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Mimi Barbour
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Together for Christmas (The Vicarage Bench Series Book 5) Kindle Edition

by Mimi Barbour (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 108 ratings
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Abbie Taylor has a thousand things to do before the big day, help the vicar with his needy families, organize the Christmas nativity, and spare time for a distraught baby at the orphanage who only settles when she’s near. Falling into a coma while her spirit resides inside a prickly, big-shot businessman doesn’t work for her at all… until she falls in love.

How could Marcus Chapman be so unlucky? First he’s saddled with his newly widowed mum, and the next thing he knows, he has an annoying spirit invader who’s instantly aware that he isn’t nearly as tough as he makes out. Between these two manipulating women, and the orphans Abbie forces him to visit, the poor man doesn’t stand a chance. The season is Christmas, and love is all around.

The Vicarage Bench Series

Book #1 - She’s Me, Two women living in one body is hilarious, heart-warming and totally up-lifting. Both have romances, both learn lessons from the other, and both grow much stronger because of their unique relationship.

Book #2 - In He’s Her, schoolteacher Carrie Temple has to make space for Vegas casino owner Rhett Parks, whose spirit invades her heart as well as her mind, and won’t leave. At first she desperately wants him to get out, but soon she can’t bear for them to be apart.

Book #3 - In We’re One, Vegas nightclub star Crystal Davis wants nothing to do with men until she’s seduced by Ashley Parks while they flee from a killer. Ashley traps her spirit inside of him to keep her safe, but she soon convinces him to trust her, because it’s his safety they need to worry about…not hers. The Together Stories are the newest for the series:

Book #4 - In Together Again, Sixteen-years-old and pregnant, Dani’s spirit travels forward in time and invades the body of reporter, Troy Brennan. They fall in love, and in a week he expects to come and stake his claim for his child bride. But for her, it's a ten-year wait. Which gives her a week to make him fall in love the woman she is now?

Book #5 - In Together for Christmas, Abbie Taylor has a thousand things to do before the big day, help the vicar with his needy families, organize the Christmas nativity, and spare time for a distraught baby at the orphanage. Falling into a coma while her spirit resides inside a prickly, big shot businessman doesn’t work for her at all …until she falls in love.

Book #6 - In Together Always, Imagine Grace Joye getting the horrific news that she has a brain tumor and very little time left. What if Dr. Andrews has a beautiful, young patient who's brain-dead and has no more need for her perfectly good body? And what if you know of a way to invade that body and bring the poor woman back to life? Worse, what if the grieving husband is just a very good actor and is thrilled his wife will soon meet her maker?
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  1. Book 5 of 6
    The Vicarage Bench Series
  2. Print length
    244 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 16, 2013
  5. File size
    2.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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The Vicarage Bench Series Book 1 - Book 6
Bundle price: Kindle price
$6.97
Bundle price: Kindle price
$14.95
Bundle price: Kindle price
$18.94
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Editorial Reviews

Review

TBR - To BE READ - REVIEWER: Luta Wolf 5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!

"Marcus Chapman has been running himself ragged at work, mostly to keep from going home to the mother he has taken in. So it was no surprise, when he stops to take a rest on a bench that he falls asleep. He is awakened by a young sprite of a woman trying to cover the rose bushes before the snow freezes them. When he steps in to help they are both poked by the rose bush. Abbie Taylor finds herself looking down at her unconscious self through Marcus's eyes.

This should be one interesting Christmas.

When I first read the blurb for this book, I was put in mind of a Lifetime Movie and I'll admit there is a similarity. Despite the sickly sweetness of it all with it's magical backdrop of a small town outside of London and it's charismatic townsfolk, it completely captivated me. As if all that wasn't enough the main characters are some of the best I've ever read.

Marcus isn't the usual hero. He has a rough and gruff exterior used to hide his mushy heart but all the women who he holds dear are aware of this and use it to wrap him around their little finger's. Abbie is this sweet soul who does everything she can for others to the point of exhaustion, her motto really is "do unto others". She isn't goody-goody though because she has a witty almost wicked sense of humor that drives Marcus crazy and kept me laughing. Just as I was sinking into the sappiness the author brought on the angst and it took me by complete surprise!

This plot was simply amazing and I felt an array of emotions of happiness, sadness, surprise, and many more. I highly recommend Together For Christmas, especially for those that enjoy a good holiday book."

From the Author

Mimi Barbour - New York Times & USA Today Best-selling author started her career with the Vicarage Bench Series and has never regretted her decision to publish these stories. The reviews are positive and prove the readers love the characters, the compelling plots and the constant action.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00FR9M45S
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sarna Publishing; 2nd edition (November 16, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 244 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 108 ratings

About the author

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Mimi Barbour

Mimi Barbour

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NYT & USA Today, best-selling, award-winning author, Mimi Barbour, has nine romance series to her credit.

The Vicarage Bench Series

Angels with Attitudes Series

Elvis Series

The Vegas Series

Holiday Heartwarmers Series

Undercover FBI Series

Mob Tracker Series

Single Title Series

The Best in Romance Series

She also has many single titles and a huge number of box sets – her own and multi-author collections.

Mimi lives on the East coast of Vancouver Island with her new puppy, Charli, and writes her various romances with tongue in cheek and a mad glint in her eye. She’s been known to say: “If I can steal a booklover’s attention away from their everyday grind, absorb them into a fantasy love story, and make them care about the ending, then I’ve done my job.”

**Visit her website at https://mimibarbour.com

**Sign up for her monthly newsletter at http://bit.ly/MimiBNewsletter

**Follow Mimi on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mimi-Barbour-Fan-Page/203964072966134?ref_type=bookmark

**Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MimiBarbour

Her reviews are numerous and incredibly positive:

"Love Mimi Barbour, love her books. When you can read a book that within just a few words, you are brought right into the book. You feel, taste, see everything going on. Great storylines. Fantastic characters, fantastic plots, storylines like real life both honest folk and of crooks. Humor that will have you giggling then full-on belly laugh. You may even shed a tear or two. All in all, Mimi never disappoints." ~ Reviewed by Shirleen Miller

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
108 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story sweet, heartwarming, and interesting. They find the characters entertaining and charming, with compelling chemistry. The writing style is well-written and easy to follow. Overall, customers describe the book as a wonderful, feel-good holiday read with a Dickens-like feel.

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Story qualityEnjoymentReadabilityCharacter developmentCharmWriting styleFeel
23 customers mention "Story quality"23 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find it sweet, heartwarming, and intriguing. The story holds their interest throughout with references to Christmas traditions. Readers appreciate the twist in the storyline introducing the main characters. Overall, they describe the book as a feel-good Christmas tale with a sweet ending.

"...more precocious readers. Clearly, I found this story fun & heart-warming, & would heartily recommend it be shared with the widest audience..." Read more

"...You'll find romance, love and enjoy a chuckle. Thanks Mimi for your writing style & stories." Read more

"...This is a heartwarming story loaded with references to all the things we love about Christmas." Read more

"I absolutely loved this story! Another home run for Mimi Barbour...." Read more

19 customers mention "Enjoyment"19 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find the characters entertaining and engaging, with a fun transformation that keeps readers interested. The story is easy to follow and suitable for family reading time, though some parts may be inappropriate for parents.

"...supernatural way actually works quite well; it makes the story truly fun to read, full of laughter as the two are instantly and uncannily aware of..." Read more

"...You'll find romance, love and enjoy a chuckle. Thanks Mimi for your writing style & stories." Read more

"...With fun and witty banter, they develop a relationship and are both surprised to find themselves falling into a romance...." Read more

"...All of this personifying the spirit of Christmas for me as I have never experienced it before. Or at least not in a very long time!..." Read more

17 customers mention "Readability"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an easy, enjoyable holiday read that goes quickly and smoothly. The writing is well-crafted and intriguing, making it a good series to follow.

"...centered around the Christmas holiday, this story is well worth the read any time of year...." Read more

"The entire set of books have been enjoyable. This goes slightly into the paranormal...." Read more

"...This is a very very good book...don't miss this book, it will make your reading time well worth it." Read more

"...If you want a good before Christmas read, this one will do it for you." Read more

9 customers mention "Character development"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters enchanting and their chemistry compelling.

"...The characters are charming, & the premise of Marcus and Abbie getting to know each other in a unique, supernatural way actually works quite well;..." Read more

"...Characters quaintly resembling Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Scrooge-like disposition of Marcus giving way to real expressions of caring and charity, a..." Read more

"...This book had me laughing and crying.. The characters just pull you right in...." Read more

"...Both characters grow and develop and I like that in a novel." Read more

8 customers mention "Charm"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's charm. They mention it's an adorable story with a magical rose bush, body hopping, love, orphans, crying babies, and a lost puppy.

"...will tell you is that as I continued reading I was struck with the magical beauty of this tale and how cleverly Mimi wove the true meaning of..." Read more

"...It appears there is something magical about the roses and the vicarage bench, but the vicar is not telling...." Read more

"This is a very fun and entertaining series. A magical rose plant that causes a person's mind/consciousness to either jump into or switch with..." Read more

"As with all the Vcarage Bench series the are funny and charming...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it well-written and easy to follow. The characters are likable.

"...Thanks Mimi for your writing style & stories." Read more

"...A fast paced original story set around Christmas time. Abbie is very likable, she is put in a situation that is unthinkable...." Read more

"...It was a good holiday read that went fast and easy...." Read more

"...Great story and well written." Read more

4 customers mention "Feel"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's feel. They find it warm and fuzzy, with a Dickens-like feel and a paranormal twist.

"This is an unusual holiday tale with a Dickens-like feel, but a paranormal twist...." Read more

"I liked this story. I was looking for a warm and fuzzy feeling story and this gave it to me. It was a good holiday read that went fast and easy...." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. It will give you a wonderful feeling and so much CHRISTMAS spirit. I recommend thus book for everyone." Read more

"Great Good Feel Book!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • DiF
    5.0 out of 5 stars Charming, adorable story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    While centered around the Christmas holiday, this story is well worth the read any time of year. The characters are charming, & the premise of Marcus and Abbie getting to know each other in a unique, supernatural way actually works quite well; it makes the story truly fun to read, full of laughter as the two are instantly and uncannily aware of each other's thoughts.
    With exception of a few pages near the end of the book, even younger readers (teen, near-teen) would find this story enchanting. Perhaps appropriate for a family reading time during which parents could skip over intimate passages, or delete the questionable apps 3 pages via software, allowing the kids to read it on their own. Truthfully, it is written in such a way that those passages would probably go over the heads of those not fully indoctrinated to the issue at hand; it may, however, promote awkward questioning from more precocious readers.
    Clearly, I found this story fun & heart-warming, & would heartily recommend it be shared with the widest audience possible.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Margaret M. McGovern
    5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome story 5+ stars
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The entire set of books have been enjoyable. This goes slightly into the paranormal. It also is a story about the strength of family bonds even if the bond isn't by blood. You'll find romance, love and enjoy a chuckle. Thanks Mimi for your writing style & stories.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Kelsey Tanner
    4.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming and fun!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is an unusual holiday tale with a Dickens-like feel, but a paranormal twist. Marcus Chapman is a Scrooge-like character, a driven lawyer-accountant. Abbie Taylor is a kindhearted young woman who’d been an orphan and currently works at the vicarage that features in other stories by Ms. Barbour. They meet when she faints and he carries her unconscious body into the vicarage—and discovers that while she is in a coma her soul has taken up residence within him. Her presence, at first annoying, eventually has Marcus changing. With fun and witty banter, they develop a relationship and are both surprised to find themselves falling into a romance. This is a heartwarming story loaded with references to all the things we love about Christmas.
    Helpful
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  • Grammy's Gang
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Spirit of Christmas Personified
    Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    In the beginning of Mimi Barbour's "Together for Christmas," I thought it strange and unlikely to be holiday-worthy. Marcus Chapman, a sour accountant parked on a bench outside the vicarage bemoaning his life meets with Abbie Taylor, who in the cold, is struggling to cover rose bushes in the dead of winter. Strange, maybe. But when Abby pricks her finger on a thorn and faints to the ground something way beyond strange occurs. Her spirit leaves her body and enters into the body of Mr. Chapman.
    Now we're talking strange. Oh, but it gets better, much better. Marcus hears a voice that he perceives to be close to him. However, close isn't exactly the right word in this case. What he's hearing is Abbie's voice that is actually coming from inside of him. And, they can and do converse as if they were seated next to each other on that very bench.

    I could tell you the entire story, but I'm sure Ms. Barbour would prefer that you read her book on your own. What I will tell you is that as I continued reading I was struck with the magical beauty of this tale and how cleverly Mimi wove the true meaning of Christmas into every page. Characters quaintly resembling Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Scrooge-like disposition of Marcus giving way to real expressions of caring and charity, a woman's heartfelt underlying story of sacrificing a child out of love, a nativity presentation that will leave you breathless! All of this personifying the spirit of Christmas for me as I have never experienced it before. Or at least not in a very long time! Gift yourself with "Together for Christmas" today. You'll be so glad you did!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I have not read the other books in this series but if they are even half as good as this one I highly recommend them. This book had me laughing and crying.. The characters just pull you right in. This is a very very good book...don't miss this book, it will make your reading time well worth it.
    Helpful
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  • Gloriamarie Amalfitano
    3.0 out of 5 stars Both characters grow and develop and I like that in a novel.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Barbour has written a series of books about a bench in a rose garden in front of a vicarage. If a man and a woman are near the bench and get stuck with a thorn, interesting things happen and I am not going to tell you because "Spoilers, sweetie."

    All of them are quite enjoyable and this particular one has Christmas and orphans. I mean to say, Christmas plus orphans? Adorable.

    Abbie and Marcus are thrust together in highly unusual circumstances that require a great deal of cooperation before it all can be resolved. Both characters grow and develop and I like that in a novel.
    Helpful
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  • BookwormMomma
    5.0 out of 5 stars Together for Christmas
    Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I absolutely loved this story! Another home run for Mimi Barbour.

    Marcus had a life scare and decides to move to a place with slower pace. However he is still working like crazy. One day he falls a sleep at a bench and what happens next completely changes his life.

    Abby is happy with her lot in life, she helps at the vicarage and at the orphanage. She finds and man a sleep in the bench and wakes him precipitating a change in both of their lives.

    Can they work together to bring everything back to "normal"? Read on and find out.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Gypsy
    4.0 out of 5 stars good series
    Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I just bought this the last of the series and I like the whole series but this book the dates are screwed up. While 1969 would be correct for the rose bush being burned for the character Ellie ward to be married and moved to America a year before not to mention The Gardens to be built and housing elderly patrons the date would have to be at least 1979

    Please Ms.Mimi Barbour if you correct this book can you update it instead of making another page so your fans (myself included) can update it free and not have to buy it again?
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Certainly different
    Reviewed in Australia on January 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Found this story lovely although haven't read anything similar. Really enjoyed it and read it straight through. Nevermind the housework !,
    Report
  • P Amsden
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Heart-Warming Tale of Love
    Reviewed in Canada on October 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a Christmas tale to warm the coldest heart.

    The hero, Marcus is an over-worked business man. Exhausted he falls asleep on a bench only to be woken by Abby covering the roses so they won't die of cold. When he tries to help her a thorn pricks her finger and she falls into a coma.

    But while, to the rest of the world she is as good as dead, her soul has joined Marcus in his body. Until she recovers from the coma he's stuck with her. And while he may be a work-a-holic who spends far too much of his time working she's the polar opposite.

    Raised in an orphanage, with no parents of her own she loves his mother, while her job is to assist the vicar with his duties. With Christmas coming she's got loads to do visiting parishioners who need help or just some company, helping to get a Christmas Paegent ready and visiting the orphanage she grew up in. In exchange for helping out she's been allowed to stay in the orphanage and is the only one able to calm down a small baby named Nicholas.

    That means Marcus is going to have to step in and pick up the slack. Surprisingly he manages to come up with solutions to problems neither Abbie nor the Vicar were able to solve on his own.

    In the process he and Abbie fall in love but you'll have to read the book to find out how. I think you'll enjoy this heart-warming tale of love as much as I did.
    Why no voting buttons? We don't let customers vote on their own reviews, so the voting buttons appear only when you look at reviews submitted by others.
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  • Katy Walters
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I have collected all books in the the Vicarage bench series now and loved them. The story of Marcus and Abbie had me enthralled from the first page. I have actually read some of the novels twice over. The incident with the rose was so beautifully portrayed and in such a way that it takes the reader into the whole unique incident. From thereon, I was hooked and instead of an early night, read into the early hours. The prose is crisp and clear, the plot cleverly defined and the concept quite original. Originality is difficult for any writer but this talented author Mimi Barbour achieved this with her Vicarage bench series.
    Now I have the pleasure of reading her other series.
    Highly recommended
    Report

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