Member Reviews
Good book. I would Buy another book by this author. I connected with the characters and plot. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This author was new to me, and I am very impressed by her writing: the story was good, her characters were interesting and realistic and I thought she conveyed feelings and emotions around sensitive subjects (bipolar disorder and the death of an adult child) very well. The story is contemporary and enormously Christmassy with activities, food, the weather and lots and lots of hot chocolate creating the atmosphere. I think this is one of the best Christmas stories I've read and I'm now following this author.
Meredith wasn’t looking for love or romance. She was overworked, stressed, and had no time to play.
The survival of her mom’s business depends on the success of the job she was sent to Brighton to do. No matter how hard she worked, Christmas and Cupid kept butting in with their charm.
It was a sweet and delightful story with a heartwrenching topic of mental illness.
Enjoyable story about finding trust and love when you least expect it.
In true Hallmark-y fashion, city girl goes small town and finds love.
But it is more than that. It deals with issues such a mental health and the effects is has on not just the person with the disorder but those around them.
And you can't help but adore the locals in Brighton, NH. Yes, they may be nosey and intrusive, but they are also full of care and are inclusive.
Meredith and Aaron have such opposing views on life, but that is what makes them work.
I have not read the first in the Brighton Village series, but I would read more in the future.
Christmas in Brighton is a heart-warming novel. It is a fast read that is cozy and comforting. The characters are well-written and engaging. The topic of mental illness is a difficult one, However, this book pulled me in...a sweet story.
Meredith wasn’t looking for love or romance. She was overworked, stressed, and had no time to play. The survival of her mom’s business depends on the success of the job she was sent to Brighton to do. No matter how hard she worked, Christmas and Cupid kept butting in with their charm. It was a sweet and delightful story with a heartwrenching topic of mental illness.
I didn't get to read this one due to a pressure of work. However, it seems to be a title I will watch out for as I like what I saw and would be interested in the topic. I also like the cover image.
Ooooh, the first chapter of Christmas in Brighton by Sylvie Kurtz was a hurdle, but once I got past it, it is a good story. I can relate to having to put your life on hold to care for your mother, so, yes, I liked the story.
Thank you for letting me review this book.
Me costó terminar el primer capítulo de Christmas in Brighton por Sylvie Kurtz, pero ya pasándolo, la historia es interesante y diferente, ya que presenta la lucha y el esfuerzo de una hija cuidando de una madre con desorden bipolar.
Gracias por la oportunidad.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cozy, heartwarming book that I enjoyed a lot!
Christmas in Brighton was a really fun holiday read, but it also tackled some serious, real life issues especially amongst some of the women characters. A pop up Christmas village sounds delightful and in line with a charming Hallmark-esque town (I'd love nothing more than to visit this fictional town IRL). Yes, Brighton is in New England, not England! Merry's life has been filled with ups and downs that make settling down and having fun seem impossible, but Aaron Carpenter has a way of making her see things in a different light, despite her resistance. There was plenty of chaos, but also plenty of laughs and good times. Elana and Marlie, the Cavalier therapy pup, really brought to life the challenges that depression/anxiety have on everyone and how sometimes just taking the time to pet a pup can help ease the pain and despair and make you feel less alone in the world!
I truly didn't want the book to end. I'm hopeful for more books from Kurtz that take place in the lovely town of Brighton Village. For now I'll have to settle for reading book 1 in the series!
Christmas in Brighton is a heart-warming novel. It is a fast read that is cozy and comforting. The characters are well-written and engaging.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Such a sweet story about being strong, yet loyal, and finding how to be true to yourself. An easy read with good flow. Loved it!
This was a quick, heartwarming read. I very much enjoyed it. I hope to read many more from this author. The characters dealt with some serious issues and I found it intriguing to learn a little more about bi-polar disorder and depression. I definitely recommend this author and this book.
The beautiful cover of this novel immediately caught my attention. The story pulled me in, especially after the protagonist, Meredith Mills reached Brighton, NH, and met Elana, owner of Fisher Camp Lodge and a grieving mother; and her therapy dog, sweet Markie. The town is reminiscent of those in a Hallmark Christmas Movie with a castle, carousel, ice skating, tree lighting, and winter festivities. Handsome Aaron Carpenter portrays a gentleman hero who shows Meredith the sparkling town sights, and captures her heart. I highly recommend as a sweet romance and a lovely Christmas story.
I honestly reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I love Christmas so was always happy to get a Christmas themes book to read and review. And this one is one of those curl up by the fire with a hot cocoa and read sort of book.
It had characters with different personalities and problems, it had some romance, it had that cute holiday small town vibe and it had a few twists and turns.
I enjoyed it, found it to be a great holiday read but did find it a little bit slow. All in all a nice book to read but not overly exciting for me and my tastes.
Christmas in Brighton by Sylvie Kurtz is a satisfying Christmas novel which includes a romance, mother-daughter issues and lots of Christmas cheer... What more can you want?
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this story about Meredith and her mother who is bipolar. How Meredith has centered her whole life around keeping her mom in her happy space so they didn't have to move around. They live in Boston. She runs a place called Dream vacation and has a boyfriend. She asks Merry to go to Brighton a couple hours away.for their Christmas festival of live and write blogs for her web site and for the town's web site to promote tourism. Merry goes and at first is skeptical. Then she meets Elana ,Aaron and Marlie the therapy dog and her whole life changes and she sees what families are like. See how it goes. A VERY GOOD READ..
Is it possible for Meredith to find her much-needed reset in a tiny village without cell reception? Can Elana leave Hannah in the past and move on? Is Aaron capable of opening his closed off heart to a woman again? Is George able to find the words to express his feelings after all that has happened?
Meredith gets a holiday to Brighton (USA) instead of the much-needed holiday to Bali. She meets Elana and Aaron there, who encourage her to enjoy all that Brighton has to offer. Merry does not want to, as she worries about her mom with BPD, and is barely holding on herself. Brighton is a magical place with all its festivals, and it may rub off on her, but it will cost her as well.
What I enjoyed about the book:
- It was a refreshing read;
- It is well-written, with turns I did not expect;
- I couldn't really put down the book once I got into the story;
- The relationship was slow, and felt like a real-life thing.
What I missed:
- Merry came over very harsh and rude at the beginning of the book;
- It took me a while to connect with both Merry and Elana.
All in all, a great book to read. It gave me a real insight into the struggles with a parent with BPD, and the way children can deal with this. I think this is a very good subject to be writing and reading about. If you love small-town romances, and are up for a chrismassy book, this is definitely a good choice!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sylvie Kurz for letting me read this.
As someone who deals with depression and anxiety, as many people do, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, I couldn’t help but appreciate Christmas in Brighton on this aspect alone. I truly loved this read! It was a mixture of so many things that I’ve dealt with mentally, blended with everyday chaos, characters that grow dear to the heart, and of course Christmas magic. I would recommend this read to all of my friends and followers. AND after reading this, I want my very own Marley.
This was such a quick read. I read it in one sitting. It was very heartwarming and sweet!! I absolutely adored the characters and loved the dynamics between them. I’d recommend this if you’re after an engaging story that’ll keep you turning the pages.