Tuesday 27 September 2016

Book Review - Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky by Holly Martin - Blog Tour

Amazon UK
Title: Christmas Under A Cranberry Sky
Author: Holly Martin
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 22nd September 2016
Rating: 5 Stars


This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts… 

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life travelling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away. 

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again. 

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace. 

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home? 

Curl up with this gorgeously romantic tale and let the glistening snow and the roaring fires of Stardust Lake Hotel get you in the festive spirit this Christmas. 

Having just finished and been astounded by Christmas Under A Cranberry Sky, I think I am fairly safe in declaring Holly Martin a queen of the Christmas book, so with that in mind I am delighted that there is a second book in this series out soon. 

But let's talk about this one first, from the simply gorgeous cover, to the simply stunning setting, I really didn't want this book to end, everything about it is pure enjoyment, designed to get you in the festive spirit. I can't believe its September and I am currently really feeling quite Christmassy after reading this book. 

Juniper Island is a one town island near the Shetlands, and Piper is a mystery guest who has been travelling around the world for 10 years reviewing hotels. who comes to Juniper Island for Christmas to review The Stardust Lake Hotel that is just opening. 

She has a personal connection to the island as she last visited with her best friend and love of her life back when she was a child, so is keen to see what the new owner of the hotel has done to the place. Little does she expect to come face to face with Gabe who she hasn't seen for many years. 

As Piper is guided around the resort, it becomes apparent just how much thought the author has put into creating this magical and wintery sounding place, from the magnificent ice palace, complete with ice carvings courtesy of a previous character of Holly's, to the glass igloos where if you are lucky you may be able to see the Northern lights. 

I actually melted when Piper is shown the Christmas market that is going to be a permanent fixture of the town called Christmas. As you go into each shop it is clear how much care has been put into every little details, from the arrangement of the snow globes in the snow globe shop, to the six (I think it was) different flavours of chocolate fountains, in the chocolate shop. Each shop and villager is specialising in a different wintery or Christmas craft or food, so all the shops can live in harmony with each other.  It was at this point where I was on social media begging people to let me fly to Juniper Island then and there!

There is some wonderful wildlife on the island too, from the group of shetland ponies that terrorise everyone, and could ultimately cause the tourists problems, to the adorable puppies and not to mention what every Christmas themed resort needs, real life reindeer, all 8 plus Rudolph. There is one very funny and memorable scene involving the reindeer that is brilliant. 

Wren is Gabe's 4 year old daughter, and she takes an instant liking to Piper, asking her all sorts of tricky questions that only someone with a childlike innoncence would.At times she sounds wiser than her 4 years, and then the rest of the time is she your typical child, who loves her new home, and has a huge love of all things Frozen. 

With an adorable child, adding to Gabe's overall appeal its little wonder there is a strong romance element brewing in this story, and although there are some will they won't they moments, I hope I'm not spoiling the book too much from saying that if you are a fan of the author you know she loves a HEA, and with it being Christmas, I was hoping and praying for the only outcome that I would have found acceptable! 

Christmas Under a Cranberry Sky has easily moved into my top three Holly Martin books, and I am eagerly awaiting, like a kid at Christmas, for the second book in the A Town Called Christmas series. 

Thank you so much to Bookouture and Holly Martin for this review copy. This was my honest opinion. 



1 comment:

  1. Great review. Thanks for sharing! I love Holly Martin so this will be going on my holiday TBR!

    ReplyDelete

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