The Ghostwriter of Christmas Past: The perfect second chance cosy Christmas romance

by Amber Eve

Holly Hart, une ghostwriter, vit dans une ville où tout le monde est obsédé par deux choses :

1. Noël
et...

2. L'ex-petit ami de Holly, Elliot Sinclair... qui, par coïncidence, a écrit un best-seller de Noël basé sur sa relation avec Holly avant de disparaître complètement de sa vie.
Tout cela rend la vie assez difficile pour une grinch qui déteste Noël comme Holly, qui a complètement renoncé à l'amour. Mais lorsqu'on lui propose de devenir la ghostwriter d'un roman d'amour de Noël pour la célèbre auteure Vivienne Faulkner, Holly voit une opportunité de se venger d'Elliot en utilisant le livre pour raconter sa propre — et véritable — version de l'histoire.

Cela semble être le plan parfait.

Mais maintenant, Elliot est soudainement de retour en ville, et la rumeur dit qu'il travaille lui aussi sur un nouveau livre. Holly pourra-t-elle écrire la romance de Noël parfaite tout en évitant son ex... ou les fantômes des Noëls passés continueront-ils de les hanter tous les deux ?

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, Fiction, Chick Lit, Books About Books

336 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2024

About the author

Amber Eve is a former journalist who was born and raised in Scotland, and has been writing stories for her entire life. Her Heather Bay series is set in the Scottish Highlands, and follows the lives and loves of the inhabitants of this fictional coastal town.

Reviews

[Nadia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relyn Rating: 4.5 stars

It's been awhile since I stayed up late and finished a book in one sitting. Amber Eve is great with the yearning, and I can hardly wait to read another book by her.


I love rom-coms, romance novels, and love stories. So I read a lot of them. This is great fun for me, but it means that my personal "market" is oversaturated. It will take a truly great romance to get more than three stars. In case you are interested:

Relyn's personal rom-com & romance novel rating system
5 stars - This book is excellent. It stands out from the hundreds of other love stories I've read, and I loved it.
4 stars - Oh, I really, really liked this one.
3 stars - This was a good, entertaining book. I'm not sorry I read it.
2 stars - Meh - boring, or overdone, or in some other way just not a good fit for me
1 star - This one stunk.

[Sewster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea of the story and its single pov. Jumping timelines though.

I found Holly kinda annoying and I’m not sure why Elliott would be so obsessed with her years later after a 3 week fling. Holly is messy and klutzy, but not endearing in a Bridget Jones way… just kinda cringey. And yes, they were separated for 10 years because of miscommunication and they couldn’t bridge the gap even though we have millions of ways of contacting people these days. It was a little much.

I also strongly, strongly disliked that Elliott is hot and successful, while Holly is disheveled/stagnant/unsuccessful. It bothers me that he was out there living his best life and she more or less gave up. Which again, why would he be obsessed with that?

[Iveta Parravani · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was so cheesy and do unbelievable that it was hard to read. There was no chemistry whatsoever between the characters, one misunderstanding that takes 10 years to figure out until happily ever after.
It was promising concept yet delivered pretty average.

[Debra's Midlife Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber Eve is a new to me author with The Ghostwriter of Christmas Past. I took my time with this closed door romance, until about half way through and then suddenly I was done. Done, because I flew through the rest, having to know what was going to happen! This book was the absolute delight I needed this season.

Holly and Elliot had a whirlwind romance that ended suddenly, painfully, and filled with a lot of confusion. Here we gather, a decade later, Holly is a Ghostwriter and Elliot is famous for his Novel that was unmistakably about the two of them. Behind it all is a mystery long past about Elliot's grandfather and a woman he had an affair with during the war. Who was she? What exactly is the story of their past and are Holly and Elliot bound to repeat it? Again? I mean, again, again?

An all around well written story, characters you cannot help but feel a connection to, a mystery over decades and a hallmark movie worthy ending. Recommending this book seems like not enough, it is my last 5 star read of the year and I hope you give it a shot and enjoy it as much as I did!

I received an advance review copy for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sian Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a book set around Christmas at...well, Christmas time! That sounds silly, but it's something I'm trying to do - fit with the seasons to feel all festive and all that. And after this read, I'm definitely going to keep doing it.
This was a very cute festive romance, with a nice little mystery from the past mixed in. Very much Hallmark movie, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, there's a reason those are so popular!
The fact I devoured this book in a single day says a lot about it too I think!
I read Laurie Gilmore's The Christmas Tree Farm immediately after this one and enjoyed them both equally as much - if you liked that one, you're going to enjoy this too! Although here you've got cute village in the UK rather than small town US which gives similar vibes in a different setting.
As with all Amber's books, the characters are on point. I can always imagine myself really interacting with her characters, they're as real as your own friends and family.
Definitely recommend this one, and you don't have to wait until Christmas next year - it's perfect all year round!

[Rachel Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS: I think the blurb is misleading. I'm 29% in and there's no fiancé or best friend (cheating or otherwise). There are 2 ex- boyfriends and clearly some kind of miscommunication (which is probably my least favorite trope). Also, the cover art missed an opportunity with all the Christmas things going on.

UPDATE: Okay, I actually finished it. Buckle up, because this is going to be a rough ride. Let's just start with this blurb, copied from Goodreads:

One thing we know from romcoms is that the happy ending normally comes when the stressed career girl leaves her glamorous city life and finds the perfect guy in small-town USA, where life is simple and wholesome. But what if that’s just the beginning?

Holly Hart’s life looks like the happy ending in a romcom. She lives in a picture-perfect small American town, which is famous for its snowy streets and Christmas decorations. She’s engaged to her high-school sweetheart, who is a hard-working everyman, who loves the simple things in life, like flannel shirts, sports games, and breaking things with axes. Holly is also the best-selling author of an acclaimed literary fiction novel, so she has the perfect career, too. She really does have it all.

But, in spite of all this, Holly isn’t happy. She’s had writer’s block for 5 years now. She’s been spending most of her time baking pies and keeping house; and, to be honest, she doesn’t even like flannel shirts that much. So when she finds out her fiance has been having an affair with her best friend just three weeks before Christmas, she’s almost relieved. Could this be her chance to start over, and live the life she really wants, rather than the one everyone keeps telling her she wants? And what would that life look like, if so?

First, whoever wrote this blurb (why do I feel like AI is the culprit? ... actually, AI would probably be more accurate than this.) should be fired immediately. Because it's all LIES. The word fiancé never even appears in the book, there is no flannel, no axes, Holly bakes no pie ( in fact, the only pies baked are by an ex-boyfriend) , she has written no fiction novel, she doesn't live in a big city, she doesn't travel to smalltown USA ... LIES, all of it. I am so confused and ... I don't even know. I feel like I'm holding up an apple and, when I take a bite, all I can taste is green beans? Don't get me wrong, it's not that green beans are terrible. I actually really like green beans, but when you are expecting an apple, you don't want to taste green beans. My brain is kind of short circuiting. And, honestly, I'm not even sure I'd call this blurb an apple - because I like apples and I don't like this blurb, which begs the question, why did I read this book?

Ah. Mystery semi-solved. I had this book downloaded months ago from kindle unlimited. The blurb on Amazon is completely different (and much more accurate). But as I had downloaded it months ago and just got around to reading it, I had forgotten what it was about, so I went to Goodreads to look up the plot line. Apparently, this book has been published under several different titles (The Ghostwriter of Christmas Past, This is Not a Christmas Rom-Com, This is Not a Christmas Novel). I can only guess that one of these iterations is closer to the Goodreads blurb. So here's your warning Goodreads users, THE BOOK FEUD is NOT the book this blurb describes. Not that we've got that out of the way, let's actually discuss the green beans ...er, book.

So blurb aside, this is a typical rom-com. Holly, who runs a bookstore, is haunted by the ghost of a past relationship which was chronicled by her ex in a book that made her town and bookshop famous. It's a double-edged sword, as its success has made her shop financially solvent, but she can never escape the hurt of the relationship. Then, on the book's 10-year anniversary, the author (her ex) comes back to the town where it all began. How will it all play out?

The story leans very heavily on the miscommunication and second-chance lovers tropes. Gonna be frank, I wasn't super invested in either character and began skimming through, though that was less the book's fault than the fact that I was so confused at the huge discrepancy between the blurb and what I was reading. Objectively, I can say it wasn't terrible - it had a happy ending. It just would have been a far better experience if I wasn't expecting something different. It's probably closer to a 2.5 ... not unenjoyable, but one I won't return to for a reread.

[Silvia Devitofrancesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recensione presente nel blog www.ragazzainrosso.wordpress.com
Holly Hart lavora nella libreria di famiglia e, nel tempo libero, si diletta a scrivere libri per altri. Vive in un piccola cittadina inglese che durante le feste si trasforma in un autentico villaggio di Babbo Natale. Tutti gli abitanti sono letteralmente ossessionati da questa festività soprattutto da quando la cittadina è diventata nota per essere stata l’ambientazione di un romanzo natalizio divenuto film di successo scritto da Elliot Sinclair, l’ex fidanzato di Holly. Anzi, per essere precisi, la trama narra proprio della loro relazione durata appena ventitré giorni e conclusasi con la partenza dell’uomo. Da allora sono trascorsi dieci anni, eppure il suo eco non si è ancora dissolto. Tutto si complica quando Elliot torna nella cittadina. Le voci si rincorrono, sembra che stia per scrivere un nuovo libro. È forse giunta l’occasione per Holly di raccontare la storia dal suo punto di vista considerando che dovrà scrivere un romanzo natalizio per la famosa autrice Vivienne Faulkner.

“Mentirei se dicessi di non aver immaginato questo scenario alcune volte negli anni trascorsi dall’ultima volta che ho visto Elliot Sinclair. Non esattamente questo scenario, ovviamente. No, ogni volta che mi sono permessa di immaginare come sarebbe stato incontrarlo di nuovo, ero composta ed elegante, e davvero incredibilmente bella; non barcollante sui ciottoli come un elefantino molto ubriaco, come sono ora.”

Non avere un buon rapporto col Natale e vivere in un posto in cui in ogni angolo lo si respira può apparire un controsenso, ma questa è la vita di Holly, costretta a sopportare da dieci anni riferimenti continui al film che ha reso famosa la sua cittadina. Certo, se poi è lei a essere la protagonista di tale storia, il tutto si complica. Sì, perché lei, Elliot, in fondo, non è riuscita a dimenticarlo nonostante siano trascorsi dieci anni e nonostante lui sia letteralmente sparito.

Ecco perché quando inizia a vederlo tra le vie della cittadina inizia a dubitare della sua sanità mentale. Fondamentalmente Holly è una donna molto insicura e infelice, costretta a vivere una vita che non le appartiene. Il suo lavoro in libreria assieme al padre non la soddisfa, si rifugia nella sua attività di ghostwriter per sfuggire alla realtà, oltretutto scrivere per altri senza esporsi è un’ottima possibilità, in fondo si tratta di manuali di self help che leggono in pochi, cosa potrà mai andare storto?

Quando la sua carriera prende una svolta inaspettata, Holly mostra tutta la sua fragilità, ma è determinata a raggiungere l’obiettivo, a dimostrare a Elliot che anche lei è capace di scrivere un romanzo che parli di loro. Personalmente ho trovato l’incontro tra i due imbarazzate e impressionante al tempo stesso. Era evidente che avevano tanto da dirsi e da chiarire.

Lo stile della prosa è semplice, fluido e accattivante. Il lettore è coinvolto dagli eventi, inoltre l’ambientazione crea lo scenario perfetto per una storia d’amore basata sulle seconde possibilità.

Un romanzo dolce e piacevole, ideale per queste giornate festive. Una lettura che mi ha ricordato uno dei tanti film Hallmark che adoro vedere in questo periodo.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghostwriter . . .

Holly Hart, a ghostwriter, lives in a town that loves Christmas and made her ex-boyfriend, Elliot Sinclair, famous when he wrote a bestseller Christmas novel called “The Snow Globe”set in this very village. Then it was made into a blockbuster movie based on his 23-day romance with Holly. However, walking out on her kind of ruined the whole thing. Not only does the over-exuberant Christmas attitude here in Bramblebury make her crazy, but romance is no longer anything she ever wants to experience again. She watches kids fighting over who gets to be first to get their picture taken, and their frazzled parents don’t paint a pretty picture of the season either as they drag them off threatening no gifts this year. But as Holly watches out the window, she swears she sees Elliot Sinclair standing in front of the outdoor Christmas tree! He hasn’t been around for 10 years now and he moved 4,000 miles away from here! Is she hallucinating? And customers are still grumbling that he never told the end of the story in his book. Not even the movie gave it away! And he never wrote a follow-up story to resolve it and reveal if they ever got a HEA. Well, not all stories have a sequel… they simply END, like their story did.

Standing with her dad at the bookstore, opportunity strikes when she is asked to ghostwrite a novel, a Christmas romance, and it’s “urgent”. If it hadn’t been a Christmas book, she would have no doubts. But she is not a Christmas type person and doesn’t feel she can do it, ever at the higher salary being offered. But her family believes in her and encourages her. And Lorraine, her mom’s sister, suggests maybe she can get over Elliot by doing this. Holly has always claimed Elliot’s book was only his side of the story. So Lorraine suggests she write her own side of the story, take control of the narrative and tell people how it really ends. Then she walks out so Holly can think it over and decide what to do. Will she accept the opportunity? This may not end up as a story of love perhaps, but could it be an opportunity for revenge or at least getting the facts right? Is it time to tell her own true version of the story? Or are the rumors right that Elliot may be working on a new book as well? Maybe he’s writing the end of their story… or could it be a new beginning?

[Lauren Giac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Amber Eve and Book Sirens for this arc of The Ghostwriter of Christmas Past, published on November 1, 2024!

📜Quick Summary: Holly is a ghostwriter in her small town of Bramblebury, but that’s not her biggest problem. No, this small town is obsessed with Christmas and Grinch-like Holly is really not feeling it this year. Holly has become slightly famous for her appearance in her ex-boyfriend’s hit novel, The Snow Globe, which painted a not-so-accurate picture of their relationship. As his career as an author took off, hers stayed on the flatline. An opportunity to write a Christmas novel via a very famous author passes her desk, and well…this may be the chance she needs to tell her side of the story. It couldn’t be more perfect timing because her ex Elliot is back in town, and this may be her one shot.

❣️Initial Feels: I love the quirky, easy to binge style of writing. I am already envisioning an adorable Hallmark movie vibe, and I can’t wait to binge this by the fireplace.

👀Trigger Warnings: major Christmas vibes 🎄❄️🎁

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: Gosh, I loved all the characters at some point. I really enjoyed Levi and Paris, and could just imagine that hilarious duo working in a bookshop. Obviously, our lead Holly, has a lot of growth and I liked watching her finally open up and give a “present” to herself.

📖Read if you want: romance, cozy Christmas vibes, small town feels, dual time lines

💡Final Sentiments: Adorable! What a perfect cozy up with a hot chocolate by the fireplace kinda read! This was the perfect palate cleanser after reading a few heavier novels. I loved Holly and her personality…she was so quirky and sarcastic, and this novel made me laugh at times. Holly’s relationship with her family is the real deal, and you could sense their loyalty to one another after a devastating loss. This book made you laugh, made you want to cry, and embrace all that there is to this special time of the year. One thing that bugged me was one of the characters who played a major role in Holly’s demise, didn’t really get the shut down he deserved. I guess I wanted to see him “suffer” a little more for his actions. I really loved it!

🌟Overall Rating: 4.5 stars

This novel was provided by the publisher, via BookSirens, in exchange for my honest review.

[Jane Fielding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly loved The Ghostwriter of Christmas Past by Amber Eve! It’s one of those books that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy while keeping you hooked from start to finish. I don't often give 5 star ratings to books but this one deserved it.

The story follows Holly, a ghostwriter who's stuck in a small town in the UK, running the bookshop that was her parent's dream, alongside her father. Holly hates Christmas, since it was her late mother's favourite time of year.

One Christmas she meets Elliot, an American who has come to research his grandfather's past from when he was stationed there in the war. Their dynamic is everything—funny, emotional, and full of chemistry. Then Elliot goes back to the States and writes the book he has always dreamed of. However, it's not the non-fiction biography he had planned, it's a romance, based on the three weeks that he spent with Holly. And of course, it becomes a best-seller, changing both of their lives forever.

All that was ten years ago. And now Elliot is back in town....

Amber Eve did an amazing job capturing the magic of Christmas without making it feel cliché. The setting is so vivid, from snowy streets to cozy bookshops and the inevitable snowglobes.

This book isn’t just about Christmas; it’s about forgiveness, finding hope, and learning to open up again. I devoured it in one sitting and was left with a big, happy sigh when it ended. If you’re looking for a festive read that’s equal parts heart and humour, this one’s a must!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟½ (4.5/5)
Narration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5)
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ (Just the right amount of sweetness and tension. Think stolen kisses under the mistletoe rather than full-on fire.)

Holly Hart is a ghostwriter with big dreams, but she’s stuck in a Christmas-obsessed town and haunted by her ex-boyfriend Elliot’s bestselling novel, which twisted their love story. When given the chance to ghostwrite a Christmas romance, Holly decides to settle the score by telling her version of the story. But with Elliot back in town and a blizzard of emotions brewing, Holly must decide whether to cling to the past or embrace the possibility of a new chapter.

This book gave me cozy Hallmark movie vibes with a twist. Holly Hart, the ultimate Christmas grinch with a relatable chip on her shoulder, is stuck in a town that breathes holiday cheer and obsesses over her ex-boyfriend, Elliot. The premise had me intrigued: revenge via a ghostwritten Christmas romance? Sign me up!
Laura Greaves’ narration pulled me in immediately. She captured Holly’s snarky wit and vulnerability perfectly while nailing the charm and tension between the characters. Her voice gave the story extra warmth and humour, which made it even more enjoyable.

Would I Recommend This Book?
Absolutely! If you love second-chance romances with small-town charm, a dash of festive chaos, and a slow-burn romance that tugs at your heartstrings, this book is for you. It’s perfect for curling up with hot cocoa on a chilly evening.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghostwrite of Christmas Past is, as it says in my title, a Hallmark Christmas romance movie, in book form. And I mean that in a good way.

Holly and Elliot meet in her home, a beautiful small English town. In a short period of time, they fall in love. Her plan for a future together was crushed when he left without her. After leaving, he writes a world famous romance book loosely based on their meeting. Ten years later, he returns to her town to make an announcement. His return is irritating, depressing and hopeful all mixed together.

The story flips back and forth between their original meeting between the two and current day as she desperately tries to avoid Elliot, find out why he left without her and fight off rekindling flames.

I did enjoy the book. It wasn't the pinnacle of literary heights, but it was a pleasant, fun romantic story about two people meeting again after ten years apart. Holly comes across as a bit of an indecisive, sad woman. It does fit given her past and how everyone around her tends to treat her. It is good to see her finally start to decide what she really wants out of life and make choices.

The one thing that does irritate me is how little the antagonist, if that is what you can call him, is punished in the end. I seriously wanted to see more done to him. Some larger form of public shaming, a strong denouncement making him realize just how bad he is. But it doesn't come. The delusional man just keeps thinking he was right. And then she starts to ask him for a favor right after telling him she doesn't want to talk to him every again!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gwen Chester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet story of love, a love that was lost and found again. Yes this is a second chance but a very special second chance and we had to work very hard to get to this decision. And due to a lot of misunderstanding, lies that we did not know about and an almost missed second chance. But this is how it all came together.

Holly and Elliot meet in her home town, a beautiful small English town. Elliot is here to do some research on a book he is writing and Holly helps him gather his research. Holly's family owns a bookstore and she usually helps her dad in the day to day running of the store. In a short period of time Holly and Elliot fall in love and she plans on going to the states with him when goes home. But for some reason Elliot returns home a day earlier then they had originally planned. So Holly is left behind and crushed. Elliot proceeds to write the book and it is a big hit and puts her little town on the map. Holly says the book has ruined her life because everyone around her knows the book was about her and Elliot and their short time together.

Life goes on and before we know it 10 years have passed and Elliot has returned to town to announce his next book? Will it be a story of their love again? Will they resolve their problems and be civil with each other? Or will they continue to brood over the past? This book will answer all of your questions and I know you are going to love reading it, I did.

[Tera Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Messy Love

3.75 stars, 1 spice, mild spoilers-Holly lives in a small English village, works in her family’s book store, and ghostwriters self help books. Ten years ago she fell in love with Elliot, an American visiting to learn more about his grandfathers time in the village during WWII. They fall in love but something happens and they aren’t together. He wrote a best selling love story The Snow Globe about their brief affair. Now he’s back to possibly announce the sequel. The pair must navigate the complicated past to find peace in the present.

I didn’t love the time jumps to the past. I understood why they were there, but for me, it disrupted the present day story. I think I would have liked all of the past at once because a lot of it was just angst about what would happen at the end of the 23 days. I also would have liked better resolution between Luke and Arvid if she took the time to save the letters. Why wasn’t there one last letter in their globe?

But I really did like the present day story. I thought it was stronger than the other two plot lines. I feel like Martin needed more pain for what he did. It was pretty unforgivable and his motivation made little sense. This is definitely a village I would like to visit at Christmas! If you like messy love stories with a holiday twist, this would be a good option.

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Christmas romance
- Small town
- Second chance

This book is so clever and so cute. Ironically, this book is about a small town in England that becomes popular due to a book, then movie, having been based on it. I could see this as its own Hallmark movie!

Ten years ago, Holly, who works in her family's bookstore and Elliot, an American researching his family, met by chance at a Christmas market and dated for exactly 23 days. Then Elliot went home and wrote a best selling romance book based on their relationship and it went viral, netting a movie deal.

Holly is not a fan of Christmas ever since losing her mother. She was at the Christmas market on a whim and wonders if the snow globe both she and Elliot were reaching for is truly mystical.

Now it's Christmas again and the small village is in the midst of a transformation to look like the movie set. And Holly is not happy. Also, why does she keep thinking she's seeing Elliot around town?

Elliot has a lot of explaining to do, in my opinion, but I enjoyed the topics in this book - forgiveness, second chances. It's a book I see myself re-reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a perfect Christmas book.  The story introduces us to the town of Bramblebury and the story of a snowglobe and how Holly came to meet Elliot.  Holly is a local bookstore owner, and Elliot is a famous author, and the story tells us how they fell in love.  He unexpectedly leaves and during that time writes a book about their time together.  Almost 10 years later, Elliot returns to Bramblebury, and Holly tries her best to avoid him. The story does take you on a journey from past to present, and normally, I do not prefer that type of storyline, but the author Amber Eve does write the story well.  This was a sweet romantic holiday story that the author gives just the right amount storyline a Christmasy setting.  This was my first book by the author, but I definitely will be looking for more.  A second chance romance I definitely would recommend for the holidays.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Helen Causer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Hart works as a Ghostwriter in Bramblebury, as well as working in her families bookshop.
She had a brief relationship with Elliot Sinclair a decade ago, before he disappeared black to the U S.
Elliot wrote a book called “The Snow Globe” which turned into a Rom Com, with a character based on Holly.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

This is the story of Holly and Elliot, written with hindsight by Holly, who hates Christmas. and all the fakery that goes into it, especially the blow up plastic Snow Globe that people queue up to have their photos taken inside.
Their story is full of misunderstandings, hopes and dreams, and interference from a third party.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, which features relatable characters, and situations, well written by the author. Romance readers will especially love it, and enjoy it as much as I have.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly is a ghostwriter, however she dreams of publishing her own books. Holly lives in Bramblebury, home of over the top Christmas spirit. Years before her ex’s novel was a smashing hit (The Snow Globe) which put Bramblebury on the map. However, her ex’s book is about Holly, and does not really tell things as they were (leaving some hurt feelings here). Holly’s agent lets her know she was requested to be a ghostwriter for a novel. This is her chance! Suddenly, the ex is back in town, at Christmas!
Overall this is a cute and sweet story. It was well written. I was able to envision the people and events as the story unfolds. I found myself cheering for Holly, to finally get her chance! Some of the people are real characters! I bet they would be a blast to work with. The narrator did a good job, voice enhancing the story. I received a free copy of the audiobook, and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to give Christmas and your love life a second chance at romance, this book is for you. The holidays can be hard for some people, especially for Holly. Her town of Bramblebury, England is obsessed with the spirit of Christmas and her ex-boyfriend, Elliot’s famous novel about their “love story” called The Snow Globe. As his career took off to America, hers did not. Their love story was to continue until he left her during the Christmas holiday- but that was ten years ago. Now he’s back writing a second book and Holly is given an opportunity as a Ghostwriter for a new Christmas novel. Perhaps she can give her perspective of their love story. Will Holly get her big break as an author and handle seeing Elliot again? Will she give Elliot a second chance at love?

Absolutely loved this book for Christmas! The banter, character development and the voice actors were amazing. Holly is a fearless, strong woman who takes care of her father and his bookstore- you are constantly rooting for her! It’s giving Bridget Jones, Last Holiday and Love Actually. Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

[Mariza Canto · Rating 5 out of 5]

No tenía buena experiencia con los libros navideños y con las 2das oportunidades. Pero tengo que decir que este libro es simplemente HERMOSO.
Te engancha desde la primera página, y los cambios entre pasado y presente son tan claros que realmente disfrutas de la historia.
Holly es uno de mis personajes femeninos favoritos. En realidad todas las acciones y su comportamiento esta justificado con lo que ella creía que había sucedido.
Amé como a pesar de los sentimientos hacia Eliot se mantuvo siempre cortés y no fue despectiva (más que al final pero ya era necesario para que sacara lo que de verdad sentía)
Eliot por otra parte se me estaba haciendo bastante lento para decir la verdad T.T pero el finaaaal y el girooooooo
En serio amé la forma en la que contó la verdad, esta historia se ha convertido en una de mis favoritas de navidad 🌲✨️
Esta es una nueva autora que he descubierto y estoy amando su estilo de escritura

[Christina Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

EDIT- the blurb here on Goodreads for this is wrong. That’s not what the book is about.

It was ok. A cute, easy read. I’m not a fan of insta love or the miscommunication trope so that put a damper on things for me. But I didn’t dislike it to the extent of wishing I had never read it.
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More detailed review with spoilers below
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So these 2 meet and fall in love in less than 3 weeks. That’s all the time they get together. Then they separate due to a miscommunication. He lives in the US and she does not. So they don’t see eachother for 10 years. He goes back where she lives for the anniversary of a book he wrote (about her). It was a bit repetitive and cheesy and they both still love eachother despite knowing nothing about the people they’ve become. If less time had passed in between them seeing eachother and/or their original relationship had been longer than 3 weeks I could’ve been more into it.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few of Amber Eve’s novels and enjoyed them and this latest one didn’t disappoint. The earlier chapters alternate between the present and 10 years ago when a holiday romance took place between Holly and Elliot. It didn’t end well and now Elliot is back after 10 years in the town of Bramblebury.

I enjoyed the alternating chapters which slowly reveal what happened in the past, building up to the drama of the breakup, whilst allowing us to read about the present uninterrupted. Holly is a likeable character although a touch annoying at times. I would’ve liked a bit more background on Elliot’s side. I really liked all the secondary characters very entertaining. I would definitely recommend this, a great holiday read.

I received an advance copy of this book and leave my review voluntarily. Looking forward to Amber’s next novel

[Ranee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning had potential with a sweet meeting, that later proves providential, but I about quit reading when they immediately start sleeping together. Then you find out later that Holly not only dated but lived with Martin? I did appreciate that there weren’t any smutty details. A random f bomb, immediate one star off for me, with a few milder swear words here and there. When they finally see each other after 10 years and say they’re going to talk but don’t get to the point - so frustrating!! It apparently takes the dad and Elsie a decade to figure things out too 😆. No talk by the reunited couple about children, but a dog or two, nor about a wedding, though you’d hope it will happen. I like that they found out some of the mystery of the grandpa and the woman in the photo. If you don’t mind some of the things I found exception to you might like this story

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the holidays coming up I've been picking more Christmas themed books and this is one of my favorites. I love that the girl was the grump in this grumpy sunshine story. Holly's mom loved Christmas but once she died Holly didn't really find much to love about Christmas. At least that was true until she met Elliot, an American who's only in Bramblebury for a few months. But cautious, steadfast Holly falls for him eventhough they both know their romance has an expiration date. The story flips back and forth from the past to present day as you follow their love story and heartbreak. I loved curling up with a blanket, some hot tea and this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet and wonderfully written cozy christmas romance story that definitely gets you in the Christmas spirit. The book is split into Present and Past (10 years ago) which is a wonderful representation of past events and brings you even closer to the love story. Holly is a ghostwriter in her small town of Bramblebury and appears as a character in her ex-boyfriend's bestselling book, but this story tells the events from his perspective. Now her ex Elliot is back in town. I loved Holly's character and the relationship with her family. The story is interesting and humorous and perfect for the Christmas season!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer Chappell]

2.5⭐
this book was a downer. the FMC was so hesitant and bitter that it was hard to ever feel the fun in the book and relationship. the miscommunication troupe was dragged out the ENTIRE time when there were so many ways they could have gotten around it or solved it with one simple conversation once they crossed paths again. it just felt like forced drama (she storms out, a family emergency, an epic snowstorm, a manipulative side character) it was just too much to me. Also, not a big deal, but the way the MMC spoke, felt like a British take on an American. the phrasing felt very formal, especially for someone supposedly from Cali or Florida.
the book had a good premise, but it just felt a little too heavy to be a Christmas romance book.

[Deborah Kinate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Holly, a young English woman who works at her father's book store, is captivated by Eliot, a young American guy who is visiting her small village. They have a whirlwind three-week romance, and Eliot asks Holly to return with him to America for the Christmas holidays. When Holly goes to meet Eliot the day before they're to leave together on their trip, she finds out he has already left.
Fast forward ten years. Eliot has earned fame, being the writer of a novel that intertwines the tale of his grandfather being in England and meeting a woman during WWII and Holly and Eliot's short romance. The rest of the book is about Eliot's return to England and all the misunderstandings and twists that occurred.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect Christmas story for the other Grinches out there. Holly hates Christmas and her ex can she re-write her story and get her happy ever after? Great characters that you fall in love with. I really liked how the author built up the relationship between the two main characters. The author does a great job developing the realistic and relatable characters. This story is well written and will draw you into the characters emotions. You feel all their angst and love. This review is based on an early review copy I was sent by the publisher, but this didn't affect the content of my review that I am voluntarily providing

[C.Y. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first experience reading a book by this author, and I found it enjoyable overall. The narrative was distinctive and poignantly beautiful, yet I grew frustrated with the prolonged storyline. I longed for the protagonists to resolve their issues and uncover the reason behind his sudden disappearance. The revelation is utterly shocking, evoking further anger. Nonetheless, I am deeply invested in Elliot and Holly's story, sympathizing with their plight and yearning for a happy resolution, despite the lengthy and frustrating journey.

I received an advanced copy of this book for free, and I’m leaving my review voluntarily.