A Cosy Candlelit Christmas by Tilly Tennant.
An Unforgettable Christmas Book 2.
All Isla wants for Christmas is to be left in peace, but in the Alps there’s potential for romance in every snowflake that falls…
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.
A lovely feelgood read. Loved Isla character. 5*.

Enjoyable, timeless festive read - apologies I omitted to publish my full review at time of publication, and have only just noticed now that it is still sitting on my shelf.

3.5

After the first book in the series rather disappointed me, my expectations were a bit low but still I had hopes that I would like Islas story better.

I defintely liked this book better. The setting in the French Alps was a lot more wintery and Christmassy, so I really enjoyed the atmosphere.

The story was interesting and I enjoyed the family story and their attempts to get back together as a family. The love story felt again a bit too forced for me, although I was happy with Islas decision. Still the love story lacked in emotions and I had the feeling everything was totally rushed.

Judging from the title of the book I expected a way more romantic and cosy story than I got in the end.

While I enjoyed the Christmas setting of this book, it really seemed to drag on. Apparently, this is the second book in a series (the first book revolves around Isla's friend Dodie), but this could easily be read by itself without having read the first book. The ending seemed a little abrupt, and I would have preferred it to get tied up a little bit neater.

I read this book last Christmas and it became one of my faves. I wasn’t to fond of Isla mother, she did annoy me. But I did love that isla pursue her father. I did enjoy the romance in this book. I thought it was so cute. I did buy this book along with another romance buy this author. I am new fan of this author after this amazing book.

I enjoyed this Christmas book and I've read Tilly's books before and enjoyed them. I would look out for her next one. Thank you for letting me read and review this book

For the most part, I enjoyed A Cozy Candlelit Christmas. I loved the French setting, and I thought the concept of the book was fun and different. The story was at times painfully slow, I liked a couple of the side characters (Sebastian especially) more than I liked the main character.

As with A Very Vintage Christmas, I think having ‘Christmas’ in the title and a Christmasy cover is extremely misleading since the book had almost nothing to actually do with Christmas. I expect certain things from a ‘Christmas book’ - a light, fluffy, funny, warm, magical feeling that this book almost completely lacked.

This was a middle of the road book for me. I enjoyed parts of it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had gone into it thinking it was regular chick lit and not having the expectations of it being a Christmas book.

Such a cute and fun story about family and the reason for Christmas. Imagine inheriting wealth with one condition... make peace with a father who really doesn't deserve it. Imagine meeting two men who are completely different, yet want the benefit of your heart and your head. This is where our story begins, where it ends will have you smiling. Great book!!

*thanks to the publisher for allowing me to review this book**

Review: Set in a beautiful vintage store and the Alps had me enchanted. I lovely story on a chance that leads to a journey to forgiveness, featuring romance too. I loved this book. Tilly Tennat has done an amazing job.

A lovely Christmas romance. Beautifully described scenery and a lovely escape for a few hours. Definitely a beautiful seasonal read.

If you're looking for a book to make you feel Christmassy, snug and give you that warm feeling in your stomach then this is a good place to start. It's full of lovely descriptions that make you want to fly away for Christmas to the snowy alps with cosy chalets and hotels with friendly faces. I did find the book a little bit slow to start but it is a nice, romantic story that also tackles family difficulties.

Isla is a stubborn, strong-minded university student who one day receives a solicitor's letter from her Dad, who abandoned Isla and her mum, when she was younger. She has been left a life-changing gift from her late Grandma which leaves Isla confused on just what to do next. Can she build a relationship with her Dad? Does she even want to? Not to mention, Justin and Seb who are friendly faces in the middle of all the chaos.

Nice, easy book to read especially on your commute into work on a miserable morning.

I've liked this novel and I've finished it too soon. I would have liked an epilogue to see some of these characters' future.

I was so curious to read Isla's story since I've met her in the first book of the series but you can easily read it as a standalone because her story is completely untied from the first one.

Our heroine didn't have an easy childhood after her father abandoned her and her mother without a word,she grew up helping her mother and became a beautiful woman but she never could trust easily.
There isn't a lot of romance in Isla's story but I've liked to follow her journey of reconciliation with her fater and her discovery of a love interest.

My favorite character is Sebastian the weird,geeky and right up my alley glaciologist...I wished I could have met him first xD

Thanks a million Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book. Tilly Tennant always delivers truly beautiful books and this one certainly delivered. Would highly recommend it.

When the holidays start approaching, I get in the mood for some light holiday romance. This title did not disappoint!

Imagine finding out a grandmother you never knew has left you an inheritance. However, there is a catch. You need to make amends with your estranged father who now has a new family.

That's the premise of this book which has Isla McCoy traveling from England to the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville. The trip is all expenses paid and she takes it even though her mother is adamant that nothing good will come from her ex-husband.

Like all holiday romances, Isla is plunged into potential relationships and has to discern what path will lead to happiness.

Overall, a fun read with a cup of tea and plenty of covers to keep you warm.

I enjoyed this book, it was a nice, easy read. Even though the title mentions Christmas, I think it could be read at any time of the year.

Isla McCoy has some decisions to make and between her very strong-willed Nigerian mother and her absent Scottish father, it is tough going! Her parents split when she was very small and so she is trying to get to know her dad, much to her mother's chagrin. She flies to France and spends time in the winter wonderland that is the village where her father now lives. It made me want to visit the place, that's for sure, it sounds lovely, but my French is even worse than Isla's!

Whilst Isla is in France, she meets two very different men - Justin and Sebastian. She is attracted to both but both of them have things they have hidden from her. Trying to get to the bottom of it all is a bit of a mission, but Isla is as strong-willed and stubborn as her mother and very persistent. It was this part of the story that elevated it from just a light read to something a little more substantial.

A solid 4 star read from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture. Any opinions expressed are my own.

A well crafted story that deals with real life - marriage, parenting and difficult childhoods, It's a heartwarming festive tale with a fabulous twist.

Having read A Very Vintage Christmas, I was very pleased to recieve the second book in the series, A Cosy Candlelit Christmas.

The book focuses on 29 year old Isla McCoy, who was born to a Scottish dad who left her Nigerian mum when Isla was just 5 years old. Isla's recently deceased grandmother leaves her something in her will. Isla is surprised to find that what she's been left is a chalet in the French Alps.

Isla is studying physchology at university and term has ended for the Christmas holidays. I was pulled in by the university atmosphere at the start of the book and it seemed to me a good way to intrkoduce us to Isla's character and her current reality. I was pleased by the mentions of her friend Dodie, who we meet in book 1 and liked the scenes she was present in. Dodie owns a vintge clothing shop, and had her own adventures in book 1 which Isla also featured in in some scenes. It felt like catching up with Dodie in a way, although this book is Isla's story and largely told from her point of view. This aspect is good, because when I read book 1, I wasnted to get to know Isla more and see other parts of her personality.

Isla sets off to find her father and the answers to the questions she has. She meets her extended family and also meets Justin. Then, there's Sebastian, a glaciologist. Will Isla find the answers to her questions? Will she find love?

A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is an emotional rollercoaster ride set amongst the beautiful landscape of the French Alps. The book is truly captivating, and I loved it. In fact, I preferred this over book #1 in the series- it was just so magical and also charged with strong emotions and feelings. Isla and all the other characters really got under my skin. I could see Isla's mum's point of view that Isla shouldn't go to the French Alps to find her dad for fear of getting emotionally hurt and of dragging up the past for both of them. I was wary of Isla's father and of her extended family, about the chalet and whether it really existed and what it would be like if it did.....

I liked Natalie and Celine as the book progressed and warmed to Isla's dad and could see he really wanted to try and get to know her, although yes, this came late for my liking. I had a love- hate relationship with Justin and then Sebastian and was contantly thinking "who will Isla end up with?"

The lodge and its owner are really cosy and charming.

As I studied some geology as part of my Geography degree course at university, I was fascinated by the mentions of the subject and a little annoyed by the assumption that Sebastian's passion for it was nerdy. Despite that, the book was amazing and very atmospheric and real. The setting was beautifully described, and, having been to the area of the French Alps (Mont Blanc) where the book is set, I can vouch for that. I, in contrast to Isla, have seen the area in the summer and it is breathtaking. I really felt as if I were there and devoured every word of this book in a day.

Tilly Tennant hs a warm and fun writing style which, when combined with realistic settings, dialogue and characters, just makes me want to read and read.

5 stars for this book (I'd give it more if I could). I'd love to read and review whatever Tilly Tennant writes in the future. (less)

Do you live in a place that's so cold that it hurts your face? I do and my remedy for the coldness, the goosebumps, the sniffles etc is to curl up with a good romance.

This is a good romance. A really good romance. With really good and bad characters within it. Not badly written characters. Just spoiled brats.

It makes me happy to end the year with a couple of books that I have genuinely enjoyed, and can recommend to those who follow this blog.

Tilly Tennant (whose name I love btw) has hit it out of the park for me with this book. Isla is a strong willed character, and stubborn to boot, but willing to give in if it means getting answers.

Sebastian is just a doll. I fell in love with him immediately. I couldn't help myself. Give me a slightly bumbling, awkward, smart guy any day over an overly butch macho muscle head. I'd fall all over myself for him. Plus I may have a love of glaciers myself, and English men.

Dahlia is another character I couldn't help but be enamoured with. She doesn't have a single mean bone in her body, and her kindness from the get-go utterly charmed me. If such a place, with such a caretaker exists as her business I would not hesitate to go there in a moment.

The setting of this book is nicely written, and I could close my eyes a picture a rather different, more picturesque version of snow than what I've had to deal with recently. It's a reminder that seasons do help create beauty, and that warmth can be found in the people around you.

This is a lovely read I would recommend to anyone.

It's the second book in the series and it follows Isla, who readers first met in the previous book. Isla receives a letter, where she learns that her grandmother from her father's side has passed and she has left her something in her will, but to learn more about it, she has to go to France and meet her father. Isla doesn't know what to do, because she hasn't seen her father in 24 years and her mother isn't very happy about it. Eventually Isla decides to go and that's just the beginning of the adventure. She stays at the hotel, where she meets the owner as well as  glaciologist Justin, who she finds a great match for her friend at first, but spending more time with him shows her more to him than she first noticed. 

I was sucked into the story right away and I enjoyed every second of it. I found the setting really atmospheric and the pacing was great, the story unfolded in a way that it kept you turning the pages until you reached the end of the book. It's a wonderful wintry/Christmassy book and I can't wait to read the next book by the author. Greatly recommend this book.

Tilly Tennant is a great author and I love that she was able to continue her book series with one of the minor characters stories. This author takes the story of Dodie's best friend Isla, and turns her story into something magical. Isla received a letter informing her that she needs to make a trip to St. Martin De Belleville. It is a week before Christmas and she does not wish to go, but she is interested in why she would get a letter informing her of an inheritance of a family member she has never met. This family member is from her Dad's side of the family and her Dad has not spoken to her since she was five. Isla makes the trip and attempts to forge an alliance with her family. Through many trials and hard times, she is able to make her life better.
I was very pleased with the story.