Last year's Christmas for both Scarlett and her sister Ella was less than perfect after family revelations and upsets ruined the day for the whole family. A year on is looking much brighter thanks to a couple of handsome men and a whole lot of soul searching and long-hidden secrets.

I enjoyed the characters in this book. We have two stories, one for each sister, both trying to pick themselves up following the repercussions of their previous Christmas. Neither of them is looking for romance but it finds both of them in the forms of Jude (Scarlett) and Aaron (Ella). Both girls are different in character so handle their problem differently. Both girls have also been hurt in the past but again handle things differently.

What I loved most was the setting. A beautiful little fishing town but with a real community spirit. Everyone knows each other and they all help out each other where they can. The Winter Festival seems to be where everything comes together and then there is the Festive Christmas Lunch for the Lonely which both starts and fittingly ends the story.

Phillipa Ashley has a style of writing that draws you in and keeps you wrapped up in the story like a great big hug. Perfect for those cold winter evenings to warm you through to the tips of your toes.

Sisters Ellie and Scarlett thought getting their DNA tested to check their ancestry would make an amazing Christmas present to give to their parents, however, not everything goes to plan when it turns out that they have different fathers. Christmas is ruined and subsequently, the family starts to fall apart with their mother denying everything and declaring that the test must be false.

Move forward a year and their parents are living in separate rooms and their mother is still refusing to talk about the issue. Ellie is living in Porthmellow, Cornwall, and Scarlett believes that’s where the answers to who her real father is lies, so she asks Ellie if she can live with her for a while.

As Scarlett gets closer to the truth more and more problems arise and more secrets start to unravel. Has Scarlett bitten off more that she can chew in pursuit of the truth?

This is the first Phillipa Ashley book that I have read but it won’t be my last. I was a little unsure when starting this story whether it was part of a series or not due to Ms. Ashley’s previous novel ‘A Perfect Cornish Summer’, however, whilst I realised the setting is the same in both of the books and a few of the characters from the first make an appearance, this book certainly works as a standalone.

The book opened strongly and straight into the aftermath of the Christmas fallout. Then we get to find out what everything was about before moving forward in time.

The book was a sheer delight to read and for a romance book, there were a lot of twists, turns, and surprises along the way which kept me on my toes. The scenery is just beautiful and you can certainly see Porthmellow in all it’s Autumn glory as well as the Winter Solstice festival which I would love to attend.

There are two love interests in the plot and it was enjoyable to watch both of them develop although neither runs smoothly. Whilst Scarlett was the main character, Ellie played a major role too and I really enjoyed both of their stories equally.

This is a book that brings family life to the forefront and shows you that no family is perfect, everyone makes mistakes in their lives but it is how you deal with the issues together and come together as a unit that matters. Family is precious and comes in all shapes and sizes so make sure you treasure it.

A Perfect Cornish Christmas is the second book I have read by Phillipa Ashley. I am glad I decided to continue with this series as it was a very entertaining, fun filled read. It was a feel good read, perfect for curling up with on a cold winter's evening while the snow is softly falling outside my window.

Christmas in Cornwall is just around the corner…

But after last Christmas revealed a shocking family secret, Scarlett’s hardly feeling merry and bright. All she wants this Christmas is to know who her real father is.

So Scarlett heads to the little Cornish town of Porthmellow, where she believes the truth of her birth is hidden. She just didn’t bargain on being drawn into the Christmas festival preparations – or meeting Jude Penberth, whose charm threatens to complicate life further.

Everything will come to a head at Porthmellow’s Christmas Festival … But can Scarlett have the perfect Christmas this year, or are there more surprises on the way?

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were lots of twists and turns and multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested in the outcome. It's the story of a woman, her search for her father, a community and how they all work together to help one another succeed. I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advanced readers copy courtesy of NetGalley and Avon publishing. All opinions are my own.

I thought this would be a bit different than it turned out. It had a lot of promise and I loved the concept but unfortunately I had to DNF at 75% of the way through because the switching of perspective became pretty confusing and frustrating for me. Some of the characters actions were a bit unreasonable and hard to relate to.

Another great read from Philippa Ashley, her books always make me want to go to Cornwall.
A Christmas surprise that nearly tears a family apart, in spite of the basis of the book, I found it very uplifting and really does show the friendliness and support system you find in a village setting.
Beautifully written with a surprising twist. Great read highly recommend

Festive Escapism....
Festive escapism with a trip to the little Cornish town of Porthmellow. The reader travels with Scarlett as she attempts to fully uncover a family secret and discover the identity of her father. A warm and likeable cast, an idyllic setting and an engaging storyline made for an enjoyable read.

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. 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!

Christmas the time for family, friends, and memorable presents. Scarlett’s Christmas present last year resonates, but not in a good way. It revealed a family secret, and her family is still reeling from its impact.

She comes to Porthmellow Harbour to stay with her sister Ellie, and find some answers. Full of angst and family drama, this story follows Ellie and Scarlett as they both seek the happiness they deserve. The plot is full of clues, but like all good mysteries, most of these lead to nothing. It is poignant and sometimes humorous and full of romantic moments, It keeps you turning the pages, in anticipation right to the end, which is uplifting, whilst remaining believable.

The characters are full of flaws and so human, most of them are likeable, with one notable exception. This is a story of family, forgiveness and the importance of honesty.

The romance is gentle and full of conflicts, but both sisters have to learn to trust and accept, even the men of their dreams have flaws.

All the family drama plays out, in a lovely Cornish coastal setting, and the excitement and uniqueness of a pagan style festival.

A lovely, Cornish Christmas tale that leaves you feeling festive.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK in return for an honest review.

It was lovely to make a return to Porthmellow, the site of the summer novel ‘A Perfect Cornish Summer’. Returning to such a wonderful location was really special, and although the original cast of characters were present, this book introduced a new group of people to Porthmellow.

This book focuses on sisters Scarlett and Ellie who move into their Great Aunt’s house near Porthmellow in Cornwall, which their mother had inherited, after an explosive Christmas when DNA tests purchased as a fun gift blew their family apart. Both sisters needed a resolution to their problems, but as the story progresses, it is clear that nearly everyone has a secret. This is a story about love, about family, and more importantly, about honesty and trust.

Although this is, in essence, a Christmassy novel, it actually follows the story through a full year, from Christmas to Christmas, so it’s not so Christmassy that it could not be read at any other time of year. Both sisters find love interests in Porthmellow, and I have to say I did enjoy the connection Scarlett had with Jude, who was a fascinating man, but this is so much more than a story of romance. This was a wonderful return to a much loved fictional location for me and one that I recommend!

‘A Perfect Cornish Christmas’ is out now. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for my copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely festive read, well written and engrossing.
I love Ms Ashley books and I loved this one that features a great plot, a cast of fleshed out and relatable characters and a lovely setting.
It's perfect for a lazy afternoon and it will make smile and feel good.
An excellent read, highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I've been thoroughly spoiled this year .. this is another fabulous festive read!

Last year, the Latham family's Christmas imploded; twelve months on and things still haven't been resolved. As Christmas approaches once again, daughter Scarlett heads to Porthmellow to try and find answers to the question which raised it's head almost twelve months ago. Will she get to the bottom of things or is it the end of the family unit as they've known it?

Such a fantastic, cosy read and the mention of all the great festive fare has me planning Christmas food already! With new characters, it took me several chapters to twig that I have visited Porthmellow before, albeit during the summer - after all I have read a LOT of novels this year. Phillipa Ashley's stories are always warm and inviting, individually created but forming part of truly endearing series' which pull the reader in and pin you down until the final page. This is the kind of book which you think you'll pick up for ten minutes and before you know it another hour has disappeared! A gorgeous seasonal read and one which I totally loved, enjoyed and fully recommend. Absolutely worth all five stars!

My thanks to publisher Avon Books for my copy via NetGalley; all stated opinions are entirely my own and completely honest.

Having thoroughly enjoyed A Perfect Cornish Summer, I was excited to go back and read A Perfect Cornish Christmas. Phillipa Ashley is a delight and I know that picking up any of her books is going to be a real treat.

This book did not disappoint at all, what fun being back in Porthmellow, I loved the mentions of the characters we had come to know well previously and would love to have had a bit more from them. I’m probably just a bit greedy as the story this time involves Scarlett, Ellie and family and they are quite the bunch, full of drama and action!
After a disastrous Christmas leaves the family blown apart, will Cornwall be the ideal place to fill in the blanks and give everyone the space they need for relationships to be repaired and new romances to be developed. Will Scarlett get the answers she seeks? Can Ellie trust someone enough to let go of her past?
A fantastic storyline that hooked me in from the start; some funny moments that made me laugh and was a nice balance to all the tension.
Although it does include some lovely festive moments, I wouldn’t say it’s overly done, the themes of family, relationships and being honest come through; about having to move forwards together as a family is especially prominent this time around.
I think it’s a great read and would recommend to all.

A really lovely, heartwarming story that had some great twists. I really enjoy the Porrhmellow stories, great characters and a real sense of community.
I'll be recommending this one as the perfect festive read.

I love Christmas book season! I did enjoy the descriptions of the town and of some of the Cornish Christmas traditions. I just wish the story would have done the scenery justice.

There is a big reveal, and it was a bit too bizarre and uncomfortable for me. It's hard to enjoy sweet love stories when you find out the whole family is entwined in some sort of weird love spiderweb.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC for an honest review.

Another fabulous offering from Philippa Ashley, this is a cosy Christmas read full of festive romance and joy, it’s also full of Cornwall so what could be better. Full of adorable characters, beautiful location, a perfect story with just the right amount of drama and tension, pick this up and you’ll be invited to a world of happiness. A beautiful seasonal read, like a hug in a book. Thoroughly and overwhelming recommended

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

On the whole, I enjoyed this festive, easy-to-read Phillipa Ashley book but not as much as previous 'Cornish' books. There were a lot of characters and I whilst I liked the inclusion of previous characters from the location there were times when it felt that it detracted from the main focus of the story. Overall, if you've read the previous Phillipa Ashley 'Cornish' books then you'll enjoy this latest edition.

A perfect, heartwarming holiday read! Loved it. If you love Hallmark Christmas movies, you'll love this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Oh those pesky DNA tests! Scarlett and Ellie had listened to their father talk about their Viking heritage for years so as a surprise, they did the ancestry dna thing and there was a bigger surprise waiting for the family. Their mother isn't talking and the two of them are both frustrated and crushed. Ellie's been living in a family home in Porthmellow and now Scarlett's joined her for Christmas. And in finding love in Jude, a man facing his issues and rebuilding his life. Love the Cornish setting, love the characters. This would have greatly benefited from another edit to tighten it as well as to fix inconsistencies but it's still a fun read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is the first book I have read by Phillipa Ashley. It was romantic and had warm likable characters. I would love to live in the cottage by the sea and enjoy the village life. Will read more of her books and enjoy the escapism it brings.

Scarlett and Ellie's plans for a wonderful family Christmas go drastically wrong when they surprise the family with some interesting DNA history results.
The rest of the story concerns the family trying to pull their lives back on track after a nasty shock.
For me there were almost too many characters. I enjoyed the previous book, A perfect Cornish Summer, but this one hadnt got quite the magic, and far too many complications.
However, I believe there is to be a thrid book in the series, which I shall look forward to reading.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.