DNF at 55%.

Lottie was devastated when her fiancé Connor broke off their engagement, especially when her beloved sister is diagnosed with cancer. One year later and she has a new job as events manager at Firholme, a newly restored country estate. She is thrilled when she is asked to arrange a wedding at short notice, it will be a chance to showcase the beautiful house at Christmas. But she is devastated to discover that the groom is non-other than her ex. His mother is ill and they want to arrange a surprise wedding before they return to Australia.

Lottie is drawn to the new, rather reclusive, Firholme estate manager Jay who lives in the estate cottage next door to her, but Jay has issues of his own.

This just felt so slow for me. I kept picking it up, reading a few chapters and putting it down. Eventually I decided if I had read over half and it hadn’t grabbed my attention, it was time to give up. Not even curiosity about Connor’s dodgy behaviour is enough to keep me reading.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was my first Christmas read this year and it certainly gave me a warm glow just like a good festive read should. Set in a rambling estate in the Lake District, A Surprise Christmas Wedding is a beautiful escape from a very troubled world.

Lottie has had a bad year, but now settled in a new job that she loves, she hopes that this Christmas will be a happy one. Last year her fiance left her on the same day that she received devastating family news. She is excited to arrange a last minute Christmas wedding and impress her new boss…until she realises that the groom is Connor, the man who so cruelly broke her heart.

A friendship begins with Jay, the groundsman at Firholme but Lottie can tell that he has unresolved issues and is secretly dreading Christmas. I loved the character of Jay, a quiet man who loves nature and wildlife and can always be found with his devoted dog Trevor by his side.

I enjoyed the second part of the book much more than the first part. With the wedding approaching everything hangs in the balance and even the weather is against them. I think the book highlights the importance of family and friends, old Christmas traditions and that romance can appear when you are least expecting it.

A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley
Publisher: Avon Books UK
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Women's Fiction
Release Date: October 19, 2020

A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley is a standalone novel about love and second chances.

I loved the premise of the story but I really struggled to get into the book. The story was sweet and filled with hope.

This book does live up to its Christmas theme and that made me happy. If you are looking for a Christmas romance, this is for you!

I'm so grateful to Phillipa Ashley, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I really don't like writing negative reviews, it seems mean when the author has put so much effort into a book, but I struggled with this one, just seemed a little to predictable and unbelievable. Sorry

I love Phillipa Ashley books and this was no exception. It is easy to get into and leads you in different directions. Lottie is working at a grand local hotel in the Lake District which is where she is from. Her ex, Connor, turns up unexpectedly a year later with a new fiancee who wants a big wedding at the hotel where she works. Yes, this is a seasonal romantic comedy but it's also about how people deal with all that life throws at you. Throw the dishy estate manager Jay (and his mad dog Trevor) into the mix and there is an obvious attraction. But both Lottie and Jay are still dealing with their pasts and Lottie's sister has also had health problems to deal with. I loved ths book, couldn't put it down and thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book - and well done Phillipa Ashley for another smashing read.

What can I say? I absolutely adore Philippa Ashley's work and Thai book made me feel all christmassey. It's the perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire

It may not seem as if this is going to be a lovely story with a gorgeous ending when you start the book but it is . Just the thing to read tucked up in a blanket in front of a radiator at the moment ,who cares if it’s not yet December ,we all need a Christmas love story at the moment . . The descriptions of both Cornwall and the Lake District vividly set the scene - I felt I could step outside and see the hills. The characters are well described and some are ,like real people, annoying in the extreme. Lovely feelgood story of life love and families.
Lottie having had her heartbroken , takes a job as an event planner at a large estate near her childhood home. The job of organising a Christmas themed wedding for a demanding bride is made all the harder by the fact that Lottie knows many of the grooms family and they are trying to keep it as a surprise . Saying anything else will ruin the plot ! This is not the first Phillips Ashley book I have read and it will not be the last

A Surprise Christmas Wedding
Phillipa Ashley (@phillipa.ashleyauthor)
Contemporary / Holiday Romance
4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Lottie is getting a fresh start, she has a brand new job as the Events Manager at Firholme, a newly renovated estate. She even has a big surprise Christmas wedding to plan to get things started off right – until she finds out the groom to be is her ex-fiancé and he doesn’t want his current fiancée to know they have a past!

This was my first Phillipa Ashley book, but it certainly will not be my last (I bought another of hers while reading this and added some others to my to reads list too)! This was exactly what I was looking for in a holiday romance read. I loved the setting UK Lake District – it just made me want to visit so badly! As well as the lovely cast of characters. I found both Lottie and Jay to be relatable, and I was rooting for them the whole time.

I also found how Lottie processed the whole situation to be so true to life and realistic. I think we’ve all had those what if thoughts and awkward encounters with an ex. I felt that given the situation she was forced into, she handled it fairly well. Also I hate Connor (the ex), such a jerk. Again very relatable because we’ve all made that mistake before 😜

I enjoyed the fact that both of our leads had been burned in love before and had kind of a slow burn romance going. I also loved the family dynamics in the book too. This was just a lovely, heartwarming holiday read that just continues my desire to read Christmas books right now 😀 This book made me smile, laugh and even cry – no spoilers but I did get very emotional over one scene. It’s definitely one I will read again and would recommend to fans of Holiday Romances!

** I was lucky enough to receive an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from @NetGalley and @avon_books

(Review posted on GoodReads 11/15/20; Instagram 11/16/20; Amazon 11/16/20)

Lottie has taken a new job as an events planner on an estate in the Lake District. She is keen to get their first wedding , successfully organised to get the estate more well known as a wedding venue. She is dismayed to find the groom is her ex fiance, who doesn't want his new fiance to find out.
They need to keep the bride to be happy amidst all her demands.
You really feel for Lottie. I loved the characters- even Keegan (the bride) has her moments.
A lovely festive read.

Wondering what happened to Jon Snow after Game of Thrones? Surprise! As expected, he moved up to a colder place and became a Christmas tree farmer. All jokes aside, our main male character resembles Jon Snow in numerous ways, and I do not mind it at all. But, let's jump into a short synopsis and then to my humble opinion.

The whole story starts with a very awkward proposal, and I mean YIKES. Will our main character, Lottie say yes or no, and when she says yes, why does she say it at all? Fast-forward a bit, Lottie is now working as a wedding-event manager at a local hotel, and her life starts going in a very surprising direction when she has to organise a wedding for her ex. Double YIKES. Lottie's eyes, fortunately, land on her neighbour and colleague (Jon Snow), and their romance kicks of with...well, I guess with a red squirrel. No more spoilers, I promise.

It was a lovely experience getting to watch two people evolve slowly. Our two main characters didn't go through the cliche, love-at-first-sight kind of thing. They were slightly shy, but always timidly flirtatious. It all took a very natural course and was a pleasure to follow. The build-up pays off, I promise.

The banter between the characters is marvelous. It's the kind of dialogue you would expect to have in real life, This felt amazingly real, but rest assured, nonetheless magical. The characters didn't push each other, but they made each other better people along the way. I loved them both, as they were so kind, funny, but also patient with each other.

I am delighted to have read this hopeful, fun Christmas book. I truly enjoyed the way the author managed to keep the atmosphere so light, even though we dealt with themes of family relationships, love relationships, and dealing with the past in different ways. It wasn't all candy and roses, and it wasn't all dark and gloomy. There was this natural balance between the good and the bad in every situation, which made the characters and situations feel SO REAL.

As far as pacing is concerned, it was just right. Not too slow, not too fast.

The writer found a way to make the plot interesting, but not overdo it and insert unnecessary events, twists, and drama to keep your attention on the book. My eyes were glued to the page, and when I had to put the book down due to real life, I was itching to get back to it.

Who would love it? Everyone who loves Christmas stories, a fun plot, exes stumbling back into your life announced, new love, sister relationships, and of course, a beautiful, snowy wedding.

This story has the comforting familiarity of a favourite winter coat. But it isn't a tatty old thing, it is a colourful, beautiful, warming joy to wear - and to show off to others.
Ashley's story telling is compelling and compulsive. Although you know how it is going to end, you want to go on the journey to find out how. And you want to stay on that journey, so it is very hard to put the book down. Her characters are well resolved, the ones you should like are very likeable, the ones you should hate are positively hateful!

If you are looking for a great book to cuddle up with this winter, choose this one.

I really enjoyed this book, I found myself submerged into it from the start and thoroughly fell in love with Jay and Lottie. The lake district is a stunning place and the book describes it very well. My only criticism is that one minute Jay made a coffee then he was sipping his tea! 🤣
Other than that it was a fab read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers and the author Phillipa Ashley, for the privilege to read this book for my honest opinion

I enjoyed this book, but there were a couple of things that did unfortunately put me off a little.

There are some points of repetition throughout the book. Whether it's for emphasis, or merely to remind us about the events involved, it was superfluous.

I liked Jay, and loved his and Lottie's connection.

This book deals with cervical cancer, an issue that's a rather hot topic in Ireland at the moment. I don't think it was dealt with wrong, but I do wish there was more focus on the storyline involved. If nothing else, it will have people more wary of their own health.

An easy Christmas read with a fantastic setting and some interesting characters. If you want to lose yourself for a few hours and not stress about what you are readimg, this is the book for you - especially in these covid times.

This was not my first book by this author. I have read another book by her and loved it, so I had high expectations. And this book lived up to my expectations.

Another fantastic book by Phillipa Ashley.
A fun and festive read that has a real Christmassy feel to it.. Yet again I loved this book, with lovely characters and description of the Lake District. A perfect way to get into the Christmas mood!
Thank you Netgalley, yet again I loved it!

A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley is a sweet love story. Lottie is excited about working as a event planner at Firholme, and organizing a last minute Christmas wedding, until she meets the couple. The groom-to-be is the same man who broke her heart and their engagement a year ago. Lottie is attracted to the handsome groundskeeper, who is also her neighbor. Will Lottie find love again? I love the beautiful snowy setting, perfect for Christmas. I recommend this book for those who enjoy romances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Very enjoyable book and a nice easy Christmas read. Although fairly early on, you can probably guess where it is going, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep it interesting.

The author paints a wonderful picture of the beautiful Lake District and Firholme sounds idyllic, especially in the snow. Sounded like a magical place to be at Christmas time. The characters are lovely and I really came to love them (well, the ones that were lovable anyway!).

If you are looking to lose yourself in a lovely Christmas story, I would recommend this one. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

The story open ups with Lottie and Connor in love and getting engaged. Before Lottie can even come down from her elation, Connor has a change of heart and breaks off the engagement and relationship. Lottie is left shattered, not knowing how to pick up the pieces. She moves and takes a job at Firholme as an event planner and things start looking up. Each day is one step away from the heartbreak she is leaving behind.

One day, a couple walks in to view the property and secure the location as their wedding venue. Lottie is asked to be the event planner and she is so excited to plan a Christmas wedding at Firholme. However her excitement is quickly dashed when she meets the couple...Connor and his fiancé, Keegan. She doesn’t possibly know how she will be able to set her emotions aside and plan a wedding for her ex. Meanwhile, another employee of Firholme, Jay, has caught her eye. They both have their own pasts that seem to keep coming in the way of a possibility of a future.

This was a good, light-hearted read. I would recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley & Avon books for the ARC.

This was an absolutely fabulous festive read. Philippa Ashley never fails to disappoint with her books and this one was even better than normal. I picked it up on a cold and set Sunday afternoon and couldn't put it down and devoured it in one sitting. This book had me in tears and laughing in equal measure and was the perfect comfort read like getting a hug in a book. This was a perfect pick me up and feel good read.