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a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
Definitely one of the better MF’s I’ve read in awhile, this brought a great sense of Christmas spirit as it follows MC Kate as she puts herself through 12 prearranged holiday dates in the hopes of finding a love connection.
These dates range from fun to funny to off kilter disbelief and indignation as Kate encounters all sorts which makes for quite the entertaining read. Toss in a harried best friend for comedic relief, a lovely dear old dad, a truly aggravating narcissistic mom, and the requisite male buddy that shares a complex history with our heroine.
Just a heads up. This was tame. I’m not saying explicitness is always needed and not all explicitness will get my heart racing but this didn’t do anything for me at all. Just some kissing and a few lusty thoughts for those who need to know. This is also quite a very long book, laden with descriptions and setting up every scene to full wintery detail. Where this shines is the small town life in all its quaint charm and exasperating nosiness.
One surprising thing here that’s notable for just myself. Kate never really irked or annoyed me and that is truly a rarity when it comes to female protagonists in any shape or form. For the most part, she was reasonable and grounded, and pretty consistent in her decision making. I wouldn’t say no to being her friend. So, I actually liked her more than her romantic love interest who had his charming moments here and there but never really felt fully fleshed out for me to fall in love with.
Admittedly, I’m a bit disgruntled that this lengthy story didn’t bother to give me a much needed epilogue, but overall, this was still a charming holiday read!
Definitely one of the better MF’s I’ve read in awhile, this brought a great sense of Christmas spirit as it follows MC Kate as she puts herself through 12 prearranged holiday dates in the hopes of finding a love connection.
These dates range from fun to funny to off kilter disbelief and indignation as Kate encounters all sorts which makes for quite the entertaining read. Toss in a harried best friend for comedic relief, a lovely dear old dad, a truly aggravating narcissistic mom, and the requisite male buddy that shares a complex history with our heroine.
Just a heads up. This was tame. I’m not saying explicitness is always needed and not all explicitness will get my heart racing but this didn’t do anything for me at all. Just some kissing and a few lusty thoughts for those who need to know. This is also quite a very long book, laden with descriptions and setting up every scene to full wintery detail. Where this shines is the small town life in all its quaint charm and exasperating nosiness.
One surprising thing here that’s notable for just myself. Kate never really irked or annoyed me and that is truly a rarity when it comes to female protagonists in any shape or form. For the most part, she was reasonable and grounded, and pretty consistent in her decision making. I wouldn’t say no to being her friend. So, I actually liked her more than her romantic love interest who had his charming moments here and there but never really felt fully fleshed out for me to fall in love with.
Admittedly, I’m a bit disgruntled that this lengthy story didn’t bother to give me a much needed epilogue, but overall, this was still a charming holiday read!
roseyreadsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book felt like reading a Hallmark story. It was cute and funny with lots of cozy winter vibes
suzyq436's review against another edition
4.0
A cute and engaging British chick-lit with a sprinkle of Christmas. What more could you want?!
I loved this book from the random dates to the typical small English village vibes to the cutsie romance that ensues. Truly adorable and perfect for the Christmas season!
I loved this book from the random dates to the typical small English village vibes to the cutsie romance that ensues. Truly adorable and perfect for the Christmas season!
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
4.0
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I was just browsing Audible.com a few weeks ago when they had a sale on selected titles and was looking for Christmas-themed books when I stumbled across The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss. I decided to take a chance based upon the reviews I read.
Do you want a light and fluffy romance where all the characters are attractive, the problems aren’t that dark, and true love lives on in the end? I’m not saying the problems Kate has aren’t big, but even the subplots don’t involve issues that are more serious than an After School Special. And that’s just the point: this a feel-good holiday book with true love at the end of the story. I don’t know about you, but around the holiday, when I even have time to read, I want something lighthearted.
As Kate progresses on these 12 dates of Christmas set up through a dating service, I do have to say that she had the right attitude going in. That these dates were supposed to be fun, get you in the holiday spirit, and maybe, just maybe, find a love match. Or at the least, a lust match for a hookup. So many times the trope in a book is that the person being thrown into dating is reluctant to do so, and that was refreshing to have Kate be a willing participant in the dating plan.
The men Kate meets are all attractive and somewhat successful, and in some cases, if the situation were different, something would have sparked with Kate and the man into something more. All the dates were creative, festive and unique, yet still maintaining that traditional English cheer. There are so many other reasons to love this book: the picturesque English village (one of these days I’ve just got to stop reading about these villages and go visit one), a community of close-knit people celebrating traditional English Christmas tidings was wonderful. There’s a real sense of comradery and support for one another with the characters that makes you more invested in them.
One last thing: make sure you’re well-fed as you read this book, because the descriptions of all the food and drink made me so hungry! Everything sounded fabulous; it reminded me much of the feasts mentioned in my beloved Nancy Drew books.
I was just browsing Audible.com a few weeks ago when they had a sale on selected titles and was looking for Christmas-themed books when I stumbled across The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss. I decided to take a chance based upon the reviews I read.
Do you want a light and fluffy romance where all the characters are attractive, the problems aren’t that dark, and true love lives on in the end? I’m not saying the problems Kate has aren’t big, but even the subplots don’t involve issues that are more serious than an After School Special. And that’s just the point: this a feel-good holiday book with true love at the end of the story. I don’t know about you, but around the holiday, when I even have time to read, I want something lighthearted.
As Kate progresses on these 12 dates of Christmas set up through a dating service, I do have to say that she had the right attitude going in. That these dates were supposed to be fun, get you in the holiday spirit, and maybe, just maybe, find a love match. Or at the least, a lust match for a hookup. So many times the trope in a book is that the person being thrown into dating is reluctant to do so, and that was refreshing to have Kate be a willing participant in the dating plan.
The men Kate meets are all attractive and somewhat successful, and in some cases, if the situation were different, something would have sparked with Kate and the man into something more. All the dates were creative, festive and unique, yet still maintaining that traditional English cheer. There are so many other reasons to love this book: the picturesque English village (one of these days I’ve just got to stop reading about these villages and go visit one), a community of close-knit people celebrating traditional English Christmas tidings was wonderful. There’s a real sense of comradery and support for one another with the characters that makes you more invested in them.
One last thing: make sure you’re well-fed as you read this book, because the descriptions of all the food and drink made me so hungry! Everything sounded fabulous; it reminded me much of the feasts mentioned in my beloved Nancy Drew books.
sophrolijkbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Super leuk verhaal! Tussen die twaalf dates zit voor iedereen wel een herkenbare date denk ik! Verder is Laura, de beste vriendin, echt een leuk karakter, maakt het verhaal wat grappiger. Natuurlijk is het gewoon voorspelbaar a la kerstfilm op Netflix, maar daar was ik precies naar op zoek.
Wat ik ook erg leuk vond is hoe de Britse natuur in de winter steeds wordt omschreven, je krijgt echt een mooi winters beeld en zin om warme chocomel of een grote kop thee te drinken.
Wat ik ook erg leuk vond is hoe de Britse natuur in de winter steeds wordt omschreven, je krijgt echt een mooi winters beeld en zin om warme chocomel of een grote kop thee te drinken.
jquinn's review against another edition
1.0
Reading what the book was about seemed perfect for this time of year. A romantic Christmas book! Just what I been looking for!
There were spelling errors, grammar errors, and I couldn't get past the writing. All I read was two pages.
There were spelling errors, grammar errors, and I couldn't get past the writing. All I read was two pages.
stephbbrown's review against another edition
3.0
This was a sweet book for the holidays with the predictability I love in my Hallmark Christmas movies, but I can’t help but think I would prefer this as a movie. I found myself skimming over many of the descriptions and near the end of the twelve dates I was just waiting to get to the big moment we knew was coming from very early on. I’m sure I will read it again during the holidays because it does give you the warm and fuzzy holiday feeling — and if it comes out as a movie it will definitely be on my repeat watch list!
yara_adorablebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Wat een leuk en lief boek, zo'n fijne feelgood voor de kerst!
slicciardi's review against another edition
3.0
This was good but I liked A Season of Second Chances better.
lanahugs11's review against another edition
4.0
At times I thought mulled wine might actually drip from the pages. A great holiday read! Also, books are always better when they come from a friend’s library like this one kindly did