Christmas On The Island: A Novel by Jenny Colgan

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

On the remote Scottish island of Mure, the Christmas season is stark, windy, and icy—yet incredibly festive and beautiful…

It’s a time for getting cozy in front of whisky barrel wood fires, and enjoying a dram and a treacle pudding with the people you love—unless, of course, you’ve accidentally gotten pregnant by your ex-boss, and don’t know how to tell him. In the season for peace and good cheer, will Flora find the nerve to reveal the truth to her nearest and dearest? Will her erstwhile co-parent Joel think she’s the bearer of glad tidings—or is this Christmas going to be as bleak as the Highlands in midwinter?

Meanwhile Saif, a doctor and refugee from war-torn Syria is trying to enjoy his first western Christmas with his sons on this remote island where he’s been granted asylum. His wife, however, is still missing, and her absence hangs over what should be a joyful celebration. Can the family possibly find comfort and joy without her?

Travel to the beautiful northern edge of the world and join the welcoming community of Mure for a Highland Christmas you’ll never forget!

my thoughts:

Another heartwarming and heartbreaking story in Jenny Colgan's latest series, Summer Seaside Kitchen.  Set in the odd, quirky seaside town of Mure, we find Flora and her boyfriend Joel - happy in love and life.  Except, life has just thrown them a curve ball and Flora isn't so sure how she or Joel will handle it.  Plus, Fintan (Flora's brother) is dealing with the devastating news that his husband, Coltan, has cancer and is dying.  And then there are the new inhabitants, a doctor, Saif, and his two sons, who are trying to settle themselves into their new lives on this unusual little island with its freezing weather and busybody neighbors.  Oh, and did I mention that Christmas is fast approaching, which means that everyone is excited, stressed, and ready for the holiday shenanigans to begin.  Its a pretty lively time on the island of Mure and I just loved reading all about it.

Talk about a fun, emotional, and amazing story! I absolutely enjoyed getting caught up with familiar characters and meeting new ones. I could easily picture Mure with its freezing winds, quaint little shops, and tight-knit community that is excited about the holiday season.  I could smell the yummy baked goods in Flora's bakery, feel the icy breeze, and hear the chatter of island gossip.  Colgan did a fantastic job describing everyone and everything - she made it all feel so real.  Plus, the story lines were chock full of heavy, but relatable issues that made for compelling storytelling. So much seemed to happen this time round, or maybe it was due to the substantial nature of the issues being dealt with that made it seem like a lot.  Either way, this was one story that I was happy to get lost in.

I would happily recommend Christmas On The Island to fans of Jenny Colgan and anyone looking for a great holiday read - you will LOVE this book!!

Here's the link to the TLC Book Tours schedule for: Christmas on the Island

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!