Christmas at Thornton Hall by Lynn Marie Hulsman

When Juliet Hill unwittingly discovers a most-definitely-not-hers-rhinestone-studded lace thong in her high-flying lawyer boyfriend’s apartment, this usually feisty chef is suddenly single and facing a very blue Christmas – with only a ready meal for one to keep her company!

So when she’s personally requested to cater for the family at Thornton Hall three days before Christmas, it’s not long before Juliet’s standing at the (back) door of the Earl of Gloucester’s impossibly grand ancestral pile.

The halls are decked, the guests are titled, those below the stairs are delightfully catty, and all-American Juliet sets to work cooking up a glorious British Christmas with all the trimmings.

But other flames are burning besides those on the stove… Sparks fly with Edward, the gorgeous ex-soldier turned resident chef, and are those sidelong looks Juliet’s getting from her boss, the American tycoon Jasper Roth?

As the snow starts to fall on the idyllic Cotswolds countryside, so does the veneer of genteel high society and there are more than a few ancient skeletons rattling out of the Hall’s numerous dark cupboards!

CHRISTMAS AT THORNTON HALL is a country house rom com for the modern age, a must-read for fans of the scandals and drama of Downton Abbey and the charm and wit of Helen Fielding.

First off what a lovely cover! It's all so Christmassy and instantly made me want to read it. And I was not disappointed. 

Juliet is looking forward to a nice relaxing Christmas with her fiancé Ben, but these plans get scuppered when Juliet finds a jewel encrusted thong in Ben's apartment. Juliet then finds herself making the quick decision to take on a job preparing a Christmas feast at Thornton Hall. Juliet is determined that men are completely off the menu, but that is until sparks begin to fly with the resident chef Edward, but is there also something going on with her boss Jasper?

This was so easy to get into. I love Lynn's writing style and I liked Juliet from the start. I like that we got a little more insight to Juliet's character with her inner thoughts and musings she would share with the reader. I think that's part of the reason that I liked her so much.

I absolutely adored Thornton Hall, it was the perfect setting for a Christmas read and I literally whizzed through it. I loved the colourfulness of all the characters and it had me feeling all warm and christmassy.

A definite Christmas read that should be on everyone's list.

8/10