Not the Christmas she wished for, but is that really that bad?

Synopsis

A solo getaway at an English country cottage is a pleasant way to spend the holiday—but it takes two to really make things merry . . .

Antonia prefers a quiet Christmas. She’s happy to spend it on her own, watching Hallmark holiday movies in her pyjamas, eating what she wants, when she wants.

Antonia’s friend Jules, on the other hand, loves a big Christmas celebration and plans on travelling to the Yorkshire Dales for a festive break. But when Jules breaks her leg, she persuades Antonia to make the trip on her behalf. Arriving at the little cottage, Antonia meets the handsome property agent Oliver. But she can’t escape the weird locals—or avoid embarrassing situations like mistaking a cow for a burglar.

As Christmas approaches, the attraction between Oliver and Antonia grows. She could choose to return to the bustling city and spend it alone. Or she could choose love and have a not so quiet Christmas . . .

My review

Antonia is not a people – person. She had one best friend, and now with Christmas lurking around the corner, the only way she wats to spend it, is alone, watching Hallmark movies and just do what she wants to do.
That is in big contrast with how her best friend Jules wants to celebrate the holiday. Jules want a big celebration and has also planned on spending it in Little Leatherington, in the house her aunt left her.
But breaking a leg, means that Jules need to find a solution. And what better solution than making Antonia go to the place and sort it all out as a start before renting the cute little cottage out?
But Little Leatherington is not London, and Antonia quickly finds herself surrounded by weird locals, awkward situations and finds it hard to acclimatize.
However, property agent Oliver with his good looks and kind character, helps Antonia out the best he can. And while the attraction grows, Christmas is getting closer too and due circumstances maybe this Christmas will be the total opposite she had initially planned…

I didn’t truly know what to expect when I started to read this story. But after finishing this story, I realized that even if I had not so very high expectations, I honestly enjoyed reading very bit of it, having a constant smile on my face.

I found Antonia very recognizable. She doesn’t like to make a big thing of Christmas and just want to indulge in whatever she likes. She isn’t very sociable, and has one great friend instead of a bunch ‘shallow’ ones.
Even if she was very recognizable, I found her also a bit of a sad character. Beside Jules, she doesn’t have many people around her. And the picture she has of her funeral after a certain event, broke my heart a little bit. Because that was a depressing thought.

So I was very curious what she would make of Little Leatherington, a village where everyone knows everyone and having a distant approach isn’t really appreciated.
Once she arrived, I had the best of time. Like I said before, Little Leatherington is the total opposite of London, and quickly Antonia realizes that keeping her distance is an impossible mission.

I found it heart – warming seeing how Antonia finds herself changing to a warmer, involved woman. Of course, the situations she finds herself in, were hilarious (an imitating cow as a burglar, needing rescue after a tour of discovering the place…)
But the thing I loved the most about this story, is how Antonia makes a real impact to other people. Not only there is grumpy ted that is finally finding himself laughing, but also Jason finds someone who doesn’t judge him when he tells another useless bit of information.
And little Seb, struggling with his parents’ divorce and staying with his mother Lizzie, oh that little boy just won me totally over. Even when he has a sugar rush, my heart kept melting. And then I’m not saying anything about his meeting with Santa!

This was not a love story in the “woman falls in love with a man” kind, but this was more a story about discovering what truly works for you, so maybe it’s more a story about a story about falling in love with what you could be and falling in love with a whole community. What we know and what we are used to doesn’t mean that it’s the way it should stay. Antonia realizes that a real community that sticks together can make a huge impact on someone’s life.
And that having a Christmas out of your comfort zone could be the right push to see a whole different kind of opportunities.

If you want to read about the real Christmas Spirit and fall in love and have a huge smile on your face, I truly recommend this book! This author was a real discovery for me and I cannot wait to read more!