This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Cressida McLaughlin
Christmas at Carrington’s is the second book in the Carrington’s series written by Alexandra Brown. I really enjoyed the first instalment, Cupcakes at Carrington’s, so I was delighted when this arrived on my doormat. Georgie Hart is still in charge of the luxury handbags at seaside department store Carrington’s, and is looking forward to the festive period even more than usual as she knows she’ll be spending it with gorgeous Tom Carrington. She doesn’t think it’s possible for anything to spoil her mood, until she discovers that Carrington’s is going to be the subject of a new reality TV show.
Not only does the first airing show Georgie lacking efficiency and elegance, but Tom hasn’t told her anything about it before she sees herself on screen. Storming into his office to confront him, Georgie is ambushed by Kelly Cooper, the retail star running the show, and her spoilt daughter Zara. Georgie is flustered and her conversation with Tom doesn’t go to plan, and as Kelly sends Tom to various exclusive locations around the world, Georgie is left to stew over the way they left things. Facing uncertainty over her relationship and the uncomfortable spotlight of newfound fame, suddenly Georgie’s Christmas isn’t looking so fantastic after all.
I have to admit, I’m not usually a fan of novels that have too much of a celebrity or reality theme, as I find it hard to buy into the story, but Georgie and her friends Sam and Eddie are warm, realistic characters, and their reactions to the hilarious, exciting and sometimes horrific aspects of being thrust into the world of reality TV are completely believable.
The descriptions are decadent and juicy, I could picture walking through Carrington’s, through the rooms of designer handbags, and trying a delicious red velvet cupcake from Sam’s café. I know nothing about designer labels, but I was envious as Georgie got to wear beautiful, expensive outfits and shoes, and I found myself wanting to try them all on. As Georgie warms to her new stardom, there are some laugh out loud moments, but there was also an undercurrent of tension, as she worries whether she and Tom still have a future, and if Kelly’s daughter Zara is causing as much trouble as Georgie knows she’s capable of.Alongside this, Sam, Eddie and Georgie’s father have their own storylines, and Alexandra builds the pace perfectly, tying them all in together so that for the last 100 pages, I was pretty much incapable of doing anything else but read.
Christmas at Carrington’s is warm, witty and sprinkled with festive sparkles. I defy you to finish this not feeling in the mood for Christmas, love or the next instalment of Georgie’s life at Carrington’s. Do we really have to wait a whole year?
9/10
Alexandra Brown's Website