Christmas at Claridge's

By: Karen Swan

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

'This was where her dreams drifted to if she didn't blot her nights out with drink; this was where her thoughts settled if she didn't fill her days with chat. She remembered this tiny, remote foreign village on a molecular level and the sight of it soaked into her like water into sand, because this was where her old life had ended and her new one had begun.'

Portobello - home to the world-famous street market, Notting Hill Carnival and Clem Alderton. She's the queen of the scene, the girl everyone wants to be or be with. But beneath the morning-after makeup, Clem is keeping a secret, and when she goes too far one reckless night she endangers everything - her home, her job and even her adored brother's love.

Portofino - a place of wild beauty and old-school glamour. Clem has been here once before and vowed never to return. But when a handsome stranger asks Clem to restore a neglected villa, it seems like the answer to her problems - if she can just face up to her past.

Claridge's - at Christmas. Clem is back in London working on a special commission for London's grandest hotel. But is this really where her heart lies?

Christmas at Claridge's is a glamorous contemporary romance by the best-selling Karen Swan, author of Christmas in the Snow.

©2017 Karen Swan (P)2017 Macmillan Digital Audio

My Reader's Choice of the Year Award

What did you love best about Christmas at Claridge's?

I loved how real these characters were. I loved the family - who first appeared heavily dysfunctional but were really devoted to the core. It shows the hard choices we each make in the name of love.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Clem because of her resolve and her heart.

What does Imogen Church bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The nuances of each character's conflicts

If you could rename Christmas at Claridge's, what would you call it?

Not sure. I've given it a lot of thought but Christmas at Claridge's was not accurate. Christmas was such a tiny part.

Any additional comments?

It's not just a little Christmas story. I think it's a disservice to lump it in with Christmas stories. I really became involved and emotional and I will miss these people. ***** Their business revolves around leather hides. It's not talked about in detail or even spoken often but if that bothers you as a vegan or otherwise, you just might get uncomfortable. Still, don't throw away this wonderful story for that reason, IMHO.

So good!!

Imogen Church has become one of my favorite narrators! The story was fantastic (though I wasn’t expecting to cry) and it was funny and thoughtful and just all around lovely.

The narrator makes the story

Page turner story of life! Narrator keeps story so interesting and captivating. Flows effortlessly from beginning to end!

Could not root for the main character

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Halfway through, I kept wanting to return the book, just did not like the main character enough to root for her

What was most disappointing about Karen Swan’s story?

I read 2 of Karen Swan's books and loved them, but this book, it was so hard to root or like the main character, by 2/3 to 3/4 of the book I felt I should keep trudging forward wanting to redeem this main character and like her, but by the time the book ended, I was frustrated and felt I wasted my time. Not one of her best story or character.

Merry Christmas Clem🎄

Loved this book had a positive out come !
Thanks Karen Swan for a enjoyable Christmas story!!

The main character is unlikeable.

I got about 3 hours in and had to stop listening because the main character was such an awful, shortsighted, selfish person that I didn't want to hear another word more about her.

Also, although the narration was fine, the audio quality was inconsistent. Some characters speak so softly that it sounds like they are mumbling. I would turn up the volume, and then the other characters were too loud. And the ambient noise in the recording was a little static. i listened to the book through my Alexa, in my car, and through ear pods and all the devices had the same not-great sound engineerings.

If I had any respect for the protagonist, I would have shrugged and gone on listening. But I am returning this book because the character is so insufferable.

I understand about narrative arcs, and maybe by the end of the book she redeems herself. I just don't care enough to want to take that journey with her.

Could have been great!

Great storyline but the female lead is too ditzy and confused. I detest story’s that depict women as stupid, insipid creatures. The narrator was horrible. I ended up skipping to the end because I just couldn’t take it anymore.