Twelve Days Of Christmas by Trisha Ashley

I have long been a fan of Trisha Ashley - so much so I am currently re-buying her books for my Kindle.  I thought I had read this book previously but was delighted to find that it was completely new to me.

Holly Brown is a widow from a family who doesn't celebrate Christmas in anything more than a religious way as she was raised by her Strange Baptist Grandmother.  Top that off with losing her husband to a tragic accident a couple of days before Christmas and this is definitely not her favourite time of year.  She works for a house-sitting company and was scheduled to go to a remote Scottish Cottage for the festive season when the booking is cancelled.  Her sister-in-law, and best friend, Laura cajoles her into attending her family Christmas which Holly isn't enthused about but agrees to attend.

There is a last minute reprieve as she is called in to take over at the Old Place in Little Mumming after the housesitters already on site have to leave due to a family emergency of the nicest kind.  the strange thing is the family are called the Martlands and her Grandmother's last words were "Ned Martland".  Still Holly pushes this to the back of her mind, loads her car with everything she thinks she'll need and sets off for Little Mumming.

Trisha Ashley pulls you straight in to the tale with her sparse descriptive passages and intelligent dialogue.  What she does best is the strong, Northern woman who is recognisable to anyone from this neck of the woods but somehow not stereotypical.  They are all capable and pragmatic but with personality flaws that make them seem completely and utterly human and, generally, people you really, really want to hang out with.

I know the books are always going to end in the same way - sparring man and woman realise that they are in love and somehow all possible obstacles are surmounted.  However, the characters are so richly wrought and the atmosphere of the book so warm and welcoming you don't mind knowing how it is going to end you just want to wrap yourself in the warmth of the people and the place.

I desperately want a Trisha Ashley Christmas one year - snow, gaudy decorations and Revel Buns and all!

**Review originally published November 24th, 2017**