What a beautiful, beautiful story, I enjoyed every single moment of this 'sliding doors' wonderful book, love, loss and new beginnings, more please!

The format of the book, with two scenarios in each chapter, had me confused at first. When I realised what was happening the book had me hooked. The premise keeps you racing to the end to find out what happens, an ending that was both happy and sad. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the advance read of this book.
This is the second book ive read by Faith Hogan. It is set around Christmas time but its not necessarily a Christmas book. Two scenarios are set out in each chapter, If she had stayed in Dublin for Christmas and if she had gone home to Ballycove.I liked the way it was written, once I got used of looking out for the second scenario so it takes a bit of concentration. I look forward to reading more from this author. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It is nearly Christmas and Liv Latimer has just finished work at the hospital prior to going home to her parents farm to spend rebuilding with her family.
But, as often happens, date intervenes and Liv has to make a choice.
The format of this book shows us what happens when Luv makes different choices. Does she follow her heart and go home to her boyfriend and their families? Or does she stay with the man who probably saved her life?
What would her twin sister, Rachel, say about her decisions and which will give her the stability and family of her own that she craves?
This is tender and, at times, heart breaking story of relationships, family and loss.

Beautiful Christmas story with a magical twist. The ending…!
No problem with the formatting or getting into the alternate chapters. Happy to recommend to anyone . In fact, I already have.
Review will appear in my newspaper book column.

I have just this minute finished this wonderful story and had to write all my thoughts and feelings about it down while it was still fresh in my thoughts. I loved it, it was such a well-written story and quite an original. "sliding doors" storyline, where the same character has two different lives due to one decision and it takes her on two different paths, which merge at the end. I didn't find it hard to follow the two separate lives, although, I think some people might. The story caught my attention and kept it all the way through, it made me smile and become a little emotional at the end. This is such a sweet story with plenty of emotion and warmth on its page.

Liv is an A&E nurse and a chance encounter with Finn, who saves her from an accident changes her futures. I loved Liv and thought she was really stoic in both lives, dealing with everything that happened. The characters in this book are very well developed and believable.

The storylines are complex and do take some concentration to know which of Liv's lives you are reading about but it wasn't hard and didn't deflect from my enjoyment of the story at all. I would happily read this story again. The ending is unexpected and heartwarming. I would highly recommend this story and will now be looking out for more of this author's books to read.

Liv is hoping to spend Christmas in Ireland, with her family and boyfriend Eddie. However, when someone rescues her from a car accident and he needs treatment in hospital, she wants to be there to make sure he is alright.
I found the first chapters of the book slightly confusing as Liv goes between what she actually does at Christmas and a dream sequence. However, as the story unfolds, all becomes clear. Liv is a warm, friendly character, and this is a lovely, entertaining Christmas story about family, love, and relationships.
However, not very keen on the parallel story lines; they flip between what Liz actually did at Christmas, and what she wanted to do. It became confusing at times.

Two stories running in parallel, in one Liv makes it home for Christmas and in the other she doesn’t, the characters are the same, we dislike the boring and mean boyfriend with the infernal mother, we love the best friend and the sexy potential attraction! There is a little of the whimsical in the plot as the loss of Liv’s twin comes and goes. The ending is then out of the blue full of action, trauma and apparitions which comes across very oddly. A great story till the last ten pages that seem to be form another book with the rush to tie the whole thing with a bow.

I love Faith Hogan's books and this one did not disappoint! This isn't your typical Christmas story like other Christmas books, it is an intriguing read and keeps you interested through out as it features two parallel stories , giving me very sliding door vibes but based around Christmas time. This book does have elements of romance and loss but would have liked more Christmas elements. I finished this book very quickly which is always a good sign and would recommend if your interested in a different style Christmas book this year.
Huge thanks to netgalley and head of Zeus for sending me a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.

When things go wrong on Christmas Eve what more could happen? Well in the case of nurse Liv it is a strange night to say the least. As this story can go two ways and it does!

It is a well written book but at times lost me as it did get a bit confusing. but it does come to a conclusion which brings both stories together. I did like the characters as they each brought something different to the story but I just don't think the story going two ways really worked for me.

It was an interesting way to wrote a book and will appeal to some.

On The First Day of Christmas is told from two parallel views.

Liv is heading home for Christmas after a busy late shift at the hospital.

Fate intervenes and a stranger saves her from being critically hurt and he is not so lucky.

She stays in Dublin.

In the other parallel Liv does go home to Ballycove and her story is different yet some aspects the same,

Two paths which is the one for Liv and how will it end for her and her family.

The characters are well written and you cant help feel for Liv and yet wonder how she can be so blind to those around her.

Which will be the story of her life keeps those pages turning.

No matter which one On The First Day of Christmas it is a holiday book that is uplifting and yet sad.

Well worth the read and very intriguing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus, Aria for a page turning read.

This wasn't a Christmas story like I am used to reading, but it is a Christmas story, that is intriguing. Liv Latimer is a nurse, who lost her twin, and as she is leaving the hospital to go back home for Christmas with her family. In an instant she meets a stranger, and there is an accident. She has to decide to go to the hospital with the stranger or leaving him to the medics and leave to go home.
The decision she makes seems to change the course she has been on. She follows the path she is on, and we will see how her life changes, the things she discovers, and the choices she will have to make.
I received an ARC from Aria through NetGalley. It was an intriguing Christmas story, with love, kindness, being a nurse in a hospital during the Christmas holiday, the feelings that come over people during the holidays.

This is a real Christmas novel and full of charm and with plenty of emotions. I did wonder if this was going to be the book for me as the first few pages seemed confusing but I am glad that I continued to read. Lovely characters and well written and am giving this 4 stars. Only because it took those firstr pages to get into this otherwise it would have been 5.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

What a lovely and heartwarming novel from Faith Hogan.

I’ll begin by saying that I didn’t realise the book was set in Ireland, although perhaps the name Ballycove did give my brain a little nudge! And once I realised the characters were Irish, I admit that the dialogue made a lot more sense to me! I absolutely love the charm of the Irish language and imagining Ballycove was magical. I can’t wait to read more from this series which is set here- although in saying that, reading this as a stand-alone novel really worked!

I found the plot intriguing and I wasn’t expecting it whatsoever. At first I was a little dubious, but the style actually worked very well and I found it easy to switch between ‘realities’. I was absolutely rooting for the main character and I only wish she had stuck up for herself more!!

The ending was somewhat ambiguous and I still don’t know if I fully understand it… in saying that, I really enjoyed the novel on a whole. A love story with magic!

When nurse Liv Latimer finishes work in Dublin on Christmas Eve, she expects to be travelling to visit her family for the holidays and is hoping her longterm boyfriend, Eddie, will finally propose.

Instead, she has a brief, instant connection with a stranger, Finn, who then proceeds to save Liv's life. As she rushes with her saviour to hospital, we see the story diverge: in one scenario, she leaves him in the capable hands of her colleagues and continues with her Christmas plans; whilst in the other, she stays and oversees how Finn is doing.

The 'Sliding Doors' / parallel lives theme is a clever idea, showing how one split decision can change your life. I must admit I was very excited to read this book. However, unfortunately, the book didn't quite live up to my expectations.

There were points where it was difficult to know which life we were in. They were distinguished by the font, but it wasn't always clear as you got into the story. Several of the events overlapped in different ways, such as events with her despicable boyfriend (he and his mother were horrendous, why Liv was with him is a mystery!) But at times you just felt like you were reading the same thing twice, just with slight variations.

I liked the development of the romance between Liv and Finn, and would have liked that to be focused on much more than scenes with Eddie or Anya. Likewise, there was too much focus on Rachel, a character we really didn't know, and I was so disappointed with the direction the author took for poor Pete - it was all rather depressing, if I'm honest, and his character deserved better.

Faith Hogan can certainly write, and this book is thought-provoking, but don't go into this thinking it's a lovely little Christmas book; it really isn't that.

I'm sure many people will love this book, unfortunately it just didn't really work for me. Three stars for decent writing and a clever concept.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Head of Zeus, for the ARC copy of this book.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS

This novel was a ‘Sliding Doors’ style story and I had high hopes for it and was looking forward to reading whilst on holiday.

However, unfortunately I found it perplexing.
It didn’t appear to flow and my interest wasn’t really held.

I found the switch between the two parallel lives of the main character confusing at times and I wasn’t sure what one I was reading sometimes.

Thanks #NetGalley for my e-arc copy of #OnTheFirstDayOfChristmas in exchange for my honest review but unfortunately I am only able to award two stars.

It was first time reading a Faith Hogan novel, and unfortunately I feel that it will also be my last.
There were just too many times I put the book down and didn’t want to pick it back up.

A lovely Christmas read. I was a tad confused with this book, but after a few chapters you realize what’s going on. Each chapter has two different accounts of what happened, one if Liv stayed in Dublin and the other if she went home to her family in Ballycove.

Liv is a nurse and has just finished her shift before Christmas, she running for the bus when a man pulls her out of the way of a motorcycle. Sadly the man Finn ended up in hospital and Liv feels guilty. I personally didn’t take to Eddie (boyfriend), I think the author wants you to not like him though. He’s a man that never grew up and thinks Liv should do everything for him. Pete is lovely and so is all the other characters.

A great book for a cold, snowy afternoon. It made me feel happy and sad at times, but did read most with a smile on my face.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy for an honest review.

Lovely book. Haven't read this author before but will look out for more books. Liiv leaves work at hospital but then a tragedy happens.

This book was described in terms of 'Sliding Doors' and when I got into it I understood why. It's set in Eire and follows the main character Liv on two separate story arcs, however, the ending had an interesting twist. I enjoyed it so much, I finished it very quickly - always a good sign!

This is my fourth book by Faith Hogan and every one of them was a four-star read for me. This book was such a joy, think of it as a yuletide Sliding Doors in Ireland and I so loved that premise. There are two parallel storylines and Faith Hogan managed to keep them running side by side very smoothly. They were easy to decipher from each other because they were written in different fonts and the author used dinkus between each change.

I so enjoyed reading both versions of Liv and getting to know her. Seeing what happens during the two different roads she takes made for such an interesting read. I was really happy to see her come into her own in both versions, even if she takes different ways to get to the same conclusion. There are many surprises in this one but what I took from reading it is the fact that life is what you make it no matter the road you’re on.

Don’t be fooled by the title and lovely cover, this is not a light-hearted Christmas read but it is an intelligently written, thought-provoking book, with well-thought-out characters and a beautiful if a bit fantastical ending.