Mini-Reviews #9: Making a Family for Christmas

Something about Christmas makes people want to reach out. However, not for everyone is family actually an option in that regard – which means it’s only too well that you can easily make your own family for Christmas. And that’s exactly what these books show!

A Very Vintage Christmas – Tilly Tennant

Story

With bright red hair and an infectious smile, Dodie is a hopeless romantic and absolutely one of a kind, just like the pieces in her shop.

When Dodie finds a love letter in the pocket of an old woollen coat, she makes it her mission to deliver it to its rightful owner. Following the address, she manages to persuade the handsome but reluctant new tenant, Edward, to help her with her search.

As the story of the letter unfolds, Dodie is there, as always, to pick up the pieces and make things right. But who will be there for her when her own love story needs a helping hand?

Is it too much to dream of a happy ending like the ones in the black and white movies she adores?

Opinion

If you’re in need of some Christmas mystery, accompanied by romance, snow and some lovely seasights? This is the book for you!

3,5/5 stars –Goodreads

A Cosy Candlelit Christmas – Tilly Tennant

Story

It’s the week before Christmas and Isla McCoy has just received an unexpected gift: a letter announcing she is due a life-changing inheritance, but only if she’s willing to make peace with the father who abandoned her.

She has absolutely no intention of making amends, but who could resist an all-expenses-paid trip to the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville?

There she meets smooth-talking Justin and nerdy glaciologist Sebastian; two very different men, with two very different agendas. Torn between her head and her heart, Isla finds herself utterly lost in a winter wonderland of her own feelings.

Surrounded by twinkling candles and roaring log-fires, Isla’s resolve finally begins to melt. But will she learn how to reconnect, not only with a whole new family, but with herself and her heart?

This is at the same time the sequel and the accompanying novel to the previous one I mentioned. More so than that one though, A Cosy Candelit Christmas focuses on what exactly makes a family for Christmas or otherwise – and whether you actually get to decide that for yourself. Not to forget: snow, mountains, possible betrayal and a really cute, nerdy love interest!

3,5/5 stars – Goodreads

Starlight at Bluebell Castle – Sarah Bennett

Story

The most magical time of the year…

Jessica Ridley’s life has just been turned upside-down – and not in a good way! So when blast-from-the-past Tristan Ludworth invites her to stay at Bluebell Castle and transform it into a winter wonderland, it’s the perfect distraction for Jess and her two young children…

Jessica is used to planning even the most elaborate events in her sleep, but she certainly didn’t expect to be working so closely with Tristan at the castle – or that she could still find him quite so handsome after all this time!

And with a little holiday magic in the air, it’s becoming harder and harder to resist his charms. Can Tristan convince Jess to give love one more chance, just in time for Christmas?

Opinion

It would be remiss of me not to mention this one here, although I should probably add that I already reviewed it in a separate About Books. Just to reiterate: definite cosy Christmas feelings in this one!

3,5/5 – Goodreads

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A perfect Cornish Christmas – Philippa Ashley

Story

Well, no matter how much you think you’ve had a terrible Christmas, there’s a pretty good chance it wasn’t as terrible as Scarlett’s 2018 Christmas. After all, it’s not every year that you find out your father’s not your father, your mother won’t admit to the truth and your brother – sorry, half-brother – declares it’s all your fault because you’re the one who, accidentally, I might add, discovered the whole thing. 

Almost a year later, Scarlett’s back at the *crime scene* and things haven’t really improved that much. Her parent’s aren’t really speaking, her brothers still mad, and she and her sister, Ellie, have approximately the same success rate with love – or making the family come back together – as they’ve ever had. That’s to say: almost none to zero. 

It wouldn’t be the Christmas season, though, if a fairly limited amount of time couldn’t make all of that change.

Opinion

Philippe Ashley put together a cast of such fun, relatable characters, and kept this book entertaining up to the final page. The amount of revelations and things thrown the readers’, and the characters’ way, honestly left me having to re-read some bits. You know, just to check the book actually said what I thought it’d said.
Combined with a good amount of love – both romantic and familial, as well as a healthy portion of reconciliations and a winter festival I, quite frankly, want to go visit, like, yesterday? This book managed to be all that’s good in Holiday reads!

4/5 stars – Goodreads

Of course – there’s endless possibilities for books on finding a family for Christmas – I have another one coming out shortly, and I even found some great books concerning the same subject last year! However, if you know of any others? Be sure to let me know below!

-Saar