A super fun story about figuring out who you are and what you need to get there. I loved the advent calendar concept and all the fun characters surrounding the pub and Clara's gin business. This is such a cute book and a perfect read to get you in the Christmas spirit. I really liked it!

The Christmas Countdown is a very entertaining Christmas romance. Loved the plot and the quirky cast of characters. A good quick relaxing read. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This is my third Christmas book in a row. It's time to take a break now to avoid overload ;), but I guess you know the feeling : you have piles and piles of books. Then a certain author's name comes up and you know you just have to fit it in. Well, this lady is one of those names. I can't resist.

To say I enjoyed the book would be a lie. OMG no! I hope I did not scare you too much. I simply meant that the verb 'enjoy' is not strong enough to express what I have experienced. I loved it, adored it!

Do you sometimes take a look at yourself and think : Is this the real me? Is your answer yes, everything is wonderful then. Are you hesitating of even respond with a no, then it's time to take a step back and find out where you lost track. A big step towards a happy feeling is being you and not what other people expect you to be. 

So, sit back and enjoy the trip to Sunflower Island. 5 stars.

Thank you, Donna Ashcroft and Bookouture. (via Netgalley)

When I began reading this book, I realised that it was the second book set on Sunflower Island. I had reservations about reading it, as I had not enjoyed the first book very much. I decided to give this book a chance, and I am so glad that I did. This book is so much better.
Although it is the series part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel. Some of the characters from the first book appear in this book, but I do not consider it to be a sequel.
This book features Finn, who is the Landlord of the local pub. He has a reputation for being the Island Romeo, with a different woman every week.
Holly has run away to the Island to get away from her ex and her twin after being betrayed by both of them.She is staying with her Aunt, who sets her a new task every day in the form of an Advent calendar.
Finn and Holly are thrown together by the Islanders, to help Holly compete the tasks. They soon recognise that they are both hiding their real feelings behind a mask, and try to help heal each other.
This book was very enjoyable and entertaining to read. The writing flows well, and it is easy to read. This is a lighthearted and feel-good read. The Advent tasks are great and make the book stand out from other festive books.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Lovely festive read. It was a heart warming romance. It was a wonderful book to read. It was well written and flowed well.

The past several years have been rough for Holly, in fact, since her mother died and she returned home to help out after university and support her twin sister and father, things have been downright difficult. Before the death, both Holly and her sister Lily were outgoing individuals, happily pursuing their own interests, yet inevitably close as sisters and twins could be. But after her mother’s death, Lily’s need for the spotlight and all the attention expanded tenfold, and in order to ‘keep the peace’ Holly simply moved into the background. Faded. Lost her own sense of self and direction. But, when she found her boyfriend of several months and her sister in a passionate kiss, she fled to her Aunt Clara’s house – to lick her wounds and decide her next move. Planning to stay through Christmas and not interested in speaking to her sister or anyone else, Holly arrived, tear stained and broken, needing nothing more than comfort and a place to heal.

Clara, however, has other ideas. Always had. Always will. She’s more practical about relationships, if a bit eccentric, and knows that Holly needs a place to regroup, but also that she needs to separate herself from her twin sister, her commitments, and find out what she truly wants from life. From a gin-fueled welcome with the women of the WI, to a series of tasks on a handmade advent calendar that are designed to make Holly step out of her box and start to find her own feet – the adventure begins. Especially when she meet Finn, a local boy and heartbreaker – big flirt, home to recover and remove himself from his own loss. Determined to not be attached to anyone, Finn’s reputation is far more ‘dangerous’ than he is himself – he’s a flirt, yet, but a kind one with a good word for everyone but himself, a knack for avoiding his mother’s well-meaning interference, and a great sounding board for his newest employee.

Like the other Ashcroft novels I’ve read – her characters are so real they breathe in the pages, bring new life and empathy to their situations – even when you want to shake them to make them see what’s really there. These two are so caught up in their own struggles and issues that while they ‘see’ each other and are attracted, they don’t SEE just how much better they feel, or are, when the other is around. Fortunately, neither is a total blockhead, and before the silence can come between them and their budding relationship, both have done some serious thinking and realized their truth- life is good, but will be better together. A lovely story full of hope and healing and perfect for the Christmas season.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-axe/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

This is the second book by this author which is based in the pretty seaside village of Sunflower Island. It does feature some of the characters from the first book The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings, but it is a standalone book and can be read on its own. Sunflower Island sounds like an absolute dream to live on and whilst this book is set around the Christmas period and is full of snow and cold weather, the imagery of the Island is more than enough to warm the cockles of my heart.

I absolutely loved this book and once started, I just couldn’t put it down. Holly Devine has fled to her aunt’s house on Sunflower Island for some time-out after finding her boyfriend kissing her twin sister, Lucinda. She has no idea what to do and doesn’t feel connected to her sister at all since the death of their mother. Finding her Aunt Clara in the middle of a WI meeting, she invokes the empathy of the group who devise an advent calendar for Holly as a way to help her find herself. The calendar idea was a fabulous one and was full of funny, dangerous and downright cringe worthy daily tasks which Holly has to do! Her first challenge is to ask a stranger on a date, and who could be better than the handsome landlord of the local pub, Finn Jackson!

The characters in this book were all just fabulous!! I could imagine myself living on Sunflower Island surrounded by these people who would certainly brighten up even the dullest day! I loved Holly’s character and was willing her throughout the book to work out what she really wants! I also loved Finn Jackson – but then again….who wouldn’t!! They both came with plenty of emotional baggage, some of it more obvious than others, but out of the two of them Finn was definitely the more screwed up! The storyline touches on grief and loss, but it was a great way to introduce that life does go on even though sometimes you have to face that loss head on to combat it!

This was a fun, festive and romantic read with lovely characters, a perfect location and a wonderful heart-warming storyline. It made me smile, it bought tears to my eyes but most of all it’s a story of self-discovery – which we all need at some points in our lives! I read this book in just over a day, and once I got to the end, I wanted to start it all over again! I hoping the author will revisit Sunflower Island at some point again in the future so that we can have some more stories from its inhabitants!! Fab, fab, fab…..would highly recommend!!

This was a fun, light read which kept the spirit of Christmas shining bright right from September.

Having been hurt by her loved ones, Holly rushed to her Aunt Clara in order to get over the hurt and to find herself. Clara and her gang of girls made her a calendar of tasks to complete until Christmas. Some were quite funny, but each came from a place of love.

Donna Ashcroft's book was warm and kind. It enveloped me into its loving arms, making me smile and laugh. The characters had me closely following them. Holly growth from quietly, capable to lively, outspoken was a sight to behold. It made me cheer. Finn was a contrary companion to her, outwardly outspoken but holding back a secret.

I loved Aunt Clara and the girls, their ideas often had funny results. But each made Holly open up and come out of her shell. It was sweet to see her blossoming. Friendships were made, and romance happened. Each brought a burst of happiness with it.

I wanted Holly to stand up for herself with her family, but perhaps a quiet assertive way ws much better. Overall, the book was sweet and heartwarming like Christmas, filled with cheer and hope. A good breakfast read.

Dull story. There is no tension.

The plot is fine: girl runs away to her aunt on idillic island to get away from cheating boyfriend. Aunt thinks of a way to give girl back her self-confidence (through an advent calendar filled with tasks).

But there was no build up; all the plot points were quickly resolved. From one conversation to the next the characters saw what they had been doing wrong. That made for a rather boring read and made it hard to engage with any of the characters.

I'm docking a full star for Holly overreacting when Finn had not opened the suitcase when he said to her he had. The man has been avoiding dealing with his grief for five years. Did she really think he was going to sort it all out the night she unlocked the suitcase for him? And she's supposed to be this deep and understanding creature?

I loved the use of the advent calendar in this book to structure the various experiences of the main character Holly.

There were a range of interesting characters that were engaging and made for a cosy Christmas romance. I’ll definitely read more from this author.

I loved loved loved this book! I wanted to be there in the book! I wanted to be there in real life not just reading it! When it come to an end I was sad! The writing and characters really drew me in and had me proper hooked!!

This is such a lovely story,I loved the whole idea of the advent calendar and making the most of things!

A fabulously festive story that has left me very excited for the Christmas season!

After her mother died Holly became the anchor for her dad and twin sister and in the aftermath lost the essence of herself to become want they both needed to get through the tragedy. At 27, the sisters lived together and worked for their dad. When Holly sees her boyfriend and sister together, it breaks her heart, even more so because Christmas is just around the corner too. Holly retreats to the safety of her eccentric Aunt Clara and her cosy cottage.
Aunt Clara is quite a character who along with her merry band of gin drinking accomplices, sets about to give Holly a much-needed self-esteem boost. As dreaded December arrives for Holly so does a special advent calendar from her Aunt. Each day brings a new challenge for Holly, the first is to ask out a complete stranger.
I must admit that I was quite giddy reading some of these chapters and the challenges that Holly had to take on as it was lovely to see how each day she found another piece of herself that had got lost after her mum died. Of course, it isn't just about putting her back together how she was, it is giving her confidence to take a leap of faith too into a future she doesn't yet know.
I really liked that the story just didn't revolve around Holly as if she was the only one who had challenges to face in life, that it is about being there for other people and helping them through tragic times too. Forgiving, accepting what can't be changed and being able to move on. The story made me laugh so many times, count my blessings and feel gooey and warm inside.
Brilliant characters, gorgeous setting. Everyone should have an Aunt Clara, she is one special lady!
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

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!

I have been trying to whittle down the number of books I request for review as my list of books owned, but unread, was getting too high for my comfort levels!

However...I simply couldn't resist a Donna Ashcroft book, I have read all of her other works and she hasn't let me down yet and the success train continues as this was a blissfully sweet story.

I'm a huge fan of the characters on the whole and there are hidden messages throughout that I can resonate with. We also got snippets of some previous characters and whilst nothing in-depth it was nice to be reunited with some old friends.

Some laughs (with Holly's grandmother's WI clan) and lots of cosy days/nights reading this are guaranteed. It was a lovely light-hearted read that I didn't feel was overly festive and so was very easy to read as we head into the dark autumnal evenings.

My many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful, cozy, and romantic Christmas story. It felt like all the Characters in this book are family. I enjoyed this Christmas romance and definitely recommend it for the upcoming Christmas season!

I fell in love with the characters in this book and I hope it turns into a movie. :) I loved the whole idea of a "Advent Calendar" for Holly to find herself and change up her life. It was pretty obvious how it was going to end but had me smiling throughout.

A lovely Christmas romance about two people who are letting the past get in the way of loving again. While Holly is dealing with betrayal by her twin sister, she must come to terms with the fact that she has changed so much since her mother's death that she no longer knows who she is. With the help of some delightful characters, she realizes that she needs to be out of her sister's shadow.

Holly has just found out her boyfriend was cheating on her - with her twin sister. Hurt and upset she leaves home and heads for her Aunt Clara's house. Clara is determined to see her neice happy, so along with her WI friends makes an alternative advent calander wth tasks for Holly to carry out each day. This throws her together with Finn, the landlord at the pub. He is hiding from the world, still grieving for his ex. Can they help each other move forwards?

A great bunch of characters, and a fun festive read.

Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.