The Christmas Holiday

Written by Phillipa Ashley

Narrated by Harrie Dobby

Pour yourself a mug of hot chocolate and settle down in front of the fire with this perfect, uplifting festive read!

‘Wow, just the most perfect fabulous festive read, heart-warming, charming, a real tonic to add cheer and love to your day!… I really didn’t want it to end’ NetGalley review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

She’s planned the perfect Christmas. But fate might have other ideas…

Krystle didn’t have a normal childhood and longed for warm family Christmases with presents under the tree. Now she makes sure everyone else has the perfect Christmas she never had, bringing beautiful decorations to cheer as many people as possible.

With her festive business booming, she decides to celebrate by renting a secluded house in the Lakes, with a plan to make this the ultimate yuletide getaway.

But fate immediately throws a spanner in the works in the form of a broken-down car, a flooded river and Max; a man who despises Christmas.

Krystle becomes determined to show Max the joys of the holiday. She won’t take no for an answer.

Can she melt Max’s Grinch-like heart? And can he show her that life doesn’t need to go to plan to take you somewhere magical…

Let Sunday Times bestseller Phillipa Ashley whisk you away to the Lakes this Christmas, with a story full of unexpected romance, second chances, snowflakes and starlight! Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Karen Swan and Heidi Swain.

Readers adore The Christmas Holiday:

‘Absolutely wonderful story that I couldn't put down… A wonderful, heart-warming, tearful and uplifting read. It has absolutely everything. Perfect for the Christmas season’ NetGalley review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A lovely, glittery Christmas story… A gem to read, this book is both festive and heart-warming… So enjoyable to read and extremely hard to put down’ NetGalley review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This is a perfect Christmas book. Loved it. Set in a beautiful part of the country… A great read. Loved the twists and it had the ending you wanted. Brilliant’ NetGalley review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9780008494346

Phillipa Ashley

Phillipa Ashley is a Sunday Times, Amazon and Audible bestselling author. She studied English at Oxford University and worked as a copywriter/journalist before writing her debut novel, Decent Exposure. It won the RNA New Writers Award and was filmed as a LifetimeTV movie. Since then, her novels have sold over a million copies and been translated into many languages. She lives in an English village with her husband, has a grown-up daughter and loves walking the Lake District.

Reviews for The Christmas Holiday

[Ariska · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was an unexpected surprise! I’ve read other books in this genre - Heidi Swain, Jenny Colgan - and I loved how independent Krystle was. Finally a heroin who isn’t waiting for a man to complete her life, but when love does comes along…

[cmdh5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes a book is just such a lovely surprise, more then what you’d expected. I love when that happens! This was my experience with The Christmas Holiday by Maxine Morrey. After years of paying her journalist dues Mia Walker finally gets her big break when her boss asks her to accompany his daughter and fiancé on a pre-wedding trip. Along with documenting the trip for the couple she will get the chance to finally write some travel pieces, her ultimate goal. There’s just one glitch. The renown photographer chosen for the assignment is her ex-fiancé. Hunter Scott has actively tried to have her removed from the assignment, thinks she’s in over her head, and still holds a grudge for her breaking things off. I was absolutely transported as Mia travels to India and experiences the culture for the first time. Hunter sees things again though her eyes. Ms Morrey doesn’t sacrifice the romance while bringing real depth and substance to these characters, and expertly using the location as a character itself. I do wish as they traveled more of the locations were highlighted more prominently. As the wedding approaches back in festive holiday London Mia and Hunter are torn between a complicated history and moving forward in the present. I really enjoyed this and recommend for those that crave winter themed holiday stories and lovers of romance. I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from HQ Digital through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions.

[flowerchildreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes a book is just such a lovely surprise, more then what you’d expected. I love when that happens! This was my experience with The Christmas Holiday by Maxine Morrey. After years of paying her journalist dues Mia Walker finally gets her big break when her boss asks her to accompany his daughter and fiancé on a pre-wedding trip. Along with documenting the trip for the couple she will get the chance to finally write some travel pieces, her ultimate goal. There’s just one glitch. The renown photographer chosen for the assignment is her ex-fiancé. Hunter Scott has actively tried to have her removed from the assignment, thinks she’s in over her head, and still holds a grudge for her breaking things off. I was absolutely transported as Mia travels to India and experiences the culture for the first time. Hunter sees things again though her eyes. Ms Morrey doesn’t sacrifice the romance while bringing real depth and substance to these characters, and expertly using the location as a character itself. I do wish as they traveled more of the locations were highlighted more prominently. As the wedding approaches back in festive holiday London Mia and Hunter are torn between a complicated history and moving forward in the present. I really enjoyed this and recommend for those that crave winter themed holiday stories and lovers of romance. I received an advanced reader copy (eGalley) from HQ Digital through NetGalley. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinions.