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An Imperfect Christmas
A wonderfully festive read – just in time for Christmas! Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Victoria Walters, Heidi Swain and Phillipa Ashley…
How do you pick yourself up when everything is falling apart…?
Twenty-five-year-old Maggie Green thought she had her life on the perfect track: a long-term relationship, a successful career in finance and a swanky apartment in London.
But then everything falls apart.
The company she has worked so hard for makes her redundant, and she gets dumped on the same day.
Not to mention the worrying call she’s received from her doctor.
With her pride in tatters, Maggie returns to her family home for the Christmas period. A home she hasn’t returned to for two years.
No one knows the real reason why she hasn’t been back. No one, that is, except the one person who she is most nervous about seeing again.
Will Maggie make peace with her past? Can she find love this Christmas?
Or will more obstacles be thrown in her way…?
How do you pick yourself up when everything is falling apart…?
Twenty-five-year-old Maggie Green thought she had her life on the perfect track: a long-term relationship, a successful career in finance and a swanky apartment in London.
But then everything falls apart.
The company she has worked so hard for makes her redundant, and she gets dumped on the same day.
Not to mention the worrying call she’s received from her doctor.
With her pride in tatters, Maggie returns to her family home for the Christmas period. A home she hasn’t returned to for two years.
No one knows the real reason why she hasn’t been back. No one, that is, except the one person who she is most nervous about seeing again.
Will Maggie make peace with her past? Can she find love this Christmas?
Or will more obstacles be thrown in her way…?
221 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2020
142 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 16, 2020
My main criticism with this novel is that I did not feel connected enough to each of the characters. Overall, I believe that Russell rushed the characterisation too much for my liking; I wanted to know more about the backgrounds of the cast because I struggled to keep up with their connections.
This is a relatively short read: a little under 250 pages. Consequently, you do anticipate the plot to move quite quickly and this offering from Russell certainly does so. But it definitely is at the detriment of establishing more about the people featured in the story. There were several moments where I had thought I had missed out pages (or even chapters) because it felt like the writer assumed we knew more than had been revealed. I found this incredibly frustrating and therefore feel that Russell could easily have extended the narrative to detail the characters further, therefore helping me create a connection with them.
One thing is for sure, however, Russell definitely grabs your attention in the opening chapter as Maggie is: made redundant; dumped by her boyfriend; and receives news that her recent cervical screening has revealed an anomaly. Inevitably, it is the latter that really dominated the mood of the narrative. Even though the story has ‘Christmas’ in the title, it does not feature too much until the closing chapters. Therefore, I found it difficult to engage in a festive mood as Maggie undergoes further appointments to find more about these daunting test results. Personally, I was hoping that Russell could have made this opening chapter a bit more light-hearted, especially as it is supposed to be a Christmas read.
Consequently, if you don’t mind a couple of chapters focusing on Christmas, then this is a book you could read at any point in the year. Following Maggie as she returns home, we get a feel for a history between her and Nathan. Whilst her sister is ready to be married to one of Nathan’s brothers, Russell indicates that the past between him and Maggie is not as straight-forward as you would expect. Of course, as par the romance genre, it takes a while for Maggie and Nathan to reconnect. However, with her job prospects and health causing such uncertainty, we are left to wonder whether Maggie can recapture her old feelings?
I did enjoy this book and was partly grateful it was such a short read, especially with the sombre elements to it. I liked to see how Maggie changed and grew to realise that she had everything she needed at home, rather than at a swanky London pent-house in a highly demanding job. It is these sorts of settings that always bring a smile to my face; reminding me of the importance of family and appreciating what you have already.
I don’t think this is one of my favourite Christmas or romance reads, but I did like Russell’s different take on festive fiction.
With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a relatively short read: a little under 250 pages. Consequently, you do anticipate the plot to move quite quickly and this offering from Russell certainly does so. But it definitely is at the detriment of establishing more about the people featured in the story. There were several moments where I had thought I had missed out pages (or even chapters) because it felt like the writer assumed we knew more than had been revealed. I found this incredibly frustrating and therefore feel that Russell could easily have extended the narrative to detail the characters further, therefore helping me create a connection with them.
One thing is for sure, however, Russell definitely grabs your attention in the opening chapter as Maggie is: made redundant; dumped by her boyfriend; and receives news that her recent cervical screening has revealed an anomaly. Inevitably, it is the latter that really dominated the mood of the narrative. Even though the story has ‘Christmas’ in the title, it does not feature too much until the closing chapters. Therefore, I found it difficult to engage in a festive mood as Maggie undergoes further appointments to find more about these daunting test results. Personally, I was hoping that Russell could have made this opening chapter a bit more light-hearted, especially as it is supposed to be a Christmas read.
Consequently, if you don’t mind a couple of chapters focusing on Christmas, then this is a book you could read at any point in the year. Following Maggie as she returns home, we get a feel for a history between her and Nathan. Whilst her sister is ready to be married to one of Nathan’s brothers, Russell indicates that the past between him and Maggie is not as straight-forward as you would expect. Of course, as par the romance genre, it takes a while for Maggie and Nathan to reconnect. However, with her job prospects and health causing such uncertainty, we are left to wonder whether Maggie can recapture her old feelings?
I did enjoy this book and was partly grateful it was such a short read, especially with the sombre elements to it. I liked to see how Maggie changed and grew to realise that she had everything she needed at home, rather than at a swanky London pent-house in a highly demanding job. It is these sorts of settings that always bring a smile to my face; reminding me of the importance of family and appreciating what you have already.
I don’t think this is one of my favourite Christmas or romance reads, but I did like Russell’s different take on festive fiction.
With thanks to Sapere books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2020
An Imperfect Christmas is a heartwarming and cozy romance read.
Life is good for Maggie Green. She has a great career, long term relationship and a beautiful apartment in London ... that is, until it isn't. Things start to fall apart when the company she works for makes her redundant, her boyfriend breaks up with her and she recieves a distressing call from her doctor.
With her life in shambles, Maggie decides to return home, a place she hasn't visited in two years. Here we meet the other characters in the book and really dive into Maggie's past. The plot hits heavy on relationships, family, forgiveness and of course, second chances.
If you're looking for a quick, light read with interesting main characters (and one very stubborn one haha) then you'll probably enjoy this. But if you're excited about a Christmas read, you might be disappointed.
Two complaints:
-I would have liked each chapter labelled with the character's name. It got a bit confusing at times.
-The book is extremely light on the Christmas vibes considering the title. I was expecting more.
Thanks to Sapere Books for my review copy!
Life is good for Maggie Green. She has a great career, long term relationship and a beautiful apartment in London ... that is, until it isn't. Things start to fall apart when the company she works for makes her redundant, her boyfriend breaks up with her and she recieves a distressing call from her doctor.
With her life in shambles, Maggie decides to return home, a place she hasn't visited in two years. Here we meet the other characters in the book and really dive into Maggie's past. The plot hits heavy on relationships, family, forgiveness and of course, second chances.
If you're looking for a quick, light read with interesting main characters (and one very stubborn one haha) then you'll probably enjoy this. But if you're excited about a Christmas read, you might be disappointed.
Two complaints:
-I would have liked each chapter labelled with the character's name. It got a bit confusing at times.
-The book is extremely light on the Christmas vibes considering the title. I was expecting more.
Thanks to Sapere Books for my review copy!
November 29, 2020
Heartwarming and lovely book.
None of us have a perfect life as much as we may try.
We all have a perfectly imperfect life and this book just emphasizes that.
So many things are going wrong for the main character and she could just give up but no she perseveres and goes on like we all have to.
I loved the romance too, she has a second chance at romance with a boyfriend from years ago. It's pretty obvious they both haven't stopped caring about each other.
Positive and quick read.
Published November 19th 2020 by Sapere Books
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
None of us have a perfect life as much as we may try.
We all have a perfectly imperfect life and this book just emphasizes that.
So many things are going wrong for the main character and she could just give up but no she perseveres and goes on like we all have to.
I loved the romance too, she has a second chance at romance with a boyfriend from years ago. It's pretty obvious they both haven't stopped caring about each other.
Positive and quick read.
Published November 19th 2020 by Sapere Books
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
November 10, 2020
An Imperfect Christmas is a Christmas-themed novel by British author, Tanya Jean Russell. Just as accountant Maggie Green, on temporary leave, is heading back to Honeyford to help out with the family accounting business and attend her sister’s wedding, she receives some concerning health news. Then she loses her prestigious London job. Then her sophisticated boyfriend, Rupert drops her. As if returning to her childhood home, and the likely presence of the man who rejected her in her teens, isn’t stressful enough.
Nathan Parker is back in Honeyford for good. He’s bought the Old Barn up on Castle Hill and is converting it into a home and carpentry workshop. He wishes he’d been able to tell Maggie about his plans for their favourite place, but he will first have to repair the friendship he fractured in their teens; he wishes there could be more between them, but it seems that now Maggie is dating his London-based brother, Dean.
At Frederick and Green, Uncle Walter offers her a partnership in the business; her sister and niece desperately want her to stay close, and neighbours, and friends, everyone in the village is so welcoming; and after some misunderstandings are cleared up, Nathan vows he will be there for her, come what may.
But everybody leaves: can she trust Nathan not to leave her like last time? And is it fair to land him with her potential illness? Maybe she’d be better off in London with a high-power job and Rupert and his coffee machine…
This is very much a tale of people making assumptions, not communicating, injured pride and running away to lick wounds. Maggie is a bit too proud and precious to completely endear herself to the reader, being stubborn and unforgiving for longer than necessary; when it finally comes, the showdown with Rupert is excellent, though.
The Parker family are enjoyable, although Nathan might just be too good to be true; little Evie is a delight, and Dean and Grandma Agnes are fun. While the main protagonist is a little frustrating, this is ultimately a sweet romance.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books
Nathan Parker is back in Honeyford for good. He’s bought the Old Barn up on Castle Hill and is converting it into a home and carpentry workshop. He wishes he’d been able to tell Maggie about his plans for their favourite place, but he will first have to repair the friendship he fractured in their teens; he wishes there could be more between them, but it seems that now Maggie is dating his London-based brother, Dean.
At Frederick and Green, Uncle Walter offers her a partnership in the business; her sister and niece desperately want her to stay close, and neighbours, and friends, everyone in the village is so welcoming; and after some misunderstandings are cleared up, Nathan vows he will be there for her, come what may.
But everybody leaves: can she trust Nathan not to leave her like last time? And is it fair to land him with her potential illness? Maybe she’d be better off in London with a high-power job and Rupert and his coffee machine…
This is very much a tale of people making assumptions, not communicating, injured pride and running away to lick wounds. Maggie is a bit too proud and precious to completely endear herself to the reader, being stubborn and unforgiving for longer than necessary; when it finally comes, the showdown with Rupert is excellent, though.
The Parker family are enjoyable, although Nathan might just be too good to be true; little Evie is a delight, and Dean and Grandma Agnes are fun. While the main protagonist is a little frustrating, this is ultimately a sweet romance.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Sapere Books
December 1, 2020
Yes, it’s that time of the year again, the time when I renew my love/hate relationship with Christmas themed books.
The book opens with Maggie dumped by her boyfriend and her job at the same time as she learns her pap smear has turned up some anomalies. Potential, I think! But no, Russell just squandered it all away… *sigh*
The book just slips into a carbon copy of a million others: Maggie returns to her hometown where her ex, Nathan, lives and who she obviously still has feelings for, she still has to see Nathan as her sister is marrying his brother, she loves Nathan’s family as they all rallied around when her parents were killed, blah blah blah.
The main conflict is that Maggie doesn’t trust Nathan to not dump her again as he did when they were younger. This conflict is not enough to sustain the whole book and basically the characters just talk in circles about it until my head hurt. Like so many others, Russell fell into the ‘got to have a high word count’ trap. This book, truly, would have worked better if it was half the size it is. *sigh*
The cancer storyline sounds admirable but... I was looking forward to Russell exploring it more but it was more of an afterthought and a B plot which is glossed over before she got back onto the ''not trusting Nathan to stay with Maggie' bandwagon.
One of my biggest beefs with Christmas books is that a Christmas setting is never an important factor and that it is plainly obvious a lot of these books are written without the theme and then it is added later. I think this is the case again here. There are Christmas scenes here and there but it wouldn’t make any difference to the plot if it was set in the English summer.
Talking of England, Russell’s descriptions overall are a little weak. I also had no sense of an English village at all. In fact, some references sounded very American and wrong. *shrug*
Anyway, An Imperfect Christmas started out promising but, unfortunately, in the end, turned out to be, as the title suggests, less than perfect.
2 out of 5
The book opens with Maggie dumped by her boyfriend and her job at the same time as she learns her pap smear has turned up some anomalies. Potential, I think! But no, Russell just squandered it all away… *sigh*
The book just slips into a carbon copy of a million others: Maggie returns to her hometown where her ex, Nathan, lives and who she obviously still has feelings for, she still has to see Nathan as her sister is marrying his brother, she loves Nathan’s family as they all rallied around when her parents were killed, blah blah blah.
The main conflict is that Maggie doesn’t trust Nathan to not dump her again as he did when they were younger. This conflict is not enough to sustain the whole book and basically the characters just talk in circles about it until my head hurt. Like so many others, Russell fell into the ‘got to have a high word count’ trap. This book, truly, would have worked better if it was half the size it is. *sigh*
The cancer storyline sounds admirable but... I was looking forward to Russell exploring it more but it was more of an afterthought and a B plot which is glossed over before she got back onto the ''not trusting Nathan to stay with Maggie' bandwagon.
One of my biggest beefs with Christmas books is that a Christmas setting is never an important factor and that it is plainly obvious a lot of these books are written without the theme and then it is added later. I think this is the case again here. There are Christmas scenes here and there but it wouldn’t make any difference to the plot if it was set in the English summer.
Talking of England, Russell’s descriptions overall are a little weak. I also had no sense of an English village at all. In fact, some references sounded very American and wrong. *shrug*
Anyway, An Imperfect Christmas started out promising but, unfortunately, in the end, turned out to be, as the title suggests, less than perfect.
2 out of 5
December 10, 2020
Firstly I want to say thankyou to my daughter for recommending this book to me, she said she thought I’d enjoy this one and she was right. I throughly enjoyed this book. Set at Christmas made it sweeter to read and although there was a slight downside in this book with the main character’s worrying health scare on the whole this short book was a lovely book to read.
December 4, 2020
Kicking off the Christmas love with this perfect little story!
Maggie’s life hasn’t always been easy. She lost her mother and father when she was very young and her sister Sarah fought for custody to raise her giving up her dreams to leave their small town.
Now 25 Maggie is returning to her home town after being away for 2 years. She put on a brave face but underneath it’s all falling apart. She was supposed to be made director yet just before Christmas they made her redundant. Her boyfriend and co worker also felt it was the right time to break up with her. To top it off her dr calls to tell her she need come in urgently.
Maggie returns home for the Christmas break and go to watch her sister get married. But the one person she’s been trying to erase from her life is back. The boy that broke her heart, Nathan. It’s time for Maggie to find happiness in her life and decide what comes next. Defending off a few curve balls along the way!
This was pure magic, light and fluffy with some drama and topped off with Christmas love!
Maggie’s life hasn’t always been easy. She lost her mother and father when she was very young and her sister Sarah fought for custody to raise her giving up her dreams to leave their small town.
Now 25 Maggie is returning to her home town after being away for 2 years. She put on a brave face but underneath it’s all falling apart. She was supposed to be made director yet just before Christmas they made her redundant. Her boyfriend and co worker also felt it was the right time to break up with her. To top it off her dr calls to tell her she need come in urgently.
Maggie returns home for the Christmas break and go to watch her sister get married. But the one person she’s been trying to erase from her life is back. The boy that broke her heart, Nathan. It’s time for Maggie to find happiness in her life and decide what comes next. Defending off a few curve balls along the way!
This was pure magic, light and fluffy with some drama and topped off with Christmas love!
December 11, 2020
An Imperfect Christmas is a book about two high school sweethearts who went their separate ways, and found each other again in the end.
Accountant Maggie Green is laid off just as she is beginning to expect a promotion--and right before the holidays. On the same day, her long-time boyfriend dumps her. Talk about an imperfect Christmas. Licking her wounds, she heads back to her childhood home, but she isn't ready to share her news with her family just yet. Above all, she isn't ready to see her old boyfriend, Nathan.
Nathan is back for good--he has bought the Old Barn and started his own business. Even just seeing Maggie, he wishes he could tell her everything about his plans, both present and future. But it seems that Maggie is dating his London-based brother. Throughout the book, Nathan is persistent and faithful to Maggie in all things. He never gives up on their memories together and what he believes their future will hold together. In sickness and in health, and he sticks to it.
I loved the family dynamics of this book. Both Nathan and his brothers, as well as Maggie and her family were excellent assets of this book. Almost ideal, but hey, its fiction. I also got a kick out of the ending with Maggie's career. That boosted the book a star in the ratings department for me! And finally, the only negative for me was that I wish there was a little bit more holiday overall. But it was all right. In terms of a holiday romance--okay. But for a light, easy-to-read winter romance where Christmas happens? Good!
Accountant Maggie Green is laid off just as she is beginning to expect a promotion--and right before the holidays. On the same day, her long-time boyfriend dumps her. Talk about an imperfect Christmas. Licking her wounds, she heads back to her childhood home, but she isn't ready to share her news with her family just yet. Above all, she isn't ready to see her old boyfriend, Nathan.
Nathan is back for good--he has bought the Old Barn and started his own business. Even just seeing Maggie, he wishes he could tell her everything about his plans, both present and future. But it seems that Maggie is dating his London-based brother. Throughout the book, Nathan is persistent and faithful to Maggie in all things. He never gives up on their memories together and what he believes their future will hold together. In sickness and in health, and he sticks to it.
I loved the family dynamics of this book. Both Nathan and his brothers, as well as Maggie and her family were excellent assets of this book. Almost ideal, but hey, its fiction. I also got a kick out of the ending with Maggie's career. That boosted the book a star in the ratings department for me! And finally, the only negative for me was that I wish there was a little bit more holiday overall. But it was all right. In terms of a holiday romance--okay. But for a light, easy-to-read winter romance where Christmas happens? Good!
November 6, 2020
This was an ok read. Again the romance moved too quickly for my tastes. There was also a weird vibe about someone hating others wearing jeans, and a character buying her only pair of jeans. Weird that a 20something wouldn't own a pair of jeans in 2020. The rest of the fashion described was...disturbing to me. Knee high boots with a cut out in the back? Owning those boots but not some jeans? Makes no sense.
I get that the author wanted to shed light on cervical cancer but the descriptions in the book felt at the same time too vague and too weird. Not natural. The ending was muddled and as I said before everything seemed to happen too fast.
Not the worst book I've read this year, definitely light fluff for the Christmas season. Remove the bits about the jeans/jeans hater and this would read better. It was a quick read, I read this in one night.
My copy was provided by the publisher for review, all opinions are my own.
I get that the author wanted to shed light on cervical cancer but the descriptions in the book felt at the same time too vague and too weird. Not natural. The ending was muddled and as I said before everything seemed to happen too fast.
Not the worst book I've read this year, definitely light fluff for the Christmas season. Remove the bits about the jeans/jeans hater and this would read better. It was a quick read, I read this in one night.
My copy was provided by the publisher for review, all opinions are my own.
December 22, 2020
This book resonated with me far more than I expected it to. You pick up a Christmas chick lit for a bit of feel good humour and escapism, although I got that, I also got so much more! Opinions on a book are very personal and shaped by your experiences. Yes, there’s some that have universal appeal and no relation whatsoever to real life but others, speak to you through your ability to relate to the character. With An Imperfect Christmas part of the reason I loved it was because there was so much of it that I could relate to; from Maggie’s illness to how much she’s changed under the influence of her boyfriend, to the realisation that the place she thought she needed to escape from was the place which held the most love for her and the place that she was meant to be.
When Maggie is dumped by her boyfriend, get abnormal smear results and loses her job on the same day her trip home for her sister’s wedding appears to be perfectly timed. The only problem is that it means facing Nathan, her childhood best friend who she’s been running from for years.
I loved how the family dynamic was portrayed and Nathan’s gran is just the best character ever!
I thought that the repercussions of the abnormal spear were very sensitively handled, the fear of the unknown and the questions of what the future might look like were all too familiar.
My only niggle would be that Maggie was so frustrating, she closes herself off so much, leaving without any contact, on more than one occasion, it’s not the grown up way to handle things and does seem a bit extreme.
At only 221 pages this is a quick read which is perfect to get lost in for an afternoon in the run up to Christmas
When Maggie is dumped by her boyfriend, get abnormal smear results and loses her job on the same day her trip home for her sister’s wedding appears to be perfectly timed. The only problem is that it means facing Nathan, her childhood best friend who she’s been running from for years.
I loved how the family dynamic was portrayed and Nathan’s gran is just the best character ever!
I thought that the repercussions of the abnormal spear were very sensitively handled, the fear of the unknown and the questions of what the future might look like were all too familiar.
My only niggle would be that Maggie was so frustrating, she closes herself off so much, leaving without any contact, on more than one occasion, it’s not the grown up way to handle things and does seem a bit extreme.
At only 221 pages this is a quick read which is perfect to get lost in for an afternoon in the run up to Christmas
November 10, 2021
3.5 stars for this cute Christmas book! A very quick read that had some heart warming moments.
Life was good for main character Maggie. She had a great career, a commited relationship to a successful man and a really nice apartment in London. Things were definitely going well. Until all of the sudden they weren't. In one swift motion, she was made redundant at her job, dumped by her boyfriend and received a distressing, worrisome call from her doctor.
With her life now totally in shambles, she decided to head home to her family, a place she hadn't returned to in a few years. This is where we got to meet the secondary characters in the book - Maggie's friends and family. The book is heavy on relationships, both romantic ones and the bonds of family. It's also about love, forgiveness and second chances.
I enjoyed this book but be warned...If you are expecting a light and fluffy Hallmark type Christmas book, you won't find that here. Without any major spoilers, it does deal with some hard hitting issues. In fact, my one complaint is that this book was quite light on the Christmas vibes. Besides being set around the holidays and a few scenes with Christmas tree decorating and wrapping presents, it was very light on the Christmas. But I did appreciate the quick read, the interesting characters and the second chance romance.
Life was good for main character Maggie. She had a great career, a commited relationship to a successful man and a really nice apartment in London. Things were definitely going well. Until all of the sudden they weren't. In one swift motion, she was made redundant at her job, dumped by her boyfriend and received a distressing, worrisome call from her doctor.
With her life now totally in shambles, she decided to head home to her family, a place she hadn't returned to in a few years. This is where we got to meet the secondary characters in the book - Maggie's friends and family. The book is heavy on relationships, both romantic ones and the bonds of family. It's also about love, forgiveness and second chances.
I enjoyed this book but be warned...If you are expecting a light and fluffy Hallmark type Christmas book, you won't find that here. Without any major spoilers, it does deal with some hard hitting issues. In fact, my one complaint is that this book was quite light on the Christmas vibes. Besides being set around the holidays and a few scenes with Christmas tree decorating and wrapping presents, it was very light on the Christmas. But I did appreciate the quick read, the interesting characters and the second chance romance.
December 9, 2020
This novel was...interesting.
I loved the story line of this British-based novel- Maggie the main character finally headed back home. That is honestly why I grabbed it!
What I wasn't ready for: a romance novel set with a Christmas frame. I am really interested in all the cozy Christmas, and this premise would be just a lovely setting.
Not that it didn't work for me, it just wasn't what I was expecting. I really liked ALL of the characters (definitely would read another novel with them in it!) except Rupert- he was the classic CRAP boyfriend. I did NOT expect the heavy surprises in the midst of the Christmas premise- I am still not sure how I feel about all of that.
I quickly let go of Christmas, and assumed this was just a romance novel and it read much better that way.
The author does a lovely job of creating such lovable flawed characters readers can relate to- I mean aren't we all?? I also thoroughly enjoyed the growth Maggie and the cast of characters experience.
If you are looking for a sweet romantic novel, with a tiny bit of steam, and an equally small amount of Christmas, then you will definitely enjoy this novel!
I loved the story line of this British-based novel- Maggie the main character finally headed back home. That is honestly why I grabbed it!
What I wasn't ready for: a romance novel set with a Christmas frame. I am really interested in all the cozy Christmas, and this premise would be just a lovely setting.
Not that it didn't work for me, it just wasn't what I was expecting. I really liked ALL of the characters (definitely would read another novel with them in it!) except Rupert- he was the classic CRAP boyfriend. I did NOT expect the heavy surprises in the midst of the Christmas premise- I am still not sure how I feel about all of that.
I quickly let go of Christmas, and assumed this was just a romance novel and it read much better that way.
The author does a lovely job of creating such lovable flawed characters readers can relate to- I mean aren't we all?? I also thoroughly enjoyed the growth Maggie and the cast of characters experience.
If you are looking for a sweet romantic novel, with a tiny bit of steam, and an equally small amount of Christmas, then you will definitely enjoy this novel!
December 23, 2020
I absolutely LOVED this. THE LONGING OH MY GOD. I was so invested in this love story. I really felt for this characters. It's really emotional, made me cry and made my heart actually hurt many times. I ate it up. One of the best romances I've read this year!
The chemistry between the characters is fantastic. The writing is great and the dialogue is fluid and very natural. There's also a strong focus on family and loss.
This is a Second chance romance between childhood best friends. It starts with Maggie coming back home for the first time in years, and we know that something happened with her childhood BFF and neighbor Nathan in the past. Now she's forced to confront him and what happened between them. The dual perspective is a plus because it makes the longing and tension skyrocket.
I was surprised that for a book just over 200 pages it packs so much, and it feels like a full length book.
Overall, I absolutely loved this romance! I really recommend it for people looking for an emotional ride and quality romance. I'm also excited by what this author will write in the future.
Thanks to netgalley and Sapere Books for providing me with this ARC.
The chemistry between the characters is fantastic. The writing is great and the dialogue is fluid and very natural. There's also a strong focus on family and loss.
This is a Second chance romance between childhood best friends. It starts with Maggie coming back home for the first time in years, and we know that something happened with her childhood BFF and neighbor Nathan in the past. Now she's forced to confront him and what happened between them. The dual perspective is a plus because it makes the longing and tension skyrocket.
I was surprised that for a book just over 200 pages it packs so much, and it feels like a full length book.
Overall, I absolutely loved this romance! I really recommend it for people looking for an emotional ride and quality romance. I'm also excited by what this author will write in the future.
Thanks to netgalley and Sapere Books for providing me with this ARC.
November 21, 2020
Well it's that time of the year again when I can't get enough of Christmas books, to be honest I read them throughout the year, but cram more in around November/December each year.
An Imperfect Christmas is a lovely, heartwarming story of family and friends coming together.
It follows the story of Maggie a successful accountant who lives in London with her boyfriend, she is due to travel back home to spend some time with her sister who is getting married. She has been through a lot on her 24 years and is about to go through even more when she gets a call from the hospital to say her smear test is showing abnormal results. Whilst her health scare looms, her personal life is also crumbling around her. When she arrives home she is reunited with Nathan, the boy next door and her first love, the pair try to mend their relationship and find the old feelings they had for each other never left.
Thanks you to Sapere Books and the author Tanya Jean Russell for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
An Imperfect Christmas is a lovely, heartwarming story of family and friends coming together.
It follows the story of Maggie a successful accountant who lives in London with her boyfriend, she is due to travel back home to spend some time with her sister who is getting married. She has been through a lot on her 24 years and is about to go through even more when she gets a call from the hospital to say her smear test is showing abnormal results. Whilst her health scare looms, her personal life is also crumbling around her. When she arrives home she is reunited with Nathan, the boy next door and her first love, the pair try to mend their relationship and find the old feelings they had for each other never left.
Thanks you to Sapere Books and the author Tanya Jean Russell for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2021
I absolutely LOVED this book and I was so invested in the love story. This is probably one of the best romances I've read this year. I really enjoyed every character AAnd I really enjoyed Maggies support system especially her bond with her sister and I really enjoyed her Maggies character development throughout the book and her realizations throughout the novel. The story was easy to follow and the writing was incredible. It was a quick but a fantastic read nevertheless.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with this ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sapere Books for providing me with this ARC.
December 18, 2020
I love this gorgeous cover! I thought the story was good.
I enjoyed the characters and am looking forward to more in this series
I enjoyed the characters and am looking forward to more in this series
November 13, 2020
This is truly is a heart-warming romance. Everything you need to feel good and relax into the holiday spirit. There's not much else to say: well written, wonderful family spirit - which is quite unusual these days - and a plot that unfolds exactly as it should. My thanks to Sapere Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
December 9, 2020
This book was so super cute! The o my reason it didn’t get 5 stars is because it was a little too sad for me and there were points in time I just wanted to shake the main character lol but I loved that it was around Christmas and Maggie’s love story was so sweet. Highly recommend! It reminded me a lot of a mix between a bartenders secret by Caro Carson and maybe someday by Colleen Hoover
November 15, 2020
‘An Imperfect Christmas,’ a wonderfully written, heartwarming seasonal romance written by Tanya Jean Russell to be published November 19, 2020, reminds us about the magic of Christmas and the strength of family in the midst of challenges.
Maggie Green has it all; a glamorous life in London, a corporate accounting job including a promotion in the works, a handsome, career-driven boyfriend and a great bank account. She’s come a long way after losing her parents in a tragic car accident when she was eleven years old. Sadly, as much as this seemed to be her dream, it still doesn’t fill the void in her life. Something is missing. Suddenly, her life becomes as dark and foreboding as the November weather that’s just rolled in. In one fell swoop she’s lost her job, her boyfriend, Rupert, has dumped her and she’s just been informed to schedule another appointment with the oncologist. Realizing again that everyone leaves her life just when she needs them the most, she decides to return to Honeyford, the family farm that she left two years ago and vowed never to return. Why did she leave so abruptly? Why is the farm pulling at her heartstrings when she hasn’t been back? Does she find something to fill the void?
I immediately connected with the characters. They were raw and flawed and so eager for growth and change. I loved watching them transform as the plot unfolded. Russell stuffed each one with so many endearing characteristics and so much potential for growth and connectedness. I was excited to see a seasonal book that had so much emotion and rich character development but was even more impressed with her writing style. Readers can’t help but get involved in such a storyline as it offers everything they are looking for in a quick seasonal romance novel; snow, a Christmas wedding, hustle and bustle of the season, lost love, forgiveness, the importance of family, and a second chance at love all wrapped up with a beautiful bow. The family dynamics and Aunt Agnes’s crazy scones were just the added extras that made this an exceptional read. I could see myself living next door to the Parker family and being welcomed as heartily as Maggie. This novel makes us forget about the virus momentarily and takes us to a time and place where our challenges are forgotten, and we are reminded that family is everything and Christmas together is something to value and appreciate. May we never forget the magic of Christmas.
Thank you to Tanya Jean Russell, Sapere Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie Green has it all; a glamorous life in London, a corporate accounting job including a promotion in the works, a handsome, career-driven boyfriend and a great bank account. She’s come a long way after losing her parents in a tragic car accident when she was eleven years old. Sadly, as much as this seemed to be her dream, it still doesn’t fill the void in her life. Something is missing. Suddenly, her life becomes as dark and foreboding as the November weather that’s just rolled in. In one fell swoop she’s lost her job, her boyfriend, Rupert, has dumped her and she’s just been informed to schedule another appointment with the oncologist. Realizing again that everyone leaves her life just when she needs them the most, she decides to return to Honeyford, the family farm that she left two years ago and vowed never to return. Why did she leave so abruptly? Why is the farm pulling at her heartstrings when she hasn’t been back? Does she find something to fill the void?
I immediately connected with the characters. They were raw and flawed and so eager for growth and change. I loved watching them transform as the plot unfolded. Russell stuffed each one with so many endearing characteristics and so much potential for growth and connectedness. I was excited to see a seasonal book that had so much emotion and rich character development but was even more impressed with her writing style. Readers can’t help but get involved in such a storyline as it offers everything they are looking for in a quick seasonal romance novel; snow, a Christmas wedding, hustle and bustle of the season, lost love, forgiveness, the importance of family, and a second chance at love all wrapped up with a beautiful bow. The family dynamics and Aunt Agnes’s crazy scones were just the added extras that made this an exceptional read. I could see myself living next door to the Parker family and being welcomed as heartily as Maggie. This novel makes us forget about the virus momentarily and takes us to a time and place where our challenges are forgotten, and we are reminded that family is everything and Christmas together is something to value and appreciate. May we never forget the magic of Christmas.
Thank you to Tanya Jean Russell, Sapere Books and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2021
Am I a Scrooge this year? Maybe I am - but I normally love Christmas books. This one hit me with a hard "bah humbug" vibe, though.
Meet Maggie, a successful 25 year old financial analyst living in London, England. Maggie is heading home for the holidays for the first time in two years, though her Christmas cheer is dampered by a tough break-up, a job loss, and a worrying medical call. When Maggie gets home, the reader follows her reconnection with family and friends that she hasn't seen in ages - including her sister, her 10-year-old niece, and her childhood best friend with whom she left off on bad terms.
Will Maggie end up enjoying her holidays at home? Or will she be counting down the days until she heads back to London?
cw: parental death, cancer, isolation, infidelity
Thank you to Tanya Jean Russell, Sapere Books and Netgalley for allowing me a copy of this eARC in exchange for this honest review!
This book, Russell's first Christmas novella, is a fairly light read that wraps itself up with a happy ending. The story premise is fun and festive, but unfortunately, I felt as though the novel fell a bit flat for my liking. I had a feeling this book wouldn't suit my fancy from the beginning. The first few chapters felt rushed and focused little on character development. Having finished reading, I still feel as though I know more about the main love interest than I do the protagonist. I appreciate the efforts made to include some more serious topics in the plot, though I feel as though they were blown up and glossed over at times. The "Imperfection" mentioned in the title almost overshadowed the "Christmas" theme. In summary - I just didn't connect with this one, but that could have come from my expectations hoping for a winter wonderland.
I may just have been the Grinch this Christmas season, but I can't bring myself to give this book more than two stars. I think the premise and plot had a lot of promise, but there were many times that I felt the main character was whiny and unrealistic - a sentiment that may have been altered with some deeper character development early on in the novel. With that being said, if you are looking for a light and quick winter-y novel, this one has a sweet plot and a cute ending - just be prepared for most of the "Christmas vibes" to be found solely on the cover.
Meet Maggie, a successful 25 year old financial analyst living in London, England. Maggie is heading home for the holidays for the first time in two years, though her Christmas cheer is dampered by a tough break-up, a job loss, and a worrying medical call. When Maggie gets home, the reader follows her reconnection with family and friends that she hasn't seen in ages - including her sister, her 10-year-old niece, and her childhood best friend with whom she left off on bad terms.
Will Maggie end up enjoying her holidays at home? Or will she be counting down the days until she heads back to London?
cw: parental death, cancer, isolation, infidelity
Thank you to Tanya Jean Russell, Sapere Books and Netgalley for allowing me a copy of this eARC in exchange for this honest review!
This book, Russell's first Christmas novella, is a fairly light read that wraps itself up with a happy ending. The story premise is fun and festive, but unfortunately, I felt as though the novel fell a bit flat for my liking. I had a feeling this book wouldn't suit my fancy from the beginning. The first few chapters felt rushed and focused little on character development. Having finished reading, I still feel as though I know more about the main love interest than I do the protagonist. I appreciate the efforts made to include some more serious topics in the plot, though I feel as though they were blown up and glossed over at times. The "Imperfection" mentioned in the title almost overshadowed the "Christmas" theme. In summary - I just didn't connect with this one, but that could have come from my expectations hoping for a winter wonderland.
I may just have been the Grinch this Christmas season, but I can't bring myself to give this book more than two stars. I think the premise and plot had a lot of promise, but there were many times that I felt the main character was whiny and unrealistic - a sentiment that may have been altered with some deeper character development early on in the novel. With that being said, if you are looking for a light and quick winter-y novel, this one has a sweet plot and a cute ending - just be prepared for most of the "Christmas vibes" to be found solely on the cover.
November 14, 2020
‘An Imperfect Christmas’ is a beautifully written festive themed read by Tanya Jean Russell. This is a new to me author, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The level of detail and vivid imagery made me feel right at home with the Parker and Green’s.
The book centres around Maggie, a woman who is handed a list of bad news the day before she is about to embark upon a 6 week break from her corporate job and busy life, to return back to her hometown.
Maggie has not been home for years, too afraid to, and also happy to remain blissfully unaware in London. But if it wasn’t for her older sisters impending nuptials, she most likely would have continued to hide.
The trip forces Maggie to face her past and the demons and regrets that she carries with her. It’s hard, it’s exciting and at times so beautifully heart-warming. The man she was afraid to face however, is everywhere and he very much wants to rekindle their friendship and to make up for lost time.
Nathan is a carpenter and after returning home from travelling the world, he is excited to see Maggie, his best friend and the one who got away. He is nervous, uncertain as to how his presence will be received, and he knows he has a list of apologies to deliver. But is it too late? Can the damage be repaired in time for Christmas?
This book took me on a journey and made me feel so many emotions throughout. You have hope for Maggie and Nathan, you pray for a happily ever after, and you embrace the strong family dynamic and love the feeling of everyone coming together for one another throughout the festive season.
A difficult topic is discussed and handled beautifully, it was delicately woven into a carefully crafted story, and made it feel realistic and evoked real feelings of hope and made that ending feel extra special and much wanted.
A great read for those who enjoy real heartwarming romances, and look for great imagery and human like characters.
The book centres around Maggie, a woman who is handed a list of bad news the day before she is about to embark upon a 6 week break from her corporate job and busy life, to return back to her hometown.
Maggie has not been home for years, too afraid to, and also happy to remain blissfully unaware in London. But if it wasn’t for her older sisters impending nuptials, she most likely would have continued to hide.
The trip forces Maggie to face her past and the demons and regrets that she carries with her. It’s hard, it’s exciting and at times so beautifully heart-warming. The man she was afraid to face however, is everywhere and he very much wants to rekindle their friendship and to make up for lost time.
Nathan is a carpenter and after returning home from travelling the world, he is excited to see Maggie, his best friend and the one who got away. He is nervous, uncertain as to how his presence will be received, and he knows he has a list of apologies to deliver. But is it too late? Can the damage be repaired in time for Christmas?
This book took me on a journey and made me feel so many emotions throughout. You have hope for Maggie and Nathan, you pray for a happily ever after, and you embrace the strong family dynamic and love the feeling of everyone coming together for one another throughout the festive season.
A difficult topic is discussed and handled beautifully, it was delicately woven into a carefully crafted story, and made it feel realistic and evoked real feelings of hope and made that ending feel extra special and much wanted.
A great read for those who enjoy real heartwarming romances, and look for great imagery and human like characters.
December 8, 2020
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Maggie thought she was in control of her life. She has a great job, a successful boyfriend, and her health...that in until one day changes everything. Determined to withstand the onslaught of bad news alone, she returns home to help her sister with her wedding preparations and enjoy Christmas with the family she left behind without much explanation. No one knows the real reason why she hasn’t been back. No one, that is, except the one person who she is most nervous about seeing again.
This was an excellent read. Though my current copy still has a few phases of editing to go through as i got it pre-publishing, it is already well written, coherent, and engaging. I absolutely love Maggie and her small darling family consisting of her sister, her brother-in-law and niece, Evie. I absolutely love Nathan.
Rubert can fall in a lake...
While this book does deal with some heavier issues, it's done in such a manner that it doesn't read as a heavy book. Credit to the author for making strong characters that can still convey the joy of the season and occasions even though the main character is struggling silently on her own even as others attempt to help her. Maggie is fiercely independent after some harsh life lessons in her younger days. While it can be a problem, and is a problem, I can't help but admire her strength.
I also can't help but admire her desire to change as well as Nathan's desire to prove himself and different man to her. My only thing is this, I kept imagining Maggie older than she was described. I think it would have been nice if she was portrayed a bit older. But that's completely a me thing.
I don't know what to tell you. I really enjoyed this book. It was good. If it comes out in paperback, I'd probably get myself and my library a copy.
There's no higher praise than that, I think.
Maggie thought she was in control of her life. She has a great job, a successful boyfriend, and her health...that in until one day changes everything. Determined to withstand the onslaught of bad news alone, she returns home to help her sister with her wedding preparations and enjoy Christmas with the family she left behind without much explanation. No one knows the real reason why she hasn’t been back. No one, that is, except the one person who she is most nervous about seeing again.
This was an excellent read. Though my current copy still has a few phases of editing to go through as i got it pre-publishing, it is already well written, coherent, and engaging. I absolutely love Maggie and her small darling family consisting of her sister, her brother-in-law and niece, Evie. I absolutely love Nathan.
Rubert can fall in a lake...
While this book does deal with some heavier issues, it's done in such a manner that it doesn't read as a heavy book. Credit to the author for making strong characters that can still convey the joy of the season and occasions even though the main character is struggling silently on her own even as others attempt to help her. Maggie is fiercely independent after some harsh life lessons in her younger days. While it can be a problem, and is a problem, I can't help but admire her strength.
I also can't help but admire her desire to change as well as Nathan's desire to prove himself and different man to her. My only thing is this, I kept imagining Maggie older than she was described. I think it would have been nice if she was portrayed a bit older. But that's completely a me thing.
I don't know what to tell you. I really enjoyed this book. It was good. If it comes out in paperback, I'd probably get myself and my library a copy.
There's no higher praise than that, I think.
December 7, 2020
This was my first Tanya Jean Russell book and I liked it. It was an enjoyable read that I accomplished over the period of two days - it's quick and easy.
"An Imperfect Christmas" follows the life of Maggie over the course of several weeks. Maggie's parents died when she was young and her older sister decided to forego attending college so she could raise Maggie by herself. Once Maggie attended college, she basically never came back home. So this was going to be her first visit home at Christmas in several years. As soon as she was leaving London to go home (which she was already nervous about due to the love of her teenage life dumping her - she hadn't seen him since then and she was scared as to what her reaction would be to him now), she received a call from her doctor letting her know that her pap smear was questionable and she needed to make another appointment. Then moments later, her long term boyfriend broke up with her and handed her a letter from their company stating her job had been eliminated. Maggie felt like her life couldn't get much worse - she was returning home (which held lots of bad memories of lost love and broken families), she may have cancer, her boyfriend dumped her and she lost her job.
The rest of the book shows how Maggie gracefully deals with all of these issues and comes to terms with what she truly wants in life. I found this book to be inspiring, sweet, and very relevant to what a lot of people experience in their lives. I recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.
"An Imperfect Christmas" follows the life of Maggie over the course of several weeks. Maggie's parents died when she was young and her older sister decided to forego attending college so she could raise Maggie by herself. Once Maggie attended college, she basically never came back home. So this was going to be her first visit home at Christmas in several years. As soon as she was leaving London to go home (which she was already nervous about due to the love of her teenage life dumping her - she hadn't seen him since then and she was scared as to what her reaction would be to him now), she received a call from her doctor letting her know that her pap smear was questionable and she needed to make another appointment. Then moments later, her long term boyfriend broke up with her and handed her a letter from their company stating her job had been eliminated. Maggie felt like her life couldn't get much worse - she was returning home (which held lots of bad memories of lost love and broken families), she may have cancer, her boyfriend dumped her and she lost her job.
The rest of the book shows how Maggie gracefully deals with all of these issues and comes to terms with what she truly wants in life. I found this book to be inspiring, sweet, and very relevant to what a lot of people experience in their lives. I recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.
December 2, 2020
"Everyone leaves one day, whether that's by choice or the fact that death is unavoidable for us all at some stage. That doesn't mean that we can spend our lives avoiding connections. The pain is the price we pay for love" - Nathan
This is the perfect book to jump into December with. This chick lit that came neatly wrapped as a Christmas present, was unwrapped easily and read in a day with each swipe quicker than the last.
Maggie, recently dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her job, takes a much avoided trip to attend her sister's wedding at the house they grew up in. She couldn't be more happier for the sister who fought tooth and nail to be her guardian after their parents' sudden death. She knows she's been gone too long, but the real reason is the next door neighbour, Nathan who stole her heart a long time ago. Steeling herself behind the wall she's built around her, she squares her shoulders, wears her armour in the guise of formal suits and prepares for the dreaded meeting with Nathan. But was all that really necessary? Has Nathan moved on or is he as stranded as she is?
The author's immaculate writing was easy and the pace was just right. The protagonists' characters are not unique for a romance novel, but they were relatable and lovable. It's written with the spirit of the holidays and the family lingering in the background gives it a wholesome feel.
It's a sweet love story with some bitter history between the characters, lost friendship and regained love. If you're a fan of Cecelia Ahern, Paige Toon and the likes, this book is definitely for you.
This is the perfect book to jump into December with. This chick lit that came neatly wrapped as a Christmas present, was unwrapped easily and read in a day with each swipe quicker than the last.
Maggie, recently dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her job, takes a much avoided trip to attend her sister's wedding at the house they grew up in. She couldn't be more happier for the sister who fought tooth and nail to be her guardian after their parents' sudden death. She knows she's been gone too long, but the real reason is the next door neighbour, Nathan who stole her heart a long time ago. Steeling herself behind the wall she's built around her, she squares her shoulders, wears her armour in the guise of formal suits and prepares for the dreaded meeting with Nathan. But was all that really necessary? Has Nathan moved on or is he as stranded as she is?
The author's immaculate writing was easy and the pace was just right. The protagonists' characters are not unique for a romance novel, but they were relatable and lovable. It's written with the spirit of the holidays and the family lingering in the background gives it a wholesome feel.
It's a sweet love story with some bitter history between the characters, lost friendship and regained love. If you're a fan of Cecelia Ahern, Paige Toon and the likes, this book is definitely for you.
December 19, 2020
Imperfect Christmas was a sweet, shorter read for this season. Maggie suffers a break up and a job loss before returning to her hometown for Christmas and her sister’s wedding. She also has a medical scare that she is dealing with, plus a lot of trauma from her childhood. She was raised by her sister- who was forced to grow up at a young age- when they lost both of their parents. This event led Maggie to be very walls-up when it comes to people leaving her.
Maggie reunites with her childhood best friend whom she also had feelings for a long time ago. She has trouble forgiving him because he too left her before she went away to college, which also contributes to her ‘people always leave’ experiences. It’s clear that they both want to be friends, but it is difficult because of the history between them.
I liked how Maggie was a real and relatable character. She had problems that lots of people have: jobs, health, romantic relationships, family relationships, friends, money. I thought the book had a warmth, and the story was dramatic with twists but not over the top. The end of the book explained how Maggie dealt with some of her challenges and some outcomes were very funny to me (especially how she dealt with her ex). I love reading about strong women who persevere against challenges! It didn’t take long for me to finish the book once I started because it flows so well, and I would recommend it to someone wanting an easy Christmas/romance read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Tanya Jean Russell, and Sapere Books for the eARC of Imperfect Christmas!
Maggie reunites with her childhood best friend whom she also had feelings for a long time ago. She has trouble forgiving him because he too left her before she went away to college, which also contributes to her ‘people always leave’ experiences. It’s clear that they both want to be friends, but it is difficult because of the history between them.
I liked how Maggie was a real and relatable character. She had problems that lots of people have: jobs, health, romantic relationships, family relationships, friends, money. I thought the book had a warmth, and the story was dramatic with twists but not over the top. The end of the book explained how Maggie dealt with some of her challenges and some outcomes were very funny to me (especially how she dealt with her ex). I love reading about strong women who persevere against challenges! It didn’t take long for me to finish the book once I started because it flows so well, and I would recommend it to someone wanting an easy Christmas/romance read.
Thank you to Netgalley, Tanya Jean Russell, and Sapere Books for the eARC of Imperfect Christmas!
November 8, 2020
This book was a sweet Christmas novel.
Maggie Green has been through a lot in her short 24 years. She lost her parents when she was young. Her sister left school and stayed home to take care of her. She thought she had found the love of her life at 18. She had fallen in love with her best friend and then it all ended. Fast forward 7 years from high school. Maggie is an extremely successful business woman. She has changed herself and her image so much that she does not even wear jeans anymore. She has gotten rid of as much of her past as possible. However, she still loves her sister and her niece. When her sister says that she is finally getting married, Maggie decides to return home for an extended stay and not just a short visit. To top it off, it is also Christmas.
Just before Maggie leaves to return home she gets three bits of bad news. She may have cancer, her boyfriend is dumping her, she is being fired.
Since she has to go home anyway, the news that she received has forced her to re-evaluate her life.
When she comes home, she has to revisit her past. Her best friend in high school, Nathan, is also the brother of the groom and her sisters next door neighbor.
They have to get over the awkwardness because of the wedding. However, will 6 weeks be enough to repair a relationship?
I enjoyed this book.
Maggie Green has been through a lot in her short 24 years. She lost her parents when she was young. Her sister left school and stayed home to take care of her. She thought she had found the love of her life at 18. She had fallen in love with her best friend and then it all ended. Fast forward 7 years from high school. Maggie is an extremely successful business woman. She has changed herself and her image so much that she does not even wear jeans anymore. She has gotten rid of as much of her past as possible. However, she still loves her sister and her niece. When her sister says that she is finally getting married, Maggie decides to return home for an extended stay and not just a short visit. To top it off, it is also Christmas.
Just before Maggie leaves to return home she gets three bits of bad news. She may have cancer, her boyfriend is dumping her, she is being fired.
Since she has to go home anyway, the news that she received has forced her to re-evaluate her life.
When she comes home, she has to revisit her past. Her best friend in high school, Nathan, is also the brother of the groom and her sisters next door neighbor.
They have to get over the awkwardness because of the wedding. However, will 6 weeks be enough to repair a relationship?
I enjoyed this book.
November 24, 2020
I loved this cozy Christmas story!
Synopsis:
Maggie's life is perfect until in a short amount of time everything falls apart. With the help of her family, whom she's visiting for Christmas this year, she slowly tries to put her life back together.
She hasn't been home for 2 years, and the reason why she hasn't will be there too...
Review:
I absolutely adored this cozy, love, winter town Christmas story!
With so many things going wrong in Maggie's life, I think the author has connected the way in which Maggie acts and her past experiences really well. It makes you feel for her, knowing what she's been through and allows you to understand why she does the things she does. The narrative changes between Maggie and the other main character, which I really liked because you get a more in-depth picture of their thoughts. The other characters in the story are also written really well. Some of whom you may come to love... others not so much.
This book is full of Christmas, love and family (and a snowy town - who doesn't love that!). I would definitely recommend this book. It's a great book to read during Christmas time (or any time of year if you love Christmas as much as I do! :) ).
Thank you to Tanya Jean Russell, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a chance to review this book.
Synopsis:
Maggie's life is perfect until in a short amount of time everything falls apart. With the help of her family, whom she's visiting for Christmas this year, she slowly tries to put her life back together.
She hasn't been home for 2 years, and the reason why she hasn't will be there too...
Review:
I absolutely adored this cozy, love, winter town Christmas story!
With so many things going wrong in Maggie's life, I think the author has connected the way in which Maggie acts and her past experiences really well. It makes you feel for her, knowing what she's been through and allows you to understand why she does the things she does. The narrative changes between Maggie and the other main character, which I really liked because you get a more in-depth picture of their thoughts. The other characters in the story are also written really well. Some of whom you may come to love... others not so much.
This book is full of Christmas, love and family (and a snowy town - who doesn't love that!). I would definitely recommend this book. It's a great book to read during Christmas time (or any time of year if you love Christmas as much as I do! :) ).
Thank you to Tanya Jean Russell, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me a chance to review this book.
December 23, 2020
Twenty-five-year-old Maggie Green thought she had her life on the perfect track: a long-term relationship, a successful career in finance and a swanky apartment in London.
But then everything falls apart.
The company she has worked so hard for makes her redundant, and she gets dumped on the same day.
Not to mention the worrying call she’s received from her doctor.
With her pride in tatters, Maggie returns to her family home for the Christmas period. A home she hasn’t returned to for two years.
No one knows the real reason why she hasn’t been back. No one, that is, except the one person who she is most nervous about seeing again.
Will Maggie make peace with her past? Can she find love this Christmas?
Or will more obstacles be thrown in her way.
The only reason I didn't finish this book in one sitting is because I had to go to work :-( I loved it. Nothing overly complicated just a feel good read to curl up with. A gentle reminder that not everything you are told is without agenda and communication is key. The story flows well and the characters are well thought out and insanely human (i.e. Luke isn't perfect! he's as flawed as the rest of us). The visual presentations by the author are clear and easy to imagine. My only regret so far is that this is the first time I have read a book written by Tanya Jean Russell but it wont be my last!
But then everything falls apart.
The company she has worked so hard for makes her redundant, and she gets dumped on the same day.
Not to mention the worrying call she’s received from her doctor.
With her pride in tatters, Maggie returns to her family home for the Christmas period. A home she hasn’t returned to for two years.
No one knows the real reason why she hasn’t been back. No one, that is, except the one person who she is most nervous about seeing again.
Will Maggie make peace with her past? Can she find love this Christmas?
Or will more obstacles be thrown in her way.
The only reason I didn't finish this book in one sitting is because I had to go to work :-( I loved it. Nothing overly complicated just a feel good read to curl up with. A gentle reminder that not everything you are told is without agenda and communication is key. The story flows well and the characters are well thought out and insanely human (i.e. Luke isn't perfect! he's as flawed as the rest of us). The visual presentations by the author are clear and easy to imagine. My only regret so far is that this is the first time I have read a book written by Tanya Jean Russell but it wont be my last!
November 28, 2020
An Imperfect Christmas by Tanya Jean Russell
Publisher: Sapere Books
Genre: Humor | Romance | Women's Fiction
Release Date: November 19, 2020
An Imperfect Christmas by Tanya Jean Russell is a standalone novel about hope, family, love, and the magic of Christmas. This is the first book I have read by the author and I will definitely be looking to read more!
I am a firm believer that books find you when you are ready for them or when you need them most, and this was the book I needed today.
I could relate to the main character, Maggie, in so many ways. She is the kind of women who gets stronger the harder and faster the hits keep coming. She holds her head up when she wants to cry and doesn’t want the help of others. When she faces a major health scare, she tries to keep it hidden from everyone in her life and deal with it on her own. I’ve been there. I’ve always felt I was stronger standing on my own, even though I’m stronger with the support of others.
Maggie’s story is scary because it was so personal for me, but it’s also a reminder of hope. I could see a lot of my health journey in Maggie’s story, including having a wonderful man insisting on staying by my side through the worst of it and into the unknown future.
This book is filled with so many wonderful moments: I laughed, I cried, and I felt joy and hope. This had a beautiful Christmas theme and truly felt like a blessing to read in this season.
I'm so grateful to Tanya Jean Russel, Sapere Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Sapere Books
Genre: Humor | Romance | Women's Fiction
Release Date: November 19, 2020
An Imperfect Christmas by Tanya Jean Russell is a standalone novel about hope, family, love, and the magic of Christmas. This is the first book I have read by the author and I will definitely be looking to read more!
I am a firm believer that books find you when you are ready for them or when you need them most, and this was the book I needed today.
I could relate to the main character, Maggie, in so many ways. She is the kind of women who gets stronger the harder and faster the hits keep coming. She holds her head up when she wants to cry and doesn’t want the help of others. When she faces a major health scare, she tries to keep it hidden from everyone in her life and deal with it on her own. I’ve been there. I’ve always felt I was stronger standing on my own, even though I’m stronger with the support of others.
Maggie’s story is scary because it was so personal for me, but it’s also a reminder of hope. I could see a lot of my health journey in Maggie’s story, including having a wonderful man insisting on staying by my side through the worst of it and into the unknown future.
This book is filled with so many wonderful moments: I laughed, I cried, and I felt joy and hope. This had a beautiful Christmas theme and truly felt like a blessing to read in this season.
I'm so grateful to Tanya Jean Russel, Sapere Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
December 21, 2020
Two years ago, heartbroken and humiliated after an awkward incident with her best friend, Maggie Green fled to London to make a new life for herself. Now she has prestigious career and looking forward to an upcoming promotion, and a serious relationship with her coworker Rupert. But then, right before her planned holiday at home, she gets a call from her doctor about abnormal test results, her boyfriend breaks up with her, and to top it off he informs her that he got the promotion and her position has become redundant. She returns home for the holidays in fear and shame, only to face the past in the form of her best friend Nate. Sparks fly between them, but can she ever forgive him for what he did to her two years ago? I always seem to have a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit, but this book helped me a lot. Nothing wrong that a little romance and holiday magic can't fix. It was a cute story. Thank you to Tanya Jean Russell and Sapere books for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
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