Reviewed by Lynn on
Sylvie Magnusson finally decides to cancel her honeymoon to Mauritius because it's been six months since her ex-fiancé decided to cancel their wedding after a ten-year engagement. Instead, with her blogger best friend, Nari in tow, the pair head off to Saariselkä to celebrate Christmas, in the frozen Arctic.
Stellan Virtanen never forgot the English girl he met on a university student exchange in Manchester, so he's surprised to receive a Facebook friend request from her after so many years and a message telling him she's flying out to stay in his home town in Finland. However, it isn't until Sylvie arrives that he realises he still has deep buried feelings for her.
As a hero, Stellan is just my type...moody, reserved and sexy. He's one of those guys who will frustrate you to death with his stilted lack of communication but surprises you in an 'actions speak louder than words' way. Sylvie is straight to the point and often overwhelms her beau, therefore I enjoyed the dynamics of the newly acquainted couple as they navigate around their differing personalities to find what works for them.
There's a secondary plot involving Nari and Niilo I didn't relate to in that same way as I did with Sylvie and Stellan, but stranger things happen in the real world, so why not? After all, love conquers all, right?
The author managed to capture the essence of the Arctic winter climate and of the Scandinavia saying "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." In a 'been there, done that way', I laughed out loud as the English duo got to grips with all things Nordic. For those readers with no experience of harsh freezing cold conditions, Ms Dunbar has done a fantastic job of describing the scene perfectly. Additionally, I enjoyed the inclusion of cultural Sami facts about Northern Europe's indigenous people, relevant to Lapland and Niilo.
Overall, a lovely happy ending against a beautiful festive backdrop. With plenty of Christmassy feel-good vibes and cute puppies, it's a wonderful holiday romance.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Hera via NetGalley***
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 4 September, 2019: Finished reading
- 4 September, 2019: Reviewed