From the Bookshelf of Aurelia's "Antics"…

Christmas is Cancelled

Aurelia B. Rowl

Start date: December 21, 2012

Discussion: Book Talk

Discussion leader: Aurelia Rowl

Why we're reading this: My debut book, and kicking off the Christmas is Cancelled series.
[close] My debut book, and kicking off the Christmas is Cancelled series.

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Book Talk

Book Talk: Christmas is Cancelled
By Aurelia · 2 posts · 2 views

last updated Jun 24, 2013 05:59AM

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What Members Thought

Dec 01, 2014 Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: loved-it

My Thoughts:

No one wants to spend Christmas alone, especially after being dumped, having found your partner cosied up with your best mate), losing your job and your home all in one day. So, Tilly made the executive decision. She played it safe and decided to head off to her brother, Phil's, house for the holidays. At least she would get to be with family.

However, Tilly seems to be having the worst run of bad luck ever, as her heel breaks, her train is cancelled and she whacks her shin as she tr ...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Heather rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Between starting Christmas is Cancelled and finishing it I was whisked away into the lives of Tilly and Dean, their past, their secrets and their future.

There were some very intimate moments that fitted perfectly into the story, they didn't feel like they'd been added just of the ratings, and there was nothing ott about them, they were natural.

Having been priveleged to have read some of Aurelia's "works in progress" I can only say that this was a debut book that fits right in with some of books ...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Emma Mills rated it really liked it

69% through this read and just about to curl up in bed and finish it. Fab christmas story with some great characters you really root for. Go buy it and read it this week - a perfect Xmas romance. After reading the whole way through I can add that it is a lovely Christmassy story. I enjoyed the first half of the book the most and loved Dean's pet name for her 'Basmati'. Personally I wasn't thrilled with his personality development in the last chapters... I like my men less emotional! But a great ...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Maria rated it it was amazing

I met Aurelia B. Rowl in an online writers’ group over a year ago, when she’d just taken up writing. She was an eager newcomer, brimming with enthusiasm and absolutely made for the kind of camaraderie writing bloggers share. I also remember her announcing to the group.that she’d put a piece of short fiction up on her blog and asking the group members to come over, have a look and share their thoughts. I remember going over and reading the story. An intriguing story which flowed well. In fact, Ha I met Aurelia B. Rowl in an online writers’ group over a year ago, when she’d just taken up writing. She was an eager newcomer, brimming with enthusiasm and absolutely made for the kind of camaraderie writing bloggers share. I also remember her announcing to the group.that she’d put a piece of short fiction up on her blog and asking the group members to come over, have a look and share their thoughts. I remember going over and reading the story. An intriguing story which flowed well. In fact, Harlequin Mills & Boon author Abby Green paid a visit too and remarked on Aurelia’s ‘engaging voice’. There was something about the story that didn’t sit too well with me, I just couldn’t figure exactly what it was back then. I’d recently suffered a spate of writing rejections for what I’d considered to be some of my best work and like the seasoned campaigner I was, I remember not being too complimentary about the story. It was probably cynicism born of disappointment.

Now I’ve just read Aurelia’s first published novel. And all I can say is ‘wow, Aurelia!’.

Now I know what the problem with that story was. It was too big a story for a double page spread. Aurelia needed a bigger canvas. She’s a born novelist. CHRSTMAS IS CANCELLED is an emotional, insightful, sexy and extremely moving read. Yes, Abby was right, the engaging voice is certainly there. And it’s not only the voice which is engaging. The characters are engaging. The story is engaging. You’ll be drawn in from start to finish.

As a storyteller, Aurelia is extremely skilful. You don’t get a bit of backstory until you’ve begun to care about the characters. The book opens with Tilly, jobless, homeless and without a friend in the world, trying to get a train to Southampton to spend Christmas with her brother. She’s unable to get that train so Christmas is effectively cancelled. Then she bumps into Dean, her brother’s old friend. She has nowhere else to go, so Dean takes her home for Christmas. We gradually come to know that this couple actually has a history. The rest of the novel is about removing the darkness from their perceptions and bringing the two together into the light and into love.

CHRITMAS IS CANCELLED can be described as a Christmas story because Christmas is about dispelling the darkness in the world and bringing light and hope. Something similar happens to the characters in this story.

The love scenes are powerfully written. The story will keep you enthralled until the very end. Both Dean and Tilly are memorable characters. As a romance novel, I give it 5/5 for delivering the goods.

Great work, Aurelia. Well done.
...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Megan Martin rated it really liked it

Shelves: breathless-press, christmas

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Ms. Rowl did an excellent job creating conflict with the characters and adding multiple elements of suspense that leaves the readers wanting to know more.
The romanticism that ties Tilly and Dean together is a long fought and hard battle for both of them. I was very pleased when they got their happy ending.
I look forward to reading Ms. Rowl's writing in the future and definitely recommend this delightful read! ...more

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