A heartwarming Christmas read, that has a real feelgood factor. Believable characters, real emotion, I loved it.

This was such a fun book to read! I loved the story and how it unfolded throughout the novel. The characters were so relatable, and the setting was absolutely perfect. It made me feel all kinds of wanderlust.

A wonderful read with charming characters and an engaging plot!! I look forward to reading more by this author.

I went into this expecting your average fluffy Christmas romance, and instead what I found was a story that was not only full of all the holiday magic you would expect from a book like this, but one that was also surprisingly emotionally deep, with a heart-warming plot at its core and amazing characters that won me over from the very first chapter.

The Characters
Sometimes, in romance novels, I tend to favour one main character over the other. Here though, both Nicola and Dmitri stood out as strong characters of their own and they both had their own interesting subplots and had backstories that were very well fleshed-out. I also found the supporting cast interesting, with Kolya stealing the show as from his first appearance on the page. I won’t say too much about his character to avoid spoilers, but what I can say is that his character was unlike any other I had ever encountered in books from this genre before. With romance novels, it’s very easy to fall back on tired tropes and too often reused character archetypes. This book though managed to deliver a lot of freshness in terms of its characters and that was something that I really appreciated.

The Music
Music features prominently in the book and is an integral aspect of Dmitri’s story. I really enjoyed all the scenes that featured Dmitri playing the piano and leading his choir. These scenes were always very descriptive and beautiful and I would sometimes find myself noting down the names of the different classical pieces and musicians so that I could look them up online later. Whether you have an interest in music or are a musician yourself, you will definitely really enjoy this aspect of the book.

Christmas Magic
And of course, I really couldn’t finish this review without mentioning all the Christmassy goodness sprinkled throughout this book. This book is just the thing to read at Christmas time. The descriptions were so vivid and magical and really managed to convey the magic of Christmas throughout the book. And so despite me reading it in August haha. Christmas lights, carolling, Christmas markets, mulled wine, gingerbread cookies… All the little things that make the holiday season so magical are featured in this book and this is definitely a book that I can see myself re-reading for Christmas in years to come.

Dimitri is happy in this season of love and joy. He is leading a choir singing carols at Waterloo Station to entertain the train passengers who pass by between or enroute to trains. Nicola is not so happy. Her married lover has stood her up at the station, and the trains are delayed. When they meet, it is with anger for Nicola, who storms around the area, while Dimitri calmly tries to settle her down, leaving her wondering just who this man, as enchanted by him as she is. Yes, they are both flawed, but perhaps, just perhaps, some good can come of this chance encounter. As their paths continue to pass, they find themselves in an ever-growing relationship. Can this heal Nicola’s hurt and past, and, better still, can this heal the bitter sweet past that Dimitri needs to leave behind? Both have deep secrets they need to work on overcoming, so they perhaps can accomplish something together.

This is a story of trust, overcoming past histories and problems, in a truly engaging story about past lives/histories, families, friendship, disappointments, as well as forgiveness and love. The author has managed to develop two interesting characters, both with flaws, who come across as people we all know and can easily relate to. This is a sweet holiday romance, with a few added twists thrown in to keep it interesting and for good measure. I thoroughly enjoyed the story from start to finish. It is a good holiday, feel-good tale readers will enjoy. I received this form NetGalley to read and review.

Cheating is just not something I can stomach so this book was a big no for me.
I enjoy “real” characters, but Nicola was not one I liked at all.

I expected a romcom type book based on the cover but was given something so much deeper.

Hooked from early on, apes through this tale with eagerness and was blown away.

Please read if you get chance to do so.

I was looking forward to reading this book as I have really enjoyed Lauren Westwood's previous books and I wasn't disappointed.

I loved this book - a beautifully written story which drew me in from the start and kept me hooked to the end. I found it difficult to put down and had to keep reading 'just one more page'.
This book is not the usual fluffy style of Christmas romance reads. It is a story of chance encounters, hardships, friendships, romance and relationships. An emotional read which explores some hard hitting issues. One of the characters has a journey of self-redemption.

Highly recommended - well written, fantastic characters and a rollercoater of emotions. I loved this book. I also highly recommend Lauren Westwood's other books too. I can't wait to read the next one! An easy five stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

While the writing is gorgeous and the musical resonance is as resplendent as the very lovely sense of place, this novel had a darkness to it that off-set what I was looking for in a holiday read.

Don't get me wrong, I love some depth to my Christmas reads and this is certainly not the last time I will visit this new-to-me author; but neither of the lead characters truly captured me and while both did develop over the course of the story, it was not quite the experience I was hoping for.

I truly had difficulty warming up to the heroine and while the tortured Russian conductor is Rachel catnip, the pursuit of sex-as-commodity and the description of physical and yet unemotional connection contrasted with what I usually find fulfilling in Christmas romances.

Extremely well-researched and wonderfully told, it was just the unexpected sadness to the story (a matter of my own opinion and current preference) that kept me from falling into it as deeply as I had hoped.

From the very beginning of this story I was riding along on a wonderful wave, the melodic rise and fall lifted me along every word, on every page. I was hooked from the very first page. The lines of the song ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ became a haunting refrain in my head as the writer wound the story of Dimitri and Nicola around my heart.

Some enchanted evening
You may see a stranger,
you may see a stranger
Across a crowded room
And somehow you know,
You know even then
That somewhere you'll see her
Again, and again.

The strains of this story are poignant and touching and elevate us the reader way above the trivial tinsel time and bauble bling of many a Christmas past, to a higher level, no a deeper level, where all that really matters becomes crystal clear. Hidden hearts are revealed, personal and difficult pasts presented, and Christmas becomes a time for the setting of new traditions, for the wiping of the slate, for the miracle of Christmas to be set to a song of hope.

This is an in-depth, yet instantly readable, tale of a moment in time where the paths of two lives cross and become woven together in the age-old tradition of star-crossed lovers of old. Our author gently takes us by the hand, leads us down a romantic rabbit hole and heads right to the core of what it means to be human. The not so merry and the not so bright are brought out into the light and Christmas is stripped back to its most real self. The soundtrack to the two lives of our heroes is totally remastered. They are accosted by the unplugged acoustic versions of themselves, the acapella truth of the human spirit and the natural rhythms of their souls. If anyone is facing the ordeal of getting through a dark time of year, then this story will help raise you up, lift your chin, and give you shelter in the storm.

In this tale, many glimpse the hand of hope and happiness, a ‘life shimmering with possibilities like moonlight on water’. This magical story will have you feeling like you have been swept away into a fairy-tale, a balletic performance of ‘The Nutcracker’, whisked away on the winds of a dream, just like Dorothy’s journey to Oz or Lucy’s trip into Narnia. It finally drops you back onto your feet at the end of the stanza, the music and lyrics of this beautifully told tale finally cease and you will be left uplifted and encouraged. You may even feel full of a new-found joyful resolve to make your own clean start, to clear out and declutter the closets of your own life and to make room for the new; ‘to finally live the life that you want, and that you deserve.’

What a wonderful way to draw this year to a close and to look ahead with as full a heart as we can muster, to the new year that beckons us onward.

Coffee Cup Conversations and Teapot Talking Points:
If you and I dear reader were sitting down today, sharing a pretty gingerbread biscuit from ‘The Braided Loaf Bakery,’ here are a few of the points we could mull over together.

Have you every been to a Christmas market?
The sights and sounds of the stalls of a Christmas market are something of a special senses overload, aren’t they? Even a simple shed, once strewn with fairy lights, some garlands and some Christmas music just exudes excitement and makes us all feel like we have stepped straight in to Santa’s workshop. I do love immersing myself and treating myself to this experience at this time of year. I no longer venture onto the ice rink, but I do love watching people swathed in coats, hats and scarves wobbling about and clutching on to each other as they trip the ice fantastic.

Does your employer have Christmas Traditions?
Are you allowed to decorate your office or work space? Do you all have a Christmas jumper day or a Secret Santa draw? A Christmas meal in the canteen? These nods to community life are often very enjoyable and can brighten up a time when most are waiting to take a break from work. Adding a note of whimsy and finding the fun can really help cast a spell of laughter and joy into someone’s day. It is great to put smiles on faces.

What supplies, decorations or food do you delegate?
Some of us are able to bake up a storm at Christmas time, but others of us are too busy or not ‘Bake Off Blessed’ and we delegate this activity to Mr Kipling, M&S or Messrs Sainsbury’s/Tesco and co. I really do like making a Christmas cake and decorating it with my daughter, but I would love a special bakery to come in and shoulder some of the strain too. What a lovely thing it is when those gathering all bring a plate or a contribution and how wonderful even to take the family out to eat. We did this one year, when my twins were babies -it was exciting as it was a change to the norm, and it meant that we didn’t have to worry about cooking and looking after two weeny ones. Sometimes it is great to give a family member a rest and swap the hostess responsibilities with one another. I think Christmas is best when kept simple and there is a lot of pressure to be magazine picture perfect. At the end of the day a good meal with loved ones is a simple pleasure enough to warm the heart. I remember a Christmas when I was living in Spain on my year abroad – popping home for Christmas time showed us just how precious it was to be together. This year many of our brood are returning from University, and I just can’t wait to be together.

Moonlight on the Thames is the story of Dmitri and Nicola- both of their journeys to find love after heartbreak and trauma. It is beautiful how it weaves together music and love, and the passion and drama of it all leaps off the page. This is my first book that I have read by this author but I do not believe it will be the last.

Favorite Quotes:

Jules had what many people would consider the perfect life: a perfect husband, a perfect house and three perfect children – and therefore took it upon herself to appear busy and stressed at all times.

Her penguin jumper had a white pompom stuck on the back – the penguin’s tail. Not that real penguins had tails like that. The jumper was probably made in some sweatshop in Bangladesh by women chained to sewing machines who’d never even seen a proper picture of a penguin, let alone a real one.

When she caught sight of him, he could tell from her face that he must look like an old shoe that had been chewed by a dog and spat out again. Which was better than he felt.

For a brief moment, her life had been shaken up like a snow globe and filled with magic.

… it was as if she was experiencing the world for the first time. The colours looked brighter; the people were people, not simply obstacles to be avoided on public transport.

Chrissie put her hands on her hips. Even the appliqué reindeer on her Christmas jumper seemed to look annoyed.


My Review:

This was an angsty holiday tale, fraught with tragic histories, regrets, guilt, anxieties, personal pain, and tension. Both main characters were heavily marked with scars, although where Nicola’s were internal, Dmitri’s were equally distributed inside and out with PTSD. I held my breath they would not damage each other further as Dmitri was so fragile and Nicola so full of anger and hostility, she was difficult for me to care for initially as she was so cold, selfish, and basically abhorrent. Both characters were fascinatingly complex, deeply damaged, and brilliantly crafted. And the music – oh my heart, I’ll never be able to listen to Chopin or Rachmaninov again without remembering this heartrending tale. Ms. Westwood certainly made me earn that hard-won, well deserved, and highly desired HEA, but it was well worth the effort.

In addition to the new additions to my Brit Word List of bursary (scholarship) and chivvy (hurry along); I have learned a new manner of drinking tea as Dmitri enjoyed his strong black tea with one spoonful of strawberry jam, I’d never heard of that before. I’m going to have some while I listen to Chopin’s Nocturnes one more time.

What a lovely festive book, and how beautiful is the cover! I have only read one other book by this author, but I did enjoy it so was happy to be reading this one. The cover, whilst stunning, did give the impression that it was a festive chick lit book, but I’m happy to say it’s so much more than that!

This is an emotional and heart-warming story of two broken souls who come together in the most unexpected of circumstances when Nicola misses her train at Waterloo Station and then vents her frustrations of the missed train and her messed up life at Dimitri, who is conducting the Christmas Carol choir. I love stories based in London, and being set during the festive period brings fabulous images of London lit up at Christmas. I also loved the fact that the station used was Waterloo as this again brings back romantic memories of meeting under the clock in such classic films.

Nicola and Dimitri were, for me, both great characters and I really connected with them both. They are both such different characters but equally have their own problems in life, and amongst all the festive fun and cheer they both suffer with sadness from how their lives have turned out. There is also a big influence of music in this book, even to the point of a Spotify playlist at the beginning of the book! I love little touches like this in books and this helped to making it the beautiful book that it was!

It’s not all about romance and love though. There are some tough issues which come up in the storyline, and this certainly makes the book become less of the fun, festive, romantic offering which I initially thought it was going to be. The story did though pull me in right at the beginning and the more I read, the more I loved it. I had some tears and some laughs, and a whole lot of magical and memorable images and tunes going round my head! A wonderfully written book capturing the heartache and joy of two lonely people. Would definitely recommend.

This story could have happened at any time of year really. Christmas didn’t really make an difference to the book, it just made a nice setting. Fair enough it wasn’t the best season for Nicola, but I don’t think it really made a big enough impact for me.

I’m not actually sure where I stand with this book to be fair. I liked Dmitri’s story more than Nicola’s, which isn’t necessarily a good thing considering he had awful experiences. I found that I liked him more, and looked forward to his sections more than her. It’s not that I didn’t like Nicola, I just found her cold and uncaring. I didn’t connect with her on an emotional level and it was a little off-putting. The chemistry between the pair was undeniable though. It was an instant thing, even if they didn’t start of on the best foot. I liked how they were able to connect on a level that enabled them to share they’re secrets and overcome them.

This is the first book I’ve read by Lauren Westwood, and I can say it won’t be the last. Her writing style is engaging, captivating and does keep you glued to the pages. I think if I connected to Nicola like I did Dmitri, then this book for me would be a spectacular book. The authors descriptions of everything, her knowledge of pianists, and just her way with words is what kept me going with this book.

While this book isn’t the best to start of a Christmas feature, I think that the only way is up now. This book had such a sad undertone to it, especially for a story to be happening at Christmas time. But, it also has the sense of Christmas magic in a way. Nicola becomes a different person by the end of book. Dmitri has faced up to his demons, Nicola doesn’t seem as cold.

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. Picture the Christmas rush, people everywhere, traffic and late trains, When Nicola's train is running late and a crowd has formed to watch a local group singing Christmas carols in the train station, she looses her cool and verbally assaults the choir director, Dmitri. As rude as she was, Dmitri was shocked at his attraction for this perfect stranger. Dmitri has had events in life that have closed him off to his feelings, until now. So when Nicola happens to walk into a church where she hears the most beautiful piano playing-only to see it is Dmitri, is it just coincidence or is there holiday magic at work.

I thought this was a very touching and sweet story. The holiday setting just makes it even more perfect for this time of year.

Nicola has a very busy life, climbing the corporate ladder she doesn't have time for anything else..... apart from perhaps her married lover...... so when she comes across Dmitri and his pop up choir singing Christmas carols she is very definitely not in the mood and takes out her bad temper on them. Dmitri had his own problems and has never managed to fulfil his ambitions of being a consert pianist but he loves his choir. When Nicola realises how badly behaved she was she seeks out Dmitri to apologise, little knowing that this act will change both of their lives

A great story I loved the way the characters grew as we gradually learnt of their back stories and how they helped each other overcome their pasts and move on. Another lovely book by this author

This is a really lovely holiday romance about two very lonely, isolated, troubled people brought together by...magic? Holiday spirit? Lack of holiday spirit? Dmitri is a Russian choir director, leading his volunteer choir through rousing Christmas carols in a busy train station one evening during rush hour when Nicola is rushing through at the end of a very bad day. She's crabby, there's a storm, all the trains are delayed and she hates Christmas...She loses her temper and behaves badly, he smiles and wishes her a Happy Christmas and every one moves on. But she can't forgive herself for snapping, and she ends up seeking him out to apologize--a decision that will ultimately change both their lives forever. I really loved this. The characters are very well developed, especially our two main characters, but even many of the ancillary characters have depth. Both Dmitri and Nicola are hiding painful histories, and both wear masks when they face the rest of the world. These are flawed, damaged people. They each have different ways of dealing with their pain--Dmitri sacrifices and tries to help others; Nicola is an ice queen, 100% focused on her job, and keeps men at a distance, preferring to dally with married men or casual one night stands. But somehow, these two lonely souls connect, and even those first brief moments leave their mark. I loved seeing how people's perspective can change, how their focus can change with just a small push in a different direction. No, all your problems don't magically fade away, and everything is not suddenly fixed...but change can and does happen quickly at times, and little changes can make big differences. Watching these two people find their way through their challenges, and seeing them help each other and improve each other was really special. This is not a "light" holiday romance, there are serious issues dealt with here--but it's overall a very positive and uplifting holiday romance. I really loved it. I look forward to seeking out more work from this author.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I think the cover for this book is misleading. I expected a light, frothy, Hallmark-style book. Instead, this is about heavy, difficult topics such as rape and abuse. Having said that, it was uplifting but not fun.
Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is my first read by this author so i never knew what to expect and i am so glad i got a copy... what a fabulous read... its magical, lovely and yet sad from time to times, but so worthy a read. Its so much more than a normal christmas chiclit read. I was glued to the book from begining to end....
Brilliant book