What do you think?
Rate this book
Jul vid världens ände
Laurel West är 36 år och den eviga singeln. Men hon trivs med livet, med frilansjobb, mysig lägenhet och katt. Visst drömmer hon om den stora kärleken, men han har ännu inte dykt upp.
När Laurel en dag får ett samtal om att hennes syster Abby, som hon sedan länge tappat kontakten med, har checkat in på rehab och vill att Laurel ska ta hand om hennes fjortonåriga son, tvekar hon inte.
Zach är enstavig och hånfull, och Laurel inser att hon kanske tagit sig vatten över huvudet, men när julen närmar sig är hon fast besluten om att skapa en underbar högtid för dem båda.
Hon tar med Zach till sin favoritplats på jorden: sin fasters stuga på de vindsvepta kullarna på Orkneyöarna, norr om Skottland. Där inleder Laurel oväntat en vänskap med grannen, fårbonden Archie MacDougal, som är ungefär så långt ifrån sagoprinsen man kan komma. Men kanske kan två ensamma själar finna varandra vid världens ände?
När Laurel en dag får ett samtal om att hennes syster Abby, som hon sedan länge tappat kontakten med, har checkat in på rehab och vill att Laurel ska ta hand om hennes fjortonåriga son, tvekar hon inte.
Zach är enstavig och hånfull, och Laurel inser att hon kanske tagit sig vatten över huvudet, men när julen närmar sig är hon fast besluten om att skapa en underbar högtid för dem båda.
Hon tar med Zach till sin favoritplats på jorden: sin fasters stuga på de vindsvepta kullarna på Orkneyöarna, norr om Skottland. Där inleder Laurel oväntat en vänskap med grannen, fårbonden Archie MacDougal, som är ungefär så långt ifrån sagoprinsen man kan komma. Men kanske kan två ensamma själar finna varandra vid världens ände?
210 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2019
149 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hewitt
877 books1,702 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
June 11, 2023
Warm, Christmas-themed romantic fiction. Full review to follow.
October 16, 2019
This book was absolutely perfect and so well written you feel as if you are there. It’s set in a beautiful part of the world to as love the Orkney islands and full of romance and moving forward to be happy and plenty about families to and settling everything to be happy. Perfect Christmas read and you will want to keep reading for sure and not want it to end. Worth far more than five stars.
Laurel learns her sister Abby who she hasn’t seen for years has taken herself into rehab and she’s asked laurel to look after her son who is 14 years old. She hasn’t seen him in years but she feels she has to be there to help her sister so goes to collect him from school and she learns he’s been expelled from school and he’s sullen and has moods and silent rage. When she collects him she remembers where she use to be happy as a child and decides to taken zac to her great aunts cottage on the Orkney islands. But will it be far enough away or not will can learn to cope with life and when they first arrive everything seems to go wrong which puts him in even more of a mood has she done the right thing. She gets friendly with the local farmer Archie and he rescues zac when he gets drunk and as laurel thinks things are getting worse Archie offers for zac to work on his sheep farm and slowly they all start to get along and Archie and laurel really start to get close but she holds herself back. Just when things are going well for everyone laurels sister arrives as she’s discharged herself and do they leave the island or end up staying and can everyone be happy or do they have to head back to their normal lives.
A perfect Christmas read and highly recommend it.
Laurel learns her sister Abby who she hasn’t seen for years has taken herself into rehab and she’s asked laurel to look after her son who is 14 years old. She hasn’t seen him in years but she feels she has to be there to help her sister so goes to collect him from school and she learns he’s been expelled from school and he’s sullen and has moods and silent rage. When she collects him she remembers where she use to be happy as a child and decides to taken zac to her great aunts cottage on the Orkney islands. But will it be far enough away or not will can learn to cope with life and when they first arrive everything seems to go wrong which puts him in even more of a mood has she done the right thing. She gets friendly with the local farmer Archie and he rescues zac when he gets drunk and as laurel thinks things are getting worse Archie offers for zac to work on his sheep farm and slowly they all start to get along and Archie and laurel really start to get close but she holds herself back. Just when things are going well for everyone laurels sister arrives as she’s discharged herself and do they leave the island or end up staying and can everyone be happy or do they have to head back to their normal lives.
A perfect Christmas read and highly recommend it.
October 10, 2020
This book caught my eye because its about a woman who is given charge of her nephew, who she barely knows, after her sister goes into rehab. Desperate get to know him and give him a nice Christmas, she goes to the one place she always felt safe and loved, her great-aunt's home in Scotland. (the aunt is in Spain and doesn't figure into the story)
The book is much more about Laurel and her growth, than about the romance. Laurel has a lot of baggage with her older sister Abby, her distant father, her deceased mother, her own dreams and fantasies. I'd categorize this as women's fiction with some romance. A lot of the book was very heartfelt and I liked Laurel and the changes she made in her life and attitudes. I liked how she was able to connect with her nephew and I loved the setting in Orkney, Scotland, the edge of the world in the title.
The H was amazing. He was sweet, supportive, smart but also a little afraid of being vulnerable. Between the h/H its a miracle they ever got together with all the self-protection going on.
This was a sweet story with heart. Completely safe, kisses only.
The book is much more about Laurel and her growth, than about the romance. Laurel has a lot of baggage with her older sister Abby, her distant father, her deceased mother, her own dreams and fantasies. I'd categorize this as women's fiction with some romance. A lot of the book was very heartfelt and I liked Laurel and the changes she made in her life and attitudes. I liked how she was able to connect with her nephew and I loved the setting in Orkney, Scotland, the edge of the world in the title.
The H was amazing. He was sweet, supportive, smart but also a little afraid of being vulnerable. Between the h/H its a miracle they ever got together with all the self-protection going on.
This was a sweet story with heart. Completely safe, kisses only.
October 29, 2019
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
“Christmas at the Edge of the World”, by Kate Hewitt (Tule Publishing), is a heartwarming and very romantic Christmas story about love and healing, with an incredibly kind, seemingly rough-around-the-edges, Scottish hero
For such a lonely man, Archie is surprisingly well-adapted and steady. As the story is told only from Laurel’s limited point of view, the hero remains a bit undeveloped for my taste.
Laurel is a great heroine, trying to do the best for her nephew, failing sometimes and having lots of doubts but nevertheless carrying on.
The wintry Orkney islands north of Scotland are a fabulous setting and the secondary characters, including a surly teenager (Zac) and an estranged sister, just add to the story.
The only downside for me was that the male protagonist remained too much in the shadows and the romance should have been more developed, even if the author wrapped it up nicely acknowledging the lack of buildup.
“Christmas at the Edge of the World”, by Kate Hewitt (Tule Publishing), is a heartwarming and very romantic Christmas story about love and healing, with an incredibly kind, seemingly rough-around-the-edges, Scottish hero
For such a lonely man, Archie is surprisingly well-adapted and steady. As the story is told only from Laurel’s limited point of view, the hero remains a bit undeveloped for my taste.
Laurel is a great heroine, trying to do the best for her nephew, failing sometimes and having lots of doubts but nevertheless carrying on.
The wintry Orkney islands north of Scotland are a fabulous setting and the secondary characters, including a surly teenager (Zac) and an estranged sister, just add to the story.
The only downside for me was that the male protagonist remained too much in the shadows and the romance should have been more developed, even if the author wrapped it up nicely acknowledging the lack of buildup.
December 30, 2023
En underbar roman som får en att vilja flytta till en liten stad lååångt bort och träffa en fårbonde.
January 2, 2021
This is a brilliant festive romance, a superb Christmas cocktail with a delicious blend of family drama, idyllic, remote setting and, of course, a touch of romance, too.
Laurel West discovers that her older sister, Abby, has checked herself into rehab when she's asked to look after Abby's fourteen year old son, Zac. The sisters have been estranged for years but Abby helped bring Laurel up after their mother died and she's very willing to help. However, Zac is a rebellious teen and gets expelled from his school so Abby decides to take him to a place where she has the best, happy memories, her great Aunt's home on the Orkney Islands......
This story shares the angst and turmoil inflicted on the sisters as children and the very different impact it has had on their lives now. It is a second chance story, with both of them acknowledging the past and taking steps to move on to a brighter future. The initial arrival at her great Aunt's home is fraught with problems and some shocking encounters - including one with a gun pointed at them! It is a story of community, respect, family, friendship and taking chances and is a heartwarming festive read that I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
Laurel West discovers that her older sister, Abby, has checked herself into rehab when she's asked to look after Abby's fourteen year old son, Zac. The sisters have been estranged for years but Abby helped bring Laurel up after their mother died and she's very willing to help. However, Zac is a rebellious teen and gets expelled from his school so Abby decides to take him to a place where she has the best, happy memories, her great Aunt's home on the Orkney Islands......
This story shares the angst and turmoil inflicted on the sisters as children and the very different impact it has had on their lives now. It is a second chance story, with both of them acknowledging the past and taking steps to move on to a brighter future. The initial arrival at her great Aunt's home is fraught with problems and some shocking encounters - including one with a gun pointed at them! It is a story of community, respect, family, friendship and taking chances and is a heartwarming festive read that I have no hesitation in highly recommending.
January 7, 2023
Will love blossom in wintry Orkney?
I liked the central relationships - Laurel and Zac (her troubled nephew) and Archie (her great aunt's gun-toting neighbour). Nice descriptions of Orkney (mainland - not really explaining that there are several Orkney islands!) with lots of detail. The small community feel came through well.
I thought the moody teen was well drawn and developed.
I identified with the overenthusiastic aunt character, trying so hard.
(Audiobook listeners - like many other people I found the narrator's voice rather annoying. Her cadences were very repetitive. The generic Scottish accent was irritating. Orkney has a very specific soft and gentle accent which can be heard online with minimum effort and I'm sure recreated by someone who put a lot of effort into her other regional accents).
Definitely my last Christmas book of the season (although not of the year!).
I liked the central relationships - Laurel and Zac (her troubled nephew) and Archie (her great aunt's gun-toting neighbour). Nice descriptions of Orkney (mainland - not really explaining that there are several Orkney islands!) with lots of detail. The small community feel came through well.
I thought the moody teen was well drawn and developed.
I identified with the overenthusiastic aunt character, trying so hard.
(Audiobook listeners - like many other people I found the narrator's voice rather annoying. Her cadences were very repetitive. The generic Scottish accent was irritating. Orkney has a very specific soft and gentle accent which can be heard online with minimum effort and I'm sure recreated by someone who put a lot of effort into her other regional accents).
Definitely my last Christmas book of the season (although not of the year!).
November 24, 2022
A sweet Christmas romcom. Laurel unexpectedly has to take care of her 14 year old nephew Zac, when her sister Abby checks herself into rehab. At a loss at what to do with an angry teenager, Laurel decides it’s time to visit her great aunt’s cottage on the Orkney islands north of Scotland. Laurel loved the cottage as a child, but her childhood memories are not the reality her and Zac arrive to. The cottage is old, Zac finds himself in trouble in the small town within days of their arrive, and the magical Christmas Laurel was hoping for just isn’t happening. Enter Archie, the charming Scottish farmer who lives across the paddock. With Archie’s help Laurel manages to help her nephew put his life back together and in the process start to completely question everything she thinks her life should be.
This is basically a Hallmark Christmas movie as a book, but I enjoyed every minute of it! A great seasonal read.
This is basically a Hallmark Christmas movie as a book, but I enjoyed every minute of it! A great seasonal read.
October 7, 2021
What a delightful Christmas romance. Perfect for everyone, no sex, no swearing, just a sweet story about a holiday romance 😍.
Perfect.
Perfect.
October 17, 2022
Mysig feelgood roman.
December 29, 2022
Very enjoyable audiobook. Delightful story of sisters, a young teen and an Orkney farmer. Wrapped neatly but who cares!
December 5, 2023
Oh, to be in Scotland celebrating Christmas with a hot farmer.
November 4, 2019
Laurel is looking after her 14 year old nephew Zac after her sister Abby checks herself into rehab. Abby and Laurel have seen each other since Abby left home to go to university when she was 18 years old, now over 20 years later Laurel is stuck with an anti-social monosyllabic teenager who has just been expelled from his very expensive private school.
Ever the optimist, Laurel decides to take Zac to Orkney, a place she remembers spending several idyllic summers before her mother died. She hopes that her great aunt's cottage will somehow get through to Zac where she has failed.
But Orkney in Summer is very different to Orkney a week before Christmas. Her aunt's cottage isn't what she remembers, the stove won't work and there's an eccentric farmer waving a shotgun!
This is a lovely feel-good holiday romance, not too sweet with plenty of whisky to warm the insides. Recommended for those who like Hallmark Christmas movies, grumpy farmers with a heart of gold and wrenching teenagers away from their digital devices!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher Tule in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Ever the optimist, Laurel decides to take Zac to Orkney, a place she remembers spending several idyllic summers before her mother died. She hopes that her great aunt's cottage will somehow get through to Zac where she has failed.
But Orkney in Summer is very different to Orkney a week before Christmas. Her aunt's cottage isn't what she remembers, the stove won't work and there's an eccentric farmer waving a shotgun!
This is a lovely feel-good holiday romance, not too sweet with plenty of whisky to warm the insides. Recommended for those who like Hallmark Christmas movies, grumpy farmers with a heart of gold and wrenching teenagers away from their digital devices!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher Tule in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
November 6, 2022
I enjoyed Christmas at the Edge of the World quite a lot!
An aunt who suddenly is supposed to take care for her estranged teenage nephew for a few weeks. A family history that left the family broken up, but can old wounds heal decades later?
I really liked the main character who is out of her depth, but just keeps doing her best and refuses to give up. The love invitation also is opposite of the usual flighty man, and off is a very firm to earth farmer who still lives in the house he was born in. Both of them act like actual adults, instead of sulky teenagers who never grew up.
My one star missing is for the "too easy" way the end handles a lot of the topics.
There's also a slight taste left with me , because there's two mentions of how the main character is now a good member of the church in the very last chapter. This wasn't even a topic through the whole rest of the book, so it just stuck out like a sore thumb. I don't know if it was meant to be a bit preachy, or was accidental, but I just didn't like how it came across. I mean it's just two tiny side sentences, so nothing major. However, being right at the very end made it stick with me.
An aunt who suddenly is supposed to take care for her estranged teenage nephew for a few weeks. A family history that left the family broken up, but can old wounds heal decades later?
I really liked the main character who is out of her depth, but just keeps doing her best and refuses to give up. The love invitation also is opposite of the usual flighty man, and off is a very firm to earth farmer who still lives in the house he was born in. Both of them act like actual adults, instead of sulky teenagers who never grew up.
My one star missing is for the "too easy" way the end handles a lot of the topics.
There's also a slight taste left with me , because there's two mentions of how the main character is now a good member of the church in the very last chapter. This wasn't even a topic through the whole rest of the book, so it just stuck out like a sore thumb. I don't know if it was meant to be a bit preachy, or was accidental, but I just didn't like how it came across. I mean it's just two tiny side sentences, so nothing major. However, being right at the very end made it stick with me.
February 5, 2020
It’s February, but forgive me for catching up on reviews and I definitely wanted to share a few words about Kate Hewitt’s heart-warming read, Christmas at the Edge of the World. When Laurel West is stuck with her wayward teenage nephew Zac for Christmas, she decides on a trip down memory lane by returning to the place she loved holidaying as a child – the remote, rugged landscape of the Orkney isles (off the north of Scotland). There she relies on the help and knowledge of local farmer, Archie MacDougall. At its core, Christmas at the Edge of the World is romantic festive fiction, but Hewitt has also left room for family, and the joys and challenges spending time with a teenager brings. I particularly liked the young Zac, with his annoying screen habit and need to rail against every suggestion Laurel makes. Still, this is a feel-good romance with a healthy dose of realism. Perfect for Christmas, or any dark, wintery evening.
December 2, 2023
3,5🌟 I want to go to Orkney and stay in that cottage by the sea.
It started slow and sad but it got better eventually. The romance felt almost like an after thought, and the mending of the family relationship ( that had been broken so long ago) was the main reason for the story.
Unfortunately, despite liking her voice, the narration wasn’t quite right for this book, it was away too slow and sleep inducing. I normally listen to audiobooks at 1.7x or 2x speed, but this was soooooo very slow I went up to 2,5x and didn’t feel like it was too much. What a shame because the narrator’s voice is nice but I think the way it was delivered wasn’t quite right here.
It started slow and sad but it got better eventually. The romance felt almost like an after thought, and the mending of the family relationship ( that had been broken so long ago) was the main reason for the story.
Unfortunately, despite liking her voice, the narration wasn’t quite right for this book, it was away too slow and sleep inducing. I normally listen to audiobooks at 1.7x or 2x speed, but this was soooooo very slow I went up to 2,5x and didn’t feel like it was too much. What a shame because the narrator’s voice is nice but I think the way it was delivered wasn’t quite right here.
December 14, 2023
Story 3.5 stars rounded up. Narration 3.5 stars
Short read that I mostly enjoyed. It’s a romance, is British and takes place on a tiny island north of Scotland for the most part. A romance between two people who probably would never have met again as adults-ones that were totally unlike. A scruffy, bearded farmer that wears clothes with holes(sweaters)in them and usually smelling of animals and an intelligent, educated, 35 year old woman who had about given up ever finding anyone were fun to read about. Just for their differences. She’s taking care of her 14 year old nephew that she barely knows after his mother checks herself into rehab. So she takes him to a relatives cottage by the sea. It’s right before Christmas. He’s never really had a Christmas. And I’m leaving it at that.
Short read that I mostly enjoyed. It’s a romance, is British and takes place on a tiny island north of Scotland for the most part. A romance between two people who probably would never have met again as adults-ones that were totally unlike. A scruffy, bearded farmer that wears clothes with holes(sweaters)in them and usually smelling of animals and an intelligent, educated, 35 year old woman who had about given up ever finding anyone were fun to read about. Just for their differences. She’s taking care of her 14 year old nephew that she barely knows after his mother checks herself into rehab. So she takes him to a relatives cottage by the sea. It’s right before Christmas. He’s never really had a Christmas. And I’m leaving it at that.
December 24, 2021
A heartwarming read about family and second chances. It's as much a romantic story as it is a story of healing and family.
November 29, 2022
Sweet story for the holidays ❤️❤️
December 10, 2022
What a lovely book - I enjoyed spending Christmas on Orkney!
December 5, 2023
3.5 - cute and wholesome
November 4, 2019
Although I was not a fan of the title, Christmas at the Edge of the World proved itself more than capable of making up for that. Hewitt finds beauty in the hard moments. Laurel is used to life getting in her face, but when love finds it's way into her heart, she doesn't quite know how to react. From tough talking, rebellious teenagers to an oddly tempting sheep farmer, Hewitt turns the fantasy of love on it's ear and delivers her own brand of charm to capture our hearts.
November 4, 2019
A heart warming book. The story of laurel west looking after her teenage nephew Zac while her sister is in rehab, they go to stay on Orkney island at her great aunts cottage. It's not an easy ride for them both. I found this such a feel good easy read perfect for the time of year. I loved all the story full of ups and downs, happiness with such a magical fairy tale ending, perfect.
November 4, 2019
I adored this so much, it’s a hug in a book, better a warm toasty Christmas hug. Okay I’m biased it’s set in Orkney and I adore Scotland and Scottish men, Of course I loved Archie. I loved the fact Laurel and Archie start off on the wrong foot and watch them slowly come together, a lovely light read, perfect for Christmas
December 27, 2022
"Jul vid världens ände" av Kate Hewitt utgiven av Piratförlaget. Laurel West är singel och 36 år gammal. Hon längtar efter den stora kärleken. Men hon är ändå nöjd med livet som det är, med frilansjobb, mysig lägenhet och katt. Plötsligt får hon vårdnaden om sin systers fjorton årige son, Zach. Trots att hon inte träffat sin syster på många år tvekar hon inte. Systern befinner sig på Rehab. Det visar sig vara svårare än hon trott att plötsligt få hand om en tonåring, och Zach är bara tvär och hånfull. Han spelar mest på sin telefon. När Zach plötsligt blir avstängd från sin skola bestämmer sig Laurel för att ta med sig Zach till sin favoritplats på jorden. Ön, där hon varit mycket som barn. I sin mosters stuga tänker hon skapa en perfekt jul åt sig och Zach. Men stugan är inte alls som hon mins den. Den är kall, sliten och inte alls så stor som hon minns det. Hon gör dock så gott hon kan för att det ska bli så trivsamt som möjligt i den lilla stugan. Under tiden finner hon en nyvunnen vänskap i sin granne Archer, som är fårbonde. Långsamt kommer hon och Zach allt närmare varandra. På den lilla ön känner Laurel att hon hittar sig själv igen. Men vad händer då Laurels syster plötsligt dyker upp. Nu har Laurel nya val att göra.
En hjärtevärmande och mysig roman, om att känna sig ensam och sviken och om komplicerade familjeband. Laurel har svårt att förstå varför hennes syster plötsligt bröt kontakten, efter att deras mor gått bort. Pappan arbetade så mycket så systern var allt hon hade. Laurel får mycket tid att tänka på varför allt blev som det blev, och när systern dyker upp finns det möjlighet att reda ut allt, vilket är bra. Jag uppskattade de fina miljöbeskrivningarna, och ön där Laurel och Zach befinner sig, verkar så mysig. Det är en plats där alla känner alla, och man ser efter varandra utan att begära något tillbaka. Jag gillar de olika karaktärerna i boken och man drömmer sig gärna bort till den mysiga miljön. Jag gillar hur Lauriel försöker få kontakt med Zach. Med varm choklad, sällskapsspel och julkänsla, får hon den trulige Zach att långsamt tina upp. Vänskap och kärlek spirar även mellan Laurel och Archer. Boken är välskriven, men tar slut alldeles för fort. Denna underbara julromance får ❤❤❤❤❤/5.
En hjärtevärmande och mysig roman, om att känna sig ensam och sviken och om komplicerade familjeband. Laurel har svårt att förstå varför hennes syster plötsligt bröt kontakten, efter att deras mor gått bort. Pappan arbetade så mycket så systern var allt hon hade. Laurel får mycket tid att tänka på varför allt blev som det blev, och när systern dyker upp finns det möjlighet att reda ut allt, vilket är bra. Jag uppskattade de fina miljöbeskrivningarna, och ön där Laurel och Zach befinner sig, verkar så mysig. Det är en plats där alla känner alla, och man ser efter varandra utan att begära något tillbaka. Jag gillar de olika karaktärerna i boken och man drömmer sig gärna bort till den mysiga miljön. Jag gillar hur Lauriel försöker få kontakt med Zach. Med varm choklad, sällskapsspel och julkänsla, får hon den trulige Zach att långsamt tina upp. Vänskap och kärlek spirar även mellan Laurel och Archer. Boken är välskriven, men tar slut alldeles för fort. Denna underbara julromance får ❤❤❤❤❤/5.
December 29, 2022
Bokrecension och recensionsexemplar: Jul vid världens ände av Kate Hewitt
Handling: Laurel West är 36 år och den eviga singeln. Men hon trivs med livet, med frilansjobb, mysig lägenhet och katt. Visst drömmer hon om den stora kärleken, men han har ännu inte dykt upp. När Laurel en dag får ett samtal om att hennes syster Abby, som hon sedan länge tappat kontakten med, har checkat in på rehab och vill att Laurel ska ta hand om hennes fjortonåriga son, tvekar hon inte. Zach är enstavig och hånfull, och Laurel inser att hon kanske tagit sig vatten över huvudet, men när julen närmar sig är hon fast besluten om att skapa en underbar högtid för dem båda. Hon tar med Zach till sin favoritplats på jorden: sin fasters stuga på de vindsvepta kullarna på Orkneyöarna, norr om Skottland. Där inleder Laurel oväntat en vänskap med grannen, fårbonden Archie MacDougal, som är ungefär så långt ifrån sagoprinsen man kan komma.
Recension: En fantastisk julcocktail blandad med en läcker blandning av familjedrama, idyllisk, avlägsen miljö och, naturligtvis, en touch av romantik. En hjärtevärmande berättelse perfekt för julen. Karaktärerna i berättelsen är sådana som vi alla kan relatera till. De har alla brister och "vingliga" ögonblick, ändå visar författaren oss att det finns glädje och lycka att finna om vi bara tillåter oss själva att uppleva dem. I grunden är detta en berättelse om andra chanser. En berättelse om gemenskap, respekt, familj, vänskap och att ta chanser. Den är snyggt skriven, perfekt tempo och med karaktärer som man verkligen börjar bry sig om. Slutet var en liten besvikelse då jag tyckte att den slutade abrupt. Det finns också några fantastiska beskrivningar av landskapet och livsstil. Boken handlar mycket mer om Laurel och hennes tillväxt än om romantiken.
Boken får: 3,5/5
Sidor: 210
Genre: jul, romance, chicklit, feelgood, contemporary (nutida)
Författare: Kate Hewitt
Förlag: Piratförlaget
GoodReads: ArbereshaSabani
Instagram: @wandersinbookland
#julvidvärldensände #katehewitt #piratförlaget #bokstagram #bookstagram #booksandflowers #bokstagramsverige #bookstagramworld #bookblogger #bookfluencer
Handling: Laurel West är 36 år och den eviga singeln. Men hon trivs med livet, med frilansjobb, mysig lägenhet och katt. Visst drömmer hon om den stora kärleken, men han har ännu inte dykt upp. När Laurel en dag får ett samtal om att hennes syster Abby, som hon sedan länge tappat kontakten med, har checkat in på rehab och vill att Laurel ska ta hand om hennes fjortonåriga son, tvekar hon inte. Zach är enstavig och hånfull, och Laurel inser att hon kanske tagit sig vatten över huvudet, men när julen närmar sig är hon fast besluten om att skapa en underbar högtid för dem båda. Hon tar med Zach till sin favoritplats på jorden: sin fasters stuga på de vindsvepta kullarna på Orkneyöarna, norr om Skottland. Där inleder Laurel oväntat en vänskap med grannen, fårbonden Archie MacDougal, som är ungefär så långt ifrån sagoprinsen man kan komma.
Recension: En fantastisk julcocktail blandad med en läcker blandning av familjedrama, idyllisk, avlägsen miljö och, naturligtvis, en touch av romantik. En hjärtevärmande berättelse perfekt för julen. Karaktärerna i berättelsen är sådana som vi alla kan relatera till. De har alla brister och "vingliga" ögonblick, ändå visar författaren oss att det finns glädje och lycka att finna om vi bara tillåter oss själva att uppleva dem. I grunden är detta en berättelse om andra chanser. En berättelse om gemenskap, respekt, familj, vänskap och att ta chanser. Den är snyggt skriven, perfekt tempo och med karaktärer som man verkligen börjar bry sig om. Slutet var en liten besvikelse då jag tyckte att den slutade abrupt. Det finns också några fantastiska beskrivningar av landskapet och livsstil. Boken handlar mycket mer om Laurel och hennes tillväxt än om romantiken.
Boken får: 3,5/5
Sidor: 210
Genre: jul, romance, chicklit, feelgood, contemporary (nutida)
Författare: Kate Hewitt
Förlag: Piratförlaget
GoodReads: ArbereshaSabani
Instagram: @wandersinbookland
#julvidvärldensände #katehewitt #piratförlaget #bokstagram #bookstagram #booksandflowers #bokstagramsverige #bookstagramworld #bookblogger #bookfluencer
January 19, 2023
A freebie on Audible and I probably meant to read over Christmas. I was drawn in by the promise of a story set on Orkney, where I have family ties, but I'm not sure the author has actually ever been as there's no acknowledgement that the isles are made up of a number of islands and very little about life on the islands. Instead, the author leans in to a stack of tired clichés.
Protagonist in mid-30s, single-with-cat, holding out for Mr Darcy (the Colin Firth edition, which TBH is wild because we're 20 years past Bridget Jones and Darcy Fever, surely there are more relevant brooding heroes??), is suddenly lumbered with the care of her 14 year old nephew who has just been expelled from school . On a whim, she takes him up to Orkney on the sole basis of her childhood memories of long summer holidays; only it's winter there (duh!!) and everything is cold and dark, requiring her, helpless female as she is, to lean on the support of a Groundskeeper Willie famer-next-door by name of Archie MacDougal (I shit thee not) with dogs called a haon, a dó, and a trí (which she doesn't even have an inkling might be 'one two three' in Gaelic). Protagonist doesn't consider him a romantic prospect until she sees him scrubbed up smart at the local Christmas ceilidh. Then the estranged sister rocks up at the cottage having checked herself out of rehab (why? never explained) and twenty years of family tension and resentment is resolved in two conversations and everyone moves to Orkney, protagonist marries Groundskeeper Willie, and they all live happily every after making cakes and joining local knitting circles and no one needs to work or go to to school, and no one has any problem with the unending winter darkness up there...
Not total tripe but woefully predictable. Made worse by the over-enunciated drawling narration that drove me nuts. Soz.
Protagonist in mid-30s, single-with-cat, holding out for Mr Darcy (the Colin Firth edition, which TBH is wild because we're 20 years past Bridget Jones and Darcy Fever, surely there are more relevant brooding heroes??), is suddenly lumbered with the care of her 14 year old nephew who has just been expelled from school . On a whim, she takes him up to Orkney on the sole basis of her childhood memories of long summer holidays; only it's winter there (duh!!) and everything is cold and dark, requiring her, helpless female as she is, to lean on the support of a Groundskeeper Willie famer-next-door by name of Archie MacDougal (I shit thee not) with dogs called a haon, a dó, and a trí (which she doesn't even have an inkling might be 'one two three' in Gaelic). Protagonist doesn't consider him a romantic prospect until she sees him scrubbed up smart at the local Christmas ceilidh. Then the estranged sister rocks up at the cottage having checked herself out of rehab (why? never explained) and twenty years of family tension and resentment is resolved in two conversations and everyone moves to Orkney, protagonist marries Groundskeeper Willie, and they all live happily every after making cakes and joining local knitting circles and no one needs to work or go to to school, and no one has any problem with the unending winter darkness up there...
Not total tripe but woefully predictable. Made worse by the over-enunciated drawling narration that drove me nuts. Soz.
February 11, 2023
Christmas at the Edge of the World is a holiday romance set in Landon, England initially and then Orkney, Scotland. It has some serious and heavy subject matter and isn’t just a light and fluffy Christmas book. The book starts 10 days in to main character Laurel taking emergency care of her 14 year old nephew, Zach. Laurel’s estranged older sister, Abby, has checked herself into a 4 week rehab program and left instruction for Laurel to take care of Zach for that month, even though Abby is basically a stranger to Zach. There are 3 more weeks to go and that is where the book picks up. Zach has been expelled from school and Laurel, unsure what else to do, decides to go to an old family home of her deceased mother that she has not been to since she was 8 years old. She wants to give Zach a real Christmasy Christmas with a tree, stockings, homemade meal, the works, since his mom has never done that for him.
Even though the book takes place over a ten-day period, the flow is good. There is what is essentially insta-love between Laurel and the 45 year old local man, Archie, given the short time period, but it really didn’t come off feeling insta-love-y. It felt genuine and organic. This is also a clean romance with no hanky-panky beyond kisses.
I enjoyed watching the relationships between all of the characters develop. This book deals with over two decades of hurt, healing of inner wounds, and family reconciliation. It was all very well written. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The epilogue takes place 1 year later at Christmas and it was really nice to see it all come full circle.
The narration was good. The narrator had good accents and was easy to understand. This book was included free with the Audible Plus catalog. Overall, I give this book 4 stars and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a more serious type of Christmas romance story.
Even though the book takes place over a ten-day period, the flow is good. There is what is essentially insta-love between Laurel and the 45 year old local man, Archie, given the short time period, but it really didn’t come off feeling insta-love-y. It felt genuine and organic. This is also a clean romance with no hanky-panky beyond kisses.
I enjoyed watching the relationships between all of the characters develop. This book deals with over two decades of hurt, healing of inner wounds, and family reconciliation. It was all very well written. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The epilogue takes place 1 year later at Christmas and it was really nice to see it all come full circle.
The narration was good. The narrator had good accents and was easy to understand. This book was included free with the Audible Plus catalog. Overall, I give this book 4 stars and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a more serious type of Christmas romance story.
November 20, 2021
Kate Hewitt (2019) CHRISTMAS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD (AUDIOBOOK)
Audible - Blackstone Publishing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5 stars
Audible writes, "When Laurel West discovers her estranged sister Abby has checked herself into rehab and wants her to take care of her 14-year-old son, she doesn’t hesitate to step in. Abby was there for Laurel a long time ago, and she longs to be able to offer the same. However, as a single woman who still dreams of the fairy tale, Laurel isn’t prepared for teenage Zac’s sullen moods or silent rage. When he’s expelled from school, she decides to take drastic measures and temporarily relocate them to her great aunt’s cottage on the windswept hills of the Orkney islands north of Scotland...about as far as she can run from their problems, but will it be far enough? From the moment they step onto the island’s shores, everything seems to go wrong...including a run-in with eccentric sheep farmer Archie MacDougall. When Zac gets in trouble at the village pub and is rescued by Archie, Laurel thinks things are only getting worse. But Archie’s suggestion of putting Zac to work on his farm might be the change he needs, and Laurel strikes up a surprising friendship with a man who is about as far from the fairy tale as she can imagine. Can such an unlikely and impractical love bloom in such a brief moment out of reality? And will two lost and lonely souls find each other at the edge of the world?"
=====
Really sweet. Wicked location. A place I would be happy to live in I think. Off grid but not quite off grid.
=====
#KateHewitt #ChristmasAtTheEdgeOfTheWorld #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #Audible
Audible - Blackstone Publishing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 out of 5 stars
Audible writes, "When Laurel West discovers her estranged sister Abby has checked herself into rehab and wants her to take care of her 14-year-old son, she doesn’t hesitate to step in. Abby was there for Laurel a long time ago, and she longs to be able to offer the same. However, as a single woman who still dreams of the fairy tale, Laurel isn’t prepared for teenage Zac’s sullen moods or silent rage. When he’s expelled from school, she decides to take drastic measures and temporarily relocate them to her great aunt’s cottage on the windswept hills of the Orkney islands north of Scotland...about as far as she can run from their problems, but will it be far enough? From the moment they step onto the island’s shores, everything seems to go wrong...including a run-in with eccentric sheep farmer Archie MacDougall. When Zac gets in trouble at the village pub and is rescued by Archie, Laurel thinks things are only getting worse. But Archie’s suggestion of putting Zac to work on his farm might be the change he needs, and Laurel strikes up a surprising friendship with a man who is about as far from the fairy tale as she can imagine. Can such an unlikely and impractical love bloom in such a brief moment out of reality? And will two lost and lonely souls find each other at the edge of the world?"
=====
Really sweet. Wicked location. A place I would be happy to live in I think. Off grid but not quite off grid.
=====
#KateHewitt #ChristmasAtTheEdgeOfTheWorld #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #Audible
December 4, 2023
"Jul vid världens ände" är en hjärtvärmande berättelse som fängslar läsaren från första sidan. Författaren har skapat en charmig och engagerande berättelse som visar att kärlek och lycka kan hittas på de mest oväntade platserna.
Huvudpersonen Laurel West är en inspirerande karaktär som många kan relatera till. Hon är självständig och nöjd med sitt liv, men bär ändå på en djup längtan efter kärlek. Berättelsen tar en intressant vändning när Laurel tar sig an ansvaret för sin tonåriga systerson Zach. Deras relation är fint skildrad och utvecklas på ett sätt som känns både äkta och rörande.
Miljön på Orkneyöarna är fantastiskt beskriven och fungerar som en perfekt bakgrund för denna berättelse. Den råa skönheten i landskapet och de enkla glädjeämnena i livet på landsbygden ger en känsla av lugn och eftertanke.
Archie MacDougal, fårbonden och grannen, är en annorlunda men mycket intressant karaktär. Hans relation med Laurel utvecklas sakta men säkert, vilket gör deras växande band både trovärdigt och engagerande. Författaren lyckas skapa en romantisk spänning som är både subtil och övertygande.
Det som verkligen utmärker "Jul vid världens ände" är dess förmåga att skildra värme, hopp och mänsklig samhörighet. Författaren har en underbar förmåga att fånga små detaljer som gör karaktärerna levande och äkta. Berättelsen är en härlig påminnelse om att det aldrig är för sent att hitta kärlek och att den ofta dyker upp när man minst anar det.
Sammanfattningsvis är "Jul vid världens ände" en underbar läsupplevelse som erbjuder en perfekt mix av romantik, familjedynamik och personlig tillväxt. Det är en bok som värmer hjärtat och sprider hopp, perfekt för alla som älskar berättelser om oväntad kärlek och nya början.
Huvudpersonen Laurel West är en inspirerande karaktär som många kan relatera till. Hon är självständig och nöjd med sitt liv, men bär ändå på en djup längtan efter kärlek. Berättelsen tar en intressant vändning när Laurel tar sig an ansvaret för sin tonåriga systerson Zach. Deras relation är fint skildrad och utvecklas på ett sätt som känns både äkta och rörande.
Miljön på Orkneyöarna är fantastiskt beskriven och fungerar som en perfekt bakgrund för denna berättelse. Den råa skönheten i landskapet och de enkla glädjeämnena i livet på landsbygden ger en känsla av lugn och eftertanke.
Archie MacDougal, fårbonden och grannen, är en annorlunda men mycket intressant karaktär. Hans relation med Laurel utvecklas sakta men säkert, vilket gör deras växande band både trovärdigt och engagerande. Författaren lyckas skapa en romantisk spänning som är både subtil och övertygande.
Det som verkligen utmärker "Jul vid världens ände" är dess förmåga att skildra värme, hopp och mänsklig samhörighet. Författaren har en underbar förmåga att fånga små detaljer som gör karaktärerna levande och äkta. Berättelsen är en härlig påminnelse om att det aldrig är för sent att hitta kärlek och att den ofta dyker upp när man minst anar det.
Sammanfattningsvis är "Jul vid världens ände" en underbar läsupplevelse som erbjuder en perfekt mix av romantik, familjedynamik och personlig tillväxt. Det är en bok som värmer hjärtat och sprider hopp, perfekt för alla som älskar berättelser om oväntad kärlek och nya början.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews