Sat and read this over the christmas period. It was light hearted and fun and i really enjoyed it.

Thank you once again for approving my request- much appreciated.

Full review coming soon to my blog and ofcourse will be added to other social media platforms

Favorite Quotes:

He was still wearing that ridiculous bow tie and jacket from earlier and, in her book, nobody was attractive enough to get past that. Who did he think he was – Indiana Jones?

His face lit up as though she’d just announced he’d got six numbers on the lottery.

I don’t want a day to go by when I don’t see your face or hear your voice or feel your touch. It sounds ridiculous and melodramatic but it’s how I feel. My chest hurts when I think about continents and oceans between us.

My Review:

This was a slowly developing story that took place over a week’s period during Christmas. The tale was fraught with emotional tension and family drama, as most Christmas seasons are, but this one featured a nearly thirty-year-old woman traveling to the French Alps to meet with her father and his second family after he had abandoned her and her hateful and horrid mother twenty-four years previous. The cause of the meeting was to hear the conditions of her recently departed grandmother’s will, which provided the basis of the story as well as the opportunity to meet new people and explore old memories, resentments, and misconceptions. The narrative was engaging, insightfully written, and generally well balanced as it alternated between amusing and heart squeezing. I adored the nerdy, freckle-faced, and bowtie wearing Sebastian, he was such a sweet and gentle soul and by far my favorite character in this story, and I was aggravated by Isla’s curt and rude treatment of him, although, like her prickly mother, Isla was considerably lacking in social skills. There was a tiny bit of romance, which is always a treat, and the bonus of learning a few more Brit phrases to add to my collection. This time I gleaned two I’d never heard before, “grab your coat you’ve pulled,” and “taken for a mug.”I can’t decide whether I should I be offended or relieved that no one has ever addressed either phrase to me…

This isn't your usual fluffy Christmas story. It has got some added extras.
It's got deception, love, family saga and its all wrapped up in a enchanting sounding French skiing village.
Tilly Tennant describes the village beautifully and the surrounding area, it was obvious that she had researched., it sounded magical.
I dropped a star off the rating as I thought that ending was a little bit disappointing in my opinion.
Overall a good book.
Thanks to Tilly Tennant, NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A book cover - like a wine label - can sway me to check a book out. This was the case in my selection of A Cosy Candlelit Christmas by Tilly Tennant. Super cute cover that brings all the holiday feels.

The book's premise was interesting too: a 29 year-old Isla, learns she inherits a home from her father's mother; a father whom she has not seen since she was 5. Inheriting her new home comes with stipulations: Isla will need to figure out which ones are genuine and which ones are not. Throw in a "love triangle" of some sort: two suitors, both very different...who will she spend Christmas with?

A few adorable characters, a few annoying ones. The story line was interesting enough with a few plot lines you will want to continue reading on; but it was not a quick, breezy read. There is not much dialogue to break up the long paragraphs of background details. (Not sure if I am the only one, but sometimes is nice to get a section of dialogue that makes the pages turn faster...it builds my reading momentum). All in all, it was ok; not a fan of the abrupt ending.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

Sweet and jolly Christmas read.

Wishes do come true during this wonderful time of the year. Since she was a little girl, Isla had only one wish - reunion with her father, Ian McCoy. When Isla was six years old, her father walked out on her and her mom. Twenty four years later, Isla comes home to a very unexpected surprise - a letter. It informs Isla of an inheritance. However, the will has a very peculiar ultimatum, it requests Isla to go to French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville and have a face-to-face meeting with her estranged father. A trip is fully paid for, and despite her mother's wishes - Isla is on her way to a French winter wonderland.

Upon her arrival, Isla accidentally bumps into a very handsome, English researcher Sebastian. Sparks are flying between the young people, however, Isla has no time for a romance.

During the family meeting, McCoy family learns about the details listed on Isla's grandma's will - in order for both parties to receive an inheritance, Isla and Ian must build a father/daughter relationship. Can Isla put her anger aside and build father/daughter bond with her estranged father? During her stay in a wonderful French town, Isla learns that there are two sides to each story. And she lets Ian tell her his.

A sweet story that contains a family reunion and a Christmas romance.

Isla McCoy and her mother, Glory were abandoned by Ian, father and husband when Isla was only six. Glory, a Nigerian woman, is strong minded, stubborn and a bit of a whirlwind. She is angry with Ian McCoy, a Scotsman, and never lets Isla forget that he abandoned them. This has left its mark on Isla and she is rather prickly, stand offish and hard to get to know. At 29 she has moved back home and gone back to University to get a degree in psychology. Just before Christmas, she received a letter from a lawyer, who is representing her Grandmother McCoy's estate to let her know that she has inherited something from her. In order to settle the estate, the condition is that she travel to a small village in the French Alps, St. Martin-de-Belleville, to meet her father. After wrestling with her conscience and arguing with her mother she decides to go. She is hoping that this will give her closure. There are several complications once she arrives and meets him and his new family. She also meets a nerdy scientist studying the glaciers that becomes involved in her life and gets her to reexamine her temperament.

I really liked Isla. She is a multi-faceted character with passion, strength, stubbornness, love, loyalty and a lot of self-doubt issues. She grows in emotional stability, strength to stand up for herself and in her self-confidence in this story. Her relationship with her father is rocky, but with perseverance he begins to thaw her icy exterior. Isla comes to realize that even though she loves her mother very much, she was responsible for the lack of contact between Isla and her father for over 23 years. Nerdy Sebastian was also a great character who did not push, had his own issues, but cared deeply for Isla and the inn keeper is a wonderful supporting character. This book deals with both the family drama of Isla and her father's relationship and the romance between Isla and Sebastian. This is a great Christmas story with drama and romance that will have you smiling at the end. The only reason that I did not give it 5 stars is that a few sections seemed to drag just a bit, but overall, this was a good read.

Isla has always wondered about her father but her mother more than made up for his absence. That is until she receives a letter one day about inheritance she is due to receive... If she goes to France and meets the father who's never been in her life. Just before Christmas (and against her mother's wishes) she agrees to go and beings her travels that might just change everything.

Long lost family, handsome men and a picturesque setting - all the ingredients for a great book. I could have done with a little more tinsel and Christmas magic, but I loved the story and it was well written. I'd love to know what happens to Isla next!

First meeting Isla in A Very Vintage Christmas, she was intriguing as Dodie’s best friend and student, still living with her mother and fluffing off ideas of love and relationships. After her parents split when she was young, she and her mother struggled and after years of hearing how unwanted they were by her father, a solicitor’s letter presents her with options.

A tiny village tucked in the French Alps, not far from Mont Blanc become the centerpiece and decoration for the story. A tiny alpine town that caters to tourists while still providing a community for residents, a small guesthouse with an American ex-pat as owner, bartender, agony aunt and general friendly face in the midst of strangeness become a touchstone for Isla in very new and trying circumstances. A will from a grandmother she hardly remembered leaves her with two choices: accept a small house in the village and find a relationship with her father or refuse the bequest and her father and his new family lose a house in Scotland and a small monetary bequest.

A week isn’t a ton of time to sort out something this extensive: from her mother’s disappointment and fear over losing her to her own anger from her father’s abandonment, the cautious if not overtly rude reception from her half-brother and the expansive and overly pushy romancing from her step-mother’s nephew, not to mention Isla’s own stress and inability to want to deal with more emotional issues – there’s a ton here to sort. And, Tennant does it wonderfully, from presenting Seb as the geeky, bow-tie wearing nice guy who brings a sense of security and stability with him to the glorious views, a massive blizzard and midnight services in the local church, the magic of this little corner of France gives Isla the opportunity to truly find her own center and let go of resentments, changing her path and taking a chance on something more. With revelations, secrets and even some heartfelt conversations, the story is a wonderful escape into the holiday, and a perfect ‘whatever happened to ___” answer to questions arising from the first book.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” http://wp.me/p3OmRo-9rf/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Perfect cozy mystery, especially for the holiday season.

Isla has been brought up by her mother, as her father left early on and has now remarried. After 26 years she receives a letter asking to meet and to find out what her paternal grandmother has left her in her will. She is unsure but curious about his intentions. On arrival Isla meets Sebastian who is kind to her and just wanting a friend. She also meets her step-mother’s cousin who also takes a shine to her and takes her under his wing. Are things as they appear or is her Father just using her to get his own part of the inheritance? This is so much more than a “chick-lit” type read. It has a depth of character only usually found (to me) in more serious novels and genres. Tilly has given each one a persona so well that you feel for them and can’t wait to find out if all ends well. This is a real change from my usual read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is christmassy but could be read at any time of the year as it is only the end part which is seasonal (other than the snow filled resort). A highly recommended read.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased

A Cosy Candlelit Christmas (An Unforgettable Christmas Book 2) is by Tilly Tennant. Nontraditional student Isla McCoy is off school for the holidays. Her mother, Glory, shares a solicitor's letter sent to Isla stating that she has been left a legacy from her estranged paternal grandmother. When she calls she learns that she must travel to a small village in the French Alps and meet with the father she hasn't seen in 25 years. Wary of this, Isla reluctantly agrees and leaves with plans to be home to share Christmas with her Mum.

Upon arrival at Grenoble Airport, Isla has a mishap encounter with a bow tied fellow and his large errant suitcase before heading to her transport to St. Martin-de-Belleville and her lodging at the Residence Alpenrose. Imagine her surprise when the same young man enters her hotel room as she is undressing to take a shower! Once the room errors are addressed and they are introduced over a drink by proprietor Dahlia, they strike up a casual friendship.

When Isla meets with her father and his family the following day, she learns of her inheritance, the strings that are attached, and the domino effect her decisions will have. What is Isla to do and who will guide her to do the right thing?

This is a story of love, family, and future. When we seek these things they can be found in the most unlikely places. In this holiday story we are led to find these important items and follow along as Isla discovers herself and her future. I very much enjoyed this book and do recommend it!

As a big fan of not every book I read has to educate, I am a big fan of the author, Tilly Tennant. Her main characters are delightful, her locations are unique, and her plots are fun to read. In A Cozy Candlelit Christmas (perfect title, right?) Isla gets a letter from a solicitor that the grandmother she never met has left her an inheritance. The problem is she has to meet the father who abandoned her 20 years ago and build a relationship in order for everyone to qualify.

A few days before Christmas Isla gets on a plane to meet her father, stepmother, and half sister and brother in the Swiss Alps. She plans to meet him, qualify for her inheritance, and get back on the plane in time to spend Christmas with her mom. The snow has different plans.

A Cozy Candlelight Christmas is a great winter book. When the weather is cold and the holidays are just around the corner, this is a perfect book to cozy up and read.

I received a free copy of this book. This review is freely given and my opinion. Enjoy!!

Isla is 29 and lives with her mother, her parents split up when she was five and she hasn't seen her father since due to her mother's bitterness. When a letter arrives for her out of the blue telling her that she is a beneficiary in her grandmother's will she is torn as it stipulates that she musty go to France and see her father.... and how will her mother take that!

Finally she sets off to the Alps for a snowy Christmas wonderland but how will it all go will she make things up with her father and will she find love in such an idyllic setting?

A Cost Candlelit Christmas is a lovely holiday story about a woman estranged from her father being reunited and finding love along the way. It was a nice story and you definitely root for the main two characters however there was maybe too much resolution too quickly. The topics can be somewhat heavy but not enough time to maybe devote to fully feeling the impact of the reunion.

Also, I need a "One Year Later" epilogue to see if it all worked out. I ended up having my doubts and I want a resolution.

I truly enjoyed this book, i am always happy to read a book by this author and this was no different. It is based in the UK but she is wanted in the French Alps by her none existent father since she was 5.... Isla is scared of join in fear of what her mother will think, say and do but as she is 29 she has to do things for herself and decides to go ether or not its for the good.
She finds her way to the hotel all by herself but not without any problems and she has been left something in her Grandmas will for her to inherit so she goes along for the ride.... She meets new family members she never knew existed and new friends and some other people along her stay in the Alps. She finds out she is left a house but she can legally gain this if the relationship between her and her father is rectified somewhat. The siblings aren't too happy with this and one causes some trouble for her. Theres twists and turns, happy and not so happy, very wintry scenes and beautiful settings,
Tilly has a way with pulling in the reader especially around this festive time of year. We are compelled to finish this book if it kills us.... I really had to finish it and i was so busy but i just kept going until i read it. She truly is a positive note to us readers who need some happy times and smiles on our faces for this christmas time of year, simply stunning.I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this and offer a review although i didn't need to get this for free to give a good review....

I love Tilly's books- they transport you quickly into lovely settings with wonderful characters.
Isla has to spend time in a gorgeous French ski resort after receiving a letter about an inheritance. It means getting to know her father again and trying to build bridges. She also meets the lovely Sebastian who is a glaciologist- I didn't know there was such a thing. You could see things differently through his eyes. It made me want to visit and enjoy the sights.

Obviously it was the gorgeous covers of this pair that caught my attention at first - and the titles, I do love some alliteration ; ). And the stories were just as lovely! The books are companions to each other - Dodie and Isla are best friends, and the stories told in these run at the same time. A Very Vintage Chridtmas is the first book, and I thought that order worked really well.

Both books are super sweet!

A Cosy Candlelit Christmas, set in a ski resort, felt a tiny bit less Christmassy, but definitely more snowy. The story felt a bit more serious/heavy, but I found it entirely charming. There was one scene that made me a bit uncomfortable - where one of the guys tries to force himself on Isla and it is just kind of brushed off - I feel like I want to see a stronger message of how not ok that is in my books.

As a pair, I thought the books worked fantastically! I enjoyed the style of the writing in both, and I loved getting the perspective of both these women - also the fact that their voices were different enough that i didn't feel like I was reading the same book twice.

If you're after some sweet, fun, cosy, Christmassy romance I'd recommend checking these out!

4.5 stars
Isla McCoy is twenty nine, living at home with her mother and studying psychology. She can’t remember her father as her parents’ marriage broke down when she was five years old and she didn’t see her father again. Being brought up solely by Glory, her mother, who is still bitter and unable to make peace with her father after twenty odd years, has left a long term impression on Isla and influenced the potential for romantic relationships. She finds it difficult to form lasting relationships and tends to keep men at arm’s length, always expecting to be let down.

Glory is a proud woman who’s had a tough life, and the hurt is buried so deep it’s become a part of her and colours her stubborn attitude when it comes to Isla’s father. When a solicitor’s letter arrives for Isla informing her she is a beneficiary in her paternal grandmother’s will, the grandmother she’s never known, entailing a trip to France and a meeting with her father, the fireworks fly between her and Glory, mainly because Glory initially withheld the letter. Unwilling to hurt her mother despite her annoyance at Glory’s high handedness, Isla backs down, although she secretly feels desperate to find out more about her father. Due to the stipulations of the will, if Isla refuses to go to France, no-one gets their inheritance, so after much soul-searching she decides to make the trip.

I’ve been meaning to read a book by Tilly Tennant for a while and I think this was a good one to start with. The cover is gorgeous and I fell in love with St Martin-de-Bellville from the wonderful description…. ‘white frosted hulks of mountains bearing down on a town of adorable wooden chalets‘, the individual shops and picturesque scenery. And what a breathtaking setting! Spending Christmas there would be magical, I think.

Although A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is the second in a two book series, I didn’t realise until I’d read it, and it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment in any way. The first book detailed Isla’s friend, Dodie’s story.

Tilly Tennant has a very readable, engaging writing style and I liked the fact this wasn’t exclusively a ‘Christmassy’ story. Isla’s struggle with herself, despite the years of believing her father didn’t care, was portrayed extremely well and the storyline was handled sympathetically, from both sides. There are always two sides to consider and it’s easy to see how such a situation can spiral out of control.

The two possible romantic interests are complete opposites, with different agendas as far as Isla is concerned. Julian the sexy French, sort of cousin and Sebastian, the geeky glaciologist. Isla begins to realise that sometimes the heart needs to rule the head, something she is not used to. A delightful, perceptive story of new opportunities, forgiveness and the promise of love.

I’ve probably said this before, but maybe you’re lucky and didn’t read it the first time. One of the best gauges to see how I’m going to rate a book is how long it takes me to get through it. There are obviously exceptions here, but few.

This one took me ten days. Granted, I’ve read and reviewed other books during that time (which ought to give you a clue as to how I felt about A Cosy Candelit Christmas), but I had no desire to give this one more effort. Because, unfortunately, that’s what it felt like: effort.

First, for a good bit of the beginning, Isla was waspish and self-involved. She’d acknowledge her rudeness, which I suppose means that a reader is supposed to give her credit and ignore? Then she waffled. And waffled. Between her angst and drama queen antics (who panics when the lights go out?), Isla is not an admirable character. She’s basically immature despite her age, running out of a Christmas brunch with her father because she has feelings for a man. Really, she just reunited with her father and this is how she behaves? There is so much circuitous writing and storytelling and so much repetition that even reading a chapter felt like hard work.

A Cosy Candelit Christmas has instalove, which isn’t surprising.

The story is essentially one of dysfunctional people. There is much angst. There is little humor or warmth. Where the cosy candlelight was, I have no idea. There was candlelight when the lights went out, but no cosy.

I will tell you that my review/reaction is in the minority on Goodreads, so I’ll throw out my standby: your mileage may vary. I do know that I like my Christmas novels to have humor and good cheer and “feel good” (as the cover of this novel implies), hold the dysfunction (reality has enough of that).

Anyway.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.