Member Reviews
Thank you for an e-arc of this book. I apologize that it has taken me so long to get a review to you. However, real life got in the way of reading as well as some mental health problems. However, here is my review.
I liked and felt for Amelia throughout this entire book. Her character was on point and I felt like she was extremely well written. It was also what carried me through the entire story because I wanted to know that she would be okay in the end. And it seems like she would be. All in all, it was an enjoyable read for a holiday season even though I will probably not re-read it during the Christmas season.
This is a very tender and loving story with the added Spirit of Christmas to make it all the more amorous.
This is a good book. The two main characters are Amelia and Fergus. Amelia is escaping to Arran. She has had some major difficulties from losing her job, to her husband leaving her three months into their marriage.to top it off these difficulties happened on the same day. When they meet there is an instant attraction. Amelia is living in a hut on Edie’s property, she is doing some marketing for her. Fergus starts showing Amelia around to the different sites. They both have issues to figure out. They both fall in love.
Christmas is always magical and this book brings magic to Amelia. She has lost her job, her husband and has decided there is no need for her to stay in London. So she sets off for the Isle of Arran. And so the magic begins, or does it?!
This is a book that perfect sets the tone of family, friendship, relationships, community and so much more. It is well written and easy to read, it is heart-warming and fun. The characters all work and the story flows so well it makes it a quick and easy read but a lovely read as well. I enjoyed it, was entertained by it and found it quite the charming read.
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to rad and review this book.
I absolutely loved this Holiday Rom-Com. This was so amazing. This was so touching and perfect for christmas. I loved it!!
I just reviewed A CHRISTMAS ESCAPE TO ARRAN by Ellie Henderson. #ACHRISTMASESCAPETOARRAN #NetGalley
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A sweet Scottish Christmas read that read fairly quickly. Sometimes it's go to take a vacation through the pages of a book.
Amelia has the perfect life with her new husband and a job she loves. That is, until she doesn’t. She loses her job and then finds out Declan wants a divorce. She didn’t see either coming which makes it that much harder to deal with.
She decides to leave London behind and head to Arran to start a new job. Her new boss and landlord, Edie, is welcoming and quickly becomes like family. She meets Fergus, a friend of Edie’s, upon arrival and is drawn to the Scotsman.
Amelia and Fergus both have pasts that require healing, and both have a confidant in Edie. Will their friendship end up being something more?
I really enjoyed this book and the characters. The idea that Arran quickly starts to feel like home for Amelia and that friends easily become family is reminiscent of the feel of Scotland.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #ACHRISTMASESCAPETOARRAN
I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas Romance novel. I enjoyed the characters and what they had to bring to the storyline. I hope to read more by this author in the future.
Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was an enjoyable read with a beautiful setting.
Although I enjoyed this book overall, I found it quite slow to start with. Besides this, it was a nice and easy feel-good festive read. There were also a few unexpected twists which kept things exciting.
When London gets rammed with Christmas shoppers, I find myself reading books about starting a life away from it all, preferably by the sea in Scotland, this book is therefore a perfect choice. I absolutely devoured it, loved the strong characterisation of Amelia, Edie and Fergus. I enjoyed Amelia seeking solace in this small Scottish Island and being soothed by the sea, calm weather, welcoming community and rediscovering herself. I really enjoy stories of such resilience, there is also a sweet romance if that is what you enjoy. Delightful.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute one. The speed was a bit slow for me but I always love an escape, especially holiday themed!
Having read 'A summer wedding on Arran' by the same author, I was excited when I saw another book by her on the same island.
Edie is looking for someone to help her market her new business idea - a cosy shepherd's hut.
Amelia has it all - newly married and working her dream job - until she hasn't. Trying to deal with her husband's betrayal and start anew, she applies for and gets the job Edie has advertised.
Moving from London to Arran in Scotland, she is ready for her new life and she gets lots of help from the villagers, especially all-round nice-guy Fergus.
Romantic and cosy read.
Amelia loess her job and her husband wants a divorce, so she decides to go to the Isle of Aarn. very sweet story.. I enjoyed it very much.
Didn't want to put this down, I ended up staying awake all night to finish this. Lovely story of the Scottish countryside and all that goes with it. Certainly a 5 star book.
Thanks to Netgalley , author and publisher for this ARC
This book has been written by a new author for me and is the second in the series. I really enjoyed the location and the honest characters. Thaay all had flaws and seemed very human. I did not realise it was part of a series until I researched what other books this author had written after I had finished this book.
The book is set on the isle of Arran which is described most beautifully and definitely made me want to visit in the near future. Amelia has lost her job and her husband in one day! With no ties to London and needing a change of scenery she applies for a job on the Isle of Arran. Here she stays in a beautiful shepherds hut, makes lots of new friends with the locals and gets a little distracted by the hunky Fergus.
Helping her boss and neighbour with a few Christmas projects Amelia soon feels completely at home. So much so that the thought of returning home to her old life in London fills her with dread.
Fantastic festive read.
Amelia accepts a job on Arran after her husband leaves her. She starts to be happy there and make new friends and potentially more. A great festive read.
A cute small town Christmas romance which is actually from 3 different POVs which I wasn't expecting from the summary and wasn't the clearest in execution (I prefer when there's a clear indication like in the chapter name). There was a lot of focus on their personal issues and major conflicts (tw for death and grief - one I would've liked beforehand as whilst it isn't massively heavy, I didn't expect that topic to come up in this kind of book and it is discussed frequently). Because of these things, it wasn't the kind of Christmas romance book I like - I prefer soft, cute, kicking your feet and twirling your hair, cosy, fun games, etc vibes. I'd encourage you to look up the tw and other reviews to see if this is for you, as I know so many other reviewers had a more positive experience. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
Thank you to Choclituk and Ellie Henderson for giving me an arc copy of this lovely festive read for A Christmas Escape to Arran to review!
This is a festive, wintry tale of healing, forgiveness, and personal growth. Told in the third person, there are three protagonists whose POVs of Edie, Amelia, and Fergus, all connected by emotional wounds past and present they need to heal and process. Arran’s welcoming and supportive community allows Amelia to build needed friendships with the island locals helping her rediscover herself, restore her confidence, and begin the journey to heal her heart. Through Amelia’s presence and friendship, Fergus and Edie start to open up and begin their journeys of forgiveness and healing.
I did feel some of the bigger emotional components of grief and loss were a little oversimplified. Grief and loss are very difficult, complex emotions, and resolution of these big feelings to process and work through. The romance between Fergus and Amelia is sweet, tender and a perfect slow burn build up to them coming to realise their feelings towards one another after they have grown through sharing their troubles to begin accepting and healing as individuals before coming together as a couple.
The pacing of A Christmas Escape To Arran is gentle pacing without too many unexpected plot devices. A very different style to Ellie Henderson's other book set on Arran, A Summer Wedding On Arran. There are more reflective elements between the characters as they face their demons and begin to heal/forgive. A lot of warm fuzzy moments full of a connection to the community and bonds between the neighbours living in Lamlash.
The cosy description of the establishments of Lamlash and the captivating landscape of Arran is beautifully captured within Ellie Henderson’s writing. She has a talent for vivid descriptions to bring the beauty of the Isle of Arran to life on the page. It’s detailed and very accurate based on my own experiences with Lamlash. I wish some of the fictional places existed as they are cosy spots places I would love to enjoy in the real world.
An easy winter read full of friendship, forgiveness, and a dusting of romance against a cosy festive backdrop. Rounded up to 4 stars from a 3.5 rating, a nice read to enjoy if you are looking for a Christmas book with light romance.
Book review : A Christmas escape to Arran by @elliehbooks .
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Overview of the book:.
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Marketing guru Amelia has it all. She’s tied the knot with Declan, the love of her life, ready to start their perfect future together in London after an idyllic honeymoon in Italy.
Until Amelia loses her job.
And returns home to find a note from Declan, demanding a divorce.
Now she has no job, no husband and no reason to stay in London.
The Isle of Arran seems like the perfect place to lick her wounds and start again. If there’s anywhere that will help her heal, it’s this beautiful Scottish island..
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I am not really a fan of romance at all but this book is on another level , it’s has romance, drama, feel good vibes , Christmas vines .
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If I could live anywhere in the world it would have to be Coorie cottage , tranquil, peaceful and best of all I would be able to do my wild swimming at my doorstep.
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I laughed at this book as well as it had to many old traditions that I did with my school like the Gay Gordon’s which you don’t hear about anymore .
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First Christmas book of the year and so glad it was this as I felt all warm and cosy reading this one .
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Thank you @neverending_netgalley @netgalley for allowing me to read such a good book .