Dreaming of Christmas by T.A. Williams

 

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 1019 KB
• Print Length: 234 pages
• Publisher: Canelo Escape (27 Aug. 2018)
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B07FNN51CW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

Dumped on Christmas Eve by her long-term boyfriend, it’s been a rough year for Zoe Lumsley. But then she gets an invitation she can’t refuse: an all expenses paid skiing holiday with old university friends.

The bad news: her ex, Grant, will be there with his new girlfriend. But so will her former flatmate Billy, the organiser, and in the meantime he’s done rather well for himself. As Christmas in the Alps approaches, it’ll be great to see the old gang. Some more than others…

 

 

Review

Dreaming of Christmas is the first book by T.A.Williams that I have read, but it won’t be the last.  This is such a beautiful and enjoyable book to read that really captured the spirit of Christmas for me. What a difference a year makes for Zoe Lumsley who is dumped by her boyfriend of ten years on Christmas Eve, but after a  difficult year she finds herself on an all expenses vacation to Austria with her old university housemates.  The only downside is her ex will be there, but not even he can spoil the festive fun.

The setting for Dreaming for Christmas is simply magical; the snow covered Austrian Alps, and a five star hotel the looks like it its from a fairytale with its Christmas trees and decorations.  This idyllic setting is the backdrop for the old friends to reconnect and catch up on the last ten years.  Zoe is worried at seeing her ex and being judged at being single in her thirties, but she soon finds out that the others are all hiding secrets and that their lives are not as perfect as they first seem.  Zoe is the friend they all go to for advice, and soon finds herself the keeper of others secrets and trying to sort out marital problems.  Her relationship with Billy, the multi millionaire tech company owner who has paid for the holiday, is endearing.  Billy has shed his geeky look and is the one person that Zoe can confide in whilst the others are confiding in her.  However, it is Billy’s puppy Archie who steals the show in this book for me, he brings humour and plenty of love to all the guests.

T.A Williams has the ability to transport you to the Alps and make you feel part of the story, the characters feel familiar who you invest in and want them all to be happy. He weaves all the different dynamics and relationships together with ease, and there is plenty of humour and surprises along the way that add to the readability of the book. It is testament to how much I loved this book that I read it in one evening.

Dreaming of Christmas is beautifully written, the prose flows seamlessly, the characters are well developed and their interaction is very natural and have everyday  problems that makes them relatable.   The narrative is engaging, and the attention to detail fills your senses with the sights and sounds of Austria, and has a fun and festive feel.  This book is pure escapism, perfect for curling up in front of a fire with a mulled wine or hot chocolate; the perfect Christmas read.

 

 

 

 

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