The Expat Diaries: Twelve Days to Christmas Paperback – September 18, 2012

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***

A sweet conclusion to this series! Hannah is back with Sam and she believes he’s going to propose to her at Christmas. Hannah is in a panic remembering all the times she told little white lies to impress him. Does he know the real Hannah? Would he love her if he knew? Meanwhile, Hannah’s boss is dating her friend Stacy and trying to sell the company.Hannah was way overthinking things and not being open and honest again. It annoyed me after I thought she had matured more in the last book. However, I loved the ending to this story. I also liked the format as each chapter title went with the 12 days of Christmas song. I was honestly not sure how the story was going to end. I appreciate that this series hasn’t been predictable, which is a rarity in a chick lit. Everything is tied up nicely at the end, even with secondary characters. Overall, I would recommend this series to fans of travel chick lit.

Check out the full review at Kritters RamblingsA wonderful holiday novella that will you get you in the mood to find the person you love and tell them why you are glad they are the one by your side through the holiday season. Sam is a young woman from the United States who has lived in London and now currently resides in Hong Kong - she moved there for a boy (that part of the story hit close to home!). She is getting back together with the guy she moved for and is trying to decide if this is the relationship that can last a lifetime.

Twelve Days to Christmas is the third and final book of the Single in the City series. It's a nice short novella as entertaining as the other two books. I'm not sure a person who have not read the other would understand it, but for us who devour the other two it was great! I really enjoyed the idea of having a chapter per each day to Christmas. It was very nice to know the conclusion of Hannah story.

Great