I loved this book. Well written with a mixture of Christmas cheer. A group of people, who are seeking a no-fuss Christmas, marooned together with no electricity during a snow storm. Each person has arrived with a mixture of issues which are gradually resolved while another guest gives birth with a vet and retired nurse in attendance. Of course what could be better than a new baby born Christmas Day!

Escape For Christmas was a delightful and charming read with an inviting warmth. The characters were all relatable and well-drawn, though perhaps a bit too harmonious—I'm not sure real people would get along quite so perfectly! The story flowed effortlessly, and while some parts were predictable, I found myself genuinely drawn in. It was refreshing to enjoy a romance without over-the-top, cringeworthy scenes. Overall, a lovely, feel-good holiday escape that captures the spirit of the season.

Who doesn’t love a Christmas love story at this time of the year, and this one is up there with the best of them. It’s a lovely story with some good twists.

After an awful break up, Sophie leaves the Christmas shop she ran with her ex, and fulfils her lifelong ambition to run a guest house in Cumbria. She decides to fill her guesthouse, over the festive period, with others like her who want to get away from celebrating Christmas. Unfortunately, all doesn’t go to plan. Luckily their lovely neighbour, the vet, is on hand to help out. However, is he as nice as he seems?

This was a lovely, feel-good book, full of fabulous characters, beautiful scenic descriptions, and I’d love to book into her Cumbrian guest house myself!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6992578914
https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2024/11/escape-for-christmas-by-phillipa-ashley.html

This was a lovely, wintery novel that was an enjoyable read. It follows Sophie who, after having her heart broken has opened a guest house in the Lake District. This Christmas she's offering people an escape from the festivities as that is what she feels she needs. She soon gets to know her next door neighbour Brody and the novel follows from there. I did enjoy this one, it was easy to read and it felt fairly cozy. I didn't love it as much as other books by this author as it felt a bit disjointed and long winded in some parts but then other parts seemed skimmed over very quickly. It was a cute read though and I am keen to read more by the author in the future.

Escape for Christmas by Phillipa Ashley did not disappoint! A lovely festive romance - Sophie, a guesthouse owner in Cumbria used to love Christmas but following her fiancé calling off their engagment at Christmas time, she's now planning to host a break for people who want to escape the festivities and just have a good time together without the tinsel and turkey. When she develops feelings for her vet neighbour Brody, things get complicated but as ever with Ashley's stories, it all works out in the end. Definitely one to read over the festive period with a hot chocolate or Baileys!
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cosy read, which would be good on winter days, when you are ready to escape reality and suspend some belief, with characters full of depth and complications, who all bring something new to the story, but some inconsistencies throughout and Brody, the love interest, not really hitting the mark for me.

The story centres on Sophie who takes over a guesthouse in the Lakes after discovering her boyfriend having an affair with her best friend.
She decides to offer an alternative break for those not wanting a conventional Christmas.
She meets Brody the local vet as she has two cats who need a checkup
This would make the perfect Christmas read in front of a warm fire with hot chocolate.
I raced through it I liked the cats and Brody's menagerie.
There are various ups and downs so you are never totally sure of the ending.
It was an enjoyable read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

This quirky Christmas or non Christmas tale had me laughing at times then shouting ‘It’s Christmas!’ At the characters.
As Sophie operates the non festive guesthouse, neighbour Brody helps out when things go wrong- and it seems that lots goes wrong for Sophie!
An enjoyable easy read festive read.

A lovely easy heart warming read! I enjoyed the idea of this book, even though I love Christmas! Sometimes people just need a change of scenery at certain times. With a twist of events, it made for an entertaining read with lovely characters - and animals!

An enjoyable festive read which engaged me and kept[t me reading. There were times where i could predict what was going to happen, but that did not spoil the book. The concept of a Christmas without Christmas was bound to introduce some quirky characters and add a new dimension to the season. Well worth a read.

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!!
Many thanks to Random House for the opportunity to read this arc copy for review consideration via Netgalley. My opinion is my own.
#Netgalley, #RandomHouse, #Phillipa.AshleyWriter.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishers for a copy of “ Escape For Christmas “ for an honest review

This was a perfect festive read, with likeable characters in the idyllic setting of The Lake District.
I was drawn to the idea of a hotel that catered for those wanting to escape Christmas, and although there was no doubt in the outcome it was fun getting there.
Lovely and heart warming.

A sweet Christmas read. A bit different from Phillipa Ashleys usual books I think. But i still enjoyed it all the same. I loved Sophie and Brody however found them both slightly childish at times - an overall good Christmas read

I fell in love with this book from the beginning. I was transported to the Lake District and could picture the setting perfectly. The characters were likeable and it was nice to learn more about them as the story unfolded. It was a relatively cosy, easy read but very enjoyable. There was enough going on to keep me interested and look forward to picking it up each day. A good book if looking for a wintery romance read.

This was a sweet, cosy, festive read like most romances I found it to be repetitive & predictable in parts & slow at times but I did really end up loving the main character, Sophie.

This is my first book by this author and was looking forward to reading the novel. I enjoyed this plot which was enjoyable. The writing style was full of humour with lovely descriptions of the landscape in winter. The charcters were believable and well developed. A feel good Christmas read. I would recomend this novel.

I enjoyed this book and give a 3 star rating.

My thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Cosy Christmassy Lake District romantic goodness 😍 I loved the scene setting in this one!! Such amazing descriptions of the stunningly beautiful Lake District which helped me get lost in this one! Was having a rough patch and feeling pretty meh and this cheered me up so I’m very much grateful! Festive fun 💜

A great book to settle down to read under a blanket by the fire. The characters were likeable and although you thought you knew what might happen there were some twists and turns along the way which kept you guessing.
A good winter read.

What a huge hug of a Christmas book. Wonderful characters in a gorgeous setting with everything Christmassy!
If you want to get into the Christmas mood along with a romance then this book must not be missed. Phillipa Ashley you are brilliant.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a lovely feelgood factor book from Phillipa Ashley, great for reading in front of a cosy fire in your PJs.
Sophie Cranford loved Christmas, so much so that she and her fiance Ben, ran an all year round Christmas shop in Stratford upon Avon, that was until Sophia caught Ben and her best friend Naomi in a compromising position on the stock room floor, this ruined Christmas for Sophie, so much so that she sold up and moved to the beautiful Lake District to follow her dream to run a b&b.
Sophie didn't think that she could face the coming Christmas so she decided to have an "escape from Christmas" break for like minded people, although in the very Christmas orientated village it was a idea that most people found very strange.
Local vet Brody McKenna was Sophie's neighbour, there was an instant attraction and although Brody always seemed to be there to help Sophie when things didn't go to plan, which was quite often, Sophie had been badly burned and didn't want to be in that position again and Brody appeared to have secrets , secrets that he had promised not to reveal even though they were preventing him from pursuing Sophie.
OK, so I knew how this was going to end but the journey was entertaining, it was witty, emotional with likeable characters and a beautiful setting.
Thank you to Net Gallery for this ARC, this review is my own opinion.