Another delightful Christmas romance from Rebecca Boxall about embracing life and second chances. Although Christmas in the title and part of the story, the book has a larger focus and spans more than a year, so can certainly be enjoyed at anytime.

Rebecca Boxall's "Christmas by the Lighthouse" is an endearing story about new beginnings and taking a chance on an unknown future. The tale follows Summer, a happy-go-lucky journalist who moves to Jersey to take a break from her marriage, and Jude, a charming and optimistic soul whose life seems to be stuck in limbo. When these two strangers meet by the lighthouse, it seems as if fate has brought them together, and their bond continues to grow as they embark on a journey of exciting experiences.

But as Christmas approaches and their time is running out, both Summer and Jude are left to decide if they will return to the lives they left behind or take a chance on each other. "Christmas by the Lighthouse" is a beautiful read, with captivating characters and themes of hope, courage and understanding that make this story unforgettable.

I love a good rom-com, but this book, sadly was not what I had hoped for based on the description. I was hoping this was a Christmas story, but it isn't. I also was annoyed with the main character as she basically let her husband walk all over her, just can't get on board with that.

Most of the book was set in the summer months, so the title of this book has absolutely nothing to do with the content of this book; which is disappointing as it's three days before Christmas and there is nothing Christmassy about this book at all.
Also, this book really wasn't for me. It was like a Hallmark movie, but a really mediocre Hallmark movie. There was so much crammed into this book, that it's difficult to know where to start. Firstly, Summer puts up no fight whatsoever when her husband suggests that they take a break from their marriage. She ends up in Jersey where she meets Seth.
One afternoon, Seth who is in a dead-end job, has a nasty headache and is swiftly diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour within the space of a few hours. He and Summer meet and fall in love, but he is dying after all. The reader then has to endure chapter after chapter of Jude's bucket list with Summer by his side. After six months, Jude finally has a hospital appointment and lo and behold there is a miracle doctor in Canada who can operate on his once inoperable brain tumour. Seth travels to Canada for this miracle operation whilst Summer stays in Jersey. Once he is back, Seth tells Summer that he would like to have a baby with her. Summer doesn't want a baby as she already has 20 year old twins (who Seth hasn't met as yet.) Cue Seth's man tantrum, where he gets up and leaves and tell Summer to go back to her husband via a hand written note.
Summer does go back to her husband but eventually leaves him again after discovering that he and her best friend Tilly have had a five year affair under her nose. Also, Summer is pregnant. Who is the father of the baby? I didn't hold my breath.

A lovely romantic Christmas story in a perfect setting and as always with this author the characters draw you in from the beginning and you are rooting for them to have a happy ending

Didn’t like this as much as the other books by this author - just found the story was a bit too far fetched.

Summer has always put her husband and children first, so she's taken by surprise when he asks for a six-month break from their marriage. She takes advantage of her freedom and heads off to Jersey, to her aunt's cottage for time by the sea. A mix-up with her luggage brings her together with Jude. Jude, has had his own rough road and is trying to heal mentally from an attack by a student. It has been awhile, but he is still playing it safe, until he receives some news of his own that his totally unprepared for. Now, Summer and Jude are enjoying their time together and creating memories to last for as long as they are around.

Rebecca Boxall has written a beautiful, heartwarming story. Both Summer and Jude are dealing with some serious issues, Summer on a break from her husband and Jude having been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. They're both seeking relief, comfort and some excitement to take them away from their normal, ordinary lives. Even though the issues they are dealing with are quite heavy and sad, the author has managed to keep this story relatively light. They talk about their situations, but they are more concerned with making the most of their lives that summer, having fun and fulfilling Jude's bucket list. I really loved these characters. Summer is open and honest and ready to embrace life. Jude has a good sense of humour considering what he is dealing with and is accepting of whatever life has in store for him. They make a great couple and complement each other well. All does not go according to plan and you will have to read this one to find out what happens and how Rebecca Boxall brings this story to an uplifting ending

If I’m honest I don’t want to read a Christmas book which starts off miserable. This year has had too much of that already.

This is a perfect book for the holiday season, packed with Christmas love and cheer. I truly enjoyed reading this book because it upped my mood and spirits and helped me remember the reason and magic of the holiday season. I would highly recommend adding this book to your holiday reading list; it is like reading a Hallmark movie!

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

A great read. This is a new suthor and the picture enticed me in....we have a couple who hqve a 6 month due to June wanting a break so his wife takes off... to Jersey . Obviously, is one of rhose predictable plots that she meets someone but is he the man she needs.
A great book, great location, you felt like you was there. Tou could feel the story pulling you in. Brilliantly wrote.

I was unable to read and review the book by the publishing date due to other commitments. I will update the review immediately upon completion of the book. Thank you NetGalley and publisher.

While the storyline was intriguing and the plot unusual, I did not care for the characters at all and I found I had to force myself to read this book. This simply was not the book for me.

This was a sweet little romance. It was a quick read and was a bit depressing at times, but overall I enjoyed Summer and Jude's story. Their six week relationship and adventure trying to live all they can.

Christmas by the light house is a lovely story and the first I have read by this author.
I was first intrigued by the cover and the word Christmas in the title but soon found that I would love it for more reasons once I started reading it.
This book has it all emotions wise but is written in a way that you can enjoy the bad as well as the good. I will be hunting out more by this author for sure.

Well, I knew that even though I liked another book written by this author it wasn't exactly high literature, but this one was a complete hit and miss for me.


Starting with the fact that (and here comes a bit of spoiler, sorry, but I can't simply go by it) there's not even a remote of warning about the theme cancer. And I know. I'm a doctor. I shouldn't care. But, you know, when you start to read a book as a distraction from your real life, and then a character has the exact same type of cancer that your beloved aunt died of just months before, you're not exactly happy with the fact that it all came without a warning.


So I started this book with - symbolically - throwing it away just after the first couple of (rather short) chapters.


Then I got back to it the following day, because I was ready to read it forward then.


And after I cooled down I realized that my personal feelings are not at all the only things that I found not okay with this story.


First of all, it kind of downplays the cancer storyline. I mean, it is basically the main storyline, but... it's just too easy. It doesn't work that way. (Maybe with some types, but definitely not this one.) I felt like this was a pseudo-part of the story, because it need something to complicate things, something to make the story a story, but somehow it seemed false. I know this book was supposed to be a light-hearted thing, and that's probably why the serious stuff was all downplayed, but this way I simply couldn't take it seriously anymore. I couldn't believe anything that happened.


In fact, I felt like this book was a collection of all cheesy, overused hollywood romcom clichés. Terminal illness, check. Character realizes they have never lived before, check. Wanting to start to live life to the fullest and creating a bucket list, check. Terminal illness miraculously healed, check. Couple in a boring, dysfunctional twenty-year marriage with kids having fun at college going on a 'break' instead of divorce, check. Excentric hippy parents running around crazy, check. Running home in the rain together, check. The 'who's the father' drama, check. Stuck in a place for hours together, check. Insta love, check. Airport mix-up stuff, check. Getting a rescue dog together, even though nothing's stable in our lives, check. Moving together instantly, and needing no time to accustom to the arrangment, check. I feel like I could continue this list forever.


Oh, and overall unnaturally too much sunset included.


The characters were relatively interesting, though. The problem is, I couldn't really appreciate them, when their story was so utterly fantasyless.

I'm not to sure how realistic this book is but I like it because of it's simplistic difference from other books. I enjoyed reading a different take on things.
Very enjoyable plot I'll definitely be reading more by this author.

Published September 12th 2019 by Lake Union Publishing.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Each year I anxiously wait for Rebecca Boxall's holiday books. Her writing is exquisite and I'm transported away to coastal British towns where I truly wish I could spend my holidays. This year, however, I was a bit disappointed. Okay, a lot disappointed. Try as I might, I could not relate to the characters or the story line. I suspect that it was more my own fault than that of the author's but this was not the holiday story for me this year.

After 20 years of marriage and two children together Summer is amazed when her husband Seth announces he wants to take a break of 6 months from their marriage. She travels to Jersey to stay in her aunts house and en route gets her suitcase mixed up with another passengers. She meets Jude to exchange cases and a friendship begins which develops into something more. Jude himself is reeling from some bad new he has received and together they decide to enjoy their time in Jersey, short lived as it may be.
This is a lovely story, light hearted, warm and with an array of lovely characters. I really enjoyed reading it during the madness of Christmas time.

Charming book with likeable characters and a warm story. Really enjoyed reading this and loved the tale of Summer finding herself after Seth’s bombshell. Evocative settings and believable situations make this a wonderful book - realistic yet aspirational!