A lovely moving festive read, a bit of a slow starter but worth persevering with, such a beautiful emotional read. Touches on themes of grief and loss.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

In the past Rose, loved Christmas, until the year when something happened in her life. Since then she’s not visited her family for the festive season.

As well as Rose, Charlie also isn’t looking forward to Christmas on his own.

For others, they’re looking forward to the magical tune of year but, these two just want fo be on their own.

So, Rose book to stay in a cottage in Donegal with her dog George. On arrival, she finds that it’s not empty, but Charlie is already there, meaning it’s been double booked.

As they both wanted a Christmas alone, will they now have to spend it together?

I highly recommend this book.

Rose wants to get away for christmas. She isn't ready to celebrate it yet but a mix up means she won't be alone. Charlie too was seeking a quiet christmas alone but instead they would together. Could this be what they both need?

Aww what a lovely story. This is my first festive read this year and it was a good one. It does deal with grif and broken families so at times its quite heavy and yet it handles it well. It focuses more on the aftermath and how to move on especially at the hardest times. The plot is well written and beautiful. Its a steady build to the expected but perfectly done ending. I love the final scenes and where everyone ended up. Charlie was a great support and I like that there wasn't a big misunderstanding as often happens in these stories. A touching festive read.

I enjoyed reading this and found it a bit more than 'just a Christmas book'. It had a good story to it as both Rose and Charlie are looking to hide away for Christmas but end up booked into the same cottage after a misunderstanding. As they are snowed in, they have no option but to work out a solution so they can each have their own solitude without talking too much to each other! Communication by post it notes made me laugh!
Definitely worth a read!

Rose doesn’t like Christmas anymore after losing her partner. This year she decides to book a cottage and get avoid everyone.

Charlie is having his first Christmas alone and decides ti get away from it all.

It appears they may not be spending it alone at all after the cottage is double booked.

A heartwarming story that was funny and perfect winter read.

Rose dreads Christmas. It reminds her of her boyfriend who was killed in an accident on Christmas Eve and she blames herself for the accident. She thinks everyone blames her for it and avoids her family and his family at Christmas.
Charlie doesn't want to see anyone this Christmas. His ex-girlfriend has had a whirlwind romance, got married and whisked his small daughter off to Tenerife to live. She has also decided that whilst they are settling, contact should only be once a week.
Rose and Charlie book end up booking Rose's Grandmothers old cottage for the Christmas break. There is a history in Rose's family and this causes upset. Will they be able to tolerate each other until the New Year, or will one of the crack.
An entertaining light read.

Imagine the movie "The Holiday" and that's the vibe we have going on here. It's a totally different story, but it comes with the same emotions and turns and I found my jaw dropping at one point.

Get this book in, ready for a cosy read near to Christmas: you won't be disappointed. If you can manage it, book the hot chocolate and log fire, too 😃

Rose and Charlie are both looking to escape into solitude this Christmas and both think they’ve booked the secluded, cosy, Seaview Cottage. Calamity and romance ensues when they agree to share.

A delightful, Christmas romance, reminiscent of The Holiday; a hug of a book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Cornerstone for my review copy.

What a wonderful, warm, heartfelt Christmas story, plenty of misunderstandings, heartbreak and love, Rose and Charlie have found one another and hopefully will enjoy many more christmasses in the future

Rose, about to spend the third Christmas as a widow, decides to go away for Christmas to a place that will heal her soul and remind her of happier times. She wants to be alone and miserable so as not to ruin anyone else's day.
Meanwhile, Charlie, is trying to come to terms with his life changing forever..
Both of them are broken. Both of them want peace and solitude. Both of them have booked a special place that they have to share if they want to stay...
It was really funny reading about the things that happened while they were trying to cohabit the holiday cottage, and how things changed between them.. There were lots of funny moments!.
A great book that will melt your heart at Christmas!!
Many thanks to Random House UK for the chance to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley, #randombooksuk, #emmaheatheringtonwriter.

Rose used to love Christmas, but since the death of her partner, it is just too painful to be reminded of happier times. On a whim, she decides to book a cottage over the holidays. Only to find the cottage has been double booked. Charlie is also suffering from heartbreak as his only child has been taken to live abroad by her mother. Two people, both suffering from heartbreak, the Christmas season is upon them. Can they find something to make life feel like it is worth the living? Overall, an ok book.

4.5 stars
A beautiful romance filled with such emotion. Granny Molly’s cottage sounded wonderful and the lighthouse and setting, the perfect hideaway.
I loved the slow burn chemistry between Rose and Charlie - both so lost in their own grief, it was lovely seeing them both realise they weren’t alone. Marion and Rusty are great additions to the cast- and some of their interactions were hilarious.

A lovely Christmas story about love, hope and new beginnings. Two strangers who book a cottage to get away and spend Christmas alone, end up having to spend it together.

Two unrelated people burdened with sorrow and wounded from lifes traumas s tired of putting a brave face with family over Christmas and decide to escape to lick their wounds by disappearing into a solitary Christmas break in an isolated cottage with only a hamlet near by. When they both arrive at the cottage and find that they are victims of a double booking They decide to follow a schedule with one early start and one late to avoid contact and to only communicate by text or notes. How that all works out makes an intriguing story.

Since Rose’s partner died she hasn’t felt like celebrating Christmas and won’t go back to her parents. This year she’s decided to see if she can book a cottage where she used to spend many holidays with her grandmother when she was small. It’s not normally available in the winter but Rose persuades Rusty to let her book it. At the same time Charlie manages to persuade Marion, Rusty’s wife to rent it to him. Rose’s car breaks down and needs a part to repair it so when Charlie and Rose realise the cottage is double booked they agree to share it until the car can be fixed and Rose can leave. After a heavy snowfall Rose has to stay longer.
A book to read if you want a Christmas romance. Unbelievable and stretches the imagination but I wouldn’t mind staying in the town in Donegal with its friendly community and Christmas activities!

A wonderful Christmas story about hope and love. Two people going through the trauma of loving and it all disappearing, how do they cope, do they cope? Romance readers will love this as true love does find a way in the end.

This book sort of promised much but didn't deliver for me.
Rosie lives in Dublin and does what she can to survive Christmas, a time of year that she used to love. This year she decides to get out of Dublin and head to a place where she was happy - her Grnadmother's cottage in Donegal. When she arrives there she finds a stranger in the cottage along with her cousin and his wife.
Things happen that mean Rosie has to share the cottage with Charlie. Charlie is there to get away from heartache and he is very strick as to how they will interact.
I just felt that this could have been so much cosier and less emotionally intense. I also didn't really feel the romance between the characters.

This was really sweet and totally put me in the mood for all of the Christmas feels and reads! This reminded me of a great hallmark movie…nothing groundbreaking but gives you all the feels you’re looking for.

This is an incredibly moving Christmas novel. It has much more depth than many seasonal books. I absolutely loved Rose and Charlie, they are both very empathetic characters. The food descriptions are so good I’m now about to bake a chocolate cake! I can’t recommend it highly enough and will definitely be looking out for more books by Emma Heatherinton. I’d give it 6 stars if that was possible.

What a fabulous, heart warming read! Rather more substance than the usual light and fluffy Christmas romance, this book touches some heavy subjects such as loss and separation but does so beautifully. A gorgeous setting and a wonderful story of love and healing.