The Twelve Dates of Christmas

Small town follows the updates of a girl going on twelve Christmas dates. That was my favorite aspect of this book. But the book focused more on the dates than the love interest.

Rather predictable. The only character that had any sort of development was Kate, the main character, but even hers was a bit sparse.

Matt and Kate had been best friends forever, before a night spent together in college ruined it all. It seems like both of them are stuck in space and time on that night, but nothing more is ever said about it, not between them.

And Richard. He was abhorrent and the poor date, he should have pressed some charges at best.

This was exceedingly boring. I just wanted some mindless holiday cheer to get me through the work day, and it couldn't even manage that.

Matt sucks though.

3.5 stars. Charming holiday detail, a big dose of small-town hijinks, everything neatly tied up with a bow at the end. Less cliched and annoying than I thought it would be; I was tickled that the author included partridges in a pear tree

3.5 stars

I'm not really much of a fiction reader, but suddenly, unexpectedly, I'm on a romance binge. And not just romance, mind you, but Christmas romance. What's next? Hallmark movies?

Kate's thirty-four and she's ready to settle down. How can she do that if she really just enjoys staying home in the evenings and she lives in small-town England? So her best friend talks Kate into signing up for a dating service that matches her up with twelve different dates with twelve different men.

And here we go. The zany English countryside. Fun. Some disastrous dates. And...well, love.

So my body decided I needed to wake up at 230am today...and since that was the case I grabbed this book and read in one sitting.

When I sat down to read this book, I wanted a light, cozy, fun Christmas read. This book definitely delivered on that. Set in a small town in England during Christmas, this story is perfect for a cozy Winter read.

Kate Turner had yet to find her Mr. Right, so her best friend convinces her to sign up for a dating service's “Twelve Dates of Christmas” event, which will send her on twelve dates with different men. Her childhood friend Matt, owner of the town's cafe, thinks these dates are risky, but Kate is open to having fun and possibly meeting someone she would want to pursue a relationship with. The story follows Kate on these dates, some disastrous and some promising, while also exploring her friendship with Matt.

Honestly, the plot line is pretty predictable. I knew from the beginning who Kate would end up with. This did not, however, ruin my enjoyment of the story. The dates are often funny, even though sometimes complete failures. The characters are entertaining, especially Kate's married best friend. The town is charming with lovable residents. It is just plain fun to read.

I do not love the ending. I feel that much of the story is well-developed, but the ending feels rushed. It ends the way I predicted it would, but it would not have bothered me so much if the resolution had been given enough time feel complete. That being said, I still ended the book feeling happy that I read it.

I would recommend this book to readers looking for a cozy and fun Christmas read with small town vibes. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for me.

Excuse me but I LOVED THIS. If it becomes a movie I would watch it every festive season. It starts off a bit slow but when it picks up? Dazzling!