Ever since discovering Carrie Walker in TripFiction, I’ve been a fan of her romantic, atmospheric novels. First, I read Escape to the Swiss Chalet, where Holly’s adventures in Vervier, a snowy ski resort made me feel right there, and rediscover things about Taos, a ski town where my husband and I lived for nine years. I didn’t even know there were apres ski parties!

Then came Escape to the Tuscan Vineyard, where I got to follow Abi from London to Tuscany, falling in love among vineyards and rustic kitchens. (Food, by the way, always finds a delicious place in Walker’s storytelling!)

So when Escape to the Northern Lights arrived, I happily pre-ordered it months in advance. I dove into it just as I was forcing myself through a beautifully written but heavy memoir, so beginning this novel felt like lifting a fog and breathing fresh Nordic air.

And what a lovely escape it was.

In this third novel, Abi makes a brief cameo. In fact, a small geographical mishap she makes launches her friend Sara, a London barrister overworked and struggling with panic attacks, on an unexpected journey to Norway. (By the way, Abi also creates a beautiful mural for Sara’s bathroom, fireflies and all, but I don’t want to give away too much of the story.)

Sara arrives in Bergen and gets ready to start what she thinks is a luxury vacation in the same spa where Emma Stone once stayed, but soon finds out that she is in the wrong place—or so she thinks at the time—as Firefly Forests turns out to be an eco-friendly retreat where people dine in silence and there is no alcohol. And practically no Internet.

Ah, but there is a handsome guy named Henrik Nilsen, who brings warmth to the wintry landscape and Sara’s heart. . . I’ll let you find out the rest of the story.

As in her previous novels, Walker’s talent shines in her ability to transport her readers. Whether we’re in a Swiss village, a Tuscan vineyard, or a quiet Nordic retreat, her readers get to travel with her. Her style is humorous, cozy and deeply satisfying—perfect for curling up with a hot chocolate on a chilly evening.

I closed the book with a smile and the sense of having taken a short, beautiful journey to Norway and gotten a taste of Scandi life.

Now, I can’t wait to see where Carrie Walker takes us next. Maybe to the Caribbean?

Highly recommended for lovers of travel fiction, gentle romance, and armchair wanderers everywhere.

Find it on Amazon: https://a.co/d/75Yf7R2

To learn more about the author, visit her website: https://www.carriewalker.co.uk