The Christmas Escape - Sarah Morgan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HQ I am leaving this review voluntarily

It was supposed to be Christy Sullivan’s 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.

Sarah Morgan has once again written a special Christmas novel. I have been looking forward to reading this ever since I saw the beautiful cover. Whilst reading this you will be magically whisked away to Lapland - I devoured this book curled up under a blanket and think that it was the perfect escape from the miserable day outside.

Rating 4/5

Yet another romantic page turner from Sarah Morgan - just the ticket to get you ready for Christmas! With the relationship tense between two best friends the story also focusses on their turbulent love lives and how a trip to Lapland can possibly turn them around.

Loved this book and can't recommend it more highly!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

What a wonderful Christmas story this is. Christy & Alix have been friends, like sisters even, since thee age of 8. Alix did not have a very happy family life. They always dreamed of spending Christmas in Lapland and this year they are finally going to do it. Christy's Mother had disowned her Sister Robyn years ago and there was never another mention of her. Christy eventually traced her Aunt , following her Mother's death , and this trip to a Lapland Resort she owned would reveal the reason why. Her relationship with Alix has changed in recent years. As Christy was about to Marry Seb after finding out she was pregnant after only knowing him a short time Alix warned her not to do it as she believed it would be a big mistake. When a problem arises Christy asks Alix to take her daughter Holly to Lapland as planned and her and Seb will follow I a few days. Alix is not aware that Zak, Seb's best friend will also be there. The story unfolds with a few twists and turns which kept me interested until the very last page. I highly recommend this book.

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗴𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴

A holiday to Lapland was supposed to be the perfect Christmas get away, but with a marriage in doubt, a family feud and a friendship on the rocks the tensions are high between the characters.

This book was slightly predictable but still perfectly enjoyable. I loved the character progression as they opened up and learnt more about each others feelings as well as accepting their own thoughts and emotions. A cold setting but a heartwarming festive read

This was my first Sarah Morgan book and although I read it in August it was such a fabulous Christmas Read.

Cleverly weaving together the lives of two sets of best friends, one estranged auntie and a little girl!

Sally beautifully set the scene and the descriptions of snowy lapland were mesmeric and as a grandma made me want to pay a visit to the hotel/spa with or without grandchildren - ok without would be perfect.

Families are not always the way we expect them to be and there are going to be difficulties, missunderstandings and fall outs. These were all dealt with in a very realistic manner and as you would expect there was a happy ending for all.

Beautifully written and quickly read which is always the sign of a great book.

I just reviewed The Christmas Escape by Sarah Morgan. #TheChristmasEscape #NetGalley

Perfect Christy and Workaholic Alix are like sisters and always spend Christmas together. This year, they are going on a magical trip to Lapland, where they will have to face their demons to get a Happy Ever After.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This narrative follows two very different women who have grown up as best-friends/sisters.
Their lives have changed, as Christy has got married, has a young child, and has moved to a picture-perfect cottage. And both Christy and Alix are struggling to work out how they now fit into each other's lives.

The trip to Lapland doesn't go to plan - Christy thinks that her husband may be cheating on her, and she decides to stay in the UK for a few extra days to discover more.
Feeling that she can't confide in the best friend who vocally disapproved of her husband from the beginning, Christy doesn't know what to do or how to fix things.

Alix agrees to take Christy's young daughter Holly to Lapland, to give her parents a chance to sort things out.
She's less-than-thrilled to learn that childcare duties will be shared with Zac, the handsome-but-annoying scientist that Alix has tried to avoid for years.

I really liked how this explored the nature of close, long-term friendships, and how they are forced to evolve as time goes on.
Both Christy and Alix are aware of (and are ignoring) the friction that is growing between them. As adults, they no longer fit as easily into each other's lives as they did as children.
Christy finds that the first person she wants to speak to about anything is now her husband, instead of Alix.
And Alix sees Christy's perfect life and finds it hard to relate. Christy has gone the traditional route - marriage, baby, quaint cottage - all the things that Alix isn't interested in. And Alix feels a little lost and left behind.

Out of the two relationships, I think I prefered following the progress of Christy and husband Seb, as they try and work out their issues. The pressure that they've been putting on themselves and each other, it all felt very realistic. They've been focussing so much on being a successful family and great parents to Holly, they've kinda lost themselves.

Alix and Zac make a great couple. Their scenes are always filled with a different type of tension, and it's a matter on when, not if. But whenever things slowed down, I was left a little cold. They'd already done their "big talk" and fallen for each other off-screen, which didn't leave much for this book; and just didn't make sense for the most part.

This book did have quite a few light and fluffy moments (mostly thanks to the wonderful Holly), but it broached some quite serious issues too.
At times, I felt that it was trying to cover too much at once, and I'm not sure they were adequately resolved within the book.

Really enjoyed this book and was just what I needed to read back in August. Yes ok, it was fairly predictable BUT it had some twists and I LOVED the book - hence the five stars! I would love to read more on Alice and Zac but the whole gang to be fair, especially if it continues in the winter wonderland that is Lapland.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an advanced copy!

THE CHRISTMAS ESCAPE by SARAH MORGAN.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #HQ for an ARC of #TheChristmasEscape by #SarahMorgan.

Firstly, what an utterly beautiful cover.

Secondly, what an utterly charming story.
Robyn and her husband Erik run a resort in Lapland. As Christmas is fast approaching, Robyn is anxious about the arrival of her niece and her family. After a fall out with her Sister years ago, Robyn has never had the opportunity to get to know Christy her niece. Now her sister has died, can the two women build a relationship or will the past stand in their way?
Christy is so excited about her Christmas trip, with her husband, daughter and best friend Alix. When things start to turn to custard, Christy is desperate to save her marriage, but she needs Alix to help her like she’s never helped her before.

Each chapter is written from one of the women’s point of view.
The story flows at a good pace and was easy to get in to.

Full of warmth and charm, this is a story of female friendships with some delicious romance thrown in.

I was hooked from page one by this delightful and empowering Christmas story.

Five gloriously feel good, festive stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to #Netgalley and #HQ for an ARC of #TheChristmasEscape by #SarahMorgan.

When Christy needs to focus on her marriage but has already committed to a family holiday to Lapland she asks her best friend to take her daughter for her. Childhood friends Alix and Christy have for a long time speculated the reasons why Christy's Mum and her sister were estranged and this holiday was a chance to meet Aunt Robyn and find out the reasons why. Christy's husband Seb has lost his job and tried to hide the fact so while they try to re-connect, Alix and Seb's friend Zac, attempt to keep live-wire/daredevil Holly alive long enough for them all to enjoy the holiday. Alix and Zac have some history and while Alix is desperate to keep him at arms length it appears that the snowy landscape and Christmas magic is melting her heart. A brilliant book with a few story lines that moves along at a pace - perfect for a cosy evening by the fire.

Christy & Seb fell in love, got married and had a child within such a short space of time that they never really had time to themselves. Christy is a listaholic and thrives on planning and schedules (she's absolutely a Virgo) but when a crisis befalls their marriage, they enlist the help of Christy's free-spirited friend Alix and Seb's friend Zac to help with their daughter Holly as they prepare to spend Christmas with Christy's estranged Aunt Robyn in Lapland. Alix and Zac have history - will they be able to put it behind them to look after Holly?

This is pure Christmas escapism. It's like one of those really good Hallmark Christmas Movies that I kick myself for not recording. Sarah Morgan knows what she's doing, having written dozens and dozens of romance books down through the last 20+ years - she's an expert at her craft and she's brilliant at these very sweet, romantic books with a little bit more depth and heart than others in the genre. This one is no different - we have the three different storylines running, with each person at the centre dealing with their own issues. Robyn is trying to make up for years of not being in Christy's life; Alix is struggling to open up to people because of her own upbringing, and Christy is only just realising that the high standards she sets for herself may be having a detrimental effect on those closest to her.

It's Christmassy, it's sweet, it's romantic, the child isn't super annoying, the romance is suitably steamy (not explicit, just hot) - if I had one qualm it would be that I'd have liked the men to have their own POVs, but they did have enough discussions with the female characters to get a good handle on where they were coming from. Loved this, pure Christmas warmth.

More please!

This book is like a warm hug from your best friend, it’s a wonderful tale of overcoming fears, self discovery and reconnecting. It’s idyllic, real and at times raw. The arctic backdrop sets the Christmassy scene whilst the characters take a long hard look at themselves, learn to forgive, learn to trust snd learn to love. It teaches you that by letting things fester, you’ll run the risk of destroying some of your closest bonds. It teaches you the importance of communication and balance. It’s an all round beautiful book with some laugh out loud and awww moments. I want me a Zac to be honest.

Thank you to HQ for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

This book is written from 3 POVs, Christy, Robyn and Alix. It was really interesting seeing the different thoughts of each of the characters on the different events in the book. I really liked all three women. Each had different stories on what made them the way they are. I honestly felt for all three of them once I heard their stories. I just wanted to hug them all.

There are many relationships in this book both romantic and familial. Alix and Christy are like sisters. They have such a close bond but have been too scared to tell each other the truth as they were afraid of losing each other. That made me really sad. These two have been through so much in their friendship that they should know their bond is unbreakable. I also really liked seeing Christy and Seb open up about their issues and feelings. It was so refreshing to see some honesty bringing them back together. Seeing Alix and Zac together was hilarious. It was so obvious that they should be together that I couldn't help but laugh at the pair.

Sarah's descriptions are so vivid. Lapland sounded beautiful. I am terrible in the cold so I am sure I would have frozen to death but it would have been worth it. Those cabins in that snow landscape and the northern lights. what a dream location. Recently I have read quite a few books with the Northern Lights in and I'd really love to see them one day. They sound so romantic.

If you're looking for a warm and cozy Christmas read then I'd recommend snuggling up with this one.

This was my first Sarah Morgan book and it will definitely not be my last. ⁣
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This book was such a wonderful Christmas themed book! With it's beautiful setting of snowy Lapland this book has you wanting to curl up under a blanket with a hot drink. ⁣
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This book was so much more then a Christmas book. It was about family, friendship and taking a risk in life. It looks at different family dynamics and dealing with the troubles that arise. ⁣
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Overall this is an amazing book for Christmas time and it's so easy to see why Sarah Morgan is such a loved author! I cannot wait to read more of her books!

I've just booked my flight to Lapland for Christmas! Wonderful read that makes snow seem to be the important part of any Christmas. Christ and Alix, childhood friends who have no secrets find that their relationship changes when Alix believes that Christy has married someone totally unsuitable for her. Christy likes to plan and has endless lists, Alix doesn't do relationships and has a high flying job with a toy manufactuer. Can a joint time away in Lapland sort out their differences and how their outlook on life as they deal with changes. Can they accept that relationships are precious but sometimes it isn't necessary to tell your best friend everything. By both letting their guard down can Alix find romance with Zac whom she has tried to avoid and can Christy after learning long buried family secrets learn to 'let go' before it's too late.

I would like to give The Christmas Escape 3.5 stars.

If you are looking for a cosy, romantic book to snuggle up with in the lead up to Christmas, then this is the book for you!

In The Christmas Escape, we meet Christy, her best friend Alix, and her Aunt Robyn, in a story which switches between the perspectives of each of the three women. Christy and Robyn haven’t seen each other since Christy was a baby. After a feud between Robyn and Christy’s mum – which Christy and Alix have only been able to speculate about – they have finally connected and arranged a Christmas trip of a lifetime – for Christy, her husband Seb and four-year old daughter Holly to go and stay with Robyn at her cabin hotel in Lapland.

But then cracks appear in Christy and Seb’s marriage and she is forced to stay behind in England for a few more days whilst she finds out what is going on. But she can’t let Holly down – so she makes arrangements for Alix to go ahead early and look after Holly.

Alix, meanwhile, is not used to looking after energy-filled and danger loving pre-schoolers! The independent ice queen also has a particular dislike for Seb’s best friend, Zac, who happens to have been drafted in for extra help in keeping Holly safe… How are they going to manage to look after Holly whilst also dealing with their frosty relationship, which got off to a bad start years ago when they first met the night before Christy and Seb’s wedding?

The story is full of mystery, Christmas magic, unexpected romance, revealed secrets, emotional reconnections and touching moments. A lovely heart-warming read to start the festive season!

I love reading Christmas books and after two dystopian novels on the go, this was especially welcome. A delightful story of best friends Alix and Christy, they are heading for some much needed clarity in their friendship and in their lives. I enjoyed Alix and Zac efforts to keep a boisterous 4 year old Holly alive before her parents Christy and Seb join them in Lapland. The setting was beautiful, the descriptions made it even more idyllic, the relationships were real with lots of thoughtful conversations. Lovely Christmas story.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was the second book by Sarah Morgan I have read and it has to be said that I am quite a fan of hers. Yet again she has written a truly festive and uplifting story that is sure to warm even the coldest of hearts.

First things first - the cover. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the cover is what first drew me in. Then imagine my excitement when I saw that it was a Sarah Morgan book. Instantly I knew that I needed to read this book.

You could put the Nothern Lights on absolutely anything and I would be interested in it. Pair that with a beautifully illustrated cover and I am sold. This cover screams cosy Christmas vibes and thankfully the story actually lived up to it.

As always Sarah has created a wonderful cast of characters that have a realness to them. The Christmas Escape has a different type of magic to it that really makes its characters and story jump off the pages. Everyone feels like a real person and by the end of the book you feel like you are a part of their little family.

Alix was a really interesting and great character. I actually wish that the book was told mostly from her perspective. She was very fun to read and she was the most complex character of the bunch. I understand that Christy was supposed to be the main character but Alix really did outshine her.

With that being said I did still enjoy Christy’s chapters as they were the most progressive storywise and I liked the speculation and drama that came with them. However, I didn’t like when Christy and her husband were in England and it would switch between perspectives. These parts did make the book lose some of its festive feelings, but there wouldn’t have been much of a plot without them I suppose.

The landscape for this book sounded absolutely stunning. There’s nothing more festive than Christmas in Lapland and I think this book capture that feeling very well. The cabins they stayed in sounded so cosy and wonderful that I couldn’t help feeling festive at the time of reading (which was during October!).

I absolutely adore the fact that this isn’t your classic ‘girl loves Christmas, boy hates it and she has to try and change his mind’ festive romance. I’m growing very tired of reading the same plotlines in these types of books and enjoyed the refreshing real storyline that The Christmas Escape provided. Not a grinch in sight.

The Christmas Escape has definitely been one of my favourite festive novels I have read so far. With interesting characters and a solid storyline that had its moments of both drama and fluffy Christmas wonderfulness, it is a standout book in a genre that is often oversaturated with two-dimensional characters and flat storytelling.

I know that I am in for a treat when I pick up a book by Sarah Morgan. She is my go-to author for feel-good fiction and I always enjoy her books. Having read several now, I was excited for this new Christmas tale. And it definitely did not disappoint!

Not only do Christy and Alix have romance issues, but friendship is clearly being tested. Despite being friends since they were children, both women have noticed that things are not what they used to be: with-holding personal details and not indulging in secrets, both Alix and Christy feel increasingly detached from one another. The Lapland trip promises magic for Christy’s daughter, but when her husband, Seb, cannot make it from day one, Christy asks her best friend to babysit for a few days. This leads Christy discovering important home-truths about herself and her marriage, whilst Alix also experiences the ‘Lapland effect’ and realises that her current way of life is not as satisfying as she portrays.

The theme of family connections runs throughout this book. Heading to Lapland gives Christy the opportunity to reconnect with her estranged aunt. It’s a daunting time, especially as Christy and her friend have predicted many outrageous reasons as to why Christy’s mother never acknowledged Robyn. Yet, the warm welcome that Robyn provides and the ensuing revealing conversation between the two, demonstrates the importance of love and family. Christy and Robyn have to move past the estrangement, and building bridges is a parallel that is reflected in Christy and Alix’s friendship. Both women do not realise how their behaviour is impacting the other – an honest conversation is well-overdue! Although this leads to pain and sorrow, it was nice to see them moving through it and to a stronger connection afterwards. The parallels between the characters show how even the closest of connections can come under strain when communication is not always honest.

This is a delightful Christmas book, made even better with the setting. Huskies, hot chocolate and buckets of snow, Lapland enticed me into this book even more. Although I really enjoyed the plot development, I thought Morgan’s portrayal of the setting added to the cosiness of this story. The descriptions of the woodland, the northern lights, the cabins… it made me envious about Christy’s festive holiday. It was all so vivid that I could easily picture being snuggled up in one of Robyn’s delightful cabins and watching the stars overhead.

Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, if you have yet to discover her writing, then give this one a go! It is a sweet, innocent story that is a match made with Christmas-time: it would make the perfect Christmas Eve read. There is so much love in these pages and such a positive vibe, that I think it would even cheer up the grumpiest of festive scrooges!

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having a Sarah Morgan Christmas book is like hanging a stocking on the fireplace, you know that it is going to be filled with loads of little surprises. The Christmas Escape is no exception, it is the perfect curl up and get cosy read. I love how she can make me instantly uncontrollably laugh, give me goosebumps and make my tummy do summersaults’ all on the same page.

Christmas is a time for families to get together, but Christy’s mum had passed away, so she reached out to her mum’s estranged sister in Lapland. Christy couldn’t even remember her aunt. She was over the moon when the family got an invite to go and stay for Christmas at her auntie’s spa. Christy is married and has a young daughter Holly, and an amazing very single best friend Alix. Alix works for a top toy manufacturer and could sell snow to Laplanders, she is funny, a faithful friend, and utterly scared of relationships with men.

When Christy husband tells her that it will be a few days before he can join them in Lapland, Christy thinks their marriage is in trouble and asks Alix to take Holly to Lapland ahead of them. The only problem is that one of Seb’s friends, Zac. (A little swoon here and a bit of a hot flush) and Alix has a bit of a track record, perhaps not so much of a track record, more of a starting block hiccup that failed. They are a little like fire and water, total opposites, but when they come together they don’t half get steamy!

Oh wow, oh wow! I laughed so much reading this book and have been left with best friend envy because everybody needs an Alix in their lives. The scene is pure perfection, from the cabin to the reindeer. On some pages, I wished I was there and on others felt that I was. Holly is so sweet and what Christmas is about with her innocent, say it how it is honesty and the magic of Santa. It makes you want to reach out to family you haven’t seen in ages, forgive and forget. What an amazing read this is, I am still on a high. Love it, Love it.

I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
This book is set in the run up to Christmas, and the descriptions of cold and snowy Lapland and the activities undertaken by the families make the reader feel suitably 'Christmassy'. However, the book is mostly about friendship and family, and how characters with different beliefs, values, expectations and experiences can be disparate or work together within their relationship. I think there's probably a little of at least one of the characters in each of us or someone we know. Christmas is not the main focus of the story so I have given it 4 stars instead of 5, but it is well-written and illuminating, a very enjoyable book.