Meg is definitely not in the Christmas mood. She’s never gone in for tinsel, baubles and mistletoe, and right now she’s still getting over an illness. Yet when she’s invited to spend the run-up to Christmas in the snowy countryside, rather than dreary London, she can’t refuse.
Arriving at a warm and cosy family home in a small hilltop village, Meg soon begins to wonder what a proper Christmas might be like. But just as she’s beginning to settle in, she spots a familiar face. Lex.
Despite the festive cheer, Meg suddenly wants nothing more than to get as far away from him, and their past secrets, as she can. But if she stays, could this be the year she finally discovers the magic of Christmas...?
Review: I always enjoy a book written by Trisha Ashley, and ones set around Christmas in particular. This book did surprise me a little, as I struggled a bit to get into the story, but once I got going, I literally didn’t want to put it down. It’s one of those books that I miss now that I have finished it; I’m sure other readers will recognise that feeling.
The central character in the story, Meg, is a skilled artist recovering from a recent bout of pneumonia. She is approached by a rather forceful lady, Martha, who wants her to paint portraits of her and her husband, Henry. The request is accompanied by an invitation to spend the festive season with the couple in their country house set in a small hamlet high on the Lancashire moors. Having been raised in a commune, Meg has never celebrated a ‘conventional’ Christmas, and accepts the opportunity to experience something different. Once she arrives at Martha’s home, she finds herself enveloped in a household full of interesting characters. Unfortunately, one member of the extended family is Lex, someone with whom Meg has an unfortunate history. She hopes that if she can avoid him, her stay may still be an enjoyable one, but fate seems to have other ideas. There are quite a few other surprises in store for her too during her snowy Christmas visit.
This is another delightful tale from Trisha Ashley, filled with amazing characters and wonderful settings. Martha’s house and household were so warm and welcoming that I would love to be snowed up there for Christmas myself. Fans of her books will recognise quite a few familiar names from Trisha’s previous stories. I loved all the twists and turns in this book; I was never quite sure what would happen next and who would turn up. As well as drama and romance, there was a nice amount of humour in the story. I can’t fail to mention a very cute little dachshund who quite stole my heart. I can certainly recommend this book to anyone, especially those who enjoy a really snowy Christmas tale; it would also make a perfect addition to a Christmas stocking.
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