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spikeabell's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I enjoyed it for what it was. I was feeling tired, hot and a bit unwell. A story with lots of interrelationship drama set in UK winter with plenty of cozy elements suited me just fine.
shareen17's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this at first because I didn't find a lot of the characters very likable. However the characters grew on me and I couldn't resist the charm of a group of people gathering in an old stone house in a village in Scotland at Christmas.
brigmr13's review against another edition
4.0
Very comforting wintertime read with a strong sense of place. The snowy English countryside called for pairing with hot black tea. I dare say I may re-read this next December.
geelovesbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cheekylaydee's review
5.0
This is basically a great big warm hug of a book! It gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I read it every year on the run up to Christmas and every time I open it's pages it's like revisiting old friends. It just gets better and better.
Oscar Blundell tragically loses his wife and young daughter in a car crash and retreats to a house in Scotland that he owns half of, intending to spend a subdued Christmas with the support of his dear friend Elfrida. However it just so happens that there are a few people who end up taking up residence in the spare rooms of the big house over Christmas and it's a far cry from Oscar's original plans. However, now that he cannot hide himsef away in his cacoon of grief the healing process truly starts to begin.
This really is a heart warming tale. One of the things I like about it is that all the tension is beneath the surface. Every character has thier own story to tell but it's not steeped in high drama. You get the feeling that these are real people and they behave like real people would. There are no villians, just real genuinely likeable characters, and the author's done a very clever job of connecting them seamlessly until the threads of their stories are all picked up in one place.
It's rare for me to actually look forward to being able to read a book again and Winter Solstice is the perfect book to get you into the festive spirit.
A truly beautiful book.
Oscar Blundell tragically loses his wife and young daughter in a car crash and retreats to a house in Scotland that he owns half of, intending to spend a subdued Christmas with the support of his dear friend Elfrida. However it just so happens that there are a few people who end up taking up residence in the spare rooms of the big house over Christmas and it's a far cry from Oscar's original plans. However, now that he cannot hide himsef away in his cacoon of grief the healing process truly starts to begin.
This really is a heart warming tale. One of the things I like about it is that all the tension is beneath the surface. Every character has thier own story to tell but it's not steeped in high drama. You get the feeling that these are real people and they behave like real people would. There are no villians, just real genuinely likeable characters, and the author's done a very clever job of connecting them seamlessly until the threads of their stories are all picked up in one place.
It's rare for me to actually look forward to being able to read a book again and Winter Solstice is the perfect book to get you into the festive spirit.
A truly beautiful book.
cemoses's review
3.0
This is a pleasant and relaxing book. The beginning is very slow. The book reminds me a bit of a Maeve Binchy book but generally the plots in Binchy's books are better.
positivewoman2013's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 It took me a bit to get into, but once I did the characters were great. She wove in a lot of characters and their backgrounds into lives I cared about. Was not a rushed story.