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Swallowtail Bay #3
Winter Wishes At Swallowtail Bay
Grab your cosiest jumper and escape to the beautiful Swallowtail Bay!
Christmas and romance are in the air and Nell is obsessed! She can’t stop watching her favourite Christmas romcoms and dreaming of the day when she meets her own romantic hero, especially as she is hosting the first ever wedding at her small hotel, Holly Lodge.
Nell’s best friend, Tom, has been in love with her ever since they met. But Nell has never seen him that way, and he’s always kept his feelings a secret in case it ruins their friendship.
After the opening of the glamorous Langdon Mansion Hotel in the bay, Nell’s hotel is struggling for survival and she must fight, with Tom’s help, to keep Holly Lodge open. Can the magic of Christmas help two old friends save Holly Lodge and open Nell’s eyes to a love that was always there the whole time?
Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is the hilarious new romantic comedy from Katie Ginger, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Veronica Henry and Holly Martin!
Christmas and romance are in the air and Nell is obsessed! She can’t stop watching her favourite Christmas romcoms and dreaming of the day when she meets her own romantic hero, especially as she is hosting the first ever wedding at her small hotel, Holly Lodge.
Nell’s best friend, Tom, has been in love with her ever since they met. But Nell has never seen him that way, and he’s always kept his feelings a secret in case it ruins their friendship.
After the opening of the glamorous Langdon Mansion Hotel in the bay, Nell’s hotel is struggling for survival and she must fight, with Tom’s help, to keep Holly Lodge open. Can the magic of Christmas help two old friends save Holly Lodge and open Nell’s eyes to a love that was always there the whole time?
Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is the hilarious new romantic comedy from Katie Ginger, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Veronica Henry and Holly Martin!
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2020
68 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Katie Ginger
13 books146 followersKatie is a mystery and romance writer. Her debut novel The Little Theatre on the Seafront, published by HarperCollins, HQ Digital was nominated for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year Award and some of her books have been Amazon bestsellers. Her most recent series is the Swallowtail Bay series featuring a gloriously quaint seaside town and hunky heroes galore!
As well as writing romance, she also writes cozy mysteries under the pen name K E Coburn.
Sign-up to her mailing list to keep up to date with her bookish news and be the first to know the behind-the-scenes gossip!
As well as writing romance, she also writes cozy mysteries under the pen name K E Coburn.
Sign-up to her mailing list to keep up to date with her bookish news and be the first to know the behind-the-scenes gossip!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 11, 2020
A comfy cozy heartwarming Christmas read. Katie Ginger once again stole my heart with her sweet festive storytelling. Tom is in love with Nel but does not want to ruin their friendship. Nel is waiting for a romance like those in her beloved romcoms. She is also trying to keep her beloved family Inn afloat after a new fancier hotel comes to town. Kat is getting married at Nel’s Inn. She is stressed out excited to marry the love of her life, but her overbearing mother is driving her crazy. Will Tom finally confess his true feelings to Nel? Will Nel be able to save her family Inn? Will Kat’s wedding happened?
This book had all the festive vibes. I could just picture what the Inn looked like with the gorgeous tree and lovely holiday arrangements. Nel was such a great character even though she had her head in the clouds. Loved the friends to lovers romance in the book, couldn’t believe these two had not figured out they belong together before now. Tom was such a great guy, such a wonderful support for Nel. The sense of community throughout the story was lovely.
On a personal note I was thrilled to see the inclusion of a character who is dealing with a visual impairment in the book. As someone who has a degenerative eye disease, you don’t often see characters dealing with this in contemporary romance. I don’t have RP myself but I have something fairly similar my retina is deteriorating, unlike this character however I’ve lost my center vision but I have my peripheral vision. I just thought it was nice to see this character struggling with this in a realistic yet hopeful way. Recognizing this does not mean their life is over just altered a little. I know authors and publishers are adding diversity to their stories, I just hope they do not forget the disabled community. Thank you Katie Ginger for being so thoughtful in your approach to this part of the story. It was very much appreciated.❤️
This book in emojis 🏨 🎄 💐 🐱 👰🏼
*** Big thank you to HQ Digital for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This book had all the festive vibes. I could just picture what the Inn looked like with the gorgeous tree and lovely holiday arrangements. Nel was such a great character even though she had her head in the clouds. Loved the friends to lovers romance in the book, couldn’t believe these two had not figured out they belong together before now. Tom was such a great guy, such a wonderful support for Nel. The sense of community throughout the story was lovely.
On a personal note I was thrilled to see the inclusion of a character who is dealing with a visual impairment in the book. As someone who has a degenerative eye disease, you don’t often see characters dealing with this in contemporary romance. I don’t have RP myself but I have something fairly similar my retina is deteriorating, unlike this character however I’ve lost my center vision but I have my peripheral vision. I just thought it was nice to see this character struggling with this in a realistic yet hopeful way. Recognizing this does not mean their life is over just altered a little. I know authors and publishers are adding diversity to their stories, I just hope they do not forget the disabled community. Thank you Katie Ginger for being so thoughtful in your approach to this part of the story. It was very much appreciated.❤️
This book in emojis 🏨 🎄 💐 🐱 👰🏼
*** Big thank you to HQ Digital for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
March 6, 2021
Yes, I know. It's way past Christmas, but I need to really catch up on my Netgalley reads, so there'll be a few more late Christmas reads in the near future (hopefully, because that means I can focus on other things (books) again). I thought reading Christmas books now would be a hard task, but as a full on Christmas obsessed being it's actually working quite nice.....
So I read Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage by Katie Ginger the year before and I loved it. That was a reason for me to read another book by the author.
The author just writes in a way that's so relaxing and easy to get through, that the books are great cozy reads. It's like stepping into a hallmark movie when opening the book. Which is something I'm not that much into, except around Autumn and Christmas. The setting is beautiful and the story isn't too intense for a cozy read.
Reading more books of the same author, there's an itch to compare the different books I've read. I'd pick Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage over this one, purely for the fact that a Cottage is the ultimate idea of coziness and perfection for me. Both are great cozy Christmas reads.
So I read Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage by Katie Ginger the year before and I loved it. That was a reason for me to read another book by the author.
The author just writes in a way that's so relaxing and easy to get through, that the books are great cozy reads. It's like stepping into a hallmark movie when opening the book. Which is something I'm not that much into, except around Autumn and Christmas. The setting is beautiful and the story isn't too intense for a cozy read.
Reading more books of the same author, there's an itch to compare the different books I've read. I'd pick Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage over this one, purely for the fact that a Cottage is the ultimate idea of coziness and perfection for me. Both are great cozy Christmas reads.
December 18, 2021
This is a fun holiday book and you'll find it has it all. If you want romance,drama,and warm feelings you'll get it here. Plenty of Winter and Christmas themes as well. Nice cozy up with your mug of tea kind of book.
Pub Date: 07 Oct 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Pub Date: 07 Oct 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
October 5, 2020
A lovely Christmas read.
Nell runs Holly Lodge Hotel for her parents as they have emigrated. She has some great ideas to generate income not least hosting her best friend Cat's wedding to Kieran.
The local hotel sets about trying to discredit Holly Lodge after Nell and Tom have a disastrous meal.
There is plenty of love, arguments, misunderstandings and a cute cat 🐈.
I loved the descriptions of Holly Lodge and could imagine how it looked decked out all christmassy. Swallowtail Bay sounds like a place I would love to visit.
Cat's mum Brenda sounds like a right nightmare.
I didn't realise that this was a series but that doesn't matter as it can be read as a stand alone.
Will definitely look out for more books by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC
Nell runs Holly Lodge Hotel for her parents as they have emigrated. She has some great ideas to generate income not least hosting her best friend Cat's wedding to Kieran.
The local hotel sets about trying to discredit Holly Lodge after Nell and Tom have a disastrous meal.
There is plenty of love, arguments, misunderstandings and a cute cat 🐈.
I loved the descriptions of Holly Lodge and could imagine how it looked decked out all christmassy. Swallowtail Bay sounds like a place I would love to visit.
Cat's mum Brenda sounds like a right nightmare.
I didn't realise that this was a series but that doesn't matter as it can be read as a stand alone.
Will definitely look out for more books by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC
December 5, 2022
There are so many good cozy Christmas reads out there but unfortunately, this book is not one of them. Typically, this kind of book would take me little time at all to read but with this book, it took me days (probably close to a week).
The story was dry and the characters were somewhat bland. There wasn't much that I felt was identifiable between any of them and each of them didn't seem to have a personality.
As I was reading, I felt myself just hoping for the book to be finished because I knew there are so many better stories out there. If I was someone to 'DNF' a novel, I definitely would have put down this book early on.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
The story was dry and the characters were somewhat bland. There wasn't much that I felt was identifiable between any of them and each of them didn't seem to have a personality.
As I was reading, I felt myself just hoping for the book to be finished because I knew there are so many better stories out there. If I was someone to 'DNF' a novel, I definitely would have put down this book early on.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
October 17, 2020
Although I haven't yet read the first book in
Katie Ginger's
wonderful 'Swallowtail Bay' series the attractive cover design of this one caught my eye and I thought the premise of the book sounded fabulous.
Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay
was a really lovely story and I especially liked the main character, hotelier Nell, to whom I could really relate. She was caring and a hopeless romantic and I loved the Winter theme with its festive charm and watching for Nell and Tom's relationship to bloom. It was such fun overseeing them plan her friend Cat's wedding, taking place at the Holly Lodge, Nell's family's small boutique hotel, and her and Tom's efforts to save the Lodge from disaster. I wanted to be right there alongside them, especially when it came to the mulled wine, fairy lights and open log fires. The story's overall tone was snug and uplifting, bringing with it those romantic and Yuletide vibes.
This was a beautifully written, humorous story of love, friendship, dreams, community spirit, accepting help, and overcoming obstacles. Dashes of sparkling romance kept things fizzing and everything was wrapped up very nicely in the end. A wonderful read with strong Chrismassy notes, this is a book that I will certainly be recommending to friends and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
This was a beautifully written, humorous story of love, friendship, dreams, community spirit, accepting help, and overcoming obstacles. Dashes of sparkling romance kept things fizzing and everything was wrapped up very nicely in the end. A wonderful read with strong Chrismassy notes, this is a book that I will certainly be recommending to friends and family.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
December 4, 2020
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
3.5 stars.
A sweet story about old friends very slowly becoming something more, “Winter Wishes at Swalllowtail Bay”, by Katie Ginger (HQ Digital), a features a heroine, Nell, who is such a special, delightful person, and a smitten wounded hero.
I loved the secret crush dimension and how it was the delicious Beta hero, Tom, who yearned in silence for his long-time friend.
As for Nell… well, I found my teen and even young self identifying with her and her cute, fun and completely crazy (in a positive way) daydreaming and imagination. The nature of her imagination and the tendency to slide instantaneously into a fantasy world and to live “her love life in her head instead of in reality” is fascinating to watch. Add to this the fact she’s a very practical person, a good friend and a smart businesswoman.
Tom is a considerate and caring hero, a true knight in shining armor; his earnestness, the relationship with his grandfather and the timidity around Nell make him an attractive, endearing man. The process of denial and avoidance of his medical issue is a bit disturbing.
A lovely story set in an English coastal village and built around the celebration of Christmas, with a strong sense of community and likeable side characters.
I felt the story could have been shorter, there’s some overexplanation/overdescription and some aspects – the wedding preparation, the rivalry between hotels, the character of Harry – that were less interesting to me than the romantic plotline.
3.5 stars.
A sweet story about old friends very slowly becoming something more, “Winter Wishes at Swalllowtail Bay”, by Katie Ginger (HQ Digital), a features a heroine, Nell, who is such a special, delightful person, and a smitten wounded hero.
I loved the secret crush dimension and how it was the delicious Beta hero, Tom, who yearned in silence for his long-time friend.
As for Nell… well, I found my teen and even young self identifying with her and her cute, fun and completely crazy (in a positive way) daydreaming and imagination. The nature of her imagination and the tendency to slide instantaneously into a fantasy world and to live “her love life in her head instead of in reality” is fascinating to watch. Add to this the fact she’s a very practical person, a good friend and a smart businesswoman.
Tom is a considerate and caring hero, a true knight in shining armor; his earnestness, the relationship with his grandfather and the timidity around Nell make him an attractive, endearing man. The process of denial and avoidance of his medical issue is a bit disturbing.
A lovely story set in an English coastal village and built around the celebration of Christmas, with a strong sense of community and likeable side characters.
I felt the story could have been shorter, there’s some overexplanation/overdescription and some aspects – the wedding preparation, the rivalry between hotels, the character of Harry – that were less interesting to me than the romantic plotline.
October 11, 2020
Nell runs Holly Lodge Hotel which has been in her family for years. Due to the opening of a chain hotel, Holly Lodge is suffering so she decided to try and increase revenue by hosting weddings. Her first booking is her best friend Cat and her fiance Kieran.
Nell is a hopeless romantic and gets lost in daydreams of love. Her other best friend Tom is secretly in love with her and has been since the day they met at uni and refuses to let Nell know.
Nell's heart is all a flutter when a pretty American checks in for three weeks and she then has problems with the chain hotel trying to play nasty games.
It is a beautifully written book with friendship and love at the heart. This is my first visit to Swallowtail Bay and it didn't disappoint.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nell is a hopeless romantic and gets lost in daydreams of love. Her other best friend Tom is secretly in love with her and has been since the day they met at uni and refuses to let Nell know.
Nell's heart is all a flutter when a pretty American checks in for three weeks and she then has problems with the chain hotel trying to play nasty games.
It is a beautifully written book with friendship and love at the heart. This is my first visit to Swallowtail Bay and it didn't disappoint.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 21, 2020
I have read 2 others of the Swallowtail books in the series, although each one could also be read as a standalone book - I think this one has to have been my favourite.
Other than Brenda, I loved all the characters, and enjoyed the journeys they all went on.
It was very easy to read, and the way the hotel was described was so magical it felt like I was really there.
Such a perfect, romantic Christmas book - everyone needs to read this - you won't be disappointed.
Other than Brenda, I loved all the characters, and enjoyed the journeys they all went on.
It was very easy to read, and the way the hotel was described was so magical it felt like I was really there.
Such a perfect, romantic Christmas book - everyone needs to read this - you won't be disappointed.
October 19, 2020
What a delightful, festive romcom this proved to be, though I sometimes felt quite angry with several of the characters!
Nell loves watching festive romcoms and can cite excerpts and events from them but she is still hoping for her own romantic hero to appear in her life. Little does she know that her best friend, Tom, has been in love with her since they met. He’s brilliant at helping her as she strives to make her boutique hotel profitable but she’s struggling since another hotel opened locally. When the manager of that hotel sets out to ruin her business, she’s going to need all the help she can get! Not only that, but her other best friend, Cat, is going to get married in Nell’s hotel and Cat’s Mum, Brenda, is worse than any bridezilla, undermining Cat and belittling her ideas so it is turning into like Brenda’s dream wedding and Cat’s nightmare! With all of this going on, and Tom also having health issues to contend with, this is going to be a Christmas they’re unlikely to forget – let’s hope they get to remember it for things going well rather than going wrong!
This is a moving story, with great characters and some important messages. Trying to daydream your way in life may mean your missing out on spotting your opportunity to really live your dream life. Lack of communication almost ruins two romances, making this a roller coaster ride to some HEAs, with a couple of villains and lots of lovely folk, though sometimes you just want to wake them up. Actually, considering everything happening in their lives, I can’t believe the Epilogue occurs so much later! Still this is a story to get you in the mood for the festive season.
Thank you to HQ Digital for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
Nell loves watching festive romcoms and can cite excerpts and events from them but she is still hoping for her own romantic hero to appear in her life. Little does she know that her best friend, Tom, has been in love with her since they met. He’s brilliant at helping her as she strives to make her boutique hotel profitable but she’s struggling since another hotel opened locally. When the manager of that hotel sets out to ruin her business, she’s going to need all the help she can get! Not only that, but her other best friend, Cat, is going to get married in Nell’s hotel and Cat’s Mum, Brenda, is worse than any bridezilla, undermining Cat and belittling her ideas so it is turning into like Brenda’s dream wedding and Cat’s nightmare! With all of this going on, and Tom also having health issues to contend with, this is going to be a Christmas they’re unlikely to forget – let’s hope they get to remember it for things going well rather than going wrong!
This is a moving story, with great characters and some important messages. Trying to daydream your way in life may mean your missing out on spotting your opportunity to really live your dream life. Lack of communication almost ruins two romances, making this a roller coaster ride to some HEAs, with a couple of villains and lots of lovely folk, though sometimes you just want to wake them up. Actually, considering everything happening in their lives, I can’t believe the Epilogue occurs so much later! Still this is a story to get you in the mood for the festive season.
Thank you to HQ Digital for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
November 8, 2020
This is such an enjoyable book!
The key phrase in it is ‘the one’ and it refers to many ‘best’ things: the one wedding dress, the one best wedding venue in Swallowtail Bay, the one best friend, and The One, the man of Nell’s dreams.
Nell is fabulous. She’s both romantic head-in-the-cloudsy, and very down to earth. She’s confident one moment, and a dithering bundle of nerves the next. She’s perfect in being so realistically imperfect.
Tom is gorgeous in an understated, natural way. He’s Nell’s The One, but of course, she doesn’t realise that. Will she finally stop alternating between daydreaming and overworking and see what’s under her nose?
Swallowtail Bay is a bustling, interesting place with a population of interesting characters who enjoy good and bad relations, friendships and rivalries with each other, and there are interlinked and opposing businesses too. It’s beautifully portrayed.
Lots to entertain and enchant you in this seasonal romcom.
The key phrase in it is ‘the one’ and it refers to many ‘best’ things: the one wedding dress, the one best wedding venue in Swallowtail Bay, the one best friend, and The One, the man of Nell’s dreams.
Nell is fabulous. She’s both romantic head-in-the-cloudsy, and very down to earth. She’s confident one moment, and a dithering bundle of nerves the next. She’s perfect in being so realistically imperfect.
Tom is gorgeous in an understated, natural way. He’s Nell’s The One, but of course, she doesn’t realise that. Will she finally stop alternating between daydreaming and overworking and see what’s under her nose?
Swallowtail Bay is a bustling, interesting place with a population of interesting characters who enjoy good and bad relations, friendships and rivalries with each other, and there are interlinked and opposing businesses too. It’s beautifully portrayed.
Lots to entertain and enchant you in this seasonal romcom.
November 15, 2020
A gorgeous read. Nell has taken over the family business - a small boutique hotel and when a new hotel opens locally, she starts to struggle with various issues.
She is planning a wedding for her friend- and has to deal with a brideszilla mother of the bride, whilst trying to keep her best friend happy looking forward to the wedding of her dreams. She organises a wedding fayre to attract more business and I loved the preparation and description of the day. I felt as though I was there to choose everything for a wedding.
Romance, friendships, fraught families and a Christmas setting all make for a wonderful Christmas book.
She is planning a wedding for her friend- and has to deal with a brideszilla mother of the bride, whilst trying to keep her best friend happy looking forward to the wedding of her dreams. She organises a wedding fayre to attract more business and I loved the preparation and description of the day. I felt as though I was there to choose everything for a wedding.
Romance, friendships, fraught families and a Christmas setting all make for a wonderful Christmas book.
October 5, 2020
A heart-warming Christmas romance, Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is the story of Nell, a woman whose hotel is struggling since a more upscale hotel moved into town. Determined that her friend will have a wonderful wedding at the hotel, Nell embraces the holidays and the task. However, can Nell save Holly Lodge before it’s too late?
Tom has loved Nell since he met her but is too afraid of ruining their friendship to reveal his feelings. However, when a chain hotel moves into their small town and threatens Nell’s beloved Holly Lodge, Tom is ready to fight alongside Nell to keep her business afloat.
I love the relationship between Nell and Tom as well as the other relationships in the story. Nell is a kind and determined woman, and Tom is dependable and loyal. Their relationship is lovely, and they complement each other well. Strong friendships and supportive community relationships are also highlighted in the novel, and I love the depiction of strong women throughout the book.
I also enjoyed the festive Christmas atmosphere among the stress and intensity of weddings and personal and professional turmoil. It is an interesting juxtaposition, as the jovial and light atmosphere stands in stark contrast to the issues that Nell and Tom face.
Readers who like heartwarming, small-town, contemporary romance set during the Christmas season will enjoy Katie Ginger’s final novel in the Swallowtail Bay series. Though it’s the third in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Thanks so much to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Tom has loved Nell since he met her but is too afraid of ruining their friendship to reveal his feelings. However, when a chain hotel moves into their small town and threatens Nell’s beloved Holly Lodge, Tom is ready to fight alongside Nell to keep her business afloat.
I love the relationship between Nell and Tom as well as the other relationships in the story. Nell is a kind and determined woman, and Tom is dependable and loyal. Their relationship is lovely, and they complement each other well. Strong friendships and supportive community relationships are also highlighted in the novel, and I love the depiction of strong women throughout the book.
I also enjoyed the festive Christmas atmosphere among the stress and intensity of weddings and personal and professional turmoil. It is an interesting juxtaposition, as the jovial and light atmosphere stands in stark contrast to the issues that Nell and Tom face.
Readers who like heartwarming, small-town, contemporary romance set during the Christmas season will enjoy Katie Ginger’s final novel in the Swallowtail Bay series. Though it’s the third in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. Thanks so much to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
September 21, 2020
Nell runs Holly Lodge for her parents and profits are tumbling - she must come up with some inventive ways of saving the business. But a competitor is out to get her, plus bad reviews are coming in... thank goodness for the support of best friend Cat and ever reliable mate Tom.
And then a gorgeous American guest books in and turns her head, and things start to look up as she trials hosting events. Will everything turn out all right after all? Will Nell's work and love life blossom this Christmas?
I love Katie Ginger's writing and this fantastic story didn't disappoint. From the moment I read the first page I knew I could trust the author to take me on a truly festive, heartwarming journey. I loved quirky Nell and how loyal her friends were. Interfering Brenda made me laugh and I secretly swooned over Tom.
In the second half, for one of the characters, the story took a serious turn and I really liked this, it gave the book depth and pulled me in emotionally, making the story real and that hooked me in even more.
A moving, festive, absolutely gorgeous read! Perfect for curling up with this Christmas.
And then a gorgeous American guest books in and turns her head, and things start to look up as she trials hosting events. Will everything turn out all right after all? Will Nell's work and love life blossom this Christmas?
I love Katie Ginger's writing and this fantastic story didn't disappoint. From the moment I read the first page I knew I could trust the author to take me on a truly festive, heartwarming journey. I loved quirky Nell and how loyal her friends were. Interfering Brenda made me laugh and I secretly swooned over Tom.
In the second half, for one of the characters, the story took a serious turn and I really liked this, it gave the book depth and pulled me in emotionally, making the story real and that hooked me in even more.
A moving, festive, absolutely gorgeous read! Perfect for curling up with this Christmas.
February 4, 2021
oh wow! What a lovely and eventful book! It's a page-turner! Romance, friendship, drama, fraught, suspense, mysteries, you'll get everything in this book! But the romance is the best part for me! This book is the book 3 for the Swallowtail Bay series but it can be read as a stand alone! You can go ahead and read it, you won't be disappointed!
September 21, 2020
Katie you've created the most beautiful book full of everything I love. Christmas, beautiful ornaments, gorgeous hotels, seaside, romcom's, flowers. What more could I ask for. I got choked up and a small tear escaped at the end, a very moving scene. Not very often this happens when reading a book. Sad it's the final visit to Swallowtail Bay but what a brilliant trilogy it has been. You don't need to have read the previous two books to thoroughly enjoy this book but you'll have missed out on two fantastic stories. Thank you and 5 stars just don't seem enough xx
September 12, 2020
Oh what a beautiful place Swallowtail Bay sounds!
Nell owns Holly Lodge and hosting her friends Cat's wedding but with the newly open plush Langdon Mansion Hotel Holly must fight to keep hers open with the help of best friend Tom, who is going through his own battle.
A Christmas wedding, Mr Scrooge the stray cat and of course love what a joy a read.
This has all the Christmas feels, such wonderful characters I loved this little sparkle.
Nell owns Holly Lodge and hosting her friends Cat's wedding but with the newly open plush Langdon Mansion Hotel Holly must fight to keep hers open with the help of best friend Tom, who is going through his own battle.
A Christmas wedding, Mr Scrooge the stray cat and of course love what a joy a read.
This has all the Christmas feels, such wonderful characters I loved this little sparkle.
November 23, 2020
4.5 out of 5
October 9, 2020
Well, I think I’ve found another author to add to my “favourites” list – I’m really kicking myself that I didn’t discover Katie Ginger’s lovely writing rather sooner. I immediately felt at home in Swallowtail Bay – it’s somewhere I’d love to live too, with its gorgeous little shops and the sound of the waves breaking on the pebble seafront. And if I couldn’t live there and needed to pay a visit, there couldn’t be a lovelier place to stay than Holly Lodge – and no, the glitzy Langdon Mansion Hotel wouldn’t attract me at all, although its presence has certainly seen a downturn in business for Nell, who cares for every guest who comes through her doors as if they’re friends or part of her family. She’s having a really hard time, can see everything slipping away, and needs to come up with some ideas to help her business survive – or this Christmas might just be the end of her hopes and dreams.
It’s a good thing she has friends to help her out – Cat and Kieran will be holding their wedding at Holly Lodge, and she hopes it’ll be the first of many. But that’s only if they manage to make it as far as the ceremony – Brenda, Cat’s mother (what a great character!) is trying to take things over, riding roughshod over all Cat’s ideas for a perfect day, and the resulting stress is causing real problems. And then there’s lovely Tom – Nell’s rock, always there in support, one of the best friends anyone could hope for, and the only one who can’t see how much he loves her is Nell herself.
I really loved Nell, with her romantic dreams and penchant for Christmas romcoms – she wears her heart on her sleeve, and you share the joy of all her little triumphs and hurt for her when things don’t go quite how she wants them to. And when the villainous pair at the posh hotel decide they’d like to get rid of the competition, things begin to get very difficult for her, and she really can’t see what she can do to put things right. And it turns out that Tom’s life isn’t a bowl of cherries either – he’s such a lovely man, supporting Nell at every turn, running his florist shop, visiting his grandfather at the care home – and the issues he’s facing give the story a darker edge (so well handled) that adds real emotional depth to the story.
But all the characters are wonderful – Kieran with his shaved head and brash exterior but a marshmallow centre, Cat getting increasingly manic and behaving quite out of character as her big day slips out of her control, and every single more minor character who plays a part in the wonderful story. Goodness, even Mr Scrooge the cat is perfectly drawn – he’s a stray who wins Nell’s heart and decides he’d rather like to make Holly Lodge his home too.
This book is gloriously Christmassy, with all those lovely little touches as the friends prepare the Lodge for the various events – with floral displays from Tom, Nell’s favourite wooden ornaments on the tree along with the tinsel and sparkling lights, and Niall’s wonderful food creations that you can smell and taste. But it’s never cloying – this is how Nell’s going to save her business, every detail has to be absolutely right (and it most certainly was for me).
The romance was simply wonderful – Nell’s waiting for the man of her dreams to cross the threshold (might it be Harry, the American staying for a while to visit his family – or maybe even the man who thinks Mr Scrooge might just be his cat?), and she really can’t see that the love of her life has been there beside her all along. The emotional content to the story (and there’s plenty!) is judged perfectly – it does put you through the wringer at times, and I’ll admit that by the end I’d had to wipe away quite a few tears, but the whole book (and its perfect ending) left me with a large smile on my face.
Heartwarming, uplifting, emotional, full of lovely comedy moments, such a wonderfully drawn location, a great story with characters I really loved – this book was quite wonderful. Go on, add it to your Christmas list – you’re going to love it too.
It’s a good thing she has friends to help her out – Cat and Kieran will be holding their wedding at Holly Lodge, and she hopes it’ll be the first of many. But that’s only if they manage to make it as far as the ceremony – Brenda, Cat’s mother (what a great character!) is trying to take things over, riding roughshod over all Cat’s ideas for a perfect day, and the resulting stress is causing real problems. And then there’s lovely Tom – Nell’s rock, always there in support, one of the best friends anyone could hope for, and the only one who can’t see how much he loves her is Nell herself.
I really loved Nell, with her romantic dreams and penchant for Christmas romcoms – she wears her heart on her sleeve, and you share the joy of all her little triumphs and hurt for her when things don’t go quite how she wants them to. And when the villainous pair at the posh hotel decide they’d like to get rid of the competition, things begin to get very difficult for her, and she really can’t see what she can do to put things right. And it turns out that Tom’s life isn’t a bowl of cherries either – he’s such a lovely man, supporting Nell at every turn, running his florist shop, visiting his grandfather at the care home – and the issues he’s facing give the story a darker edge (so well handled) that adds real emotional depth to the story.
But all the characters are wonderful – Kieran with his shaved head and brash exterior but a marshmallow centre, Cat getting increasingly manic and behaving quite out of character as her big day slips out of her control, and every single more minor character who plays a part in the wonderful story. Goodness, even Mr Scrooge the cat is perfectly drawn – he’s a stray who wins Nell’s heart and decides he’d rather like to make Holly Lodge his home too.
This book is gloriously Christmassy, with all those lovely little touches as the friends prepare the Lodge for the various events – with floral displays from Tom, Nell’s favourite wooden ornaments on the tree along with the tinsel and sparkling lights, and Niall’s wonderful food creations that you can smell and taste. But it’s never cloying – this is how Nell’s going to save her business, every detail has to be absolutely right (and it most certainly was for me).
The romance was simply wonderful – Nell’s waiting for the man of her dreams to cross the threshold (might it be Harry, the American staying for a while to visit his family – or maybe even the man who thinks Mr Scrooge might just be his cat?), and she really can’t see that the love of her life has been there beside her all along. The emotional content to the story (and there’s plenty!) is judged perfectly – it does put you through the wringer at times, and I’ll admit that by the end I’d had to wipe away quite a few tears, but the whole book (and its perfect ending) left me with a large smile on my face.
Heartwarming, uplifting, emotional, full of lovely comedy moments, such a wonderfully drawn location, a great story with characters I really loved – this book was quite wonderful. Go on, add it to your Christmas list – you’re going to love it too.
December 3, 2020
All Nell wants is to make a success of her cosy beachfront hotel, Holly Lodge. But with a glamorous new hotel in town, Nell's struggling to make it work, and she'll have to fight to keep Holly Lodge open. Luckily, best friend Tom is at hand to help in any way he can, because quite simply, he is is completely and utterly in love with Nell. But she has no idea. They'll need a bit of Christmas magic, not only to save Holly Lodge, but also to open Nell's eyes to what's been in front of her the whole time...
What a book! I'm a sucker for a sweet Christmas romance, and Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay has that in spades. Nell is an absolute angel, such a sweet person, and completely obsessed with rom-coms - a love we happen to share, and so I loved the way there were all these comparisons to some of my favourite films in key moments throughout the book! Tom was also such a wonderful character to read about, and I really enjoyed the fact that you had chapters from both of their POVs, as well as a few others along the way.
Plus, 10/10 to Katie Ginger for writing in a character struggling with a form of disability (I won't be more specific for fear of spoilers). It's amazing to see a character such as this in a contemporary romance novel, and I was so excited to see such a positive storyline being used rather than it being all doom and gloom as it sometimes can be - this instead was really uplifting, and I thought it reflected so well on the author to take such an upbeat and inclusive approach to her writing.
Now, I will admit that when I started reading this, I had no idea it was the third book in a series. But luckily, that doesn't matter at all, as this is definitely one that can be read as a standalone. But I loved the setting and the characters so much that I've actually already ordered the first two in the series, and I can't wait to visit Swallowtail Bay again! This just had such a lovely festive feeling to it, and even though there was a bit of drama, it still made me feel so happy and Christmassy, Definitely a new festive favourite author!
Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.
What a book! I'm a sucker for a sweet Christmas romance, and Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay has that in spades. Nell is an absolute angel, such a sweet person, and completely obsessed with rom-coms - a love we happen to share, and so I loved the way there were all these comparisons to some of my favourite films in key moments throughout the book! Tom was also such a wonderful character to read about, and I really enjoyed the fact that you had chapters from both of their POVs, as well as a few others along the way.
Plus, 10/10 to Katie Ginger for writing in a character struggling with a form of disability (I won't be more specific for fear of spoilers). It's amazing to see a character such as this in a contemporary romance novel, and I was so excited to see such a positive storyline being used rather than it being all doom and gloom as it sometimes can be - this instead was really uplifting, and I thought it reflected so well on the author to take such an upbeat and inclusive approach to her writing.
Now, I will admit that when I started reading this, I had no idea it was the third book in a series. But luckily, that doesn't matter at all, as this is definitely one that can be read as a standalone. But I loved the setting and the characters so much that I've actually already ordered the first two in the series, and I can't wait to visit Swallowtail Bay again! This just had such a lovely festive feeling to it, and even though there was a bit of drama, it still made me feel so happy and Christmassy, Definitely a new festive favourite author!
Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.
October 18, 2020
In conclusion to this trilogy we are approaching the most wonderful time of the year and what better way to spend it than at a wedding!
Nell runs Holly Lodge a small boutique hotel in Swallowtail Bay, but business is not great and when an incident at a competitor's hotel starts to cause trouble for Nell, it seems she is going to have to try some different events to get business moving again.
One thing she has decided on is that hosting her friend Cat and fiancée Kieran's wedding at the hotel is going to be the best event ever. Nell is a romantic and lives in her imagination with the help of all those wonderful romcom movies out there to pass the time. She wants to give Cat the best wedding that she can, the wedding that she wants but it seems that Cat's mother wants to give Cat the wedding that she should have. Will Nell be able to steer the wedding to a happy ever after.
As well as dealing with difficulty mothers and fraught brides, Nell decides to host a wedding fair, a wreath making event for the local elderly residents and also holds the school's carol concert. She relies on the help of her old university friend, Tom. There friendship is strong and tight, but it seems that Tom is hiding some life changing secrets of his own and cannot begin to share them with the one person he truly loves.
Whilst this might appear a light fluffy read full of weddings and Christmas cheer it brings a real sense of friendship, community and sticking with the ones you love. Overcoming obstacles, is the key theme throughout the book and there are many to overcome, tyrannical mothers, loss of control, stray cats, disability, trolling on the internet, there is a lot that touches not just Nell but all the main characters in the book.
But for Nell will she every have that happy ever after she wants when she realises life is not a film?
A great read full of fun and frivolity and plenty of humour and heart warming moments. And let's be honest - you can't beat a winter wedding!
Bring your tinsel and tissues to this book and sit back and enjoy.
Nell runs Holly Lodge a small boutique hotel in Swallowtail Bay, but business is not great and when an incident at a competitor's hotel starts to cause trouble for Nell, it seems she is going to have to try some different events to get business moving again.
One thing she has decided on is that hosting her friend Cat and fiancée Kieran's wedding at the hotel is going to be the best event ever. Nell is a romantic and lives in her imagination with the help of all those wonderful romcom movies out there to pass the time. She wants to give Cat the best wedding that she can, the wedding that she wants but it seems that Cat's mother wants to give Cat the wedding that she should have. Will Nell be able to steer the wedding to a happy ever after.
As well as dealing with difficulty mothers and fraught brides, Nell decides to host a wedding fair, a wreath making event for the local elderly residents and also holds the school's carol concert. She relies on the help of her old university friend, Tom. There friendship is strong and tight, but it seems that Tom is hiding some life changing secrets of his own and cannot begin to share them with the one person he truly loves.
Whilst this might appear a light fluffy read full of weddings and Christmas cheer it brings a real sense of friendship, community and sticking with the ones you love. Overcoming obstacles, is the key theme throughout the book and there are many to overcome, tyrannical mothers, loss of control, stray cats, disability, trolling on the internet, there is a lot that touches not just Nell but all the main characters in the book.
But for Nell will she every have that happy ever after she wants when she realises life is not a film?
A great read full of fun and frivolity and plenty of humour and heart warming moments. And let's be honest - you can't beat a winter wedding!
Bring your tinsel and tissues to this book and sit back and enjoy.
October 11, 2020
Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is the third book in the Swallowtail Bay series, and it is such a wonderfully festive read. Although the third in the series, it is a definite standalone, so don’t worry if you haven’t read the other two books in the series. Locations and people are mentioned from the other two books, but not in any depth that would affect your enjoyment of this perfectly Christmassy book. I have really enjoyed the location of the three books, so I was thrilled to be able to return to it.
Nell is such a beautiful character, with a love of RomComs that I really identified with. Her best friend Tom was so adorable, I must admit I felt wound up to start with that Nell couldn’t see what was right in front of her. Cat and Kieran their friends (and soon to be the stars of the first wedding held at Holly Lodge) were also really lovely additions to the story. I loved the stray cat Mr Scrooge, who found his home at the hotel, and I have to say my heart was in my mouth at the possibility that Mr Scrooge may have a home somewhere else, because he clearly belonged with Nell at the hotel.
I really enjoyed the time that Tom and Nell spent with Tom’s Grandad Nigel at the care home in Swallowtail Bay, and found the relationship between Tom and Nigel so heart-warming. The events held at Holly Lodge, and the trouble caused by the Langdon Mansion Hotel added depth to this story of yearned for love that is sometimes right where you least expect it.
I must confess I shed a tear or two at the perfect ending to this series of books, and I really will be sad to move on from Swallowtail Bay. Katie Ginger has effortlessly created a story of love out of the strongest of friendships, in the middle of a coastal Christmassy setting that has a beautiful wedding too. This will tick a lot of Christmas and romance vibes, scented by mulled wine, mince pies and open fires.
Nell is such a beautiful character, with a love of RomComs that I really identified with. Her best friend Tom was so adorable, I must admit I felt wound up to start with that Nell couldn’t see what was right in front of her. Cat and Kieran their friends (and soon to be the stars of the first wedding held at Holly Lodge) were also really lovely additions to the story. I loved the stray cat Mr Scrooge, who found his home at the hotel, and I have to say my heart was in my mouth at the possibility that Mr Scrooge may have a home somewhere else, because he clearly belonged with Nell at the hotel.
I really enjoyed the time that Tom and Nell spent with Tom’s Grandad Nigel at the care home in Swallowtail Bay, and found the relationship between Tom and Nigel so heart-warming. The events held at Holly Lodge, and the trouble caused by the Langdon Mansion Hotel added depth to this story of yearned for love that is sometimes right where you least expect it.
I must confess I shed a tear or two at the perfect ending to this series of books, and I really will be sad to move on from Swallowtail Bay. Katie Ginger has effortlessly created a story of love out of the strongest of friendships, in the middle of a coastal Christmassy setting that has a beautiful wedding too. This will tick a lot of Christmas and romance vibes, scented by mulled wine, mince pies and open fires.
October 27, 2020
Fabulous book again by Katie
Katie's books are so heartwarming , feel good books and this is no exception. I have loved this series and like the other two the characters are likeable (except the bad guys and you're not supposed to like them!) , I love how the characters and the scenery are described, if this was a real place and the characters were real too you could easily be placed in Swallowtail bay without being told you would know you were there. The storyline is heartfelt and truly believable and is a book that hugs you.
Katie's books are so heartwarming , feel good books and this is no exception. I have loved this series and like the other two the characters are likeable (except the bad guys and you're not supposed to like them!) , I love how the characters and the scenery are described, if this was a real place and the characters were real too you could easily be placed in Swallowtail bay without being told you would know you were there. The storyline is heartfelt and truly believable and is a book that hugs you.
October 29, 2020
This was the first book I have read from Katie Ginger, I realised afterwards its part of the a three part series and it’s the third book 🤷♀️ You don’t need to read the first two to enjoy reading this one however and I loved it! I adored Tom as a character and I found myself invested in his happiness as the book went on!
A lovely Christmassy read, perfect for the build up to the festive season 🎄 🎁 🎅 available now on amazon £1.99 for the ebook 😊
5/5 ⭐️
Recommend ✅
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A lovely Christmassy read, perfect for the build up to the festive season 🎄 🎁 🎅 available now on amazon £1.99 for the ebook 😊
5/5 ⭐️
Recommend ✅
#books #reading #bookworm #booklover #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookdragon #booklove #bookreview #thereisalwaystimeforbooks #booknerd #netgalley #christmasreads #katieginger #winterwishesatswallowtailbay #festiveread #christmas #xmas #christmastime #christmasbook #ukbookstagram #ukbookstagrammer #ukauthor
October 27, 2020
This was a heartwarming winter read, with wonderful characters and an engaging story. It was very well written and if you want something to get you in the christmas spirit then this book will definitely do that.
October 11, 2020
Despite the fact that I Haven’t read the first 2 books in this trilogy I didn't feel like I had missed anything. I didn't actually realise it was book 3 of a series until after I had finished it.
The setting was stunning, you could just picture the beautiful little town and the gorgeous shops and markets in detail. Tom was just lovely, I think we all want a Tom. Nell, who spends so much time wrapped up in her romcom imagination is so relatable, sometimes I think I see the world in romcoms (I blame all the books I read) so I really loved her. Cat and Kieran as supporting characters were really well written and were perfect additions to the cast.
For me a romance should be sweet and light but have passion and the only thing stopping me rating this a 5 was a lack of passion. All the love happened in the last 15minutes of the book so we didn't get that passionate love from Nell and Tom, it was just sweet.
The setting was stunning, you could just picture the beautiful little town and the gorgeous shops and markets in detail. Tom was just lovely, I think we all want a Tom. Nell, who spends so much time wrapped up in her romcom imagination is so relatable, sometimes I think I see the world in romcoms (I blame all the books I read) so I really loved her. Cat and Kieran as supporting characters were really well written and were perfect additions to the cast.
For me a romance should be sweet and light but have passion and the only thing stopping me rating this a 5 was a lack of passion. All the love happened in the last 15minutes of the book so we didn't get that passionate love from Nell and Tom, it was just sweet.
October 13, 2020
This novel has a real seasonal feel. The Christmas lights shimmer and the holly stands proud by the hotel. Nell is a lovely character and so appropriate for a romcom. Although she is a keen business woman, she lives and breathes for the romantic big moments she has seen in the romcom films she remembers. She comes over as a mixture of realism and fantasy. She has a kind, generous character and is a true friend. There are some lovely touches in the story. I enjoyed the situations which arise when she wonders if this is going to be her big romantic moment.
There are some memorable characters- none more so than Brenda, Cat's formidable mother. Tom's Grandfather is also touching and through him, you can see how caring Tom and Nell are. In common with its two predecessors, this can be read as a standalone but is set in a gorgeous setting and is a delight to read.
In short: Christmas wedding bells.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book
There are some memorable characters- none more so than Brenda, Cat's formidable mother. Tom's Grandfather is also touching and through him, you can see how caring Tom and Nell are. In common with its two predecessors, this can be read as a standalone but is set in a gorgeous setting and is a delight to read.
In short: Christmas wedding bells.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book
January 31, 2021
Fantastic Read
Loved this and the two books before it from the series. the characters felt so real. Please bring out more in this series.
Thank you.
Dawn Lowe
Loved this and the two books before it from the series. the characters felt so real. Please bring out more in this series.
Thank you.
Dawn Lowe
October 14, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
This book really hit the right note for me. Yes, it is a Christmas romance, but there’s so much more going on as well. The characters are having to deal with many issues that just makes their stories more rounded and the characters better understood. This story really does pull at all the heartstrings and it will be a wonderful, cosy hug of a read at Christmas. It’s a strange comment to make as well, but I found the author’s message of thanks at the end of the book to be very genuine and heartfelt. I thought to myself, here’s a genuinely nice person, writing a genuinely nice book, and I’m genuinely glad I’ve had the opportunity to read it! Utterly lovely.
This book really hit the right note for me. Yes, it is a Christmas romance, but there’s so much more going on as well. The characters are having to deal with many issues that just makes their stories more rounded and the characters better understood. This story really does pull at all the heartstrings and it will be a wonderful, cosy hug of a read at Christmas. It’s a strange comment to make as well, but I found the author’s message of thanks at the end of the book to be very genuine and heartfelt. I thought to myself, here’s a genuinely nice person, writing a genuinely nice book, and I’m genuinely glad I’ve had the opportunity to read it! Utterly lovely.
October 20, 2020
An excellent festive story that made me smile. It's heartwarming and uplifting, the perfect escapist book for these sad times.
I liked the plot, the well thought characters and the setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I liked the plot, the well thought characters and the setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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