Light reads like this always fill me with an odd sort of warmth and not just because of the fact they are perfect cosy reading. The rawness and truth of how strange reality can be to pull us into moments we never saw coming but those that can truly transform our lives. Of how things come into our lives at the moments we least expect and give us a whole new outlook on life.

As soon as I read the opening letter, I was already hooked and since knowing the plot, a little emotional just from that alone. Anything wartime always does that to me given we all know how much these letters were worth to those lives back then. It really moved my heart from the first page from that short letter alone and it got better page by page as we weaved through these stories and letters merging as one tale.

Janes life starts with a bit of a sad knocking after her ex sends her a single email, calling off the relationship and she soon is welcoming this trip to Norway to get a break from some of the heartache. Each page flowed along so perfectly and never felt like too much of an info dump. The characters were all perfectly rounded too, bringing many great different perspectives on this unique tale as we went along further into the story.

All the relationships and moments that entailed really filled up your heart with a lovely warmth and I totally understand why this is the perfect Winter read. It has the perfect balance of sadness and good tidings. Nothing so heavy it could be hard to read or too light. The real perfect blend.

A beautiful, light heart-warming read. Ready to tug at every emotion with raw honesty and an all-round perfect Winter tale.

What a fabulous read - makes you want to go somewhere snowy. I loved this book and warmed to the characters immediately. I particularly like the back story and it adds a great dimension to a feel good novel.

I really enjoyed this story, quite light-hearted to start with, but with added depth just over a third in with the additional story developing of the wartime drama of the King of Norway's escape to London during the war, and the people who helped him.

Jane is a journalist who recently broke a big story and so is on a high career-wise at the moment, but it's heading towards Christmas and she has also recently split with her partner and so is very down. She is persuaded to go to Norway on an all-expenses paid trip to do a lighter piece on how the Norwegian people donate a Christmas tree to London every year for their help in the war. There are a variety of people on the 'jolly', younger bloggers and a bit of a Z-list (slimy!) lothario hoping to restart his journalistic career amongst them, along with Jane and Ben, the photographer from her paper.

One of the people on the trip is a quieter elderly gentleman, Thomas, who turns out to have been involved with helping the King escape during the war. He is looking for the girl (Marit) who helped them, and whom he corresponded with for a while but then lost touch. This is the interesting history bit of the book, which I really enjoyed, a bit of intrigue going on too and a few secrets.

The book definitely got better and better as it went on and I couldn't put it down towards the end, just wanting to know what happened. The story of Thomas and Marit was really interesting. In the end everything was solved and Jane got her story (albeit with a few mishaps along the way) and the guy - but which one?! Really lovely story, although slightly sad towards the end, but with a real Christmas feel in all the snow and cold. Just lovely.

This is an easy read, perfect for a cold December evening with a warming fire and a glass of something delicious.

It is not a complicated story and the characters behave in exactly the way you’d expect them to. However, the image of Norway in November is beautifully described and the writing is good.

I like my books with a little more substance- I’d rather this had been a book about Thomas and Marit with a little Jane and romance (no spoilers here!) thrown in but it was the other way round. That said, this book is an excellent example of a simple romantic story and I’m certain it will do very well in the festive period.

I enjoyed this story and will be purchasing a copy for my nana at Christmas as I’m sure it will appeal to her tastes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

I was drawn in to this book by the mention of wartime letters and, indeed, the book begins with an episode in wartime Norway when a young soldier and a local girl are helping the king to evade the Nazis. There were some interesting characters in the book, including the now aged soldier, but it rapidly turned into a rather predictable romance and I guessed very early on who Jane would end up with. Definitely feel-good and well written but a bit formulaic. Nonetheless, I think many will enjoy it.

3.5 stars

A sparkling and heart warming Christmas gift of a read! Perfect for those winter months had ahead. A great story with lovely characters and a genuine heartfelt love at the centre of it all.

Bruised after the end of her latest relationship, Jane is sent to Norway to cover the story of the cutting down of the Christmas Tree. This is the tree given to us every year for the help we gave Norway in WW2.
One of the group is the soldier who helped the King of Norway escape. His story catches the imagination of Jane. Who was the young girl who helped him and what happened to her after the end of the war?
Jane finds herself attracted to adventurer Philip Donnelly but will he win her heart? Or will someone else help ease her heartache?
A book to curl up with in front of a roaring fire at Christmas.

This is a lovely story about the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. It’s a gift from Norway and we learn where it’s from and why. There is also the story of a Norwegian hero and a journalist who sorts out her life and finds love. It’s a book that makes one feel happy.

Jane who is a journalist who after being heartbroken is sent to Norway to write about the Xmas tree that is presented to London every year. She then discovers letters that were sent during the war and tries to find out about them.

Definitely a book to pack in your suitcase. An easy but enjoyable read. Jane, a journalist, is sent to Norway with a photographer to capture the choosing and cutting down of the Christmas tree sent to London each year. Although Jane is still hurting from a recent breakup and is 'off men' she befriends Thomas a veteran of WW2 and when he asks her to help him she doesn't hesitate. Alongside the beautiful setting of Norway we are transported back to the war years when Thomas knew a woman named Morit. While helping Thomas with the past Jane starts to look towards her future. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank You To Netgalley & Publishers For Granting My Request To Review This Book.
Firstly, Historical Fiction And Then Set At My Favourite Time Of Year .. I Had To Request It And I Was So Happy When I Was Approved, That I Sat And Read It In One Sitting.
I’d Say It’s A Lovely Introduction To Historical Fiction For Someone Who Hasn't Read The Genre Before. A Lovely Story With Everything To Make You Smile: Wonderful Descriptions Of Norway, Likeable Characters With A Love Connection After Heartbreak, That I Guessed Part Way But I Don’t Think Many Others May See And A Mystery To Be Solved.
A Book I Got Into Easily And Kept Me Gripped

An easy romantic read. I am sorry but I expected more from this story. There is definitely more romance or than historical fiction. I would have liked this story a lot better if it had been the other way round. I am a big fan of historical fiction and thought that I would have learnt a lot more about Norway and its inhabitants during World War 2.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A hugely enjoyable read. After Jane uncovers an award winning story for the newspaper she writes for, she is receives offers to work all around the world, but at the same time her personal life is falling apart. Her editor decides to send her on a trip to Norway to witness the selection of the Christmas tree sent to England as a thank you each year. The trip turns out to offer Jane much more than just a freebie luxury holiday.

This is a book that should be read on a cosy autumn afternoon. More than just a romance, it also tells part of the history of Norway during WW2 and also acts as a fabulous travel brochure - I certainly want to visit!

I absolutely loved this book!!! I haven’t read anything by the author before but the story follows Jane a journalist who is unlucky in love. When a recent break up leaves her going to Norway to see the gifted queen of the forest Christmas tree being picked to be sent to London a tradition from war times. Jane goes with the thought it gets her away from London and heartbreak. The way the author describes every part of the trip has left me wishing to visit somewhere so beautiful! Jane does enjoy it her party is partly journalists and bloggers and I won’t spoil the story but there’s definitely more male scheming involved but the true part of the story that had me in tears is the oldest in the party, a war time hero named Thomas who tells the story of love during the war with a lady named Marit, but a twist at the end lets you see what true war time heroes can achieve! Perfect story that had me wondering all the way through on who to trust!

Devoured in one sitting, there is something about Norwegian life and huge snow forests that is so appealing. Throughly enjoyed the ever so slightly serious sub plot, which runs under the glamour and glitz of the bloggers and their story. I’m already feeling nostalgic for Christmas, with many months to go.
Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to read this book, it is definitely one to pop in a Christmas stocking.

My rating - 4.5 stars out of 5

This was a relaxing book set mostly in Norway, which sounded magical. I enjoyed how the story of Jane evolved and also how the story of the young Norwegian soldier and Marit from 1940 was brought into the present day storyline.

This story had a perfect mix of romance, mystery, a villain, friends and snow to transport the reader away from their own lives - a lovely Christmas read.

This is the literary equivalent of a chick flick - charming, effortless and leaves you with a smile on your face. It shamelessly borrows much of the plot from Pride and Prejudice - girl falls for superficial charmer and ends up with the really nice guy she didn't notice - but is none the worse for that.

A very enjoyable page-turner.

Bridget Jones in Norway.
Bad judge of men, ambition, multiple hangovers and snow. Chick lit rather than romance which I didn’t realise as this genre is not really my cup of tea. I kept waiting for something more to happen, either in the way of romance or intrigue. It wasn’t until the last chapter that things came together, which was too late for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a gorgeous festive story. I really enjoyed all the different elements to this one it's far more than the average fluffy read and stays with you long after you have finished. My first major book hangover of the year and it's left me wanting more!

Also quickly need to add how absolutely gorgeous the cover is!