It’s been a year since Lottie’s fiancé walked out, leaving her heartbroken. But things start to look up when she lands her dream job at a beautiful Lake District estate, with a handsome groundskeeper for a neighbour.
So when Lottie is asked to organise a last minute Christmas wedding at Firholme, she can’t wait to get started. Until she meets the couple, and discovers that Connor, the man who broke her heart, is the groom-to-be.
As snow falls on the hills, can Lottie put aside her past to organise the perfect winter wedding? And will there be any festive magic left to bring Lottie the perfect Christmas she deserves?
Review: 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.
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