Book Review: The Christmas Escape

Get away from it all and find Christmas romance in a winter wonderland with Sarah Morgan’s festive read ‘The Christmas Escape

Book Cover of The Christmas Escape by Sarah Morgan, pictured next to gloved hands holding a mug of hot chocolate on a grey table

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If you’ve spent the last two years at home, you might need to get away from it all by now. But if that’s not possible right now, Sarah Morgan’s new novel The Christmas Escape is the next best thing!

Christy’s dilapidated country cottage needs so much work that she’s starting to feel like it’s declaring war against her. But that’s OK, because in a few days, she’ll be flying off to Lapland with her husband Seb, young daughter Holly and best friend Alix. They’ll be spending Christmas at the Lapland lodge retreat owned by Christy’s aunt Robyn. She’s the black sheep of the family who Christy has never met.

But of course, things can’t run as smoothly as that.

So when Christy reads an intimate email from her husband to another woman, her world seems to be falling apart. To cut a long story short, Christy and Seb stay on for a few extra days in the UK before joining Alix, Holly and Seb’s best friend Zac out in Lapland.

Alix and Zac haven’t spoken since the day before Christy and Seb’s wedding, when Alix nearly brought the whole event crashing down. So how on earth will they cope with looking after Holly together? And will Christy and Seb be able to work out their own problems, yet alone bringing an estranged aunt into the mix?

I really enjoyed reading The Christmas Escape. It’s a wonderfully festive story that has a cast full of complex characters. With the exception of sparky little Holly, the main characters all have some flaws that need to be worked through. In the process, they all learn some important lessons about their relationships with each other.

But as well as developing these relationships brilliantly, Sarah Morgan never forgets that this is a Christmas novel. The stunning Lapland setting steals the show time and time again. I wanted to jump straight on a plane when I read about the delicious food and the beautiful forest setting.

If you’ve never visited Lapland, you’re sure to fall in love with it after reading this book. There are also some very funny moments, particularly involving Christy and her cottage. And Sarah Morgan cleverly ties up all of the different stories in a very satisfying way.

This book is sure to get you in the Christmas mood, so grab yourself a mug of hot chocolate and snuggle up under a cosy blanket. The Christmas Escape will soon transport you to a Christmas wonderland.

The blurb…

It was supposed to be Christy Sullivan’s perfect Christmas escape – a dream trip to Lapland with her family and best friend, Alix. But facing a make-or-break marriage crisis, Christy desperately needs time alone with her husband, Seb. Her solution? Alix, along with Seb’s oldest friend, Zac, can take Christy’s daughter on the planned Lapland trip, and they will all reunite there for Christmas Day. After all, what are friends for?

There’s nothing Alix won’t do for Christy, but Christy’s plan to save Christmas is testing their friendship. Especially as Alix and Zac have a difficult history of their own.

As long-held secrets unravel, and unexpected romance shines under the Northern Lights, can Christy and Alix find the courage to fight for the relationships they really want? And could this Christmas escape save the precious gift of each other’s friendship?

A fabulously festive way to get yourself in the Christmas mood without leaving home – 8/10

The Christmas Escape is available now in Kindle and audiobook formats