I love Philippa Ashley so I was really looking forward to this book. It’s the effect Christmas novel and makes you feel as if you are a part of the story. If you want to get into a Christmassy mood, this is the book to pick up!

Welcome to a very different couple of Christmas's at Porthmellow!

Firstly, Phillipa has created the type of village that I think we'd all love to live in...or maybe that's just this reviewer?

In our second visit to the Cornish village of Porthmellow, we are treated to the time after Scarlett's worst Christmas ever, and how her sister Ellie and her deal with the fall-out. This is so much a family story, though with more twists and turns than a snake!

Ms Ashley is a author I've followed since the release of her first novel, Decent Exposure, and have loved her Cornish series of novels. This one does not disappoint and shall henceforth become a Christmas staple with this reader, for the simple reason that it brings something different to the Christmas genre. Any story that can make me laugh out loud whilst I'm wiping a tear from my eye has to be a good thing, eh!

Now, if you wish to read more on the story, please go elsewhere, but this book is a must for both Ms. Ashley's fans and fans of good stories everywhere.

Thank you very much to Avon and Netgalley for the ARC, most appreciated.

Great feel good girlie read. Really loved this one, and a little of precious characters. Love how u feel u are there while reading it, gets u immersed in the story and lives of the characters. The only thing I found was it ended really quick

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful festive read; perfect for losing yourself in for an afternoon.

The setting of Porthmellow evokes the feel of a small, tight-knit community and this community spirit is woven throughout the story. There's romance, family disharmony, misunderstandings, plenty of humour and a dash of angst (lots of the key ingredients of a family Christmas!). All these elements are balanced brilliantly to create a story that pulled me in immediately.

The main characters are relatable - fallible, well-intentioned and ultimately, likeable. There are a couple of less -pleasant characters but these are equally well-written; perfect for bringing in that angst.

This is the first Phillipa Ashley book I've read, but it certainly won't be my last.

A lovely feel good read, perfect for curling up with on a cold winters evening at Christmas Time. Likeable characters and twists and turns that stop you from putting the book down. Although it is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone book.

A lovely read second in this series a welcome visit back to the town the people a book that gives you warm happy feelings #netgalley#avonbooksuk

I absolutely adored a perfect Cornish summer and couldn’t wait to read this sequel, it didn’t disappoint! What a wonderful visit back into Phillipa Ashley’s world, simply terrific.

Ellie has been running from her past for years, but when the manor owned by her late Aunt Joan is vacant and needing a caretaker, she jumps at the chance to settle in and rest for a bit.
For Christmas, Ellie sets up household for the entire family - mum & dad, sister Scarlett, brother Marcus and his wife Heidi and two kids. It is to be the perfect family Christmas. Until it isn’t. The surprise gift from Scarlett and Ellie to the family turns out to bring more surprises than expected. It sends the family into shock and turns everyone’s lives upside down.

Fast forward to fall of the next year when Her sister Scarlett is finding herself at odd ends as well, so Scarlett requests to join Ellie in Porthmellow. Thankfully the house is large and the sisters good friends. Together they begin to make Porthmellow home. Along the way they’ll maybe find a little romance and perhaps put the pieces of the mess they made last Christmas back togehter.

102 degrees here in sunny AZ. What better time to curl up with a cozy holiday story set in the English seaside? A Perfect Cornish Christmas finds us back in Porthmellow, Cornwall with all the characters Porthmellow has to offer. While this book is part of Ashley’s Porthmellow series, it can be read as a standalone novel. And should! I am a huge fan of Phillipa Ashley’s sweet books set on the English coast. Her characters are lovely, and the stories end on a happy note. When you are searching for the perfect holiday book to keep you company with a cup of hot chocolate, pick this one.

This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 17 October 2019 .

We were first in Porthmellow in the Summer and now we are back for Christmas and whilst all the characters from that novel are featured in this, they are not the main principle characters. I wasn't sure where this book would go but I did not need to worry. 

The book opens at Christmas, Scarlett and her sister Ellie thought it would be great idea to find out more about their heritage. It isn't the present that any of them were wanting. With her family fractured Scarlett runs away from the house and ends up in the local pub for the "Lunch for the Lonely".

Ellie as been trying to hold everything together and has been staying in Portmellow since that fateful Christmas. This is not the norm for her, she is usually travelling and moving on to the next place. However Porthmellow has captured her heart and it is not just the place. Can she finally stop searching and stop and see what she really has?

Scarlett knows she was not lonely on that fateful day and now she does not know who she really is. Determined to find the truth Scarlett returns to Porthmellow and stays with her sister.

However, what she does not realise is that she will become so involved in Porthmellow, the Winter Solstice Festival and even the locals themselves. How can she possibly find out the truth when there are too many distractions?

As Christmas comes into view again can Scarlett and Ellie perhaps forget about what has happened in the previous twelve months and move forward. Or is there going to be something else hiding amongst the presents under the Christmas Tree?

The book opens with the denouement almost and you are left reeling from the after effects of it all. There are as many questions as there are answers and I was surprised by the depth of this plot line from the author. Not in a negative way but positively. How families are broken up and brought back together through actions and simple reactions the background of Christmas always seeming to exacerbate the reactions. 

Of course it is wonderful to be back in Porthmellow and the sense of the Cornish harbour at Christmas. It is as if I was there amongst the festival goers and eavesdropping on what was going on. The author has a way of making you feel part of the place she describes, part of the book. 

A slight change from perhaps what you might expect but for me it simply added another layer to he book. I cannot wait to see where Phillipa Ashley might take us next.

Wherever it is I will be there. 

A moving read which eases you into your Christmas reading with great settings and great characters which capture your heart. A must for any fan of Ashley's other works or discovering for the first time. A perfect read Christmas or not!

Thank goodness, a Cornish novel where it rains, it storms, gales do blow and overall the weather isn’t brilliant every day!
An interesting and complex small town set of characters inhabit this novel, with plenty of gossip and rows and misunderstandings. The only missing character was Aunt Joan - she deserves her own novel!
So we have people behaving badly, parties in the 190s fuelled by alcohol and wacky baccky, and the resultant secrets that finally come out. Plus PTSD, bad fiancés, fiancées, university crushes and lots more. Real people, suffering real emotional traumas.

Really lovely christmas read. I enjoyed it imensley. Easy to read and unputdownable. Thank you netgalley for a copy in return for an honest review.

A lovely return to Porthmellow to meet new characters and catch up with some old ones. Scarlett and Ellie are lovable and you are constantly hoping that everything works out well for them. A great story of family secrets, heartache and romance, perfect for a cold winters day in front of the fire.
Thanks to Netgalley and Phillips Ashley for an early e book copy.

A Christmas gift that two siblings, Scarlett and Ellie, thought would be a great present for their parents turns out to be the exact opposite. It puts a fracture into the family unit, but it does not end there, that is where the story begins.
Scarlett, so upset, leaves the house and runs in to town and into a gathering, to get out of the cold and wet, enters the Christmas “Lunch for the Lonely” at the pub. She is totally a mess but they welcome her with open arms. Jude seems to stand out of the crowd. He might be just what Scarlett needs to help her deal with her family issue.
Ellie has been a wanderlust for years and now finds herself in a place that she feels might become her “home”. She has been running from her guilt for years and maybe it is time to face up to it. Aaron is also trying to find his standing again in his hometown, Porthmellow, newly released from the army. Maybe they can find a “home” together?
The first Winter Solstice Festival takes place in this book and as in previous books, the town comes together to make it a success. Several characters from the earlier books make an appearance.
It is always a great journey when reading a Phillipa Ashley story. The characters are unique and memorable. The books are easy to read and whatever the issues the characters are dealing with, are resolved by the end of the book and they live happily in the beautiful Cornish isles.
I want to thank NetGalley.com, Avon Books UK, Harper Collins Publishers for allowing me to read the ARC for this wonderful book. I wanted to write my opinion in hopes others will also discover this author and also enjoy her books.

I always look forward to books with a Christmas theme. This is the first one that has come my way this year, and I am delighted that it is by one of my favourite authors. Phillipa Ashley has written many stories based in Cornwall; this one is the second in a series featuring the Cornish seaside village of Porthmellow. I read and enjoyed the first In this series, and was looking forward to catching up with some familiar characters, as well as new arrivals in the village.

This story follows the fortunes of the Latham family - parents Anna and Roger, and grown up children Ellie, Marcus and Scarlett. While spending the Christmas break in Porthmellow, a well-meaning, but nonetheless disastrous Christmas present has left the family reeling following a shocking revelation. A year later, as the village of Porthmellow prepares once again for its annual Christmas celebrations, we find Ellie living there in the manor house that once belonged to her aunt, and joined unexpectedly by Scarlett, who is seeking answers about her heritage. As Christmas approaches, it appears that both girls may have found romance in the form of ex-army engineer Aaron and natural history writer and forager Jude, both of whom originally come from the village. However, there are complications in these relationships as well. When mother Anna also arrives on the scene, the girls hope that they may discover some answers and find a way to keep the Latham family from splitting apart.

This is a lovely romantic story, with a warm festive feel to it; I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a satisfying Christmas read. Porthmellow would certainly be a wonderful place to spend Christmas, with its charming decorations, great traditions and community spirit. Once again Phillipa Ashley has introduced the reader to some strong and interesting characters, as well as intriguing situations. I do enjoy her books set in Cornwall; her love for and familiarity with the county shine through her writing. I always finish her books with a strong desire to visit. I hope that there may be more Porthmellow stories in the pipeline - I would love to find out how the relationships in this story develop.

A perfect Christmas read. This book is well written with a good plot and well developed characters.. I found this book to be very entertaining and highly recommend it. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Absolutely fantastic had me gripped!!! Loved it! Can't wait for more from.this author. Storyline was great, characters were easy to.connect with

Thank you for the advanced copy

How lovely to be back in Porthmellow with this all new, standalone story. I was hooked from the first chapter, and wanted to know what on earth had disrailed Scarlett's Christmas day so much that she fled from it and ended up in the pub, wearing fluffy bunny slippers.

As the events of that first Christmas are revealed, well I could definitely understand her feelings and also had a strong hunch that this would be one tremendous book which is really was.

Although I did spend a fair amount of the story wondering whether the title was ironic, as I just couldn't see how there would be a perfect Christmas in it, but I'm delighted to say that the author has some fabulous tricks up her sleeve!

This is the story of Scarlett and Ellie's family, as they go from the bombshell of the previous year, into a more turbulent time. Assorted family secrets are revealed and both ladies also have potential romances, although nothing runs smoothly.

I enjoyed the Winter Solstice festival, I just wish that like the first book we had seen more of the planning and committee members. Although Sam, Gabe, Ben and Zennor were all present in this story, it felt more like cameo's and just seeing familiar faces around the community, rather than anything further really happening with them.

A Perfect Cornish Christmas is a story with the greater themes of Christmas at its heart, the importance of family, and the feeling of coming together as a community. It was another incredibly enjoyable book in this series. And given how early in the year I read this, I'm also delighted to say it's not overly festive, its more a story that takes in two Christmases' and an autumn in between, as we follow the sister's stories.

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

As good a tale as I’d expect from Philippa Ashley. I found it hard to put this book down. Lots of romance but a family revelation leads to lots of heartache and misunderstandings on the way to the conclusion of the story. All set in beautiful Cornwall. An excellent read.

A great Christmas read.

This is set around sisters Ellie and Scarlett.

Ellie lives in Porthmellow, looking after the house her parents inherited. She has been running from relationships since she was uni, and now she meets Aaron she thinks maybe she has met someone worth stopping for. Be when she finds out he is keeping secrets can she trust him any more?

Scarlett was shattered when last Christmas she found out her Dad wasn't her biological father. She moves to Porthmellow determined to find out who he is, but will she like who and what she finds? Whilst in Porthmellow she meets Jude, but do they have a chance together?

Scarlett's family are in Porthmellow for Xmas when a secret ruins everything. You gradually find out what happens and especially to Scarlett and her sister Ellie. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Will need to look for other books in the series

Wow, will you just take a look at this gorgeous cover?! As soon as I saw it be uploaded on Netgalley I knew I had to read it. Especially with it being set in the gorgeous town of Porthmellow and by one of my favourite authors, Phillipa Ashley. I absolutely loved the other novel set in this town, A Perfect Cornish Summer so couldn't wait to get stuck into this one. This cover is absolutely gorgeous, I love the bright sky, the snowy cottage and the fairy lights around the cottage too.

I loved being back in Porthmellow, as mentioned above, I loved the first one set in this delightful little town and I couldn't wait to see what the previous characters had been up to. Even though this novel mentions characters from the first novel, you could easily read it as a standalone as Phillipa really describes who everyone is and a little bit about their background. I love the setting, it sounds idyllic and so festive! Planning a trip to Cornwall ASAP...

Onto the storyline itself, I was so intrigued by Scarlett's story! I really wanted to find out if she did find her real dad and the whole background story from Christmas 2018 had me hooked! Bless Scarlett, she thought she was doing the right thing but in actual fact everyone kind of blamed her for the outcome! What I liked about this novel as well was that we read quite a bit about Scarlett's sister, Ellie, too. I enjoyed getting to know her and seeing what happened with her and Ashley.

Each sister had their own relationship issues, but it was nice to read about the family and about how well they came together to support each other through said issues. Ellie and Scarlett had a great family bond and you can easily see that. Nearer the end of novel, there's a huge twist that I certainly didn't see coming. It had me gripped and I sped through the pages! The only thing I would say is that it needed a little more festivity. I loved reading about the Christmas lights and Christmas Day, but I just wish there was more descriptions about it. Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

*sighs a happy sigh
You know when you smile when you finish a book, you are satisfied, replete, content? This book gives you that! It sparkles like snow, it warms like hot chocolate, it embraces like your favourite blanket, it uplifts like your favourite song. I want to move there!

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Having read all of Phillips's books I thoroughly enjoyed her Christmas books great strong characters excellent setting and something to make you think I would highly recommend this book.

I have always loved the Cornish series of books from Phillipa Ashley and this was no exception!
A festive romantic feel good book perfect for Xmas! Fantastic descriptions of the Cornish coast, brilliant characters particularly Scarlett Ellie Jude and Aaron and very topical with the food foraging and Xmas festival!
A great read that I would highly recommend
Thank you net galley for this early read!

O what an tangled web we weave. This fantastic story has plenty or twists and turns, this has been so well written that it would be easy to re-read it very quickly. This follows the characters from Porthmellow plus new ones as well making this novel really interesting. This author always gives us a wonderful read and I would recommend everyone to get this and enjoy it as much as I have.

Another great book from this author
This book is a stand-alone book.
I was hooked from the first page and it’s highly recommended

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Perfect Cornish Christmas begins on Christmas Day 2018 and ends on Christmas Day 2019. What happens in-between shows that whatever happens your family is your rock and your foundation.

Scarlett and Ellie Latham had no idea that their innocent Christmas present to their family would open a closet full of skeletons. As she stumbles into the Smuggler's Tavern in the Cornish harbour town of Porthmellow where a free festive "Lunch for the Lonely" is being held, she meets people that will figure in her life in the coming year.

As Scarlett moves into Seaholly Manor with her sister Ellie, she sets off to find answers to her questions regarding herself and her family. She learns that most members of her family have secrets that they have been hiding. She meets the handsome Jude Penberth and her sister falls for the mysterious Aaron Carman who lives just next door in Cove Cottage.

Scarlett finds the answers she was seeking but her assumptions might be a tiny bit off and once again there will be a Christmas to fix before it turns into another disaster.

Another enchanting visit to the Cornish coast. I loved the new characters, especially Scarlett, and was willing her to be happy. Quite a few unexpected twists and turns along the way, which gave me tears of laughter and sadness. Nice to bump into some old characters too, and see how they were getting on. A really good read.

Ashley's books are the ones you snuggle with on a chilly night with a mug of hot chocolate and this was exactly that. I haven't read any other book in this series, hence I couldn't recognize a few recurring people. But that didn't make a difference to how much I enjoyed the book.

All Scarlett wanted to do was to find out if she and her sister Ellie had any Viking blood in them, but the surprise is a bust as a dangerous secret is revealed during a family Christmas dinner. Scarlett, still recovering from it decides to move back to the Cornish town of Porthmellow to find more about all that she lost because of a well-kept secret by her other. She moves in with her sister, Ellie into the family mansion and goes about her investigation.

Both these ladies encounter love along the way, but turbulence and troubled time follow them like a shadow. Some hidden and well-placed twists add thrill to this cozy romance. The Winter Solistice Festival, which is one of a kind (and something I haven't heard of before) is the life of the book. The entire town coming together was truly a joy to read, The story gets repetitive and that is probably my only problem. We are told countless time about the now-broken family Scarlett and Ellie dwell in and how everyone is losing their calm and reliving that same evening again and again. The same thing keeps happening throughout the book and Honestly, it was a bit tiring.

Just like any other Christmas-y story, this one right here is about the importance of Christmas and family, and how it brings together people despite their differences. The story isn't all Christmas trees and reindeers (basically, not shoving everything Christmas-y on our face), but cute enough to continue the tradition and give us a story at the same time.

Just brilliant, Perfect, with the essence of the Christmas spirit flowing through the story, this is another charming and addictive read about two sisters over two Christmas’s. What more could you want from a Christmas book, family secrets, drama, fun, romance.A must read for all.

A Perfect Cornish Christmas was a delightful little story about a Christmas that goes horribly wrong and finding out that even the best intentions can open a major can of worms. This story ping-pongs between the two sisters, Scarlett and Ellie, so its kind of a two romances for the price of one, and neither disappointed.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Perfect Cornish Christmas by Phillipa Ashley a five-star read that will warm you up on a cold winter’s night. Scarlett and Ellie take you along with them as they uncover their history, if you like a good Christmas story then this is one for you, throw in the beauty of Cornwall and the setting of Porthmellow Harbour. It will wrap you up like a warm hug of a Christmas present and as you read the pages, you really do unravel the story like a delicious present. I have enjoyed Phillipa Ashley’s work before, but I loved this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is a feel good festive romance special. I have really enjoyed reading this book, this is a great Christmas read. I have liked the characters and the plot of this book. Overall, a delightful read.

Brilliant, entertaining story filled with interesting characters and twists.
Perfect mix of festive and intrigue, it kept me turning the pages!
Totally did not guess any of the twists!
Will definitely read more from this author 🥰

Wow, this story pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you up past bedtime, reading just one more chapter, then another lol. Its jam packed with family secrets, heartache, friendships, romance and a couple of teasers just to keep you on your toes. A book to definitely put on your Christmas list.

Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.

Everything you want from a Christmas book! This begins and ends at Christmas, making me look forward to the festive season, but wishing I was in Cornwall. I was immersed in cornish life from the first page, with the characters and storyline taking me on a journey of families in modern times affected by the past and more recent times. Loved it! Thank you

I was somewhat nervous picking up this book since I hadn't read any other of Phillipa Ashley's books in the Porthmellow Harbour series but had high hopes since I'd enjoyed a novel of hers from a different series. Those hopes were correct because A Perfect Cornish Christmas was a delightful read!

Scarlett and Ellie think they've found the PERFECT for their family on Christmas - a DNA test! Their Dad always spoke about his Viking Heritage and now they were excited to prove it or mock him endlessly if his lineage was lacking the Viking gene. When they unveil their gift, their mother suddenly gets very cagey and they quickly find out why, Scarlett's Dad isn't the one she grew up with.

Almost a year after the disastrous Christmas gift, Ellie and Scarlett are living together in their deceased Aunt's home in Porthmellow Harbour. Ellie has begun to make a new life there while Scarlett is trying to find out if this is where her life began and if her real father still remains. Meanwhile both start to find new relationships with men that may have secrets of their own.

I was immediately swept up in this story since we have ALL heard at least one story about someone finding out that their DNA test has proven that a parent/sibling/relative isn't actually blood and I was curious to read a fictitious take on this. It was charming with enough grit to keep it from being too sugary sweet. I kind of want to start my own lonely Christmas dinner after this!

Thank you to NetGalley and AvonBooks UK for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. Great characters and a great plot line. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Lovely festive read. It was a heart warming romance. It was a wonderful book to read. It was well written and flowed well.

I recieved this book via Netgalley and give it my honest review.
This books was a very festive read, it is Christmas joy from cover to cover. The characters were lovable and the settings were stunning, it made me want to spend Christmas in Cornwall! I recommend this festive read any time of the year, now can I put my Christmas tree up yet? Please?

After a terrible Christmas where Scarlet discovers that her father isn’t actually her father we are catapulted into a story of her family and their lives. We met her sister a Ellie who the novel also focuses on and we journey with them as they enjoy their time in Porthmellow. I loved the story line and the twist at the end was brilliant and well thought out. It’s enough to keep the pages turning of their own accord.
I struggled with the narrative flitting between the two sisters but eventually relaxed into it as I got used to it and enjoyed it. It was a built in tension builder and at points I was dying to get back to Scarlett or Ellie to see what was going to happen.
I love the descriptions and the real sense of Cornwall is captured perfectly. I felt the goosebumps on their arms as if I was really there. It makes me crave for that Cornish air. Spectacularly done.
It was great to return to Porthmellow, although it would have been nice for the other characters to have more than a fleeting mention in the book sometimes but that’s probably because I loved them so much the first time around I was intrigued to see where they had ended up.
Overall a fantastic novel, rich in humour and family love as well as romance. One to not put down and to get you dreaming of the Cornish coast.

Another great read from Trisha Ashley. I have not read any of the other books in the 'Cornish series' but look forward to doing so. The reader is taken on a journey following both the past and present events in the 'Latham' family which has the ability to affect the future of the family and their happiness. It all starts with the purchase of a DNA kit as a Christmas present which gives everyone a surprise that they did not expect or wish to have. We follow the ups and downs of the 'girls' lives and loves also. Will there be a happy ending? Read the book and you will find out!! Thanks netgalley for the free read.

When Scarlett & Ellie decide to surprise their parents with DNA ancestry test for Xmas they have no idea of the hole it will tear in their family.
9 months later Mum & Dad are barely speaking, Ellie is living in Seaholly Manor in Porthmellow and Scarlett unhappy in Birmingham moves into Seaholly with Ellie.
Determined to start again Scarlett throws herself into life in Porthmellow but doesn’t plan on being drawn into the preparations for the Christmas Festival or meeting the charismatic Jude Penberth.
Ellie has her own problems when her budding romance with handsome ex-soldier Aaron is thrown off course.
Can Porthmellow work it’s magic and give the sisters the Christmas they hope for and bring their family back together.
It’s great to catch up with some of the characters from A Perfect Cornish Summer, you don’t need to have read that one to enjoy this but why wouldn't you?

This is the second book in the Porthmellow series. I had read and enjoyed the first book, so I was pleased to receive an early preview copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publisher.
It was good to see characters from the first book, but some of them only had cameo parts. This makes the book easy to read as a standalone novel, but it would have been nice for them to have more involvement in the book.
The two main characters in this book are sisters Ellie and Scarlett. The book begins with their family Christmas in Porthmellow going disastrously wrong, as a secret is accidentally uncovered.
Almost a year later, Scarlett is determined to find out the truth, and moves to Porthmellow to be with her sister Ellie.
Without giving away any spoilers, Scarlett finds it is more difficult to learn the truth than she imagined.
Ellie and Scarlett become closer, and try to heal from their past, but with the secret hanging over them, they are finding it difficult to move forward with their lives.
The setting of the book is wonderful, and you can really imagine what a winter in rural Cornwall could be like, with strong storms. Welcoming cosy cottages and pubs, with a lot of community spirit.
There were a lot of Characters in this book, some likeable but some who I did not warm to very much.
The secret was not revealed until much later in the book, which was good, as it built up the tension. When the secret was revealed, it was not what I expected, and a little far-fetched. I also felt that the matter was brushed under the carpet a little, after the build up to it.
I still enjoyed the book, there was a good balance of humour and tension. I am looking forward to reading more books in the series.

Having read and enjoyed the first book in the series I jumped at the opportunity of reading an advance copy of this book.
It starts straight in with Scarlett running distraught into a local pub on Christmas day after leaving the family Christmas celebrations when a well - meaning present goes disastrously wrong. The story then unfolds with her sister Ellie and both their potential new relationships, plus their parents with their struggles.
Not necessarily a feel - good rom com there are dark parts counter-balancing the lighter hearted ones, but with a location in Cornwall that I would love to live in and characters from the previous one this makes for a book that I could really become involved in. Recommended.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

When Scarlett and Ellie decide to get their dna profiles researched to find out their family history it doesn’t go quite go to plan. Scarlett finds out the person who she thought was her dad isn’t and her dad then realised her mom had an affair. Scarlett eventually finds out who her dad is and it shocks both her and Ellie.
Can the family get over this hurdle and become one again.

Good book from a great author.

Phillipa Ashley was on my to-be-read list of authors for some time, so I am so glad that A Perfect Cornish Christmas was the first novel by her that I have read, because I really enjoyed it.

If you know me, you know Christmas stories are my absolutely favourite, and I can proudly say that I am happy that I have opened the season with this one.

Going into A Perfect Cornish Christmas I had no idea if it was a standalone or part of the series. It definitely read as a standalone, but then again, I know that Ashley has another book called A Perfect Cornish Summer so I believe they are companion novels (someone should update it to Goodreads, so we’d know!).

This story follows two sisters; Scarlett and Ellie. Since the story centres mostly around Scarlett, I would say she is our main character, but because we do get to follow the story from Ellie’s perspective as well, I’d say she is our second main character.
The story is written in third person.

When it comes to genres, I’d say that A Perfect Cornish Christmas is women’s fiction, or even general fiction with romance in it.
In the first place the story talks about family, and complicated relationships between people. It covers some serious topics that are result of people choices, and how they effect other’s lives.
It also talks about belonging and how it impacts us as beings, how it defines who we really are.

Romance is also part of this book and we get to follow two romance developments, one for each sister.

The third important part of the story, in my opinion, is Christmas itself. The setting, food, snow… basically everything that happens around Christmas time, and in this novel, there is a Christmas festival that takes place and is also nice addition to the fable.

I liked most of the characters, and disliked some that were negative ones.
The only character I simply couldn’t understand was Scarlett and Ellie’s mother. I don’t understand how could she kept quiet about everything even after the truth came to light.
I also had hard time understanding their father and his choice to stay with her in the same house while she was acting that way.

The only downside of the novel is that there are lots of repetitions and I felt like I was reading a 500 pages long book, when in reality it has 400 pages.

Overall, I think A Perfect Cornish Christmas is the one to curl up with during winter, so I recommend it to women’s fiction lovers.

Sisters Ellie and Scarlett have the best Christmas gift for their family. A DNA test to prove their Viking heritage, they are so excited to share the results on Christmas Day. Only there is more of a surprise than they were bargaining for. It appears that Ellie and Scarlett are only half sisters.

A year has passed and Scarlett returns to Cornwall to stay with Ellie, and maybe find out who her biological father really is. Along the way both sisters fall in love with men who make them each question things about themselves.

I enjoyed the second instalment of Phillipa Ashley’s Porthmellow series. I’m looking forward to reading more.

This story definitely has all the makings of a curl up in front of the fire read. It has a fascinating storyline which definitely has a lot of unexpected twists and turns in it.

Scarlett has the perfect gift for her family, a DNA test to find out their heritage. Unfortunately, this leads to some unexpected and very awkward family consequences. The relationship dynamics in this story certainly kept me on my toes.

I liked the sisters who the story is based around. The villagers of Porthmellow are an eccentric lot and having read A Perfect Cornish Summer, which is set there too, it was good to catch up with their lives; this story could easily be read as a standalone though.

I did really enjoy the story and thought it had some fascinating outcomes, which I certainly hadn't guessed. However, at times it did drag a little for me and I just wanted to skip bits to get on with the story. Having said that it is definitely worth a read.