From the New York Times bestselling author of The Café by the Sea—whose novels are “an evocative, sweet treat” (JOJO MOYES)—comes this heartwarming holiday novel set on a charming Scottish island.On the remote Scottish island of Mure, the Christmas season is stark, windy, and icy—yet incredibly festive and beautiful…It’s a time for getting cozy in front of whisky barrel wood fires, and enjoying … getting cozy in front of whisky barrel wood fires, and enjoying a dram and a treacle pudding with the people you love—unless, of course, you’ve accidentally gotten pregnant by your ex-boss, and don’t know how to tell him. In the season for peace and good cheer, will Flora find the nerve to reveal the truth to her nearest and dearest? Will her erstwhile co-parent Joel think she’s the bearer of glad tidings—or is this Christmas going to be as bleak as the Highlands in midwinter?
Meanwhile Saif, a doctor and refugee from war-torn Syria is trying to enjoy his first western Christmas with his sons on this remote island where he’s been granted asylum. His wife, however, is still missing, and her absence hangs over what should be a joyful celebration. Can the family possibly find comfort and joy without her?
Travel to the beautiful northern edge of the world and join the welcoming community of Mure for a Highland Christmas you’ll never forget! And warm up your kitchen with bonus recipes for the Little Beach Street Bakery’s seasonal shortbread, Lanark Blue Scones, and Black Buns.
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So much to love–Scotland. An island setting. Christmas. I live on an island myself and I’m enamored with islands. And Christmas. AND DID I MENTION SCOTLAND?! Please read this lovely holiday book from a perennial favorite.
I want to go to this Scottish island now…
It’s wonderful to go back to the island of Mure and spend time with our friends from the two previous books in the Summer Seaside Kitchen series. This time instead of summer, its the coldest part of the winter and there are all sorts of new problems going on in Mure.
(Note: This series needs to be read in order to totally enjoy it.)
This book continues with the love story between Flora and Joel, the sickness of Colton and the love between him and Fintan and the acclimation of Saif and his two sons from war torn Syria to this remote island. These are the main issues but there are lots of other characters and situations in this small town. Everyone knows everyone’s business in this small town and Flora is trying to keep a secret – she has gotten pregnant and has no idea of how Joel will react to the news based on his issues with his family growing up. Colton is dying of cancer and his husband Fintan (also Flora’s brother) is distraught when Colton’s brother comes to visit. Saif is their well liked town doctor who still feels very different from everyone. He is trying to help his sons acclimate to their new lives. At the same time he is waiting to hear about whether his wife is dead or alive, he is also falling in love with the school teacher. So there is no lack of drama but along with it are laughs and tears.
I definitely enjoyed this book and hope that there is another book about these characters in Jenny Colgan’s plans.
Thanks to librarything for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Christmas on the remote Scottish island of Mure? Yes, please! I love this group of characters and was glad to catch up with them. This was a great holiday read, though not just a light read — there was so much great emotion and family and friend drama in addition to romance. I really enjoyed it.
Christmas on the Island is another charming story from Jenny Colgan, from her “Island” series! Come for her opening chapter, from a dog’s point of view no less (!) and stay for her lovely setting, an island off the coast of the Scottish Highlands, and her delightful cast of characters…you can even feel sympathy for her “villains.” Jenny tackles serious issues like loss, illness, and love affairs that seem destined to fail, yet throughout the novel you’ll find humor, whimsy, and warmth. Also, the storyline doesn’t focus too much on Christmas, so you can enjoy this book year-round!
Jenny Colgan is one of my favorite authors!
Colgan is always a lovely read! Great lovable characters abound!
I just finished this book and every turn was a surprise. I loved the build up of characters and just how unpredictable every turn of the page could be. Love the characters and the stories they wove together. Great read!
A wonderful end to the Mure Island series. So many things going on, tears and smiles both. As great as all the other Jenny Colgan books.
I always enjoy books from this author, but this was not a winner for me. The story continued from 2 previous books in this series and I was excited to see how things progressed with the characters. As the story picked up speed towards the end, it simply ended. Kind of like a slow freight train that hit a brick wall. There were quite a few things happening that didn’t seem resolved.
This is my first book written by Jenny Colgan. I hate to say I wasn’t very impressed. I didn’t like the politics that were brought into the story because politics had nothing to do with the storyline. The language that was used throughout the book was getting very offensive and I am not easily offended. There were some good parts the characters were quirky, the Island made me want to be there. It was a quick and easy read but not my kind of book.
*I hate leaving negative reviews, but I have to be honest. Plus, my experience with Jenny Colgan’s writing started off fairly positively, so now I feel like a traitor writing this…
I enjoyed Jenny Colgan’s Little Beach Street Bakery, but I have struggled to like any of her other books, mostly because her characters, and particularly her heroes, lack depth or character development. The love interests also seem very forced together, so much so that I skim the romantic parts because the characters are so shallow that they lack chemistry, and so the romances are just not believable.
In this book, her backstory on the refugee character, and his struggles with adapting to his new culture, were very good, and I found them moving, but the relationship between him and the Island character was stilted and underdeveloped.
I also dislike books in which the female protagonist is a doormat and lets her significant other treat her any way he likes just because of “love”. To me, that’s just pop culture drivel.
Anyways, if you don’t mind underdeveloped characters and the main characters being content with dysfunctional relationships, then this book is a nice light read.
You will want to move to Mure Island. Wonderful Christmas story. Make to read the author credits, a reminder of how small our world truly is and how every life is important.
Favorite Quotes:
…when you grow up somewhere with a population of about a thousand, secret internet shopping came as a boon on par with electricity…
I am definitely and absolutely in the process of considering getting around to telling Joel…
I just wanted to say, if you guys want to keep this secret, you have to stop ignoring everyone else to stare at each other like you want to eat each other up. I mean it, honestly, it’s gross. It’s putting people off their mince pies.
My Review:
This was the third book in the series but my first visit to the island of Mure, so I was unfamiliar with the daunting number of characters residing there, although I quickly grew to adore their individual oddities and the quirkiness of the small community and greedily covet all the previous books as well as all books written by this gifted scribbler. The writing flowed smoothly and easily drew clear visuals across my gray matter as effortlessly as a movie reel. I was transported and felt the chill of their winter and heard the howl of the wind. The storylines were insightfully written and eloquently hit all the feels, although considerable tragedy and real-world problems were front and center despite the season. My eyes may have been stinging and my throat may have closed up a few times, sigh. This author has to have mad skills to have squeezed my cold heart. Her word voodoo is strong.
What a wonderful, sweet, holiday read!! Highly recommend this book.
One of my favorite authors. Endearing characters, set against the beautiful backdrop of the Scottish Isle of Mure, and a happily ever after,
For all you Jenny Colgan and Summer kitchen fans, you will all be thrilled to know that you can now get your hands on the third installment of the series, called Christmas on the Island, and I will warn you all! You will need your tissues! And to me, this book doesn’t seem to be the end… which for me is fantastic! And now if only we could get the author to write the next installment of Bookshop on the Corner!!
Now on to the story, and of course Flora is there, still dealing with Joel and his issues! Though who could blame him with his past! But then a something big happens! And you hope Joel can get his crap together so he doesn’t muck it all up!
There are Coltan and Fintan, and I honestly cannot even talk about them without crying like a little baby! Damn it, Jenny Colgan! Why did you have to rip my heart out!!!!
There there is Dr. Seif and the boys and they are still adjusting to life with each other and life on Mure and add on top of that Christmas! So wonder he is struggling to comes to grip with all his feelings.
Now I could go on and on about how truly talented the author is and who her books whisk me away to a land I want to live is, how outstanding her writing is… which is 100% true! But instead I want you to walk into your nearest bookstore (or library) and grab yourself a book, and fall in love with her work like the rest of us are!
I give Christmas on the Island 5 (billion) stars!