As usual Morgan has released a festive read that gives you the warm and cosies. The setting of lapland couldn't be more beautifully described- I wish I were really there.
The characters, as always were likeable and each of their connections were strong and believable. I enjoyed the exploration of a storyline not just of a romantic love, but the strong love between friends and siblings- and how even those relationships face hurdles that need to be overcome. The biggest point that resonates in this storyline is the importance, also, of self love and communication of emotions- something that is extremely prevalent in today's society.
I couldn't recommend this enough.

Not my usual genre to go to but I wanted to try something different especially at this time time year. Sarah Morgan has high praise for her writing so I was excited to try this book!
Overall I enjoyed the book, the magical setting of Lapland. There are family issues to soft through and sort out and it reminds you how easy it can be for things to get so far when in reality they could be settled sooner and earlier.
Obviously as Christmas novels go there's an element of predictability which I don't mind at all, much like watching Christmas films!
Only thing I found was some of the characters, actually most of them, were not easy to like. The main character was the easiest by far but the others I struggled to care much about!

Overall I would recommend for a light easy read.

Well I really loved this book. I really enjoyed the main characters and totally understood the need for out right open communication. I enjoyed Alix and Zac’s blossoming relationship and, although I found Christy and Seb annoying at the start, I warmed to them as the book went on. I loved the setting of the book and can only dream of gazing at the stars with a loved one in such a setting.

This was my first Sarah Morgan book, but unfortunately it wasn't a great introduction. I found the characters, especially Christy, really difficult to read and enjoy. I felt as well, there were too many narratives to follow here, which was at times a little confusing. I didn't think Robyn's narrative voice was particularly necessary.

There is a lot of miscommunication in this book, and a lot of heartache and issues that could have easily been settled by sitting down together and having a conversation.

I love a book with a sense of travel, and seeing the action from Lapland was wonderful. The setting would make this a great Hallmark Christmas movie.

A book about cheating and workaholic husbands is not the Christmassy feel I want, so this Christmas novel missed the mark for me.

The Christmas Escape by Sarah Morgan This is another NetGalley read and I chose this book because I am a fan of the author. The main character Christy has planned the perfect Christmas escape to Lapland for her family and best friend Alix. Christy has planned it down to the last detail like she does with every part of her life but she didn’t plan for a bump in the road with her marriage and relationship with her best friend Alix. The story tells off mending relationships and secrets revealed. I love Sarah Morgan books and looked forward to reading this however I was sadly disappointed with this book. Sadly the best way I can describe this is bland. If you love a good Christmas read, we all know it’s going to be predictable in some shape or form (a bit like a channel five Christmas film!), you know what your getting before you start, but that’s ok because there are some that still have that air of magic about them, some that seem to capture that Christmas magic… sadly this isn’t the case with this one. the Christmas Escape feels like a well over done plot line, the magic of Christmas and a beautiful setting of Lapland unfortunately doesn’t seem to jump from the pages and actually the writing doesn’t do Lapland the justice in its descriptions. I have sadly read better Christmas books and also better from this author. The characters aren’t stand out even that of Christy, who probably is the main character. I found the character of Alix quite immature, selfish and annoying in places. Robyn, Christy’s auntie that she can’t remember meeting but who they are visiting in Lapland, felt like a convenient character, put in place so there was a reason why Christy was visiting Lapland. Robyn does hold a secret as to why she was estranged from Christys mum, however that wasn’t really a wow moment or a shock as to the reason behind that. I also find it hard not liking a book, because as I’ve said many times, the author as worked hard to write it, however for me this book just wasn’t enjoyable. However I have heard a lot of positive things about it.
I think there a better books written by this author, so perhaps if you are new to reading books by this author don’t start with this one. I won’t be recommending it to friends and family, there are definitely in my opinion better Christmas books out there, that will undoubtedly give you the Christmas feels.

Set against a gorgeous wintry background of Lapland and the Northern lights. this story takes us on a journey through several intertwined relations in need of repair and care. A family trauma from the past, a fragile friendship, and a marriage in trouble. There are deep feelings and emotions explored, as well as some fun moments. A lovely tale.

I love a Christmas book and this one just screams festive escapism!!! I loved the Lapland setting - what a perfect place to be at Christmas. I really liked the two main female characters and their loyal friendship. It really struck a cord with me. How motherhood can shake friendships and how important it is to not take it for granted. I also LOVE me some romance!!! This is full to the brim of sparkling love and lust. This book transported me into a beautiful world of snowy backdrops, romance and festive fun. Highly recommend if you love a Christmas read.

I didn't want this book to end! I wanted to know what happens! A great story about friends, family and how important it is to talk to each other; The main part of the story happens in a part of the world that most people know very little about, now I want to go there for Christmas too! Lapland sounds very enticing. but I'd want to stay at Robyn and Eric's guest cottages. Made me feel Christmassy and is spurring me on to start the decorating of our home and look forward to my family and friends getting together.

DNF at 48%

I tried to push on with this one but I just found the story, and all of the characters extremely irritating. The language used at times was off, ie constantly referring to Holly as the child which was just weird.

I didn't connect with Christy, her need to be just so was like something out of the 50's and I could see why her husband was driven demented by her need for perfection. Robyn, despite her apparent desperation to reconnect with her family was wooden, and don't get me started on Alix- the lady doth protest too much.

Unfortunately not for me.

You know it's nearly Christmas when Sarah Morgan releases a book with a festive cover and they are always ones to curl up with a hot chocolate for pure escapism. This one lives up to the high expectations set from the releases in the previous years and oozes the Christmas spirit with reindeer, Northern lights and romance. It's a joy to read.

The Christmas chick lit market is a saturated market these days. And this particular chick lit Christmas book didn’t do it for me. I am DNFing it for being too depressing. I only got 10% in but this one isn’t for me - it’s depressing to read about cheating husbands and workaholics at Christmas. That is not what I pick a Christmas read up for. I want fun easy escapism. I’ll try one of the many other Christmas reads out there instead.

For some reason I associate Sarah Morgan with holiday romance, even though it seems she’s written far more other books than those falling into that subgenre. That being said, it was way past time I tried one of her Christmas novels. Plus, the blurb for this particular new release appealed to me, both in terms of the setting and the brief character glimpses it gives us. Christy and Alix have been friends forever, even though their lives have taken very different paths, with Christy now living in a dilapidated country cottage with her husband and small child and Alix happily free and single with a high-flying international career and a fancy London apartment. Now they’re planning a family holiday together, staying at the Lapland resort run by Christy’s estranged aunt and her partner. Things start to go wrong before they even set off, however.

Christy discovers that her husband, Seb, has been keeping a secret from her and really needs her support to deal with the issues he’s been hiding. Her solution is to pack her daughter and Alix off ahead of them, accompanied by Seb‘s best friend, Zac. Christy knows that Alix and Zac have had disagreements in the past, but believes they can overcome these through their shared love of Christy’s daughter. Alix is not pleased to be asked to babysit at the last minute and even less pleased that Zac is coming on holiday with them. Their history is far more complex than Christy suspects. Meanwhile, Christy’s aunt is disappointed not to have as much time with her niece as she’d hoped, but quickly adapts to having plenty of time with her other guests, laying on activities she expects her great-niece to enjoy and giving the two adults the alone time she thinks they will also need – mistaking them for a couple.

Needless to say, Zac and Alix grow closer and start to work through their issues, while Christy and Seb figure out theirs. Sadly, we don’t see nearly enough of the older couple and get no real insights into what any of the men are thinking. On the other hand, we do see plenty of female friendship moments, both between Christy and Alix in the present and in the flashbacks to their growing up together. I also enjoyed finding out about the relationship between Christy’s mother and aunt and the childhood problems that eventually caused such close sisters to never speak to each other again.

Overall, though, the book was a bit of a disappointment. I found it difficult to believe that Christy had no knowledge of her husband’s professional issues, given that she was running a business as a freelancer and should have been on top of both her own and their joint finances. The big problems in their marriage come down to communication and could have been solved by one of them just asking the other more about what they’d been doing in their working day. Not an author I’ll be revisiting any time soon.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I’m not sure if I’m just not feeling christmassey yet but I didn’t love this as much as I have done Sarah’s previous Christmas books.
The setting was gorgeous and the characters all complex and finding themselves which is a trait of Sarah’s that I like! However, I just found it a bit repetitive and some of the narrative was unnecessary. Overall it was good but just didn’t grip me unfortunately.

My first Christmas romantic read of the season and from author Sarah Morgan I know what to expect: a dreamy location, authentic characters, strong plot and lashings of feel good christmas scenes. Alix and Christy have been best friends since their childhood. Christy is invited on a trip of a lifetime to Lapland for Christmas by her estranged aunt. Along with daughter Holly and hubby Seb - with Alix in tow - they're supposed to enjoy a Christmas fairy tale come true. Except of course that it doesn't quite work out like that. When Christy's marriage hits crisis mode and Alix is forced to go ahead early with Holly she does so (to her horror!) with Seb's best friend Zac. Someone she might know (on a love to hate basis) rather well.... While away Alix and Christy's friendship is put to the test over secrets they've both held on to and words exchanged on Christy's wedding night that, five years on, neither of them have ever forgotten.
I really enjoyed The Christmas Escape, Holly is utterly adorable and some of the exchanges between Zac and Alix made me laugh out loud. At the heart of the novel is the relationship between Alix and Christy and how it changed when Christy got married (and fell pregnant) - changes they didn't address which impact on so many female friendships. I loved it and heartily recommend.

Gives an insight into the effect of marriage on friendships, from being a person's go to to discuss problems, to being second in line. Alix has always thought Christy made a mistake in marrying Seb. Their friendship has suffered. Will a trip to Lapland mend it? Hard to put down, set in beautiful scenery, I really enjoyed this perfect read for a cold winter's day.

Another great festive read from Sarah Morgan, The Christmas Escape delved in to friendships and relationships in equal measure. The friendship between Christy and Alice is strong but has some issues that need ironing out, similar to Christy’s marriage to Seb. I loved that the book was set mostly in Lapland and enjoyed the writing. I wouldn’t say it was my favourite Sarah Morgan book, I usually find I can’t put her books down but this time I wasn’t pulled in as much. Glad I read it though and definitely worth a read.

I love Sarah Morgans books. I didn't warm to this book as much as I have her previous ones but it was still a lovely read.

She has a way of making you feel like you are where she is writing about and makes you want to immediately visit those places.

Her writing style is easy and heartwarming and are great for a cosy afternoon of reading. This book is filled with emotion and is a lovely book to get you into the festive spirit.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sarah Morgan is completely reliable and this is no exception, easy reading romance with a lovely setting. What's not to like!

Christy and Alix have been friends since childhood, and Christy has planned her perfect Christmas getaway—a trip to Lapland with her family and best friend, Alix. But facing a make-or-break marriage crisis, Christy desperately needs time alone with her husband. Her solution? Alix can take Christy’s little daughter to Lapland, and they will reunite there for Christmas Day. It’s a big ask, but what else are friends for?

There’s nothing Alix won’t do for Christy. But Christy’s request to save Christmas is giving Alix sleepless nights. She knows something is wrong, but for the first time ever, Christy isn’t talking. And even the Arctic temperatures in Lapland aren’t enough to dampen the seriously inconvenient sizzle Alix is developing for Zac, a fellow guest and nemesis from her past.

Who doesn’t dream of spending Christmas in Lapland with endless supplies of hot chocolate, sledge rides and views of the Northern lights? Well, if you can’t get to the Arctic this year, grab a copy of this book and you will have a trip there without having to do a PCR test!

The characters are truly believable…dare I say it, but five year old Holly drove me nuts on occasions (!) and although you will have a pretty good idea of where the story is going to go, its still so warm and lovely – this is a hug between a book cover.

So grab a mug of hot chocolate (with whipped cream and marshmallows – of course!) and snuggle up on the sofa and escape to a wonderfully festive place with Christy, Alix, Seb, Zac, Holly, Robyn and Erik who will make you feel so welcome in their cosy cabins in the woods.

A great Sarah Morgan read as ever, but this is more focused on fixing relationships than it is Christmas, it’s not a criticism, just a point for anyone wanting a big Christmas focused story. I absolutely loved this as always with Sarah it’s fun, light and easy to read, perfect escapism and delightful characters.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion