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Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper
You’ve seen Mark Darcy in the reindeer jumper his mother gave him, now meet Marco Cavelli in this season’s Christmas knit!
For single mum Maggie, Christmas has always been a family occasion – her daughter Ellen filling the house with her bubbly warmth and mistletoe, her dad Paddy having one too many festive tipples, and the traditional family Christmas tree looking like a drunken elf vomited a rainbow all over it.
But this year, with both Ellen and Paddy away for the holidays, Maggie’s facing a truly blue Christmas – alone with nothing but a bottle of Baileys and an M&S turkey dinner.
Until walking the snowy streets of Oxford, Marco Cavelli quite literally crashes into her life – and, complete with broken leg, becomes her unexpected houseguest. All dreamy brown eyes and 6’5” of gorgeousness, the man is hotter and more delicious than a freshly baked mince pie.
Though Maggie always thought it’s a truth universally acknowledged that you never kiss a man in a Christmas jumper?
The next FABULOUS book from Debbie Johnson, author of best-selling Christmas number one, ‘Cold Feet at Christmas’ and the summer hit ‘Pippa’s Cornish Dream’.
For single mum Maggie, Christmas has always been a family occasion – her daughter Ellen filling the house with her bubbly warmth and mistletoe, her dad Paddy having one too many festive tipples, and the traditional family Christmas tree looking like a drunken elf vomited a rainbow all over it.
But this year, with both Ellen and Paddy away for the holidays, Maggie’s facing a truly blue Christmas – alone with nothing but a bottle of Baileys and an M&S turkey dinner.
Until walking the snowy streets of Oxford, Marco Cavelli quite literally crashes into her life – and, complete with broken leg, becomes her unexpected houseguest. All dreamy brown eyes and 6’5” of gorgeousness, the man is hotter and more delicious than a freshly baked mince pie.
Though Maggie always thought it’s a truth universally acknowledged that you never kiss a man in a Christmas jumper?
The next FABULOUS book from Debbie Johnson, author of best-selling Christmas number one, ‘Cold Feet at Christmas’ and the summer hit ‘Pippa’s Cornish Dream’.
186 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 2015
501 people are currently reading
1225 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Johnson
31 books948 followersDebbie Johnson is an award-winning author who lives and works in Liverpool, where she divides her time between writing, caring for a small tribe of children and animals, and not doing the housework.
She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.
Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.
She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.
source: Amazon
She writes feel-good emotional women’s fiction, and has sold more than 1,000,000 books worldwide. She is published globally in many different languages, and has had two books optioned for film and TV.
Her books include the best-selling Comfort Food Cafe series, The A-Z of Everything, Maybe One Day, The Moment I Met You, Falling for You and the Starshine Cove books.
She is also the author of supernatural crime thriller, Fear No Evil, and urban fantasies Dark Vision and Dark Touch.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
December 18, 2022
Maggie ist 34 und alleinerziehende Mutter einer inzwischen 18-jährigen Tochter. Außerdem liebt Maggie die Weihnachtszeit. In diesem Jahr aber ist alles anders, denn Töchterchen Ellen möchte Weihnachten mit ihrem Freund in Paris verbringen und Maggies Vater möchte auf Kreuzfahrt. Alleine ist Maggie trotzdem nicht, denn durch einen Fahrradunfall kracht buchstäblich der gutaussehende Marco Cavelli in ihr Leben. Marco hat sich bei dem Unfall ein Bein gebrochen und wird kurzerhand bei Maggie einquartiert. Die beiden kommen sich näher...
🎄
Mein Leseeindruck:
Die Geschichte ist zwar relativ vorhersehbar, hat aber durchaus auch tiefgründige Themen dabei wie zum Beispiel Einsamkeit und Kinderwunsch. Trotzdem ist es eher eine leichte Lektüre, die sich flüssig lesen lässt und einfach gute Laune macht.
Als sehr weihnachtlich habe ich die Geschichte nicht empfunden, auch wenn sie zur Weihnachtszeit spielt. Aber die Story war romantisch und irgendwie süß.
Wer eine leichte und winterliche Lektüre sucht mit Romantik und Liebe, der sollte sich diesen Roman einmal anschauen.
🎄
Mein Leseeindruck:
Die Geschichte ist zwar relativ vorhersehbar, hat aber durchaus auch tiefgründige Themen dabei wie zum Beispiel Einsamkeit und Kinderwunsch. Trotzdem ist es eher eine leichte Lektüre, die sich flüssig lesen lässt und einfach gute Laune macht.
Als sehr weihnachtlich habe ich die Geschichte nicht empfunden, auch wenn sie zur Weihnachtszeit spielt. Aber die Story war romantisch und irgendwie süß.
Wer eine leichte und winterliche Lektüre sucht mit Romantik und Liebe, der sollte sich diesen Roman einmal anschauen.
March 13, 2024
NEVER KISS A MAN IN A CHRISTMAS JUMPER was a super cute Christmas romance 🎄❤🎄between a single mom and a man she has a bicycle accident with just before Christmas. Marco Cavelli has no one else to take him in after he and single mom Maggie collide on their bicycles on an icy night❄❄ just before Christmas. Maggie agrees to let him stay with her as he recuperates from a badly broken leg. Sparks fly. I especially liked the relationship between Maggie and her teen daughter Ellen as well as the description of all the wedding dresses (Maggie is a dress designer.)
November 12, 2015
5 - Three cheers for fat-bottomed girls. Stars!!!
Sometimes a book and its story just clicks with you as the reader. And Never Kiss A Man in a Christmas Jumper certainly did that for me. This is the first book that I have read by Debbie Johnson, and on the strength of it, it certainly won’t be the last.
I won’t lie and say there is anything massively new or special about the story-line between Maggie and Marco, but the authors writing style is what took the generic and turned it into something that just took me back, while it pulled me in and settled around me like a warm fleecy blanket.
”Im not one of those women who gets noticed. I don’t light up the room. I sneak in under the radar… “
“You light it all up for me.”
Maggie and Marco are from completely different worlds, single mother, seamstress, insular in her living habits, whereas Marco is worldly, confident and not shy to speak his mind or what he is feeling.
”I promise to be gentle with you.”
I loved this about both of them, and whereas some authors may have looked to ’glam’ up the story between them, Debbie Johnson didn’t, the writing is very British in its telling and I had to smile at the use of words like ‘tiddly’ and ‘hair bobble’, words that bring back fond memories and lots of smiles for me. I loved the antics that they got upto together and separately, the secondary characters added value to the story overall and it just came together in a really great way.
”Things happened. Things changed. Things… are complicated.”
Never Kiss A Man in a Christmas Jumper is just a good, old-fashioned romance story, told in a style that you can't help but be entertained by, and I loved every second of it.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Sometimes a book and its story just clicks with you as the reader. And Never Kiss A Man in a Christmas Jumper certainly did that for me. This is the first book that I have read by Debbie Johnson, and on the strength of it, it certainly won’t be the last.
I won’t lie and say there is anything massively new or special about the story-line between Maggie and Marco, but the authors writing style is what took the generic and turned it into something that just took me back, while it pulled me in and settled around me like a warm fleecy blanket.
”Im not one of those women who gets noticed. I don’t light up the room. I sneak in under the radar… “
“You light it all up for me.”
Maggie and Marco are from completely different worlds, single mother, seamstress, insular in her living habits, whereas Marco is worldly, confident and not shy to speak his mind or what he is feeling.
”I promise to be gentle with you.”
I loved this about both of them, and whereas some authors may have looked to ’glam’ up the story between them, Debbie Johnson didn’t, the writing is very British in its telling and I had to smile at the use of words like ‘tiddly’ and ‘hair bobble’, words that bring back fond memories and lots of smiles for me. I loved the antics that they got upto together and separately, the secondary characters added value to the story overall and it just came together in a really great way.
”Things happened. Things changed. Things… are complicated.”
Never Kiss A Man in a Christmas Jumper is just a good, old-fashioned romance story, told in a style that you can't help but be entertained by, and I loved every second of it.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.
December 16, 2017
Release Date: November 5, 2015
Genre: Holiday Chick Lit
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater is cute and lighthearted read. I enjoyed getting to know Maggie and Marco, and I liked their budding relationship even though it was built very quickly and on silly terms (they were quite unbelievable but hey, it's fiction!). However, there were a few things about it that I didn't love, which is ultimately why I only gave the book three stars. More on that below.
THE STORY
Maggie and Marco meet under unusual circumstances that set them quickly on a path to love. Neither one are expecting it however, fate has other plans for these two.
So, how did they meet? Well, Marco LITERALLY crashed right into Maggie's life. On a bicycle. In the snow. A few weeks before Christmas. At first, Maggie could have cared less about Marco (he was a major pain in her ass-literally). Marco felt the same, especially considering she broke his leg. But when a nagging sister inlaw talks Maggie into taking care of Marco for a few weeks they have no choice but to get along and get to know one another better.
In these few weeks, these two become closer than either would have anticipated. He goes to wedding with her (she is a professional dress maker) and she goes on a little trip with him. All the while, sparks slowly begin to fly during this time, and the miracle of Christmas shows them that love is in the cards if they let their hearts feel it.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS OF THE STORY
This is a cute story, and a VERY quick read. I think it took me about an hour and a half to read the entire thing. It's not a novella, and ill admit I did skim through some of it, but it's still under 250 pages so it's an easy read. I liked this book- didn't love it- and think others will feel the same.
If you're looking for a quick Christmas novel, this may be a good one for you.
WHAT I SPECIFICALLY LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK
➜ The cover: I am big fan of chick lit covers as they are usually colorful and really convey the gist of the story (without any words). This cover is certainly a good representation of the book, especially considering it has meaning.
➜ The pacing: As I mentioned above, this is a really fast paced book and can easily be read in one sitting. For me, I was looking for a quick holiday read and this one fit the bill well.
➜ The characters: While the story is light and fluffy, Maggie has some realistic troubles. I won't say what but I feel like this allowed me to connect with her more than if she hadn't.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
➜ The Christmas Part: Seeing as this book is being represented as a Christmas novel, I felt really let down that it didn't have the Christmas cheer and holiday garb that I was looking for. It didn't feel like Christmas time in the story. In fact, had the author taken Christmas out of the title it would make for a normal, everyday chick lit novel.
➜ The way the characters fell in love so quickly: I generally don't buy into the whole "insta love" thing and have been trying to get away from it because it's so unrealistic. This book has it. Maybe it's not love at first sight but falling madly in love within a month especially with someone they didn't know in the past comes off as fake.
OVERALL RATING & RECOMMENDATION
Actual Rating: 3 stars (I was teetering on 2.5)
Recommendation? If you are a fan of the author I would certainly tell you to give this one a try. However, if you want a festive read with all the bells and whistles of Christmas you may want to skip over it.
Genre: Holiday Chick Lit
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater is cute and lighthearted read. I enjoyed getting to know Maggie and Marco, and I liked their budding relationship even though it was built very quickly and on silly terms (they were quite unbelievable but hey, it's fiction!). However, there were a few things about it that I didn't love, which is ultimately why I only gave the book three stars. More on that below.
THE STORY
Maggie and Marco meet under unusual circumstances that set them quickly on a path to love. Neither one are expecting it however, fate has other plans for these two.
So, how did they meet? Well, Marco LITERALLY crashed right into Maggie's life. On a bicycle. In the snow. A few weeks before Christmas. At first, Maggie could have cared less about Marco (he was a major pain in her ass-literally). Marco felt the same, especially considering she broke his leg. But when a nagging sister inlaw talks Maggie into taking care of Marco for a few weeks they have no choice but to get along and get to know one another better.
In these few weeks, these two become closer than either would have anticipated. He goes to wedding with her (she is a professional dress maker) and she goes on a little trip with him. All the while, sparks slowly begin to fly during this time, and the miracle of Christmas shows them that love is in the cards if they let their hearts feel it.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS OF THE STORY
This is a cute story, and a VERY quick read. I think it took me about an hour and a half to read the entire thing. It's not a novella, and ill admit I did skim through some of it, but it's still under 250 pages so it's an easy read. I liked this book- didn't love it- and think others will feel the same.
If you're looking for a quick Christmas novel, this may be a good one for you.
WHAT I SPECIFICALLY LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK
➜ The cover: I am big fan of chick lit covers as they are usually colorful and really convey the gist of the story (without any words). This cover is certainly a good representation of the book, especially considering it has meaning.
➜ The pacing: As I mentioned above, this is a really fast paced book and can easily be read in one sitting. For me, I was looking for a quick holiday read and this one fit the bill well.
➜ The characters: While the story is light and fluffy, Maggie has some realistic troubles. I won't say what but I feel like this allowed me to connect with her more than if she hadn't.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE BOOK
➜ The Christmas Part: Seeing as this book is being represented as a Christmas novel, I felt really let down that it didn't have the Christmas cheer and holiday garb that I was looking for. It didn't feel like Christmas time in the story. In fact, had the author taken Christmas out of the title it would make for a normal, everyday chick lit novel.
➜ The way the characters fell in love so quickly: I generally don't buy into the whole "insta love" thing and have been trying to get away from it because it's so unrealistic. This book has it. Maybe it's not love at first sight but falling madly in love within a month especially with someone they didn't know in the past comes off as fake.
OVERALL RATING & RECOMMENDATION
Actual Rating: 3 stars (I was teetering on 2.5)
Recommendation? If you are a fan of the author I would certainly tell you to give this one a try. However, if you want a festive read with all the bells and whistles of Christmas you may want to skip over it.
December 25, 2018
Nonostante i soliti cliché e le situazioni improbabili, una lettura carina e piacevole.
December 30, 2015
5 Words: Christmas, marriage, love, attraction, family.
It's safe to say that this book was hilarious. Laugh out loud hilarious. I picked out so many quotes and snorted my way through a fair few pages. In public. Whoops.
This was fantastically witty and dry. I have never read anything by Debbie Johnson before, but I'll definitely read more in future.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
It's safe to say that this book was hilarious. Laugh out loud hilarious. I picked out so many quotes and snorted my way through a fair few pages. In public. Whoops.
This was fantastically witty and dry. I have never read anything by Debbie Johnson before, but I'll definitely read more in future.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
January 4, 2022
Un chick-lit gradevole e divertente - sebbene piuttosto improbabile - che è, in realtà, una fan-fiction collegata a Colin Firth nel suo ruolo di Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones's Diary. Non a caso, il protagonista si chiama Marco (è un italo americano, anche se il romanzo è ambientato a Oxford) e ha gli occhi ambrati, dello stesso colore di quelli dell'attore inglese. E il figlio di suo fratello gemello, Roberto, si chiama Luca, proprio come uno dei figli di Colin. Marco è inoltre un avvocato prestigioso, proprio come il Mark Darcy di Bridget Jones, che si trova a Oxford per una conferenza. A essere imbranato, però, è lui e non la Bridget Jones di turno, Maggie, una sarta di abiti da sposa che crede che non potrà mai indossare una delle sue creazioni. Ma questo dipende dal fatto che gli inglesi tengono la destra e non la sinistra sulla strada e, confondendosi, Marco scatena uno scontro tra bici galeotto...
December 27, 2015
For me no one can beat Colin Firth in a Christmas jumper in his part as Mark Darcy in Bridget Jone's Diary but I have to say that Marco Cavelli certainly gives him a run for his money.
Marco's character certainly brings visions of someone who is quite hot though he does seem to be a tad accident prone. After literally bumping into the lovely Maggie and breaking his leg, Maggie finds herself becoming a carer for him and of course the inevitable happens and they both fall for each other.
Never Kiss A Man In A Christmas Jumper is a relatively quick read as would say it was more of a novella than an actual novel.It is a tad predictable but is still very much an enjoyable and fun read. There are a couple of parts of the storyline that have more of a serious tone to it which pulls on your heart strings though.
Definitely a great read for this time of the year.
Many thanks to Harper Impulse as I won a copy of this book as part of a give away that they ran on there Facebook page.
Marco's character certainly brings visions of someone who is quite hot though he does seem to be a tad accident prone. After literally bumping into the lovely Maggie and breaking his leg, Maggie finds herself becoming a carer for him and of course the inevitable happens and they both fall for each other.
Never Kiss A Man In A Christmas Jumper is a relatively quick read as would say it was more of a novella than an actual novel.It is a tad predictable but is still very much an enjoyable and fun read. There are a couple of parts of the storyline that have more of a serious tone to it which pulls on your heart strings though.
Definitely a great read for this time of the year.
Many thanks to Harper Impulse as I won a copy of this book as part of a give away that they ran on there Facebook page.
December 23, 2018
This was quite a quick read and was brilliant always loved Debbie's books and she didn't let me down its full of laughs and Christmas, with weddings and romance and has happy times and sad and just made you laugh so much. A great read
December 24, 2018
Carino e tenero al punto giusto, con il contorno di qualche lacrimuccia che non guasta mai ^^ e un lieto fine perfetto.
Buon Natale a tutti.
Buon Natale a tutti.
November 19, 2015
I was really looking for something to get me in the Christmas mood ( yeah I know it's November but I don't care) after having a hard year and even looking at the cover makes me smile.
Maggie and Marco come from completely different worlds. He's a handsome American hunk and she's a single mum running her own business in the UK.
The world literally collide one day when Marco crashes into Maggie while out cycling. Marco ends up on the loosing end and winds up in hospital with more than his ego battered. Maggie feels a connection to this handsome stranger and even though she has reserves she agree's to look after him while his family are away.
I just loved the characters in the book. I took a real shine to Maggie and her daughter. They were just really down to earth and relate-able. So much so that I really got into this book and managed to finish it in two sittings because the plot flowed really well!
People sometimes pass over books like this because they don't delve deep into the themes within but sometimes you just need a little bit of magic and romance! I loved watching the relationship between Maggie and Marco develop.
This would be a perfect book to read while sitting by the christmas tree with a glass of mulled wine in hand. Really enjoyable!
Maggie and Marco come from completely different worlds. He's a handsome American hunk and she's a single mum running her own business in the UK.
The world literally collide one day when Marco crashes into Maggie while out cycling. Marco ends up on the loosing end and winds up in hospital with more than his ego battered. Maggie feels a connection to this handsome stranger and even though she has reserves she agree's to look after him while his family are away.
I just loved the characters in the book. I took a real shine to Maggie and her daughter. They were just really down to earth and relate-able. So much so that I really got into this book and managed to finish it in two sittings because the plot flowed really well!
People sometimes pass over books like this because they don't delve deep into the themes within but sometimes you just need a little bit of magic and romance! I loved watching the relationship between Maggie and Marco develop.
This would be a perfect book to read while sitting by the christmas tree with a glass of mulled wine in hand. Really enjoyable!
December 8, 2019
3.5
"Al terzo incontro con l'uomo che oggi conosce con il nome di Marco Cavelli, Maggie gli fece un regalo di Natale di quelli che non si dimenticano: una gamba rotta e due costole fratturate. Dono confezionato con qualche escoriazione al volto e un pittoresco occhio nero. Inutile puntualizzare che era lui dalla parte del torto."
Questo inizio così scoppiettante mi aveva fatto ben sperare in una lettura leggera e divertente. È stato così fino ad un terzo del libro, dopo però, perde la sua freschezza e, non che diventi noioso, no, ma si avvicina molto più a un romance classico, perdendo tutte le caratteristiche della commedia romantica.
"Al terzo incontro con l'uomo che oggi conosce con il nome di Marco Cavelli, Maggie gli fece un regalo di Natale di quelli che non si dimenticano: una gamba rotta e due costole fratturate. Dono confezionato con qualche escoriazione al volto e un pittoresco occhio nero. Inutile puntualizzare che era lui dalla parte del torto."
Questo inizio così scoppiettante mi aveva fatto ben sperare in una lettura leggera e divertente. È stato così fino ad un terzo del libro, dopo però, perde la sua freschezza e, non che diventi noioso, no, ma si avvicina molto più a un romance classico, perdendo tutte le caratteristiche della commedia romantica.
January 9, 2022
There’s very little similarity between this book and the Hallmark movie that’s based on it but I liked both.
February 10, 2017
3.5
Anche se non è il mio genere, devo ammettere che è stata una lettura carina. Non meravigliosa, ma piacevole.
Mi dispiace solo di non aver avvertito molto l’atmosfera natalizia (di Natale c’è solo il periodo), dato che questo romanzo è un misto tra Bridget Jones e Quattro matrimoni. Quindi sì, la renna sul maglione si vede appena, per mio grande rammarico.
La trama in sé è molto semplice. Maggie è una madre single rimasta incinta troppo presto che gestisce un piccolo negozio di abiti da sposa. La sua vita è normalissima, anzi quasi noiosa, finché nel suo giorno libero non andrà a finire contro l’affascinante Marco, spedendolo dritto dritto all’ospedale con una gamba fratturata.
Un po' per colpa, un po' per ormoni, decide di assecondare la famiglia di lui e di prendersi cura del malato, ospitandolo nella sua piccola abitazione sotto gli sguardi divertiti della figlia Ellen e del padre Paddy.
Tra matrimoni e una conferenza all’università, Maggie e Marco si avvicineranno molto, finché BOOM! Scoppia l’am-m-m-more. Tuttavia Maggie è la classica lepre che, appena capisce di essere coinvolta, mette le scarpe da ginnastica e scappa alla velocità della luce, spezzando il cuoricino allo stallone italo-americano.
E sì… non serve che vi dica come va a finire. Potete immaginarvelo benissimo da soli.
Personalmente credo che questo libro abbia molte potenzialità sprecate. Inizialmente l’ho trovato molto divertente. Le battute di Maggie e Ellen erano briose e risollevavano la storia, ma man mano che la narrazione procedeva ha perso tono. I personaggi non sono molto caratterizzati e i secondari servono solo a creare quel giusto contorno per mandare avanti la storia.
Non nascondo che avrei preferito leggere di Rob e Leah, che di st’altri due ormonati.
Tuttavia, c’è stata una scena che mi ha fatto salire il magone (il che è così raro da poter essere un evento paragonato all’avvistamento di un unicorno) e si tratta dell’ultimo matrimonio in programma di Maggie, quello in cui lo sposo è gravemente ammalato.
Anche se in linea generale il tutto è quasi piatto, lì non so perché mi è partito il devasto emotivo XD
Per il resto direi che per essere una lettura senza impegno ci può anche stare, ma non aspettatevi fuochi d’artificio.
Anche se non è il mio genere, devo ammettere che è stata una lettura carina. Non meravigliosa, ma piacevole.
Mi dispiace solo di non aver avvertito molto l’atmosfera natalizia (di Natale c’è solo il periodo), dato che questo romanzo è un misto tra Bridget Jones e Quattro matrimoni. Quindi sì, la renna sul maglione si vede appena, per mio grande rammarico.
La trama in sé è molto semplice. Maggie è una madre single rimasta incinta troppo presto che gestisce un piccolo negozio di abiti da sposa. La sua vita è normalissima, anzi quasi noiosa, finché nel suo giorno libero non andrà a finire contro l’affascinante Marco, spedendolo dritto dritto all’ospedale con una gamba fratturata.
Un po' per colpa, un po' per ormoni, decide di assecondare la famiglia di lui e di prendersi cura del malato, ospitandolo nella sua piccola abitazione sotto gli sguardi divertiti della figlia Ellen e del padre Paddy.
Tra matrimoni e una conferenza all’università, Maggie e Marco si avvicineranno molto, finché BOOM! Scoppia l’am-m-m-more. Tuttavia Maggie è la classica lepre che, appena capisce di essere coinvolta, mette le scarpe da ginnastica e scappa alla velocità della luce, spezzando il cuoricino allo stallone italo-americano.
E sì… non serve che vi dica come va a finire. Potete immaginarvelo benissimo da soli.
Personalmente credo che questo libro abbia molte potenzialità sprecate. Inizialmente l’ho trovato molto divertente. Le battute di Maggie e Ellen erano briose e risollevavano la storia, ma man mano che la narrazione procedeva ha perso tono. I personaggi non sono molto caratterizzati e i secondari servono solo a creare quel giusto contorno per mandare avanti la storia.
Non nascondo che avrei preferito leggere di Rob e Leah, che di st’altri due ormonati.
Tuttavia, c’è stata una scena che mi ha fatto salire il magone (il che è così raro da poter essere un evento paragonato all’avvistamento di un unicorno) e si tratta dell’ultimo matrimonio in programma di Maggie, quello in cui lo sposo è gravemente ammalato.
Anche se in linea generale il tutto è quasi piatto, lì non so perché mi è partito il devasto emotivo XD
Per il resto direi che per essere una lettura senza impegno ci può anche stare, ma non aspettatevi fuochi d’artificio.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2015
After reading the preceding book, Cold Feet at Christmas, I felt I should give this one a shot this month as well. I didn't care for it much. It's set about 2-3 years after the events of Cold Feet, and focuses on the other brother of the family. I'm also having a hard time pinpointing what I didn't enjoy about this book. British heroine/Set in England? Check. Independent, single mom heroine? Check. Hot hero? Check. Wedding business? Check. All of these have lead to great books in the past for me, so why was this one so lackluster? It could be that the single mom angle wasn't really there, as the child was mostly grown up by that point. The romance also really just didn't feel developed, it just suddenly existed. The Christmas vibe didn't feel forced at all, so that was a point in its favor! When I finally closed the book, I just felt "meh" about it, so my guess is, it's a case of me not being right for the book.
July 13, 2020
Gdl con Edicola & Libreria: le nostre passioni...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Una lettura poco impegnativa per passare dl tempo in modo leggero, l'ho trovata molto carina.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Una lettura poco impegnativa per passare dl tempo in modo leggero, l'ho trovata molto carina.
April 8, 2018
A charming holiday romance set in Oxford.
Maggie is a single mum to a teenage daughter and owns her own wedding dress business. Aged 34, she is starting to feel a bit superfluous as her daughter spreads her wings and her father has his own busy social life.
The book opens with a bicycle crash in the centre of Oxford between Maggie and an American that she has christened The Hot Papa From The Park and The Man With The Tux based on their two previous meetings. When the American, Marco Cavelli, turns out to have a broken leg as a result of their encounter Maggie is guilted into letting him stay with her until he becomes more mobile.
As the snow settles around the picturesque streets of Oxford and Maggie gets ready to attend three very different weddings in the run up to Christmas she and Marco fall in love.
Definitely a sweet romance, but not sickly sweet, with partying OAPs, drunken teenagers and masses of wedding cake.
Loved it.
Maggie is a single mum to a teenage daughter and owns her own wedding dress business. Aged 34, she is starting to feel a bit superfluous as her daughter spreads her wings and her father has his own busy social life.
The book opens with a bicycle crash in the centre of Oxford between Maggie and an American that she has christened The Hot Papa From The Park and The Man With The Tux based on their two previous meetings. When the American, Marco Cavelli, turns out to have a broken leg as a result of their encounter Maggie is guilted into letting him stay with her until he becomes more mobile.
As the snow settles around the picturesque streets of Oxford and Maggie gets ready to attend three very different weddings in the run up to Christmas she and Marco fall in love.
Definitely a sweet romance, but not sickly sweet, with partying OAPs, drunken teenagers and masses of wedding cake.
Loved it.
December 16, 2020
This was such a charming story. If you’re in the mood for some delight and a few tears while also wanting British wit and Christmas romance, pick this up.
October 30, 2015
This is a really enjoyable festive romance, that is so much more than what it first seems. It has tear jerker moments, as well as humour, some very different weddings, a host of Christmas jumpers, a gorgeous man and just a few broken bones!
Maggie has spotted Marco Cavelli around Oxford a couple of times, each time wearing a Christmas jumper, and has found him attractive. And then in a freak bicycle accident they crash and somehow Maggie agrees to have Marco as a house guest while he recovers from his crash.
Maggie had daughter Ellen very young and is a single mother, and this year both Ellen, and Maggie's father are going away for Christmas, leaving Maggie slightly despairing. But before that she has 3 weddings to attend, and 3 wedding dresses to finish off, for the brides to wear.
There are some lovely descriptions of Oxford, and you get a real sense of the picturesque university town, and especially the part of it where Maggie lives, Jericho. Maggie acts as a part tour guide to Marco, pointing out things he should visit, if he has time while he's there.
Marco's family are warm hearted and loving and just full of life, and great characters, as is Marco, a man trying to recover from a broken leg, and he is used to being a lot more self reliant and physical than he currently is. We also from time to time get to see what he is thinking and its clear he may think more of Maggie than it first appears.
I did notice there was at least one nod towards Bridget Jones, that was't a gorgeous man in a Christmas jumper, and when I spotted it, I just had to smile, but also started to well up and goose bumps too!
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper is easy to read, well paced, and has some absolutely beautifully emotional scenes, and is a great romance for this time of year!
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
Maggie has spotted Marco Cavelli around Oxford a couple of times, each time wearing a Christmas jumper, and has found him attractive. And then in a freak bicycle accident they crash and somehow Maggie agrees to have Marco as a house guest while he recovers from his crash.
Maggie had daughter Ellen very young and is a single mother, and this year both Ellen, and Maggie's father are going away for Christmas, leaving Maggie slightly despairing. But before that she has 3 weddings to attend, and 3 wedding dresses to finish off, for the brides to wear.
There are some lovely descriptions of Oxford, and you get a real sense of the picturesque university town, and especially the part of it where Maggie lives, Jericho. Maggie acts as a part tour guide to Marco, pointing out things he should visit, if he has time while he's there.
Marco's family are warm hearted and loving and just full of life, and great characters, as is Marco, a man trying to recover from a broken leg, and he is used to being a lot more self reliant and physical than he currently is. We also from time to time get to see what he is thinking and its clear he may think more of Maggie than it first appears.
I did notice there was at least one nod towards Bridget Jones, that was't a gorgeous man in a Christmas jumper, and when I spotted it, I just had to smile, but also started to well up and goose bumps too!
Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Jumper is easy to read, well paced, and has some absolutely beautifully emotional scenes, and is a great romance for this time of year!
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Impulse for this review copy. This was my honest opinion.
November 14, 2015
Whoever knew a fully grown man in a Christmas jumper could be attractive.....enter Marco and prepare to change your mind! From the moment Maggie sets eyes on Marco she is attracted to him. But never did she expect she would ever even talk to him, let alone get the chance to flirt and admire him more closely! But sometimes fate has a way of intervening, and when they collide in the middle of Oxford which results in him breaking his leg and becoming her unexpected houseguest.
I love Maggie. A young Mum to a teenage daughter she works hard as a wedding dress designer, putting her heart and soul into help create the perfect gown for the brides special day. And that sums her up, caring, warm and a grafter. I found her incredibly easy to like. She hasn't had life easy, and when gorgeous Marco lands in her life I really wanted her to be able to act on her attraction and find a happy ever after.
Marco is a dish! It was easy to build up an image of him that was very pleasant on the imagination! But it only is he gorgeous sounding but he is a real sweetie too. I need someone to clone him and send him in the post to me!
The book is very easy to get engrossed in. This is the second book I have read by Debbie Johnson and have found them both very enjoyable reads. She develops great characters, writes a plot that flows quickly and leaves you feeling that all is good in the world.
This book has a wintry and festive theme to it which is perfect for wrapping up warm with a mug of hot chocolate and escaping into another world for a while. I loved it and would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to HarperImpulse who provided a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
December 1, 2015
Maggie finds herself looking after a handsome stranger when they crash their bikes into each other. She had spotted him looking after a little boy in the park and loved the way they interacted. There was a spark between them- but he's not easy to care for!
When she realises that this Christmas her other family members have plans to be away, she is distraught- but tries to put on a brave face. Can Marco persuade her to join his family this Christmas and will that move things on between them?
I loved the wedding dress side to the book. Maggie makes wedding dresses - the description of the three dresses and the weddings provided a lovely atmosphere- with laughs, smiles and tears. The first wedding sounded such fun!
This was my first book by Debbie- but will be keen to seek out more by this author.
With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.
When she realises that this Christmas her other family members have plans to be away, she is distraught- but tries to put on a brave face. Can Marco persuade her to join his family this Christmas and will that move things on between them?
I loved the wedding dress side to the book. Maggie makes wedding dresses - the description of the three dresses and the weddings provided a lovely atmosphere- with laughs, smiles and tears. The first wedding sounded such fun!
This was my first book by Debbie- but will be keen to seek out more by this author.
With many thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2016
3.5,
Odio follemente un libro quando, un buon 50% di esso viene "sprecato" per pensieri platonici tra protagonisti,
Senza che accada nulla di abbastanza significativo... E poi? ad un certo punto ...
PUff! Bomba! Vanno a letto in quattro e quattr'otto (senza ovviamente raccontare in maniera romantica il loro amplesso, ma facendoci leggere direttamente di loro dopo 4 giorni dove già sembravano una coppia sposata.) e subito volano paroloni come "ODDIO SI LO AMO,
SONO INNAMORATA". Odio odio odio odio. L'ho penalizzato per questo ma anche perché c'erano cose che secondo me l'autrice poteva anche approfondire, tipo come è possibile che una di 34 anni tra L altro bella e fascinosa, non abbia avuto nemmeno un uomo con cui scambiarsi un bacio per 18 anni???? MA DAAAAAIIIIII!!!!!! Qst cose mi fanno innervosire troppo però cmq come lettura è stata piacevole, come si suol dire carina ma non indimenticabile
Odio follemente un libro quando, un buon 50% di esso viene "sprecato" per pensieri platonici tra protagonisti,
Senza che accada nulla di abbastanza significativo... E poi? ad un certo punto ...
PUff! Bomba! Vanno a letto in quattro e quattr'otto (senza ovviamente raccontare in maniera romantica il loro amplesso, ma facendoci leggere direttamente di loro dopo 4 giorni dove già sembravano una coppia sposata.) e subito volano paroloni come "ODDIO SI LO AMO,
SONO INNAMORATA". Odio odio odio odio. L'ho penalizzato per questo ma anche perché c'erano cose che secondo me l'autrice poteva anche approfondire, tipo come è possibile che una di 34 anni tra L altro bella e fascinosa, non abbia avuto nemmeno un uomo con cui scambiarsi un bacio per 18 anni???? MA DAAAAAIIIIII!!!!!! Qst cose mi fanno innervosire troppo però cmq come lettura è stata piacevole, come si suol dire carina ma non indimenticabile
November 1, 2015
A nice little holiday romance.
Maddie got pregnant at 16, and her life was about her daughter and getting a career as a seamstress. But Ellen is 18 now and wants to celebrate xmas in Paris. And Maddie's dad is going away too, while Maddie does realise that she has no life, not really. Which is kind of sad, but understandable too.
In comes Marco, the guy with the ugly sweaters. I would not have been as nice as she was, hot guy or not. They crashed with their bikes. Leg broken. His brother is going to Scotland. Some needs to look after him. His family makes Maddie do it. See. Hot guy or not, I would not do it. But hey it's a romance!
They get to know each other, they fall in love. Maddie is the one pushing way. Marco does the chasing ( I do like when a man does the chasing.)
And then they lives happily ever after. Sweet.
Maddie got pregnant at 16, and her life was about her daughter and getting a career as a seamstress. But Ellen is 18 now and wants to celebrate xmas in Paris. And Maddie's dad is going away too, while Maddie does realise that she has no life, not really. Which is kind of sad, but understandable too.
In comes Marco, the guy with the ugly sweaters. I would not have been as nice as she was, hot guy or not. They crashed with their bikes. Leg broken. His brother is going to Scotland. Some needs to look after him. His family makes Maddie do it. See. Hot guy or not, I would not do it. But hey it's a romance!
They get to know each other, they fall in love. Maddie is the one pushing way. Marco does the chasing ( I do like when a man does the chasing.)
And then they lives happily ever after. Sweet.
December 1, 2021
Such a lovely ending. I really like Marco.
December 31, 2020
Solid Christmas rom-com on the low end of the saccharine scale. Maggie, Ellen and Leah all genuine and quite funny. Marco's a good guy, thankfully not a tropey "bad boy with a hidden heart o gold." I was expecting more manufactured conflict between he and Maggie as in most stories of this type, but Johnson wisely keeps it real. When the inevitable conflict does emerge between Maggie and Marco, it feels natural, rational and adult. Bonus: Isabel and Micheal's side story though brief is charming and heartbreaking. On by buy, borrow, skip scale: a solid borrow if you like romances.
December 12, 2021
Didn't enjoy this one at all. On the plus side, it was short.
November 30, 2025
3.5⭐
A cute and quick start to my holiday reading. And now I need to rewatch the movie and compare. ☺️
A cute and quick start to my holiday reading. And now I need to rewatch the movie and compare. ☺️
December 12, 2021
3,5 ⭐
Storia carina e ben scritta.
Due difetti:
1. Si presenta come un libro di Natale, ma in realtà potrebbe essere ambientato in qualsiasi periodo dell'anno. Poco natalizio, insomma
2. Negli ultimi capitoli la protagonista diventa un po' pesante e sembra cercare il pelo nell'uovo per non essere felice.
Storia carina e ben scritta.
Due difetti:
1. Si presenta come un libro di Natale, ma in realtà potrebbe essere ambientato in qualsiasi periodo dell'anno. Poco natalizio, insomma
2. Negli ultimi capitoli la protagonista diventa un po' pesante e sembra cercare il pelo nell'uovo per non essere felice.
January 1, 2019
Questa sono io mentre leggo. Questa storia non mi ha detto proprio niente, simile a tante altre e l'atmosfera del Natale si respira ben poco, se non verso la fine.
Personaggi inconsistenti,soprattutto quello maschile che mi ha molto annoiata, mentre Maggie e la figlia Ellen,insieme,erano molto più interessanti, ma poco sfruttate.
Per me, un'altra delusione di lettura.
January 26, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. A lovely festive read with great characters.
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