Published By: Penguin
Pages: 400
Released On: 22/10/2026
Cara Mallon is facing Christmas alone when she arrives at Ashford Castle, six months after her fiancé called off their winter wedding. She hopes launching her travel business with a festive press trip will provide the distraction she needs.
When Cara meets charming travel blogger Dermot Walshe, sparks begin to fly. But Dermot has been set the challenge of a year without any romance, ending on Christmas Eve – by which time Cara will be gone.
And yet, as frosty days turn to candlelit nights, their connection grows.
Can they find their way back to each other when it matters most?
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Let’s start by saying the cover is beautiful.
Whilst I own some of Emma’s previous books, I’ve not actually read any so this was my first foray into her world.
Cara’s Dad was my favourite character, even though he isn’t a main main character, but he was delightful. Cara is great too, my heart went out to her. She felt very familiar and recognisable. And Dermot sounded delicious and I wish to be in my own love story with him.
A beautiful castle in winter with snow and sparks flying, ooh it all sounded so good and I wanted to come along.
The first half of the story is set in November, which is unusual for a Christmas novel, and yet it still managed to give me Christmas. Not necessarily the commercial, big plastic red Santa kind of Christmas, but in a more cosy, family orientated way. It was lovely. For me, it’s less of a Christmas book and more a book that happens at Christmas. That’s not a complaint by the way and is actually similar to how I describe Love Actually, and that’s a favoured film.
It’s not a spoiler to say this is a happily-ever-after type book, you know the ones. I never used to be fans of them but over the last few years I’ve become a real fan, particularly if they involve something Christmassy as I am Mrs Claus. So there’s no real surprise where this book was heading, but the enjoyable part is not a surprising ending, but in the journey our characters, and in turn us, take to get there.
The romance storyline felt natural and grown-up. Our protagonists are in their mid-late 30s and it’s refreshing to see characters who already have their own lives and histories. It was a slower romance and I preferred it to some of the quick, lusty romances I’ve read before.
It’s partially set in Ashford Castle in Ireland, and I’ve just found out that’s a real place, and Emma really does it justice here and I so want to visit, especially at Christmas. And you don’t see Ireland represented in novels much these days – or at least I don’t – so that was refreshing.
There’s also a storyline (no spoilers) that I imagine is very close to Emma’s heart and she’s handled it so sensitively.
Emma has such a natural way of writing which makes it effortless to read. It’s an average page length and I read it in two sittings (sleep got in the way). It’s so easy to read, so comforting, and so entertaining. I’ll definitely be picking out her other books, they’re so joyful and life affirming.
Books By Your Bedside 