Kiltie’s Advent Book Calendar – 20th Dec

Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley; Avon Books

Page count (e-book): 418

The Blurb:

Christmas has always been a sad time for young widow Holly Brown. So when she’s asked to look after a remote house on the Lancashire moors, the opportunity to hide herself away is irresistible – the perfect excuse to forget about the festivities.

The owner of the house, Jude Martland, is also avoiding Christmas since the last one saw his brother run off with his fiancee. But forced to return home unexpectedly, Jude arrives to find that his family are running amok – with Holly seemingly at the centre of it all.

As the blizzards descend, there is no escape. With nowhere to go, Holly and Jude get much more than they bargained for – and a Christmas they will always remember!

My Review:

This is one of my ‘go to’ yearly Christmas reads – I love it! There is just something about this book that hits all the Christmas spots.

Holly grew up with Grandparents whose religious beliefs didn’t go in for the usual yearly festivities. Her husband introduced her to the delights of Christmas but, when he died, celebrating was too much of a reminder for her and so she now shuns it completely. House-sitting over the winter months is the perfect means of avoiding it. When she is asked to step in as last minute cover for Martland House, she doesn’t foresee how it will change her life.

I think this book perfectly sums up how a small twist in the path of life can take us off on a journey we neither expected nor anticipated and the journey in this book is very much that of Holly Brown. We first meet her as a strong but reserved lady who gradually thaws and mellows as her well-ordered Christmas routine is turned on its head. Whilst trying to deal with the organised chaos around her, she also has to assure the absent Jude Martland that his home IS in safe hands and not being turned into something akin to an illegal rave. Their verbal spats always leave me chuckling! Add into the mix the roguish, fiancee-nicking, but very charming, younger brother and we have a classic rom-com full of fun, misunderstanding and overflowing with all things Christmas.

This is, in my opinion, one of Ms Ashley’s best Christmas offerings – it has moments of sorrow, moments of thoughtfulness and many, many moments of laughter. I know this book is a favourite Christmas read for many and, I confess, it’s a favourite for me too!

Available in e-book and paperback on Amazon