Can a strange dream tell you your future?

Synopsis

Alisha Jones, or Princess Christmas as she is affectionately known, is joint heir to her Grandpa Frost’s family fortune, but being third behind an older sister and brother means she has to work three times as hard to prove herself.

Marsha Underwood, her grandpa’s PA and ever-present thorn in her side, is determined to undermine her at every turn and Alisha finds herself powerless to prevent this.

An encounter with a fortune teller at the Frost Christmas Ball leads to a bewildering dream of the future; and the added complication of Tom Walker, the son of Frost’s new business partner leads to a tumultuous year.

With her friends by her side, will she be able to turn things around? And what exactly does the strange dream mean?

A story of family, friendship and love at first sight with a sprinkle of Christmas magic

My review

Alisha Jones is working for the family business, with her Grandpa Frost at the reins. While she is known as Princess Christmas, life isn’t exactly going how she wants. Because being the younger sister to her siblings, she has to work three times as hard. And her Grandpa’s PA Marsha is taking advantage of every opportunity to put Alisha in a bad light. When at the Frost Christmas Ball Alishe meets a fortune teller, it makes her have one of the strangest dreams involving a cranberry. And according that same fortune teller, her dream will tell her about her future husband. But while that dream keeps lingering around, Alisha is facing the most difficult year in her life, as she finds herself in the middle of more than just one turmoil. And then there is Tom Walker, son of Frost’s new business partner… Will things turn around for Alisha with the help of her friends? Or will this year will end in another disaster?

Even if I am not a believer of fortune tellers, I can enjoy their presence in a story, especially in a Christmas story. And of course in this book, that presence is adamant as it gives Alisha some clues about her future!

I can only try to imagine the hardship of working in a family business. And Alisha being the youngest of the siblings, it for sure is clear that Alisha is being compared to her siblings all the time.

It’s not only that Alisha is doing her very best at her job, and she is rather good at it, but it angered me to read how Marsha is seemingly keeping her pushing out of everything, not only out of her job but in a way also out of the family.

It felt like Alisha can’t do anything good, can’t live up to the extreme expectations, can’t show her worth. Luckily she has a strong clique of loyal friends, that not only push her to stand up for herself, but would walk on water for her.

I have to admit, while reading, I felt a lot of anger. Not because that story was a bad one, but just because the behaviour of those around Alisha. I am not only talking about Marsha, who is so obvious yet nobody sees her true character.

But what truly made me furious, was reading how her own family acts towards her. Now, it isn’t that it’s a bad family, because they aren’t. However, when Alisha needs their support the most, she finds herself all alone in her fight.

Alisha is in this book going through a few mindfucks. She is worried about the business, as there is something going on there, and not the legit way. But only on a personal level things aren’t that straightforward. Her ex did something really dirty on her, and that he is still around for sure doesn’t help.

And the appearance of Tom only adds even more worries.

It was sweet to see how Alisha and Tom meet, as he for sure seems the perfect gentleman. But I have to say, he didn’t really do it for me. Not only because he has his own issues that need to be solved (and those are big issues!), but he isn’t honest from the very start. It’s not that he is a bad guy, but I didn’t fall in love with him like I often do with the love interest of the main character.

Nevertheless, I could understand why Alisha finds herself attracted to him, as he is down to earth, easy to talk to and sparks do fly around them.

Initially I thought this would be a real romance, how Alisha would find that special person. And I was expected some kind of drama before a wonderful ending.

But I realized rather quickly that this wasn’t just a romance story, but “just” a story about a woman going through a difficult period.

It’s a story about Alisha learning to fight for what and who she loves. She fights for her place in the business, she fights for the business in general. She fights against wrongdoings, even when cast away from and by her loved ones. But Alisha also learns that what she sees, isn’t always how the cards are truly laying.

She fights for love, trying to find out where her future lays, with the help of people that will always have her back.

Obviously there are several funny moments in this book, created intentionally by the characters or not. So there is a lot love found around while reading. And that is the most important, because no matter what happens in your life, if you have that love and support, you can come through everything. While Alisha feels alone at some moments, by not knowing what truly is going on, she doesn’t see the bigger picture and trust that she is in fact not alone.

At moments this felt like a heavy book to read, as Alisha is struggling through a lot. But with the addition of Christmas, and its magic, it added extra lightness to it, with also the help of Alisha’s friends and just Alisha’s bubbly character. A character that is also very recognizable, as that bubbliness cannot be constantly present.

Despite everything happening to Alisha, I found this a heartwarming story, about a lovely character on the search. A search that doesn’t come easy as there are a lot of hurdles to take. But with determination, inner growth and believing in yourself and in your own strength, even the worst of situations can be changed. And that one thing you are looking for, can be found, as long as you don’t let yourself hold back.