Synopsis
Would you swap sea and sunshine for tinsel and turkey?
Gabby Sanderson is used to being let down – even at Christmas. Which is why she’s happy to skip the festive season completely in favour of a plane ticket and sunnier climes.
But this Christmas could be different, because this time she might not be spending it alone. Can Owen Cooper charm Gabby into loving Christmas in the same way he’s charmed his way into her life, or is he just another person who’ll end up disappointing her?
Kathryn Freeman
Kathryn was born in Wallingford, England but has spent most of her life living in a village near Windsor. After studying pharmacy in Brighton she began her working life as a retail pharmacist. She quickly realised that trying to decipher doctor’s handwriting wasn’t for her and left to join the pharmaceutical industry where she spent twenty happy years working in medical communications. In 2011, backed by her family, she left the world of pharmaceutical science to begin life as a self-employed writer, juggling the two disciplines of medical writing and romance. Some days a racing heart is a medical condition, others it’s the reaction to a hunky hero…
With two teenage boys and a husband who asks every Valentine’s Day whether he has to bother buying a card again this year (yes, he does) the romance in her life is all in her head. Then again, her husband’s unstinting support of her career change goes to prove that love isn’t always about hearts and flowers – and heroes can come in many disguises.
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Owen adores Gabby. He tries hard to charm her but having a reputation as a ladies man does him no favours. But Owen isn’t what he seems, and past heartache has turned flirting into a defence mechanism. As Owen’s true character was revealed I found myself desperately wanting him and Gabby to get together but there seem to be so many obstacles in the way – his selfish ex- being one of them.
This is a lovely Christmas read which I can thoroughly recommend.
Owen adores Gabby. He tries hard to charm her but having a reputation as a ladies man does him no favours. But Owen isn’t what he seems, and past heartache has turned flirting into a defence mechanism. As Owen’s true character was revealed I found myself desperately wanting him and Gabby to get together but there seem to be so many obstacles in the way – his selfish ex- being one of them.
This is a lovely Christmas read which I can thoroughly recommend.
I loved Kathryn’s Christmas book last year, so was delighted to be asked to review this one and she really hasn’t disappointed with her latest offering. Gabby and Owen were both great characters; their story was engaging and a real page turner. I loved every minute I spent reading it. Gabby has been let down by her own mother and others for so long, she no longer trusts anyone and Christmas is a particularly difficult time. She’s built a successful career and her life on her own and isn’t willing to take a chance that it could be upset until she meets Owen, the “dreamboat” in sales. He takes her on quite an emotional journey, but when he ends up letting her down as well, she has to make a decision about whether to spend Christmas on her own terms or to take a chance on him and the family Christmas that has been denied her for so long. Beautifully written book that has already got me into the Christmas spirit!
A must read to get you into the Christmas Spirit
Owen fancied Gabby from the moment he sees her when she starts working for the sweet company he works at and the feeling is definitely mutual.
This book leads you from a few weeks before Christmas up to Christmas Day itself and on the way we learn about Gabby’s insecurities and Owen’s lack of confidence despite his reputation.
Will their pasts cause a problem for their future or will Santa bring them their happy ever after.
A lovely book to get you into the spirit of Christmas and I love the way Kathryn weaves a Christmas message reminding us of what Christmas is truly about.
Great characters that you can empathise with and characters that I genuinely liked and wanted the best for, some fun and laughter, tears and tantrums, this book has it all.
I highly recommend this book if you want an enjoyable, easy read.
Thanks to Choc-Lit for providing me with a review copy of this book in return for an honest review which is completely my own opinion.
Read in large sumptuous chocolatey chunks whilst wishing for Christmas! Just 69 days to go, by the way 🙂
Synopsis
Owen Cooper is a totally handsome, suave, outrageous flirt with a reputation. Gabby Sanderson is initially cautious of his charm and keeps him at arms length to protect herself from another let down.
Both Gabby and Owen are part of the Sweet Art Christmas Party Planing Team, and with the season on the horizon, it is all systems go. Gabby doesn’t have any happy festive memories and usually chooses to spend Christmas in sunnier climes away from the whole pantomime. Could this Christmas be different however? Can Owen charm Gabby into loving Christmas in the same way he’s charmed his way into her life, or is he just another person who’ll end up disappointing her?
Review
This is my first read of Kathryn’s books and I was not disappointed. I really enjoyed Owens efforts with the reticent Gabby, and her slow thaw to the idea of fun at Christmas. It made a change to read about a reluctant female rather than a female wondering if she should pursue a man. I liked that, even if her hesitance is borne out of past history.
The added characters in the story are the perfect accompaniment. She has a mother who is wholly absent and his own father is in despair with loneliness and loss since the death of Owens mother. There are PA’s who feature and one who surprises and amazes and Owen has a very special bond with a young child from a previous relationship. The whole ensemble serves to delight you as you read along the winding path to Christmas, at each turn wishing for a happy ending, but you are never really sure if there ever will be one.
A warming read for autumn and winter days!
Delivered to my kindle for an honest review as a Star Selector for the fabulous team @choc-lit!
This story was everything I wanted and more. The story surrounds Gabby and Owen and their unfolding relationship that started off pretty quickly while working in the same company and who struggle with trust issues after rubbish past relationships … For once, I was really hoping that that there would be no huge dramas and it would be a gentle climax to the Christmas period and I wasn’t disappointed. We meet some cracking characters on the way that really fill this story up with warmth, its like wrapping a blanket around you on a cold day, a really heartwarming read.
This page turner of a book will light up your journey towards Christmas. Gabby and Owen’s relationship starts in the office and is fraught from the start. No only do their histories play a powerful part in thwarting a happy ever after but a returning mother, hospitalised father and problems with the ex all add to the mix. This well written book will keep you entertained and rooting for a happy ending, just be sure to have a supply of chocolate to hand!
Entertaining and a delight to read.
Owen and Gabby are like chalk and cheese, total opposites, plus there’s the problem that they both work in the same company where there’s a no fraternizing rule.
After experiencing a lonely and neglected childhood, Gabby is unable to rely upon anyone and definitely not the office flirt Owen.
Owen will need all his persuading skills to convince Gabby that he’s not trifling with her feelings, except his past history is causing her to question his trustworthiness. Well written with credible and likeable characters.
This is the story of Gabby, who has serious trust issues from her childhood, and Owen, the suave and charming Sales Director determined to win her. You just know that it won’t be easy…. I wasn’t sure about this one for a while, but as we brought in his father, the daughter of his ex-lover, his older PA, and her mother – well, that’s where it all started to get interesting, and I began to get involved, I did shed a tear or two in places. An enjoyable book – well worth reading.
This is a sequel to ‘A Little Christmas Faith’ but can be read as a standalone.
It’s a beautiful Christmas story and I loved the little jokes the author added. The book is fluently written and it’s very nice to reconnect with the characters from the previous book mixing with new ones. We get to know them a bit better and the whole atmosphere cries festive season. Add a lot of love, romance and snow and you are, even if it’s only the middle of October, ready to decorate your own tree at home.
There was nothing I did not like and bring on book 3, I would say.
Christmas, here we come!
Thank you, Kathryn Freeman and Choc Lit.