This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy!

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This isn’t what you’d expect from the title, it isn’t a cosy Christmas love story. Romance does figure in a subliminal way but it is quite a hard hitting story set at Christmas about a group of former college friends snowed in for Christmas. I wouldn’t say the characters are the most lovable characters you could wish to meet but the story does work and both the story and characters grow on you the more you read.

As the story progresses there are quite a few sad and hard hitting moments, with incidents relayed that affect people’s lives significantly. I felt overall this was a good story and whilst not what was expected the story did really hold up well. Amongst all the relationship information, told in the twin timelines of the current time and their time at college, there is an element of mystery that comes to an head towards the end of the book.

Overall this is a story I’d recommend, and an author I’d recommend, but do not go into it think this is the normal cutesy Christmas Fayre.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh wow, what shall I say, just a perfect read! Another gem from Karen Swan - filled with outstanding characters, brilliant plot, romance, drama, mystery... The authro writes with such easiness she immediately draws me in into the heart of the story and I was immediately immersed in Libby's life. Yes, Karen Swan's novels are... how to say it, wordy? There are lots of descriptions of all kinds, of feelings, emotions and places, but just of the right lot - she describes very severly but there is still enough space for the reader to see it all with their own eyes.

This time the story is told in alternate chapters, from the past and present and they were both thrilling to read. I was captivated and couldn't put the book down, I wanted to know what has happened and what's going to happen. Some of the things I've guessed, some of them not, but that'S not the point, the point is that the story simply sucked me in. The author perfectly describes the group dynamics, the changes, the setting, bringing all of the things to life. The characters are strong, so strong that they carry this character - driven story easily.

It was alluring and compelling, and yes, maybe the end was somehow abrupt, without addressing some of the truly vital subplots again, but altogether I still think that it was an epic read.

🎄BOOK REVIEW 🎄
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#ChristmasByCandlelight by @swannywrites
@panmacmillan

➡️for synopsis

It’s not Christmas till you’ve read a #karenswan book is it?! This one was a little different to her usual style but I really enjoyed it all the same. I loved the before and after timeline which gave the story weight with background insight but also a new storylines in the present meeting secrets, events and grudges from the past.

The characters were well rounded, had real depth and I was interested in all of them and their stories. This helped make the book feel full but was essential to the plot and most the time waylaid the dreaded drag.

While it does tackle a serious event overall, it was feel good read that ends with Christmas cheer albeit a little happy happy and predictable but just what’s needed at this time of the year!

With thanks to author KS, @netgalley and #panmcmillan for allowing us to read this one!

OUT NOW!

@the_book_girls_1

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and binge read it. I liked the way the story flicked between past and present and this is why I couldn’t stop reading…I had to know what happened next. A gorgeous and at times sad, story of friends and lovers. A perfectly cosy Christmas read

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for approving me for an ARC of this book.

🤫This story flips between the present day and several years before when the whole group were at university together. As we slowly unravel past events, we start to understand some of the relationships better. I particularly liked how this part of the story was told, we got snippets as we went and it kept me intrigued.

💗Archie and Libby clearly have history and seeing them navigate their feelings at seeing each other again was very amusing, especially when Max was thrown into the equation. Ultimately you knew where this was heading but the build-up was worth it.

❄️Set against a snowy backdrop, this is the perfect Christmas book to cuddle up with. The house and its surroundings gave me the Christmas feel and had me craving hot chocolates by the fire after an afternoon of sledging.

⭐Once again Karen Swan’s lyrical writing and multi-layered characters do not disappoint!

Another standard Karen Swan – rich kids with a secret in a thoroughly upper class setting, this time with the added trope of being snowed in. I never tire of Swan books, they are perfect escapism and I have to say, I actually enjoyed the very British setting, where usually the real selling point of the books are the exotic locales. Libby is a textbook Swan heroine- smart, resourceful, somewhat put upon – and the love triangle with Archie and Max ticks along nicely when what I was really interested in is of course the dark secrets that add such mounting tension that really builds in the last quarter. A great escapist read for a dark winter’s night, I sped through this one and am recommending as part of my festive reads round up.

A poignant & heart-felt story written by Karen Swan. Not the standard meet-cute romcom from this genre but a heart-warming story that develops through a sad experience. I enjoyed reading this book, and although not overly Christmassy it is a wonderful winter read.

A twisty cosy festive dream ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

✬ Libby takes her new boyfriend to the Christmas reunion of her university housemates, held in the sprawling country estate of Archie Templeton, the heartbreaker of their group.

Intending merely to drop by, she is trapped when snow blocks a road and then the power goes out.

✬ Long bursted secrets emerge in the cold, friendships and love and things left unsaid become impossible to deny.

And there is danger lurking in the shadows.

✬ I love Karen Swan especially her Christmas novels, they are a bit of tradition with my mum and me and this one is possibly her best yet.

Told in dual timelines, it had me hooked from beginning to end, the dynamics between the group were skilfully written and the central romance unfolded beautifully.

✬ It also dealt with the darker themes of sexual assault and revenge very sensitively.

I finished this book and enjoyed it, although some parts were hard to read.
The story jumps between the present day and Libby's time at university, 9 years before.
It's poignant and heartfelt but I did have to put it down a few times as a 'just before bed' read as a couple of the storylines are sad and potentially hard if they are issues the reader is sensitive to. Just as a warning.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC to review. All views are my own.

Christmas by Candlelight isn’t an overly Christmassy book, so perfect if you find the ott Hallmark style depiction of Christmas as overly sickly and too in your face. In the lead up to Christmas i adore reading both styles, and have found Karen Swan’s “Christmas” books to not really be that festive, aside from being set around that period. She tends to set her books in amazing places with wonderful descriptions of the scenery (usually wintery). The timeline jumps back and forth between the present day set in a country pile and almost a decade earlier. The present setting has a slight golden age mystery set in a house feeling to it. Perfect to read whilst curled up by a roaring fire (or if you don’t have a real fire a fire ambience on youtube) with a mince pie and baileys, hot chocolate, sherry or brandy in hand.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley and Pan Macmillan Press which did not influence my unbiased and honest review of the book.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot - there are already reviews like that out there if that's what you're looking for.

I've read several books by Karen Swan, so was delighted to receive an ARC for this one. The title may make you think this novel is just about Christmas, but much of the action is set in the past and at other times of year - so you can read it at any time!

This was an enjoyable read, with some gritty themes along with the more pleasant aspects of the tale. The characters are all well written and believable - some brought to mind people I've known in real life. I really liked the way the action is split between present day and 10 years or so in the past (2014 I think), and the way several "mysteries" are explained.

There's also a slightly "supernatural" aspect to the present day story - evoking the Victorian love of a good ghost story at Christmas perhaps? I was pleased with the way everything was explained and loved the ending too.

Looking forward to reading more by Karen Swan.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

If you are looking for a cosy rom-com christmas book then this is not the book for you. The story unfolds about a group of friends having a reunion 9 years after leaving Durham University. It soon becomes apparent that something has happened in the past.
I enjoyed the way the book is written with alternate chapters being present day and back to 2014 and thought it was really well written.
This was my first book by Karen Swan and I was not disappointed.

A classic Karen Swan read, cosy but with some intrigue and a plot twist to make you hooked from start to finish. We switch between past and present as we get to know the characters, and what bought them to the here and now as they navigate a reunion over a snowed-in Christmas. A great festive read, full of romance and drama!

Another great read from author Karen Swan whose writing style I love. I also like that whilst set at Christmas, her Christmas novels are not overly festive and have a regular and always emotive storyline. I did miss the extreme sports elements of #MidnightInTheSnow and #TheChristmasPostcards but I really enjoyed getting to know the six friends as uni students and then seeing where they were 10 years later.

I received a free copy of, Christmas by Candlelight, by Karen Swan, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is not your typical warm and cozy Christmas story at all. Libby stops at her university reunion, and a lot of memory's come to light. I did not like this book, or its characters at all.

Christmas by Candlelight is an absorbing, evocative tale about a reunion of university housemates. The sense of intrigue and mystery is heightened when the friends are snowed into the country estate without communication with the outside world. The main protagonist, Libby, is a successful lawyer and finally unable to evade the people she has avoided since university. The hopes, lies, and secrets flood out in this emotional tale. I like the multilayered, believably flawed characters and their revelations. The vividly described setting and the locked room ethos generated by the inclement weather and the sentiment. It's an engaging story that immerses the reader in the characters' emotions and lives.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Libby and boyfriend Max drop by a Christmas party at a friend’s mansion with a group of Libby’s old university friends. But they are snowed in and stuck together at Christmas. The story goes back and forth between their university years and the present. What happened in the past has left wounds and questions. This Christmas reunion tests relationships, shakes old assumptions and reveals some unexpected secrets. And all ends well of course, because it is a Christmas story.
I enjoyed this book and got caught in its well crafted past and present twists. I loved the group of friends, and once again Karen Swan has created colourful and engaging characters. The atmosphere in the mansion is a nice mix of heavy, spooky and Christmassy touches.
A lovely read in the run up to Christmas.

I loved this. Just the right amount of tension. Lots of intrigue. A heartfelt romance (or two). Not really Christmassy despite it's title, but I liked that. I have read this book twice already, and I know I'll read it again in the future. I really liked Archie, despite his flaws, and Libby's great. This book has depth, with sensitive topics dealt with very well by Swan. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas by Candlelight is another seasonal Christmas novel from the fantastic Karen Swan. It has her trademark well crafted characters who both intrigue us and worm their way into our hearts!
This story focuses on Libby, who after 10 years, finally makes it to her university housemate's Christmas reunion. It is a dual timeline plot which weaves the housemates' previous university days and the dark secret they have kept all these years, with the present day Christmas house party.
Throw in some unrequited love, a power outage and convicted criminal on the loose and there is all the makings for a delicious winter's read.

Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.