We'll Have a Wonderful Cornish Christmas

Delightful Christmas #2

by C.P. Ward

Unlucky-in-love and long-term loner Lucy Drake can find no excuse not to join her parents on a Christmas trip to the Cornish coastal town of Tintagel, not when her father's company is sponsoring the inaugural Christmas Extravaganza.

Hoping to hide an embarrassing secret and generally keep out of sight, Lucy finds herself attracted to local surfing dentist, Dan. But when his ex-girlfriend and social media starlet Elizabeth Trevellian shows up to expose all of Lucy's insecurities, Lucy will need all of the magic of Christmas to help her untangle the ensuing mess.

Against a backdrop of fudge, Christmas beach parties, Brussels sprouts obsessions, reindeer rides and terrible Christmas karaoke, We'll have a Wonderful Cornish Christmas is certain to delight fans of CP Ward's Christmas debut, I'm glad I found you this Christmas, and even features a cameo from a familiar face.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Holiday, Contemporary, Adult

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2019

Reviews

[ꕥ Ange_Lives_To_Read ꕥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Christmas 2022 - Naughty

DNF

No. I started reading this late last night and thought it was so stupid. A woman in her 30's, has such a ridiculous laugh that four different men have broken up with her specifically because of it. So now she tries never to laugh. Really?

This morning I said, well let's give it another chance. Now she's in a car with her parents, heading to Cornwall and several times she mentions how embarrassed she is by them. What is she, 12? A short time later, she throws up all over the guy who is clearly going to be her love interest.

While set in Cornwall, this is neither wonderful nor delightful. I'm done.

[Kerry Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glowing Christmas book

Really enjoyed reading this utterly heartwarming Christmas book.
Packed with lots of good humour and laughs. I haven't read this author previously but will definitely read more CP Ward books.
The setting in Cornwall was lovely and the characters were just like you and I, totally relatable.
This is a quick read so if you're looking to bump up your final 2022read count, download this and start reading.
I loved how the author introduces an MC, who has an issue with an aspect of herself and shows us that sometimes it's ourselves who fixate too much on our self conciosness. When in fact nobody else other than the horrid Elizabeth saw the MC's laugh s anything other than unique?
Overall a good and uplifting book.
KerryKennedy author of Dakota and Who's Watching Who

[Kathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

MC has an abrasive laugh and blames it for her breakups and now refuses to laugh. Weird. Her parents alternate between telling her the laugh isn't that bad then telling her she'll put people off with it. Weird and harmful. She goes to a village with her parents to celebrate a Christmas festival where she meets a guy who says he's okay with her laugh but then mocks her for it. Weird. Also, borderline alcohol abuse by several characters.

This just wasn't for me.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much! Lucy is someone I could be friends with. Her family is the best. I laughed throughout the entire story. The scenes of the town and all the people living there feel so real. It is a beautiful story.

[tracy darlington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this twice, loved it

[Rochelle Saldaña · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give zero stars I would. Trashy, soulless book. Not even worth continuing.

[meghann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the Nook serial read for December. This was not what I was expecting, but it turned out to be a fun Christmas read. The Christmas festival in Cornwall was great. Lucy was a bit of an odd one but grew on me. Her rival was way over the top though, and I feel like everyone grossly underreacted to her actions. Mentally well adults don't act like that, but everyone just kept quietly admonishing her behind her back. Lucy was very take it or leave it about her potential love interest, and same honestly. There wasn't really a lot of chemistry there. I think this could have been great just focusing on her family, new friends and working on overcoming her insecurities. Everyone was a bit of a mess in this, but aren't we all.

[Kristy Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this romance. It was sweet and funny with a bit of turmoil.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly the worst book of the year. Not sure that the author has ever met a real woman. He certainly has no idea of how they think or act.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whimsical and sweet Christmas story, with a strangely-flawed main character. Would have loved for the ending to have included the impending yodeling event.

[Granny Swithins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bloody awful. File under "male author attempts to write from female perspective."

[Yve Middleton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable

Lacks a lot of the romantic nuances for me. The cornish villages deserve a better story and there is a distinct lack of Cornish characters

[Lisa of Hopewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
My Interest

This audiobook was on sale on Chirp. What’s not to love about a Christmas Extravaganza?
The Story

Lucy Drake, born Frances (as in Sir Francis Drake, the explorer) normally spends Christmas away on a solitary walking vacation. She has a social problem. It’s not farting like I thought, it’s simply her laugh. Anyway, it has always put men off. Her parents, a good natured, decent couple who live a dull, normal life with blessedly ordinary careers (I get tired of everyone being some high-flying hedge fund manager or actress) have decided to go to Cornwall and “glamp” while her father’s carpet company sponsors the first Christmas Extravaganza.

Along the way Lucy meets orthodontist Dan, his gay brother Tarquin (the name started as a joke in school), and Dan’s ex–a ruthlessly ambitious woman much like the wife of the redheaded royal. Dan is also an expert on Brussels Sprouts–not something you read in most novels today, let alone in a Christmas story. Dan finds Lucy’s social problem endearing–you can guess the rest. I’m sure.
My Thoughts

I liked this story–it was full of decent, everyday people and a baddie anyone on social media much could totally understand. Plus, what’s wrong with Santa in a sleigh pulled by female reindeer named Mike and Don? Or Santa being assisted by Robin Hood’s Merry Men? What kid doesn’t dream of winning a new lounge carpet for his family or of receiving a bathmat from Santa. And then there is the fudge…yes, fabulous fudge made with locally sourced Cornish sugar grown in a greenhouse!

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh boy. I got this as a free book and thought it would be fun to read a Christmas and it also takes place in a place I have fond memories of visiting in high school. Alas, I didn't notice it was by the same author whose Christmas-themed book I hated last year! The premise is just inane - a woman with such a repulsive laugh no one will stay with her travels, reluctantly, to Cornwall for a Christmas festival. I have heard many odd laughs over the years and they are at worst a little startling but generally pretty endearing. So I just don't buy it. Also, the main female character pukes on her love interest early in the book and that is apparently not a problem. But her laugh is? Nope. Like the last book, people seem to spend most of their time getting drunk or gorging on sweets. Last year, the same things lead me to think the author was a woman with an eating disorder. Turns out a man writes these books, from a woman's perspective, and now I suspect he lives in an isolated colony of men and has never actually met a woman. At any rate, no point in continuing with this review - I'll just be more vigilant about avoid this author in the future.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I was not inspired by the first few chapters and did consider not finishing the book. However, I plodded on and am glad I did as that is then it becomes more interesting. Lucy is a likeable character and I found myself feeling sorry for her as well as feeling I could be her friend. She makes friends herself available to help out with the preparations for Christmas Extravaganza in Tintagel, a little Cornish town. She slowly loses some of the hangups that have kept her from living life to the fullest. She comes into her own, makes friends and partakes in some of the Christmas activities as well as make and sell fudge which she proves she has a knack for. Of course her journey is assisted on by a viper who likes making fun of people not only face to face but on Social media. Her relationship with Dan is hindered by her own insecurities and in time that changes too. Tarquin takes her under his wing and helps her come into her own. A really likeable story despite the initial doubts.

[Kayla Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ll Have a Wonderful Cornish Christmas: unhappily single travel agent Lucy typically uses her professional discounts to take a solo trip over the holidays. But after a few too many at a work party, she tells her parents she will join them for the Christmas in Cornwall. Her dad is the main sponsor for a brand new Christmas festival! While in Cornwall, Lucy makes new friends and learns how to let loose. Plus a special surprise guest! Ellie from I’m Glad I Found You at his Chirstmas!

This book was cute. I love a Christmas festival and a cute little village. Lucy’s parents were so funny and I loved everyone in Tintagel. Fun and festive. However, for this being billed as a romance, there was hardly any romance. The love interests spent basically no time together! Also, I did not get Lucy’s whole…deal. She’s horribly embarrassed by her laugh, to the point that she avoids fun. But by the end of the book she embraces her laugh because she gets so many compliments on it and finally feels free. Girl, what. It was a sort of immature plot line, and Lucy herself was pretty immature. I’ve liked the other CP Ward books I’ve read, but this wasn’t my favorite.

[Jilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, funny, feel good romance for Christmas. Perfect for curling up with a glass of wine in front of the log burner, nice and cosy. A one evening read.

************************************

Unlucky-in-love and long-term loner Lucy Drake can find no excuse not to join her parents on a Christmas trip to the Cornish coastal town of Tintagel, not when her father's company is sponsoring the inaugural Christmas Extravaganza.

Hoping to hide an embarrassing secret and generally keep out of sight, Lucy finds herself attracted to local surfing dentist, Dan. But when his ex-girlfriend and social media starlet Elizabeth Trevellian shows up to expose all of Lucy's insecurities, Lucy will need all of the magic of Christmas to help her untangle the ensuing mess.

Set against a backdrop of fudge, Christmas beach parties, Brussels sprouts obsessions, reindeer rides and terrible Christmas karaoke, this is the perfect Christmas read.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caught unawares, Lucy agrees to go glamping with her parents at Christmas. Her father is sponsoring an extravaganza in Tintagel. Lucy tries to keep a low profile, but an unfortunate aspect of her persona is disclosed. She has a terribly raucous laugh. It was responsible for more than one failed romance. It caused a car accident once. When she laughs, people stare at her, disbelieving that the sound that comes from her mouth is even human. Lucy’s laugh is exposed to the cyber world by Elizabeth, a rather self-centered and unkind woman with many thousands of people following her posts. She humiliates Lucy as often as she can. The fact that Lucy is attracted to a local man who used to date Elizabeth just adds to her distress. But others see the kindness in Lucy, and they persuade her that she is being too hard on herself. Things have a way of working out, especially at Christmas. This lovely and well-written tale is filled with the wonder of the Christmas season.

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

📚Review📚 We'll have a wonderful Cornish Christmas by CP Ward
⭐️⭐️.5

I started this on the 19th December and have just finished it today.

I found the writing easy to read and follow but I felt there wasn't a huge amount going on. I found it lacking a certain something.

The MFC is young and very self conscious about her laugh, due to previous relationships. But by the end of the book she's a lot more open to laughing and less worried about what other people think.

Essentially this would of been a quick pallete cleanser but I was kind of in a rut I couldn't get myself out of.
Sometimes it takes reading something else to get you out of that position and kick-start your love of reading again.

I believe there are a few books in this series, I would read them if I needed a quick read but there are so many other books I would choose to read before them.

[patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as a serial read on my nook. It will have you laughing. Francis Lucy Drake goes to Cornwall with her parents to Tintagel because her father is sponsoring Tintagel's first Christmas extravaganza. She prefers being called Lucy and has a laugh that turns people off and causes accidents and failed relationship. Lucy learns how to make fudge, how to yodel. A thorn in the fudge A social media witch who has a photographer following her around to take pictures for her posts. After hearing Lucy laugh she dubs her the beast and continues to photograph Lucy in the worst possible way. Lucy is attracted to the fudge maker's son Dan who once dated the thorn. We'll Have A Wonderful Cornish Christmas will just be such a fun read and it ends well. Thank-you C.P. Ward.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

We'll Have a Wonderful Cornish Christmas by C. P. Ward is a humorous, Christmas story about Frances (Lucy) Drake and how she did not want to spend the holidays with her parents. Lucy is grown and on her own and she really wanted to get away from it all and not be on holiday with her parents! She also has been ridiculed and embarrassed because of her unusual laugh. Things are not going well on this trip and things are getting ridiculous and complicated. The family finds itself "glamping" in a small Cornish town.

This is a book that was part of B&N Serial reads where a few chapters are delivered to the Nook until the book is completed. This is a great way to meet new authors and try out different genres. I enjoyed this book and I recommend it even after Christmas season is over.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a Nook serial read for December. When I read the blurb, I almost passed on reading it. I wasn't a bad book, just a little farcical at times. I didn't really care for any of the characters, so that is always a downfall for me. The main character, Lucy Drake, acted more like a silly teenager than a grown woman. And, the social media influencer was just cringeworthy!

Some parts of the book were amusing, but all in all, I found the story to be lacking in a lot of ways. The ending was very abrupt and I had to make sure that it was actually "The End" when I reached it. Al in all, I found this book to be mildly amusing and a quick read, so I wasn't sorry that I read it.

[Craig Leimkuehler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucy Drake, spinster in training, is obliged to join her mom and dad for Christmas in Cornish where her father’s carpet company is sponsoring a winter carnival. Lucy fears she is doomed to be single because of an embarrassing social faux pax she suffers from. I thought it would have been much funnier if she had suffered from uncontrollable flatulence but the actual cause of her embarrassment is absurd.
The plot and characters are yawningly predictable like sun rising in the east and setting in the West.

[TupaKitty Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was cringey funny at the beginning, then it just kinda dragged & never really tied anything up. It wasn't horrible or anything, but it's not something I'm likely to read again. The end was alright, but it was a bit anticlimactic. This was something I read to try out the "Serial Reads" tab on my Nook app. It's a neat concept, it was a festive holiday-themed story, & the book was free, so 🤷🏼‍♀️ 3 stars.

[C.D. Storiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this lighthearted story about a self-conscious woman, Lucy, fnding her voice and love during the holidays in a small Cornish town. A few Mean Girls moments by the beautiful model, Elizabeth towards Lucy, but Lucy's ability to put herself out there and not care what others think, helped her realize the meaning of the season and ignore Elizabeth's quips. Falling for Dan and growing closer to her parents, this was a warm hearted story that made me smile.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was as I'd expected really, a very light, trite, romance with no surprises and little going for it. Except I finished the book I was reading on holiday and just wanted something that I could get into straight away without any concentration. I found this on my kindle (obviously downloaded for free or almost free) and it did the job giving me something to read on the plane home.

and I was disappointed that the yodelling performance wasn't even covered!

[LadyAReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ll have a Wonderful Cornish Christmas

If you like your main characters to have flaws they overcome this is a Christmas read for you. Lucy isn’t the Christmas with the family type and her laughter is something else but somehow she ended up with her parents in Cornwall for Christmas. If you want to know what happens while they are there give this book a chance and find yourself smiling at a sweet ending.

[Elizabeth Voth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great cast of characters and a lovely story about learning to embrace who you are. Gave it 3 stars because some of the writing was long-winded or confusing at times. Ultimately carried through with finishing because I liked hearing how Lucy embraces the town she is visiting. Like any good Hallmark movie, this relative stranger is embraced by the townsfolk without hesitation and help her to embrace who she is and remember the importance of having a community.

[Chloe Mcnaught · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately my last review of the year is a DNF. I thought about DNFing a few times but wanted to push on through, but when I got to 53% and realised nothing bad really happened, I decided it just wasn’t for me.

As I said, nothing happened. It just felt like a lot of waffle and page filler. Other than the MC having a laugh so bad that everyone takes the mic, there is literally nothing I can think of that is important to the story or adds any real substance.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The overall story and character banter was good.

There was too much self-loathing over something that is unalterable. I would have liked to see Lucy accept and embrace her laugh much sooner and use it to sprinkle happiness around. There were several characters who could have helped her do so, including her parents. I also would have liked the romance to blossom sooner.

There was too much drinking.

I felt it ended abruptly and could have continued to conclude a few items.