This is a boook of seasonal SHORT STORIES. I emphasise this because it is not all that clear from the cover. I selected this book as a holiday read and after the first six 'chapters' wondered why the characters never seemed to meet up! Doh! Maybe I had too much wine. Anyway, after my initial misunderstanding, I found this a surprisingly enjoyable read. The stories are all based on characters who, due to their particular circumstances, are not quite living out the christmas dream sold to us by the television advertisments. This is easy reading for sure. I think it would be a great book to dip into over the holiday period when you fancy a break from the constant social whirl, endless eating and drinking and family overload!