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 … 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. Readers LOVE this book: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The perfect Christmassy escape!’ – Laura, Amazon Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautiful and relaxing read, full of Christmassy togetherness. I really recommend it’ – Roberta Reads ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Definitely a book to cosy up with on an English cold damp day… I was sorry when it ended’ Amazon Reviewer
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Natalie Normann’s Christmas Island is the ultimate cosy Christmas book, so busting with koselig that even recipes are included at the end. The island, its customs and inhabitants are painted so vividly I could barely stand to leave it, and kept coming back to the book when I should have been doing other things. It didn’t feel like picture postcard Norway either, more a warm depiction of a particular way of life and that made it very special.
The romance at its centre isn’t complicated – and nor should it be – but the characters are, and Holly and Tor’s thawing out to each other was an absolute joy. Their story was perfectly tensioned, without the constant will-they-won’t-they that spoils so many romance novels for me. And Froy, the fluffy giant… well, the book just wouldn’t have been the same without him.
Fabulous characters, an intriguing Norwegian island setting, and a wonderful story. I really enjoyed Natalie’s storytelling and look forward to reading her next book.
A wonderful Christmas book set on a Norwegian island with Holly, a doctor who travels to stay there with her brother to get away from London and her work problems, a hermit-like Norwegian called Tor and his amazing cat, Froy, another great character.
After her career nearly implodes, Holly escapes to a small Norwegian island to visit her brother for Christmas. There, she meets Tor, visiting from Oslo, who’s got a reputation as the local hermit. A holiday romance quickly ensues. But what happens when they both have to return to their real lives?
This book focused as much on Norwegian holiday traditions as it did on the romance. Still, it was a light, entertaining read. This is sweet romance, with no dramatized love scenes.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely adored this Christmas Romance set in Norway! There was so much Norwegian lore and traditions. I learned a lot and now want to spend Christmas in a small Norwegian island!
The romance between Tor and Holly was slow burn and amazing. Froy, the cat, was my next favorite character. All the islanders had great voices and made me want to jump right into the story to hang out with them.
If you are looking for a quick read, Christmas romance, this is a book for you!
Hoping for more romance
3.5-4 stars
This story held the promise of a good romantic plot but it got overwhelmed by the seemingly inexhaustible mountains of Norwegian Christmas treats.
I really wanted more of loner Tor and his feline sidekick. There’s obviously a reason the fellow hides himself away but once his reason was finally revealed it was quickly back to the Christmas festivities. Holly’s secret reason for abandoning London for a holiday on the island was also briefly explained well into the story and quickly passed over. Their slow build romance just had a lot of distractions and not much depth or focus on their developing relationship for me.
The author has provided a pretty detailed picture of Norwegian culinary traditions during the bleak, dark and cold lead up to Christmas. Educational, but it gave me a food hangover and a sugar rush just reading about the endless parade of pastries!
The loveliest parts of the book involved adorable toddler Rosie and the island kids; Tor revealing his feelings and thoughts; and the bittersweet end to their holiday with its aftermath. I would have enjoyed the book more with larger helpings of these and less food talk. I preferred Summer Island, the author’s romance about Holly’s brother Jack and Ninni although this finale did pack some good emotional content.
Thanks to publishers Harper Collins/One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Christmas Island is a lovely contemporary romance that proves that, even in the middle of a cold and dark winter, romance is alive. Set on an island off the coast of Norway, the story is immersive and rich in Nordic traditions and culture. I enjoyed learning more about how they celebrate the holidays and appreciated all the vivid imagery. The author really brought the island, the culture, and the holiday spirit to life. The food, in particular, is described in mouth-watering and vivid detail. I felt like I could smell the delicious pastries and cookies that were prepared and eaten throughout the story, and you can imagine how delighted I was to see some of the recipes at the end of the book!
Another great aspect of the novel is the characters. Holly is a funny and quirky protagonist who is a bit out of her element on this isolated island. Tor, the hunky hermit and Holly’s love interest, is the strong, silent, and brooding type. The slow-building romance between Holly and Tor is also wonderful. They complement each other well, and they have great chemistry. I like that, though both seemed to be hiding from their realities back home, they found each other on the island. Other characters, like the local teacher and business owners, as well as Tor’s cat, have fantastic personalities and highlight the charm of the island.
Another aspect of the story that I really liked was the way in which the author told Holly and Tor’s backstories. We know that they are both on the island because they are trying to get away, but it is unclear what they are getting away from. An incident at work has out Holly’s career in jeopardy, and it appears that Tor is still healing from a romantic wound. Their stories slowly unfold as they get to know each other, which I enjoyed. Slowly revealing their lives created well-developed characters and an interesting story.
A great contemporary romance set on a secluded Norwegian island, Christmas Island is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Thanks so much to One More Chapter and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Christmas Island by Natalie Norman is an excellent Christmas romance that was wonderful in every way.
I loved the location of the small, isolated island off the Nordic coast that was close enough (a ferry ride away) to the mainland, but yet far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the cities to feel cute, quirky, homey, and romantic.
I loved the use of the traditional concept of two lost souls trying to overcome current obstacles, at a crossroads within their own lives, trying to decide what their true purpose should be-finding one another on neutral territory, and in the process, finding themselves.
Holly and Tor are prefect options for this story. Holly, a Doctor from London in limbo, and Tor, the architect with a personal loss from Oslo. Both have escaped their current circumstances and have come to be on the island for different reasons (yet are they really so different after all?). Both keep running into each other, both help one another to work through their respective problems as romance blooms. Their attraction and chemistry is obvious, and they seem perfectly matched. I liked both as personable, realistic, and like able characters. They are flawed, but perfect for one another.
I also loved the full character cast. The town has unique and quirky characters, their own personal traits and customs unique to their own culture and upbringings. They rounded out the story quite well.
The two things I loved even more then Tor, Holly, and the perfect ending:
1. All the wonderful, delectable, and mouth-watering pastry, desert, breakfast, bread, and Nordic recipes. There were so many times I found myself looking up recipes and wanting to know more. I was so excited to see the added recipes in the back. I am most definitely going to make the Christmas cake, but now I need to find recipes for the gingerbread men and the soft gingerbread heart cakes that have the chocolate icing on top. Holy moly!
2. One word: Froy. He is the best feline character I have read in a very long time!!! Love him!
This festive Nordic romance hit the spot and has placed me in holiday spirit. This needs to be made into a Christmas movie. I loved it!
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and OneMoreChapter for this excellent ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/30/20.
What a wonderfully fun and lighthearted Christmas story! 3.75 stars from me!
This story is set on a Norwegian island and the intricate details of life in that region of Norway had me Googling photos and airfare lol. The only Scadanavian books I’ve read prior are Nordic Noirs, so this story was totally opposite of what I’m used to and I was all here for it!
Quick summary: As Christmas approaches, Holly has some stuff going on back home in London and decides to head to the Norwegian Island her brother lives on. Tor is also vacationing on the island along with his cat, Froy. Tor’s a bit reclusive and everyone referred to him as “The Hermit.” A friendship ensues.
I love a good holiday romance where they start out as friends. They were instantly attracted to one another, but they let the relationship build in a slower, more lasting way. Building that foundation first.
I enjoyed learning about all the Norwegian holiday traditions, learning of the kind of food they eat, how they have to dress in the winter, etc. It was fun to learn about Norway while reading about this sweet romance.
If you like a slower build romance, this will be a great fit for you. If you’re looking for an instant love that’s hot and steamy, this probably won’t work for you.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for the e-galley in exchange for my honest thoughts.