It’s that time of year again, snowflakes are fluttering and the countdown to Christmas has begun! Holly Devine is returning to the only place that feels like home, hoping that some festive magic will help to turn her life around… eccentric Aunt Clara’s cosy cottage to hide away over the winter season. But kind, impulsive Aunt Clara has other ideas… She’s not about to see her favourite niece wallowing in sadness during the most wonderful time of the year. So, with the help of her close circle of friends and plenty of gin, she creates a handmade advent calendar for Holly.
Every day in December, Holly opens a new door and has a different task to complete. She soon finds herself asking out a complete stranger – gorgeous, cheeky pub landlord, Finn Jackson. But as handsome Finn gets involved in her festive challenges, Holly’s determination to avoid romance is put to the test. Still, Finn’s far too carefree and single for true love, isn’t he?
As Holly begins to embrace each day – a complete makeover, building the biggest snowman she’s ever seen, singing in a karaoke contest – Finn is there adding fun and laughter to every moment. Holly starts to realise that she can become the person she’s always wanted to be…
But a secret from Finn’s past threatens to turn Holly’s Christmas upside down and makes her question everything she has experienced in the last few weeks. Will Finn open up to Holly in time to show her how he really feels? And will she complete the advent calendar challenges and fall in love this Christmas?
It’s time to curl up for a delicious Christmas romance about daring to take chances, opening yourself up to love, and being true to who you really are. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Debbie Johnson and Debbie Macomber.
Readers are falling in love with The Christmas Countdown!
‘Oh how I loved this book. Spent my whole afternoon reading it and once I finished it, I was filled with joy… You get so involved with these characters… Honestly this was such a good book. Would recommend it to everyone.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I have absolutely loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. Donna Ashcroft engaged me from the very start. This book is so good, I finished it in just two hours. Definitely deserves a five star rating. I love the writing style used in this book! Should be a must read for everyone.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This was such a heartwarming Christmas romance and I absolutely loved Holly and Finn and was smiling through all their cute moments. This book made me so happy!!!!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A delight of a book. Friendship, romance and the constant wondering about what the next day’s surprise will bring. A real feel good story of the days leading up to Christmas.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fantastic book, my first by this author and I couldn’t put down. I hope this will become a series. Quick enjoyable read.’ Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I adored the Christmas-y setting… While this is a super cute romance story, the main plot, at least, as I viewed it, was about Holly finding herself… Sunflower Island is a perfect setting for adorable romantic comedies and I would love to see more stories set here. It was a totally feel-good story that made me excited for Christmas.’ Books Over Everything ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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I literally didn’t want to put it down once I’d started it and I’d finished it in a day. The characters are likeable and you get thoroughly caught up in the story as it unfolds. Holly has had a public breakup and needs to escape for a while. She goes to stay with her Aunt Clara and with the help of new found friends and an advent calendar of new experiences to try she heals her broken heart. Enter Finn , who hides his own heartache behind an exterior of fun and flirtatiousness. The two have chemistry right from their first meeting. Their interactions and verbal sparring a pleasure to read. This is a heartwarming festive read and I’ll definitely read more by this author.
I loved the moral of being true to yourself. It’s so easy when life gives us tragedy to lose sight of who we are. The lovely ladies on Sunflower Island take Holly under their wing and by designing an advent of challenges they help her reunite with her missing identity. Finn finds courage and love by helping Holly.
I absolutely loved it…from start to finish. Well written!!
It was a sweet story of a girl trying to find herself after betrayal and heartbreak and a boy trying to hide from a past and an aunt everyone would want in their life helping the girl recover who helps the boy recover.
The Christmas countdownBy Donna Ashcroft is the perfect Book to get you into the spirit of Christmas. This is the 2nd book of Donna Ashcroft’s I’ve read and again it did not disappoint.
It’s that time of year again, snowflakes are fluttering and the countdown to Christmas has begun! Holly Devine is returning to the only place that feels like home, hoping that some festive magic will help to turn her life around…
Twenty-seven-year-old Holly Devine has just had her heart well and truly broken. Hurt by the two people she loves the most, she flees to her eccentric Aunt Clara’s cosy cottage to hide away over the winter season. But kind, impulsive Aunt Clara has other ideas… She’s not about to see her favourite niece wallowing in sadness during the most wonderful time of the year. So, with the help of her close circle of friends and plenty of gin, she creates a handmade advent calendar for Holly.
Every day in December, Holly opens a new door and has a different task to complete. She soon finds herself asking out a complete stranger – gorgeous, cheeky pub landlord, Finn Jackson. But as handsome Finn gets involved in her festive challenges, Holly’s determination to avoid romance is put to the test. Still, Finn’s far too carefree and single for true love, isn’t he?
As Holly begins to embrace each day – a complete makeover, building the biggest snowman she’s ever seen, singing in a karaoke contest – Finn is there adding fun and laughter to every moment. Holly starts to realise that she can become the person she’s always wanted to be…
But a secret from Finn’s past threatens to turn Holly’s Christmas upside down and makes her question everything she has experienced in the last few weeks. Will Finn open up to Holly in time to show her how he really feels? And will she complete the advent calendar challenges and fall in love this Christmas?
I literally didn’t want to put it down once I’d started it and I finished it in one sitting. The characters are likeable and you get thoroughly caught up in the story as it unfolds. This is a heartwarming holiday read and I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Bookouture and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Christmas Countdown is the fourth novel by British author Donna Ashcroft. The story begins as Holly Devine arrives at her Aunt Clara’s home on Sunflower Island in the English Channel. Holly is escaping one of the worst nights of her life. At the early office Christmas party at her father’s design firm, Holly found her identical twin Lucinda kissing her boyfriend Marcel in a darkened hallway under the mistletoe. As the two sisters share a flat, Holly’s only avenue of escape was the welcoming arms of her aunt.
When Holly arrives she finds her aunt and a special group of friends, dubbed the Women’s Institute, in Aunt Clara’s Gin Palace. This is a structure built behind her cottage for the purpose of pursuing Aunt Clara’s love of producing gin and gin products. However, due to the lack of enticing packaging and promotion the stocks are stored everywhere and sell nowhere.
Once Holly turns in, the ladies of the WI decide upon a way to help Holly find her true self once again. Since Holly’s mother died, Holly has been the steel keeping her dad and sister together. Lucinda is emotionally fragile and acting out to garner the limelight. Her father sunk himself into his business. Holly became a shadow, even to her choice of clothing, which used to show her flare for design. Her Aunt Clara presents Holly with an advent calendar of tasks to help Holly come into her own the following morning.
Her first challenge is to ask a perfect stranger out on a date. Her chance meeting, while walking her aunt’s giant dog Bernard, with Pub owner Finn Jackson not only helps Holly to meet this requirement but also leads to a most interesting relationship.
This is a wonderful story of self discovery. It also deals with grief indirectly, showing how two people can use self discovery to overcome their deep grief and forge a new future. I did very much enjoy this book and I do recommend it!