I totally love Christmas books so was thrilled to get chance to read this. I loved the story, the characters and the Christmas vibes despite this being a book about escaping Christmas. A real heart warmer

Bits of this book definitely have cosy, Christmas vibes, however I did find the book repetitive and not properly fleshed out. The book is very predictable which is fine for a quick Christmas read. I do think there’s an audience that would love this one though.

Another Christmas hit for Phillips Ashley. One of my favourite authors for seasonal romance and she hasn’t failed me yet! Just the right book to curl up with in front of the fire on a cold, dark day. Following Sophie’s venture of running a guest house, I loved being introduced to the guests looking for “an alternative” Christmas who all had their reasons for wanting to be somewhere else and do something different. Mix this with Brodie and his complicated love life, and you get misunderstandings, some soul searching and hope. An enjoyable read.

Sophie has been hurt. Not just an upset customer in her Christmas shop hurt, but boyfriend cheating with best friend hurt. At Christmas time.

As a strong woman, Sophie has made a new life owning and running a guest house so she decides to do something a little bit different for her first Christmas after this hurt, and not every local agrees it’s a good idea. With the guest house fully booked, meeting the visitors was a delight! Ordinary extraordinary guests made for fun reading and there were a few Christmas surprises that I hadn’t seen coming!

Welcome to a very snowy Lake District, with all the trimmings.

This is a Christmas romance, a story of healing, and friendship.

I recommend Escape for Christmas by Phillipa Ashley.

Sophie used to own an all year round Christmas shop in Stratford with her fiancé, until she found him with her best friend. She sells up her shop and buys a b&b in the Lake District. Christmas can never be the same for her after this betrayal so she decides to market an anti festive break for customer’s who also feel the same way, for whatever reason. The B&B is fully booked.
Sophie’s nearest neighbour is Brody, a vet who appears single.
I gave this 3 stars as I felt it wasn’t up to the normal Christmas books I’ve read by this author.

A nice festive read. I liked the characters and it kept my interest throughout. Lovely descriptions of the Lake District too. Recommended.

This a great Christmas read with lots of festive cheer. It follows the usual format of girl meets boy, falls in love (but she doesn't know it), a misunderstanding that eventually gets resolved and then a happy ending. Where this book is better than most is all of the side characters. Agatha is a legend! I really appreciated the two sisters and their story too. The unexpected guests were also a great addition. This is an ideal book to read snuggled under a blanket with a hot chocolate and a mince pie.

My first Christmas read this year. Sophie plans to host a non-Christmas break at her guest house soon go awry, with heavy snow mucking up her plans. Yet there is a donkey, a no room at the Inn situation and a birth. Very nativityish! Some interesting guests, a likeable heroine, and a slow burn romance marred by the usual misunderstandings. I enjoyed it.

Escape for Christmas is just the most perfect festive read, just right for snuggling up in a blanket in front of the fire munching mince pies with Christmas music playing in the background.
Christmas is not always a time for joy and celebration particularly for Sophie who runs a B and B so she decides to open up over Christmas for a decidedly unchristmas type break for those not feeling the Christmas cheer this year!
A very diverse set of guests arrive each having different reasons to get away from the traditional Christmas, however nothing goes to plan as the weather deteriorates,there is no power and the snow continues to fall but despite this the group gel and make the most of the situation aided quite spectacularly by the gorgeous dishy vet Brody who literally saves the day and the baby!
A really heartwarming read full of good cheer, friendship, and second chances
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

Sophie doesn't like Christmas after her fiancé jilted her for her best friend.
Sophie has bought a guest house in the lake district and takes bookings for those who want an alternative to the festivities.
As the guests settle in, there is plenty of drama. Not least being snowed in and then a power cut.
Just down the road is the dishy vet, Brody. His fiancé returns from America after falling for someone else. They keep up the presence for the sake of her father, but Brody is finding it hard as he really likes Sophie.
I love the Lake district and could imagine being snowed in somewhere warm and cosy.
I do love when authors include pets in their stories, especially cats.
It's a lovely Christmassy book that all Phillipa's fans will adore.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House uk for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Escape For Christmas by Phillipa Ashley a NetGalley review. Sophie was the owner of a Christmas shop, one of her favourite times of the year, until she caught her Fiancé cheating on her with her best friend. Sophie starts a new life with struggles and surprises along the the way. I’m so lucky to get to read and review books especially when it happens to be authors like @phillipa.ashleyauthor . I really enjoyed this book, for many reasons, set in the Lake District (which is a place I would love to visit) the author is great at setting the scene with her descriptive writing and the beauty of the characters surroundings jumps of the pages. It’s a book that will make you feel all sorts of emotions, happiness, shock, dislike, love, annoyance and a warmth towards the characters and it will make you laugh in parts, with a host of quirky characters. There’s one particular character (I don’t want to give anything away) that comes into the book and I took an instant dislike to this person, they are manipulative and playing with other characters emotions. However this is the success of the authors writing talent because you get invested in the characters, allowing those emotions again to jump of the pages. As with many Christmas books like this as a reader you know what you are getting, so yes it’s predictable, I knew what would eventually happen, however it’s the getting and the storytelling to get to that point that made it and enjoyable read. The main character Sophie is braver and stronger than she thinks, starting her life again, in a place where she knows no one and starting a new business that she has no experience in, you can’t help but fall in love with her determination. This is true for a lot of the characters, especially the guests to sophies B & B. I always look forward to this authors book and I wasn’t disappointed and I would recommend this lovely and enjoyable read it’s a great addition to anyone’s Christmas TBR. It’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and half stars from me and is published on the 7th November 2024.

Phillipa Ashley does not disappoint with this charming story. A festive escape for the reader and the characters is on the books until unexpected events take over. A light hearted read with some delightful characters - I especially loved the sassy Agatha! One to take your mind off all the madness of the preparing for Christmas.

A feel-good Christmas read that is definitely not 'anti-Christmas'! I liked Sophie as a character and the Christmas escape guests backstories were a nice touch and enjoyable to read about. However, I feel like the storyline between Brody and Tegan was a little tenuous as nobody surely would agree to continue being engaged after being cheated on?! There were also several editing mistakes which I hope will be improved before its published.

**Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own **

Loved this Christmas story - not surprising as it’s by Phillipa Ashley.
Sophie has opened a BnB far away from where she used to live - eventually we find out why she no longer lives in Stratford upon Avon and why she wants to avoid Christmas. Other people come for her un-Christmas weekend but it’s not all plain sailing. Read the book to find out what happens but you know with a Christmas story, it’s going to have a happy ending :)

A Christmas novel for those who don't like Christmas? Well not really. Turns out it's a fantastic Christmas read. Snow, friendship, smiles and romance. Great to real just before Christmas.

My first Christmas book of 2024, read just in time for the change in weather and this was a cosy read on the colder evenings.

I enjoyed the book as expected although I had to roll my eyes at some of Sophie's actions but that shows she is believable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the DRC. It was much appreciated.

Enjoyable seasonal Christmas read although I must admit I got somewhat frustrated by Sophie, the main female character, at times who seemed to be too sensitive and misreading situations, flying off the handle, going in a strop and not allowing Brody, the main male character to explain things. It's all or nothing with her especially when 'nothing happened'. Somewhat predictable though full of festive warm-heartedness. Set in the Lake District with plenty of snow to add to the mix and thwarted plans for all sorts of celebrations. On the whole lovely characters with a couple of not so nice to balance the mix. Made me laugh too at times, especially when Brody, a vet, was called upon for an human emergency, having had my appendix taken out by a vet I didn't really didn't see the problem!! Still a good read to cosy up with over the festive season.

The latest from Phillipa Ashley is a festive romance set in the idyllic Lake District, featuring Sophie Cranford who used to be obsessed with and love Christmas so much she used to run a Christmas store in Stratford Upon Avon. However, when she discovered that Ben, her fiance, was cheating on her with her best friend, Naomi, her world shattered into tiny pieces, triggering her move north to the lakes. When she spotted the perfect B&B guesthouse, Sunnyside, overlooking the enticing Lake Windermere, she simply could not resist. In the months Sophie has been running it, with the help of Vee, who has become a good friend, a employee suggestion that came from Louise McKenna, the business has gone well, although she is constantly trying to keep her adorable pair of kittens away from the guest areas.

However, with the approach of Christmas, she is struggling to get in the spirit, so Sophie comes up with and advertises for guests looking for an alternative Christmas instead, an idea many locals do not really get. As her plans and preparations get under way, Sunnyside becomes fully booked, which has her feeling her risky marketing strategy has paid off. In the meantime, Sophie finds herself getting to know the area vet, Brody, Louise's son, better, he is her next door neighbour. He lives at Felltop farmhouse, with his animals and pet dog, and circumstances contribute to Sophie unexpectedly attending the joyful lantern parade with him, and Brody issuing an invitation to come to a party at his home to be attended by the local VIPs, Bannerdale community influencers that Sophie could do with meeting.

As might be expected there are obstacles that must be overcome, although it has to be said it does stretch credulity here, it does not feel like something Brody would either entertain or.do. We are given further insights into why Sophie's guests booked for an alternative Christmas. This was an enjoyable festive read in the run up to Christmas, but it was not my favourite by the author, there were occasions it was too repetitive, and the storyline too predictable and laboured. Having said that, I have no doubt that there will be many readers who will love this far more than I did. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

My first festive read of the year and I loved it! Well written, with all the same ‘cosy feels’ as Phillipa’s other books.

A gentle read set in the Lake District . The guest house is having an alternative Christmas and it certainly turns out to be different and almost becomes the Nativity re-enacted with a frustratingly troubled romance on the side