This Christmas

Hadley and Will head out to a romantic log cabin over the festive season. A real christmassy feeling fills this short story. Decorating the tree, hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire, christmas music playing. Can she help Will find joy in the magic of Christmas again? They get away from the busy life in New York and rediscover the simple relaxing life. A lovely book. This is a sequel to This Summer- and I'm keen to read that one now.

Many thanks to Carina Uk and NetGalley for the chance to read this one.

This Christmas by Katlyn Duncan Published: November 18, 2014 Publisher: Carina UK Format: via NetGalley Rating: 4/5

Synopsis This year, if Hadley wrote her dream Christmas list, it would go something like this:

1. Spend every waking – and sleeping – moment with her incredibly gorgeous boyfriend, Will.

2. Figure out what’s been bugging him lately. Yes, going away to college has been tough…but it’s time they reconnected.

3. Enjoy a sparkling Christmas in New York City, gazing at the Rockefeller tree, going ice skating, and drinking steaming mugs of cocoa in Central Park.

So, driving off to spend Christmas in a rustic cabin in the woods wasn’t exactly the plan. But when it comes to her irresistible, and at times, impossible boyfriend, nothing’s ever that simple. And as fantasies of an icy Times Square are replaced by a clumsily decorated tree, making snowmen and the warmth of a log fire, Hadley feels herself falling in love all over again.

Except does Will have something to tell her that could change Hadley’s happily-ever-after Christmas dreams into a not-so-winter wonderland after all?

My Thoughts
*This is a festive sequel to This Summer; it definitely can be read as a standalone.

We catch up with Will and Hadley who are trying to reconnect after spending time apart with Hadley’s busy college schedule. They had plans of an NYC festive filled Christmas taking in all the sights but plans change and they decide on a cabin that belongs to Will’s stepdad. While Hadley loves the cozy small town fill of it, Will has been less than in the Christmas spirit. Nothing it seems that Hadley does can make him happy, making her Christmas less than bright she wanted this time with Will to be magical even choosing him over her family to spend the holidays with. She knows that Will never had many Christmas memories growing up so she takes it upon herself to make this one special.

I loved these characters from This Summer so I was so happy when I saw there was a Christmas novella. However I must admit I was a little mad at Will in the beginning. I was like where's my Will that I fell in love with? This guy was all sour and gloomy I didn’t like him one bit! But as the story went on I totally understood why he was the way he was. Can’t expect someone who never had a very merry Christmas in his life to be full of jolly now can you? This is why I’ve loved this couple from the start. They balance each other out so well you can’t help but fall them, they bring out the best of each other. They are always trying to help the other before themselves. This is one read that is bound to break the shells of the meanest Scrooges out there.

Hadley and Will are having rough time in their relationship. They thought it was a good idea to head out for a secluded cabin to spend holiday. Things didn't go as expected at first but then everything fell into place...
A beautifully written novella. Best for holiday reading. It was a sweet and adorable story. I loved both Hadley and Will.

This Christmas was a novella that takes place after This Summer. I enjoyed This Summer so I was curious to read This Christmas. This novel picks up the Christmas after This Summer, so Hadley and Will have been dating for a little while. They’re off to spend Christmas in a rustic cabin. I thought that This Christmas was an incredibly cute winter read. It wasn’t, however, what I would consider fluffy. There was a bit of drama and Will was acting weird for a while, which of course, was concerning for their still-new relationship. I enjoyed how festive Hadley was. It was absolutely adorable. Will was a bit broody for the holidays, but all turned out well. It was a nice little peak back at the couple of This Summer that got me in the holiday spirit got me excited for whatever Katlyn Duncan writes next.