Phillipa Ashley always draws you in fast to the story, making sure you never want to put it down.

This book drew me in and I managed to finish it with 2 sittings, I really enjoyed the reference of other characters within her book and hope we can revisit and follow the story bit more.

Thank you net galley for an advance copy for an honest review

I have read and enjoyed the author before and this didn't disappoint. Cosy read perfect for a cold winters day with a chocolate biscuit and cup of tea! Lovely story, warm characters and a satisfactory ending - perfect!

I read this in one sitting. On a day when I was hoping to write 3000 words of my own, I ended up reading 80,000or more of someone else's! It was worth it though. Rarely do I get lost in a book for such a length of time, but this one was written by a master storyteller, and it showed.

Its got such a lot going on that I'm not sure where to start: grumpy v's
sunshine, tragic hero, intense drama, wonderful community spirit, and oodles of Christmassyness.
And a dog.

This is a book I know I'll be re-reading next Christmas. And probably the year after that, too!

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The Christmas Holiday is a fabulous, feel-good read.

The story is beautifully written and I was immersed in Krystle’s story from the very beginning. The characters are well-rounded, with some definitely more likeable than others. I particularly liked (swoon) Max.

The Lake District setting gave the story a beautiful backdrop, easy to visualise from Phillipa Ashley’s descriptions.

I thoroughly enjoyed this uplifting festive read and would highly recommend.

A festive romance with the lure of an escape to the country drew me to this book and it was an enjoyable read.

There was nothing ground breaking about this book, it is a cosy, festive romance. You have the loveable heroine, her utterly useless and despicable boyfriend, the dark and brooding local love interest and the usual group of meddling friends and family. It is predictable, but that didn’t take away from the ability to enjoy this book.

A good, solid festive romance.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Loved this book! So festive! Christmas is magical for so many people. However for some people it isn't. In this book Krystle and Max put their opposite views on Christmas aside and learn maybe Christmas is magical.

Phillipa Ashley never fails to give readers a great book, and once again her latest, The Christmas Holiday, is an enjoyable read & a captivating storyline.
Interesting characters & story, I quickly became invested in the budding friendship between the two main characters & was rooting for them throughout the book. We learn the sad back stories that led them both to where they are, but witness their emotional winters turning to spring with the help of each other as their stories intertwine.
Perfect winter reading, snuggle up with this book on a chilly day.

I enjoyed this as a nice light read over the holidays. A touching romance with teasing mysteries along the way. Does exactly what it says on the tin!

I enjoyed this festive read, set on the Lake District and with passing references to characters from other books set in the Kakes.
The characters were likeable and the story was full of romance and festive cheer.
Recommended.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this advance read.

The perfect Christmas feel-good book. Set in a snow covered Lake District, wonderful characters and a good plot. What more do you want ?
Grab a hot chocolate, light a fire and curl up with his perfect book that will give you all the feels of Christmas.
Thank you Net Galley and Avon Books UK for the ebook arc.

If you regularly read this blog, you will know that Phillipa is one of my favourite authors. Her latest festive offering does not disappoint. Now get me to Holly Manor!

Based in the gorgeous Lake district full of Lakeland charm, snow, a wonderful community, second chances, romance and festive cheer!

My heart went out to young Krystle at the beginning of this book – a really difficult childhood only made easier by her aunt’s loving care, and the gorgeous sight while on holiday in the Lakes, seen through a window, of a room decorated for Christmas, complete with roaring fire and presents under the tree. It ignited her love for everything Christmas-related – now her year-round and particularly successful career. I adored her as a character. I loved her enthusiasm, drive and ambition and that she was so resourceful and creative when it came to her job and that she loved seeing people happy.

I loved how the work of volunteer mountain rescue teams was explored throughout the story and it also helped establish a real sense of community and warmth of which Krystle soon became a part of.

The Christmas Holiday made me laugh (Max’s quip about Elves FC vs Lapland City had me laughing out loud!), made me cry, and most definitely made me want to revisit the beautiful Lake District! I absolutely loved The Christmas Holiday. It’s a heart-warming and emotional tale that’s easy-to-read and will get you into the festive spirit.

A festive romance that is a hug in a book.

A heart warming read following Krystle's dream of the perfect Christmas in the Lakes. Her traumatic childhood experiences really pull you in and have you rooting for her.

Plus the setting of the Lakes has so much detail it is easy to imagine being there.

Phillipa Ashley knows how to write a romance with complications.

A Christmas Phillippa Ashley is always essential reading and this one was no exception. Against the backdrop of the beautiful Lake District Krystle and Max's story as they tentatively find their way back to people and love is just lovely. Also I always learn something from a Phillippa Ashley and this time I feel like I have a much better grasp on the Mountain Rescue and the important job they do as well as the art of Christmas within retail. Christmas, romance and knowledge, what more could you ask for?

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Krystie has planned the perfect Christmas holiday in the lakes with her boyfriend Brett. They get themselves caught in a sticky situation when they get stuck in an overflowing stream and they have to be rescued by Max a local who keeps himself to himself. Brett them needs to return to his job to deal with a work crisis but never returns leaving Krys alone. She begins to develop a friendship with Max and falls into village life helping out at the outdoor centre and takes part in community fundraising. Can Max decide her to stay in the village or will she decide to leave?

I have read several of Phillipa's books now and I really enjoyed this one. I love visiting The Lake District, so I was pleased to be transported there in this enjoyable Christmas read. I really liked Krys and I wasn't surprised when Brett decided to put his career before his relationship with Krys. She was too good for him. I really liked that Max's friendship with Krys helped Max to get over his past and move forwards.

A great read and I look forward to reading more from Phillipa.

I absolutely loved this Christmas read, and I think it is one of my favourite Christmas books of this year.

Krys and her boyfriend have hired a beautiful house for a few weeks, before Christmas. On their way there, disaster strikes, and a lovely man called Max comes to their rescue, by helping them and offering that they stay with him for an overnight, as they are not able to get to the holiday house. Afterwards, the boyfriend, Brett, goes to London for work, and Krys is left alone, so she soon gets to work helping around the village, and chatting to everyone. Max keeps appearing beside her, and Brett has still not come back. Krys is an expert in Christmas, and she is known as Mrs Christmas, so she becomes quite popular with the locals, and she helps to raise the Christmas cheer for everyone. What will happen between her and Max?

This is a wonderful Christmas book, which is easy to read, and it is full of love, Christmas sparkles, romance, and joy. If you are looking for a Christmas book to read, then this is the one for you! You won't be disappointed.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

A very enjoyable book to read. Good characters you got into and an enjoyable storyline that was pleasant and uncomplicated. A great book curled up with a glass of wine on a winters night.

I like the characters, Krys and Max, I hated Brett he annoyed me and I didn't like his character at all.
Krys had a hard time recently after living with her Aunt Linda for years she's passed away so now she planned for the first Christmas to travel to Holly Manor with her boyfriend Brett. They come to some troubles in their travels and are saved by Max.
Again a few things happen and Krys helps Harriet one of the home town residents with some preparation for Christmas.
Max and Krys definitely have some chemistry and share some trues which each other.
I will be rereading this book as I found the writing excellent and I couldn't get enough of the story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Krystle once visited the pretty Cumbrian village of Thorndale as a child and never forgot her view of what she called the Christmas house. Now grown up and with the opportunity to hire the house for the festive period, Krys is determined to have the perfect Christmas. However, right from the start, the fickle finger of fate intervenes and her time in Thorndale soon becomes a Christmas which Krys will never forget.

Beautifully festive the story wraps around you like a comfort blanket and pretty soon the warmth of the people who call Thorndale home soon become as familiar as friends. I particularly enjoyed meeting members of the Mountain Rescue Team whose bravery and steadfastness reiterates just what an important service this is to the hillside communities of Cumbria. I also enjoyed watching the development of Krys’s burgeoning friendship with the taciturn, Max who lives in a nearby bothy as this brings a lovely element of will they, won’t they romance into the story.

Setting the story amongst the hills and fells of the Lake District lends itself perfectly to this light and easy festive read and The Christmas Holiday certainly has all the lovely elements which this author does so well. Festive escapism at its best and a perfect read when you need to chill out during the stress of Christmas.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Avon for approving me for an ARC of this book. This was my first Phillipa Ashley and I thought it would make the perfect Christmas read to add to my collection.

Our story centres around Krys who is desperate to give herself and her boyfriend Brett the perfect Christmas in the Lake District. They have hired out a beautiful cottage for two months and Krys wants nothing more than to have the Christmas celebration she’s always dreamed of.

Things soon start to go wrong when Brett and Krys find themselves in a tricky situation and have to rely on recluse Max to help them out. To say that Max is frosty would be an understatement. He makes it clear that they have been an inconvenience and even Krys’ polite attitude doesn’t seem to warm his cold heart.

When Brett’s work means he has to go back to London for a little while Krys is left to her own devices and that is when things start to get interesting. Obviously I was rooting for Max and Krys to get their act together, despite Max’s icy exterior you can tell that he is a kind hearted man that is harbouring a dark past. Seeing these two characters open up to each other and heal in their own way was beautiful.

From festive traditions to mountain rescues, this book has a lot to offer. I found myself swirling towards the end with every thing that was happening and was pleased to see it come to a satisfying conclusion. I shall be checking out other books by Phillipa Ashley and can’t wait to delve into her collection.