Christmas in the Snow

by Karen Swan

No secret stays buried forever...

In London, the snow is falling and Christmas is just around the corner - but Allegra Fisher barely has time to notice. She's pitching for the biggest deal of her career and can't afford to fail. And when she meets attractive stranger, Sam Kemp, on the plane to the meeting, she can't afford to lose her focus either. She learned to shut off her emotions long ago and only her sister and best friend Isobel knows why. But when Allegra finds herself up against Sam for the bid, their passion quickly turns sour.

In Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, a long-lost mountain hut is discovered in the snow after sixty years and the last person expecting to become involved is Allegra - she hasn't even heard of the woman they found inside. But it soon becomes clear the two women are linked and, as she and Iz travel out to make sense of the mystery, hearts thaw and dark secrets are uncovered, long buried by the snow.

With glamorous locations and heart-breaking twists, Christmas in the Snow is all you need in your stocking for a truly decadent Christmas holiday. The perfect gift - even if it's just to yourself.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Mystery

496 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2014

About the author

Karen Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and a puppy, and to pursue her ambition of becoming a writer. She lives in the forest in Sussex, writing her books in a treehouse overlooking the Downs. Her books include Christmas at Tiffany's, Summer at Tiffany's, The Perfect Present, Christmas in the Snow, The Summer Without You, The Paris Secret, and Christmas Under the Stars.

Reviews

[Ashley Daviau · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the perfect read for the Christmas holidays! While it was enjoyable and I found some parts quite interesting, I did find it a bit predictable in certain aspects so that did affect my enjoyment a tad. But despite that, it was a quick and entertaining read, I really loved the setting and I enjoyed uncovering Allegra and Isobel's family secrets and discovering what had happened all those years ago. I also loved that Allegra was a powerful woman with an impressive and successful career and I enjoyed seeing her loosen up throughout the story. All in all, despite finding some aspects easy to predict, I did very much enjoy this story!

[Milda Vaškevičienė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nuostabi, tikra Apsnigtų baltų, snieguotų Kalėdų knyga. Ir joje telpa tiek visko.. Ne tik gražaus ir snieguotų, bet ir su šiek tiek gyvenimiškų prieskonių, nuotykių ir netgi savo istorijos, šeimos šaknų atradimo.
Apie asmenybių tvirtumą, tikslų siekimą, apie meilę ir užsispyrimą. Apie slidinėjimą snieguotaisiais kalnais, apie draugystę, šeimą. Skaitant kūnu kilo šiurpuliukai, buvo labai įdomu išgyventi kartu su knygos veikėjais nuotykius.
Skaitant padėką paaiškėjo, kad rašytoja rašė remdamasi tikrais įvykiais, kas dar labiau sužavėjo. Slidinėjant Cerma kalnais ir daugiau sužinojusi apie 1951 m. Tragediją autorė buvo nustebusi kaip vos per dvi kartas pasikeitė gyvenvietė: iš ūkininkų bendruomenės virto prabangiu kurortu ir slidinėjimo aistruolių iš viso pasaulio susibūrimo vieta. Labai suintrigavo, kad tai, ką perskaičiau yra tiesa.
Kupinas netikėtų siužeto posūkių, meilės ir intrigų, jaukios Šveicarijos ir snieguotų viršukalnių romanas "Apsnigtos Kalėdos" - tai tikrai puiki istorija šiuo stebuklingu, šventiniu laikotarpiu, labai patiko! Rekomendacijos!

[Sandra Nedopričljivica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lijepa pričica za ovo božićno raspoloženje. Malo obiteljskih tajni, malo romanse i naravno... snijeg koji je potreban za ovakvu priču.

[Amanda B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ Enjoyable wintery, Christmas read ❄️🎄

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

According to the reviews, nearly everyone loved this except me. Where do I even start?
A) for a book with Christmas in the title, it truly has very little Christmas in it
B) what is it with books about 'Christmas' having their protagonist be this powerful, successful woman with zero social life or regard for people who do not further her success? Is it somehow impossible for a strong, successful, independent woman to have friends? Maybe it's just that I was unlucky enough to read two books in a row with this trope but how very tedious. Even the fact that Allegra sounds so judgmental about her sister having married 'the first man who wanted her'. It doesn't exactly increase her likability.
C) The whole Sam/Pierre thing. It's just this tedious back and forth of who's the real bad guy, who's actually lying? The Sam thing being a constant will they/won't they ... It didn't make me care particularly much about either of them?
D) I actually enjoyed the Valentina story the most. That one had something different about it at least. There was a small element of surprise and truly I wished I'd learned more about her life.
Other than that, I'm just glad I got this from the library and didn't have to pay for it. I don't know what else to say.

[Daiva Mikalauskienė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaip ir visos Karen Swan knygos, lengva, įtraukianti graži istorija.

[Meri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a roller coaster. With each page it throws you to different heights. Love, mystery, family trees, a return to the past, breathtaking descriptions of places, business plots... all packed into one Christmas. A book you'll enjoy from the first to the last page...

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Christmas in the Snow" is the next book by Karen Swan that has just blown my mind away, even then when I thought that her books can't be better. Well, they can. Actually, each new book is better than the previous one, although I really have no idea how it is possible. She is the author that always delivers. Always.

Christmas is coming soon but Allegra doesn't notice it. She's - as always - deep into closing the next biggest deal in her career. It includes travelling to Switzerland and doing business with conservative Japanese businessmen this time, but for Allegra the more difficult client, the better is this for her. She only can't predict one thing: that they don't want to do business with a woman. On her way to Switzerland Allegra meets a mysterious guy who, only minutes after the landing, turns out to be her new work - colleague, moreover, he's the one who's best friends with the Japanese businessman's son, and so Allegra's boss decides that Sam is going to carry on with this case. But Allegra doesn't want to give up of course - is she going to win this account? Or is she going to put herself in trouble? Is it possible to play fair in this business?
One day she gets a strange call from Swiss policeman - remains of a woman lost over 50 years ago were found and they suppose she could be Allegra's grandmother. Impossible - her grandmother is dead, but she's gone only for few years, and well, they have nothing to do with Switzerland! Or do they? Are there some hidden secrets to be revealed?

There are really so many threads and sub - plots in the book that I'm not sure where to start. Allegra and Iz are sisters but they couldn't be more different. While Allegra is a total workaholic, Iz prefers family life, she has a husband and a little son. Allegra is really concentrating only on her job, on bagging the best deal in the world, on bringing as much money as possible for her company, she doesn't care how she looks like and where she lives, well, she has a personal stylist and she has a flat, and also bought a house (which she hasn't seen yet!) but she usually stays all the hours at her office anyway. Holidays in Zermatt in Switzerland is really the last thing on her mind but, under the circumstances, she and Iz pack their bags and fly to the land of snow, cow bells, mountains and Après-Ski.
Allegra is over - ambitious, and it has its roots in her past, it's connected with her father leaving the family, but for Iz her sister is just unhappy. She's hiding behind her job because she thinks it's just easier to live like this: no commitments, nobody to be hurt. But here, ladies and gentlemen, welcome Sam Kemp. Oh, he was a complex character and I really couldn't work him out. I had my doubts, oh I did, I was really not sure if I should believe him or not, although at the end, when Allegra has her doubts, I was already on Sam's side.
Although so different, I loved both sisters. I can't say that I liked Allegra or Iz more, maybe only that Iz had moments that I wanted to not only send her a look that would freeze a hell, but slap her strong on her backside, as she could have been really a daft blabber. I loved the relationship that the sisters had between them, it felt real and natural, not at all too forced or pushed, and I also loved the way they used to speak about their mother and family.

I have no idea what Allegra was doing. I know it involves a lot of money and stress, she was some kind of financial analyst I guess, and of course it was told in the book but this what she did, is just beyond my capacity. I had no idea what she, her boss and Allegra are talking about but I still understood what they say, if you follow me, and all thanks to Karen's brilliant writing. Finance is not my world at all but Karen still was able to write it in a very accessible way, and she also did it in a really interesting way, I haven't skipped a single word of this "money talking" speeches. So consider me now a finance specialist, ha! Allegra was brilliantly portrayed as a lonely woman in this typical masculine world of finances and I so didn't want her to give up, I wanted her to prove her value and my, oh my, how I wanted to slap her boss at the company's Christmas - do. But the book is not only about Allegra's job, but also about family traditions and relationships. The thread about Switzerland and the girls' alleged family was absolutely original, fresh and mind - blowing, and it went really complicated, I was guessing something but well, the solution, the truth, the answers could come and hit me on the head, I hadn't see it till I turned the right page and read about it. My kind of read, I mean.

As you have probably seen, the book evoked a lot of emotions in me, well, for sure you can't stay indifferent to the characters and the events. Present interweaves here with past, lies with truth, love with hate, tradition with modern culture, romance with betrayal and everything has its own place, everything fits! The characters, places, situations, dialogues are believable, and the book is written in an engaging, unputdownable way. Karen Swan has for sure found her own voice and I hope it's going to stay like this.

There are many plots in the book but it's not a problem to stay on track! Everything is clear and not confusing at all, everything makes sense and all the storylines are surprising and full of twists and turns. It also takes us on a journey through Europe, to London, Paris and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps and I can't imagine better setting for this book. No matter if we were in the office, or on the top of the mountain, or in a pub, the descriptions were brilliant and vivid and right now there is not a better place that I'd love to be than Switzerland, and I am going to do anything to convince my husband to visit this place sooner rather or later. Although I, in contrast to our characters, can't ski. Oh well, I can sleigh as well, or keep a sitting place at one of those bars high in the mountains.

I loved the whole book but I think the plot about Switzerland, family secrets and finding the body was the most gripping and it had me really hooked, I couldn't wait to see how it's going to end, what kind of secrets are going to be revealed, who lied and why and if the girls are going to find their new family. Just imagine that one day you get a call and somebody tells you that they probably found your lost for 50 years grandmother, although you are sure that you in fact were growing with your grandma! So who is this woman? What secrets were buried under the snow? And it is, in fact, amazing, that it is possible to find a body after so long time and then to find out who it is! Really, this whole Swiss part of the book, with the horse - sleighs, beautiful town, sophisticated parties and shops full of traditional products was fantastic, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Everything in this book was perfect. The setting, the characters, the plot, I couldn't wish for more. Karen Swan is the queen of creating the best heroes, incredible, fresh storyline told in the most engaging, gripping way. Her books flows effortlessly, they keep you on your toes and it is amazing how Karen can lull you for a little while, have you thinking nothing more can happen and then, suddenly, drop a bomb on you, a bomb that I have never in a million years expected. And this more than once or twice. It is for sure a MUST READ this winter and well, I know it may sounds ungrateful, but I am already waiting for Karen's next book. In the meantime will probably re - read some of her other books, so great are they!

Copy received from publisher in exchange for a review.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glamorous, escapist and sumptuous tale of high stakes, big money, dangerous secrets and forbidden love, Christmas in the Snow is a page-turning winter blockbuster that is as impossible to put down as it is to resist!

Allegra Fisher’s life revolves around her job as a hedge fund manager. She might not remember the last time she went out on a date or the last time she hadn’t bailed on her friends after a last minute crisis at the office, but Allegra wouldn’t have it any other way. Unlike her sister Isobel, a home-maker who spends her days chasing her toddler Ferdy round the house and drinking cappuccinos in the suburbs, Allegra wants to keep on climbing the corporate ladder and not stop until she reaches the top. Working in a male-dominated industry is not easy and Allegra has had to work twice as hard as her male counterparts to prove that, in the boardroom, she is the equal of any man. Now that she is about to pull off the deal of a lifetime, Allegra cannot afford any distractions – not even if they come in the shape of a gorgeous and charismatic Canadian colleague called Sam Kemp!

Allegra is used to fighting her corner. As a child, she had learned the hard way that the only person she can rely on in this world is herself. She might be drawn to Sam and attracted to his laid-back charm, model good-looks and athletic physique, but when she realises that he is the one standing between her and the deal of her career, she soon realises that she must continue to keep her emotions at bay and her eyes on the main prize. But keeping Sam at arm’s length proves to be easier said than done. Romance is a complication that she simply does not need in her life. Not only does Allegra have a stressful career to contend with, but ever pressing on her mind is the guilt she feels at having to put her beloved mother Julia, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s, into sheltered accommodation.

When the remains of a woman are discovered in the Swiss Alps, the last person expecting to be involved in this case is Allegra. Determined to get to the bottom of this baffling mystery, Allegra and Isobel travel to Zermatt to uncover the connection that links their family to a derelict hut in deepest Switzerland. When old secrets and long-buried desires from the past come to sudden and shocking light, Allegra and Isobel soon find themselves stripping away the layers of a hidden past others have gone to great lengths to protect.
But it is what Allegra discovers about herself that is the most stunning revelation of all. Will she finally realise that happiness can be within her grasp if she opens up her heart and allows herself to feel? Or will she continue to hide behind the defenses which she has built around herself?

Christmas in the Snow is a fabulously addictive tale packed with glitzy exotic locations, gorgeous characters, compelling family drama, juicy secrets, scandalous revelations and steamy romantic intrigue. Karen Swan knows how to grab her reader’s attention from the very first page and keep them gleefully turning the pages late into the night and in Christmas in the Snow she has truly outdone herself by deftly and expertly blending nail-biting mystery with spellbinding drama, captivating emotional conflict and heart-wrenching pathos.

An outstanding novel I devoured in two days, Christmas in the Snow was the first book I read by Karen Swan, but it certainly won’t be my last!

This review was originally published on Single Titles.

[Charlie Morris (Read, Watch & Drink Coffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know if I wanted to read another lighthearted Christmas romance this month, but I decided to give this one a go and I'm so glad that I did.

Christmas In The Snow is an engaging and snow-clad holiday read with warm and likeable characters, a festive atmosphere, and enough unpredictability to keep you wondering if it's going to end the way that you expect it to.

I didn't think that I was going to like Allegra at first as I have very little in common with her, but I very quickly warmed to her and was eager to come out from her situation in a better position. And I felt exactly same about the brewing romance, as well, as Sam comes across as a very selfish and disrespectful person at first. But Swan brilliantly turns everything around and the story feels very original compared to the Christmas books that I'm used to.

I wanted a little more from the ending, but other than that, this was a really enjoyable read and I will definitely be picking up another book by Swan this time next year!

[Inga Pupkiene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Šilta, skani, kvepianti meile, šeimos vienybe ir paskaninta intrigelemis, istorija su super laiminga pabaiga, o juk ko daugiau ir reikia prieššventiniu laikotarpiu?😊 patiko labai, perskaičiau, užverčiau knyga ir taip gera ir šilta širdy❤ aciu, rasytojai, kad taip šauniai ir šiltai moka perteikti ta jausma savo knygose🙏 visada perskaicius knyga, norisi imti i rankas kita, nes jos lengvos, skaitant pailsi galva, bet groja širdies stygos.

[ShoSho · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot was much more than what I expected!

[Simay Yildiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be mooshy-wooshy romance, but it was a lot more than what I expected!

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Christmas in the Snow" is the first book I've read by author Karen Swan and although not very Christmassy, was still an enjoyable read.
Coming in at just under five hundred pages this is quite a hefty read and at times was very hard going. The story does focus a lot on Allegra's occupation in financial markets and investments and most went over my head and although appropriate to the plot line it was slightly boring and made the story drag a little. However, once all this was all out the way and the main story got going I did enjoy it and would certainly read more books by this talented author.
I was personally hoping, due to the current time of year, for more of a Christmas based theme considering the title and beautiful snowy cover but it does allow for it to be read regardless of the time of year and still be enjoyed all the same.

My thanks to friend and fellow reader Rachel Hall for my copy of the book.

3 stars

[Kirsty (Book - Love - Bug) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the ultimate book to curl up with on a winters day in front of a roaring fire with a glass of wine and a box of chocolates. Karen Swan is the queen of winter reads, and despite Christmas in the Snow having "Christmas" in the title, I would class this is more of a "winter read" as it is set in the month of December in the lead up to Christmas, and Christmas does not realllly feature until the last few pages of the book. However, when Christmas does come, it is the perfect family Christmas, at long last.

I loved the idea of the Advent Calendar that Allegra and Isobel find in their mum's loft, and wish we had seen more of it in the earlier parts of the book. Whilst we see the sisters open the first door together on 1 December, we do not see it again until 14 December (other than the 'titles' at the beginning of certain chapters). However, I guess this fits in with how Allegra grows throughout the book; in the first part of the book, she is so engrossed in her work that she doesn't even notice that Christmas is approaching whereas a dramatic shift will soon change everything in her world. I liked the first part of "Allegra's life" but I loved the second part which emerges along with the dramatic shift.

I am not a skier and I have never been to Zermatt but I love the descriptions (including the descriptions of waffles and crepes, being my weak spot and made me hungrier than I already was) and the vast array of characters are simply divine as they lead you on a complex journey that will not only hold your interest but sometimes you will gasp realising that you've been holding your breath for too long. The twists and turns just keep on coming (like Legs and Iz descending the piste in Zermatt) and even when you think you've seen the last, there is more waiting for you round the corner. Karen Swan has a fabulous style of writing; it is detailed and it immerses you in the story making you feel as though you are really there in the exotic (and in this case, frozen) locations.

I adored the ending, and the only negative thing I can say is that it ended too soon because I was so immersed that I wanted more! Christmas in the Snow is a story of a love so strong that it could survive anything; "In a sea of people, my eyes will always look for you". However, whilst there is romance, the book also has serious elements to it including early onset Alzheimer's which is absolutely heartbreaking.

[Sharon Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is going to be so hard to write because I totally adored this story. So much so that I want to go and live in this world!

So many twists and turns and I fell in love with the characters as soon as they stepped in.

Legs and Iz have a fantastic sisterly love for each other and they know each other well. Legs is protective of her younger sister and there is intrigue surrounding something that happened in their childhood. My favourite part of the story is when they are in Zermatt. But I get ahead of myself.

I loved the cut and thrust of Legs job. Sam appearing on the scene eventually led to feelings of anger on my part (although Legs was harsh at one point). The Christmas dinner had my blood boiling. Honestly, my heart was pounding with all that adrenalin! I applauded Legs as she exited. What a dignified woman. I thought she was spectacular!

Zermatt was fun. Mostly. Finding out the family history information and the history of the small community of Zermatt (before the skiing tourism took over) was fascinating. I loved the glamour of Zhou’s world. Money doesn’t get Zhou what he wants though …

Those undercurrents and half-truths, I thought I knew where we headed and bang! Another layer was revealed. I’m glad my first impressions about one particular character held true.

There are poignant moments too with Legs and Iz’s mum. This feels so real. So raw. Clearing the loft near the beginning of the story was a painful ending. But also a beginning.

I loved how it all tied up. The romance and the family. The ending was just perfect.

Christmas in the Snow is a story that didn't let me go (and still hasn't!). I felt every emotion and loved every single thing. The writing flows and the style made it easy for me to be visual. Highly recommend you read this, no matter the time of year.

My copy of Christmas in the Snow was a Christmas gift. I will definitely be reading it again.

[**Sognatrice di libri** · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una sufficienza per questo libro della Swan, dal titolo si potrebbe pensare un classico libro a sfondo natalizio, ma così non è infatti qui il Natale è presente solo nel finale per il resto è inesistente.
L'inizio di questo libro è decisamente un po' scontato mi aspettavo inoltre più azione tra i due protagonisti: Sam e Allegra invece solo litigi e sporadiche scene dolci. Questo libro si riprendere verso il finale dove si sbroglia la matasse dell'intrigo famigliare di Allegra, l'unica cosa interessante nella parte iniziale del libro, e dove le emozioni esco fuori senza sforzi sia tra i protagonisti principali sia tra coloro che gli sono intorno. In conclusione una lettura un po' ad alti e bassi.

[Justina Urbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nežinau nežinau galbūt iš šios knygos tikėjausi per daug, galbūt skaičiau netinkamu metu, bet ji man pasirodė tokia vidutinė, kad labai sunkiai yriausi per jos puslapius. O tas gražus šventiškas knygos viršelis man žadėjo tokią jaukią Kalėdinę istoriją.

Bet apie viską iš pradžių. Matyt po „Sidro namų taisyklių“ į pasaulį žvelgiau ironišku Irvingo žvilgsniu, bet nepatiko man pagrindinė veikėja Alegra, kuri turėjo būti tokia kieta pana, bandanti įsitvirtinti vyrų pasaulyje, bet mano akimis, vietomis ji elgėsi kaip vaikas arba ryškiai dar nesubrendusi mergina ir mane tikrąją šio žodžio prasme erzino. Neįtikino manęs ir ta meilės linija, tie katės pelės žaidimai, čia nekenčiu, čia jau po kelių pasivartymų lovoje surandu gyvenimo meilę.

Bet tikrai ne viskas buvo tik blogai. Patiko man ir net labai gamtos aprašymai, net pati užsimaniau aplankyti sniego nuklotą Cerma miestelį ir pajusti tą laisvės jausmą lekiant nuo kalno. Patiko man ir ta ale detektyvinė linija ir knaisiojimasis po praeitį bei Advento kalendoriaus stalčiukų darinėjimas, norėčiau ir aš tokio.

Labai mėčiausi vertindama knygą žvaigždutėmis, trys atrodo per mažai, keturios lyg ir per daug, tai tebūnie 3.5⭐.

Po šios apžvalgos jaučiuosi kaip koks Grinčas iš Karen Swan pavogęs žvaigždutes. 🤭😅

[Eglė Urbonė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaip visuomet Karen Swan ir kalėdinė knyga Kalėdiniu laikotarpiu- PRIVALOMA! 🎄🥹
Šioje istorijoje labai patiko seserų gyvenimas ir ryšys. Seserys- labai skirtingos, bet be galo artimos. 🫶🏻
Autorė įspūdingai vienoje knygoje susuka kelias istorijas, visos skirtingos, bet visos kartu persypinusios. Mano manymu, reikia sugebėjimo, kad vienu metu rutulioti kelias istorijas. 🤯 Šeimos, meilės, darbo ir praeities 😳🧐🫢
Ir žinote kas su Swan istorijomis gerai? Visada žinai, kad baigsis laimingai. 😌🥰

[Eglė / Gal paskaitom? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Swan “Apsnigtos Kalėdos“ 🎄

Labai šilta, žaisminga ir jaunatviška Kalėdinė istorija. ✨

Alegra ir Izobelė – dvi neišskiriamos seserys. Nuo mažens jos geriausios draugės, bet tiek jų savybės, tiek gyvenimo keliai labai skirtingi. Izobelė linksma, šiek tiek vėjavaikiška, turi vyrą ir mažylį, o Alegra uždara, ryžtinga ir visą savo dėmesį skiria karjerai. Keliaudama į svarbų susitikimą, Alegra sutinka žavų vyriškį, vardu Semas. Galbūt jis ištirpdys Alegros jausmus slepiančias ledo sienas? Tačiau paaiškėja, kad jis ne šiaip sutiktas keleivis, o tame pačiame susitikime dalyvaujantis kolega, gal net konkurentas. Nepaisant jo sukeltos sumaišties Alegros galvoje, seserys sužino netikėtų dalykų apie savo praeitį ir leidžiasi į kelionę išsiaiškinti iš kur jos iš tikrųjų yra kilusios. 🏔

Skaitydama mėgavausi lengva, jaukia istorija. Nukeliavau į snieguotus kalnus, prisiminiau taip išsiilgtą slidinėjimą. Labai žavi pagrindinė veikėja – savarankiška, mėgstanti viską apskaičiuoti ir suplanuoti, tačiau giliai širdyje šilta ir rūpestinga. Iš tikrųjų šioje knygoje buvo mažiau meilės romanų ir intrigų nei maniau. Daugiau kelionių, dingusių giminių ir savo šaknų paieškų. Nors tai tikrai nuotaikinga ir šviesi knyga, užčiuopiamos ir rimtesnės temos – darboholizmas, nenumaldomai senstantys ir aiškią nuovoką prarandantys tėvai, santykius užklumpantis buitis ir rutina, moterų diskriminacija. Visgi į jas smarkiai nesigilinama, aš šią knygą priskirčiau prie tokių, kurias perskaitai, gerai praleidi laiką, pasimėgauji ir gan greitai pamiršti. 😉

Rekomenduoju šią knygą lengvų, linksmų, romantiškų istorijų mėgėjams. Bei norintiems kažko jaukaus ir Kalėdiško. 🎁🎅🏻❄️

3,5 ⭐️ | 2020 – 83 📚

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautifully written novel from Karen Swan, I don’t think I’ve read one from her that has disappointed. Highly recommended and not too Christmassy for October!

[Liveta Songailė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Labai graži istorija. Apie skaudžius įvykius , iširusia šeima, ir vėliau atrasta nauja gražia šeima. Vienas iš autorės braižų, kuris labai patinka, kad visada siejamos dvi istorijos, sena ir nauja karta. Visada įdomu, kaip jos bus susipinusios, ir kokia tiesa, kuri jaudina.

[primeballerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seit nunmehr vier Jahren gehören die Romane von Karen Swan für mich einfach zur Vorweihnachtszeit dazu – seit sie mich mit ihrem Debüt “Ein Geschenk von Tiffany” komplett begeistert hat, warte ich jedes Jahr aufs Neue voller Vorfreude auf eine neue Geschichte. Auch “Ein Geschenk zum Verlieben” und “Ein Weihnachtskuss für Clementine” haben mich nicht enttäuscht. Insofern waren die diesjährigen Erwartungen für “Winterküsse im Schnee” hoch – doch auch die wurden wieder einmal vollends erfüllt.

Die Schwestern Allegra und Isobel verstehen sich zwar blendend und sind fast schon beste Freundinnen, trotzdem könnten sie nicht unterschiedlicher sein. Während Isobel verheiratet, Mutter und eine Frohnatur ist, fühlt sich Allegra in ihrem Büro am wohlsten. Tatsächlich ist sie eine der erfolgreichsten Frauen in London und weiß, sich unter all den Männern im Finanzsektor zu behaupten. Ihre Karriere steht für sie immer an erster Stelle. So ist es nicht weiter verwunderlich, dass sie – als sie den attraktiven Sam Kemp kennen lernt – sich dafür entscheidet, ihn so schnell wie nur möglich loszuwerden. Doch dann stellt sich heraus, dass sie beide gegeneinander arbeiten sollen, um einen riesengroßen Deal für das Unternehmen zu gewinnen – und nur einer von ihnen kann gewinnen.

Die Handlung, welche hauptsächlich von der Protagonistin Allegra Fisher erzählt, setzt fünf Wochen vor Weihnachten an und hat an Weihnachten ihr Ende. Dadurch wird auf den rund 500 Seiten eine sehr abwechslungsreiche und komplexe Geschichte erzählt, da die Handlung in diesem Zeitraum von fünf Wochen auch genug Zeit hat, sich gemächlich nach und nach zu entwickeln und den Leser mit vielen Plottwists zu überraschen. Das ist auch etwas, was ich an den Geschichten von Karen Swan immer besonders zu schätzen weiß – die Handlungen sind immer umfangreich und bieten unheimlich großes Erzählpotenzial.

So wird die Protagonistin sowie ihr Beruf und ihre Familie, allen voran Isobel, anfangs erst einmal in Ruhe vorgestellt, ihr Leben beschrieben, so dass man gleich mit der Protagonistin vertraut wird und sich langsam auf ihre Geschichte einlassen kann. Die Handlung selbst hat mich dann auch ohne große Überraschung von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite an gefesselt – die Autorin hat solch einen tollen Schreibstil, dass man die 500 Seiten um einiges schneller weg liest als so manche 200-Seiten-Bücher. Wie schon vorher kurz angerissen, ist dies auch der großen Abwechslung geschuldet – den Leser erwarten so einige Überraschungen und vorhersehbare Wendungen, welche die Spannung aufrecht erhalten. Dadurch ist “Winterküsse im Schnee” auch nicht zwingend ausschließlich ein Liebesroman, da die Handlung auch einige weitere Themen aufgreift. Aber auch das ist typisch für die Romane der Autorin.

Was ich zudem besonders mochte, sind die Ortswechsel. Während wir uns zu Beginn und gegen Ende im vorweihnachtlichen London befinden, geht es für Allegra und Isobel im Laufe der Handlung in die Schweiz, genauer gesagt in das luxuriöse und beliebte Ski-Gebiet Zermatt. Hier kommt es sprachlich zwar zu einigen wenigen Sonderheiten, da in der Übersetzung alles auf deutsch ist, was im Original vielleicht auch deutsch wäre – das ist natürlich nicht weiter schlimm, sorgt eventuell nur für einige Verwunderung beim Lesen. Dafür mochte ich aber das durch die vielen Beschreibungen ausgelöste Kopfkino. Ein verschneites Dorf tief in den Bergen zur Vorweihnachtszeit – ein besseres Setting gibt es wohl kaum. Auf alle Fälle mochte ich das Ambiente, welches Swan an beiden Orten kreiert hat, sehr gerne, zumal sie eben so wunderbar bildhaft beschreibt, dass man jede Szene direkt vor Augen hat.

Ein tolles kleines vorweihnachtliche Extra ist der mit eingebaute Adventskalender, welcher auch in der eigentlichen Geschichte eine Rolle spielt. Jedes Mal, wenn vom 1. bis zum 24. Dezember in der Handlung selbst ein neuer Tag beginnt, wird am Kapitelanfang beschrieben, welche Figur Allegra in ihrem eigenen Adventskalender findet – auch wenn das Aufmachen des Türchen gerade an einem Tag mal nicht beschrieben wird. Für einen Weihnachtsroman ist das definitiv eine tolle Idee.

“Winterküsse im Schnee” ist wie schon seine Vorgänger eine absolute Leseempfehlung für alle, die noch nach einem Weihnachtsroman für die Vorweihnachtszeit suchen. Ich bin selbst überrascht, dass die Autorin es mal wieder geschafft hat, meine mittlerweile sehr hohen Erwartungen zu erfüllen und freue mich nun umso mehr schon auf das nächste Jahr und einen neuen Roman.

[Aoife · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Real love was unrecoverable,terminal; it followed you through your life and to the grave. There was never any going back.'

Plot

Allegra Fisher barely has time to notice the snow falling around her, or that Christmas is just around the corner. She's pitching for the biggest deal of her career, and failure is not an option. When she meets attractive Sam Kemp on the plane to an important meeting, she knows that she can't afford to lose her focus.

Allegra learned how to switch off her emotions a long time ago, for reasons that only herself, and her sister Isobel are aware of. When Allegra and Sam are pitted against each other for the deal, the passion between them quickly turns sour.

Meanwhile, in picturesque Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, a hut that was buried in the snow more than sixty years ago has been unearthed. Allegra is the last person expecting to be involved, and she's never even heard of the woman found inside the hut. It soon becomes clear however, that the two women are connected, and as Allegra and Isobel travel to Zermatt to make sense of the mystery, long forgotten secrets make themselves known.

My Thoughts

I'd been seeing this book plastered all over Goodreads and Facebook for a few weeks before I finally caved in and bought it. I'd never read anything by Karen Swan before, but I did have one of her other books on my To Read list, so I was curious about this one. The first thing that I noticed was the beautiful cover. Although it is true that you should never judge a book by it's cover, I was immediately drawn to the beautiful snowy image and the sharp contrast of the red-coated woman.

Anyway, to the book itself. I have to admit, at the start of the book I wasn't sure if I was going to finish it. The first eighty or so pages focused very much on Allegra's job as it was opening up the story and showing me how career-focused Allegra is. I just found the talk about stock markets boring, and I really couldn't wait for the story to move on. Luckily, when Allegra got a call from the Swiss Police, I started to find the story more exciting, and it's at this point that I couldn't put the book down.

The setting of Zermatt was beautiful; although I've never been there myself I was able to imagine the mountains, the huts, and the shops, especially the gift shop that sold wooden ornaments. It certainly got me in the mood for Christmas, not that I needed any help in that department.

I loved seeing the change in Allegra as she got some distance from London, and her demanding career. It's like she finally realises that there's more to life than her job, and she lets herself become more open to enjoying her life, and spending more time with her sister. Christmas wasn't a great time for Allegra and Isobel, for reasons that I won't disclose, but Allegra definitely feels it the most. Isobel is the younger and more laid back sister, and has a family of her own, so Christmas has become a magical time of year for her again. But Allegra feels alone in the world, and carries guilt from the past, so it was so good to see her finally letting go, and letting herself feel her emotions again.

The plot in this story was so unpredictable that it had my draw dropping more than a few times. There were so many unexpected twists and sub-plots that I couldn't wait to sneak a few pages in between working and getting everything ready for Christmas. Just when I thought that everything was out in the open, the characters had another shock in store for me and they just kept coming, right until the very end.

Although this is very much a Christmas book, it is so much more. It's more than your average cheesy Christmas story, although I love those stories too. It's exciting, mysterious, unpredictable, and it will definitely shock you. If I hadn't found the beginning difficult, I would have given it five stars instead of four. Merry Christmas!

[Emma Star Crossed Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I've previously read Christmas at Tiffany's, The Perfect Present and  Christmas at Claridge's by Karen. I adored all of these so back in 2014 when I saw that she had a new book coming out I immediately pre-ordered it. I however suck and haven't found time to read it until now.

This book follows sisters Allegra and Isobel. Allegra is a workaholic. She might as well live at the office she spends that much time there. Isobel is happily married with a baby boy.

I loved Zermatt. It sounded like the most magical place, especially at Christmas time.

This story had me hooked from the first few pages. As with Karen's previous books I struggled to put it down. This book twists and turns and for the most part I didn't see them coming.

This really was a lovely story that you really should find the time to read.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has been in my collection for what seems like forever. I decided to dust it off and read it this Christmas. An enjoyable read with so much more to the plot than just a romance. Allegra is a strong female lead with a successful career which she has worked really hard for and has poured her heart and soul into it. I really loved the setting, who doesn’t enjoy a luxurious snowy setting at the time of year. I also enjoyed the unraveling of Allegra and Isobel's family secrets and history and discovering what had happened all those years ago.

Christmas in the Snow is a compelling tale packed with glitzy locations, family drama and a romantic interlude which didn’t overwhelm the rest of the story.

[Ieva Abromavičienė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vieną vakarą padėjau knygą ant žemės, prie išjungdama šviesą, ir aplink knygą buvo daug laidų. Pagalvojau ''tokiai gražiai knygai toks neromantiškas vaizdelis'' na, bet po to atejo mintis,'' kas romantiška zefyrais nebeapkamšysi'' :) Keistas susiejimas sakysite, na bet iš gyvenimo, kaip sakoma :D Knyga graži, Kalėdų tematikos tik mažoka, bet džiaugiuosi metus pradėdama pažintimi su nauja autore ( man ji nauja). Ir tikslų atsirado, juk paskaičius su drauge užsimanėm pakeliauti ir į SPA užsukti...Ech tos Kalėdos :)
'' Žmonių jūroje mano akys visada ieškos tavęs'' (Kai išsirašai tokia citatą, kas dar gali gincytis dėl romantikos a?:))

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this read. I liked the mystery about Valentina .
Allegra and Isobel were such great characters ,I loved their sisterly bond.
The setting of Zermatt added such a scenic picture to imagine as the two sisters discovered the truth about their grandmother

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Swan back to her best. I devoured this book. Loved the character of Allegra, and all the twists the story took.