T. S. James

Reading A Christmas to Remember by T.S. James transported me straight into the very essence of holiday magic. It’s a beautifully crafted tale that blends childhood wonder, friendship, and a touch of North Pole enchantment in a way that left me both smiling and reflecting.

It’s touching to see Lily’s determination to rekindle Sophie’s belief but not for herself, but because she wants to bring joy back into her friend’s heart.

The story underscores that the magic of Christmas isn't show more just gift giving as it's community, gratitude, and belief in wonder. Perfect reminders for readers of all ages.
it’s a celebration of magic, belief, and the difference one brave heart can make. I couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of hope, joy, and wonder by the end.

If you're looking for a festive story that captures the true meaning of Christmas, it is filled with warmth, adventure, and a touch of enchantment, by this is a perfect choice for you and young readers alike. show less

Oh my! This book goes to the unexpected. I thought it was a story about a ghost, but it is really about grief. Beautifully written, the author explores “the leaving” of a loved one. I was sad to come to the end of the story, much like Leslie. In a strange way, this book brought peace to my grieving heart.

This was mis-categorized under "Historical Fiction, Fiction and Literature". I would not have applied for a chick-lit ARC, which this was. So, it was not quite my cuppa from the outset. Anyway, I gave it a go and found the romance not implausible, even sweet. The inevitable ending was satisfactory with a neat closure.
However.
The narrative pacing was exceedingly slow and repetitive. Also, the author was having continuity issues, e.g.:
- the financing of the cottage: Lesley has taken out a show more mortgage, has paid for it outright, has taken out a mortgage
- I'm rather sure that L's friend Ruth, who in chapter 7 arrives by car and leaves by train, is identical with L's sister, who sends a text in chapter 4, but is never mentioned again.
- N. rearranges L's books by height of spine, however, L. accuses him of having done it "by emotional impact" (which would imply his having read them all, which he could not do physically, also, there would not have been time)
- the house agent (no introduction given) is suddenly referred to as "James"
If these discrepancies were intentional, kudos to the author for making Lesley a subtly unreliable narrator, however, I don't think so. There were other plot point that grated: the most unconventional house viewing ever ("Here's a room you cannot see, as we cannot open the door." - "Whatevs, I'll take it!" And that's without even looking at the bathroom!) Also, the logistics of the move: sending the movers ahead to a locked-up cottage, but upon your arrival, all your furniture has somehow been placed inside your new house? Also: what's with the great mystery that is never resolved? With the several incidents hinted at in L's background?
Anyway, these are all minor gripes on my part. There's nothing structurally wrong which some serious editing couldn't resolve, turning this into a very readable, charming little, not-at-all spooky, romance. show less

I only made it through the first three chapters before putting this one down. The premise sounded promising, but the execution just didn’t grab me. The pacing felt very slow, and the long passages of his moving things etc.. made it hard to stay engaged. That said, the writing itself is clear and polished, and I can see how readers who enjoy a more leisurely, character-focused story might connect with it more than I did. For me, though, it just never hooked me enough to keep turning the pages.