I got an email about this ARC having previously reviewed and loved Bayliss' A Season for Second Chances, so was excited for another cosy holiday romance. Didn't read the blurb, just saw Jenny Bayliss and holiday story and hit the request button.

Turns out the story is about three estranged half sisters with a shared father, who reunite after his death. I have two half sisters with whom I share a father, and we reunited at his deathbed in 2016. So, that kind of threw me for a loop. While that was a strange coincidence (I've never heard of anyone with the same family dynamic before), and the charming, musical, but irresponsible father figure was also eerily familiar, the resemblance stopped there. My father's life was pretty grim, and sad to say he did worse than neglect his daughters. And he left nothing behind besides memories.

Anyway, back to the story. The North sisters spent every summer together as children, with their father in the small village of Rowan Thorp. As adults they have drifted apart, and they all have their issues to deal with. However, when their father's unusual will is read, they have to band together to resurrect the Winter Solstice festival in Rowan Thorp.

Bayliss is great at creating a cosy atmosphere and setting with oddball villagers (though I admit I never remember who most of the side characters are, and this book was no exception). The book certainly has charm, and some funny bits - though IMO not as much as her previous work. I also enjoyed the preparations for and celebration of the solstice - it was a nice change for a holiday feel-good book that the focus wasn't on Christmas itself.

My problem here was the characters. They made no sense. Firstly I found it extremely tedious that both Maggie and Simone kept having the same conversations/arguments over and over (not with each other, but Maggie with Joe, and Simone basically being bitchy with everyone - but especially Star - for way too long). They seemed kind of stupid and their actions made little sense. And the whole family dynamic made little sense. It's as if everyone saw Augustus as a "charming old rascal", even his daughters, but why did he only see his daughters once a year while they were kids and basically never as adults? Maggie lived in the same village for goodness sake. And they're all just like "oh, that's just Augustus, LOL". Honestly, that's pretty dark and in my mind would only be justified by some underlying trauma that doesn't really fit the seasonal cheer. And when Maggie goes nuts with extra nuts on top at about 80-85% I just thought "ugh".

WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD

Like really, you think Joe is working undercover for his uncle trying to help get you evicted? How? Why? What?... That made NO sense.

END OF SPOILER

And yes, Patrick acted rashly, but calling him misogynistic? Lady, do you even know what that word means? (I say as I sit here in my Sleigh the Patriarchy Xmas jumper)

I'll still give it a 3 because of the cosy setting and the solstice celebration (and Duncan - we need more men who knit!), but I would only recommend it if you have a higher tolerance than me for characters behaving illogically.

This was such a cute, winter's read! Packed full of festive magic right from the first page, I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

I loved the writing style and the beautiful way that the characters are brought to life.

This is the first book I have read by Jenny Bayliss but it definitely won't be the last.

I have loved this author's previous books, so was excited to read this one too.

I am sad to say that it fell a little bit flat for me. It has the same elements of humour that we have come to love from the author, but the story was quite slow and drawn-out.

I love, love, LOVED this story. It gave me all the Christmas feels. The three North sisters shared a father but different mothers. As children they came together for four magical weeks in the summer, to spend time together with their father. Maggie is the eldest sister, mother of Patrick and Verity. She is having a covert relationship with Joe. Simone is the middle sister, married to her wife Estelle. The youngest sister is Star. The sisters have become estranged. The reading of their fathers will means that they have to work together in order to benefit from the will. Each sister has issues and baggage affecting their lives. We see them coming together, overcoming misunderstandings and problems. This book was a joy to read and put me in the Christmas mood. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan publishers for the ARC. I have recommended this story to friends.

A feel-good festive story with a reunion turned a little chaotic in the way only a romcom can. Full of wintery fun, a lot of heart and a cheeky playful sense of humour this was so much fun

It took me a long time to get into the book but eventually it hooks you in and becomes an enjoyable read.

A cute winters tale. Three sisters brought back together by a death in the family. They work together to bring back the magic to their home time village. It took me a while to get into but it was a good light read.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author and I can’t wait to enjoy many more.

I devoured this book, it was so fast paced and the story was so enticing I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really look forward to Jenny's winter book and this did not disappoint! Rather than a straight up romance, we have three sisters who shared a dad, summer holidays and not much else. After his death they return to his home and have to work together on his final wishes. It's a lovely story of how the sisters rediscover themselves, each other and strengthen their bond. All covered in a sprinkle of festiveness!

What is not to like about a Christmas book to snuggle up with a hot chocolate to read getting you in the mood for Christmas. Wonderful book.

Maggie, Simone and Star are half sisters and their Father has just died and his will involves tasks for them to complete so that they can inherit his money. Each sister have their own problems and this is a way in which their Father will bring them back together.

I really liked the theme of the book and it flowed the characters worked well together.

Would recommend the book.

I enjoyed this book. Knowing that their father had died, leaving a will that expected a lot from his three distant daughters to fulfill his wishes, to inherit their money was a real shock to begin with. They have to organise and fulfill tasks set by their father and they all involve working together. The estranged North sisters, also had a shop of curiosities in which they all had fond memories of summers spent together with their father in the shop, garden and surrounding woodlands. We slowly find out about the current lives and troubles of Maggie, Simone and Star, and I as a reader was cheering them on all the way!!
A charming, sweet story.
Many thanks to Pan MacMillan for the chance to read this arc copy via Netgalley.
#Netgalley,#panmacmillan,#jennibayliss.

This book was so good!!
A perfect Christmas reading to read under a warm blanket in front of a crackling fireplace and a hot chocolate!

I liked all the characters and they seemed very vivid and real.
The story is sweet and never boring, the timing has been managed perfectly!
The sweet and evocative writing was also truly enjoyable!

In short, a perfect Christmas reading!
Highly recommended !!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

I loved this one! Three half sisters who only ever met up for a month in the summer holidays come together when their father dies to carry out a challenge he left for them in his will. All three sister have very different personalities and are all dealing with a range of things going on in their lives from a secret relationship and imminent eviction, struggling with not being able to have a baby and a drug addict ex who will not get the message. The sisters have to figure out a way to repair their own damaged relationship with each other, deal with their own problems and pull off the perfect winter solstice celebration.

This was an emotional, heart warming and romantic read and perfect for a cosy winter day!

OK, so Jenny Bayliss can do no wrong IMHO, this tale of Sisterhood and community just gave me all the warm and fuzzies and also got me in the festive mood.
Half sisters Maggie, Simone and Star are all back together for the first time in years at their dad's funeral. Tensions are high as the sisters start to air grievances, but when they are forced to work together as a stipulation of the will, we start to see rifts mended.
Gah, this was just wonderful, it was poignant and covered some full on topics grief, toxic relationships and fertility, but in such a gentle way that I couldn't help falling for these characters. Oh, and it also had me laughing out loud, as well as cheering for the strong females of the village.
Excellent book that I would highly recommend.

This is the most beautiful of festive stories, it has everything you want from one and then so much more also. There are family dramas, relationship issues, community problems and one major celebration to organise!
The author has skilfully woven an incredible festive drama which encompasses all those problems and also faces them head on and deals with them in a way that is incredibly heart-warming. Watching the sisters as they come to terms with themselves as well as each other and find that sense of community that still holds strong in smaller villages around the country especially was beautiful.
There were a few moments where I got quite emotional at the turn of events depicted but I finished this wonderful story with a happy heart and a sense of wellbeing that I only ever seem to find from reading festive fiction. There is always a sprinkle of magic in the air that time of year if you look hard enough for it!

I adored this book especially as I read it curled up in a chair with wind howling outside during a storm!
It follows the lives of the North sisiters who all fathered by the same globe trotting father have very different and distinctive mothers, Maggie the eldest lives in Rowan Thorp where their father lived in his curios/ antiques shop part time Maggie has two children and runs a greengrocer shop but has been told she is about to be evicted in January, she is also in love with her co worker Jo and refuses to tell anyone although the whole village know
Simone the middle sister lives in London with her wife never travels home. Star the youngest sister has lived everywhere frequently comes back to Maggies when her boyfriend has stolen from her again she once went to Simone but Stu her boyfriend stole all her wife’s jewellery something Star didn’t know about but she won’t face Simone anyway
Their father has died and at his will reading for which they all have to be present certain things have to be done before they can even start to empty the junk shop as they call it and sell it
First they have to work as a team and find 32 monopoly houses each one he has made individual so they can’t just go buy new ones!
And there it starts
I laughed and laughed it also tugged on my heart strings too made me think about my family but it’s a great book

Absolutely loved this book - I was hooked right from the beginning! Such a different story-line, I felt - really quite original. Yes, it's about a family trying to come together again after so many years estranged. Yes, it's about a wonderful sounding community coming together to support the North sisters and bring back an old winter village tradition (how I would love to move to Rowan Thorp and be enveloped in that fantastic spirit!). Yes, it's about the sisters each finding or strengthening romantic relationships. Oh and don't forget Augustus - what a wonderful sounding character he was! But overall, it's about all of this, all coming together with everyone supporting one another.

Such a feel good story - it felt like a wonderful warm hug that you just wanted to be a part of! I don't normally read that quickly, but I couldn't put this down. I can't recommend this book highly enough - read it and you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

A lovely cosy winter read. Touches on themes of 'blended' families, estrangement and redemption.

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

I have read and enjoyed every book from this author. A December to Remember has to be my favourite so far. I loved the storyline, I loved that it was so much more than a cheesy throwaway holiday romance book (although I do love those)
It was festive, it was full of heart and it was sweet! Following the 3 sisters lives through the season and the way they grow together and grow as people was a beautiful thing to read. I loved the feeling of being in this little village through the atmospheric writing. This was a lovely story and one I would recommend.

A cosy, wintry tale about three half sisters who reunite with one another following the death of their father, recounting the challenges they overcome along the way. We follow each of the sisters on their individual journeys, as they work to rediscover themselves and their relationships with one another. This was a bit of a slow read at times, but it was still very wholesome and heartwarming - definitely one to add to your winter TBR.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*