This is an easy undemanding read, a pleasant enough romantic story, ideal holiday reading.

Jane is an award winning journalist, recovering from a failed office romance, so takes the chance to escape the inevitable workplace gossip. She is sent on a trip to Norway to report on the selection and cutting of the huge Nordic fir tree which is gifted to a London every year, in thanks for the assistance given to Norway by Britain during the Second World War. She is part of a Press group, including a photographer colleague Ben, three young ‘influencers’ and a playboy ex-journalist, Philip, who has been on a tv series. There is also the very strong character of Natasha, the organiser of the trip, whom Jane is in awe of, for some reason.

The descriptions of Norway, and the sumptuous hotels and lodges that the group use, are beautifully described, and summon up a picture of snowy, Christmassy typically Norwegian scenes.

However it is all too predictable, to the point of being cliched, and the characters come across as two dimensional people. I had a real problem with Jane, as I find it hard to believe that such an accomplished and sought after journalist would be so hapless and immature, making so many unwise decisions and always needing someone around to help her out of difficulty, or advise her on what she should do, and even choose her clothes for her. I found her irritating and not at all convincing.

The story of the elderly man Thomas and his background involvement in the Second World War as a young Norwegian soldier, is brought into the book far too late for his and Marin’s story to be adequately told and to be satisfactorily resolved by the end. Their intriguing story was left unexplored, sadly.

There was a whole other book here, and I feel so cheated that their story was skimmed over, and then was very neatly and predictably wrapped up in the closing chapters.


My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advance copy of this book.

A lovely easy read with likeable characters. Two interesting stories running alongside each other with a small twist at the end.. Some lovely scenic descriptions and even reading it in summer did not detract from the Christmas feel. Made me wNt to know more about the history behind the story.

Thank you to net galley for kindly sending me a free kindle copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I enjoyed this one. It was a nice and easy read and I liked the characters. Nothing remarkable happened but sometimes it’s nice most to have a nice and steady read.

Sometimes a book takes you by surprise like an unexpected gift. A Gift in December is one of those books. Charming, beautifully written and like the best hot chocolate on a cold day. The descriptions of Norway including husky sled rides, the glass boxes on stilts in the forest, the twinkling lights in the dusky darkness all made me want to book a flight to spend Christmas there.

The story begins in 1940 in Nybergslund, Norway as a young soldier prepares to begin to get King Haakon out of Norway through the forests and into the mountains. King Haakon, refusing to capitulate to the Nazi's demands has no choice but to escape before the relentless bombing of his country begins.

We then fast forward to 2017, and meet Jane Brook, heartbroken, lost and dreading spending Christmas alone. She's a journalist and is being sent to Norway to cover the annual gifting of the Christmas tree - 'Queen of the Forest', gifted by Oslo to London in 'gratitude for its assistance during WWII. Amongst others accompanying Jane on the trip is Ben, a freelance photographer, Phillip Donnelly, a reality TV 'celeb' and journalis,t and Thomas Erikson, who is the guest of honour at the tree cutting ceremony. Thomas gives a beautiful speech at the ceremony, "One cannot be sentimental about the past. In fact, one must not be so...that is a dangerous road. And yet I think that traditions give us something valuable. They remind us of who we are, deep down".

Jane talks to Thomas and learns he was the young soldier who helped the King escape Nazi occupation. He asks Jane to help him with finding a young lady - Marit - who was the guide tasked with giving him the best route out of the forest. They spend one night together in 1940, and she wrote letters to him in London before they lost touch. He returned to Nybergsund after the war ended to try to find her but nobody had heard of her. He hides her letters in the chimney breast of the cottage they stayed at in case she should ever return.

Jane takes on the challenge and with Phillip she goes to the cottage and finds the letters. Ben who is from Norway translates the letters and Jane wonders why Thomas never wrote back. Thomas asks her to try to find Marit and eventually she tracks down her family. She was in fact called Margaret Elton, and she became a photojournalist travelling the world.

After a near fatal accident on a skiing trip, Jane returns to London and re-evaluates her life. She decides she's had enough of living a safe life and takes a job working for the Washington Post. At the tree lighting ceremony in Trafalgar Square, she is reunited with Ben and learns that Thomas has died, but has left her a letter asking her to write Marit's story. Jane has discovered that there was far more to Marit's story than helping Thomas out of the forest. She was in fact a spy and was able to smuggle out valuable information in her letters. Thomas and Marit's story has a massive effect on Jane, and she realises that during the trip she has developed feelings for Ben, which are reciprocated. In Thomas's final letter to her, he tells her, 'Love is not worth waiting for. Grab it with both hands'. And so, she does. Heart-felt and inspiring, A Gift in December is a gorgeous read.

I loved this (although I always find it out reading these in summer) a great entertaining story which you can snuggle up with on a nice winters night, set in the glorious Norway made it feel even more seasonal. A wonderful holiday read, charming romance, wonderful writing and characters, what a beautiful ending. One to keep you warm on a miserable night, a great read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Journalist Jane is sent to Norway by her boss. After a difficult few montsh where she broke a big story but got dumped, her boss knows she needs a break.

Also on the trip to Norway is TV star Phillip. He flatters Jane with his attention, but is he too good to be true?
As Jane uncovers a story connected to a new friend in Norway, can Phillip be trusted, or should she turn to colleague Ben who is also on the trip to Norway?

A great christmas read, with some interesting historical information.

'Someone who knows the bones of you and likes you anyway - that's sexy. In fact, when it comes down to it, it's probably the most important thing there is'

Jane is struggling. Christmas is fast approaching, and having just been dumped by boyfriend Simon, she's hardly feeling the festive spirit. Sure, her career as a hard-hitting journalist is going well, but nothing else seems to be. So, when her editor sends to on a press trip to Norway, she's hardly got high hopes for it being an interesting trip. She certainly isn't expecting to be thrown together with the famous adventurer Philip Donnelly. And she definitely couldn't predict that she'll play a part in solving a decades old war time mystery...

I've been having a bit of a run of Christmas books lately, and while I originally intended to have a little break, I was lured in by the beautiful gold cover and the promise of a moving Norwegian Christmas tale. And I have to say I wasn't disappointed!

'A Gift in December' is a dual narrative novel, albeit one with a strong focus on the present rather than the past. In fact, the sections in the past are few and far between, which for me was perfect, as for some reason I just couldn't connect with the tale of Thomas and his 'great love' Marit. I really don't know why, as normally with dual narrative novels, I actually prefer the historic sections. This time, it was the opposite - I think partly it was because there wasn't much time given to the parts set in the past, so it was hard to connect with the story and feel any real strength of emotion.

This was the total opposite to how I felt about the present day narrative. I felt so bad for Jane at the start, and I just loved seeing how she gained confidence in herself throughout the trip. There was an element of a love triangle, which I did enjoy, especially seeing the romance develop between Jane and the one she is blatantly meant to be with! Although at times I did get a bit irritated with her - one of the men is clearly a wrongun, yet she seemed totally blind to it, which didn't fit with the character at all. I think Gladwell wanted a love triangle, so made one happen, but for me, that element of it could have been more well thought out.

Overall though, I really enjoyed it. The setting of Norway was beautiful, and Thomas in particular was such a lovely character. And OMG that ending! I loved finding out the trust of Thomas and Marit, especially after being confused throughout at what I thought were moments of Thomas just being a strange old man. It all tied together so wonderfully, and made for a far stronger and less predictable ending than I would have imagined.

If you're a fan of a good Christmas novel, with some historical mystery and a bit of romance thrown in, then definitely give this a read.

The book was an enjoyable, easy holiday read and I completed the book in a few afternoons. Initially I thought the book was a little predictable and slow to get started. But it soon picked up, I became interested in the characters and the part they had to play in the story. The ending had a bit of a 'fairy tale' element to it, but I think this was in keeping with the nature of the book.

I would recommend this to anyone wanting a nice story of romance to read whilst on holiday. It didn't take too much effort or thought to read through the pages and was a nice relaxing read.

Even though I enjoyed reading the book I've only rated it 3 out of 5 stars as the story wasn't particularly unique, and I wasn't feeling the need to desperately read more in a hurry. However it was a lovely relaxing read to lose my mind in for a few hours whilst relaxing during the holidays.

A lovely read. Don't be fooled into thinking that this is a Christmas book.....it is. But it is so much more!
It is the intertwining stories of those who love, and of the stories behind that love.
A journalist, having been recently dumped goes on a magical journey and meets a man with a story to tell.
The scenes are set beautifully and it is easy to imagine you are there.
The ending is beautiful.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

🌲A holiday visit to Norway brings unexpected challenges and delights😊
4.5🌟stars 😍😊😪
This ended up as a real feel-good story, but there were quite a few tearful moments as well. Heroine journalist Jane seems never to learn that heavy drinking leads to excruciating hangovers, but otherwise I really liked her. Her romantic life is in upheaval, but she still gets stuck into her research and uncovers a bittersweet love story dating back to Germany's occupation of Norway in World War Two. While her romantic radar is off target through most of the story, her reporter's instinct proves true and solves the mystery of Marit, the Norwegian villager who Thomas left behind when the Norwegian king and his cabinet fled in exile to defy the invading Germans. The fact that, having done the research and found the answer, Thomas, her main source, then hands her the confirmation was a bit of a let-down for me. Why make her investigate what you already know, Thomas? 🤔

🎄The pre-Christmas festivities in Norway are just a backdrop to the romance, but the author does a great job of bringing the ❄ snow-covered Norwegian countryside to life. And the London climax in Trafalgar Square is tinged with sadness but nevertheless lovely. I thoroughly enjoyed the story beginning to end (though I would not have minded the epilogue taking them a bit further). Well done!🌝

Thanks to publisher Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy; this is my voluntary and honest review.

What a delightful book! I was expecting it to be the usual chick lit Christmas romance, syrupy with predictable 2D characters. Instead I found a very well written story, with beautiful descriptions invoking the spirit and magic of Christmas, with added depth of the origin of the Norwegian Christmas tree gift to Britain. Although some aspects were the usual fare of the Christmas novel, it was all tremendously well done, and some parts were very funny. I can not reccomend this highly enough!

Jane a hardcore journalist who only writes about serious things is heartbroken after a colleague who she spent almost a year with dumps her and goes back to his ex and only a few weeks away from Christmas
Her editor hands her her next assignment to go on an all expenses spared luxury trip to Norway to watch the tree be cut that the Norwegians always gift to the UK every year
She is not happy but goes anyway whilst she is travelling out there she reads why Norway gifts a tree and realises it's all to do with the 2nd world war, when the then King refuses to capitulate to Hitlers demands and has to be secretly rushed out of the country with his cabinet to form a temporary base in UK and so in a show of gratitude every year Norway chooses its best tree to stand triumphant in Trafalgar Square
Upon arriving in Norway and finding out a member of her group was A Norwegian gentleman who it turns out tells her how he helped smuggle the King out and he tells her his own love story
Or does he?
In the end Jane finds out it wasn't a love story but something way more important.

A Gift in December is an enjoyable and feel good story which will be sure to get you into the festive mood. The story focuses on journalist Jane Brook who has just had an incredible breakthrough story exposing a political scandal, but it has cost her relationship. Heartbroken and feeling a little lost, her boss sends Jane to cover a story about the Queen of the Forest tree ceremony in beautiful and scenic Norway. Along the way she meets a whole host of interesting characters, Ben a famous photographer from her office, Lucy, Lena and Freddie who are influencers and Philip Donnelly, a charming but disgraced TV star who is trying to make a comeback.

I read this book in a matter of hours, it was so cute and easy to follow. I love stories like this and on top of the rom com element, there was also a historical mystery / romance thrown in for good measure. On the trip, Jane becomes friends with an elderly man called Thomas who has deep ties with Norways history. After a little time, Thomas confides his greatest secret to Jane hoping she may be able to help him in finding his long lost love, Marit.

I absolutely loved the historical aspect of this book and I learnt so much about Norways part in World War II. It’s always cool when a book is both enjoyable and informative. I had no idea that the King at the time, Haakon VII refused to abdicate his throne to Nazi rule and fled to England until the war was over. Reading the way fact and fiction merges here is so fascinating as I have such a deep interest in history. Even if historical fiction isn’t your cup of tea, the way it’s written here is engaging and I think it will appeal to a variety of readers.

Thomas explains his role in aiding the king of Norway to escape Nazi persecution and shares all about Marit, who he had to regrettably leave behind. Marit wrote him a series of letters which eventually stopped, Thomas tasks Jane with finding these letters and in turn Marit. I really liked this element of the story and the wistful tone of his recollections, it was sad but realistic at the same time. I feel like there are probably so many people out there who have had experiences like this but have been unable to be with the person they love and it was quite moving.

On top of the historical elements and the long lost romance, I enjoyed the writing so much. Jenny Gladwell takes the reader on a luxury tour of Norway from the wild forests to the extravagant hotels and delicious sounding food. The descriptions of Norway were so lush and gorgeous and it has definitely made me want to visit in the future. Much like Jane, a reader will be truly captivated by it all.

Alongside the glitz and glamour of the trip, as well as Janes search for Marit, she is also finding herself and what she wants in life. The trip proves to be a transformative one for Jane and it was so satisfying seeing her get over her no good ex boyfriend and overcome her heartbreak. Not only does she realise her worth but finds some great friends along the way, I love fluffy stories like this and they’re so necessary. Life can be so heavy at times and novels like this offer a small escape from it all.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading A Gift in December and would gladly read anything else by this author. This was a story full of hope and a reminder to take chances and pursue what you really want in life and it totally lifted my mood. Although I don’t celebrate Christmas, it was still a pleasant read and it would make a great holiday movie!

Journalist Jane Brooks has just won acclaim for writing a piece on immigration when she's asked by her editor to cover a story she feels is far beneath her - the selection of the annual gift of a Christmas tree in Norway. Why can't someone else do it, she asks constantly, but having just come out of a relationship, a work one at that, Nadine insists she needs a break. Encouraged by pregnant best friend Margot, Jane reluctantly agrees but arrives in Norway with colleague, photographer Ben, with a rather negative attitude.

Her companions on the trip are three Instagram 'influencers', two journalists she knows a little, Nick and Sandra, Natasha, the PR agent organising everything, Philip Donnelly, a shamed TV star and a mysterious older man called Thomas. Disparaging of all but Philip, who is magnetically attractive, and Thomas who has a delightful charm, Jane starts to write her piece, ripping into the younger, prettier girls as being vacuous and pointless, and that the whole ceremony is pointless, but she gradually changes her mind. However, someone has found her original piece and published it, leaving her deeply shamed and embarrassed. They also reveal what she has settled on as her proper story and outed it before she can, ruining her exclusive. There seems no way back, but sometimes friends are not those you expect and it is always the quiet ones....

The story that provides the whole net to hang this novel on is that of the Norwegian response to Nazi bullying in the Second World war, there is a gentle history lesson and a reminder of why that enormous tree is put in Trafalgar Square every year, a story that I suspect few actually understand - that 'we helped Norway' we mostly know, how is a more explosive read.and seems to be something out of Game of Thrones in its intrigue. It is proof that the truth is always more vital than fiction.

The main story line is that of a good girly read, a love story that is not what you think, of cads and good guys and a hefty dose of girl power and female solidarity. One for the girls, absolutely, but raised above the norm by that startling Norwegian undercurrent, of kings and spies and soldiers doing their duty. That in itself if a great story, and maybe Ms Gladwell could have written that one completely, less of the girliness and more of the grit.

But whatever, that story is there and it is what the rest hangs on and I suppose those who want to can read up on it. Thank you to Ms Gladwell for telling Marit's story, because if Marit isn't real, there sure as heck was a girl just like her doing what she did.

I enjoyed this book. It was light and predictable but the story flowed well and was entertaining. I didn’t really warm to the heroine that much as she seemed a bit 2 dimensional but the story had a nice ending which is always good. Thank you for sending me a preview copy

A beautiful story set against the snowy wonderland of Norway. Journalist Jane is sent on assignment to Norway to recover from a broken relationship. There she discovers the story behind the tradition and history of choosing the “Queen of the Forest” for Trafalgar Square in London; she also uncovers some long forgotten secrets from WW2 and helps a brave soldier from that era fulfil his final wishes.
I enjoyed the weaving together of the two stories, one present and one from the Second World War. This is a combined history lesson and romance, with sparkly snowflakes and sweet smelling pine needles I found myself in the Christmas Spirit and also remembering the true meaning of this festival.

A Gift in December by Jenny Gladwell a four-star read that will magic you away. This was a great story, when you get to know Thomas and Marit’s story they will take you away to long cold nights, dreaming of the Queen of the Forest. Throw in some drama in the telling of the tale and you will get taken away from the very first page when you start the letter they story unfolds and take you in to its pages. The only thing that disappointed me was Jane her character just bothered me at times as she was well written for the most part but floated and became someone irritating at other parts. It just put me off a bit, that being said this is a great one to snuggle up with on a cold winter’s night.

This is a delightful Christmas romcom. It’s a light, easy read with likeable characters. It draws you in right from the start and has you riveted throughout the book. The story of Thomas and Marit is poignant and endearing and is a great addition to the book. The description of Norway is done so beautifully that you can easily imagine the scenery as the story unfolds. I’m looking forward to reading more by Jenny Gladwell.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it.
The storyline was very unique and flowed really well.
It really pulled at my heartstrings and gave me a plethora of emotions whilst reading it.
Whilst this is a new author I have found I will definitely be reading more stories by Jenny Gladwell as I really enjoyed her writing style.
I'm voluntarily reviewing an advanced reader copy of this book given to me by Netgalley UK.

‘One night of passion between two people poised on the brink of war. She wanted, she realised to know what happened next.’

A gift in December by Jenny Gladwell is one of the most scenically beautiful stories we’ve read in a while. This historical fictional romance, which is mainly set in the snowy mountains of Norway, had such a vivid atmosphere we felt the cold winter nights, we tasted the snowflakes on our tongues and we breathed in the crystal cold fresh air. We have a new bucket list destination!

‘She felt as though she could step through those walls out into the thick snow right now and walk among the pines.
“The outside and the inside becoming one…Heals the heart.”

A Gift in December is definitely one of those books which is perfect to read all wrapped up in your favourite chair, on a cold and dark winter’s night. Jenny Gladwell did a stellar job as we were right in the thick of it, experiencing a tradition we didn’t know much about; the gifting of the Queen of the Forest Christmas tree. It never felt like a history lesson though, rather it captivated us.

‘Yes, you might find me, Thomas, when this is all over. Your Marit.’

Well written with a somewhat sombre tone, A Gift in December has a wonderfully intriguing story-line centred around a heartbroken journalist and the discovery of mystery love letters from the Second World War. It’s an easy read which we thoroughly enjoyed, we just wish it had had more depth to it where it mattered. We loved everything about the mystery of the Norwegian soldier, Thomas and the woman, Marit who sent him love letters. This was the most captivating part of the story and was so well written we wanted more, rather than the somewhat superfluous almost chick-lit shenanigans of characters who didn’t quite seem integral to the storyline. Saying that though, this would make a wonderful romantic Christmas movie!

“I’m not completely sorry we both had our hearts broken. Not if it meant us ending up here.”

Jane is incredibly unlucky in love, she tends to go for the gift wrapping not what’s on the inside, we did on occasion have a hard time understanding her thought process and actions, however, we put it down to a vulnerable naivety. This at odds with her award winning journalism and investigative nature. Seeing people for what they really are was certainly not her strong point. Then again, it’s easy to put trust in the wrong people and overlook those who matter.

“Someone who knows the bones of you and likes you anyway – that’s sexy. In fact, when it comes down to it, it’s probably the most important thing there is.”

We absolutely loved the mystery, the setting and the romance of this story. It held us captivated from the first till the last page. From a dreary and rainy November in London, to a snowy and beautiful Norway, we became engrossed in a story of love, hope, memories and intrigue – focusing on a moment of history still honoured today.

‘Dear Thomas, this will be the last letter that I write….’