Book Review: The Twelve Days to Christmas

Author: Michele Gorman
Publication Date: September 11, 2012

"What if his proposal had an expiration date?"

Hannah’s in a bit of a pickle. In twelve days she flies from Hong Kong to the U.S. with Sam, where he’s finally going to meet her parents… and ask to marry her.
Since overcoming a rather rocky patch in their relationship (which was totally his fault), he really is a new man, and they’re completely in love. The problem is, she feels panicky every time she contemplates matrimony. Which is perfectly normal, isn’t it? Isn’t it?! She has no idea but she’s got to find out before he pops the question... because she’s not 100% sure she’s going to say yes. Which will make for a very uncomfortable family holiday. He’s got to ask her before they go. So Operation Proposal begins.

As time ticks down to their flight, Hannah realizes that her own secrets are threatening their future. Before she can be happy with Sam, she’s got a lot to learn about herself in the twelve days to Christmas.

 

I can’t decide if I am ready for Halloween or Christmas. I believe that it is a little of both, if that is possible?!  The cover of this book really put me in the mood for Christmas. It was the first Christmas inspired book that I actually looked at and I am so glad that I picked it up. I love the snow falling on the front cover. How beautiful! I wish that was happening here. The entire little town looks like it is inside an ornament and how cozy is that? It almost reminded me of a snow globe too and I used to pretend that entire worlds existed inside of snow globes when I was younger!

 

This is the first book that I have read by Michele Gorman. She has written a few other books like this one and I am anxious to check them out. This book was a Christmas story, how fabulous I know, and took place in Hong Kong! I was really thrown by the location at first but once I started reading I was really pleased with how Michele worked Hong Kong into the cozy Christmas setting. She even describes some of the more favored traditions of the Christmas season as it takes place in Hong Kong and I was so into reading parts like those. It is always fascinating to see how someone else represents a holiday that is widespread here. That was probably my favorite part of the book!

 

Hannah was a very believable character and her flaws were something that I could relate to, most of the time. Hannah did drive me a little batty at first because she was constantly questioning her relationship with Sam, who was supposed to be proposing to her soon. It was almost like she had to talk herself into the fact that he really and truly loved her. Their relationship had comes through a few rough spots in the past, but I felt like they weren’t completely finished with hitting that prickly patch just by the way Hannah talked. For the most part, however, I did love and value her sense of realism. She was just like any other woman would be in her current situations. Hannah had a lot of major events happening in her life and I thought that she handled them all well.

 

Christmas was a reoccurring theme throughout this book and that was fine by me! Michele does an awesome job of incorporating Hong Kong traditions, like I mentioned before, but also by allowing our main character, Hannah, to talk about her American Christmas traditions as well. There was a paragraph where Hannah was going on and on about her Dad’s annual tradition of making eggnog for everyone! How could something so small captivate me? It was amazing!

 

I also loved her relationship with her best friend, Stacy. Stacy is an in your face type of friend who speaks nothing but the truth. She is bold and blunt and I would understand if some people didn’t like her, but I was thrilled with her character. I have a friend like that and I am a firm believer that everyone needs a friend to tell you when you are being a little ridiculous.

 

This is a quick and highly entertaining read. If you are ready for just a taste of Christmas then please go and check it out today!

 

***An e-copy of this book was provided to me by the author in exchange for my honest review***