I enjoy Phillipa
Ashley’s novels. She writes great
character driven stories set in England that are typically filled with family
drama. I read a Christmas novel by her
last year and knew I needed to read once again this year. Ashley did not disappoint with another great
Christmas novel.
Last year at
Christmas, Lottie became engaged to her boyfriend Conner after he swept her off
her feet on a Cornwall vacation. Unfortunately,
back at home, Conner got cold feet and broke off the engagement. Lottie didn’t have time to fully morn that
loss as she discovered her sister, Steph, had cervical cancer and needed her
help caring for her two daughters.
Lottie accepted a new job at a Lake District grand estate, Firholme, as
an event planner. Her first big event is
a surprise Christmas wedding for Conner and his new fiancée. Lottie has to get over the shock and get this
event planned for this estate to be successful.
Will she be able to move on from her feelings for Conner? Will she be able to move on with handsome
estate groundskeeper, Jay? What is the
mystery behind Jay’s sadness?
I enjoyed all of
the characters in this novel and the planning of a Christmas wedding. I also liked how the book dove into love and
loss at the holidays and how to move on from that sadness to celebrate the
season again. If you are estranged from
your family – how can you go back? I
really enjoyed the side characters as well.
I really want Steph to have her own spin off novel. It’s set up well for a good one. It was a good romance and story.
Favorite Quotes:
“It’s easy to
think everyone’s having an amazing time, surrounded by family. The truth is that almost everyone is struggling
with something: bad memories, the
tensions simmering.”
“No matter what
had happened, he loved them. He always had
even if that love had laid buried under and avalanche of disappointment and
bitterness.”
Overall, A
Surprise Christmas Wedding is a delightful romance set in the Lake District of
England that is filled with great characters and rumination on how to get back
on your feet after a great heart break.
Book Source: Purchased from Amazon.com
Love the sound of this one. Especially the setting! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVED the setting as well. I really want to get to England one of these days!
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