Cover Image: One More Christmas at the Castle

One More Christmas at the Castle

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Lovely festive read which certainly brings home the real and true meaning of Christmas. Reading this story really warms the heart. Lovely characters who just want to make Sabine's last Christmas at the Castle as special as it can be. Also a few twists and turns keep the story alive and the reader guessing. Curl up with a brew and a blanket and enjoy as Trisha never disappoints!

Was this review helpful?

I find Trisha Ashley's books are always an enjoyable read as I enjoy her style of descriptive writing which fully immerses the reader into the setting.
This book was no exception and was a delightful Christmas read with likeable characters.
I would recommend this book.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this read.

Was this review helpful?

This book was not for me, I just didn't enjoy it as I have done others before it. I felt there were too many characters that were underdeveloped, which confused the story a little. Detail is normally a good addition to books, but in this case, I felt there was way too much descriptive detail, for literally everything. I found myself skimming over half of the words on the pages, because they didn't really add anything. The coincidences were a bit too far-fetched and I found it frustrating that you never find out what one of the characters is battling.

Was this review helpful?

Tricia Ashley I’d such a wonderful writer, always developing interesting and emotive stories. And this book does not disappoint. Such a lovely book, and although set at Christmas and perfect for reading while tucked up warm and cosy over the festive period, but equally can be enjoyed any time.
Interesting and fully-formed characters and a storyline line that plays out through two story-tellers, the elderly castle owner who has a terminal illness, and the high-end caterer / party planner she has engaged for the entire month of December. This gives the reader an insight into some of the secrets the chatelaine holds, especially some about the very person who is now working for her. It also keeps the story interesting as the reader can see things unfolding before even the characters do.
Oh, at it’s set beside Roman ruins and Hadrian’s Wall in beautiful Northumberland. Such a great change from the usual places this genre seem to be set (perhaps I’m a little biased as I live here … but our gorgeous county has so much to offer).
Christmas, snow and romance, the perfect recipe for a wonderful book.

Was this review helpful?

This is quite an enjoyable Christmas novel with likable characters and an entertaining and heart-warming story.

It is a story of family, rediscovery, and forgiveness. The protagonists are two women. Sabine, an elderly widow with resentment towards her past and some members of her family; with a few months left to live, Sabine decides to organize one last Christmas party at the Castle, her family home. Dido, a young woman in her thirties who, together with her best friend Henry, runs a catering company and she's hired by Sabine to take care of her house and the cooking during the Christmas holidays. She doesn't know that Sabine has her own personal motives to have her over for Christmas. While family members arrive at the Castle, with new friends and new romance, Dido learns more about herself and her past.

This novel is full of laugh, good food, and lots of snow... a fantastic Christmas read!

Was this review helpful?

This was the first Trisha Ashley book I had read but it wont be the last. This was a great storyline with some quirks and highlighted the true meaning of Christmas.

I loved the characters and their individual personalities, you could visualize the castle and would love to be able to take part in the traditional Christmas Dido and Henry were asked to provide. It really helped me get in the mood for the festive season and also provided great escapism at this tough time we are all having.

If you love a feel good read at Christmas then this is one for you to read. Thank you Trisha and look forward to reading more of your books.

Was this review helpful?

One More Christmas at the Castle is a lovely story centred around a family stately home. Sabine, the owner is terminally ill and convenes one last Christmas celebration for her family members to help her decide the Castle’s fate. It’s a heartwarming story of families, secrets, friends and forgiveness. I loved the relationship between Dido and Henry, who were engaged by Sabine to cater for the Christmas season, and Nancy, a friend, vicar and house guest of Sabine. The first half is quite slow, but the pace soon picks up and I finished the second half very quickly. Tricia Ashley does not disappoint!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Was this review helpful?

⭐⭐⭐

I keep getting pulled in by these festive book covers. I always hope this will be the book that gets me back in to enjoying the romance genre. 😂 Overall I enjoyed this one. It was WAY too long (IMO) However; it was festive. It was cozy. It was well written. It had a plethora of interesting characters. So many, in fact, that I had a hard time keeping everyone straight. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And it made me extremely hungry. My goodness, I wanted to eat everything described in this book. 😂

**ARC Vua NetGalley**

Was this review helpful?

what a joy to read the food that was served was so perfect and the story line was so fullfilling not much more to be said a good read for anyone

Was this review helpful?

This wonderfully festive book is one of my favourite reads this year.

Sabine is elderly and terminally ill. She decides she wants to recreate her happiest memories of Christmas growing up in Mitras Castle as she only has one Christmas left. She hires Dido and Henry who run Heavenly Houseparties for the month of December.

Dido is surprised when her teenage crush Xan turns out to be Sabine’s beloved godson. As family arrive at the castle, all hoping that they will be the main beneficiary in Sabine’s Will, you know there is trouble coming.

As secrets unravel, the long lost feelings Dido had for Xan return.

This was such an entertaining read that left me feeling very excited about Christmas.

I loved the location, and the perfect dusting of snow which really added to the Christmassy feeling. There were even some baddies amongst the characters but then I think inheritances or potential future inheritances can seriously bring out the absolute worst in people.

One More Christmas at the Castle was such a lovely festive read to become immersed in that I completely lost track of time when I was reading it. I felt quite bereft when I’d finished reading it because it was so enjoyable, it left me with a book hangover.

Was this review helpful?

Boy this book was so long. It should have been much shorter. The story was so slow that I just didn't really care.

Was this review helpful?

Sabine is determined to have a lovely festive Christmas at the castle as she feels it will be her last and so she hires Dido to make it perfect for herself and her family...... but with everyone together secrets are bound to come out! Another lovely book by this author full of colourful characters but with plenty of twists to keep your interest so perfect for curling up in front of the fire to read.

Was this review helpful?

This is a difficult review to write, because I really enjoyed this book, as I have several of Trisha's others. However, I felt it was a little on the long side and there was too much scene setting at the beginning. That meant that it took me a while to get into the story. However, once I was there, in the throes of Christmas with Dido and Henry catering for the House Party at the Castle, I really enjoyed the story. There were several twists and turns, some you knew were coming, but a couple that you didn't.

It felt very similar in theme to one of Trisha's earlier books, Twelve Days of Christmas, which I have recently read as part of my Christmas reading. So if you liked this book, you'll enjoy that too if you haven't already read it.

Was this review helpful?

This book felt a little different to the author other Christmas reads, it was enjoyable however I felt there were so many characters that at times I was struggling to catch up. The story is well written and had the magic Christmas feel the author is so well known for.

Was this review helpful?

A lovely Christmassy read with a feeling of yesteryear. Slightly upstairs/downstairs feel with the story told from both the Lady of the house and the servant/cook perceptive. A heartwarming tale.

Was this review helpful?

Trisha Ashley provides writes of a delightful Northumberland location set in the run-up to the festive season in One More Christmas at the Castle. The reader can experience a traditional Christmas vicariously as elderly widow, Sabine Powys, feeling nostalgic, yearns for the magic of her childhood seasonal celebrations at the remote Mitras Castle. Heavenly Houseparties, organises events which is run by Dido Jones and her friend and business partner, Henry. Sabine hires them to organise her last Christmas at Mitras Castle. With secrets unlocked and some terrific character dynamics, this was a compelling, mesmerising tale. The Xmas elements were terrific as well. Light, magical Christmas festivity at its best!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House/ Transworld Publishers/ Bantam via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Another fantastic Christmas read by Trisha Ashley. Her books always bring a smile to my face.

Sabrina the owner of the castle wants to spend one more Christmas in the castle. Surrounded by family and loads of yummy food that’s mouthwatering.

Recommend getting a hot chocolate and a cake and hiding while reading this book. 4.5 stars ⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Was this review helpful?

My thanks to netgally for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review, which I freely give.

I have read a few books by Trisha in the past and really enjoyed them so I was very pleased to be able to read the ARC. Henry & Dido were joint partners and were employed by Sabine to run her Castle for a month over Christmas - one last Christmas for Sabine. They would be doing everything, cooking all meals, serving, Henry being a butler etc. There are a lot of character's. Sabine had told them who would be attending a few days before they all arrived. I thought Henry was just great and Dido was also brilliant. Unfortunately she knew Xan, who was at the castle, she had met him years before and hoped he would not remember her. Xan had a dog called Plum, I just fell in love with him. There were a few disagreements over the actual Christmas period. This helped Sabine make her mind up who she was going to leave castle to. This was to be the last Christmas for Sabine.

For me this was the best book by Trisha and I have no hesitation in the 5* rating and recommending this book






Press TAB five times to redirect to the Accessibility page.

Was this review helpful?

This enjoyable tale is full of romance, fun, recipes, family forgiveness and Christmas spirit.
When Sabine is given a terminal diagnosis, she decides to gather her family around her for her last Christmas and to complete her final will.
With secrets unlocked this becomes a great mystery book too. The food recipes were deliciously portrayed and my only annoyance was when Dido self praised her food..
Recommended.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book although unfortunately it took me quite a while to get through it. I don't think it was quite like anything Trisha Ashley has previously done and in some parts there was too many descriptions and a vast amount of characters to remember. However, it has quite a few twists and turns which I was eager to uncover so it kept me reading.

Was this review helpful?