I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Christmas Wish by Tilly Tennant Also by this author: Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn, The Man Who Can't Be Moved, Mishaps and Mistletoe, Little Acts of Love
Published by Bookouture on 22nd October 2018
Genres: Chicklit, Christmas, Humour, Love & Romance, Romance
Pages: 307
Format: eARC
Source: from Netgalley
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Amazon Kindle, Audible
Christmas is coming but it doesn’t feel that way for Esme Greenwood. Recently jilted by her cheating fiancee Warren,she’s had enough of London life and escapes to Thimble Cottage in the Peak District, home of her beloved grandmother Matilda.
While Esme mourns for the wedding she’ll never have, Matilda puts her granddaughter back together again with comforting words and generous helpings of fruitcake and together, they plan the trip of a lifetime, to Lapland to see the northern lights, somewhere Matilda has always dreamt of going.
But tragedy strikes and when Matilda dies, Esme screws up the courage to go on the trip on her own to honour her beloved grandmother’s wishes. At the airport she meets a motley crew of characters including Zach, a handsome, brooding, out-of- work actor and together they set off for an adventure.
Beneath the indigo skies of Lapland, Esme and Zach grow closer. But when Esme is bombarded by messages from Warren promising he’s changed and she discovers that Zach is hiding something very significant – will her head be turned? And when a trip to the northern lights reveals the full extent of Zach’s own secret past, is there any hope that Esme will get the happy ending that her grandmother wished for her?
Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I love Tilly’s work so I was excited to read this book the minute the cover was revealed. I’m a sucker for a good cover and nothing excites me more than a good Christmas story.
Esme returns to her Grandmother’s after splitting with her fiancee Warren. Esme’s Grandma didn’t judge, she didn’t prod she just let Esme be and tell her story in her own time. I adored Esme’s Grandma, Matilda. Matilda is a practical woman. She does what needs to be done and doesn’t mess around. She’s also very loving and would do anything for her Granddaughter.
Esme is a complex character. There were times when I wanted to shake Esme. Her entire relationship with Warren drove me crazy. The way he manipulated her and made her feel unworthy. These scenes were difficult and infuriating to read. I really struggled to see how he got away with it. I hope this was an eye-opener to anyone in this situation. It’s truly heartbreaking.
I loved the location in this book. Lapland was amazing! All that Christmas cheer, the Northern Lights, the snow. The only thing that puts me off is the cold. Yes, I know you need the cold for the snow but I hate being cold. I would love to see the Northern Lights, they sound so beautiful but I would hate to be THAT cold.
Esme’s travelling companions Zach, Brian and Hortense were an unusual bunch. No one would put them together but they say opposites attract. Not only did they help her have an amazing holiday they also helped her get stronger and see the truth of her relationship with Warren.
This story will tug on all your emotions. From tears of sadness to tears of joy. Tilly not only tells a story of love but also focuses on some tough and important topics. This was an inspiring story of love, friendships and self-discovery.
About Tilly Tennant
From a young age, Tilly Tennant was convinced that she was destined for the stage. Once she realised she wasn’t actually very good at anything that would put her on the stage, she started to write stories instead. There were lots of terrible ones, likeThe Pet Rescue Gang (aged eight), which definitely should not see the light of day ever again. Thankfully, her debut novel, Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn was not one of those, and since it hit the Amazon best seller lists she hasn’t looked back. Born in Dorset, she currently lives in Staffordshire with her husband, two daughters, three guitars, four ukuleles, two violins and a kazoo.
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