Member Reviews

A year previously, Sophie finds her fiance cheating on her with her best friend. Within a year, she sells her all-year-round Christmas shop and ends up buying and running a B&B in the Lake District. She no longer enjoys the magic of Christmas and advertises and an escape from Christmas for the Christmas period, for people like herself who want to get away from the festivities. Handsome vet Brody is her neighbour who lives in a farmhouse next door.

Escape For Christmas is a lovely, comforting read and I really couldn't put it down. There is much more to the book than the usual romance. Sophie's B&B guests turned out to be quite entertaining and added to the story.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve read a few books by Phillips Ashley and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s a great festive read about an alternative Christmas which may not be for everyone. Great characters and a great storyline.
Would definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a good read and I have to say, I love Christmas but there is some appeal to an alternative Christmas! The main characters were so good, I loved their backstories. Throw in a few twists and turns and you have another winner here Philppa Ashley

Was this review helpful?

Brody and Sophie are both very lovely. Sophie has run to a new future after her ex cheated on her, she is running a b and b in the lakes and enjoying it. The book is over Christmas when she advertises and then runs a festive break that isn’t Christmassy for those that aren’t keen on turkey, tinsel and the trimmings, it all goes very badly off track. The flamenco dancers get stuck in snow, the power goes off, a pregnant guest goes into labour and to top it off the chap she was starting to feel something for is engaged. This is a gentle romance with fireworks going off at the same time, action packed and full of creative animals with real personalities. Such a good read.

Was this review helpful?

"Escape for Christmas" by Philippa Ashley was a delightful festive read with a difference.
I found myself immersed in the lives of the characters, each navigating their own struggles while seeking solace in beautiful Sunnyside. Ashley's vivid descriptions of the Lakes made me feel like I was right there. The story had plenty of variety from the Nowak’s surprise arrival to Jingle & Belle’s disaster and everything in between. A lovely festive read, without being overly festive- a tricky balance, so well done!

Was this review helpful?

I love the idea of an alternative Christmas. Not sure I would want that myself but I know of people who would. Hearts thawing whilst conversely the snow is falling. Such a feel good read with mostly likeable characters, this should definitely be on your Christmas read list.

Was this review helpful?

I usually absolutely adore phillipa Ashley’s books however this one was so predictable that it didn’t make me feel all cosy and Christmassy at all.

Having said that it was a nice story with a happy ending, lots of snow, a baby being born on Christmas Eve, a donkey, sheep and cats…plus a hunky vet. A pleasant and undemanding read at any time of the year

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

This is a cute love story that has twists and turns and lots of fun along the way.
A great festive read with interesting, quirky characters.
The idyllic location of the Lake District makes it a picture perfect scene for the book.

Was this review helpful?

A brilliant festive read. I really enjoyed this book and would love for it to be the start of a series. The characters were great although I felt a little disappointed that some of them didn't play bigger roles. Would definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Another wonderful book by Philippa Ashley, whose writing is such a treat. Sophie, once a huge lover of Christmas, is somewhat put off the season when she finds her boyfriend playing in the tinsel with another woman. Setting off with the idea of running an alternative Christmas hotel seemed a little ambitious to me, but made for a good story all the same. The group of people who flock to her non-Christmas stay is very well drawn with some wonderful characters. I loved the impromptu dance evening and can just imagine what fun was had. I do recommend this book, and thank NetGalley for the chance to read and review it.

Was this review helpful?

Poor Sophie. After a past Christmas disappointment she decides to set up a non Christmas Christmas break in her guest house. This proves very popular and the story consists of a mix of personalities and stories and some love and romance despite powercuts and snow storms. Another must read by Phillip’s Ashley.

Was this review helpful?

Sophie finds her boyfriend and best friend in a compromising position in their Christmas shop before Christmas which totally put her off Christmas.
When she moves to Cumbria to run a hotel she decides to hold a none Christmas deal, fun without the Christmas trimmings.
Only she is falling for her neighbour Brody who loves Christmas and then finds out he is engaged.
Can they sort out the problems and get over Christmas.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much for letting me read The wonderful Escape For Christmas.
It was such a beautiful read.
Sophie found her boyfriend and bestfriend in a heap of tinsel and gets put off christmas. She decides to move away and run a bed and breakfast. She thought to make a Escape from the christmas for guests. But things didn't go to plan. But sometimes the unplanned days are always the best

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publishers & Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance!

Personally I couldn’t put this book down. I loved that I could picture myself at Sunnyside for an “anti-christmas” getaway. All the characters were described perfectly and their personalities shone throughout the book.

Anything with Christmas & animals just keeps me hooked and I loved the unexpected twists throughout with the family reunions, Christmas at Felltop and our new addition to the Nowak family!

Once again thank you to NetGalley for choosing me to voice my opinions on such a lovely, well written book!

Was this review helpful?

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! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and 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 very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

A festive treat from Phillipa Ashley. Sophie has left behind her cheating boyfriend and is starting life afresh, having bought Sunnyside Hotel in the Cumbrian countryside. She advertises a non Christmas break for those who wish to escape a traditional Christmas. and a mixed group of people respond for reasons of their own. Sophie’s neighbour is the handsome local vet, Brody; he and Sophie are getting along well until Sophie finds out that he is not who she thought. Christmas is certainly different for Sophie this year but not as she had planned it.

Was this review helpful?

Couldn't put it down! Set in my favourite place at my favourite time of year! Phillipa Ashley you legend! I loved it!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely love Christmas , as did Sophie, the main protagonist in this story, until she was badly hurt by her partner on Christmas Eve. Now running a b and b in the Lake District she decides to run a get away for people who want to avoid the festive mayhem. I read this on a very rainy Saturday in August but it would make a perfect cosy read in the colder months. I greatly enjoyed all of the mishaps that happen and getting to know this group of strangers thrown together who end up having a wonderful time despite several catastrophes.

Was this review helpful?

Phillipa Ashley is the queen of romance novels and this is no exception. It delves into the fact that not everyone finds Christmas easy and that you can find support in the most unlikely situations also add in a hunky vet and a burning love story and your sorted for a very good Christmas reading.

Was this review helpful?

Another atmospheric Christmassy read from Phillipa Ashley, this time set in the Lake District. The characters felt real, and who wouldn’t want to stay at Sophie’s B&B, take their ill or injured pets to vet Brody and join in with everything going on in the village. And with a lovely, twisted, surprising story to get you to the cosy ending we all want - no spoiler, as with this sort of book, you always know everything will turn out for the best, but it’s the way we get to the end that matters.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Was this review helpful?