The Christmas Bucket List by Ella Fairlie

Posted December 19, 2015 by Marsha in Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

The Christmas Bucket ListTitle:  The Christmas Bucket List
Series:
Author:  Ella Fairlie
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  November 30, 2014
Publisher:
My Rating:  4 Snowy Stars
Source:  Borrowed, Kindle Unlimited
Cover Description:

It’s Christmas time in London: there’s snow in the air, Regent Street is bustling, and the Trafalgar Square tree’s all a-glitter. Isobel Gray is dreaming of a perfect movie-style Christmas for her first Noël away from home, and with a hot man and a bucket list of festive fun ready to be ticked off, she thinks she has it all wrapped up.

But when her boss-slash-boyfriend goes AWOL just days before the holiday, she finds herself a little Lost, Actually instead. Will she end up home alone, or is there a Christmas miracle waiting under the mistletoe?

Read on for my thoughts on The Christmas Bucket List.  No true spoilers, promise.

Isobel had defied her family by moving from their luxurious South Africa home to go to work in London.  She’d always been the steady daughter, doing what was expected, rarely veering from the set path of her own or her parents.  But on this move she had set her mind to the task and had it done pretty much before her parents could do anything about it.  She was, after all, an adult.  And if she wanted to spend some time traveling to live and work in a city that had fascinated her then she would do it.

The reality of living in London hadn’t quite lived up to her expectations.  Yes, it was a beautiful city but the amount of cash she’d saved wouldn’t last long.  And to add insult to that injury, it has been suggested that she hide her actual talents in the career she had studied for and settle for something she was overqualified for.  She was in love with the fashion industry, so when she got a job as the assistant to the very charismatic, handsome head of the department Isobel was thrilled.  When her boss became her boyfriend she was over the moon – except for the request to keep their relationship secret at work.  It wouldn’t look good for either of them, and she was so smitten by Brett by then that she reluctantly agreed.

What had most drawn Isobel to London was the chance to experience a true wintery Christmas.  In South Africa she had heat, sun, and a cooling dip in the swimming pool.  She wanted evergreen Christmas trees, and the smells and tastes of the season that she had read about for years.  So, knowing that the company would shut down for the week of Christmas, and that she and Brett would have one glorious week to not hide themselves away – Isobel made her Christmas bucket list of all the things that London could offer that she wanted to do this year, her first Christmas away from home and experiencing the wonder of snow.

When Brett bailed on her right after the Christmas party, (which he’d asked her to leave early from in order to keep their secret) stating that he had to fly to Hong Kong for meetings… Isobel was devastated at first.  But knowing that he’d promised to be back for Christmas Eve, she shook herself off and set about experiencing all the things on her bucket list – even though she had to do them alone.

Jamie had followed Isobel as she had dashed from the company Christmas party.  He worked in IT and was a wizard at making the computer section of the company do its magic, even when it needed a nudge from a tech.  He, as the rest of the division that Isobel worked in, knew of her relationship with Brett – and he wasn’t surprised to find her crying outside.  But Isobel waved her emotions off as being away from home for Christmas this year, and he let her.  A day later he saw Isobel at the skating site where he had taken his sister and nephew.  She was really bad at skating but determined.  When he saved her from an embarrassing crash it was the beginning of being caught up in Isobel’s Christmas bucket list.

The Christmas Bucket List is a charming, funny and at times, a bit sad Christmas Romance.  One I enjoyed very much.  Jamie has been attracted to Isobel but knew it was hands off because of her relationship with the scumbag Brett.  He let her keep her illusions… until he just couldn’t any longer.  As they spent time going through all the items on her bucket list, with a few additions by Jamie it becomes obvious that an attraction is growing between them, even if Isobel is holding on to her boyfriend story.

We are given a description of some of the amazing things London has to offer during the Christmas season through Isobel’s wide eyes and Jamie’s knowledge of his city.  The descriptions were beautiful – and I might be content with the idea of chestnuts roasting on an open fire given the reaction Isobel had to her first taste.

Overall, this was a good, entertaining Christmas Romance with a slow build up of emotions between the characters.  There is one fade to black sexy scene but this is the story of one woman’s eyes being opened to the beauty of the city, the nastiness of one man and the chance at romance from a man far different in a much better way.  It’s a beginning – and I wish Jamie and Isobel well (wouldn’t mind finding out more of their story after this)

Available for the Kindle

2 responses to “The Christmas Bucket List by Ella Fairlie

    • Marcy

      Sometimes it’s hard to watch someone you care about make bad choices for themselves, especially when they don’t have all the facts. That is a big part of the enjoyment of this story for me… taking that risk when it might cost you everything. It was a good story.