It is a great story, with genuine characters you can care about, even the ghosts!

[ELLEN QUINN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book with so many lavish characters trading back the history of the farm on which it is set.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice enough story with an unusual but interesting twist.

[Lesley Hirst]

fab

[Natalia Ar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Хуйня какая-то 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Jessica]

I tried for a few days, but I just couldn’t get into it.

[Sorcha]

Review can be found here:

https://nordie.wordpress.com/2022/12/...

[Diesel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet Christmassy tale

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really pleasant read with relatable characters with a slightly spooky twist!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter's Children by Leah Fleming is a contemporary story set in the Yorkshire Dales in 2001, following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Whilst mainly set in the present, the story spans four hundred years as past and present collide to preserve the future.
Young widow Kay, and her daughter Evie escape from Sutton Coldfield to Wintergill farm in the Dales. Kay is running from Christmas and its memories. Eight year old Evie is still waiting for her Daddy to come home.
Wintergill farm has been in the Snowden family for centuries, now only Nora and her middle aged son Nik remain. Nora wants to leave. Nik is determined to rebuild the farm following the devastating foot and mouth.
The novel deals not only with the theme of physical rebuilding, but also the relationship between mother and son needs rebuilding. Nora lost the love of her life, daughter Shirley in childhood before Nik was born. Nik has always felt unwanted and second best. Can he do anything to gain a place in his mother's heart?
The main theme of the novel is that of loss and searching. In the seventeenth century a tragic incident meant Blanche Norton lost her child. Four hundred years of searching and taking what is not hers. Her sister Hepzibah protects the main house from Blanche's dealings but she cannot protect the surrounding hills and dales. The sisters need to find peace, but there is no sign of this happening.
Christmas in the Dales should be idyllic but many years have passed since Josiah Snowden owned Wintergill farm and truly knew how to celebrate Christmas. In those times the farm threw open its doors to the community. It was warm and welcoming. Can it ever be the same again?
Tragedies can split families apart or draw them together. Memories can be warming or painful. Within the novel Leah Fleming explores both sides of the same coin.
In Winter's Children the action alternates between present day and the past four hundred years, until the past catches up with the present. It is an intriguing novel and I was well and truly hooked. I did not guess the outcome, but the story wrapped up nicely for me.
Leah Fleming is a new author to me, and I enjoyed her style of writing. I shall certainly be seeking out more by her.