A delightful, snowy slow burn romance set in the north of England. Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross brings to life the publishing and editing, as well as family struggles with the drunken, irresponsible estranged wife, the brooding teenager who wants to feel a part of things, and the young daughter who wants to feel she matters. Sometimes a person comes along who can just do small things that have incredible impact and help find the light at the end of the tunnel. Told with a caring heart, this is a Christmas to never forget.

Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross by Kate Forster was a lovely, feel good Christmas book. I enjoyed the characters and thought the storyline was great!

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Aria and Aries for providing me with a free Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was delighted with this festive read. It's a slow burn romance set -for the most part- in a big mansion, where our main character Eve is sent to check on renowned writer Edward Priest. She comes to find a man as cold and quiet as his home and he hasn't even started the first draft of a book he should be nearly finished with by now. In fear of losing her job and during the most beautiful time of the year at that, Eve sets herself on a mission to help him get back to work but quickly finds herself emotionally entwined with Priest and his bizarre situation.
"Christmas Eve at Cramberry Cross" is reminiscent of old winter classics but with a modern twist. There are many direct references to brittish favourites as well like "The turn of the screw", "The secret garden" or "Pride and prejudice" and it's very self aware. I enjoyed that it was dramatic but not too sappy. It even gets pretty dark and mysterious at times but you can of course expect loads of warmth and tenderness!

3.5 stars, this book would make for a good stocking stuffer!

A demanding boss. A selfish and self-centred author. A fractured family. Eve is thrown into the middle of a dysfunctional family when she is tasked with helping to deliver Edward Priest’s new novel on time. But with Edward’s family in disarray, she will have her work cut out for her as she chivies him along. With Christmas approaching, can she help bring a little hope and festive cheer into their lives?

A good festive story which was easy and enjoyable to read.

Just lovely. A sassy, sarcastic lead who knows her worth and who she is -most of the time up against falling for a family with all their issues and crises. A good look at what dis functional looks like but also what great looks like in Eve and her family. Books about writing a book have been done before but this hits the sweet spot and draws you in to cheer on Eve and Edward and their glorious friends and family.

This book was sent to me by Netalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the electronic copy. This is a career/romance/mystery...all combined...this would be the best movie...the book is character driven with a hint of mystery...the protagonist is quirky and such fun to read about...the characters come alive on the pages of this novel, written by a talented and gifted author. I did not want to put it down...I wanted to see how it ended...don't try to guess...just curl up in a comfy chair, enjoy a cup of steaming herbal tea, and be transported to Cranberry Cross. I really liked this book. I hope there are more like it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria for this eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I loved and hated this book at the same time. Eve's hardship in publishing were so realistic!

Eve is an editorial assistant hoping to climb the ranks of publishing. However, her boss takes credit for all of her accomplishments and even forces Eve to spend the full month of December with an author and his daughter to help him with his writing. So Eve moves into Edward Priest's house, but the two can't help but butt heads from their first encounter. Thankfully, they realised they need to compromise if they both want to succeed, and things start to go smooth... too smooth that they can't help develop feelings for each other. When things seem to be going great, Edward's ex-wife shows up and things go downhill.

This is not your typical Christmas romance. It has dark themes (Cranberry manor) and lightens issues in publishing that are all too real and mental illness and how it can affect the people around the individual suffering from it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This was a lovely book that covered a variety of topics but in my opinion all were covered well. Eve Pilkins works for a publishing house with a dreadful boss called Serena. She gets sent to work with an author over Christmas to ensure that he meets the deadline for his new book. Edward Priest who is the author has two children, Myles who never leaves his room, and Flora who buries her dolls in the garden and is very dark in her imagination. There is also the housekeeper and ex wife Amber who is very mentally unstable. Enter Eve who shakes up the family in more ways than one. Brilliantly written with a great assortment of characters and a real sense of doing what is right, not just for yourself but also for others.

I fell in love the cover, wanted to read a Christmas novel and this one was the perfect match.
I loved this cosy story, rooted for the characters, and enjoyed the festive atmosphere.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I adore a Kate Forster book and this one is literally no different. It is filled with warmth, love, humour, lots of heart and a tonne of Christmas joy and spirit. Its like a great big hug in book form. A must read for chick lit fans.

A really lovely Christmas story. It was a heartwarming read with all its ups and downs. Beautifully written and I loved the description of the house Ellie was sent to to help the author Edward. She clearly was a brilliant Editor held back in her workplace by her Manager. Great characters and a wonderful read.

Thank you, NetGalley for a pre-release of this novel.

What a wonderful and endearing Christmas novel. In a way, it reminded me of the Christmas version of Beauty and the Beast. A grumpy overbearing man, a woman stuck in his castle, the possibility of true love? Go pick up a copy - you'll love it!

I loved this book that envelopes loss, struggle, grief, angst, friendship and romance. The Christmas setting only makes it more lovely. There's an overbearing unethical boss that sends this editor assistant to inspire an author to speed up his book writing which is not an easy task. The characters are strong and well written. The story warms the heart.

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. Idyllic location that set the tone of the book to perfection. Perfect seasonal book to get you in the mood for the festive season this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an advance copy of this title for review. All opinions are my own.

In Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross, Christmas lover and editorial assistant Eve finds herself on assignment for her Grinch of a boss, tasked with ensuring that taciturn best-selling author Edward finishes his latest manuscript. Upon arriving in Cranberry Cross, Eve finds that nothing with Edward, his house, or his family is what it initially appears to be, and she and Edward must work together to finish the manuscript and give his children a Christmas to remember.

Having read and very much enjoyed other books by Forster, I was so pleased to receive this ARC. I totally got sucked in by the characters of Cranberry Cross. I loved Eve, Flora, and Myles and how they all grew and found happiness. In fact, their relationships and interactions were some of my favorite parts in the book. Edward definitely grew on me as the book went on and readers see him transform from cruel and mistrustful to happier and more open, but I still never connected with him quite as much as I did the other characters. Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross’s storyline definitely takes some unexpected turns in the third act, and I’m not sure all of these melodramatic plotting choices really came together for me—but that’s also probably a matter of personal taste. For readers who are looking for a festive cozy read with shades of Jane Eyre, I think they will find a lot to like in this one. 3.7 stars.

Pure escapism in the form of this snowy tale. The characters seem real and very human and it I always like it when some children are in the mix. I was gripped from the start and really enjoyed this book which was filled with intertwined with romance and family connections.

Eve is sent to Cranberry Cross to push Edward finish his book. It just happens that it's going to be over Christmas that she's going to miss with her family. Eve's boss Serena is a nightmare and keeps on taking credit for all of Eve's editing. Lovely book

The main reason I requested this book was because I loved the author's 'Starting Over at Acorn Cottage' and really liked 'Finding Love at Mermaid Terrace'.

With this book, to be honest, I was losing my patience as things between the protagonists seem to happen too fast for my liking but I'm glad I stayed patient, as it got really interesting, sometimes mysterious after a few chapters. I loved the characters ―each of them has a significant role to play. Loved Donna particularly, apart from Eve of course. Myles is also a very interesting character. I didn't really dislike Edward but he seemed irresponsible. Eve solves all his personal and professional problems, which seems too much sometimes.

Just like her previous books, the author has a very engaging writing style.

Things that bothered me: most things in the book seemed pretty convenient and certain things remain unresolved.

Overall, after a few chapters, I really enjoyed reading this book.

Usual standard you would expect from Kate Forster. Lovely Christmas story, I dont care what time of year it is who doesn't love a Christmas story? This is no exception, lots of family fun along with the expected problems. The one highlight was a horrible boss getting their comeuppance. Would thoroughly recommend a read

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Eve is excited about celebrating her birthday and Christmas until her boss tells her that she may have to work this year. She has to visit an author to help him finish his next book. I enjoyed this book.

Loved this book where we follow eve who has been sent to help famous author Edward finish his book for publication, caught up in Edwards life there are twists and turns Eve did not expect and she goes above and beyond to help in anyway she can all the while finding herself slowly falling in love with the whole family
Lovely storyline and characters
Highly recommended

Such a gorgeous festive story, I really enjoyed the story and fell in love with the characters. Quite possibly the most perfect cosy festive story I have read!

This is a beautiful book and it is so amazing, the story is so lovely and very enjoyable to read. i loved everything about this book and i would recommend to anyone who loves reading to give this book a go. it is a lovely book and i will read other books from this author.

A warm and cozy Christmas romance with gothic undertones. Cranberry Cross gave me all the Jane Eyre feels but way less intense. Just sweet and festive. I loved Eve's character but she's almost too good to be true. I was hoping she'd get her happy ever after. All of the characters are endearing and I want to spend Christmas at the Pilkins' house this year!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

I raced through this book in one day, it is a perfectly uplifting festive read. The characters are adorable and instantly lovable amd you feel like you're there with our heroine Eve. A excellent choice for a festive read.

A lovely Christmas story with lovely characters. A msh-mash family and an editor living in the same home whilst working. Great read and 5 stars recommend you get this book and enjoy it.

Thanks to Netgally and publisher for this ARC

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

This book was interesting to read and it covers many topics.

Eve is working in a publishing house, the boss Serena, is horrible. Over Christmas Eve is asked to go and work with an author so that his book is ready by the deadline date.

Edward Priest, the author who Eve had to work with has two children, Flora, who has a dark fascination and buries her dolls ion the garden, the other child is Myles, but he’s never left his room, also living with Edward his his housekeeper and he has an ex-wife called Amber, who is not well mentally.

Eve’s stay with Edward changes things within the family. The book is superbly written, has a mixture of characters.

I recommend this book.

Edward Priest is a high profile author but is suffering with writers block.
Eve is assistant to the awful Serena who is a total bully. She sends Eve to Edward's house to get his novel written by Christmas.
Edward is quite rude to Eve when she first arrives but she gave as good as she got and they forge a friendly relationship. She certainly gets him writing again even if it's not quite what Serena is expecting.
Serena is the worst character in the book, a very nasty woman.
I liked the way Eve brought Myles back into the family fold by their love of music.
I read this in two sittings and I did enjoy it.
I hope this has been edited before publication as there were many errors, more than I would expect for an arc copy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Aria for the ARC in return for an honest review

Eve is an editor's assistant, working for Serena, an egotistical, cruel boss. Sent to stay at Cranberry Cross over Christmas, Eve is tasked with ensuring successful writer Edward Priest completes his latest book.
This is a sweet story, escapism and romance at the core. It's not all marshmallow sweetness though. There are some tough issues included, such as the affects of addiction on a family.
I enjoyed the book and it stood out as a little different from most of the Christmassy books currently being released.

The title and cover make this look like a trite Christmas story but there are definitely some deeper themes at work in this story. Eve is working for a Miranda Priestly style boss at a publishing company. She gets assigned to push along a famous author during the Christmas holiday. Eve goes to live with Edward Priest and his family and gets pulled into all of their family drama. There's a slow burn romance and some interesting publishing backstory to this Christmas tale.
Eve's family is lovely. Edward's family needs help. There are some references to Jane Eyre that I enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review..

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is my first book by Kate Forster and I am obsessed with this book. I absolutely love it and cannot recommend iit enough. It's a sunshine-grumpy trope and I absolutely am now a fan. This book follows a reclusive author with two children , a disturbed ex wife and a housekeeper that grows on you and the sunny always happy editor sent to help him finish the book. I enjoyed the setting, the book references and the secondary characters. It's a perfect book to get you into the Christmas Spirit.

Thank you NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an advanced readers copy of Christmas Eve at Cranberry Cross.

With just a glance at the cover, I was eager for a warm and cheerful Christmas novel. I was expecting a lighthearted Christmas-themed book, but the story was a little more somber. This book follows a few characters whose characters had been developed well. We have Eve, who is an editorial assistant who is trying to achieve her dreams of becoming an editor herself, and Edward, an author who seems to be a bit of a prick with writers block. Edward also had two children who had been neglected for a decent amount of this book. As the book progressed, I was glad to see the difference in each character’s attitude and felt it was written very well. Eve was a light that lead Edward and his children out of the darkness. Eve’s mom taught her well.

Overall I enjoyed this book, it was my first read by Kate Forster and I am excited to dig into some of her other titles.

What a mess! Eve was supposed to help Edward Priest with the second draft of his novel but he hasn't even started it. And now his family- Myles, Flora, and ex wife Amber- are part of the mix. So dysfunctional and yet so believable. She's stuck with them for the holiday and she's determined not only to get the manuscript moving but also to make the best of it. And it turns out. she's good for everyone. This is a nice read with some sly literary references and good characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good storytelling makes for a very good novel..

I so enjoyed my first Christmas book of this year, others will take a lot to beat this one.
Eve Pilkins is an assistant to Serena Whitelaw at Henshaw & Carlson a publishing house. She gets sent to an author's home over Christmas to edit his new book. Eve's birthday is Christmas Eve & she wants to be with her family for this time.
Edward Priest is a well known author who is struggling with writing his new book. With so many family problems as well as trying to write is causing so many problems. Can Eve help him?
Such a great read. The book flowed so well & the characters are all so likeable. It was also good to read a book with a 'proper' ending. Such a great feel good story & perfect for a Christmas read.

Wow! This book totally surprised me and blew me away. I became so enthralled I couldn’t stop reading, Myles and Flora really captured my heart and just had to know how Edward and Eve were going to get them through everything. Eves heart was amazing and I really enjoyed her energy and positive outlook, her family were great too, her mum was so open, loving and supportive.
The twists and turns in this book really hooked me and the story slowly unfolding and shaping was lovely to read.

I loved this cover, I was very drawn to it.
A feel good Christmas book that I really enjoyed. I always enjoy this author's books and this one was no different. The setting is marvelous and it has a festive plot. I'll be reading more by this author.

Pub Date 29 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.