Every Day in December

I really enjoyed this book, and I liked the format. Each chapter is one day in the month of December, from the point of view of one of the main characters. I felt that I really got to know both of the characters well, and it was lovely to watch their story unfold. With all that is going on in our world, it was therapeutic to settle into this story and forget everything else for a bit. ❤️🇬🇧

Absolutely delightful. I read it in one sitting. A perfect Christmas romance read...or to be more accurate a perfect Christmas in July romance read.

This was a delightful read. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters. At first this starts off as one of these books where everything goes wrong for the heroine who gets fired from her job. But Belle is so much more interesting than just being a bad-luck magnet. She’s had an unfortunate childhood with selfish parents who clearly prefer her sister. But she has one really good friend and is godmother to a sweet little girl. The relationship between Belle and her goddaughter is simply lovely.

Enter Rory who has suffered a terrible tragedy for which he can’t get over his sorrow and guilt. He’s been running away from his life for the past five years but now he’s back to help his mother through a health emergency. He runs into Belle whom he knew from their college times. He’s struck by Belle’s strength and determination to make something of her life even though she’s broke and just lost her job.

However, she has one thing going for her. She’s built an enormous website about Shakespeare and has a dream of introducing school children to Shakespeare. Rory tries to help her and she vows to help him learn to enjoy Christmas.

What follows a slow-burn friendship-to-romance story that I couldn’t put down.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I love kitty Wilson books and couldn’t wait to read this one. I certainly wasn’t disappointed at all different from her Cornish village books but a light heart read and has plenty packed in and great how you go through each day of December. Plenty of romance anxiety cancer and family dynamics and you get drawn in straight away. Perfect read and has the festive spirit thrown in to.
Belle loves Christmas so much has just lost her job and not the best time to find her myself a job and you have her parents who think she should be settled down but will she find the right person.
Then you have Rory who hates Christmas but comes home for the month with his mother ill has he done the right thing and in the month of December will the two find romance or will they run out of time.
Worth far more than five stars and a perfect festive read.

One More Chapter is fast becoming my go-to publisher on Netgalley! Perfect reads for every occasion and season and this was no exception. The main character's voice hooked me immediately and I enjoyed the two person POV which doesn't work in every case. A lighthearted summer romance - thoroughly enjoyable!

Every Day in December is such a wonderful read! The story follows Belle and Rory as they reconnect and teach each other about friendship, love, and the holiday spirit. There are so many dynamic characters in this story. Rory and Belle, of course, are fantastic. They are both well-developed, relatable protagonists with real issues and worries. Rory and Belle both struggle with their feelings, and guilt, fear, and uncertainty hold them back. They’re both so insecure, especially when it comes to being vulnerable and opening up to love. Each fears rejection, loss, and being hurt so much that it limits the connections they make with people and how far they’re willing to take their relationship. Rory, in particular, is burdened with guilt, and he has much to reconcile before he can truly move forward in life. I think both characters grow a lot throughout the story, and they are good influences on each other.

I love that Belle and Rory develop such a great friendship. Since they knew each other from college, the foundation was already there, but the way they reconnect is lovely. They care for and support each other, and they are so good for each other. They lift each other up, feel safe with each other, and their slow-building romance is absolutely wonderful. Though they are different in many ways, they complement each other well, and I think having no expectations other than friendship really allows them to be at ease with each other.

Belle often brings out the lighthearted side of Rory, and Rory offers Belle some normalcy in the midst of her often chaotic life and family. He shows her unequivocal support, which is something that few have done before, and Belle shows Rory how to live again. I love that both welcome each other into their fold, introducing them to the most important people in their lives. They spend a lot of time together in one month and really get to know and understand each other. This leads to a lot of enchanting fun and even more longing. They are definitely a couple you want to root for!

Other characters in the story are also well developed and compelling. I adored Rory’s mother! She is fun and funny, and she is very wise. Her story is emotional, and her love for life is fantastic. Belle’s goddaughter is another wonderful addition to the story, and I loved the scenes with her in it. She brings a bit of levity to the story, and her innocent enthusiasm is adorable. Belle has such a strong relationship with her goddaughter and is very committed to her, which says a lot about her character and what’s important to her. I think this endears her to Rory even more, much like Rory’s relationship with his mother endears him to Belle.

The holiday spirit is strong in this story, and it brings such a hopeful and positive tone to the book. However, I like that the author also highlighted how difficult the holidays can be for some people. I’ve lost people close to me, and I always find the holidays a bit bittersweet. I feel like the story shows the ups and downs of grief really well while not allowing it to overshadow the hopefulness of the season.

I also love all of the conversations about Shakespeare. Shakespeare is Belle’s passion, and she works so hard to bring her love of the Bard to students in her area. Her enthusiasm for Shakespeare is infectious, and she proves that we can still relate to the themes, stories, and sayings that Shakespeare created. As a former English teacher, I adored this part of the story! Belle inspires, and that’s a wonderful testament to her skill and sincerity.

A touching, slow-burn romance with wonderful characters and a heart-warming love story, this is a fabulous holiday read. This is my first read by Kitty Wilson, but it certainly isn’t my last! Thanks so much to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book and found this to be a real page turner. The format is different which made it interesting. It is written across the month of December.

I felt that the subject of breast cancer was handled sensitively .

Despite it being July, I loved reading about the Christmas themes and storyline and can imagine this will make a lovely book for people to read in December.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Every day in December by Kitty Wilson

A really well written book filled with emotions, character, humour alongside lots of twists. Also their are many people that are not what you perceive them to be, a snapshot of life's awkward situations.

A page turner that will keep you engrossed from start to finish. It is a truly slow burn of a story that builds into a climax and covers many sensitive issues beautifully whilst making you love and hate the main character in equal measure.

Well worth the read and doesn’t disappoint.

This is a thoughtful, slow burn romance that draws from the friends to lovers trope. The heroine, Belle, has a well written character arc, and is a relatable heroine to champion. The love interest Rory is facing two inner conflicts - both handled with care due to their sensitive nature - though the realisations he needs to come to seem to stall just as they were about to 'kick in'- this became a little frustrating as a reader - likely for Belle too, so quite realistic. Another strength of this book were the supporting characters - all richly drawn - and the relationships the two main characters had with those around them were believable and added another layer to the story. I did think the pace in the middle of the narrative dropped off a little, but it picked up perfectly by the climax.

Trigger warnings: breast cancer and death of a loved one.

Rory and Belle were casual friends in college, but haven’t seen each other in 5 years. Their paths cross at the beginning of December through friends and family and spend a significant amount of time together through the month of December. They’re complete opposites: Rory is serious where Belle is carefree; Belle is a bit wild while Rory is cautious; Rory hates Christmas and Belle loves it. Somehow, this unlikely couple learn to love themselves and heal past hurts.

The main characters and side characters are so much fun! Marsha, a 5 year old little girl, totally stole the show. I really connected to Belle with her love of Christmas and books as well as her spunky personality. Rory is broken but sweet and I loved his grand gesture at the end. This book is perfect for those who love a cozy, sweet Christmas read with a tiny bit of steam thrown in!

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

A warm, easy to read, feel good, romantic comedy....what could be better.

Belle absolutly loves christmas and wants every bpdy to share her joy. She also has an absolute passion for shakespeare, with her dream to take it into schools in order that children learn about this highly successful author. Money is tight but Belle is not afraid of hard work, taking 2 jobs to raise some funds to begin her crusade.

Rory has returned for a month to be with his mum who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. 5 years ago he lost his beloved wife Jess in a car accident and hates christmas witb a passion.
A chance meeting with Belle leads to recognition that they know each other from college days.

Each starts a private agenda....belle to introduce Rory to the delights of christmas, Rory to help Belle get her dream off the ground.

A strong bond and friendship develops between the pair, with both of them facing their own ghosts. But is this enough for the pair to be able to make peace with the past and make a future together.

Lovely read, highly recommend.

A great read. I loved Belle and Rory's story it was beautiful and very well written. Belle first notices Rory one new years eve at the hospital where her best friend is giving birth to her daughter, and Five years later when their paths cross again they spend most of December together as Belle tries to make him love Christmas as much as she does ,They share a special friendship but as Rory is still grieving from a terrible loss can they become more than just friends as they enjoy some magical Christmas magic. A 5⭐read

I first read Kitty's Cornish Village School series, which I loved, so jumped at the opportunity of receiving an ARC of her latest book.
Belle is a Shakespeare - loving girl who has a history of disastrous relationships, overbearing parents and who has just been made redundant. Rory has just returned from Australia, where he has escaped to following the death of his fiance 5 years before, to be with his mother who has cancer. They knew each other from years before, but now are becoming friends again whilst Belle tries to get Rory to overcome his dislike of Christmas.
It is always interesting reading a Christmas themed book in the middle of what is meant to be an English summer, but I personally don't have trouble with this. I prefer stories where the emphasis is on characters, rather than just situations, and this certainly fills that role. Both Belle and Rory have issues that they need to overcome and have growing feelings for each other that they try to hide, with varying degrees of success. The supporting characters add to the story, especially 5 year old Marsha, giving an overall warm theme.
Maybe not for those who prefer more dramatic storylines, but if you enjoyed films such as Love Actually you will love this book.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book and I have already pre-ordered it as Kitty is on my list of must - read authors.

Kitty loves everything about Christmas and Shakespeare but has just lost her job and is skint again
Rory hates Christmas after losing his fiancee 5 years ago and has come back from Australia to see his mum who has cancer
They bump into each other again having known each other since uni but lost touch. Kitty is determined to get Rory to like Christmas and Rory tries to help Kitty get her Shakespeare project off the ground to earn her some money
A fab story of what they are getting up to each day of December

This is a fabulous book. One of those that you end up reading into the wee hours or rushing jobs so you can find out what happens next! The characters are enormously likeable, I found myself really rooting for both Belle and Rory, and even the surrounding minimal characters, such as Temperance are entertaining. I would highly recommend and will be looking for more books by Kitty Wilson!

Every Day in December by Kitty Wilson a five-star read that would warm even the coldest winter day. I simply adored this story, and the way this author wrote all of the words, they just flowed on from each other and created a sublime story, that was reminiscent of the famous prose quoted throughout. Belle and Rory are real, they aren’t all gloss and lightness, they are real, they have issues and families that show it’s a shame you can’t always pick them, but sometimes you get a very good one. This was just a story that gave me all of the warm and fuzzies, even a certain house gave me good feelings. This story was so well done in the aspect of out and around Brissol and Bath, it was nice seeing the places come alive on the page, it’s been a while since I have been able to get there, and it just made me desperate to pop to the Mall or go sledding down the hill.

What a heart- warming read!

I received a copy of this wonderful book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first Kitty Wilson’s read and she did not disappoint. Having gown up in England I loved the setting, and the December time of year with all the Christmas buzz was so spot on!

The sweet relationship between Rory and Belle felt natural and their character development wonderful to see. The drama of the complex family dynamics, death of a loved one and falling in love kept me reading to the early hours!

Wow, I loved this one so, so much! First time reading this author and what a pleasant surprise.

The story is presented in a day by day format in December, when Belle and Rory meet again. They already knew each other from uni, but were not close friends. Rory is visiting his mother who's been diagnosed with breast cancer, and Belle has just been let go from her job and is trying to survive the holiday season.

I really liked to read the progression of the friendship between Belle and Rory, as she helped him learn to like Christmas and as he helped her with the Shakespeare project. She has a family who doesn't appreciate her and he's not over losing his long-time partner five years ago.
The secondary characters were well-rounded and pivotal to the story as well, but the way Belle and Rory become better friends each day, falling in love with each other, really made it for me.

To make it even better, it should have an epilogue, even a brief one, like a year later at Christmas, so the ending is not so rushed.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This book was like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket.. If I could give more than 5⭐️ I would.

Back in college, Rory and Belle, were friends, but not close friends. They’ve not seen each other since, that was 5 years ago. Something happened and Rory left as he thought that’d help him deal with his feelings. Now, he’s come back to be with his mother, whose also dealing with a health matter.
At the beginning of December they meet through friends, begin spending quite a lot of time together. But they are totally different from each other, as Belle is a bit wild, happy-go-lucky and Rory is wary.
Another thing that is different is that Rory hates Christmas, Belle loves it. But still, they start learning to love how they are themselves and also begin to heal from the past.

I loved these two as well as the other characters who were funny, especially Marsha. Belle’s love of Christmas and books was addictive, which matched her personality.
Rory is still trying to deal with his feelings for what happened years ago.
His way of telling Belle how he feels at the end was sweet and I loved it.
The book, is perfect for those who love a warm, sweet Christmassy read, enough to get you into the Christmas spirit.

Highly Recommend It.

Oh my gosh! I really just adored this book!

I hate most things Christmas but for whatever reason I am a sucker for Christmas books. This book may be tops of the Christmas themed books for me.

This book follows Belle and Rory through the month of December as they reignite a friendship from college. Belle is determined to remind Rory of the magic of Christmas and he is a begrudging participant.

This is just so charming, fun, sweet but not too much. It's the perfect balance of good and a wee bit of dark. I loved every moment of it.

I highly recommend this book to those wanting a bit of magic in their holiday!

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an eARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A lovely story about the different kinds of grief people hold onto, what they can look like, and how they can impact our relationships.

Belle loves December and the holidays and everything that comes with it. Her life long love is Shakespeare, and she has spent most of her life poring over his works; translating them into language that people can understand, and researching every aspect of his plays and sonnets. Her dream is to get her vast collection of information into the school system, and to make Shakespeare more accesible to children of all ages.

Rory hates December and everything that reminds him of it. He lost someone important to him on a December evening, and has decided that love is too difficult to lose, and won't ever open himself up to it again.

Rory's job brings him back into Belle's life as he is trying to improve the reputation of her celebrity chef father. Belle decides to take on the task of getting Rory to enjoy December again, and they start growing closer. Rory is only in the country for the month of December, and both wonder if a relationship would work or even be worth pursuing.

Every day in December is recorded in the book, and told from either Rory or Belle's perspective, which I thought was a wonderful way to tell the story. The romance is very much a slow burn, and watching their friendship bloom was truly enjoyable.

I thorougly enjoyed this book. I loved watching each of them grow in various ways, and the interactions between the two of them were heartwarming.

Thank you so much to Kitty Wilson, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This book took me completely by surprise with the amount of love I now have for it. This is one giant, cozy, wrap me up in a blanket with a big cup of hot chocolate next to a fireplace with Christmas lights everywhere type of book. Yes that was a long sentence, but that’s seriously what I felt like the entire time.

This book is so insanely wholesome and sweet and is absolutely a new favorite and one I’ll be reaching for every Christmas time. This book is just so wonderful and comforting and beautiful and perfect!

These characters were real, raw, and so authentic and watching them grow throughout the book was so amazing. I adored them each on their own as much as them together. It was beautiful witnessing how they brought out the best in each other and gradually started letting each other in through all the walls they’ve build.

This story was so beautiful and I will highly recommend this to be an addition to everyone’s Christmas reading tbr and be ready to be blown away by the sweetness and pure joy that this book will bring you!

*Thank you Netgalley for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

Every Day in December is a unique spin on the standard romance book - and I loved it! A great read no matter if you like romantic books or not.

This is a refreshing and modern romance with a shakespearean flavour! I absolutely adored this book. This novel isn't a fluffy and simple love story but a relatable and believable story dealing with loving again after a loss. I enjoyed how the book's characters had real flaws and personal issues which really gives this book more depth to it. The Shakespeare touch was just lovely and I loved how it gives a nod to another true great romantic writer!
Belle, Rory and all the other characters really make this book. They're so well created that I found myself completely immersed in their world. The Christmas setting just added to the book's charm.
I also let out a little squel at the end of the book! This is the perfect romatic read.

I read a few reviews before requesting this book and when I saw that each chapter was a day in December I had to pick up this book. I had previously read books with this kind of style and I really enjoy reading them. I had just gotten through a couple of not-so-great books so to read this one was like a breath of fresh air. I love a simple slow-burn romance to relax and unwind with at the end of the day. Would recommend this one! Maybe better to read it a little closer to Christmas.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book warmed my soul - I had been crying out for a good Christmas read as we are in the middle of winter in NZ and I needed an escape to a wintery christmas wonderland. This book filled that void and ticked all my boxes - tragedy, family dynamics, christmas, love, things going constantly wrong until everything just makes sense and you finish the book with a happy heart, a best friend with a baby!

I felt like I personally knew every character and they were so loveable and realistic.

I was a very happy christmas pig reading this book and I can't wait to dig into more by Kitty.

Christmas books are my guilty pleasure. This one is going to be so popular! It has everything I look for in a sweet treat Christmas book! There are likable, fun characters who develop beautifully as the story goes on. There is hope and magic in the air and it was just such a feel good experience!

Loved the characters, loved the storyline, loved the every day in December format and adored the Shakespearean focus. Just perfect for me.

Such a heartwarming book!
Both Belle and Rory are going through personal things and are brought together due to her new career. Aside from their differences, essentially one being Belle's love for Christmas and Rory's dislike of it, they make it work. I loved seeing their interactions with each other and especially Rory letting his guard down. This book was a slow burn, second chance meet but so good. I recommend it if you are looking for a new romance book!

So far this is my favorite Christmas romance for 2021 (I know it's August, I'm reading a bunch for NetGalley!)

Belle is a bit scattered but has a big heart, an encyclopedic knowledge of Shakespeare and a spotty track record when it comes to jobs and dating. Her parents are horrible and mostly the reason why she is insecure.

Belle's father is a celebrity chef with a bit of a PR problem and he hires Rory as a reputation manager. Turns out Rory went to university with Belle. So they start talking and Belle takes on the role as Rory's Christmas Elf to help him enjoy the holiday season. She's a delight and I was totally caught up in her joy for Christmas and her love for the people who matter to her. Her goddaughter Marsha is the perfect sidekick for some of these adventures.

I loved the story being told from December 1 - December 31. It made the instalove romance come across as more realistic. Plus it gave us both Belle and Rory's point of view.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

Two people. One month to fall in love.
Belle Wilde loves December. Yes, she’s just lost her job and Christmas is not a good time to find yourself ‘financially challenged’. And yes, her parents are still going on about the fact that she really should have it all together by now. But Belle believes that in December, magic can happen.
Rory Walters hates December. Whilst it looks like his life is together, he’s still reeling from a winter’s night five years ago when his life changed forever. Now back at home, he’s certain that this will be yet another Christmas to endure rather than enjoy.
But as midnight on 31st December draws closer, Belle and Rory’s time together is coming to an end. With a little help from a Christmas miracle could Belle find the one thing she really wants underneath the mistletoe?
Ahhhhhh this book was lovely! I loved the story and the characters because they were real, flawed with all that that encompasses. I wont spoil the story just be aware that its full of Christmas and will make you want it to be the run up to Christmas! There will be tears, anger and laughter but most of all there will be love.....................or will there?

This was a beautifully crafted story about a woman and man, each with their own insecurities and losses, but with so much to give to the world, and possibly each other, if they could be brave enough to chance it.
The story is presented in a day by day format in December, when Belle and Rory meet again. They already knew each other from uni, but were not close friends. Rory is visiting his mother who's been diagnosed with breast cancer, and Belle has just been let go from her job and is trying to survive the holiday season. The story was pretty cute and I liked the friends to lovers plot. Belle is a fun character who keeps a positive attitude even when things aren't going well for her. She's great with kids and her enthusiasm is infectious. Rory is a bit of a downer, but he's a nice guy and tries to help Belle with getting her dream job started. They're playful together and have some sweet moments and I liked seeing Rory open up.

I LOVE the idea of a chapter for every day in December!! This book gave me all the holiday romcom feels in spades!! The story was so engaging and each chapter was so perfect that I found myself unable to put the book down this week!

This is the kind of book that leaves you with so much hope and positivity for the future. I love imagining how Belle and Rory could possible top their December and only wish that there was going to be a continuation or an epilogue to give me a little bit more of the story! Nonetheless it was actually quite perfect the way it is and I'm feeling ready for the holidays in the middle of Summer and excited for everyone else to read this lovely book!!

I adored this story. It’s the perfect mix of romance and all things Christmassy.
I want Belle to be my new best friend - her zest for life and love of Christmas obviously makes her the brilliant choice. She has such a great personality and needs to give herself far more credit than she does for inspiring everyone around her. I loved her relationship with Martha, so wonderful and warm and I loved how she opened up when they’re together.
The use of the whole month of December to build the friendship between Rory and Belle was very clever and allowed us to see first hand how they got to know one another again. A brilliant story and one that I’ll look to reread each year at Christmas time.

This NetGalley review is given of my own free will in exchange for an early release reading for an honest review. This is the perfect love story to restore your faith in humanity and healing. We follow MCs Belle and Rory as they are both trying to overcome things- Belle with self doubt and Rory with survivor’s guilt- while bonding together in friendship. Belle vows to help Rory find joy in Christmas, whilst Rory assists Belle with her true passion of Shakespeare education. There is a happily ever after in this tale and it is worth your time to read!

Belle and Rory, who knew each other from their student days, meet up again by chance. Both suffering for different reasons, can they help each other? Belle loves Christmas but Rory doesn't, will the Christmas magic help them find happiness? I loved the fact that each chapter focuses on a different day in December. Real friendship develops between them and you can't help but be excited about what might happen. A truly lovely Christmas read.

I loved this book! I thought the characters were great, especially the main character, Belle. The plot was engrossing and fun. I was so eager to see what would happen next. I just couldn’t put it down. Belle is a single thirty something who has not quite found her pathway in life. She has a huge project that she works on about Shakespeare. It is her passion, but she has no idea how to use it to make a living. She meets an old college friend, Rory. Belle hasn’t seen him for years as he has been living in Australia, but she knows he has a tragedy in his past. The friends reconnect right before Christmas. This novel has everything I love with a great sprinkling of Christmas cheer. I enjoyed every second of it. Thanks to Harper Collins UK One Moe Chapter and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel.

Kitty Wilson is a 'new to me" author, so reading the blurb was what attracted me to the story. I mean, who doesn't love a Christmas Romance story?
This was a beautifully crafted story about a woman and man, each with their own insecurities and losses, but with so much to give to the world, and possibly each other, if they could be brave enough to chance it.
Despite coming from a family of means, Belle Wilde is determined to make it, by herself in this world. She has her love of Shakespeare, and a lifelong project she needs help to launch, but there is no way she wants to take money from her parents, especially since her famous father doesn't really rate her chances at anything in life.
Christmas is looming and faced with a jobless festive season, she goes about thinking of the cheap and cheerful gifts she could bring home when she unexpectedly bumps into Rory, an old acquaintance from student days.
Now, Belle, she loves Christmas. Rory? Not so much,
After the loss of his wife in December a few years previously, Christmas has lost its sparkle for him.
Somehow, after finding out about Belle's secret project, he finds himself entwined in her life every day of that festive month, as she slowly teaches him how to love Christmas, and quite possibly other things, again.
Each chapter of the book is set on a different day in December and I loved it all!
Belle's goddaughter, Marsha is a firecracker of a five-year-old, and I absolutely loved Angela, cancer-stricken mum of Rory, with spunk to match that of Belle's!
Filled with a real slow burn of a romance, building a casual friendship up into something rarely found in relationships, this was a lovely read that I have to admit made me shed a tear of sentimental happiness at the end, too!
I'd love to read a bonus chapter, a year on. What is happening in the world of Belle and Rory? Is Marsha still crazy but oh-so-cute? Did Angela's Secret Santa tradition keep on going? How is that Shakespeare project progressing? And, what is happening with Belle and Rory?
Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I always feel August is a little early to read a Christmas book, especially as I was on holiday in thirty-five degree heat at the time. Actually, it was a brilliant way to cool down, so evocative were the descriptions of sledging on tin trays and making snow angels I actually felt cold!

Christmas, however, is just the backdrop to this heart-warming story and the characters are just wonderful. If I felt for Belle, and wanted to scream at her awful parents in anguish, I seriously fell in love with Rory; he too has heavy baggage to carry but it doesn’t follow him around like a thundercloud and you know from the start he is still capable of love and lightness.

Being Kitty Wilson, this is a funny book and will make you laugh out loud… Chardonnay and her pilot… Belle’s unusual ally when she has to play Christmas fairy… all beautifully crafted moments. But the love story takes centre stage; believable, real and flawed. I absolutely loved it.

I can describe this novel in one word: ADORABLE. But there are many other words I could use to: lovely, romantic, soul-wrenching, beautiful, wonderful. I just loved it, and even though I read it in August - I will definitely read this again in December. What a wonderful christmas gift this would make!

I will admit that I struggled with the first chapter but then I was hooked. This turned out to be an enjoyable read, the characters were well written and the story flowed very well. |Dual characters and dual cities making this interesting and well worth reading. I am giving this 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgally and publisher for this eARC

I loved this book! It was heartfelt & sweet. I enjoyed the style it was written in, with each chapter a day in December from the first through the thirty-first. I also like how it was told from both Belle & Rory's point of view. I enjoyed Belle wasn't your typical romance novel heroine. She's a bit of a mess but really smart with her idea for sharing Shakespeare with children. Rory isn't the typical romance hero either as he has his own issues. I highly recommend reading this book to see how their story goes.

Thanks to the publisher, author, & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review