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An Unforgettable Christmas #2
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas
All Isla wants for Christmas is to be left in peace, but in the Alps there’s potential for romance in every snowflake that falls…
It’s the week before Christmas and Isla McCoy has just received an unexpected gift: a letter announcing she is due a life-changing inheritance, but only if she’s willing to make peace with the father who abandoned her.
She has absolutely no intention of making amends, but who could resist an all-expenses-paid trip to the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville?
There she meets smooth-talking Justin and nerdy glaciologist Sebastian; two very different men, with two very different agendas. Torn between her head and her heart, Isla finds herself utterly lost in a winter wonderland of her own feelings.
Surrounded by twinkling candles and roaring log-fires, Isla’s resolve finally begins to melt. But will she learn how to reconnect, not only with a whole new family, but with herself and her heart?
A gorgeously heart-warming festive read to help spark a little romance in those long winter nights. Perfect for fans of Jane Linfoot, Debbie Johnson and Jenny Colgan.
It’s the week before Christmas and Isla McCoy has just received an unexpected gift: a letter announcing she is due a life-changing inheritance, but only if she’s willing to make peace with the father who abandoned her.
She has absolutely no intention of making amends, but who could resist an all-expenses-paid trip to the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville?
There she meets smooth-talking Justin and nerdy glaciologist Sebastian; two very different men, with two very different agendas. Torn between her head and her heart, Isla finds herself utterly lost in a winter wonderland of her own feelings.
Surrounded by twinkling candles and roaring log-fires, Isla’s resolve finally begins to melt. But will she learn how to reconnect, not only with a whole new family, but with herself and her heart?
A gorgeously heart-warming festive read to help spark a little romance in those long winter nights. Perfect for fans of Jane Linfoot, Debbie Johnson and Jenny Colgan.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 26, 2017
397 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Tilly Tennant
48 books469 followersTilly Tennant was born in Dorset, the oldest of four children, but now lives in Staffordshire with a family of her own. After years of dismal and disastrous jobs, including paper plate stacking, shop girl, newspaper promotions and waitressing (she never could carry a bowl of soup without spilling a bit), she decided to indulge her passion for the written word by embarking on a degree in English and creative writing, graduating in 2009 with first class honours. She wrote her first novel in 2007 during her first summer break at university and has not stopped writing since. She also works as a freelance fiction editor, and considers herself very lucky that this enables her to read many wonderful books before the rest of the world gets them.
Tilly is represented by the wonderful, gorgeous Peta Nightingale at LAW.
Tilly is represented by the wonderful, gorgeous Peta Nightingale at LAW.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
October 30, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up. It could do with a bit more Christmas tinsel in general, but I found it a very compelling, substantial story with characterisation pointing well beyond the chick-lit genre.
Isla McCoy, born of a Nigerian mother & Scottish father, has never had an easy life. Her parents' marriage broke up when she was 5 and her dad disappeared very early from her life. Her mum bought her up alone and made a lot of sacrifices to do so. She never lets Isla forget this or the fact that her dad was a complete bastard who destroyed both their lives.
Needless to say, this has had a strong impression on Isla's life in general and on her love life in particular. She is prickly, distrustful and keeps most people at arms' length.
She just turned 29 and is studying for a psychology degree, when a solicitor's letter reaches her out of the blue: her recently deceased Scottish grandmother left her something in her will. The mysterious inheritance has certain conditions though, and if Isla wants to find out all about it, she needs to travel to the French Alps, where his father is now living with his wife and his two other children.
Isla is unwilling to go at first -and her mother throws every obstacle that emotional blackmail can achieve in her way- but thinks the better of it. She decides that meeting her father may give some kind of closure to the small girl inside her who never gave up hope on having her daddy return to her.
So she travels to St. Martin-de-Belleville to find that her inheritance is a chalet if she manages to mend fences and keep up some sort of amicable relationship with her father.
While it costs her a lot of emotional struggle, she cannot distance herself from the charms of the place
or the wish of knowing her dad better and find out why he abandoned her all those years ago.
To complicate matters further, he meets hard-to-resist, handsome Justin -a relation of her father's wife- and Sebastian, a lovely, but awkward glaciologist.
While I enjoyed A Very Vintage Christmas, the first book in this series, by author Tilly Tennant, it did not leave a lasting impression. This one, however, made a lasting impression.
Isla is such an engaging character: she is fierce, passionate and yet logical, kind, though understandably finds it hard to let down her defenses. But most of all, she is loyal. Loyal to a mother, who -while she loves her daughter dearly- also foolishly and selfishly destroyed any hope for a proper relationship between father & daughter.
And while Isla always knew -or suspected- deep down that her mum was to blame for having kept her & dad apart; still loves her, understands & accepts her and forgives all. This is wonderfully depicted throughout the book and had me in tears sometimes.
The book deals as much with Isla & her father's relationship as with the romance. I also liked that once Isla sorts out her feelings, she does not shy away from confronting the man who tries to manipulate her.
Netgalley Arc received by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Isla McCoy, born of a Nigerian mother & Scottish father, has never had an easy life. Her parents' marriage broke up when she was 5 and her dad disappeared very early from her life. Her mum bought her up alone and made a lot of sacrifices to do so. She never lets Isla forget this or the fact that her dad was a complete bastard who destroyed both their lives.
Needless to say, this has had a strong impression on Isla's life in general and on her love life in particular. She is prickly, distrustful and keeps most people at arms' length.
She just turned 29 and is studying for a psychology degree, when a solicitor's letter reaches her out of the blue: her recently deceased Scottish grandmother left her something in her will. The mysterious inheritance has certain conditions though, and if Isla wants to find out all about it, she needs to travel to the French Alps, where his father is now living with his wife and his two other children.
Isla is unwilling to go at first -and her mother throws every obstacle that emotional blackmail can achieve in her way- but thinks the better of it. She decides that meeting her father may give some kind of closure to the small girl inside her who never gave up hope on having her daddy return to her.
So she travels to St. Martin-de-Belleville to find that her inheritance is a chalet if she manages to mend fences and keep up some sort of amicable relationship with her father.
While it costs her a lot of emotional struggle, she cannot distance herself from the charms of the place
or the wish of knowing her dad better and find out why he abandoned her all those years ago.
To complicate matters further, he meets hard-to-resist, handsome Justin -a relation of her father's wife- and Sebastian, a lovely, but awkward glaciologist.
While I enjoyed A Very Vintage Christmas, the first book in this series, by author Tilly Tennant, it did not leave a lasting impression. This one, however, made a lasting impression.
Isla is such an engaging character: she is fierce, passionate and yet logical, kind, though understandably finds it hard to let down her defenses. But most of all, she is loyal. Loyal to a mother, who -while she loves her daughter dearly- also foolishly and selfishly destroyed any hope for a proper relationship between father & daughter.
And while Isla always knew -or suspected- deep down that her mum was to blame for having kept her & dad apart; still loves her, understands & accepts her and forgives all. This is wonderfully depicted throughout the book and had me in tears sometimes.
The book deals as much with Isla & her father's relationship as with the romance. I also liked that once Isla sorts out her feelings, she does not shy away from confronting the man who tries to manipulate her.
Netgalley Arc received by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2017
Well I think I've found a new favorite author. Now don't get me wrong, I still love reading historicals but reading chick-lit is fun. Believe me I never thought I'd say that. Like so many, I always got the impression chick-lit was just not for me, not my thing. Maybe I thought it was too light and fluffy or something but it's a nice break from these historicals which can have some pretty heavy subject matters. This is the second book I've read by Tilly Tennant and I've enjoyed it just as much as the first book in the series. This is Isla's story. She's lived with her mother for her whole 29 years. When she was five her father left them never to be heard from again, or so she was told. He moved to the French Alps.started a new life and has a new family. Isla's mother poisons her mind against her father and wants her daughter to have nothing to do with him. When her grandmother in the Alps dies her father contacts her mother saying there is a life-changing inheritance for Isla. If she refuses it it affects everyone else's inheritance. There are provisions to accepting it and she must travel to the Alps,where her father lives, to receive it. How does her mother handle this knowing her daughter will meet her father again after all this time. There are two men vying for her attention in the Alps a drop dead gorgeous guy who gives her lots of attention and a nerdy,tweed and bow tie wearing shy glaciologist will she choose one for the limited amount of time she's there? Will she allow her heart to reconnect with her extended family while she is there or will she stay true to her mother's bitterness of what happened in the past? Cozy Christmas story with tons of snow. Loved it!
Pub Date 26 Oct 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date 26 Oct 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 29, 2017
Initially I wasn’t planning on reading this book, as the blurb didn’t appeal to me quite as much as other Christmas books I had my eye on. However, after reading and loving A Very Vintage Christmas a few weeks ago, I just had to give this one a read too. My verdict is that I didn’t love A Cosy Candlelit Christmas quite as much as A Very Vintage Christmas, but I did still love it.
Again, this has romance running through the story, but it is also so much more than that. I loved the story of a family torn apart many years ago and the struggle to come to terms with the past in an attempt to move forward.
My favourite characters by far were Sebastian and Dahlia. I loved Sebastian’s geekiness, in the way I love Chris Packham for his quirkiness and passionate love of nature and animals. Dahlia was adorably caring of others, even if she hardly knew them. I did eventually grow to like Isla, but as I feel I’m much more like her best friend, Dodie, who I got to know in the previous book, I wouldn’t say I fully connected with Isla. The less said about Justin the better, as I really wasn’t keen on him at all.
Out of the seven Christmassy books I’ve read this year so far, this one definitely qualifies as the most scenic and the one with the most snow. I had to wrap up warm each time I picked this book up, as it was somewhat chilly in the French resort of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville during the run-up to Christmas.
Despite feeling less festive than A Very Vintage Christmas, I’m pleased to say there was tinsel, turkey, crackers, and did I mention the snow? Ooh, think of all the snowmen we could build.
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is definitely one I recommend if you enjoy stories about family, romance, and have dreams of a white Christmas.
My review is also available on my blog here:
https://littlemissnosleep.wordpress.c...
Again, this has romance running through the story, but it is also so much more than that. I loved the story of a family torn apart many years ago and the struggle to come to terms with the past in an attempt to move forward.
My favourite characters by far were Sebastian and Dahlia. I loved Sebastian’s geekiness, in the way I love Chris Packham for his quirkiness and passionate love of nature and animals. Dahlia was adorably caring of others, even if she hardly knew them. I did eventually grow to like Isla, but as I feel I’m much more like her best friend, Dodie, who I got to know in the previous book, I wouldn’t say I fully connected with Isla. The less said about Justin the better, as I really wasn’t keen on him at all.
Out of the seven Christmassy books I’ve read this year so far, this one definitely qualifies as the most scenic and the one with the most snow. I had to wrap up warm each time I picked this book up, as it was somewhat chilly in the French resort of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville during the run-up to Christmas.
Despite feeling less festive than A Very Vintage Christmas, I’m pleased to say there was tinsel, turkey, crackers, and did I mention the snow? Ooh, think of all the snowmen we could build.
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is definitely one I recommend if you enjoy stories about family, romance, and have dreams of a white Christmas.
My review is also available on my blog here:
https://littlemissnosleep.wordpress.c...
December 31, 2017
Favorite Quotes:
He was still wearing that ridiculous bow tie and jacket from earlier and, in her book, nobody was attractive enough to get past that. Who did he think he was – Indiana Jones?
His face lit up as though she’d just announced he’d got six numbers on the lottery.
I don’t want a day to go by when I don’t see your face or hear your voice or feel your touch. It sounds ridiculous and melodramatic but it’s how I feel. My chest hurts when I think about continents and oceans between us.
My Review:
This was a slowly developing story that took place over a week’s period during Christmas. The tale was fraught with emotional tension and family drama, as most Christmas seasons are, but this one featured a nearly thirty-year-old woman traveling to the French Alps to meet with her father and his second family after he had abandoned her and her hateful and horrid mother twenty-four years previous. The cause of the meeting was to hear the conditions of her recently departed grandmother’s will, which provided the basis of the story as well as the opportunity to meet new people and explore old memories, resentments, and misconceptions. The narrative was engaging, insightfully written, and generally well balanced as it alternated between amusing and heart squeezing. I adored the nerdy, freckle-faced, and bowtie wearing Sebastian, he was such a sweet and gentle soul and by far my favorite character in this story, and I was aggravated by Isla’s curt and rude treatment of him, although, like her prickly mother, Isla was considerably lacking in social skills. There was a tiny bit of romance, which is always a treat, and the bonus of learning a few more Brit phrases to add to my collection. This time I gleaned two I’d never heard before, “grab your coat you’ve pulled,” and “taken for a mug.”I can’t decide whether I should I be offended or relieved that no one has ever addressed either phrase to me…
He was still wearing that ridiculous bow tie and jacket from earlier and, in her book, nobody was attractive enough to get past that. Who did he think he was – Indiana Jones?
His face lit up as though she’d just announced he’d got six numbers on the lottery.
I don’t want a day to go by when I don’t see your face or hear your voice or feel your touch. It sounds ridiculous and melodramatic but it’s how I feel. My chest hurts when I think about continents and oceans between us.
My Review:
This was a slowly developing story that took place over a week’s period during Christmas. The tale was fraught with emotional tension and family drama, as most Christmas seasons are, but this one featured a nearly thirty-year-old woman traveling to the French Alps to meet with her father and his second family after he had abandoned her and her hateful and horrid mother twenty-four years previous. The cause of the meeting was to hear the conditions of her recently departed grandmother’s will, which provided the basis of the story as well as the opportunity to meet new people and explore old memories, resentments, and misconceptions. The narrative was engaging, insightfully written, and generally well balanced as it alternated between amusing and heart squeezing. I adored the nerdy, freckle-faced, and bowtie wearing Sebastian, he was such a sweet and gentle soul and by far my favorite character in this story, and I was aggravated by Isla’s curt and rude treatment of him, although, like her prickly mother, Isla was considerably lacking in social skills. There was a tiny bit of romance, which is always a treat, and the bonus of learning a few more Brit phrases to add to my collection. This time I gleaned two I’d never heard before, “grab your coat you’ve pulled,” and “taken for a mug.”I can’t decide whether I should I be offended or relieved that no one has ever addressed either phrase to me…
November 27, 2017
This was an excellent book and loved it from the first page and full of families and the difficulties it can bring along with romance. Set in a beautiful village in France and was such a beautiful read so pleased I've read both these books now. Isla has always lived with her mum and not known much about her dad but she gets a message saying her grandmother from her dad's side has passed away and she has been left something in the will but needs to go to France where the father and family life to arrange everything. She is unsure on going and her mum is against it but she decides to go and she stays in a lovely hotel. While staying in the hotel she learns that she has inherited a house in France from her grandmother and she has to except it in order for her father and everyone else to get theirs but she's really unsure. She has always has always failed when it comes to romance and can she find the perfect love with out looking for it and can she be happy. Can she also build up her relationship with her dad and his family or does one person decide this isn't going to happen. Well worth reading.
December 19, 2017
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
2.5/5 stars
A book cover - like a wine label - can sway me to check a book out. This was the case in my selection of A Cosy Candlelit Christmas by Tilly Tennant. Super cute cover that brings all the holiday feels.
The book's premise was interesting too: a 29 year-old Isla, learns she inherits a home from her father's mother; a father whom she has not seen since she was 5. Inheriting her new home comes with stipulations: Isla will need to figure out which ones are genuine and which ones are not. Throw in a "love triangle" of some sort: two suitors, both very different...who will she spend Christmas with?
A few adorable characters, a few annoying ones. The story line was interesting enough with a few plot lines you will want to continue reading on; but it was not a quick, breezy read. There is not much dialogue to break up the long paragraphs of background details. (Not sure if I am the only one who feels this way, but sometimes it is nice to get a section of dialogue that makes the pages turn faster...it builds my reading momentum). All in all, it was ok; not a fan of the abrupt ending.
2.5/5 stars
A book cover - like a wine label - can sway me to check a book out. This was the case in my selection of A Cosy Candlelit Christmas by Tilly Tennant. Super cute cover that brings all the holiday feels.
The book's premise was interesting too: a 29 year-old Isla, learns she inherits a home from her father's mother; a father whom she has not seen since she was 5. Inheriting her new home comes with stipulations: Isla will need to figure out which ones are genuine and which ones are not. Throw in a "love triangle" of some sort: two suitors, both very different...who will she spend Christmas with?
A few adorable characters, a few annoying ones. The story line was interesting enough with a few plot lines you will want to continue reading on; but it was not a quick, breezy read. There is not much dialogue to break up the long paragraphs of background details. (Not sure if I am the only one who feels this way, but sometimes it is nice to get a section of dialogue that makes the pages turn faster...it builds my reading momentum). All in all, it was ok; not a fan of the abrupt ending.
November 2, 2017
I really enjoyed the last book by Tilly featuring Isla's friend Dodie. However I wanted to get stuck in with this book as I was curious about her best friend Isla. This book moves on to the same time period as Dodie, but we get to catch up with what Isla has done. Isla has had a strange phone call saying that her Grandmother she never knew has left her something in her will. However, that means visiting the French resort of St Martin-de-Belleville and seeing the Father who walked out on her and her Mum when she was a girl.
As Isla arrives in the resort she has no idea but upon meeting Dahlia the owner of the place she is staying, and geeky but loveable Glaciologist Sebastian things seem to take a turn for the better. I absolutely adored Sebastian and although Isla is quite prickly and defensive you could tell that she was thawing to both him and the lovely Dahlia that owns the hotel. Tilly does a cracking job describing this beautiful place and it was easy to fall in love with it all as you read.
There are certainly some hairy moments as Isla faces her fears and meets not only the Father she doesn't know but the new step mother and half siblings. There are a couple of curveballs going on and you get the feeling that all is not as it seems on the surface. However, Isla doesn't suffer fools gladly and you can see her battling to do the right thing. What I did love was that the process wasn't shown to be easy. If she would have met her Dad and everything was instantly wonderful it wouldn't have had the same impact.
I read this book in just two sittings and absolutely loved it. As much as I enjoyed reading about Dodie in book 1, geeky Seb and stern Isla stole the show and this book was definitely my favourite of the 2. A wonderful book and a perfect Christmas present!
As Isla arrives in the resort she has no idea but upon meeting Dahlia the owner of the place she is staying, and geeky but loveable Glaciologist Sebastian things seem to take a turn for the better. I absolutely adored Sebastian and although Isla is quite prickly and defensive you could tell that she was thawing to both him and the lovely Dahlia that owns the hotel. Tilly does a cracking job describing this beautiful place and it was easy to fall in love with it all as you read.
There are certainly some hairy moments as Isla faces her fears and meets not only the Father she doesn't know but the new step mother and half siblings. There are a couple of curveballs going on and you get the feeling that all is not as it seems on the surface. However, Isla doesn't suffer fools gladly and you can see her battling to do the right thing. What I did love was that the process wasn't shown to be easy. If she would have met her Dad and everything was instantly wonderful it wouldn't have had the same impact.
I read this book in just two sittings and absolutely loved it. As much as I enjoyed reading about Dodie in book 1, geeky Seb and stern Isla stole the show and this book was definitely my favourite of the 2. A wonderful book and a perfect Christmas present!
October 14, 2017
Gorgeous cover that drew me in. So happy to say the book lived up to my expectation of the cover and description. What a lovely book, I just loved it from start to finish. Was sad when it ended. Maybe there will be a follow up? Isla off to the Alps to find out what her estranged Gran has left her in her will. You follow her ups and downs of meeting the father she hasn't seen since she was 5. For me my favourite part was hearing how beautiful the scene was. Isla managed to stay in a lovely hotel with the best host. A must read over the winter season.
November 6, 2017
2 1/2 stars
I’ve probably said this before, but maybe you’re lucky and didn’t read it the first time. One of the best gauges to see how I’m going to rate a book is how long it takes me to get through it. There are obviously exceptions here, but few.
This one took me ten days. Granted, I’ve read and reviewed other books during that time (which ought to give you a clue as to how I felt about A Cosy Candelit Christmas), but I had no desire to give this one more effort. Because, unfortunately, that’s what it felt like: effort.
First, for a good bit of the beginning, Isla was waspish and self-involved. She’d acknowledge her rudeness, which I suppose means that a reader is supposed to give her credit and ignore? Then she waffled. And waffled. Between her angst and drama queen antics (who panics when the lights go out?), Isla is not an admirable character. She’s basically immature despite her age, running out of a Christmas brunch with her father because she has feelings for a man. Really, she just reunited with her father and this is how she behaves? There is so much circuitous writing and storytelling and so much repetition that even reading a chapter felt like hard work.
A Cosy Candelit Christmas has instalove, which isn’t surprising.
The story is essentially one of dysfunctional people. There is much angst. There is little humor or warmth. Where the cosy candlelight was, I have no idea. There was candlelight when the lights went out, but no cosy.
I will tell you that my review/reaction is in the minority on Goodreads, so I’ll throw out my standby: your mileage may vary. I do know that I like my Christmas novels to have *humor* and *good cheer* and *“feel good”* (as the cover of this novel implies), hold the dysfunction (reality has enough of that).
Anyway.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve probably said this before, but maybe you’re lucky and didn’t read it the first time. One of the best gauges to see how I’m going to rate a book is how long it takes me to get through it. There are obviously exceptions here, but few.
This one took me ten days. Granted, I’ve read and reviewed other books during that time (which ought to give you a clue as to how I felt about A Cosy Candelit Christmas), but I had no desire to give this one more effort. Because, unfortunately, that’s what it felt like: effort.
First, for a good bit of the beginning, Isla was waspish and self-involved. She’d acknowledge her rudeness, which I suppose means that a reader is supposed to give her credit and ignore? Then she waffled. And waffled. Between her angst and drama queen antics (who panics when the lights go out?), Isla is not an admirable character. She’s basically immature despite her age, running out of a Christmas brunch with her father because she has feelings for a man. Really, she just reunited with her father and this is how she behaves? There is so much circuitous writing and storytelling and so much repetition that even reading a chapter felt like hard work.
A Cosy Candelit Christmas has instalove, which isn’t surprising.
The story is essentially one of dysfunctional people. There is much angst. There is little humor or warmth. Where the cosy candlelight was, I have no idea. There was candlelight when the lights went out, but no cosy.
I will tell you that my review/reaction is in the minority on Goodreads, so I’ll throw out my standby: your mileage may vary. I do know that I like my Christmas novels to have *humor* and *good cheer* and *“feel good”* (as the cover of this novel implies), hold the dysfunction (reality has enough of that).
Anyway.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2018
I've liked this novel and I've finished it too soon. I would have liked an epilogue to see some of these characters' future.
I was so curious to read Isla's story since I've met her in the first book of the series but you can easily read it as a standalone because her story is completely untied from the first one.
Our heroine didn't have an easy childhood after her father abandoned her and her mother without a word,she grew up helping her mother and became a beautiful woman but she never could trust easily.
There isn't a lot of romance in Isla's story but I've liked to follow her journey of reconciliation with her fater and her discovery of a love interest.
My favorite character is Sebastian the weird,geeky and right up my alley glaciologist...I wished I could have met him first xD
December 7, 2017
Isla McCoy and her mother, Glory were abandoned by Ian, father and husband when Isla was only six. Glory, a Nigerian woman, is strong minded, stubborn and a bit of a whirlwind. She is angry with Ian McCoy, a Scotsman, and never lets Isla forget that he abandoned them. This has left its mark on Isla and she is rather prickly, stand offish and hard to get to know. At 29 she has moved back home and gone back to University to get a degree in psychology. Just before Christmas, she received a letter from a lawyer, who is representing her Grandmother McCoy's estate to let her know that she has inherited something from her. In order to settle the estate, the condition is that she travel to a small village in the French Alps, St. Martin-de-Belleville, to meet her father. After wrestling with her conscience and arguing with her mother she decides to go. She is hoping that this will give her closure. There are several complications once she arrives and meets him and his new family. She also meets a nerdy scientist studying the glaciers that becomes involved in her life and gets her to reexamine her temperament.
I really liked Isla. She is a multi-faceted character with passion, strength, stubbornness, love, loyalty and a lot of self-doubt issues. She grows in emotional stability, strength to stand up for herself and in her self-confidence in this story. Her relationship with her father is rocky, but with perseverance he begins to thaw her icy exterior. Isla comes to realize that even though she loves her mother very much, she was responsible for the lack of contact between Isla and her father for over 23 years. Nerdy Sebastian was also a great character who did not push, had his own issues, but cared deeply for Isla and the inn keeper is a wonderful supporting character. This book deals with both the family drama of Isla and her father's relationship and the romance between Isla and Sebastian. This is a great Christmas story with drama and romance that will have you smiling at the end. The only reason that I did not give it 5 stars is that a few sections seemed to drag just a bit, but overall, this was a good read. the publisher generously provided me a copy of this book via Netgalley.
I really liked Isla. She is a multi-faceted character with passion, strength, stubbornness, love, loyalty and a lot of self-doubt issues. She grows in emotional stability, strength to stand up for herself and in her self-confidence in this story. Her relationship with her father is rocky, but with perseverance he begins to thaw her icy exterior. Isla comes to realize that even though she loves her mother very much, she was responsible for the lack of contact between Isla and her father for over 23 years. Nerdy Sebastian was also a great character who did not push, had his own issues, but cared deeply for Isla and the inn keeper is a wonderful supporting character. This book deals with both the family drama of Isla and her father's relationship and the romance between Isla and Sebastian. This is a great Christmas story with drama and romance that will have you smiling at the end. The only reason that I did not give it 5 stars is that a few sections seemed to drag just a bit, but overall, this was a good read. the publisher generously provided me a copy of this book via Netgalley.
December 30, 2017
Having read A Very Vintage Christmas, I was very pleased to recieve the second book in the series, A Cosy Candlelit Christmas.
The book focuses on 29 year old Isla McCoy, who was born to a Scottish dad who left her Nigerian mum when Isla was just 5 years old. Isla's recently deceased grandmother leaves her something in her will. Isla is surprised to find that what she's been left is a chalet in the French Alps.
Isla is studying physchology at university and term has ended for the Christmas holidays. I was pulled in by the university atmosphere at the start of the book and it seemed to me a good way to intrkoduce us to Isla's character and her current reality. I was pleased by the mentions of her friend Dodie, who we meet in book 1 and liked the scenes she was present in. Dodie owns a vintge clothing shop, and had her own adventures in book 1 which Isla also featured in in some scenes. It felt like catching up with Dodie in a way, although this book is Isla's story and largely told from her point of view. This aspect is good, because when I read book 1, I wasnted to get to know Isla more and see other parts of her personality.
Isla sets off to find her father and the answers to the questions she has. She meets her extended family and also meets Justin. Then, there's Sebastian, a glaciologist. Will Isla find the answers to her questions? Will she find love?
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is an emotional rollercoaster ride set amongst the beautiful landscape of the French Alps. The book is truly captivating, and I loved it. In fact, I preferred this over book #1 in the series- it was just so magical and also charged with strong emotions and feelings. Isla and all the other characters really got under my skin. I could see Isla's mum's point of view that Isla shouldn't go to the French Alps to find her dad for fear of getting emotionally hurt and of dragging up the past for both of them. I was wary of Isla's father and of her extended family, about the chalet and whether it really existed and what it would be like if it did.....
I liked Natalie and Celine as the book progressed and warmed to Isla's dad and could see he really wanted to try and get to know her, although yes, this came late for my liking. I had a love- hate relationship with Justin and then Sebastian and was contantly thinking "who will Isla end up with?"
The lodge and its owner are really cosy and charming.
As I studied some geology as part of my Geography degree course at university, I was fascinated by the mentions of the subject and a little annoyed by the assumption that Sebastian's passion for it was nerdy. Despite that, the book was amazing and very atmospheric and real. The setting was beautifully described, and, having been to the area of the French Alps (Mont Blanc) where the book is set, I can vouch for that. I, in contrast to Isla, have seen the area in the summer and it is breathtaking. I really felt as if I were there and devoured every word of this book in a day.
Tilly Tennant hs a warm and fun writing style which, when combined with realistic settings, dialogue and characters, just makes me want to read and read.
5 stars for this book (I'd give it more if I could). I'd love to read and review whatever Tilly Tennant writes in the future.
The book focuses on 29 year old Isla McCoy, who was born to a Scottish dad who left her Nigerian mum when Isla was just 5 years old. Isla's recently deceased grandmother leaves her something in her will. Isla is surprised to find that what she's been left is a chalet in the French Alps.
Isla is studying physchology at university and term has ended for the Christmas holidays. I was pulled in by the university atmosphere at the start of the book and it seemed to me a good way to intrkoduce us to Isla's character and her current reality. I was pleased by the mentions of her friend Dodie, who we meet in book 1 and liked the scenes she was present in. Dodie owns a vintge clothing shop, and had her own adventures in book 1 which Isla also featured in in some scenes. It felt like catching up with Dodie in a way, although this book is Isla's story and largely told from her point of view. This aspect is good, because when I read book 1, I wasnted to get to know Isla more and see other parts of her personality.
Isla sets off to find her father and the answers to the questions she has. She meets her extended family and also meets Justin. Then, there's Sebastian, a glaciologist. Will Isla find the answers to her questions? Will she find love?
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is an emotional rollercoaster ride set amongst the beautiful landscape of the French Alps. The book is truly captivating, and I loved it. In fact, I preferred this over book #1 in the series- it was just so magical and also charged with strong emotions and feelings. Isla and all the other characters really got under my skin. I could see Isla's mum's point of view that Isla shouldn't go to the French Alps to find her dad for fear of getting emotionally hurt and of dragging up the past for both of them. I was wary of Isla's father and of her extended family, about the chalet and whether it really existed and what it would be like if it did.....
I liked Natalie and Celine as the book progressed and warmed to Isla's dad and could see he really wanted to try and get to know her, although yes, this came late for my liking. I had a love- hate relationship with Justin and then Sebastian and was contantly thinking "who will Isla end up with?"
The lodge and its owner are really cosy and charming.
As I studied some geology as part of my Geography degree course at university, I was fascinated by the mentions of the subject and a little annoyed by the assumption that Sebastian's passion for it was nerdy. Despite that, the book was amazing and very atmospheric and real. The setting was beautifully described, and, having been to the area of the French Alps (Mont Blanc) where the book is set, I can vouch for that. I, in contrast to Isla, have seen the area in the summer and it is breathtaking. I really felt as if I were there and devoured every word of this book in a day.
Tilly Tennant hs a warm and fun writing style which, when combined with realistic settings, dialogue and characters, just makes me want to read and read.
5 stars for this book (I'd give it more if I could). I'd love to read and review whatever Tilly Tennant writes in the future.
October 27, 2017
A lovely tale, spinning off from Dodie's tale in A Very Vintage Christmas. Initially I was confused by the references to Dodie as I had forgotten/not seen that Islas's tale runs parallel to Dodie's Christmas tale.
Well rounded characters who come to life from the page.
This is an interesting tale that deals with difficult childhoods, parental responsibilities and marital strife as the context to university student Dodie's discovery that she may have an inheritance. Her trip to France is full of chocolate-box descriptions that evoke the spirit of an Alpine village.
A heart-warming Christmas tale with some ups and downs on the way. I would have liked more links to Dodie's tale - Isla and this trip to France were mentioned in AVVC but Dodie was barely mentioned in this book -- and then only at the start. Naturally this book can be read as a standalone but I had hoped and expected that there would be more linkages between these books.
4* ❄️❄️❄️❄️
Well rounded characters who come to life from the page.
This is an interesting tale that deals with difficult childhoods, parental responsibilities and marital strife as the context to university student Dodie's discovery that she may have an inheritance. Her trip to France is full of chocolate-box descriptions that evoke the spirit of an Alpine village.
A heart-warming Christmas tale with some ups and downs on the way. I would have liked more links to Dodie's tale - Isla and this trip to France were mentioned in AVVC but Dodie was barely mentioned in this book -- and then only at the start. Naturally this book can be read as a standalone but I had hoped and expected that there would be more linkages between these books.
4* ❄️❄️❄️❄️
October 1, 2017
All I will say is... there had better be another book SOON!!!!
Read
March 22, 20233.5 out of 5 stars
November 1, 2017
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
You know what would be easier? Me copying and pasting* all the compliments I write for Tilly Tennant in each review, into this one! It's as though I am a worn out record by saying the same sort of stuff!
(*Please note that I would never do that. It would be easier, but I wouldn't. Just to clarify!)
I had the pleasure of ignoring everybody by indulging in yet another Tilly Tennant novel. A Tilly Tennant novel to me is like chocolate chip cookies to Cookie Monster, although I wouldn't say no to several of those whilst reading Tilly's novel, that's for sure!
I'm just going to come straight out and say it. I feel I owe it to the author to be open and honest...
OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH I LOVEEEEEEED IT! I have absolutely NO idea how this author does it, but she knocks it out of the park every.single.time! Just when I thought she had done good with a previous novel, the author then brings out a book which lands itself in the 'Tilly Tennant's Best Book Yet' section. Seriously. It's not even the odd book...it's EVERY SINGLE BOOK which the author reduces me to a gabbling, stalkerish type reviewer who pining after the authors words once again!
Most of Isla's life has been with her mother, that really is all she has even known. Until the day her estranged father makes contact that is. Personally, I thought Isla was incredibly brave for doing what she did despite knowing full well what the repercussions could have been not only for her, but everyone else involved. Just like Isla, my father abandoned us at a young age and I spent many years angry with someone who I hadn't heard their side of the story from. A mother, just like Glory, who had their own version of events and refused to let anything else become an option. If I had the chance would I do what Isla did? Yes, I would. Unfortunately I won't ever get that chance, but I am so glad that Isla listened with her own heart for once, instead of going along with what her mother wanted.
The way Isla comes across in a lot of the storyline is guarded and emotionally broken. Whether she would openly admit to that is a whole other ball game. Of course she is going to be guarded, so for that I appreciated how realistic the author made her character's feelings come across throughout the storyline. I felt as though I wasn't reading about a fictional character - I felt as though I was reading a book about a real life person and their true story. Hats off to Tilly Tennant for being able to dissect such a raw and emotional topic, in such a heart-felt and poignant manner. Fantastic.
As for Justin. Well. If I ever were to find myself in a snowball fight with him, I would ensure my snowball contained a surprise. What a pleb! As soon as he came on the scene I disliked him straight away. People say I am judgemental. I say that I am a good judge of character!
I fell in love with every single thing within 'A Cosy Candlelit Christmas' from the setting to the main characters, to the humour to the hotel, to the romance to the thought-provoking message. Everything. Because I could relate to Isla a lot, this novel did make me feel quite emotional and hit me in a completely different way to any of Tilly Tennant's other novels. Daft eh? Don't worry though, despite my emotional undertone, I did laugh a heck of a lot. That is another thing I love about this authors writing; she never fails to make me feel.
In my eyes, 'A Cosy Candlelit Christmas' is Tilly Tennant's best book to date. She really has outdone herself with her character building, setting descriptions and overall plot. Once again I was able to let myself fall into Tilly's ingenious and magical words (a bit like when Joey from Friends steps into the map...ish), knowing that I will forever be cushioned by such an enchanting and heart-warming novel. Hand on heart, I could read a Tilly Tennant novel every single day and not get bored with the magic which lies under every cover.
Spell-binding, beautifully written and 100% memorable - Tilly Tennant has blown me away. If I were given the chance to disappear into a fictional life for a day, I would pick one of Tilly Tennant's novels, that's for sure.
A hug in a book from start to finish, I could not recommend 'A Cosy Candlelit Christmas' more if I tried.
Thanks Bookouture.
You know what would be easier? Me copying and pasting* all the compliments I write for Tilly Tennant in each review, into this one! It's as though I am a worn out record by saying the same sort of stuff!
(*Please note that I would never do that. It would be easier, but I wouldn't. Just to clarify!)
I had the pleasure of ignoring everybody by indulging in yet another Tilly Tennant novel. A Tilly Tennant novel to me is like chocolate chip cookies to Cookie Monster, although I wouldn't say no to several of those whilst reading Tilly's novel, that's for sure!
I'm just going to come straight out and say it. I feel I owe it to the author to be open and honest...
OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH I LOVEEEEEEED IT! I have absolutely NO idea how this author does it, but she knocks it out of the park every.single.time! Just when I thought she had done good with a previous novel, the author then brings out a book which lands itself in the 'Tilly Tennant's Best Book Yet' section. Seriously. It's not even the odd book...it's EVERY SINGLE BOOK which the author reduces me to a gabbling, stalkerish type reviewer who pining after the authors words once again!
Most of Isla's life has been with her mother, that really is all she has even known. Until the day her estranged father makes contact that is. Personally, I thought Isla was incredibly brave for doing what she did despite knowing full well what the repercussions could have been not only for her, but everyone else involved. Just like Isla, my father abandoned us at a young age and I spent many years angry with someone who I hadn't heard their side of the story from. A mother, just like Glory, who had their own version of events and refused to let anything else become an option. If I had the chance would I do what Isla did? Yes, I would. Unfortunately I won't ever get that chance, but I am so glad that Isla listened with her own heart for once, instead of going along with what her mother wanted.
The way Isla comes across in a lot of the storyline is guarded and emotionally broken. Whether she would openly admit to that is a whole other ball game. Of course she is going to be guarded, so for that I appreciated how realistic the author made her character's feelings come across throughout the storyline. I felt as though I wasn't reading about a fictional character - I felt as though I was reading a book about a real life person and their true story. Hats off to Tilly Tennant for being able to dissect such a raw and emotional topic, in such a heart-felt and poignant manner. Fantastic.
As for Justin. Well. If I ever were to find myself in a snowball fight with him, I would ensure my snowball contained a surprise. What a pleb! As soon as he came on the scene I disliked him straight away. People say I am judgemental. I say that I am a good judge of character!
I fell in love with every single thing within 'A Cosy Candlelit Christmas' from the setting to the main characters, to the humour to the hotel, to the romance to the thought-provoking message. Everything. Because I could relate to Isla a lot, this novel did make me feel quite emotional and hit me in a completely different way to any of Tilly Tennant's other novels. Daft eh? Don't worry though, despite my emotional undertone, I did laugh a heck of a lot. That is another thing I love about this authors writing; she never fails to make me feel.
In my eyes, 'A Cosy Candlelit Christmas' is Tilly Tennant's best book to date. She really has outdone herself with her character building, setting descriptions and overall plot. Once again I was able to let myself fall into Tilly's ingenious and magical words (a bit like when Joey from Friends steps into the map...ish), knowing that I will forever be cushioned by such an enchanting and heart-warming novel. Hand on heart, I could read a Tilly Tennant novel every single day and not get bored with the magic which lies under every cover.
Spell-binding, beautifully written and 100% memorable - Tilly Tennant has blown me away. If I were given the chance to disappear into a fictional life for a day, I would pick one of Tilly Tennant's novels, that's for sure.
A hug in a book from start to finish, I could not recommend 'A Cosy Candlelit Christmas' more if I tried.
Thanks Bookouture.
November 7, 2017
All reviews can be found on my blog: thecosiestcorner.blogspot.com
What a beautiful and absolutely stunning cover this book has. This straight away made me want to read it - before I'd even read the blurb! I LOVE the background of snowy mountains, the candles, the fairy lights, snow, Christmas pudding and the beautiful wreath in the centre. All together it makes for probably the most stunning Christmas cover I've ever seen. Everything looks so cosy I wish I was there.
Now onto the story itself, I really enjoyed the first one in the series and wasn't sure how the second was going to top it - but let me tell you - it certainly did! I loved this one even more than the second - if that's possible! The whole story had such a feel-good vibe to it that it was hard to put down. Every spare moment I had I spent reading this book and as a result I was so sad when it ended.
The story follows Isla, who after hearing from a solicitor, has flown all the way to France to meet her father for the first time in over 20 years. At first, Isla thinks that her dad has an ulterior motive for her going over there - but as the story progresses you realise that it isn't her dad who's up to something after all...
The story is so intriguing and I simply fell in love with the setting. It's described beautifully and I could easily imagine the chocolate box perfect village with the snow falling and Christmas lights twinkling. It all made for an absolute perfect Christmassy read. I also fell in love with certain characters - Sebastian was one that I adored and I found him to be so timid and sweet towards Isla. Another character I loved was hotel owner Dahlia - she was also someone who didn't have a bad bone in her body and I felt like I was being made welcome as a guest in her hotel too!
This is 100% my favourite of Tilly Tennant's novels so far. You instantly get drawn into the story and you don't want to let it go. Isla was easy to relate to and I found her really brave - going all that way on her own. The story was easy to follow, the characters were all lovely and I couldn't put it down. It's heart-warming and will leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling. A beautiful novel! If I could give this more than 5 stars then I would.
Overall, a brilliant story that is a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday. And perfect to read in the buildup to Christmas. Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.
What a beautiful and absolutely stunning cover this book has. This straight away made me want to read it - before I'd even read the blurb! I LOVE the background of snowy mountains, the candles, the fairy lights, snow, Christmas pudding and the beautiful wreath in the centre. All together it makes for probably the most stunning Christmas cover I've ever seen. Everything looks so cosy I wish I was there.
Now onto the story itself, I really enjoyed the first one in the series and wasn't sure how the second was going to top it - but let me tell you - it certainly did! I loved this one even more than the second - if that's possible! The whole story had such a feel-good vibe to it that it was hard to put down. Every spare moment I had I spent reading this book and as a result I was so sad when it ended.
The story follows Isla, who after hearing from a solicitor, has flown all the way to France to meet her father for the first time in over 20 years. At first, Isla thinks that her dad has an ulterior motive for her going over there - but as the story progresses you realise that it isn't her dad who's up to something after all...
The story is so intriguing and I simply fell in love with the setting. It's described beautifully and I could easily imagine the chocolate box perfect village with the snow falling and Christmas lights twinkling. It all made for an absolute perfect Christmassy read. I also fell in love with certain characters - Sebastian was one that I adored and I found him to be so timid and sweet towards Isla. Another character I loved was hotel owner Dahlia - she was also someone who didn't have a bad bone in her body and I felt like I was being made welcome as a guest in her hotel too!
This is 100% my favourite of Tilly Tennant's novels so far. You instantly get drawn into the story and you don't want to let it go. Isla was easy to relate to and I found her really brave - going all that way on her own. The story was easy to follow, the characters were all lovely and I couldn't put it down. It's heart-warming and will leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling. A beautiful novel! If I could give this more than 5 stars then I would.
Overall, a brilliant story that is a perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday. And perfect to read in the buildup to Christmas. Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.
October 28, 2017
I love Tilly Tennant's writing and A Cosy Candlelit Christmas has been an absolute pleasure to read.
Isla is 29 years old and hasn't seen her Father in 24 years. She is very close to her mother who brought her up alone. They have never had much, but have always had each other and been happy. As they prepare for another family Christmas Isla receives notification of her Grandmother's death, on her fathers side, and it seems she has been gifted something in her will. The gift however comes with conditions. If Isla wishes to know more she will have to travel to the Alps to meet with her Father. After some consideration she decides to go. She has no idea how much this decision will change her life completely.
I have to say, I wasn't sure if I liked Isla or not at first. Her feelings towards her father are very understandable, as is her fear of upsetting her mother. Isla did certainly grow on me though and I really, really wanted her story to have a happy ending. As far as I'm concerned it's never too late to make amends.
The setting sounds absolutely beautiful. There is no way you'd get me skiing, but I could totally see myself taking in the views of the mountains with a hot chocolate or brandy (or maybe hot chocolate with brandy in it!) to sip! And the Church scene on Christmas Eve sounds amazing. I love our Church at Christmas so I can imagine how beautiful it must be somewhere like that.
I absolutely loved Sebastian! He is such a sweet character.
Dahlia is a fabulous character too. I couldn't help but love her and her hotel sounds like the ideal place to stay.
This is such a lovely romance which demanded my attention from beginning to end. I'm living proof you can fall in love in less than a week as me and my Husband did, and we've been together for 18 years (married for 15) so I can totally relate. It's a lovely, heart-warming read and a perfect festive romance, but I think you could enjoy it at any time of the year really.
Beautifully written, as always. I highly recommend.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
Isla is 29 years old and hasn't seen her Father in 24 years. She is very close to her mother who brought her up alone. They have never had much, but have always had each other and been happy. As they prepare for another family Christmas Isla receives notification of her Grandmother's death, on her fathers side, and it seems she has been gifted something in her will. The gift however comes with conditions. If Isla wishes to know more she will have to travel to the Alps to meet with her Father. After some consideration she decides to go. She has no idea how much this decision will change her life completely.
I have to say, I wasn't sure if I liked Isla or not at first. Her feelings towards her father are very understandable, as is her fear of upsetting her mother. Isla did certainly grow on me though and I really, really wanted her story to have a happy ending. As far as I'm concerned it's never too late to make amends.
The setting sounds absolutely beautiful. There is no way you'd get me skiing, but I could totally see myself taking in the views of the mountains with a hot chocolate or brandy (or maybe hot chocolate with brandy in it!) to sip! And the Church scene on Christmas Eve sounds amazing. I love our Church at Christmas so I can imagine how beautiful it must be somewhere like that.
I absolutely loved Sebastian! He is such a sweet character.
Dahlia is a fabulous character too. I couldn't help but love her and her hotel sounds like the ideal place to stay.
This is such a lovely romance which demanded my attention from beginning to end. I'm living proof you can fall in love in less than a week as me and my Husband did, and we've been together for 18 years (married for 15) so I can totally relate. It's a lovely, heart-warming read and a perfect festive romance, but I think you could enjoy it at any time of the year really.
Beautifully written, as always. I highly recommend.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
December 22, 2019
3.5
After the first book in the series rather disappointed me, my expectations were a bit low but still I had hopes that I would like Islas story better.
I defintely liked this book better. The setting in the French Alps was a lot more wintery and Christmassy, so I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
The story was interesting and I enjoyed the family story and their attempts to get back together as a family. The love story felt again a bit too forced for me, although I was happy with Islas decision. Still the love story lacked in emotions and I had the feeling everything was totally rushed.
Judging from the title of the book I expected a way more romantic and cosy story than I got in the end.
After the first book in the series rather disappointed me, my expectations were a bit low but still I had hopes that I would like Islas story better.
I defintely liked this book better. The setting in the French Alps was a lot more wintery and Christmassy, so I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
The story was interesting and I enjoyed the family story and their attempts to get back together as a family. The love story felt again a bit too forced for me, although I was happy with Islas decision. Still the love story lacked in emotions and I had the feeling everything was totally rushed.
Judging from the title of the book I expected a way more romantic and cosy story than I got in the end.
November 9, 2017
I love Tilly's books- they transport you quickly into lovely settings with wonderful characters.
Isla has to spend time in a gorgeous French ski resort after receiving a letter about an inheritance. It means getting to know her father again and trying to build bridges. She also meets the lovely Sebastian who is a glaciologist- I didn't know there was such a thing. You could see things differently through his eyes. It made me want to visit and enjoy the sights.
Isla has to spend time in a gorgeous French ski resort after receiving a letter about an inheritance. It means getting to know her father again and trying to build bridges. She also meets the lovely Sebastian who is a glaciologist- I didn't know there was such a thing. You could see things differently through his eyes. It made me want to visit and enjoy the sights.
October 19, 2017
This was lovely! It felt a tiny bit less Christmassy but more snowy than it's companion (A Very Vintage Christmas), and I think I loved it a tiny bit more.
I gave it 3.5 stars
I gave it 3.5 stars
November 30, 2019
I tried but really couldn’t get into it, nor warm to Isla.
September 24, 2017
I'm so very happy as I have now read both of Tilly's books in the 'An Unforgettable Christmas ' series, just like with book #1, I absolutely loved this book too, completely fell in love with it.
I loved getting to know the main character Isla, seeing how she coped with everything that came her way, not only did she have to deal with her father whom she'd not seen in very many years but she also had two love interests to handle, not to mention being in country she's never been to before. That's a lot to handle for one person.
It was a lovely heartfelt read, with lots of Christmas cosy moments thrown in, not to mention lots of snow. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the French Alps.
The whole storyplot, the characters and everything about this book was all so very well written, which is no surprise as author Tilly never fails to deliver. Having read a few of her books to date, I can very much vouch for that. Just love her books.
I loved getting to know the main character Isla, seeing how she coped with everything that came her way, not only did she have to deal with her father whom she'd not seen in very many years but she also had two love interests to handle, not to mention being in country she's never been to before. That's a lot to handle for one person.
It was a lovely heartfelt read, with lots of Christmas cosy moments thrown in, not to mention lots of snow. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the French Alps.
The whole storyplot, the characters and everything about this book was all so very well written, which is no surprise as author Tilly never fails to deliver. Having read a few of her books to date, I can very much vouch for that. Just love her books.
October 26, 2017
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is the second book in the An Unforgettable Christmas series and whilst I believe that this could be read as a standalone, I think that it is better read after A Very Vintage Christmas. Both of a books feature Dodie and Isla however A Very Vintage Christmas focuses on Dodie and A Cosy Candlelit Christmas focuses on Isla. Whilst the first book is focusing on Dodie, Isla does feature and vice versa for the second book. It was great to see the events from both Dodie and Isla's perspectives.
In book one, we are briefly aware that Isla has been found by a lawyer due to the reading of her grandmother's will. In A Cosy Candlelit Christmas we pick up with Isla when she decides to travel out to the Alps against her mother's wishes to find out what her inheritance is and to meet the father that she practically knows nothing about. Ian left Glory when Isla was five years old without a trace - Isla's mother is still very bitter about the desertion and therefore is upset with Isla's decision to travel to France.
The resort of St-Martin-de-Belleville is a beautiful setting for this book and Tilly Tennant does a fabulous job of describing the landscape - the use of a glaciologist character to articulate this landscape further was genius! In England, the hope of a white Christmas is just that so it is fabulous to escape into this book as there is, literally, tons of snow!
There are wonderful characters within this book, Isla herself is jaded by her opinion of her father inherited from her mother and we really see the turmoil within Isla between honouring her mother's opinion and making her own opinion of her father. During her visit to St-Martin-de-Belleville, she meets the wonderful hotelier Dahlia who goes the extra mile for all her guests and happy to be a sounding board for any issues. Then we have the lovely Seb (the glaciologist!) who is in St-Martin-de-Belleville working and the arrogant Justin, Isla's cousin (by marriage) who offers to bridge the gap between Isla and her father.
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas isn't as traditionally festive as A Very Vintage Christmas however it is a heartwarming read with the backdrop of Christmas, exploring broken relationships with a bit of romance thrown in - a fabulous combination!
In book one, we are briefly aware that Isla has been found by a lawyer due to the reading of her grandmother's will. In A Cosy Candlelit Christmas we pick up with Isla when she decides to travel out to the Alps against her mother's wishes to find out what her inheritance is and to meet the father that she practically knows nothing about. Ian left Glory when Isla was five years old without a trace - Isla's mother is still very bitter about the desertion and therefore is upset with Isla's decision to travel to France.
The resort of St-Martin-de-Belleville is a beautiful setting for this book and Tilly Tennant does a fabulous job of describing the landscape - the use of a glaciologist character to articulate this landscape further was genius! In England, the hope of a white Christmas is just that so it is fabulous to escape into this book as there is, literally, tons of snow!
There are wonderful characters within this book, Isla herself is jaded by her opinion of her father inherited from her mother and we really see the turmoil within Isla between honouring her mother's opinion and making her own opinion of her father. During her visit to St-Martin-de-Belleville, she meets the wonderful hotelier Dahlia who goes the extra mile for all her guests and happy to be a sounding board for any issues. Then we have the lovely Seb (the glaciologist!) who is in St-Martin-de-Belleville working and the arrogant Justin, Isla's cousin (by marriage) who offers to bridge the gap between Isla and her father.
A Cosy Candlelit Christmas isn't as traditionally festive as A Very Vintage Christmas however it is a heartwarming read with the backdrop of Christmas, exploring broken relationships with a bit of romance thrown in - a fabulous combination!
January 6, 2018
I enjoyed this book, it was a nice, easy read. Even though the title mentions Christmas, I think it could be read at any time of the year.
Isla McCoy has some decisions to make and between her very strong-willed Nigerian mother and her absent Scottish father, it is tough going! Her parents split when she was very small and so she is trying to get to know her dad, much to her mother's chagrin. She flies to France and spends time in the winter wonderland that is the village where her father now lives. It made me want to visit the place, that's for sure, it sounds lovely, but my French is even worse than Isla's!
Whilst Isla is in France, she meets two very different men - Justin and Sebastian. She is attracted to both but both of them have things they have hidden from her. Trying to get to the bottom of it all is a bit of a mission, but Isla is as strong-willed and stubborn as her mother and very persistent. It was this part of the story that elevated it from just a light read to something a little more substantial.
A solid 4 star read from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture. Any opinions expressed are my own.
Isla McCoy has some decisions to make and between her very strong-willed Nigerian mother and her absent Scottish father, it is tough going! Her parents split when she was very small and so she is trying to get to know her dad, much to her mother's chagrin. She flies to France and spends time in the winter wonderland that is the village where her father now lives. It made me want to visit the place, that's for sure, it sounds lovely, but my French is even worse than Isla's!
Whilst Isla is in France, she meets two very different men - Justin and Sebastian. She is attracted to both but both of them have things they have hidden from her. Trying to get to the bottom of it all is a bit of a mission, but Isla is as strong-willed and stubborn as her mother and very persistent. It was this part of the story that elevated it from just a light read to something a little more substantial.
A solid 4 star read from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture. Any opinions expressed are my own.
October 26, 2017
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When I saw this book cover I absolutely adored it! I am a massive fan of Tilly's books so knew this one would be right up my street having read her previous release in the "Unforgettable Christmas" series - A Very Vintage Christmas (also out now)!
This book is a fun read, easy to follow and despite it being the second in the series you can easily read it as a stand alone. The plot is great and I loved the story from the start to the end, in fact I didn't want it to end I was enjoying it so much!!
A Christmas cracker (although you can read it in winter too and I recommend you read it with a warm drink and a slice of cake or some chocolate!!) - 5 stars from me!!!
When I saw this book cover I absolutely adored it! I am a massive fan of Tilly's books so knew this one would be right up my street having read her previous release in the "Unforgettable Christmas" series - A Very Vintage Christmas (also out now)!
This book is a fun read, easy to follow and despite it being the second in the series you can easily read it as a stand alone. The plot is great and I loved the story from the start to the end, in fact I didn't want it to end I was enjoying it so much!!
A Christmas cracker (although you can read it in winter too and I recommend you read it with a warm drink and a slice of cake or some chocolate!!) - 5 stars from me!!!
November 14, 2017
A Cost Candlelit Christmas is a lovely holiday story about a woman estranged from her father being reunited and finding love along the way. It was a nice story and you definitely root for the main two characters however there was maybe too much resolution too quickly. The topics can be somewhat heavy but not enough time to maybe devote to fully feeling the impact of the reunion.
Also, I need a "One Year Later" epilogue to see if it all worked out. I ended up having my doubts and I want a resolution.
Also, I need a "One Year Later" epilogue to see if it all worked out. I ended up having my doubts and I want a resolution.
October 27, 2017
Ever since I finished reading A Very Vintage Christmas by Tilly Tennant, I couldn't wait to delve into A Cosy Candlelit Christmas, book two in the Unforgettable Christmas series. I was eager to discover how Dodie and Isla's stories would overlap and interconnect. Tantalising hints as to Isla's story were dotted throughout book one as to the life changing journey she was embarking on. Would it be all plain sailing or would there be plenty of twists, turns and upsets along the way? I have to say that this book felt even more Christmassy than the first. It really hit the spot in terms of the festive atmosphere and think this was partly due to the fact it was set in a ski resort in France in the days running up to and during Christmas. I think I preferred Isla's story to Dodie's and that is not to take away anything from A Very Vintage Christmas which I really enjoyed. I think this one just affected me more deeply. Everything that Isla was battling through really resonated with me and I felt the storyline was even stronger than the one I had read before. A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is certainly one of the best Christmas books I have read so far this year that will need strong competition to beat it.
Isla is 29 and a university student studying psychology. She feels quite screwed up herself so believes what she is studying suits her down to the ground. She has given up her job and moved back in with her mother to study. The relationship she has with her mother is a complex one and is deeply affected by their circumstances as she grew up. When she was five Isla's Dad abandoned them and has not been heard from since. Her mother Glory raised her single handily and not without a struggle. Times were tough for the pair and the resentment and anger emanating from Glory with regards to her husband leaving is still very much fresh in her mind. This had led to Isla putting up a defence when it comes to men. As she says herself she doesn't do relationships, she is too busy, too focused on her life with too much responsibility at home. She likes to appear unavailable and uninterested to men whereas the reader senses underneath that wall she has built up there is someone who like us all at the end of the day wants that special someone in their life to cuddle up to at night.
I couldn't blame Isla for not letting herself want to let her guard slip but when it transpires a letter has arrived from Ian, fireworks ensue. Isla is completely torn - go against her mother's wishes and contribute to an already tense situation and go to France to look into this inheritance she has been left by a grandmother she can vaguely remember. Or should she stay put and forget the letter ever came into her life? Poor Isla, it really was like she was being ripped in two. Given the chance wouldn't you want to reconnect with your father? I knew the inheritance wasn't at the forefront of her mind but her father’s family had more underhand aims behind her having to go to St.Martin-De-Belleville, the ski resort where her father runs a hire shop with his wife Celine and teenagers Benet and Natalie. Isla wants to ask her best friend and stalwart Dodie for advice but Dodie is busy with worries of her own. I thought there would be more scenes featuring Dodie but they came very far and few between. So for those reading this book first there is no need to worry if you haven't read A Very Vintage Christmas.
Right from the moment Isla steps off the plane and makes her way to the resort the Christmas atmosphere really ramped up. Through such wonderful descriptions I could vividly picture the snow covered resort with the huge mountains surrounding it. I could sense the cold and see all the decorations and fabulous food that were there. For someone who has never being skiing or to a resort covered in snow Tilly Tennant sure did a good job of making me feel like I had. Isla embarks upon her quest and to reconnect with her Dad with trepidation which is understandable given the bad picture Glory had painted of the husband who more or less just upped and left. I'm glad she didn't rush into his arms and forgive him the moment she set eyes on him. Time is a healer but explanations are needed first. Combined with the fact there was a sense of sneakiness ongoing Isla was wise to sit back and wait and let things unfold and only then rush to uncover the answers she desperately wanted.
Isla was a person who was full of logic and reasoning throughout. She always stepped back to view a situation from every angle. Her cousin Justin from her stepmother's side was a character I couldn't warm to at all. I much preferred Seb who was staying at the same hotel Residence Alpenrose as Isla. He was a glaciologist and although he was meant to come across as a nerd and obsessed with his job, I thought he had a heart of gold underneath his shy exterior. Justin on the other hand was not nice at all. At times he came across as very dominating and almost menacing. It was clear he had ulterior motives and wasn't really that in to Isla only to string her along. To read of the unfolding situation with Isla and her family was a joy. I loved every minute of the story. It had a great basic plot and the fact it was based all around Christmas endeared the overall message to me even more.
It was great there was no messing about and we were straight into the story and Isla was allowed to share her life with us. She has plenty of conundrums to deal with and at every point she takes her mother's feelings into account but also she has to balance the wishes of her father. To be honest, I wouldn't have blamed her if she just said forget about you all I am satisfying myself and my needs but she wasn't that kind of person. Through being away in a different atmosphere and with the help of Dahlia the owner of the hotel and Seb she battles through in her attempts to make the right decision. Amends need to be made and forgiveness thrown into the mix but Isla needs to let go of the distrust that poisons all her relationships and only then can she see the light to make the correct decision for everyone involved, herself being the most important person.
I couldn't recommend A Cosy Candlelit Christmas enough as a Christmas read for this year. The story between such a beautiful cover lives up to the title and the image one conjures up when you see the snowy background. There is real depth and emotion throughout the story and one can't help but fall in love with Isla. She is one special woman. Some authors wouldn't have pulled off publishing two books in such quick succession especially with the interconnected theme but Tilly Tennant succeeded in writing two brilliant books that have made me really excited for what comes next.
Isla is 29 and a university student studying psychology. She feels quite screwed up herself so believes what she is studying suits her down to the ground. She has given up her job and moved back in with her mother to study. The relationship she has with her mother is a complex one and is deeply affected by their circumstances as she grew up. When she was five Isla's Dad abandoned them and has not been heard from since. Her mother Glory raised her single handily and not without a struggle. Times were tough for the pair and the resentment and anger emanating from Glory with regards to her husband leaving is still very much fresh in her mind. This had led to Isla putting up a defence when it comes to men. As she says herself she doesn't do relationships, she is too busy, too focused on her life with too much responsibility at home. She likes to appear unavailable and uninterested to men whereas the reader senses underneath that wall she has built up there is someone who like us all at the end of the day wants that special someone in their life to cuddle up to at night.
I couldn't blame Isla for not letting herself want to let her guard slip but when it transpires a letter has arrived from Ian, fireworks ensue. Isla is completely torn - go against her mother's wishes and contribute to an already tense situation and go to France to look into this inheritance she has been left by a grandmother she can vaguely remember. Or should she stay put and forget the letter ever came into her life? Poor Isla, it really was like she was being ripped in two. Given the chance wouldn't you want to reconnect with your father? I knew the inheritance wasn't at the forefront of her mind but her father’s family had more underhand aims behind her having to go to St.Martin-De-Belleville, the ski resort where her father runs a hire shop with his wife Celine and teenagers Benet and Natalie. Isla wants to ask her best friend and stalwart Dodie for advice but Dodie is busy with worries of her own. I thought there would be more scenes featuring Dodie but they came very far and few between. So for those reading this book first there is no need to worry if you haven't read A Very Vintage Christmas.
Right from the moment Isla steps off the plane and makes her way to the resort the Christmas atmosphere really ramped up. Through such wonderful descriptions I could vividly picture the snow covered resort with the huge mountains surrounding it. I could sense the cold and see all the decorations and fabulous food that were there. For someone who has never being skiing or to a resort covered in snow Tilly Tennant sure did a good job of making me feel like I had. Isla embarks upon her quest and to reconnect with her Dad with trepidation which is understandable given the bad picture Glory had painted of the husband who more or less just upped and left. I'm glad she didn't rush into his arms and forgive him the moment she set eyes on him. Time is a healer but explanations are needed first. Combined with the fact there was a sense of sneakiness ongoing Isla was wise to sit back and wait and let things unfold and only then rush to uncover the answers she desperately wanted.
Isla was a person who was full of logic and reasoning throughout. She always stepped back to view a situation from every angle. Her cousin Justin from her stepmother's side was a character I couldn't warm to at all. I much preferred Seb who was staying at the same hotel Residence Alpenrose as Isla. He was a glaciologist and although he was meant to come across as a nerd and obsessed with his job, I thought he had a heart of gold underneath his shy exterior. Justin on the other hand was not nice at all. At times he came across as very dominating and almost menacing. It was clear he had ulterior motives and wasn't really that in to Isla only to string her along. To read of the unfolding situation with Isla and her family was a joy. I loved every minute of the story. It had a great basic plot and the fact it was based all around Christmas endeared the overall message to me even more.
It was great there was no messing about and we were straight into the story and Isla was allowed to share her life with us. She has plenty of conundrums to deal with and at every point she takes her mother's feelings into account but also she has to balance the wishes of her father. To be honest, I wouldn't have blamed her if she just said forget about you all I am satisfying myself and my needs but she wasn't that kind of person. Through being away in a different atmosphere and with the help of Dahlia the owner of the hotel and Seb she battles through in her attempts to make the right decision. Amends need to be made and forgiveness thrown into the mix but Isla needs to let go of the distrust that poisons all her relationships and only then can she see the light to make the correct decision for everyone involved, herself being the most important person.
I couldn't recommend A Cosy Candlelit Christmas enough as a Christmas read for this year. The story between such a beautiful cover lives up to the title and the image one conjures up when you see the snowy background. There is real depth and emotion throughout the story and one can't help but fall in love with Isla. She is one special woman. Some authors wouldn't have pulled off publishing two books in such quick succession especially with the interconnected theme but Tilly Tennant succeeded in writing two brilliant books that have made me really excited for what comes next.
December 21, 2020
Brilliant!
Another brilliant and well thought through book by an amazing author. There are two books in this series and I want to read more and follow their next step.
Another brilliant and well thought through book by an amazing author. There are two books in this series and I want to read more and follow their next step.
October 28, 2017
4.5*
Isla McCoy is twenty nine, living at home with her mother and studying psychology. She can’t remember her father as her parents’ marriage broke down when she was five years old and she didn’t see her father again. Being brought up solely by Glory, her mother, who is still bitter and unable to make peace with her father after twenty odd years, has left a long term impression on Isla and influenced the potential for romantic relationships. She finds it difficult to form lasting relationships and tends to keep men at arm’s length, always expecting to be let down.
Glory is a proud woman who’s had a tough life, and the hurt is buried so deep it’s become a part of her and colours her stubborn attitude when it comes to Isla’s father. When a solicitor’s letter arrives for Isla informing her she is a beneficiary in her paternal grandmother’s will, the grandmother she’s never known, entailing a trip to France and a meeting with her father, the fireworks fly between her and Glory, mainly because Glory initially withheld the letter. Unwilling to hurt her mother despite her annoyance at Glory’s high handedness, Isla backs down, although she secretly feels desperate to find out more about her father. Due to the stipulations of the will, if Isla refuses to go to France, no-one gets their inheritance, so after much soul-searching she decides to make the trip.
I’ve been meaning to read a book by Tilly Tennant for a while and I think this was a good one to start with. The cover is gorgeous and I fell in love with St Martin-de-Bellville from the wonderful description…. ‘white frosted hulks of mountains bearing down on a town of adorable wooden chalets‘, the individual shops and picturesque scenery. And what a breathtaking setting! Spending Christmas there would be magical, I think.
Although A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is the second in a two book series, I didn’t realise until I’d read it, and it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment in any way. The first book detailed Isla’s friend, Dodie’s story.
Tilly Tennant has a very readable, engaging writing style and I liked the fact this wasn’t exclusively a ‘Christmassy’ story. Isla’s struggle with herself, despite the years of believing her father didn’t care, was portrayed extremely well and the storyline was handled sympathetically, from both sides. There are always two sides to consider and it’s easy to see how such a situation can spiral out of control.
The two possible romantic interests are complete opposites, with different agendas as far as Isla is concerned. Julian the sexy French, sort of cousin and Sebastian, the geeky glaciologist. Isla begins to realise that sometimes the heart needs to rule the head, something she is not used to. A delightful, perceptive story of new opportunities, forgiveness and the promise of love.
I chose to read and review A Cosy Candlelit Christmas based on an advance reader copy supplied by NetGalley and the author/publisher
Isla McCoy is twenty nine, living at home with her mother and studying psychology. She can’t remember her father as her parents’ marriage broke down when she was five years old and she didn’t see her father again. Being brought up solely by Glory, her mother, who is still bitter and unable to make peace with her father after twenty odd years, has left a long term impression on Isla and influenced the potential for romantic relationships. She finds it difficult to form lasting relationships and tends to keep men at arm’s length, always expecting to be let down.
Glory is a proud woman who’s had a tough life, and the hurt is buried so deep it’s become a part of her and colours her stubborn attitude when it comes to Isla’s father. When a solicitor’s letter arrives for Isla informing her she is a beneficiary in her paternal grandmother’s will, the grandmother she’s never known, entailing a trip to France and a meeting with her father, the fireworks fly between her and Glory, mainly because Glory initially withheld the letter. Unwilling to hurt her mother despite her annoyance at Glory’s high handedness, Isla backs down, although she secretly feels desperate to find out more about her father. Due to the stipulations of the will, if Isla refuses to go to France, no-one gets their inheritance, so after much soul-searching she decides to make the trip.
I’ve been meaning to read a book by Tilly Tennant for a while and I think this was a good one to start with. The cover is gorgeous and I fell in love with St Martin-de-Bellville from the wonderful description…. ‘white frosted hulks of mountains bearing down on a town of adorable wooden chalets‘, the individual shops and picturesque scenery. And what a breathtaking setting! Spending Christmas there would be magical, I think.
Although A Cosy Candlelit Christmas is the second in a two book series, I didn’t realise until I’d read it, and it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment in any way. The first book detailed Isla’s friend, Dodie’s story.
Tilly Tennant has a very readable, engaging writing style and I liked the fact this wasn’t exclusively a ‘Christmassy’ story. Isla’s struggle with herself, despite the years of believing her father didn’t care, was portrayed extremely well and the storyline was handled sympathetically, from both sides. There are always two sides to consider and it’s easy to see how such a situation can spiral out of control.
The two possible romantic interests are complete opposites, with different agendas as far as Isla is concerned. Julian the sexy French, sort of cousin and Sebastian, the geeky glaciologist. Isla begins to realise that sometimes the heart needs to rule the head, something she is not used to. A delightful, perceptive story of new opportunities, forgiveness and the promise of love.
I chose to read and review A Cosy Candlelit Christmas based on an advance reader copy supplied by NetGalley and the author/publisher
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