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A review by portybelle
Christmas By Candlelight by Karen Swan
5.0
I loved the concept of this book with a group of university friends’ reunion turning out to be rather longer than expected when the weather closes in and snow covered roads makes leaving impossible. I was so intrigued as to why Libby was the only one from the group of 8 former house-mates who had never attended any meet-ups before. The group had obviously been close friends while attending university and I was so keen to find out what had happened to change this.
I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. In alternate chapters we follow the group as they gather at Archie’s country estate in the present day and then back in 2014 when they are in their final months at Durham University. It became obvious that something significant had happened back then which had changed the dynamic of the group and gradually it is revealed.
Being snowed in at a big country house may sound like an idyllic way to spend Christmas but it was far from ideal. The house is draughty and cold with few modern comforts. Most of the group have a reason to want to leave with perhaps the most pressing being Ems and Prock whose baby is due in a couple of weeks. When the power goes off and the huge house gets even colder, it’s most certainly not a cosy place.
There is a real closed room feel to this book although thankfully, no serial killers around. It’s not without danger though but I won’t say any more about that. With everyone stuck there together, old tensions simmer up and it’s inevitable that the past comes to the fore. I thought the way that the author linked the chapters in the past to the present was exceptionally well done.
I really enjoyed getting to know the eight house-mates both in the past and the present and learning finding out more about them. Although Libby is the main focus, we do get to know the others too and not everyone is as you first might think. Some want what they don’t have, while others don’t want what they do have and some are putting on a front to protect themselves and their feelings.
I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. It isn’t perhaps the cosy read you might expect from the title and cover. Nevertheless, with some serious issues included, a terrific cast of characters, plenty of emotion and a healthy dose of romance, this is most definitely a book to curl up with in front of the fire and enjoy over the festive season.
I enjoyed the way the story unfolded. In alternate chapters we follow the group as they gather at Archie’s country estate in the present day and then back in 2014 when they are in their final months at Durham University. It became obvious that something significant had happened back then which had changed the dynamic of the group and gradually it is revealed.
Being snowed in at a big country house may sound like an idyllic way to spend Christmas but it was far from ideal. The house is draughty and cold with few modern comforts. Most of the group have a reason to want to leave with perhaps the most pressing being Ems and Prock whose baby is due in a couple of weeks. When the power goes off and the huge house gets even colder, it’s most certainly not a cosy place.
There is a real closed room feel to this book although thankfully, no serial killers around. It’s not without danger though but I won’t say any more about that. With everyone stuck there together, old tensions simmer up and it’s inevitable that the past comes to the fore. I thought the way that the author linked the chapters in the past to the present was exceptionally well done.
I really enjoyed getting to know the eight house-mates both in the past and the present and learning finding out more about them. Although Libby is the main focus, we do get to know the others too and not everyone is as you first might think. Some want what they don’t have, while others don’t want what they do have and some are putting on a front to protect themselves and their feelings.
I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. It isn’t perhaps the cosy read you might expect from the title and cover. Nevertheless, with some serious issues included, a terrific cast of characters, plenty of emotion and a healthy dose of romance, this is most definitely a book to curl up with in front of the fire and enjoy over the festive season.