3.5* This year’s Christmas story took me a long time to get into but it did pick up in the final third which I enjoyed very much. ( )

I wanted to read at least one "Hallmark Christmas Movie" book this season, and this one was available on the library's "available now" page for e-books. It totally fit the bill. ( )

Sarah Morgan always writes interesting Christmas stories about family and relationship issues with heart. In “One More for Christmas” we have highly successful businesswoman Gail who has allowed an estrangement with her daughters to go on for years. Her daughters, Samantha and Ella, are warm and have a close bond with each other. They just want nothing to do with their mother. When an accident forces them all to reconnect and Gail convinces Sam and Ella to take her on their planned scouting trip to a house up in the Scottish Highlands, they’re less than pleased. So are the owners of the property, who are up against financial pressures and at risk of losing their livelihoods if they don’t start taking on paying guests. Lots of tension! And of course there’s more going on behind the scenes that eventually comes out, lots of surprises and secrets. And once things moved over to the snowy Scottish Highland setting and there was a bit of romance in the air for Samantha and Brody, this felt even more magical.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
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This novel was my Christmas read for 2021 and while it was sugary sweet and predictable, it was also perfect for the festive season. I loved the magical Scottish setting and the characters were all loveable, especially five-year-old, Tab. With an emphasis on families, forgiveness, moving forwards and the consequences of choices, "One More Christmas" was a touching read. ( )

I didn't love this quite as much as The Christmas Sisters, but it still gave me everything I need in a Christmas novel: decent writing, substance, and a story to escape into that's not unbearably cheesy. ( )