Four Weddings and a Christmas is Phillipa Ashley's 2023 Christmas novel. Perfect romantic festive read1
Freya, owner of Cottage Angels, is getting her Lake District properties ready for the Christmas season when she bumps into her ex, Travis, who happens to be staying in one and now a famous photographer. A will they - won't they story of missed opportunities and misunderstandings wrapped up in perfect Christmas story.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Freya hears that her ex-boyfriend is coming back to the village, she vows to avoid him for as long as possible. However, she is putting finishing touches to one of the rental cottages she manages when the next renter arrives – and of course it is Travis! They embark on a secret, no strings fling, but of course life is never that simple. This novel set in the festive season is such a treat. The characters are all suitably complex and there are plenty of twists and turns to the plot. But ultimately this is a festive treat and is perfect for reading when you come in from the cold and settle down in front of a crackling fire! Loved it!!

Freya's thriving holiday business in Bannerdale encounters a surprise when she finds Travis, with whom she shares a complicated past, staying in one of her cottages. Despite their history, sparks fly between them again, but Freya is hesitant to pursue anything serious. However, as they grow closer during the Christmas season, they find themselves reevaluating their relationship and working through their differences. Filled with warmth and strong chemistry between the characters, this second chance romance is both real and convincing. The supportive friendships, family issues, and picturesque Lake District setting add depth to the story, making it a delightful Christmas read and a personal favorite of the reviewer. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a heartwarming holiday tale.

A brilliant read, Freya is the main character but all the characters are believable. Set in the Lake District which with Phillips’s clever writing becomes alive to the reader . Freya has a holiday let servicing business, this story is what happens when her ex Travis books into one of her cabins on a long term let ,
An easy read with plenty of twists to the plot to keep the reader entertained
Highly Recommended

Get the festive treats together and cosy up this festive season with Four Weddings and a Christmas. It’s a gorgeous feel-good, cosy read.
Freya Bolton has her own business, Cottage Angels, she set up with Mimi, managing various properties in the Lake District. It’s a busy time with guests due to arrive at Waterfall Cottage, but freezing weather has burst a pipe and still a festive fair and a carol concert to organise. She also harbours secret emotions.
Reunions of Freya’s ex-boyfriend, initially brings an atmosphere as icy as the weather. His brother, Sebastian, who Travis and Bree are concerned about because he appears to be abandoning his music and career.
Meet Hamza Eassa, a famous wildlife photographer for the BBC, who is setting up a gallery display, but is also curious about Travis’s return to the Lakes.
Discovering their complex relationships is fascinating. There are darker times hanging over the characters and the question of reconciliation, as well as whether romance will be let in or not.
Four Weddings and A Christmas has warmth, humour and festive cheer, pitched just right for Christmas.

I love a good Phillipa Ashley book and I love a good Christmas book. This one didn't disappointed as it gave me all the warmth, fun and joy of Christmas. It is a perfect Christmas setting that I could picture and feel. Love Freya Bolton as a character as I could see her as someone I might know.

Such and easy, enjoyable and entertaining book romance, hope, new beginnings and of course Christmas spirit. A well written (or should I say another) book by this wonderful author.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this books.

This is the English book version of a Hallmark chistmas movie!! This was so good! I love a good second chance romance and this one was absolutely perfect! I can't wait for the next book set in the Lake district!
I just reviewed Four Weddings and a Christmas by Phillipa Ashley. #NetGalley
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Well what can I say. Phillipa done it again. I love her books, but this one got me right from the beginning. I could not put it down also I did not want it to end. I don't like a great book to finish,
I recommend this book and Phillipa Ashley as an author.
Sorry the review is late but problems with netgalley, I list it.

I always enjoy Phillips’s books but I really enjoyed this one. I loved that Freya was given a second chance at love with someone she was persuaded to leave behind and that by letting him go initially he was able to achieve his dream. The characters were interesting, the plot was beautifully though out and I would definitely recommend this book to others

Summer and Christmas are a time for me to read lighter novels but I never want them too light on story or characters.
Phillipa Ashley has come up trumps again with a Christmas romance which has all the necessary - will they/won’t they, everything Christmas and yet providing a back story which brings a few issues with it. It doesn’t shy away from domestic problems so doesn’t make it too much of a fairytale.
I also liked a light touch of linking to her previous Christmas characters. Looking forward to next Christmas’s instalment !

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

Do you have “go to” authors that you read when you are looking for a certain type of story? Phillipa Ashley is one of my “go to” authors that I go to for Christmas and summer reads that I know will both be a good story and have great characters.

Freya has a history of being a runaway bride. In grade school she ran away from a pretend wedding to young Travis, and as an eighteen-year-old, she also ran away from an engagement to the same Travis. Now years later, Freya has a successful business preparing vacation homes for people in England’s Lake District. She recently ended an engagement with a dependable boyfriend and has started to believe that she may never find love. Travis returns to town this Christmas season. He is now a famous wildlife photographer, and he has returned to start his own store and photography business in town. He also wants to spend more time with his family. The last thing he expects is to run back into Freya and immediately have the same old feelings for her again. Freya does not want to get into a relationship again as she seems to have no luck with them. Will Freya and Travis be able to figure out their future?

I loved Freya and Travis, but also all the other characters in this novel. Phillipa Ashley writes wonderful characters. I also liked how Freya and Travis both had troubling aspects of their childhood that have carried over into their adult relationships. Being able to understand the past helps them both to move on into the future. Their family situations were important and solving some of those problems added a greater depth to the story. Freya and Travis also had great chemistry. They had a friends-to-lovers and a second chance romance story, both tropes that I enjoy.

I also loved the Lake District. It sounded beautiful and I loved the small-town feel. Everyone knew each other and helped each other out. The Christmas spirit was in the story. I loved this story from start to finish and it was the perfect story to be reading at Christmas. It was one of my favorite books this Christmas season.

Book Source: Review copy from NetGalley. Thank-you! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love Philippa Ashley's books, they are feel good festive reads. This one had a lot of drama that you weren't expecting.

Once Travis arrived, we had a good idea of what was going to happen, but not in the way it did. There was a lot to the back story that was cleverly left to the end of the book, and really made me think.

I would love to go to the Lakes and find the area where this was written, and hopefully find a red squirrel like Seb and Travis did.

Would definitely recommend this to anyone, tuck yourself in with a hot chocolate and enjoy the read!

You just can't go wrong with a Phillipa Ashley book! This book didn't disappoint was s over and heartwarming I love the different weddings throughout the years. Definitely recommend!

DNF 55%

First off, I really enjoyed the writing. The storyline had me interested. I am a huge fan of second chance romances so I was definitely dialed into the story.

What had me closing my Kindle on this book was the female main character, Freya. After having a frolic under the covers with ex-boyfriend Travis, she tells him she wants more of it, but it has to be in secret and nobody can know. And then I said no right afterwards.

Travis is a wonderful character. He and his siblings had a hard life growing up. His father was a criminal so the small town believed all his kids-especially Travis-would end up just like the father. Freya broke his heart once, and now she wants to keep Travis as her dirty little secret while he still loves and cares for her? I don't think so. I totally lost any respect for Freya and I didn't want to see her treating Travis like that anymore.

The author is obviously talented and I did enjoy her writing, this book just wasn't for me.

I started this book without any expectations - largely because I didn't realise it was written by Phillip Ashley - and boy am I happy that I did. Because Four Weddings and a Christmas was probably one of my favourite Christmas reads this year! From the wide cast, to the beautiful surroundings, this story really just hit the spot!

A lovely festive feel good romance. A true Trisha Ashley novel.

The setting felt so believable and real. Really good mood setting.

The character of Freya came to life, would love to work for Cottage Angels.

Super realistic love story. This isn’t an insta love story. This is real ups and downs and trials and tribulations. Real family issues while still being a great story.

What better book to read at Christmas! The book begins with one of the weddings, but many years before when young 8 year olds Freya and Travis are getting "married" as part of a school project. Freya runs out on her wedding and this gives us an insight as to what happens in their future! Fast forward to present day, Freya runs a holiday letting cleaning business in the Lake District. Travis had long moved away, but Freya is surprised to find he has returned to open up his own gallery.

This was a delightful read! I fell in love with the storyline from the beginning, watching the excited young children being part of the make-believe wedding. Poor Freya though, the horror of being the bride has affected her relationships throughout the rest of her life. I really liked her character, despite her inability to commit to anything more than a "friends with benefits" relationship. Travis was also a really likeable character, a talented photographer who has come home to support his brother and sister. However, both Travis and Freya have issues which obviously need to be worked through and they both appear quite vulnerable throughout the book.

The storyline flew along at a lovely pace, enveloping me into not only the wonderful Lake District location. but also into the stories of all the different characters. It's set around Christmas, so makes the perfect seasonal read, although can be read just as easily any time of the year. The perfect easy read, light hearted, heart-warming with the right amount of drama and plenty of romance. Would definitely recommend!

A festive story set in a snowy English Lake District always grabs my attention. It's a second-chance love story between Freya, a successful business owner and Travis, a well-known photographer. They have a romantic history, but this and other familial and romantic entanglements have left them emotionally bereft. I like the Lake District's festive and wintery setting, the family and friendship dynamics and the emotional attachment and passion between the couple.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.