I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. Idyllic location that set the tone of the book to perfection. Perfect seasonal book to get you in the mood for the festive season.

I love Christmas books set in Lapland, as it adds a little more festive sparkle to the season. It's a lovely somewhat Grinch retelling and I really enjoyed this book.

A heartwarming read. Isla has a great writing style which draws the reader in, you felt you were transported to Lapland in the snow. I enjoyed Myla’s story, great plot !
This was a fun , interesting read which I would recommend
Thank you to Netgalley, Little Brown Books, and Isla Gordon for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

The word building was phenomenal in this book. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book. This is one of my favorite reading seasons because there is absolutely nothing better than curling up under a fuzzy blanket with a good book

A gorgeous festive read from Isla, with a beautiful wintery setting, snow, reindeer, huskies and the Northern Lights.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really like this authors books.
It was a cute story with lovely characters. I really enjoyed. This was a 3.5 stars for me.

A Winter in Wonderland by Isla Gordon was another fab book. Full of Christmas magic with a realistic description of Lapland I felt I had been transported there. I was engrossed from the first few pages and I loved it.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

A Winter in Wonderland by Isla Gordon

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Myla is the UK's least-festive woman. Starting the year she found out the truth about Santa Claus, everything bad that's ever happened to her occurs around Christmas. Nowadays, she wants nothing to do with this time of year, so of course she would lose the bet with her sister and be forced to put herself forward for a seasonal job in Lapland, welcoming tourists to Santa's winter wonderland for the holidays.

Ten weeks, temperatures well below freezing, days that are mostly dark, and the need to stay brimming with Christmas spirit doesn't fill Myla with joy as she heads off to the arctic circle for winter in Finland. But as she discovers that Lapland is more than Santa Claus's Village, the very last person she ever thought she'd fall for turns out to be a man who plays an Elf, and who is bound to stay in character at all times.

I read this book in two short sessions as it was a quick read. In places I struggled reading this book - Isla has written a book with a relatively simple plot but I personally felt that it was just missing a bit of depth. As the reader, I found myself getting frustrated with Myla.

It is a lovely, festive book and perfect to read over the festive season if you are wanting an easy book to read.

Rating 3/5

This was a gorgeous read featuring the sunshine/grumpy trope, filled with Christmas magic, all the Hallmark movie feels, and a wonderful set of characters.

An enjoyable festive read to get you in the Christmas spirit. Myla hates anything to do with Christmas, cue a trip to Lapland. Will she discover the fun of Christmas?
Evocative descriptions of Lapland make you wish to go and visit.
An enjoyable read, the first book I have read from this author and it will not be the last.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC of this book.

So actually it was a nice, albeit very simple plot that was only a background to the setting. The setting was, of course, exceptionally beautiful and original and I think it was actually the main focus of this story. Because the plot, well, you could fit it in every environment, actually, and it was Lapland that made it so exceptional. I loved the descriptions of the place, of Myla's role as an adventure guide, of the antics of the elves (especially a very significant one), of reindeer sleigh rides, of huskies and, of course, of Corona Borealis. I wanted to be one of the tourists in this book, to see it by myself, and now I want to go to Lapland, like, pronto.

It was written in this lovely, warm and inviting Isla Gordon way that I so much enjoy. It was funny, light - hearted and had brilliant one - liners and hilarious scenes that took you by surprise and made you laugh out loud, and it had some poignant scenes and serious moments. The author's writing is so powerful that it easily takes you to the setting, throws you into the heart of the book and you are sucked.

This book is a perfect companion for a wintery evening at the fire - place. It's relaxing, charming and sweet and the idea of the main character hating Christmas and then finding herself in Lapland, working for Santa Claus, was brilliant. It was uplifting, magical and already festive and the author also touches upon some important issues, such as alcoholism and mental health, and does it with tons of sensitivity.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily.
This is the first book I have read by this author, and it won't be the last! The heroine, Myla, loathes Christmas after a series of bad experiences at Christmas, and then has to work a season in Lapland after she is left without work. I liked the characters, the descriptions of the scenery and activities in Lapland were lovely, and Isla's way of writing gives the reader many comical moments and turns of phrase. This well-written book is like a warm hug of love and kindness at Christmas!

A wonderful, well written and descriptive Christmas read about Myla who hates anything associated with Christmas, will a spell in Lapland help cure her or will she give in and go home?
I loved this book and honestly couldn't put it down, was quite sad when it came to an end
Brilliant story if you like Christmas and lots and lots of snow
5 stars and highly recommended

A delightful quick read to get you in the festive mood!
I loved the premise of the MC hating Christmas and ending up in the most Christmassy place. It’s only ignited my desire to visit Lapland!

Highly recommend for a sweet Christmas read

Excellent Christmas novel, it makes you want to visit Santa and helpers in Lapland. Very well written and great from the very first page. I was sorry when it came to an end. 5 stars, it deserves a lot more than that.

Thanks to Netgally and publisher for this e ARC.

Sleigh bells ring, are you visiting?
In the place, Christmas is glittering
A beautiful tale
I'm happy to wail (well I can't sing in tune)
Reading a Winter in Wonderland!

Gone away are festive blues (at least that is what all of Myla's friends and family wish would happen)
Here to stay are new woos (there is one gorgeous elf that can't help but melt anyones heart)
He throws a snow ball
At one and all
Reading a Winter in Wonderland!

Away in Lapland new memories can grow
For this reader who really loves the snow
It's a fab book
Please go take a look!
For this story made me feel all aglow!

Then again, there's Myla
Who's festive memories may conspire
To wreck another job
And possibly sob
Reading a Winter in Wonderland!

Kudos Richard B Smith, who wrote Walking In a Winter Wonderland the song, which I am really not that great at re-wording - and also to Isla Gordon who has written one of my favourite festive books of this holiday season, A Winter In Wonderland.

Myla is not a fan of Christmas to the extent she leaves any temp job the second anything remotely festive crops up. But when she loses her temping agency and home in the same day, and then a bet with her sister, she ends up having to commit to working in Finnish Lapland over Christmas and hopefully facing up to the season and her old bad memories.

She's definitely not looking for love but it's an elf that happens to catch her eye as they grow closer and I loved the Elve's antics while he was on duty. I also loved all the descriptions of Myla's role at an adventure guide, with the snow shoes, snowmobiling, reindeer sleigh rides and huskies! And the gorgeous vision from the cover may feature too!

I read this while I was recovering from booster jab side effects and it completely took my mind of the painful arm and splitting headache and by the time I was finished devouring the pages a few hours later, having read it in one go, I can say my head felt a lot better, and I was completely in love with the setting, the writing, Myla's new best friend and her attitude to life and saunas, and just about every single festive mention in the book.

I loved being transported to Lapland from the warmth of my living room, and even if Myla wasn't overly excited by all elements of the job, I was very excited for them, and can't help but wish I had tried to get a job being an Elf at a Santa's village when I was a bit younger and doing seasonal work.

It's another wonderful book from Isla Gordon, completely transported me and had me gripped. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this.

Thank you to Sphere and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I want to go and visit Lapland now!

A lovely wintery tale from Isla Gordon.

Myla doesn't like Christmas because various events in her past. But will a Christmas in lapland kill or cure?

A wonderfully festive read.

Filled with love and laughter.

I read this with a permanent smile on my face.

The perfect book to inject you with some Christmas spirit.