Book Review: Christmas Ever After by Sarah Morgan

Christmas Ever After by Sarah Morgan
Release Date: 22nd October 2015
Publisher: MIRA
Buy: Paperback  Kindle
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Skylar Tempest has never understood Alec Hunter’s appeal. So what if he’s a world-renowned historian? He’s also cynical, aloof and determined to think the worst of her. So when a twist of fate finds her spending the lead-up to Christmas with Alec and his family, she’s not expecting the season to be either merry or bright.

Alec has learned the hard way not to trust beautiful women—and Skylar is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. But as he watches her throw herself into his family’s festive chaos, Alec realises there is far more to this blonde bombshell than meets the eye.

With Christmas around the corner, Alec and Skylar return to Puffin Island, a tentative bond forged between them. Neither intends to fall in love but as the nights become darker, and the fire between them grows hotter, could this be the chance for Alec and Skylar to find their own happy ending?

 

It is the most important night of Skylar Tempest’s life. Her jewellery and art work are being exhibited in London and when Skylar discovers that her workaholic partner Richard is going to be able to make it to the exhibition she’s certain it’s going to go fantastically. If only her parents could have made it too then the night would be complete.
However, what was initially supposed to be the best night of Skylar’s life quickly turns into a disaster when Richard makes it clear he’s only there to network with the big-wigs attending the exhibition rather than as moral support for Skylar. He also completely embarrasses Skylar by producing a (very public) marriage proposal from out of nowhere.
After a row, Richard storms off and Skylar injures herself and of all the people who turn out to be Skylar’s knight in shining armour it would just have to be the notorious Alec Hunter. Moody Historian Alec has never had time for Skylar; viewing her as a shallow princess and it’s fair to say the dislike is reciprocated. So when Alec ends up looking after Skylar after her fall, sparks certainly look set to fly…

For some crazy reason that I cannot fathom ; I hadn’t ventured over to Puffin Island before reading Christmas Ever After (the third book in the Puffin Island Trilogy). I have read some of Sarah Morgan’s previous books so I had a teeny, tiny inkling that I would enjoy this one, however I had no idea how much I would fall in love with Puffin Island, the characters and Sarah’s gorgeous writing.

I had every intention of reading the first two books in the series (First Time in Forever and Some Kind of Wonderful) before starting Christmas Ever After, however it didn’t work out that way and I ended up starting at the end. But that’s ok – backwards is the new forwards. In all seriousness I managed to pick up the thread of the storyline and characters with no trouble. I definitely plan on reading Christmas Ever After again (this time after the first two novels of the trilogy) and I am sure I will enjoy it even more. However there’s no reason why this novel can’t be read and thoroughly enjoyed as a standalone. If you have read the previous two novels in the series then I can guarantee you will love this.
I didn’t know much about the background between Skylar and Richard or Skylar and Alec, but it took me no time at all to make my judgements. Richard was awful and I immediately took a dislike to him and I just KNEW that there was something special about Alec underneath the aloof exterior.
This was one of those novels where you immediately get a sense of what might be going to happen, but it’s never certain. There are also so many differences and obstacles in the way of the pair even having a friendship, that it doesn’t look as though things are going to be as clear cut as you imagined…
The other thing that makes Christmas Ever After a winner in my eyes is the sheer amount of festive-ness nestled between its pages. This is certainly not one of those stories that has a Christmassy cover and promises a lot but actually contains hardly any festivities. My favourite thing about this novel is that there is SO MUCH CHRISTMAS. (And you can NEVER have too much Christmas, am I right?) Firstly you have Skylar and Alec celebrating the run up to Christmas in England with Alec’s adorable family in Brockburn-on-the-Water. Alec’s Christmas-loving family couldn’t be more different to Sky’s stuffy parents. Sky is so used to Christmas being a formality, an excuse for her parents to network with empty boxes wrapped up to give the illusion of presents and strict seating plans. What a nightmare…

We then get to experience Christmas on Puffin Island as Sky & Alec return there for the big day itself. It’s just as magical as the ‘pre-Christmas’ with Alec’s family only for entirely different reasons. This part of the story was like a hug in book form; warm, comforting and such a delight.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Puffin Island. The way that Sarah Morgan described this idyllic sounding Island was mesmerising and I want to go there right now! I loved the setting, I loved meeting the characters, I loved the storyline and most of all I loved the way that Sarah brought this Christmassy tale to life for me. I also adore the cover – it is literally Christmas in a book cover, it’s cute, sparkly and an absolute beauty!
Full of chemistry, friendship, romance, humour and warmth, Christmas Ever After is my first Christmas novel of this year and it’s going to take some beating…
A huge thank you to Cara to MIRA for sending me a review copy of Christmas Ever After. ♥

Be sure to check out the other blogs on the tour!

 

SARAH MORGAN writes warm contemporary romantic fiction with her trademark humour which has gained her fans across the globe. Described as ‘full of sparkle’ by Lovereading, she has been nominated three years in succession for the prestigious RITA© Award from the Romance Writers of America and won the award twice; in 2012 and 2013.

Sarah lives near London with her husband and children, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves being outdoors, preferably on vacation so she can forget the house needs tidying.