The Balfour family is gathering for Christmas, and everyone is hiding a secret. Becky gets stranded at the airport, where she runs into her brother’s best friend, Will, who suggests they drive to Scotland together. Will has always been just a friend, but when they’re forced to spend the night together, everything changes. Her twin sister, Rosie, got married earlier this year after a whirlwind romance, having known her husband for only a few months. Now, she’s starting to wonder if she made a mistake. Their brother, Jaime, is bringing his girlfriend Hayley home for Christmas. Hayley is anxious about whether she’ll fit in with the family, and Jaime hints that he has a big announcement to share. Meanwhile, their father is trying to figure out what life looks like now that he’s retired. And then there’s Jenny, the family matriarch, who simply wants all of her children to be happy.
I always enjoy reading a Sarah Morgan book during the holidays. Her stories are family-oriented and full of heart. While the storylines are a bit heavier than those in a traditional romance novel, the stakes feel low because you know everything will work out in the end. The family is messy, but the affection and care they have for one another really shine through.
This book is told from the perspectives of four women: Becky, Rosie, Hayley, and Jenny. There are a lot of characters, and at times it was difficult to keep track of who was who. In addition to the three siblings and their partners, there are the parents, Jenny and Martin, as well as Jenny’s own parents. That’s ten people to follow!
My favorite storyline belonged to Becky. Rosie’s story felt a bit whiny to me and, once again, could have been resolved with better communication. Jaime and Hayley’s storyline was fine, though I especially enjoyed Hayley’s perspective. She’s never experienced a real Christmas, so it was fun to read about all of Jenny’s efforts to make the holiday feel festive.
I did find the writing a bit clunky at times. With so many characters, some of them seemed to disappear and reappear without warning. There were moments when someone would suddenly speak in a scene and I’d think, “Where did they come from?” It felt like the author was trying to give every character a line, even when it wasn’t necessary.
Overall, this was a fun and cozy Christmas read.
It sounds like there is a lot going on in this book!
It was cute but just a little challenging to keep everyone straight!