I bought this book as a present for a friend. I bought it from BooksExpress.ro. I chose it because of the beautiful cover and the small description it had. My friend is single and I wanted a Christmassy book with a single lady bumping into love.
Cosy up in front of a fire and discover Christmas the Norwegian way...full of romance, cosy traditions and hygge! In the bleak midwinter…A really frosty wind is making Holly’s life absolutely miserable
After all the years of hard work it took Londoner Holly Greene to become a doctor, now it could all be taken away and she only has herself to blame. She’s retreating to her brother’s rustic home on an island off the coast of Norway to lick her wounds. Only, it’s the middle of winter and icy slush plus endless darkness isn’t exactly the cheery, festive getaway she had imagined.
Nearly stumbling off the edge of a cliff in the dark, Holly is saved by Frøy, a yellow-eyed cat of fearsome but fluffy proportions, and his owner – grouchy, bearded recluse, Tor. Tor has his own problems to face but the inexplicable desire to leave a bag of freshly baked gingerbread men on Holly’s doorstep is seriously getting in the way of his hermit routine.
Call it kindness, call it Christmas, but Holly’s arrival means midwinter has never looked less bleak.
I read it too. I don't want to give presents to people I love books I didn't enjoy reading. So I read it in a few days. I love it, loved the Christmassy atmosphere full of traditions, the romance and the hope that shines through it's words. There are some beautiful scenes painted with words, like the time they went shopping for presents in a beautiful small Norwegian town, the pastry and cakes filled bakery, the meal they had outside near a big camp-fire, the Christmas fair with different stalls selling all kind of things Christmas related, from food to decorations, the sunrise as seen from a boat on the sea, the storm seen from a cliff, the traditional Christmas dinner with traditional Norwegian food, many friends and relatives participating and even Santa Claus/ Julenissen bringing presents.
The romance is between Holly, a doctor who has escaped her problems in London and Tor (not Thor), an architect also escaping his problems and living like a hermit on the island. It's a lovely romantic story written in PG13 style, not too many juicy details, but it's ok. I enjoyed it, it seems possible and gives you hope in love stories, it's exactly what I wanted for my friend.
I also was happy with the cakes recepies at the end of the book, maybe my friend will have the chance too cook them.
The author is Norwegian Natalie Normann, you can find her on Instagram at @natalienormann , facebook, tiktok. She followed me back on Instagram, which was so nice of her! She has written historical romance series, thrillers, children's books in Norwegian. Summer Island and Christmas Island are her first books in English.
Did you read this book? Enjoy it if you plan reading it. Kisses! Maria
