A heartwarming, uplifting book set in Lapland. The story is based around two very different friends Alix and Christy, her husband Seb and their daughter Holly, Sebs best friend Zac and Christy’s estranged Aunt. The characters are easy to warm to and like. There are some nice moments and a happy ending.
I loved this story and I found it perfect to curl up with on these cold December nights on the lead up to Christmas.

A. fantastic romantic read. Full of winter festive magic. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

Sarah Morgan has done it again - this is a lovely, comforting read that you can lose yourself in at Christmas. It tells the story of 3 women: Christy who has the perfect husband, the perfect daughter and the perfect cottage, but with the latter literally crumbling around her, it sparks off a big reality check for Christy; her best friend Alix who claims she is terrible at relationships and when she is forced to look at awkward incidents in her past (including with the handsome Zac) she has her own truths to face; and Christy’s Aunt Robyn who she hasn’t seen since she was 3 years old…why did Robyn fall out with Christy’s mother? This is all set against the backdrop of Christmas and a dream trip to Lapland, which is where Robyn now lives and runs a remote retreat with her partner Erik.

As ever with Morgan’s books, there are twists and turns along the way, most of which you can see coming, but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the book. I’m sure fans will love this and I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting an easy read at this festive time of year.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I read A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan last year and loved it so I had high hopes for this one but for me there was something missing?

There was a lot of dialogue and I thought the book was going to be a bit more Christmassy and more focused on the auntie/niece storyline but for me that didn’t seem to be the focus of most of the book?

Still a great winter read, I think I just hyped it up for myself a wee bit too much.

A lovely festive read to keep you warm on a cold winters evening. The love story between Alix and Zac is wonderful, and all the other secondary characters just make this a really heartwarming, fun read. I would recommend this for something light and festive over the Christmas break. Lapland is such a fab setting too.

The Christmas Escape is a delightful story, set against the stunning backdrop of the Lapland countryside. The main characters, Alix and Zac, have very different attitudes to snow and the outdoors. This leads to many misunderstandings and amusing antics as the pair fight, work together and ultimately fall in love.

As an added element, the secondary characters have their own storylines running alongside Alix and Zac. With Christy’s anxiety and concerns over her husband Seb’s behaviour, and her growing relationship with Aunt Robyn, who she hasn’t met since Robyn and her Mum had a falling out when Christy was a small child. All of this adds depth to the plot and help it all tick along nicely.

A great book, and one ideal for reading on a cold winter’s night.

Great festive read.

The descriptions of Lapland In all its shimmery/snowy loveliness, was so good, I felt like I was there.

I love the relationship dynamics and ups and downs they each go through because its gives it a bit move of a realistic spin, life isn't always peachy.

I loved the friendship between Chrissy and Alix. It is so relatable. Friendships have ups and downs but the true ones always work through stuff both easy and hard.

I like the visit the Alix and Zac make. Its really Christmassy.

I absolutely love the festive deal to this story and its so heartwarming. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Although the set up of the Sarah Morgan christmas books are a little formulaic, there’s still nothing better than a easy-to-read, heartwarming festive tale in the lead up to Christmas.

I love a good hallmark Christmas movie, and these books remind me of them. They are a little predictable, but sometimes predictability is a good thing. When I pick up one of these books I know that I am getting a story full of heart. They’ll be about friendship, love and family. And I just know that it’s going to give me the ‘warm by the fireplace’ cosy festive vibes that I love so much in those movies too.

This is the third Sarah Morgan Christmas book I have read now, and I am not hating that this is starting to become a bit of a Christmas tradition for me. I have never been a big seasonal reader, but picking up one of these books definitely makes me feel all Christmasy. Especially when I read this curled up under a blanket next to our Christmas tree.

The Christmas Escape follows three main characters, Alix, a single woman who works with toys, Christy who’s married with a young child, and Robyn, Christy’s ‘rebel’ aunt. Christy and Alix are both really well rounded characters, they have strong personalities and fantastic backstories as well. Plus I loved their dynamic together, and watching them work through the problems in their friendship. We didn’t see as much of Robyn although she did have a few chapters of her own. However she too was well written, and her backstory was even more interesting, and her story was the main mystery in this book.

Although there is only a small cast of characters in this book, I felt that they all came across really well. And that I found myself attached to all of them and absorbed into their personal dramas.

I also want to mention how stunning and engrossing the descriptions of the Lapland landscape were too. The scenery, especially how Sarah described the Northern Lights, sounded incredible, very cold, but beautiful!

SUMMARY

If you are looking for something light-hearted and easy to read but a book that has depth too, then this could be for you. It’s got drama, romance and strong themes of friendship and family, plus it’s set in stunning Lapland. It’s a true winter warmer, and the perfect book to get you in the mood for the festive season.

Christy and Alix have been friends forever, sisters really, but recently they have begun to drift apart. When Chisty's concerns about her marriage get in the way of her perfect family Christmas in Swedish Lapland (to the resort of her estranged Aunt Robyn), she sends Alix on the trip, ahead of her and her husband, with their friend Zac...whom Alix doesn't like...and gives them full responsibility for their lovely daughter Holly.

This book is perfect Christmas reading;Sarah Morgan has brilliant skill for creating characters who become your friends and for setting the best scenery; I felt like I was in Lapland seeing the Northern Lights and sipping hot chocolate with them.

It has everything you want in a Christmas book; romance, conflict resolution, snow, log cabins surrounded by trees, all the hot chocolate you could ask for, mystery and fun.

Sarah's Christmas novels are quickly becoming one of my Christmas highlights and definite must reads!

I simply love books from Sarah Morgan. She creates such beautifully developed, and quite often flawed, characters who the reader is almost immediately drawn to. The Christmas Escape ticks all of the usual boxes, but for me, this is her best yet. I certainly ended the book feeling as though I had visited Lapland, been on a dog sleigh and marvelled at the Northern Lights.
The story opens with Robyn, Christy’s aunt getting excited about a visit from Christy, her family, and friend. Robyn lives in Swedish Lapland and hosts a small number of luxury cabins. Robyn is thrilled about the visit as she’s not seen Christy since she was very young as she became estranged nearly 30 years ago, and nobody knows why.
Christy’s friendship with Alix, had been perfect, right up until she married Seb. Alix didn’t approve and was unable to keep her thoughts to herself. 5 years later, she still has strong opinions and risks everything by voicing them. As a crisis arises in her marriage, Christy needs to put all her focus on Seb and asks Alix to escort their daughter, Holly, on the Lapland trip. Her plan is to follow in a few days. What she doesn’t tell Alix is that Seb’s oldest friend Zac will also accompany Holly. Alix and Zac have a history which could tear the trip apart.
This story builds beautifully, and the varying secrets are revealed as the layers are peeled back. I found myself invested in the outcome and hoping for a happy ending. I am delighted to say that Sarah Morgan delivered, but she made me work for my joy. The friendship between Alix and Christy is tested to breaking point, whilst Alix and Zac are forced to face up to their own complex relationship. The author’s understanding of the challenges that we face when we complicate our lives and loves with friends and family, made for a wonderful read, filled with emotional twists and turns.
I’d be hard pressed to pick a favourite character, but I always like to try. On this occasion, it would have to be the combination of Robyn and Holly. Starved of familial affection for decades, Holly’s lust for life, her ability to sniff out danger, and her general tomboy persona, are the perfect gift for Robyn. The pair strike up a relationship that would be expected of a grandparent connection.
I certainly recommend that you wrap up warm and escape to Lapland.

The Christmas escape is set mostly in Lapland. It is told from the perspectives of Robyn, Christy and Alix. Three women who are trying to protect themselves and reconnect with family.

Robyn is the rebel aunt of Christy who she has not seen since she was 3. Alix and Christy are best friends who spent years trying to work out why Robyn was banished by christy’s mother.

Robyn now lives in Lapland and Christy has decided to reach out and meet her. They are taking her daughter Holly for the perfect Christmas.

The tale is full of love, friendship, family, heart-ache and learning to trust. The book reminds us how important it is to be honest, to take risks and to forgive.

My favourite part of the story is that of Alix and Zac who have a love hate relationship.

A feel good festive read that's set under the Northern Lights. The story explores relationships between friends, spouses and family while also squeezing in a couple of love stories too. An easy read to escape into!

The Christmas Escape by Sarah Morgan is a lovely December read. Christy and her husband Seb have what appears to be the perfect life with their daughter. Alix - Christy's best friend and single workaholic - is spending Christmas with them in Lapland, visiting Robyn, Christy's black sheep of the family Aunt. A family crisis means Christy asks Alix to take her daughter to Lapland ahead of them and sends Zac to help her. As the story unfolds friendships and relationships are tested and family myths are unpicked in the magical environment of Lapland. Definitely one for Sarah Morgan fans!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review. I found it a very nice, cosy read, with characters that I really liked and an easy, flowing style. This isn’t my usual type of book but I have enjoyed snuggling up and getting into it. I’d definitely read more books from this author. Thanks 😊
#Netgalley #TheChristmasEscape

Oh how much I loved this story. The Christmas Escape has the perfect balance between friends, family and intimate relationships.

For me, no-one quite writes about emotional connections like Sarah Morgan! She really knows what makes us tick and what’s going on under the surface. Her character’s relationships always make me feel … a lot!

Each character narrates giving us a deeper understanding of who they are, how they’re connected and how their needs have evolved.

We’re straight into pain and anguish through Robyn. Now living and working in Lapland, there’s much for her to discover and share with her niece Christy. My heart ached for her.

30 year old Christy is living the dream in a cottage in the country but is it as idyllic as it looks? She’s had major life changes and her husband Seb has been keeping something from her. Their daughter Holly is a whirlwind 🙂 I could feel her energy sparking off the page.

Chrisy’s best friend Alix lives in New York. Their friendship has changed and Alix feels excluded from the closeness they once shared.

Then there’s Zak. I loved how he kept pushing Alix out of her comfort zone emotionally and their connection really is sizzling!

All of these connections totally wrapped me up.

Childhood experiences and authority figures give us rules to live by as adults. Not necessarily how we should be living our lives though …

There’s probably no need to say this but the setting in Lapland is amazing. I was there experiencing everything the characters did.

What I realised in The Christmas Escape is it’s those smaller ripples that sneak into your heart. I’ve cried, laughed and smiled. Perfect.

This is one story I am going to be re-reading every Christmas. It should be a movie!

Oh Sarah does it again!

I have read every single one of Sarah's Christmas stories and I am amazed at her ability to delve so deep into human relationships. I feel I am part of the relationships and the characters' lives because she does a brilliant job of fleshing out her characters.

Loved the atmosphere as well. Bravo!

"The Christmas Escape" is another great Christmas novel from Sarah Morgan, this time set mainly in Swedish Lapland. At the heart of the story are Christy and Seb and their tomboy daughter Holly. They are going on the holiday of a lifetime to meet Christy's aunt who runs a Swedish mini-resort with her husband. Also along for the ride are Christy's BFF Alix and Seb's best man Zac. The story involves dysfunctional families, friendship, love, misunderstandings and a group of people discovering what is really important in their lives. A lovely, seasonal, heart-warming tale.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

What a beautiful book 🥰 I absolutely loved Christy and Alix, individually and their friendship. Such a beauty setting throughout but I mean Lapland?! I literally visualised sooo much throughout reading this and I now want to go!!

There is quite a few things going on that doesn’t come out until later, but I personally loved the process of it all. Re-building relationships, creating new ones etc. I wasn’t disappointed with the Christmas feels. Although, I was happy because sometimes with Xmas books I worry they’ll be OTT (I’m still a newbie with seasonal books) but this was just the right amount 💕

The story follows Christy who has organised the perfect Christmas getaway with her family to Lapland to visit her aunt. When Christy faces a marriage crisis, she needs time alone with her husband and asks her best friend Alix to take her daughter to Lapland first, and they will reunite for Christmas day. There’s nothing Alix won’t do to help her friend, so she agrees unaware that her arch nemesis from her past, Zac, is going along too.
This is my first Sarah Morgan book and I really enjoyed it! It is a perfect cosy Christmas read. A story of friendship, family and even a romance. It is heart-warming and sweet and had a good balance of portraying complex relationships with a Christmassy backdrop. The story is split from the perspectives of Christy and Alix which made for great character development and quick reading.
The Lapland getaway sounded amazing, I desperately wanted to be there in front of a fire with hot chocolate. Get this on your holiday list!
I can’t wait for Sarah’s next book which is also on my December list.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I'm sorry for the late review, life's been a bit crazy this fall.

I have read several of Sarah Morgan's books about Christmas and enjoyed them a lot but this one I couldn't finish. I didn't connect with any of the characters because I found them rather irritating and sometimes stupid.