Book Review - Countdown to Christmas by Jo Thomas - Blog Tour

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Title: Countdown to Christmas

Author: Jo Thomas

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Penguin

Publication Date: 12th October 2023

Rating: 5 Stars

Chloe can't wait for Christmas . . . to be over! Her son Ruben is staying with his dad and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays altogether. Her only festive touch is her son's advent calendar, to help count down the days till he's home again.

But a surprise call changes everything. Chloe might be the unexpected owner of some land in Canada! Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'

In a flash, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .

For a happy Christmas read full of romance and festive surprises, choose Jo Thomas.

Will have you craving Maple syrup and pancakes, while wishing you were in a picturesque lakeside location in the French part of Canada. 

At least I'd be quite happy to hop on a plane to visit this Maple Tree forest, but perhaps not a Christmas as it really does sound incredibly cold.

I think Ruben's advent calendar has to be one of the stars of this book, and I also loved Ike the Turkey, and his starring role. 

Through the advent calendar, Ruben challenges his mum Chloe to do different small things each day which can have a big impact, and to help her pass the time until he's back from a month long trip to visit his father. 

In the meantime Chloe discovers she may be the heir to some land in Canada, and flies out to work out just how she might be connected to this long lost relative and to find out if its genuine etc.. 

I loved the descriptions of Canada, and of Chloe trying to get used to the rather remote location where she is staying.  And seeing her get to know the local community 

This was a totally absorbing read, which I devoured in a few short hours. It took my mind off my most recent Covid jab and possibly side effects, and I could picture everything so clearly.  It is another joyous and triumphant book from an author that always makes me smile. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily, 

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