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Christmas Day
A warm-hearted rich family drama about the echoes of the past - and the chance to all come together at last this Christmas.
During a heady holiday in France, Lori makes one mistake she hopes she can forget. Years later and Lori never thinks of that day - until her mistake makes himself known to her daughter, Ceri, insisting he's her father.
Ceri wants answers but her mother doesn't want to give them. She's already paid the price for the secrets she's kept. But as Christmas draws near, can Lori heal her family's rift - as well as her own heart?
During a heady holiday in France, Lori makes one mistake she hopes she can forget. Years later and Lori never thinks of that day - until her mistake makes himself known to her daughter, Ceri, insisting he's her father.
Ceri wants answers but her mother doesn't want to give them. She's already paid the price for the secrets she's kept. But as Christmas draws near, can Lori heal her family's rift - as well as her own heart?
384 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2021
2 people want to read
About the author
Sara James
2 books3 followersHello, I’m Sara, thank you for visiting.
In my debut novel, Mothering Sunday, I drew inspiration from the stories of strong women during the 50s and 60s who were forced to give up their children. There are plenty of horror stories but I wanted to believe that out of all that tragedy there was a possibility of a happier resolution. I know a couple of people who were successfully adopted but these are the stories we don’t hear much about. Another influence was my own family history.
My mother temporarily abandoned my sister and brother when they were young, and I didn’t know the true emotional repercussions of that abandonment until many years later. My mother was haunted by her mistake and although she tried to make amends, the initial wounds never quite healed. I believe the effects of abandonment ripple through generations and I hadn’t realised how this affected me until I started writing. As a mother, I can’t imagine having to give up a child, but it happened to many women in the '50s and '60 and still does.
My primary interest lies in relationship stories, especial how our relationship with our original family shapes our future relationships. I also like to transport people to another world. Mostly I’m interested in people. We are the stories.
My background as a writer is in journalism. Firstly, as a fashion journalist and secondly as an interiors journalist. I work with new writers, preparing them for the world of publishing.
In my debut novel, Mothering Sunday, I drew inspiration from the stories of strong women during the 50s and 60s who were forced to give up their children. There are plenty of horror stories but I wanted to believe that out of all that tragedy there was a possibility of a happier resolution. I know a couple of people who were successfully adopted but these are the stories we don’t hear much about. Another influence was my own family history.
My mother temporarily abandoned my sister and brother when they were young, and I didn’t know the true emotional repercussions of that abandonment until many years later. My mother was haunted by her mistake and although she tried to make amends, the initial wounds never quite healed. I believe the effects of abandonment ripple through generations and I hadn’t realised how this affected me until I started writing. As a mother, I can’t imagine having to give up a child, but it happened to many women in the '50s and '60 and still does.
My primary interest lies in relationship stories, especial how our relationship with our original family shapes our future relationships. I also like to transport people to another world. Mostly I’m interested in people. We are the stories.
My background as a writer is in journalism. Firstly, as a fashion journalist and secondly as an interiors journalist. I work with new writers, preparing them for the world of publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 14, 2022
Christmas Day by Sara James
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group and I am leaving this review voluntarily
During a heady holiday in France, Lori makes one mistake she hopes she can forget. Years later and Lori never thinks of that day - until her mistake makes himself known to her daughter, Ceri, insisting he's her father.
Ceri wants answers but her mother doesn't want to give them. She's already paid the price for the secrets she's kept. But as Christmas draws near, can Lori heal her family's rift - as well as her own heart?
I didn't really connect with this book. The title is misleading - it is not very Christmassy. I appear to be in the minority not enjoying this book but unfortunately it was just not the book for me.
Rating 2/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group and I am leaving this review voluntarily
During a heady holiday in France, Lori makes one mistake she hopes she can forget. Years later and Lori never thinks of that day - until her mistake makes himself known to her daughter, Ceri, insisting he's her father.
Ceri wants answers but her mother doesn't want to give them. She's already paid the price for the secrets she's kept. But as Christmas draws near, can Lori heal her family's rift - as well as her own heart?
I didn't really connect with this book. The title is misleading - it is not very Christmassy. I appear to be in the minority not enjoying this book but unfortunately it was just not the book for me.
Rating 2/5
October 28, 2021
This book definitely got me in the mood for Christmas - but more than that, it's such a heartwarming, life-affirming novel; and the secret at its heart means it's impossible to stop turning the pages. It's beautifully written. We follow the four main characters, seeing their heady student days, and in particular an unforgettable French holiday, and then jumping to 'now' and the responsibilities and complications of being middle-aged and a parent. I didn't want it to end.
September 19, 2022
What a thoroughly immersive and exquisitely written novel this is. All the characters are excellently drawn and James paints a most convincing and intriguing story with a fair amount of sexual tension thrown in. I adored the settings — Paris and Sydney to name but two, and I found the story wonderfully escapist. But for me, what stands out most is Sara James' mastery of language. Her writing has real literary flair while being unselfconscious and easy to read. She mines the emotions of her characters deeply and a real wisdom sings out of her words. This is a joy of a book which I highly recommend.
October 21, 2021
I received an advance copy of, Christmas Day, by Sara James. I thought with the title, Christmas Day, this book would be Christmasy, but its not. I tried to like this book, but I could not.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews