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kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse
asourceoffiction's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, my third Christmas story by Sarah Morgan. It had a Scrooge feel to it, where an unsympathetic character has an experience that changes her outlook and causes her to build bridges with her family. Samantha, Ella and Gayle are great central characters, all struggling with Gayle's seemingly inexplicable change of heart and grappling with their own past traumas.
This is the second Christmas story I've read that's set primarily in the Scottish Highlands, and I'm so here for it; the blissful snowy landscapes, the cheerful, cosy villages, and in this case the stunning manor house with a welcoming kitchen filled with gingerbread and adorned with multiple Christmas trees. Reading about the house alone was festive bliss.
The secondary characters were also good fun; Samantha brings her family to the house for work, but Brodie and his family have their own chequered history and issues to work through. I felt bad for his sister Kirstie though - she's a great character and I would've enjoyed fleshing her out more, but she gets two measly chapters at the beginning and end which was a shame. I adored the bond Gayle forms with their mother Mary though.
As with all of Morgan's books, there are awkward characters putting their foot in it which leads to easy humour that is great to read. But the chapters (again as in so much of Morgan's work) are incredibly long, and it's so hard to come up for air or take a break. But I really enjoyed reading this just before Christmas, the timing was perfect for it and made the conveniently happy ending much more palatable when I was filled with festive cheer.
This is the second Christmas story I've read that's set primarily in the Scottish Highlands, and I'm so here for it; the blissful snowy landscapes, the cheerful, cosy villages, and in this case the stunning manor house with a welcoming kitchen filled with gingerbread and adorned with multiple Christmas trees. Reading about the house alone was festive bliss.
The secondary characters were also good fun; Samantha brings her family to the house for work, but Brodie and his family have their own chequered history and issues to work through. I felt bad for his sister Kirstie though - she's a great character and I would've enjoyed fleshing her out more, but she gets two measly chapters at the beginning and end which was a shame. I adored the bond Gayle forms with their mother Mary though.
As with all of Morgan's books, there are awkward characters putting their foot in it which leads to easy humour that is great to read. But the chapters (again as in so much of Morgan's work) are incredibly long, and it's so hard to come up for air or take a break. But I really enjoyed reading this just before Christmas, the timing was perfect for it and made the conveniently happy ending much more palatable when I was filled with festive cheer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Domestic abuse
kelly_e's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Title: One More for Christmas
Author: Sarah Morgan
Genre: Holiday Romance
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: October 6, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Festive • Redemptive • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Gayle Mitchell has worked hard to get to the top, yet her success has come at a price - estrangement from her daughters, Samantha and Ella. In the wake of a terrible accident, Gayle reaches out to her daughters out of the blue from her hospital bed with the hope of reconnecting. It has been five years since they have spoken.
For Samantha and Ella, Christmas have always been a precious time of the year. A time when they attempt to make up for everything their childhood Christmases lacked. This year they cautiously agree to spend Christmas all together in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The Mitchell women will be forced to face the past in order to heal.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was excited to pick this one up after enjoying two Sarah Morgan Christmas novels last year, and the synopsis sounded appealing. Unfortunately, One More for Christmas was disappointing.
The Scottish setting was wonderful. The Scottish Highlands were a dreamy backdrop and felt more festive than the majority of the plot. Although the atmosphere felt eerily similar to some of Sarah Morgan's other books. The structure of using multiple points of view worked very well to establish the relationship between mother and daughters. At it's heart a story of family and second chances, it felt slight boring as the story progressed, and my attention definitely waned.
One More for Christmas was a holiday miss for me, and I'd recommend The Christmas Sisters and/or A Wedding in December by the same author to anyone looking to explore her holiday backlist.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers looking for a cozy holiday read focusing on family
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Sometimes in life it was important to stop thinking about what might have been, and think about what could be."
Author: Sarah Morgan
Genre: Holiday Romance
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: October 6, 2020
T H R E E • W O R D S
Festive • Redemptive • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Gayle Mitchell has worked hard to get to the top, yet her success has come at a price - estrangement from her daughters, Samantha and Ella. In the wake of a terrible accident, Gayle reaches out to her daughters out of the blue from her hospital bed with the hope of reconnecting. It has been five years since they have spoken.
For Samantha and Ella, Christmas have always been a precious time of the year. A time when they attempt to make up for everything their childhood Christmases lacked. This year they cautiously agree to spend Christmas all together in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The Mitchell women will be forced to face the past in order to heal.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was excited to pick this one up after enjoying two Sarah Morgan Christmas novels last year, and the synopsis sounded appealing. Unfortunately, One More for Christmas was disappointing.
The Scottish setting was wonderful. The Scottish Highlands were a dreamy backdrop and felt more festive than the majority of the plot. Although the atmosphere felt eerily similar to some of Sarah Morgan's other books. The structure of using multiple points of view worked very well to establish the relationship between mother and daughters. At it's heart a story of family and second chances, it felt slight boring as the story progressed, and my attention definitely waned.
One More for Christmas was a holiday miss for me, and I'd recommend The Christmas Sisters and/or A Wedding in December by the same author to anyone looking to explore her holiday backlist.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers looking for a cozy holiday read focusing on family
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Sometimes in life it was important to stop thinking about what might have been, and think about what could be."
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
marque's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse and Death of parent