This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

DNF at 30%

A novel about finding comfort in friendship and family during a time of war and chaos, "Lexi's War" brings to light how to find the beauty in life even during the darkest of times.

As much as I wanted to enjoy this novel, I grew rather bored and annoyed at about chapter 3 or 4:

- The writing is extremely descriptive heavy, with little dialogue to help break this up. I find this style of writing wonderful for short stories, but not in a larger novel context.
- The author provides the reader with "information overload", making the first chapter feel 5 times longer than it actually is. I'm a reader who enjoys slowly discovering about the character's traits and past ... so this was not agreeable for my reading tastes.
- The language itself was written rather poorly --- it felt too simplistic.
- Even though there's a lot of descriptive portions going into detail about the characters, I still felt like they were "plain" and had no depth to them.

Overall, I was rather disappointed in this novel. However, I feel as though some others may enjoy this novel still, especially those looking for a light and easy read.

Review: I belive I have read books by Rosie James before. However, I enjoyed this and was hooked from the start. A great historical novel with the great warm feel that I like a novel like that to have. The characters are strong and I especially liked Lexi. When I had finished it left me wanting more.

This is a delightful story of a determined fourteen year old Lexi, living in 1914 Bath, UK. Her goal to earn enough money to buy her family a large house so they will never pay rent again. Lexi’s journey into the working world, friendships, love and heartaches. While dealing with poverty, war and death. Over four years we live through the eyes of Lexi, her mother and friends. Friendships grow and flourish. Wonderfully written. Outstanding book.

On Christmas Day was such a fabulous read, straight away I was drawn in by the characters in the book, such an uplifting read.

Excellent book. Brilliant story and I loved the main characters. I would highly recommend this book.

Set during WWI this book chronicles the struggles, friendship blossoming into romance and perseverance of young Lexi as she tries to help her family financially and hopefully to help secure them a home. Lexi is an ambitious and determined young girl and you want to see her succeed. Her father travels and is rarely at home, leaving her mom to both care and provide for the family. But Lexi does not allow her to do it on her own - from singing gigs to working in a sweetshop, young Lexi pulls her weight while dreaming of a better future for her family. But then something quite surprising happens and changes it all...

3.5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review,  so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
This is a story is about  Alexandra “Lexi” Martin, who is an ambitious 14-year-old girl from Bath. Lexi is the oldest of three siblings–in a household managed by their mother with almost always absent father and she is determined to rise up from her circumstances and provide a better life for her family. The book follows the story of Lexi as she grows into a successful woman. She starts working at an early age and knows that if she works hard enough, she will be able to achieve her dreams. The book is set during World War I. And This was my first book by this author,  I absolutely enjoyed every second of it. It was fast paced and just alltogether an easy read. My ancestors were from Bath so it really helped me imagine how life might have been for them. ♡ I give this book a 5 star rating!

On Christmas Day follows the life of very ambitious 14 year old Lexi. She lives in a tiny cramped flat with her mother and two younger siblings. Her father travels for his job and is a wanderer hardly ever home,absent for months and sometimes years at a time. With no financial help from her husband her mother takes on odd jobs including being a seamstress. Times are tight for everyone though as the war is raging all around. I've never seen a girl as determined to help her mother as Lexi. She works at a sweet shop starting at age 12,sings and does odd chores for others all while getting paid to do so. She is determined even at this young age to get her mother out of poverty and buy her and her siblings a house so they don't have to pay rent to the land lord and risk being evicted for late rent payment. She has been friends with the landlords youngest son since they were very young children and their feelings turn from friendship to romance as they mature. This book is just incredible in the sense it makes you root for Lexi, she never gives up her dream and works so steadfastly towards it and her romance with Johnny. Towards the end we discover something very interesting. Very sweet and likable characters in the book including one that was not that way in the beginning of the book. I hope you get a chance to read this book it will make your heart feel good!
Pub Date 01 Dec 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overall this was a great story about a girl named Lexi and her quest to buy her mother the home of her dreams. She starts out working several little jobs to help her mother out then becomes the sole beneficiary of someone's estate. This completely changes her life.

I really enjoyed this book but had a couple of issues with it. The book would have been much better without chapter 35. There was nothing gained from it. Also, the author set the book starting in 1914 and continues through Christmas day 1917 (WWI). However, there are several WWII timeline events. An example would be the weapon Johnny's older brother was trained to use was a gun used in WWII. Lexi sings in a Tea house and two of the songs that she sang were "Somewhere over the Rainbow" and "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" which were not published until 1939. There were also quite a few typos.