As a big fan of all things Christmassy, this is an exciting time of year for me as all the festive reads begin to emerge. I always look out for my favourite authors in particular, these including Phillipa Ashley. Having read a good many of her books, I wasn’t surprised when this one began in Cornwall, but was equally pleased when the action then shifted for the main part of the story to the Lake District, an area I know well and enjoy visiting when I can. I was soon absorbed in the story and found it a quick and easy read.

The central character in the book is Lottie, an events planner working in Firholme, a country house standing on the shores of Derwentwater in the Lake District. She loves her job and the little cottage that comes with it. However, she’s not sure about her new neighbour, estates manager Jay, who is initially not very sociable, unlike his gorgeous black labrador. Lottie’s boss is keen to net a big event to showcase the house and its facilities, and is delighted when a couple show up desperate to have their wedding there the week before Christmas, only a few weeks away. Lottie knows she can pull it off, but the drawback is that she knows the groom, having been engaged to him briefly just a year before, his desertion having left her heartbroken. As the wedding and Christmas approach, Lottie has the additional worry of her ill sister and helping look after her young twin nieces who are increasingly excited amidst the festive preparations. Readying the house for the wedding means she has to work closely with Jay and she begins to get to know him better and understand his dislike of the festive season.

I have really enjoyed this festive and heartwarming story and can heartily recommend it. There are some lovely characters, a marvellous location and just the right amount of snow. The wedding is, of course, central to the plot, but there is plenty of other activity as well. Lottie’s sister and Jay have interesting storylines of their own that emerge as the story progresses. I didn’t take to the bride or groom; some of their demands at such short notice were incredible. Lottie, however, was amazing, getting everything done while caring for her immediate family and sorting out Jay’s problems too; I would definitely want her organising my event.

Thank you to NetGalley  and Publisher for a  copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Great little Christmas book.
This was a refreshing novel, transporting us to the location, feeling the snow under our shoes, smelling all the Christmas trees destines for their new homes, planning the wedding along with main character, Lottie, while trying to make sure that everything else in her life keeps flowing smooth.
After getting her heart shattered, I am so glad that Lottie took the steps to start over. Ending up in a new job, where she would have to face her past, I can guarantee my heart hit my stomach as hard as hers did.
Supporting characters were great as well. Jay, with his own past of drama, and his lovely dog, Trevor (always love a dog in a book), Steph with the fear of her illness coming back, to Keegan, the blushing bride, and finally Connor, the novel's douchebag (sorry, but I'm not wrong).
The plot was lovely, with smooth progression. I am happy that we got a wonderful closure on everyone.
The book was a delicious little journey, and even though it was set in the dead of winter, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy all over.

Definitely recommend!

I was disappointed in pretty much all the characters in this novel. I found all of them to 2D. Ms. Ashley had potential in characters but failed to develop them. Take Jay for example,, I wanted to know more about his past job and why he left. I wanted to know more about his connection with his rescue dog Trevor. Connor was just unlikeable even as a "bad" guy and Keegan just fell flat for me. I wanted to know more about Shayla and she had potential for interesting back story but we never really heard from her. She hints a relationship with Kerr and her sister but even she fails to follow through. My wish would be for her stop this book from being published to date, go back and rework some of the places (or many of the places) where this storyline falls flat.

If you love Christmas romances A Surprise Christmas Wedding is a great pick. From the scenes and scents described I felt like I was inside the book alongside Lottie. The beginning of the story grabbed my attention right away, and once I read Connor and Lottie together I couldn't put the book down.

A perfectly nice Christmas romance. Lottie is an event planner who ends up organizing the wedding for her ex-fiance. Adding to the stress of dealing with the bride, Lottie is anxious about the health of her sister, and the conflicting signals she is getting from her co-worker and neighbour Jay.. A snowstorm, twin girls, and reindeer all add to the story.

A romantic trip to the coast see's Lottie proposed to and dumped in the same week! A year later she's working at Firholme where a Christmas wedding is being planned by her ex!

Loved the characters especially Trevor the dog! Perfect book to snuggle up to for Christmas magic. Love and romance, tears of joy and tears of sadness. This book has it all. I loved it

A beautiful heartwarming read by Phillipa Astley.
The perfect way to curl up and get yourself into the festive spirit.
Lottie is particularly likeable and has you cheering her on to find happiness. In addition Trevor the dog a wonderful addition to the story making it a particularly charming Christmas read.

I really like Phillipa Ashleys books but i felt with this one Lottie was a but of a pushover regards to Connor and poor Trevor was endlessly stuck inside the house as an animal lover i wasn't keen on that.

A Surprise Christmas Wedding follows Lottie as an events coordinator in a fairly new job to her. The Surprise Wedding had me fuming because not even a full year after her ex ended things he brought his new girl there to get married before Christmas. There is a nice distraction Jay who is a little bit abrupt with everyone at the beginning. The more the reader learned about Jay, the more I was rooting for him. Lottie has a lot of character development in the book that makes this a solid romance read. Plus her sister and nieces sound adorable.

I love a good Christmas book and this book definitely had all the Christmas feels. Reindeer, tree farm, a crazy snow setting. A small town vibe, a UK Christmas small town too!

Thank you Avon Books UK for an advanced e copy in exchange for my review.

Another great book from Phillipa Ashley. What a wonderful story!
Lottie's life is turned upside down. She moved to a new job, which she loves & someone unexpected turns up & again turns her life upside down.
Loved the writing, a real Christmas feel good read.

Christmas is supposed to be about giving and receiving, but could you be giving enough to be the one person who has to organize your jerk ex-fiancé wedding! I don’t think so, but will Lottie suck it up for the better good because her employer of Firholm needs the opportunity!

What could possibly happen during this holiday season for Lottie? This book is truly a great Christmas read. I would definitely recommend this book! I enjoyed the characters and the flow of the storyline. I felt the author developed the characters and she had great interaction of the secondary characters that didn’t overtake the main characters.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

A lovely pre Christmas treat. Definitely ready for winter now. A great book yet again from Phillips. And nice cozy read this winter.

Wonderful festive read! Absolutely loved the latest book from Phillipa Ashley. Everything you need, from a nativity play, chocolate and reindeers!
Set in the Lake District, Lottie is starting her dream job, which comes with a cottage. Its been a hell of a year, which starts in Porthmello (lovely to go back to from previous books).
Lottie is thrown into organising a last minute, short notice Christmas wedding.
Wonderful story about starting again, where love, family and hope are always there.
In this year of Covid, where none of us knows what is going to happen, this book reminds us that family, when we are lucky enough to have it, is so important.
Loved this book, really enjoyed reading, thank you Avon 😊
Highly recommended!
Festive family times!!

What a great Christmas book by Phillipa Ashley. Lottie is a great main character whose boyfriend Connor proposed to her on a Cornish beach only to retract it Within days. Move forward a year and Lottie is working at a job she loves as events manager in the Lake District. Connor reappears when his bride to be falls in love with the venue and wants Lottie to arrange her Christmas wedding.

There are many obstacles in the way of Lottie’s developing friendship with Jay, the estate manager, But, it’s an enjoyable read as Lottie supports her sister and her two nieces and Jay comes to terms with the past. Definitely a must read Christmas book

A year after Lottie is left broken hearted, she finds herself working at her dream job as an events planner in a Lake District Estate.

Lottie is looking forward to spending time with her sister and nieces as Christmas approaches until she is asked to organise a surprise wedding at the Estate. Lottie is thrilled to get stuck into the last minute wedding preparations that is until she finds out the groom is the man that broke her heart the year before!

Lottie must try to remain professional and get the job done whilst trying to keep secrets about her past from everyone, especially the new groundskeeper who might just have a few secrets of his own.

I love, love, loved this book!! The character of Lottie was instantly likeable and I was able to imagine what she looked like in my head. She is the type of character that you would love to be friends with in real life.

All the characters were described in the right amount of details so that you felt you knew a little about each one without being overloaded with information.

I loved the fact that it was more than just one type of story. There was the family aspect, love, past and of course, Christmas!

This book left me feeling happy and glowing, I was hooked from the beginning and didn’t want to put it down which is why I read it within 2 days and I didn’t want it to end.

Would definitely read more books from this author and would love a follow up story to this one.

The story begins when Lottie is surprised with an unexpected proposal from her partner Connor. However, returning home to the Lake District all starts to go wrong when she is ditched by Connor and her sister becomes ill.
Wanting a new start, Lottie lands her dream job as a wedding planner at Firholme, set in the beautiful Lake District. But all is disrupted when Connor and his new fiancé re-enter her life.
Characters are well drawn, warm and friendly, and there is a welcoming, friendly tone to this light-hearted Christmas story. Set in the beautiful Lake District (an area the author describes so well), with a well-drawn mix of characters, including Jay, Lottie’s handsome but reticent neighbour, her sister, along with her ex-fiance Connor - all combining to make an entertaining , enjoyable Christmas story.
The story unfolds at a steady pace, keeping you absorbed in Lottie’s job as a wedding planner, hoping she can move on, but still holding on to the past. Dealing with a difficult ex, along with trying to help her sister and children, and her increasing interest in her next door neighbour and co-worker Jay.

A wonderful read put a smile on my face a lovely book to cuddle up with. Phillips Ashley writes wonderful characters her settings are perfect highly recommend.#netgalley#avonuk.

I was thrilled to be able to read an early copy of this and review it. It's moved from Cornwall (though it does get a mention in the beginning) to the North, and the Lake District. The storyline was lovely and I adored all the characters (oh, Kit Harington....swoooooon!) Very atmospheric and I liked the countdown to Christmas. It was my first new festive read of 2020 and it did not disappoint. Warm and cosy, like a mug of hot choccie with whipped cream and marshmallows, or a glass or two of mulled wine. I now want to go and be Lottie in the Lakes for Christmas and go and find my own Jay/Jon Snow lookalike.

Thank you to Netgalley and Phillipa Ashley for allowing me to read this. I loved it and award it 100 stars, just what we all need if, Christmas as we know it, is to be cancelled this year.

Christmas is really secondary in this story. There is romance but it’s mainly about secrets and forgiveness.

Lottie has a new job as an Events Manager for an an Estate under new management in the Lake District following a breakup with her fiance. Her new boss, who she has known for years, is very keen to have a wedding there before Christmas to showcase the Estate and is overjoyed when a bride to be turns up looking for a location for her dream wedding. Lottie, however, is shocked when the groom to be turns out to be no less than her ex fiance.
With Jay, the grumpy Estate Manager, and not forgetting his dog Trevor as the love interest, Lottie's sister Steph, an unmarried mother with twin daughters and a cast of characters there is plenty going on in addition to the wedding.
I'll forgive the author for the brief temptation of a visit to Porthmellow, Cornwall, as the location of the Estate in the Lake District sounds amazing. I enjoy books where you feel that you're drawn into the story and location and this certainly is one. You feel involved as the story goes through the highs and lows and rooting for a happy outcome. I'd certainly love to visit here at Christmas time as the description makes it sound wonderful and it is an ideal book to curl up with as the evenings draw in.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.