Title: A Christmas Caroline
Author: Camilla Isley
Genre: Holiday, Romance
Published On: October 26, 2021
Publisher: Pink Bloom Press
Source: ebook
Pages: 250
Synopsis:
Caroline is a cynic career woman living the high life in Manhattan where love and relationships are but a distant memory of the past.
But after a freak accident on Christmas Eve, Caroline receives a visit from a cheeky spirit of Christmas Past, Present, Yet to Come, and—most importantly—Christmas That Could Have Been. When she wakes up on Christmas Day suddenly married with three kids and living two doors down from her parents in New Jersey, Caroline has a chance to experience the life she would’ve had if she’d made a different choice.
Will small-town life as a mother and a wife make her rediscover what’s really important in life?
A modern-day retelling of A Christmas Carol…
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
As soon as I finished Camilla Isley’s Fool Me Twice at Christmas (which I absolutely loved!), I purchased A Christmas Caroline. Even though I haven’t read very many A Christmas Carol retellings, the ones I’ve read, I’ve enjoyed. So I loved the premise of this romance. And Isley has given the classic a fresh and fun twist!
Instead of the usual ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, we get one extra spirited spirit and Caroline gets plopped down in an alternate reality version of what her life could have been had she chosen marriage AND her career instead of just choosing her career.
Suddenly Caroline is a wife and mom of three—one of which is a baby. It was fun watching her struggle through her new life, having to learn things like breastfeeding very quickly. She soon discovered that while she’d always looked down on women who chose a family over their career, being a wife and mom is the hardest—and most rewarding job there is.
“The only flaw he’s ever had is his insuppressible desire to reproduce himself, which apparently not even three little buggers have cured.”
Camilla Isley, A Christmas Caroline
I adored Caroline’s sudden family. Sam was swoon-y, the helpful husband everyone desires, and the kids were adorable, each one with their own boisterous personality.
This one is funny, heartwarming, and romantic—and not heavy on Christmas, if that’s what you prefer.
Rating:
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About the Author
A Song For A Book
I’ve chosen to highlight Meghan Trainor’s “I’ll Be Home” for A Christmas Caroline. The lyrics and pop-y sound are perfect!
Santa called to make sure I’m prepared
He said, “Winter love’s spreading everywhere”
Summer came and took off with the spring
So now we start the Christmas caroling
I’ll find my way back home and light up every tree
We will hang our stockings for you and one for me
‘Cause Santa called to make sure I’m prepared
He said, “Pack your bags and tell them, you’ll be there”
I’ll be home (home) with my love this Christmas
I promise, I promise…
Have you read A Christmas Caroline? Or did you add it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
Great review Dedra. I also Fool Me Twice at Christmas, but haven’t gotten to this one yet. It sounds fun. I love the song you chose. Merry Christmas.
I think you’ll enjoy this one if you enjoyed Fool Me Twice! Merry Christmas to you, too!
Great review! I can tell you really enjoyed it and it does sound really cute! So if I do enjoy Fool Me Twice, I think I know what I’ll be choosing to read next 😊
Ooh, I hope you enjoy Fool Me Twice. I’ve been surprised by the mixed reviews. It’s super short, which was perfect for me this time of year. I’ll look forward to hearing what you think!
This sounds like such a fun retelling of A Christmas Carol!
I really enjoyed it! It was just the uplifting read I needed right now. <3
Sounds like you really enjoyed this one! I’m glad to hear it. The characters sound great, especially Sam 🙂
It was a nice uplifting and quick one for this busy time of year. <3