Such a gorgeous festive story! Sarah Morgan is one of my favourite authors and writes the most fantastic stories. Great characters setting and plot. With plenty of festiveness which leaves you wanting to sit by the fire with a cosy blanket and hot chocolate!

I will start by saying, that reading this book in the middle of summer wasn’t my wisest idea, all this did was wish for Christmas. Having said that, it was wonderful. It really set the scene, brought some Christmas magic and spirit, along with stories of love, friendship and the challenge of life.

The friendship between Alix and Christie was something magical, and something I think everyone can apply to everyone’s lives at some point. I loved this book, I loved the character development, the storyline, the themes and magic that the author captured throughout. I’ve never been to Sweden myself, but after this book, I feel like I’ve been in my mind.

Oh I adored this story.

Christmas + romance = match made in heaven.

Add in a bit of family drama, what a combination.

Sarah has done a fantastic job, just the right level of emotion mixed in with stunning descriptions of their surroundings.

I mean that holiday sounded like my perfect Christmas. It's normal to be jealous of fictional goings on right?

My favourite character had to be Holly (the daughter), adorable is the word to sum her up. She was the glue that began to bring everyone together.

And although The Christmas Escape is based in the month of December, I believe that this is a novel that can be read and enjoyed any time of the year.

Ahh I do love a Sarah Morgan romance. Yes they’re predictable but when she writes well, and you want the character to be happy, what’s not to like?! The setting of this novel is beautiful- the Northern Lights, the festive arctic circle environment, Christmas joy… I enjoyed that a lot of the book was about the women’s friendship and that took centre stage, with the romance a happy second. A lovely read that will make you feel warm and fuzzy- hopefully when you’re curled up cozily in your favourite reading spot.

What a lovely Christmas story!. Full of romance, excitement and drama!!. All in all, a great book to snuggle down with and read!. Highly recommend this
Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC book for an honest review.

Robyn lives in Lapland with husband Erik and they own a snow spa. She is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her niece Christy who she hasn’t seen for years following estrangement from Christy's mother Elizabeth, now deceased. Christy is married to Seb and they have a lively young daughter Holly. Seb claims he has to work and won’t make the holiday start date but will travel on in a few days time. A suspicious Christy decides to stay with Seb and arranges for her best friend Alix and Seb’s best friend Zac to go ahead as planned taking Holly with them and the couple will join them as soon as possible. The scene is set for confronting issues both in the past and in relationships against a backdrop of the festive season.

It has become a bit of a tradition with me to read a Sarah Morgan festive offering, though not always in August!!! She weaves a good yarn although I don’t find this one draws you in as immediately as previous books but once we’re in Lapland we’re off! The setting is the best part of the novel, it’s just wonderful as it evokes everything that makes Christmas magical. The snow spa is wonderful and enticing - when can I book??!! You have everything you associate such as dog sleds, the hot chocolate, the Aurora, the snow and cold, the hot chocolate, the food and obviously the hot chocolate! I really enjoy the inclusion and information about the traditions such as Falu Rödfärg, Falun Red the colour of houses in the far north of Sweden.

The novel has the right mix of complex relationships and confronting issues such as lack of communication, friendship, family and parenthood as with some characters it sure is a case of ‘they [mess] you up your mum and dad..’.. The ups and downs of marriage and so on is done well, with a lot of eggshell treading but as Christmas is, amongst other things, a time of reflection it leads to fences being mended. There are a lot of characters to get your head around which means that some are not as well developed as others though the four main ones are done well and Holly livens up the pages. You do feel some exasperation at the beginning of the book with both Alix and Christy but Lapland and Christmas work their magic!,

Once you get into this it’s an enjoyable read in the most enchanting of settings.

3.5 rounded up

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book particularly where it was set. I had the most magical time in Lapland and saw the Northern Lights and went on a husky ride and this captured the magic of all those things, as well as having a love story along side it all.

The Christmas escape is a perfect festive treat packed full of friendship, forgiveness and festive cheer! The perfect Christmassy setting of Lapland, snow, sledge rides, hot chocolate, forests of Christmas trees, wooden chalets, and to top it all off the Aurora borealis! What more could you want to get into the Christmas spirit?
Christie and husband seb need some time to themselves before going to Lapland to meet Christie’s estranged aunt, so they arrange for friends Alix and Zack to go on ahead with their daughter Holly, can the magical atmospheric
winter wonderland of Lapland work it’s magic on both couples so that previous misunderstandings and miscommunication can be resolved and a wonderful Christmas enjoyed by all?
A great festive read perfect for those pre Christmas wintery nights!
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.

DNF.
I Read 21% of the book and sorry to say this book is not for me, I found the characters extremely annoying in the sense of not being able to speak up for themselves, rather far fetched but this is only my opinion.

Having previously read several books by Sarah Morgan, I was looking forward to reading this one. Her characters are always well written, and become involved in intriguing stories.
Set in beautiful Lapland, the book opens with Robyn and her husband Erik hoping to welcome Christie (Robyn’s niece) and her family to spending Christmas with them. Told from several viewpoints, the book explores the complexity of relationships between partners and friends, especially when past disagreements lead to estrangement.
The story is told in a warm, welcoming way, and it’s entertaining reading how the relationships and friendships develop, set in a snowy Lapland Christmas setting. Sarah Morgan is expert at writing twisty, intriguing plots, and cleverly untangling them. You become absorbed in the characters and emotively involved. Holly, Christie’s young daughter, along with two gorgeous boisterous dogs bring lots of laughter to the scene.
Another winner from Sarah Morgan.

Love mid year Christmas reading. This book didn’t disappoint. Heartwarming and funny. Had me hooked from beginning to end. Not just for Xmas, but a definite all year round read.

A really enjoyable story with some good twists and sub plots running through the main story, all set in a beautiful backdrop

Sarah Morgan has brought Christmas to life in this wonderful, uplifting tale of friendship, forgiveness, relationships, family and CHRISTMAS IN SWEDISH LAPLAND! I absolutely adored this book, as I have all of Sarah Morgan’s other books - full of well written characters who, just like real life, are flawed. This is the perfect book to get you in the Christmas spirit and has made me want to visit Sweden at Christmas (or in fact at anytime, having been a huge ABBA fan, back in the day!)
So, I suggest you make a hot chocolate (complete with whipped cream and marshmallows), curl up in your favourite armchair with a blanket (and a cat if you’re me) and allow yourself to be transported to the land of the Swedish Arctic with snow, dog sleds, the aurora borealis and wooden cabins. Wonderful! Highly recommended……

I loved this more than I was expecting to. I wasn't enamoured with any of the characters to begin with but it quickly changed. Add in all the christmas descriptions and it became a book I couldn't put down. Really enjoyed it!

Review of The Christmas Escape by Sarah Morgan
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Sarah Morgan Christmas romance story. This story doesn't disappoint, another heartwarming story, this time set in the fantastic location of Lapland. The perfect book to add some festive magic to your Christmas reading. I thoughly enjoyed this read, and recommend it as the perfect escape from the Christmas madness.

Thank you Sarah Morgan for my fabulous trip to Lapland. This Christmas story has all the magic you need to transport you to the land of snow and the home of Father Christmas. The three women have all had family difficulties and have to work through friendship, doubts and feelings of guilt. As they spend Christmas together their problems are aired and a better future lies ahead.

A truly lovely Christmas book, well written and very enjoyable.

I love Sarah Morgan books, so to be able to grab an early Christmas one on netgalley was an absolute delight. I was totally absorbed into this book.To be visiting Lapland, a place I've always wanted to go but unabled to, whilst snuggled in my own home was a sheer pleasure. A wonderful and descriptively written story that I certainly recommend reading.

Christy always dreamed of an idyllic country life with her daughter and husband, Seb but the cottage they bought isn't living up to expectations and Seb is acting strangely distant and working late with unexpected meetings. Christy is starting to wonder if her best friend Alix's warnings about Seb were true. Christmas was always her favourite time of year and this year they were meant to be travelling to Lapland to visit her long lost Aunty and search for the Northern Lights but a crisis makes it seem an impossible dream. Lovely atmospheric seasonal story.

Classic festive lovely read from Sarah Morgan. She really makes you care about the characters so you’re cheering them on/have your face in your hands when they make mistakes.
Great little mystery teased throughout too. Definitely read if you’re after a cosy festive read

Sarah Morgan has penned another lovely book. I was given a review copy and despite it being a hot summer’s day when I read it, I was immediately transported to Lapland at Christmastime. A fine romance intertwined with the tale of a complex friendship that had altered since childhood. A most enjoyable read.