Krystal has had a difficult childhood, but found comfort peering through the windows of a secluded house in the Lake District. Years later, along with her boyfriend Brett she decides to take a holiday staying at Holly Manor, the house she longed to visit as a child.
Unfortunately, things start to go wrong when their car becomes deluged in a flooded forge, and they have to be rescued by Max, a reclusive, handsome stranger.
When Brett suddenly needs to return to work leaving Krys at Holly Manor, she becomes involved in the community, becoming friendly with members of the mountain rescue team, and begins to know Max and his dog Jake much better. Krys’s job as a Christmas decoration planner and Max hating Christmas, makes her determined for Max to change his opinion and join in the festivities.
This is a heart warming, festive story set in the beautiful Lake district. Skilfully written, the book explores the work done by the mountain rescue team, friendships and communities helping disadvantaged children. There is humour along with heartbreak, along with a steadily building love relationship between Krys and Max, who has secrets from his past.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I've read a few of Phillipa Ashley's books and they have always been excellent and this was no exception. I read this book in one day, I had no interest in putting the TV on as I was so invested in the story.

Krys and her boyfriend Brett are heading to her dream Christmas house in the Lake District, they are hoping that this 2 month break from work for Krys, will help the couple move their relationship on.

Unfortunately on the way there was an accident and ended with Krys having to be rescued by the grumpy local Max and both of them having to stay with him overnight.

As Brett runs off back to work/London the following day, Krys tries to be a part of the community, even if Max is hard work and rude. Using her job as a Christmas buyer, she helps lay some of her own ghosts to rest too.

Can she and Brett make their relationship work ? What is Max's secret, that has made him such a recluse ? and will this be the best Christmas they have ever had ?

Loved loved this book, it made me feel all Christmasy, and the characters were wonderful too. I would recommend this book. Easy read and in keeping with the approaching season

I thought this was a wonderful Christmas story where Krys and Max try to come to terms with their pasts while making the most of the season in a wonderful location!
The characters, human and animal, are all well drawn as are the locations and the information about the MRT included was fascinating! I was amazed at the thought of someone trying to climb a mountain in flipflops but they did in real life as well as in the book!

This is a great, fun story based in the Lake District and featuring both reindeer and a Mountain Rescue Team. The fun parts of the story were great, and I did like how the author highlighted the wisdom of relying on GPS in the Lake District (don't!) and the local area. Most of the story was captivating and interesting.
I had a few issues with the outdated knowledge of Mountain Rescue, which would have been fine a while ago but is no longer accurate. However, the comments about tourists ascending the fells whilst ill-equipped were spot-on!

The Christmas Holiday is a lovely feel good festive read. Perfect for curling up with on a cold afternoon and getting in the mood for Christmas. It has a good storyline, great characters to fall in love with and lots of twisted and turns to keep you on your toes. Best of all it is set in the beautiful Lake District and it will have you longing to book your own trip there.

I enjoyed this cute Christmas book, was lovely to read whilst on the beach. I enjoyed reading Krystle character and how she is perceived in the story. Always a fan of Phillipa Ashley novels.

Krystle decided to rent a house in the lakes for the Christmas holidays.
What could possibly go wrong? It appears plenty can! Snuggle up in a blanket with a hot drink and enjoy this lovely Christmas book.

Krystle didn’t have a normal childhood and longed for warm family Christmases with presents under the tree. Now she makes sure everyone else has the perfect Christmas she never had, bringing beautiful decorations to cheer as many people as possible.
With her festive business booming, she decides to celebrate by renting a secluded house in the Lakes, with a plan to make this the ultimate yuletide getaway.
But fate immediately throws a spanner in the works in the form of a broken-down car, a flooded river and Max; a man who despises Christmas.
Krystle becomes determined to show Max the joys of the holiday. She won’t take no for an answer.
Can she melt Max’s Grinch-like heart? And can he show her that life doesn’t need to go to plan to take you somewhere magical…
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Avon Books Uk
I just reviewed The Christmas Holiday by Phillipa Ashley. #NetGalley

I absolutely adored this wonderful Christmas love story. What wasn’t to love. Set in the lakes which is one of my favourite locations, set at Christmas in the snow, a brooding, heartbroken recluse and a lovely female lead looking to have the perfect Christmas. I am going straight online to buy more books from this author. Thank you netgalley.

A small insight into the work of a mountain rescue team with Christmas, romance and animals added to the mix.
What more could you want?

The lake district setting of this sets the scene early and is just totally gorgeous. Fun Christmas storyline with great characters. One to sit by the fire and read curled up. Delightful.

Krystle is known as Mrs. Christmas through her job buying for major chains. She decides to take a few months off and rents Holly Manor but things don't go as she had planned. I love Phillipa Ashley books and this one lives up to all the others

Krys has long dreamed of the Christmas card house she stumbled across as a child; this Christmas she's booked the house for her and her boyfriend Brett to stay in and reconnect... Little does Krys know what is in store for her.

This is a lovely festive read; it's got great characters, twists and turns to keep you interested and is generally a real escapist read! I loved this book - staying up to get it finished because I had to know how it ended! Whilst some parts of the plot are easy to see coming and rather predictable, the characters are believable and Krys' job as a Christmas buyer kept me interested the whole way through! BRB, just going to book myself a festive getaway to the Lake District....

Krystle (Krys) didn't have the best childhood moving from town to town with her mother. From a very young age she has dreamt of having the perfect family Christmas. Although this dream has eluded her she now ensures others can fulfil this desire, working with businesses creating amazing Christmas displays and sourcing perfect Christmas decorations for everyone to buy.
Grieving for her aunt (who in many ways has been a mum to Krys) she decides to take some time off between contracts and visit the Lake district. Here she plans to stay in a house she admired from the outside as a young child and try and create the most beautiful Christmas for her and her boyfriend - Brett.
Taking a wrong turn their car ends up stuck in the middle of a ford and Mrs Christmas (as she is often called) is rescued by Max who, not only hates Christmas but, has very few social skills and appears uncomfortable with people in general.
As Krys starts to settle into village life (her boyfriend has had to return to London for work) she becomes involved in several Christmas projects. Can she get Max involved and change his attitude to the festive season? A brilliant Christmas story full of fantastic characters, beautiful imagery and a little festive magic.

This is a lovely, glittery Christmas story. Krystle has a rough start but manages to get into the spirit of the holiday

season.. There is a little romance at the lakes, crisp snow, and the promise of new beginnings,

A gem to read, this book is both festive and heartwarming.

So enjoyable to read. and extremely hard to put down.

Krystle is known as Mrs Christmas. Se has a wonderful job decorating houses and buildings with a Christmassy glitz. Planning a few weeks away in a manor that she remembers from childhood, she sets off with her perfectly ghastly boy friend. their journey comes to a sudden halt as the boufriend's supercar does not like being driven through a ford. Rescued by a dark and brooding man, the story continues. Eventually exit boyfriend, and romance develops. The characters are really well developed, and came across as being very real people.
I like Philippa Ashley's books and this is an easy to read novel, whcih I enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Christmas holiday by Phillipa Ashley. Phillipa's books always make me smile and this one was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of this book, I loved the characters and I really enjoyed the storyline too. Full of Christmas spirit and joy not one to be missed.

This wonderful book has everything you could wish for in a seasonal romance: strong, relatable characters, a stunning setting, and an interesting plot. The MRT backdrop was an unexpected, added interest. I heartily recommend it, and will be buying a few copies as presents.

Ashley sets this novel in a Staffordshire village near by the Lakes, it is set in December as she is here in time to save Christmas and the fact it describes the large open fire in 'Holly Manor' several times. Meaning it was cold outside.

Krytle, who is described by people in London as Mrs Christmas because she runs a holiday business dressing Christmas shop windows and in store displays . She has now booked her favourite house she remembers it from her unhappy childhood, it's meant to be for an extended christmas break she is able to do this as her beloved auntie Lynda has passed away leaving her with some money under the proviso she does 'something that makes you smile or scares you, anything that you'll remember forever'.
But obviously things don't go as planned. She runs in to Max and his trusted dog who she has to spend the night when her cottage gets cut off. Max is a man that despises Christmas.

This inter makes Krysle want to change his outlook and save the village when they need so christmas cheer. So it's like being back at work planning a school party and a ball, and of course a school party needs a Santa, so she can think of the perfect man for the job!
But even 'santa' hides his secrets.

I have read Phillipa Ashley books before and I like the way they are written in sets of three as the characters draw me to there world. Also you get a depth and expansion of their surrounding, I can see this becoming the first in a new series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers as I recieved a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A proper Christmas feel good book complete with reindeer. The romance fights to be front and centre as previous hurts, bad relationships and selfish partners keep Max and Krys apart. You can’t beat an isolated cottage with a brooding man and his absolutely gorgeous dog in it. Some good moments of bitter sweet joy as those who are struggling financially and emotionally ask Santa to give them joy. Highly recommended.