A perfect Christmas read to get you in the festive mood. Lovely setting in the Lake District, very Christmassy and romatic storyline.
Really enjoyed and woulkd recommend to anyone wanting a nice easy Christmas festive novel.

Sophie used to love every single thing about Christmas, that was until her fiancé jilted her one December. She decides to fulfill her dream of running a guest house in Cumbria. A lovely feel good read.

Adore this author! Sophie relocated to a beautiful area in the Fells, and a guest house called Sunnyside as a new business, following a shock breakup
with her fiancé. She has loved everything about Christmas up to that point, and even ran a shop which was all about Christmas, but it is now ruined.. She makes friends with the locals and a certain handsome vet called Brody is on her mind more than anyone else! Then she has a shock from him when she discovers that he has a fiancée and she’s arrived to spend Christmas with him! She can’t dwell though, as she has a house full of guests to celebrate her unchristmas celebrations !! As only Phillipa can do, the story surrounds you and I fell in love with all the characters. There were a few comical moments that made me laugh. It was brilliant!!

Another lovely read. Sophie now runs a guest house in the Lake district, but having found her boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend. She sells her Christmas shop and moves north. She buys a guest house and the first Christmas she runs a break that is not really Christmas.

Its a lovely read which I really enjoyed and can recommend

Sophie used to love Christmas, until she caught her fiancé and her best friend at it in the stockroom of her Christmas-themed shop. Since then, Sophie has moved to the Cumbrian countryside and opened the Sunnyside guesthouse, where she is planning an “Escape for Christmas” alternative celebration for people hoping to avoid the festive season. But, as she grows closer to her attractive neighbour, the local vet, Sophie feels her heart beginning to thaw.

Escape for Christmas is one of your typical chocolate-box Christmas romances. You’ve got your city girl whose had her heart broken and hardened to love, meets your outrageously handsome local man with a complicated relationship status, who inevitably fall in love. Throw in some heavy snowfall, a power cut and a home-birth, and voila: All the ingredients for a perfectly cliched Christmas novel.

However, I have read and thoroughly enjoyed some of Phillipa Ashley’s books before, and I didn’t think this one was as well written as they usually are. I found it a bit repetitive and *too* cliched. There was really too much going on and this kind of book doesn’t need to be so complicated.

That being said, I knew exactly what I was getting myself into with this book, and it met my expectations almost exactly, so I can’t complain.

Very cosy festive read with plenty of drama. The characters were great and the setting. I love a happy ending too. It was a brilliant read for this time of year!

Classic Phillipa.
Slightly predictable, but written in a way that you just have to keep reading.
Well-rounded characters that you fall in love with.

I quite want my own non-traditional christmas.

Need a kickstart to your Christmas Spirit? Not into the season, or romance, but would not mind escaping into a cozy story that sparkles with both?

Escape for Christmas by Phillipa Ashley has all of this and more. Now, romance and romcoms are really not my jam, neither is the festive season, put them together and you wil find me wrapped up like a human burrito sleeping throught the yuletide meriment. But oho ho ho, here we have a book that drew me in and set me down with just a smidge of warming spirit to melt this cold cold heart!

Sophie was the epitome of festive spirit, you know the sort of person who plans year round for the holidays, decorates November 25th to January 31st and has a Christmas plan a mile wide? That is Sophie. That is until her Fiancee gives her the old heave-ho right in the middle of December (grinch much?)

Sophie dusts herself off, and decides to open her own quaint little hotle in the heart of Cumbria (gorgeous place, practically live next door, you should give it a visit sometime) but I digress, off she goes, coal in hand and fully prepared to put the permanent out to lunch on Christmas...that is until the community, and especially a gorgeous neighbour begin to melt the ice around her heart

A wonderful read that is perfect for the holiday season and beyond!

Thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley and Phillipa Ashley for the wonderful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

I love picking up a new Phillipa Ashley book and I was very pleased to find myself back in the Lake District and the story of Sophie, a newcomer on the small hotel scene and Body, the vet. I loved how the author wove the multiple storylines of this book together and how she brings everything together is a masterclass in story telling. Loved it!
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the reading copy.

A wonderful seasonal story about life & all it's complexities while being set in the stunning scenery of The Lake District a place that holds a truly special place in my own heart . #NetGalley, #GoodReads, #FB, #Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>.

I have read a lot of Phillipa Ashley's books and have really enjoyed them. She always writes in places that I want to visit. I have spent a lot of time in the Lake District, so was pleased to read this book set there.

Sophie's story was written from a place we all sometimes wish we could achieve for ourselves at Christmas. An escape. But do we ever really manage that, and do we really want it. I liked Sophie's story and although I saw some things coming, I enjoyed that element of it. I look forward to reading more from Phillipa.

Sophie owns a guest house in the Lakes. She is off Christmas and decides to host an anti Christmas break.
Body is the local vet and her neighbour. After some flirting Sophie discovers he is engaged to someone else.
But bring on anti Christmas with guests, an unexpected baby and a dash of truth and the holiday turns out well.
A bit predictable but and enjoyable festive read

Sophie is planning an alternative christmas at her guest house for people who don't want all the tradition and trimmings. She certainly doesnt after her ex. She does however find herself growing close to her neighbour but he miht have his own secrets. Can there be a happy ending after all?

Ooh I do love a Phillipa Ashley christmas story and as always this didn't disappoint. What a great idea to have a non festive celebration for those who don't want it. I love the actual plan she has. The plot is fun with a mix of touching and dramatic moments. Just when you think its settled we get a curve ball. The ending was perfect though. I love how everything came together. There's still plenty of festive moments in this and a briliant hint at the classic christmas story. A fun festive read.

Another Great Phillpa Ashley Book,

I always look forward to starting a new read from Phillipa Ashley, and this didn't disappoint.

This book had so many great characters and events which tend to occur at Christmas which are unexpected.

would definitely recommend.

Another lovely festive read. Perfect for the cold frosty November day. Sophie has moved from Stratford upon Avon to Cumbria following a messy relationship break up. Running a guest house, she decides to host an "Escape from Christmas". Fully booked she has food and entertainment organised. But who can legislate for the weather? Of course things don't go smoothly and her neighbour Brody comes to the rescue. We know what will happen, but I found myself yelling at Sophie to give him a chance and listen to him!! #netgalley #EscapeForChristmas

A cosy 'unchristmassy' Christmas book.
I struggled at first to engage with Sophie's story as it felt very cliched. However I persevered and about a third of the way through, when the guests arrived, the story started to pique my interest.
I enjoyed the book but lacked depth.

I really tried to get into this but at 30% I am just not invested in the romance or storyline and the writing feels a little repetitive to me. A cute idea for a romance but not for me.

Escape For Christmas was an OK Christmas read, I enjoyed the book it had a cosy, Christmasy feel. The setting was perfect for the book.

When Sophie cathches her boyfriend cheating, she moves to the Lake district to start a new life. She has an idea for the guest house she now runs and the village residents assume ahe hates christmas. She is offering an alternative stay for people wanting to get away from christmas with not a chracker in sight. Turns out she's fully booked. As the newer memeber of the village, she has to get to know people because she can open up about her past. Snow, lakes setting with a small community feel is just what you need in a cosy christmas romance story.

This book was an utter DELIGHT! I absolutely loved every second of it 😍

Sophie used to love Christmas. She ran a Christmas themed shop with her partner Ben in Stratford Upon Avon, until last Christmas Eve, Sophie found Ben cheating on her with her supposed best friend in the stock room!! A few months later and Sophie had taken the plunge to move to Lakes and run guest house Sunnyside, a project she had always wanted to pursue, leaving Ben in her past.

As the first Christmas approaches, Sophie wants nothing to do with the festive season. And so, in a moment of madness, she launches her ‘Escape For Christmas’ plan - there will be no hint of tinsel at Sunnyside this year, instead there will be paella and flamenco dancers, a respire for those who are seeking a break from Christmas. Although, not quite all goes to plan…with a snowstorm, a power cut, a stranded heavily pregnant lady, a handsome vet with a secret, a dog, two cats, a donkey and some sheep…let’s just say it’s a Christmas nobody will ever forget!

Sophie was a fantastic character. She could be bitter given what happened with her ex boyfriend, but she couldn’t be more kind and caring. Despite appearing to be ‘anti Christmas’, all she really wants to do is to provide sanctuary for those in need. And then we have Brody, the world’s most caring vet - they are a match made in heaven, although they have a lot of obstacles in their way!

The most beautiful scene setting - I could picture the gorgeous snowy views with envy! A fantastic supporting cast of characters, animals included!Wholesome, believable romance that had you hoping they would get together 🤞🏻No shortage on drama, I didn’t want to put it down…a real festive treat ❤️