Great author. Good book to read during the holidays. ( )

I started this on audio a few weeks back, recognised the characters and stopped, and then coincidentally checked out the second book on e-book not realising it was a sequel, read it as I hadn't, checked Goodreads and saw I hadn't read this, and finally listened to it and it was perfect as I'd just read the book before!

I think my qualm and my favourite part are the same with the previous book: Saif and the way his story is so unspecific. I'll continue giving major kudos for having him in the story as a normal character. But there's a scene in there with the refugee office that is important but I don't know that this novel was the place for it. And him being torn between a nice island girl and his wife who might be alive and might be dead is just rough, because we're obviously rooting for Lorna due to proximity.

Other than that, this was another sweet Colgan book. Very predictable and nothing at all surprising, but lovely nonetheless. ( )

With Flora's assurance that birth control was covered, it is no wonder that Joel
feels that he has no choice when his freedom disappears in that age old Pregnancy trap.

As well, still no reason given why Flora stays so meek around overbearing Jan.

With Saif as the main hero, it would be welcome to learn more of Syria's history.

Jenny Colgan offers beautiful descriptions of way-too-windy Mure woven into
the sad resolution of Fintan and Colton. ( )

Jenny Colgan, delightful as ever, maybe even more so. William Morrow let this one go to press with a crazy number of typos and editing mistakes, but I enjoyed the story too much to fuss over them. ( )

Digital audiobook narrated by Sarah Barron

Originally published in the UK as An Island Christmas

From the book jacket: It’s a time for getting cozy in front of whisky-barrel wood fires, and enjoying a dram and a treacle pudding with the people you love – unless, of course, you’ve accidentally gotten pregnant by your ex-boss and don’t know how to tell him…. Will Flora find the nerve to reveal the truth…? Meanwhile Saif, a doctor and refugee from war-torn Syria is trying to enjoy his first western Christmas with his sons on this remote island where he’s been granted asylum. … Travel to the beautiful northern edge of the world and join the welcoming community of Mure for a Highland Christmas you’ll never forget!

My reactions
There’s quite a lot going on in this book, #3 in the Mure series. I think I might have had an easier time of it had I read the first two books before tackling this one, as Colgan generally builds relationships over the course her series.

I do like the characters around which she builds her plot. Flora and Joel, Lorna and Saif, and the many residents of Mure who form a tight-knit community and are always ready to help out. Not every story line has the perfect HEA ending, but that’s true to life. It’s still a charming, story set against a holiday season that raises expectations and sometimes sees our dreams come true.

Sarah Barron does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. There are many characters to voice and she has the skills to pull it off. ( )