The Christmas Wish List

Wynbridge #7

by Heidi Swain

After being let go from her job in a swanky hotel just weeks before Christmas, Hattie is feeling lost. Even more so when her high-flying boyfriend announces he’s landed his dream job in Abu Dhabi and asks her to move with him. Luckily, Hattie’s long-time friend Dolly is on hand to help and invites Hattie to spend one last holiday in the small, festive town of Wynbridge, determined to give her a Christmas to remember . . .

Upon Hattie’s arrival, holiday preparations are in full swing. But for Hattie, whose Christmas cheer has long since run out, it’ll take more than mince pies and mistletoe to open her heart to the season once more. Relishing the task of reigniting Hattie’s Christmas spirit, Dolly suggests they create a wish list of all the things the season can offer, and with the helpful hands of Wynbridge’s resident handyman, Beamish, Hattie finds her frosty exterior is starting to thaw.

As Wynbridge prepares for its most spectacular Christmas yet, will Hattie leave snowy England behind for life in a sunnier clime, or will she in fact realise that her heart’s desire lies much closer to home?

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Holiday

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2019

About the author

Although passionate about writing from an early age, Heidi Swain gained a degree in Literature, flirted briefly with a newspaper career, married and had two children before she finally plucked up the courage to join a creative writing class and take her literary ambitions seriously.

A lover of Galaxy bars, vintage paraphernalia and the odd bottle of fizz, she now writes contemporary fiction and enjoys the company of a whole host of feisty female characters.

Heidi can be found at the keyboard at all hours of the day and night and quite often scribbling longhand in her car during her lunch break. She lives in stunning south Norfolk with her wonderful son and daughter and a mischievous cat called Storm.

Reviews

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Deceptions*

This is book #7 in the standalone books based in Wynbridge. It is definitely worth reading in order to avoid some spoilers.

This instalment sees Hattie being made redundant from her job at a luxury hotel. The timing with Christmas only weeks away makes her feel out of sorts. She should be excited as her high-flyer boyfriend Jonathan has landed his dream job. Hattie’s misfortune is perfect timing for him and he wants her to go with him, the destination is Abu Dhabi. This should have been the thing to lift her spirits but she is lifted when her best friend Dolly turns up unannounced. Whilst Hattie is young, Dolly is approaching retirement it is a very interesting relationship as age is definitely not a factor and their friendship is beautiful to see, the love between them is genuine.

On hearing the news about going to Abu Dhabi Dolly suggests that Hattie spends one last Christmas in Wynbridge. Hattie has her own reasons for not being full of Christmas cheer. Jonathan is keen for Hattie to stay with him and forget about Wynbridge but he has his own reasons as he is very manipulative as everything is about him he thinks nothing of spinning things to suit his narrative.

Hattie chooses to go to Wynbridge after finishing her last few days at work. We soon start to see a glimmer of the old Hattie before being under Jonathan’s spell. Dolly arranges for Beamish the local handyman who seems to have many talents to pick Hattie up from the train station. He is as tall as he is wide in a good way, as their friendship grows Hattie begins to see what a friendship should be like instead of this controlling person who has done everything in his power to almost make her reliant on him.

As time goes by counting down towards Christmas on Dolly’s advice Hattie has never mentioned Jonathan to Beamish a decision that could backfire…..

We soon see exactly why when sparks fly when Jonathan shows up and he does not get his way and Hattie is cornered into making a decision when she is presented with the level of deceit and the lengths Jonathan has gone to, to make sure that their world consists of just the two of them.

For Hattie more is to come when Dolly helps her to create a Christmas wish list and one item seems like a task too far and more deceit lies ahead and maybe someone special on the horizon.

A touching Christmas tale with substance.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really should know better than to read this type of story when I'm tired, stressed and kind of grumpy as it's pretty much guaranteed that it'll bug the hell out of me. I found myself getting pretty frustrated and annoyed with just about every character and was tempted more than once to dnf.

There are elements I liked, I love a nice Christmas story and I enjoyed the cosy village setting. I also thought Beamish, the romantic interest, was very sweet even if he sounded a bit too good to be true.

Unfortunately however it was all a little too predictable and I really struggled to like main character Hattie. I just couldn't find much sympathy for her and her many problems. I also didn't especially like the way she was tempted to get involved with Beamish while still in a serious relationship with someone else. Even if the current relationship may not be the best I can't support what is cheating and I didn't like the way she lied to Beamish and led him on.

I also couldn't understand why all of the other characters thought Hattie was so wonderful. She never really did anything and seemed pretty me, me, me.

It is however well written and a little emotional towards the end so I'm sure many people will love it. I suspect for me it was a case of the wrong book at the wrong time.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a Heidi Swain book, and I really enjoy Wynbridge and this was a incredibly enjoyable story.

I was hooked from the first few pages and was shocked to realise I'd read the first 50 on a relatively short tube journey, always a sign I'm enjoying the book. even from an early stage.

I loved the concept of The Christmas Wish List and seeing how Hattie's feelings towards the season changed as she and Dolly worked through the list. I also was pleased to see Hattie grow as a character in many directions, especially at the point here eyes become wide open to her current relationship.

There were a few revelations during the story, but to be honest, I had strong inklings towards them while I was reading, so they seemed more inevitable than anything, but it didn't impact my enjoyment at all.

And Beamish is such a great new character who I really enjoyed getting to know, while also seeing familiar faces in passing from previous books set in Wynbridge is always a delight.

I love this community, and its zeal for all things Christmas, and just wish I could have been on the ice-rink with Hattie, Dolly and Beamish.

Filled with the authors trade mark writing style, and warmth, this was a truly enjoyable story to read in the run up to Christmas, and may even inspire me to one day have my own Christmas Wish List!

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to read this book as so love the author. The cover really attracted me as well and the book didn't let me down at all was fantastic from the first page and throughly enjoyed it was sorry to get to the end in many way. It's full of romance and heartbreak and finding out what you want in life to be happy it's also about forgiveness and such a warm Christmas read and just a brilliant read can't recommend it enough.
Hattie has just lost her job but when she tells her boyfriend Jonathan finds out he's really pleased as he's moving abroad to the sun with his new job and invites her with him. She agrees but says she wants to spend the last Christmas with her friend Dolly in Wynbridge. Dolly wants to give her the Christmas to remember but does she have more up her sleeve for Hattie. Hattie starts working at the school with dolly and really enjoys spending time with the children she also makes friends with Beamish and preparations are in full swing for Christmas in the town and will Hattie be able to get involved and enjoy Christmas again. Dolly also suggest they make a wish list of things she wants to do before moving away and she suggests contacting Hattie parents as she fell out with them years ago but Hattie is very unsure on that but does write a card and by mistake it gets posted so will she hear from her parents and learn more than she thought. Hattie really starts to relax and enjoy working through the wish list with dolly and the help of beamish. She gets a surprise visit from Jonathan and he suggests going away to a posh hotel and she agrees and they rush off. While there she soon starts to realise what he's like and when he gets angry with her she realises she doesn't want to be with someone who controls her so asks him to take her back to Dolly's and not to contact her for a week so she has time to think. She tries not to let on to Dolly what went wrong while away but can she see through her and realise. She goes to speak to Beamish and tell him about Jonathan and that she is leaving him and when she finds him she is met by Jonathan as well as he's turned up to propose but will she leave with him and go and live in the sun or will she stay behind with out him and will she find the right person to love or make a mistake.
A fantastic read and just didn't want it to end.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. A cosy little festive read returning to Wynbridge. Heidi writes lovely stories and it’s not all sugar coated; she covered some serious topics in this book. I did guess quite early on what would happen at the end of the story, but it didn’t put me off reading it.

[Lisa Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by the lovely Heidi Swain.

It was great to return to Wynbridge and catch up on some familiar faces and meet some new ones. Wynbridge really is idyllic at Christmas and it was lovely to be back there at the most wonderful time of the year.

I always hope that little villages like this with the same Christmas traditions which the whole village enjoy and participate in, still actually exists in this country. I really liked Hattie and it was great to see how her character changed. I work in a school so could definitely relate to how busy it is when you work in a school at this time of year (hence why it took me so long to read this book!)

I just adore Dolly and Beamish just sounds dreamy 😍 I’ve loved every single Heidi Swain book that I’ve read and just love Wynbridge! A definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

[Mind the Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kommer i alla tider att fortsätta gå in på WH Smith och skaffa dessa julglittriga verk av tveksam litterär kvalitet. Brukar innehålla mulled wine, en Harlequin-het handyman och lite löjlig hemvändarromantik, precis som de bokeh-späckade Netflixfilmerna med sökord 'Christmas'. Möjligen, om storyn är seriöööös, en ny insikt för hjältinnan vad som e.g.e.n.t.l.i.g.e.n. är det viktiga i livet. Sämre varianter har viktorianska välgörare som dyker upp och donerar fastigheter eller förmögenheter till den i föregående kapitel desperata huvudpersonen...

Här möter vi Hattie. Efter att ha förlorat jobbet på hotellet hon jobbat på i många år är hon julgrinchig. Att hon har en toxic boyfriend, som vill stänga in henne i en kvävande expat-tvåsamhet i Förenade Arabemiraten maskerat under termen nystart, hjälper inte. Räddaren i nöden är Dolly, okonventionell vän i pensionsåldern. Hon bjuder in Hattie att tillbringa några veckor i lilla Wynbridge, i en typisk engelsk countryside cottage, "not all that dissimilar from the one Kate Winslet owned in The Holiday".

Och julen kan börja!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely little read. I’m not really a fan of Christmas or overly keen on chic lit however I couldn’t but this one down. Like all of Heidis books it’s well written, has great characterisation and makes you wish that you lived in the village surrounded by all of the characters.

[Bookworm Blogger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have made it my mission this year to work my way through Heidi Swain’s backlist after discovering her last year. So far I am doing well and only have 1 more book left in this series (until the Christmas release of the next one).

Whilst each of these books is about a different character in the village I would recommend reading them in order so you don’t miss out on the lovely community and back stories. One of the things I love about these book is how the different characters from previous books pop up to say hello and we get a little glimpse at how they are getting on. I’m also enjoying seeing how the Cherry Tree franchise develops in each book, to think at the start it was a little cafe compared to what Lizzie and Jemma have achieved now!

This story focuses on Hattie and her beautiful friendship with the lovely Dolly. Whilst their pairing may seem a little odd, given the age gap between them ,the two friends have an undeniable friendship that made this book all the more special. Out of the two I have to say Dolly was my favourite, her gently meddling ways made me smile. She wasn’t interfering or controlling but she often gave Hattie a nudge in the right direction and guided her friend along a difficult path.

The idea of a Christmas Wish List is just brilliant and like our loveable Beamish it showed me just how magical Christmas can be when you think of the array of celebrations on offer. From making gingerbread houses, to decorating a tree with every bauble possible these are all things we take for granted during the season. I’m looking forward to putting a Christmas list together with my two little boys and making our Christmas as magical as possible.

Once again it was the community spirit that brought a smile to my face. It was lovely to see Wynthorpe Hall making a feature along with it usual cast of Christmas crackers. Every time I read (or listen) to one of Heidi’s books it makes me crave the quaint village living where you get a real sense of community. Another great read for a fabulous series!

[Carole Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My last book of the year and what a fabulous one to finish with. Heidi Swain books are simply beautiful I can’t recommend them enough.

[Margaret Galbraith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful Christmas story… but be careful what you wish for. Hattie seems to have the perfect life but is it all she wants or is she just going with the flow? Sometimes the things you really need are right below your nose! This rang true for me in this lovely book 🎄

[Marie Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feel good Christmas story.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to live in Wynbridge, it sounds the perfect place to be at Christmas. Loved this book, the storyline & the people in it. Full of festive fun & frolics 🎅🍭🎄

[A Creative Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75⭐)

Après avoir vu maintes et maintes fois le nom d'Heidi Swain et les couvertures de ses romances de Noël un peu partout sur internet, je me suis finalement lancée "à l'aveugle" (c'est à dire j'ai pris le premier audiobook que je voyais d'elle dans Scribd et je n'ai pas lu le résumé). Et ma foi, c'est une chouette découverte ! J'ai compris, une fois déjà bien dans le livre, que ça avait l'air d'être une saga autour du village de Wynbridge, mais on peut clairement lire les tomes indépendamment même si du coup je pense qu'on ne voit pas le "construction" du setting 🤷🏻‍♀️

J'ai adoré l'ambiance festive de Wynbridge, le Winter Wonderland et toutes les petites traditions auxquelles chaque habitant semble participer chaque année. ❄️ J'adore les livres contemporains qui se déroulent dans des petits villages cosy comme ça donc évidemment ça a matché.
J'ai également beaucoup apprécié la belle amitié entre Dolly et Hattie, amitié quelque peu hors du commun au vu de leur grande différence d'âge. 👩🏻‍🦰🧓🏻

Par contre j'ai malheureusement trouvé quelques éléments beaucoup trop prévisibles et j'ai eu un peu de mal avec le côté "tromperie" que l'on retrouve ici...
J'ai néanmoins passé un bon moment et j'ai trouvé intéressant les différents sujets qui sont abordés : tout n'est pas tout rose, ce qui rend cette histoire tout à fait plausible et touchante.

Je vais définitivement me tourner vers le reste de l'œuvre d'Heidi Swain, et lire dans l'ordre (même si ce n'est que les romances de Noël pour commencer 🙈) la saga sur Wynbridge !

[Agi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Christmas Wish List" introduces us to Hattie, who has just lost her beloved job in a hotel. To say that her world is turned upside down would be an understatement, she's devastated. However, her boyfriend Jonathan announces that it's a perfect timing, as he's just been offered his dream job in Abu Dhabi and wants Hattie to come with him. Before the move though, Hattie decides to spend her last Christmas with her friend Dolly in Wynbridge, even though she's not so full of the festive cheer. But with lots of festive activities, Hattie volunteering at school, mince pies and a helpful and friendly handyman Beamish will Hattie's festive spirit reawaken?

No matter what season, Heidi Swain can brilliantly and precisely capture the atmosphere, and so this time she takes us back to Wynbridge in winter, close to Christmas, and really, reading the book made me start my own Christmas countdown. It's already full of festive spirit and I can't wait to decorate my own house.

Basically, I liked our Hattie very, very much. I think that I didn't like the previous version of her, the Jonathan's girlfriend version, and I adored to watch her starting to relax and enjoy her life, and hated how she changed as soon as Jonathan was nearby. I was actually waiting for something really bad happening when he was around, I had a feeling that was telling me that there is much more to him hidden under the mask of the lovely, handsome and generous man.
And this time - hallelujah! - I also enjoyed Dolly. You know me and how I feel about the older, wiser characters, right, so I am always scared that when such a character enters the pages of the book, it's going to spoil the whole reading experience for me. However, Dolly was absolutely adorable. Yes, she was older, and yes, she was wise, but she was not too overwhelming with this wisdom, and the way she tried to show Hattie the right way was subtle and gentle.
And Beamish. Anytime, anywhere. I mean, anytime is he allowed to turn up on my doorstep. Swoon.

Heidi Swain's writing style is developing and getting better with every book and the storyline in this novel was really well - structured. Yes, there were moments that I felt it dragged on a bit, and some things happened very conveniently for the plot to go on, but altogether I enjoyed every single word. The author brings the characters and the setting to life through her lovely, colourful and vivid descriptions and it's so easy to lose yourself in reading.

This book was full of not so obvious romance, searching for happiness, finding out what you want to do in life and with whom. It was about friendship, forgiveness, and standing on your own two feet. It was full of warmth, perfect read to curl up with a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top. There was the right amount of festive cheer, it was a bit predictable but also adorable, the characters were lovely and the setting gorgeous - what more do you need from a book? Exactly - so simply make sure that it is on your wish - list! Highly recommended!

Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

[Susanne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Heidi’s gorgeous books and I was excited to read this as my first Christmas book for my Christmas reading challenge this year 🎄
I loved the relationship between Hattie and Dolly, their warm friendship was inspiring. It was wonderful to catch up with Wynbridge and all the familiar characters and places, it feels like going home!
A great book filled with Christmas cheer, perfect to enjoy on a damp autumn 🍂 day, I honestly couldn’t put it down!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely delivered on what it promised - the perfect feel good festive read to settle down with this winter. I really enjoyed the interesting dynamic between Hattie and Dolly.

Would recommend for anyone who’s looking for a relatively light Christmas read.

CW: gaslighting/ abusive relationships

[Julia Sarene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Wish List by Heidi Swain

This is another cosy Christmas romance from Heidi Swain that comes with more emotional depth than the genre often promises. As with several of her books, the festive warmth is paired with some heavier themes. Trigger warnings apply for an emotionally abusive relationship and for another sad storyline that unfolds later in the book, even though the overall tone remains comforting.

The story centres on Hattie, whose relationship with her boyfriend Jonathan seems fine at first glance, but very quickly reveals itself as unhealthy. He is controlling, isolating, and manipulative, and while part of Hattie senses that something is wrong, she cannot quite face it yet. Instead, she keeps herself busy and cheerful, going along with plans to move to Abu Dhabi with him, a move that would take her away from everyone and everything she knows. I thought this was handled well. It is an important part of Hattie’s character and growth, but it does not overwhelm the story or turn it into high drama. If anything, it is portrayed with less intensity than such relationships often have in real life, which makes it feel quietly unsettling rather than explosive.

A real highlight of the book is the friendship between Hattie and Dolly. Dolly is older, perceptive, and clearly sees what is going on, but she is also wise enough to know that blunt warnings would only push Hattie away. Instead, she invites her to stay with her in her small cottage in Wynbridge over Christmas, hoping that time, kindness, and a change of surroundings will help Hattie see the truth for herself. I loved this portrayal of a friendship between women of different ages that is not framed as a motherly relationship, but as a genuine bond based on trust and care.

The Christmas theme is strong and well woven into the story. Hattie and Dolly make a Christmas wish list together, filled with festive things they want to do, from ice skating to watching the lights, and these moments bring a lot of warmth and joy to the book. They help balance the heavier themes and make the setting feel properly seasonal.

The romance follows the familiar, predictable path you expect from this kind of book, and I enjoyed it all the same. It is solid, comforting, and reassuring, and it fits neatly alongside the story of personal growth and rediscovering what a healthy relationship looks like.

Overall, this is a thoughtful and comforting Christmas read about friendship, self awareness, and finding the courage to step away from what is hurting you. Festive, gentle, and quietly emotional, it is the kind of book that wraps difficult truths in fairy lights and makes them easier to face.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A return to Wynbridge will provide more than just a rest for Hattie.

I think it’s wonderful to be able to open a book by an author and know you’re guaranteed a wonderful read and that’s exactly what happens with a Heidi Swain novel; The Christmas Wish List being no exception.

I love the way Heidi Swain creates a festive atmosphere. She manages to weave traditions and cosiness into her narrative without being saccharine or twee so that The Christmas Wish List provides a compelling and uplifting setting that feels perfect for a winter read. Smatterings of snow, carols, winter wonderlands and roaring fires transport the reader to a world of pleasure and positivity. However, The Christmas Wish List isn’t all sweetness and joy, and elements of the story that I don’t want to reveal because they will be spoilers, provide a perfect balance and reality that give even greater depth and enjoyment.

Whilst characters I’ve met before in Wynbridge make an appearance, there’s actually quite a reduced cast list at the heart of this story so that there is an intensity to their relationships that touches the reader highly effectively. I’m sure I was just as much in love with Beamish as any Wynbridge resident, but it was Dolly’s attitude of making the most of life through her actual wish list that resonated most with me. The positive message behind the narrative is simply flawlessly portrayed. I also thought Hattie was such a realistic character. She is stubborn and sometimes quite foolish and her actions often frustrated me because I cared about her. Her relationships with her family, Dolly and Jonathan in particular made her embody a microcosm of many a young woman in today’s society. I was desperate for he to have a happy resolution in The Christmas Wish List but you’ll need to read the book to see if that particular wish of mine was fulfilled.

As ever when I read Heidi Swain, although I adore the storytelling, it is the underpinning themes behind the story that I find most appealing. A sense of identity and appreciating what really matters in life form a tapestry with friendship, relationships, a sense of community and love so that in The Christmas Wish List I think there is something for every reader to identify with.

The Christmas Wish List is yet another triumph of a book from Heidi Swain. It truly does embody the festive spirit of Christmas, but more importantly, it conveys the message of making the most of the lives we have. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook.

Oh my gods, Heidi has done it yet again, another amazing delightful and heartfelt story that I just fell in love with and completely got lost in. She has such a way with words that her style of writing is truly magical which draws you in from the very first chapter.

It literally melted my heart from start to finish. I enjoyed every little moment, the characters were a delight (well all excluding one, I won't say who though as wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone) and I loved getting to know them all.

I thoroughly enjoyed returning to the location of Wynbridge, becoming involved and reacquainting myself with some of the wonderful characters again, not to mention the Christmas festivities and traditions. I loved the character of Dolly, so clever and sneaky (in a good way) in the things that she does and totally loved the new addition of the Christmas list.

I loved the story so much that I just didn't want it to end, I will definitely miss Dolly, Hattie and Beamish.   I do hope the author Heidi will be allowing her readers to return to Wynbridge in the future.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy Heidi's books. I first came across them last year and devoured all of her backlist within a matter of weeks and have been eagerly awaiting each release since. I was therefore very excited indeed to receive this book in the post and couldn't wait to get started completely breaking my rule of only reading christmas themed books in December.



I loved The Christmas Wish List for several reasons. I love meeting new character Hattie and following her story as she starts to work through a Christmas themed wishlist with her friend whilst staying with her on a short holiday. The story itself is really sweet and i particularly love the friendship between Hattie and her older friend Dolly.



I loved the Christmas elements of the book and this is absolutely the one you need to read when you get to the point of the year when you want to fully indulge in all things festive. As frequent visitors to Wynbridge already know they know how to do Christmas and have plenty going on to get into the seasonal spirit.



As always I loved getting back to Wynbridge itself. Whilst it can be happily read as a standalone I love how the story included so many cameos from the various characters from previous books. Catching up with them was lovely and feels like you are coming back to catch up with old friends.



All in all a fantastic read that I loved.

[the_queen_of_books24]

This relationship at the beginning just reeks of emotional abuse. Hints as to him being suffocating my clingy, her words, and the idea that he wants her to give her work up and just let him support both of them?! The fact that he doesn’t like Dolly also smacks of the idea that he can’t control her, and doesn’t like how she points out his flaws to the MC after she’d already forgiven him. His attempts to stop her from going to Wynbridge also send a red flag that he doesn’t want her to leave bc she might realise what he’s done, and I bet her parents were behaving similarly or figured out that he was doing this. I also can’t stand the idea that she thinks about getting with the love interest while also being in a relationship with Johnathan. He sounded like an a**hole at first but now he just seems dodgy. This behaviour may be intentional and called out later on, but I just don’t want to read about that right now.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay I had mixed feelings about this book. On one hand it was a very cozy Christmas read just like you would expect. Wynbridge is picturesque and laid out like a Hallmark card, designed to get you in the Christmas spirit. Box firmly ticked.

On the other hand, I had a few issues which made this book a bit of a challenge to get through at times. For one, Hattie is really annoying for a good portion of the book, at least the first half. You know why, eventually, as the author sort of leads you in that direction pretty early on, but for me it wasn't her circumstances that was the issue, it was her pettiness. I found her to be really abrupt and snappish with people who were being nothing but kind, and quick to blame others for her mistakes. Yes I know she is fictional, but it grated.

My second issue was with the four main characters: with the exception of Beamish, everyone was keeping some major secrets. I expected that from Jonathan (and you can guess the secrets really easily) but it still did feel like 80% of the book is just everyone trying to hide their secret and 20% was the big reveal and everybody is over it five minutes later. For a long book, that part felt rushed.

I love cozy holiday themed books so even though I didn't love this one, in the spirit of the season, I tried to keep my review fair in the hopes someone else will.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly after each of Heidi's books, I think to myself how can she possibly top that one.. But she definitely does!! By the end of this book I was crying!! 😭

Another trip to Wynbridge 😍 (can I just live there now please) and Hattie goes to meet her dear friend Dolly, for a much needed break away before her life changes forever. But her life changes in a complete different way!!

As always, I fell in love with Hattie, Dolly & Beamish 😍 along with the other usual characters popping in (which I LOVE) I didn't love Jonathan but let's be honest, I hope nobody did! I had bad vibes about him from the beginning. I also had a feeling Dolly was hiding something but didn't quite expect it.

Heidi's writing makes it feel like you are there. Although I didn't read this at a fast pace due to life taking over, each time I picked it up, I felt myself going back into where I left off and it was just so magical. There were absolutely heartbreaking moments, which actually hurt my heart!! But then also fuzzy moments which make you feel soo happy & grateful 😭🥰

Truly another amazing read, I absolutely loveeeed this and it was definitely worth the wait (it was on my Christmas list 🤭)

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fake.
Fake story. Fake characters, fake problems, fake romance, dreadful dialogues. There is nothing I like in this book, except the cover which is a beauty. The annoying and frustrating main character, Hattie, is loved and praised by everyone, yet she´s a self-absorbed and spoiled crybaby, who hasn´t done anything at all to deserve the praises. Somehow 1161 gave this book 5 stars. Who are these people?

[Lisa M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 - I didn't get as stuck into this as previous Heidi novels but I only had time to dip in and out which didn't help. Definitely not as light hearted as her other works which I found a tad strange for a Christmas book but I do get that life isn't all sweetness and light just because it's Christmas...

[Maria P · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of 2022 done although I did start this towards the end of 2021 but couldn’t quite finish by the end of the year. Really enjoyed this more than I thought, there was a bit more substance to the story than I was expecting and so it took me pleasantly by surprise. Still an easy listen but given 4 stars due to the extra layers in the story.

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this Christmas book in March as the libraries were closed to pick it up. An enjoyable read with some familiar characters and locations. Under the happiness are 2 dark themes which were well described.

[Brontesruleromance · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF @ 27%

2.5 stars.

Nothing wrong with the book at all; in fact I might try it again next year. Just wasn't clicking with me at the moment, a classic (bookish) case of "It's not you, it's me."

[Novelle Novels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although his book is full of hope and romance there is a real trigger in it. The writing is incredible and we have great lead characters. I love dolly who is our older protagonist and supporting lady. Going back to wynbridge seeing past characters that I love made it feel like going home.