A Surprise Christmas Wedding

Phillipa Ashley

Oct 2020 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

Curl up with the new festive romance from the Top 10 bestselling author of A Perfect Cornish Christmas. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Trisha Ashley.

‘Sparkling and festive, as satisfying as figgy pudding and clotted cream – loved it!’ Milly Johnson

It’s been a year since Lottie’s fiancé walked out, leaving her heartbroken. But things start to look up when she lands her dream job at a beautiful Lake District estate, with a handsome groundskeeper for a neighbour.

So when Lottie is asked to organise a last minute Christmas wedding at Firholme, she can’t wait to get started. Until she meets the couple, and discovers that Connor, the man who broke her heart, is the groom-to-be.

As snow falls on the hills, can Lottie put aside her past to organise the perfect winter wedding? And will there be any festive magic left to bring Lottie the perfect Christmas she deserves?

Curl up with this gorgeous story about love and second chances, perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley and Milly Johnson.

Praise for Phillipa Ashley’s books:

‘Sparkling and festive, as satisfying as figgy pudding and clotted cream – loved it!’ Milly Johnson

‘Sheer joy!’ Katie Fforde

‘Full of genuine warmth and quirky characters’ Woman’s Own

‘Serious festive escapism . . . like a big warm hug’ Popsugar

‘A page-turner of a festive read’ My Weekly

Ratings and reviews

4 star review of A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley Lottie has been through o much since her fiance Connor, left her at the altar. Offered her dream job as an event coordinator in Firholme in the Lake District, she is determined to move on with her life. The fact that she has a hunky neighbour Jay is an added bonus. However her dream job turns into a nightmare when the groom to be for the wedding she is planning turns out to be her ex Connor. Lottie will need to dig deep to plan the perfect wedding for the happy couple. Will the magic of the Christmas season bring Lottie the happiness she deserves. A Surprise Christmas was full of quirky characters that were entertaining to read about. It was a heart warming and enjoyable read. I received a copy of this book, through the publisher via Netgalley.

DNF at 55%. Lottie was devastated when her fiancé Connor broke off their engagement, especially when her beloved sister is diagnosed with cancer. One year later and she has a new job as events manager at Firholme, a newly restored country estate. She is thrilled when she is asked to arrange a wedding at short notice, it will be a chance to showcase the beautiful house at Christmas. But she is devastated to discover that the groom is non-other than her ex. His mother is ill and they want to arrange a surprise wedding before they return to Australia. Lottie is drawn to the new, rather reclusive, Firholme estate manager Jay who lives in the estate cottage next door to her, but Jay has issues of his own. This just felt so slow for me. I kept picking it up, reading a few chapters and putting it down. Eventually I decided if I had read over half and it hadn’t grabbed my attention, it was time to give up. Not even curiosity about Connor’s dodgy behaviour is enough to keep me reading. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I do love a good Christmas story filled with happiness, the reason for the season, and all the goodness Christmas can bring. This had all of it. It also read rather slow for me at times. The keeping secrets and outright lying because Lottie's X was a douche, took up way too much of the book. For years I've read that scenario and it always causes very predictable problems. Both Jay and Lottie had been burned, but neither faced their part in what was just not meant ro be. I didn’t connect with their own romance so much, they were too busy with their jobs and their own issues. I thought it had a good start, but outside forces can be a big pain. Even lovable Trevor had impeccable timing--NOT LoL. Lottie's sister and her girls needed their own book with all the ups and downs. The twins were adorable, the school play was an added plus, and a twist in the road of Jay's bah humbug attitude LoL. A good read for sure, just didn't wow me.

About the author

Phillipa Ashley writes warm, funny romantic fiction, including her bestselling Cornish Cafe series.

Phillipa lives in a Staffordshire village with her husband and has a grown-up daughter.