I really wish I could give this book 4.5 stars because it was so very good. 
 There was a bit of an adjustment for me as I'm American and this is a very English story. Still I found it fascinating and enchanting and one of the best Christmas time romances I've come across in a long time. 
 Holly doesn't celebrate Christmas due in part to her upbringing and tragedy but she's rather forced into it when her housesitting job turns into a gathering for the family of the man who's house she is watching. 
 Holly is a smart and kind person who you feel the desire to hope for her happy ending. 
 Jude is a bit rough around the edges but it becomes clear quite soon that he like provoking Holly just to see what happens. 
 My favorite thing about this story is that half of it is just Holly getting to know Jude's family and pets before he even appears. Then it is all cooking, celebrating and artistic endeavors than lead to two hearts finding what they've lost. 
 And to top that off, there is a bit of a mystery that links Holly's grandmother to Jude's family! 
 It is a brilliant story and one I highly recommend.