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    An Island Christmas: A Novel
    An Island Christmas: A Novel
    An Island Christmas: A Novel
    Audiobook4 hours

    An Island Christmas: A Novel

    Written by Nancy Thayer

    Narrated by Tanya Eby

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In this enchanting holiday novel from New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer, family and friends gather on Nantucket for a gorgeous winter wedding with plenty of merry surprises in store.

    As Christmas draws near, Felicia returns to her family’s home on the island to marry her adventurous, rugged boyfriend, Archie. Every detail is picture-perfect for a dream wedding: the snow-dusted streets, twinkling lights in the windows, a gorgeous red and white satin dress. Except a lavish ceremony is not Felicia’s dream at all; it’s what her mother, Jilly, wants. Jilly’s also worried that her daughter’s life with daredevil Archie will be all hiking and skydiving. Wondering if their handsome neighbor Steven Hardy might be a more suitable son-in-law, Jilly embarks on a secret matchmaking campaign for Felicia and the dashing stockbroker.

    As the big day approaches and Jilly’s older daughter, Lauren, appears with rambunctious kids in tow, tensions in the household are high. With the family careening toward a Yuletide wedding disaster, an unexpected twist in Nancy Thayer’s heartwarming tale reminds everyone about the true meaning of the season.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateOct 28, 2014
    ISBN9781491587461
    An Island Christmas: A Novel
    Author

    Nancy Thayer

    Nancy Thayer is the New York Times bestselling author of A Nantucket Wedding, Secrets in Summer, The Island House, The Guest Cottage, An Island Christmas, Nantucket Sisters, A Nantucket Christmas, Island Girls, Summer Breeze, Heat Wave, Beachcombers, Summer House, Moon Shell Beach, and The Hot Flash Club. She lives on Nantucket.

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    Reviews for An Island Christmas

    4/5

    43 ratings6 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this fast-moving, interesting storyline that covers a lot of different issues, yet it doesn't dwell on or push an agenda. As usually, Nancy's books are wonderful.
    • 3/5
      A special thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

      Nancy Thayer is back with her heartwarming annual holiday novel, Christmas on Chestnut Street, in idyllic Nantucket, where festivities get a little hectic, and not the normal traditional Christmas.

      The Friday of Thanksgiving weekend is unusually cold, blowing off Nantucket Sound, but the hundreds of islanders clustered on the corner of Main Street and Orange, didn’t mind the weather, as the holidays had officially arrived, the shops were adorned, and the boisterous crowd, led by the town’s beloved music teacher sang the season’s first carols.

      Of course, the exuberant voices of the singers carried a few blocks down to a charming painstakingly restored 1840s Greek revival house on Chestnut Street. Jilly Gordon, who in the past years had always attended the festivities, now sat in her peach cashmere sweater set, curled up on a down-filled sofa in front of a crackling fire, sobbing.

      The book opens with Jilly, speaking with her friend Nicole, complaining about her daughter Felicia’s upcoming wedding. Her plans were to marry adventurous Archie, who lives in Utah, because they love hiking, skiing, and rafting. Of course, Jilly thinks this is too far away from Nantucket, even though Felicia is twenty-nine years old and they currently live together.

      Jilly thinks Archie is a little rugged looking, and this lifestyle is a little dangerous. She thinks the old boyfriend (a prom date) from high school, Steven Hardy, the stockbroker, who just bought the house next door is more GQ looking, stable, and would be a better match for her daughter, and could keep her within her reach.

      Jilly makes plans to throw these two together for a Christmas dinner. Felicia does not care for this stupid stockbroker guy, and she does not even want the picture perfect wedding her mom has in mind for her. It is what her mother Jilly wants. The big wedding and dress is not her thing, but her mom wants a Norman Rockwell Christmas wedding, so she thinks if she gives on this, her mom will accept Archie and the continuation of living in Utah without a big fuss.

      They live in a tiny apartment above a bookshop in Moab, Utah, and she gets excited about the new mountain bike Archie had given her for a wedding present. Her sister, in Boston thinks she is nuts. Felicia is trying to please her mom by having the wedding in Nantucket, so they have to fly, and Archie’s parents have to travel to Nantucket all the way from Florida, (his parents are divorced) and none of their friends would be there since it is Christmas and need to be home with their families.

      They reason they are rushing the wedding, is they had joined a special hiking tour of the Himalayas and if they are married, they will get their own private tent, as part of the tour policy. (How romantic her sister thinks). If you are an avid hiker and cycler as I am, this is heaven!

      However Felicia loves Christmas on Nantucket as magical and recalls her childhood days with Christmas baking, snow, presents, family and all the traditional fun. Maybe her dad could convince her mother than once they were married, she could be free to live her life.

      All sorts of things happen to Jilly’s perfect planning. (Part perfectionist and softheartedness). Her husband wanted to buy her a puppy, but then decided on a kitten and Jilly thought it was a clever ideal. However, things do not go as planned. Felicia starts yearning for a baby, Archie does not want a family as he likes babies but says they turn into adults and ruin the planet.

      Things get worse, from Rex the cat, to Archie, the moped, George, the matchmaking, the ruined presents, Archie’s mom, the grandchildren or her well laid plans. As tensions run high around weddings in general, mixed in with the Christmas season – Jilly soon learns what happiness really means, having her family there and safe for a memorable and enchanting Christmas mixed with humor.

      Nancy’s book last Christmas was about a dog which warmed everyone’s heart, so guess it was to be a cat this year. Not a lover of cats; however if you like a nice light hearted Christmas read, in beautiful snow-setting like Nantucket, you will enjoy.

      As a resident of South Florida (West Palm Beach), I am always at the beach on Christmas Day enjoying the tropical weather and a book, cycling, or walking along the intracoastal waterfront park, which is heaven; however, we Floridians live vicariously through others and different parts of the county for our white Christmas dreams. (of course no one knows Nantucket better than Nancy).

      I have read all of Nancy Thayer's books and a fan for years. If you have missed some of her books or series along the way, her older ones are now available in electronic format with stunning new covers!

    • 4/5
      The perfect winter read,the perfect Christmas read. Curl up with hot chocolate or tea and a blanket and enjoy! Light an easy read,very enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      I hadn't read Nancy Thayer before so I wasn't sure what to expect with her holiday novel, but what I got was a heartwarming tale that was perfect for the holiday season. Christmas on Chestnut Street had it all with family drama, humor, romance, and a perfect holiday wedding. Like Felicia's mother, Jilly, I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be rooting for Felicia to end up with at first, but Thayer provided the reader with the perfect ending to her holiday story. The characters were all developed really well making the reader feel like part of the family. Overall Christmas on Chestnut Street proved to be a wonderful holiday read that I would most definitely recommend. I look forward to reading more by this author.Received a copy of Christmas on Chestnut Street through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      Title: An Island ChristmasAuthor: Nancy ThayerPublisher: Ballantine BooksReviewed By: Arlena DeanRating: 4.5Review:"An Island Christmas" by Nancy ThayerWhat I liked about this novel.....I loved this holiday Christmas story, add the Gordon family with the youngest daughter Felicia was getting married on Christmas day, along with a cat pet (Rex) and other distractions... then you will have some interesting story that happens in Nantucket. This story will even get more intriguing the mother(Jill) tries to convince her daughter to change her mind about the finance and marry an old boyfriend who lives right next door. Why was Jill trying to do this? Well, this is the time that I will say you must pick up the good read to see for yourself how this author will give you a heartwarming presentation. Now, what will happen for Felicia and her fiancé, Archie? Be ready for some real funny humorous adventures, some idiocy of family members and some best laid plans that go awry in this hectic pace storyline where there will be many twist and turns. The characters are all well developed, captivating, well portrayed and believable only to give the reader a very good story with some changes, surprises and yes, acceptance. "An Island Christmas" is a quick read that once you start reading the reader will find it hard to put down. This author really know now to give the reader a holiday novel...Christmas on Chestnut street in Nantucket where a lots of things get very hectic but in the end one unforgettable story. What I especially liked about this novel was the wonderful Christmas festivities and descriptions that this author gives in the telling of her story on Nantucket Island were wonderful showing the very importance of family, friends and love. Would I recommend "An Island Christmas?" YES!
    • 3/5
      This was an short, light, holiday-Hallmark style Christmas read. Like many of Thayer's books, the setting is Nantucket, with beautiful descriptions of the holiday traditions held on the island. Empty nesters Jilly and George seem excited to have their daughter Felicia coming home to get married, although Jilly isn't sure Archie is the right man for her. The adoption of a feral cat, the arrival of Felicia's sister Lauren and the grandkids, all add to the exuberant feel of the story. Very predictable, but a fun read to help kick off that holiday feeling.