Jigsaw Pieces

The Christmas Cottage by Sarah Morgan is a most charming Christmas contemporary novel that I absolutely adored.

Once more Sarah Morgan has captured the essence of Christmas within her book. Christmas is family, fun, laughter – all things that had been missing from the leading lady’s life.

We see the loneliness of never having anyone to depend on, the feeling of utter abandonment as a character throws herself into her work. “When life is hard, it sometimes helps to have no time to think about it.”

When burnout is close, a character realizes that something must change. “You couldn’t undo the past, but you could do your very best with the future.” The past is gone, the future lies ahead. “The past was gone and she wasn’t going to let it contaminate the present.”

Everyone makes choices that have consequences. “The choices were their own and you had no control over that.” We are not responsible for the choices of others. We are only responsible for our own choices.”

A Cotswold community is a welcoming place to be. “The community had wrapped itself around her… and provided a warm and comforting layer of protection between her and the world.” The community is a place of safety where strangers become friends.

Animals turn a house into a home. I adored Golden Retriever, Ralph, who was very much a character in his own right.

We witness a character who rescues lost and abandoned animals. There is always a home for them with her. It is her life’s mission as she feels guilty for the one, she couldn’t save many years ago.

All the characters were well drawn and totally believable. I absolutely loved young Ava with her openness and her zest for life. Sarah Morgan had perfectly captured the mannerisms of a young child.

The Christmas Cottage is the perfect read for a winter’s day – whether it is in the lead up to Christmas or a grey January day. The Christmas Cottage will brighten any day.

I received a free copy. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON