Portobello Book Blog

I hadn’t really intended to share another review of a Christmas book but this one really could be enjoyed at any time of the year so I thought I’d just give you a quick mini review. It’s one from Karen Swan’s back catalogue (from 2014) and I’ve always enjoyed her books before so was pleased to have time to fit this in. Karen Swan is great at wrapping up romance, family and secrets in one very readable package. If you fancy prolonging the festive season, this book will definitely give you the all the Christmassy feels or you could bear it in mind for next year.

First of all, what’s this book about?

In London, the snow is falling and Christmas is just around the corner – but Allegra Fisher barely has time to notice. She’s pitching for the biggest deal of her career and can’t afford to fail. And when she meets attractive stranger, Sam Kemp, on the plane to the meeting, she can’t afford to lose her focus either. She learned to shut off her emotions long ago and only her sister and best friend Isobel knows why. But when Allegra finds herself up against Sam for the bid, their passion quickly turns sour.

In Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, a long-lost mountain hut is discovered in the snow after sixty years and the last person expecting to become involved is Allegra – she hasn’t even heard of the woman they found inside. But it soon becomes clear the two women are linked and, as she and Iz travel out to make sense of the mystery, hearts thaw and dark secrets are uncovered, long buried by the snow.

With glamorous locations and heart-breaking twists, Christmas in the Snow is all you need in your stocking for a truly decadent Christmas holiday. The perfect gift – even if it’s just to yourself.

My thoughts

Although it is called Christmas in the Snow, I think this is a book you could happily read at any time of the year as Christmas isn’t the main focus. It took me a while to get into the book as initially, I wasn’t too keen on the hard nosed business woman Allegra seemed to be. However, I soon became caught up in the various mysteries surrounding her family and to understand her motivations more. There were so many secrets which came to light throughout the book that it was quite a gripping read.

I really enjoyed the Swiss setting when Allegra and her sister Isobel went to Zermatt to find out more about their family. The snow covered ski resort sounded idyllic although I admit I’d be more likely to appreciate the après-ski rather than the skiing itself! Although the business aspect of the story didn’t appeal quite so much to me, there were some interesting characters introduced to the book through this storyline such as Massi and Zhou and of course, handsome Sam, who was a character I moved between loathing and loving several times. All in all, I really enjoyed Christmas in the Snow and thoroughly approved of the romantic ending which definitely left me with a smile on my face.

Christmas in the Snow is published by Pan Macmillan and is available in all formats. I purchased my copy for Kindle through Amazon. You’ll find buying options for various retailers on the Pan Macmillan website here: Christmas in the Snow

About the author

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times Top Three best-selling author of eighteen books and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year – one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Previous winter titles include Christmas At Tiffanys, Christmas under The Stars, The Christmas Party, and for summer, The Rome Affair, The Greek Escape and The Spanish Promise.

Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots, sometimes telling two stories in the same book.

Previously a fashion editor, she lives in Sussex with her husband, three children and two dogs. Her new novel The Hidden Beach will be available from July 2020.

Visit Karen’s author page on Instagram @swannywrites, Facebook, and Twitter @KarenSwan1.