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Delightful Christmas #1

I'm Glad I Found You This Christmas

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I'm glad I found you this Christmas - an uplifting sweet romance set against the magical backdrop of Christmas.

Maggie Coates is frustrated. Her longterm boyfriend, Dirk, recently moved to London to take a job she fears puts him out of her league. Despite the assurances of her best friend Renee, Maggie is convinced Dirk is slowly drifting away. All Maggie wants is to get married and settle down, but maybe Dirk has other ideas.

Convinced by Renee to make one last throw of the dice, Maggie books a romantic holiday for two in the quaint Scottish village of Hollydell. But will Dirk show up?

And if he doesn't, what if there is a perfect man waiting for her among the Christmas magic of Hollydell's snow-laden streets? What if Henry, the humble reindeer farmer with the kind smile, turns out to be the man of Maggie's dreams?

I'm glad I found you this Christmas is a glowing sweet romance which will leave you feeling warm inside and buzzing with Christmas spirit.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2018

822 people are currently reading
1266 people want to read

About the author

C.P. Ward

21 books102 followers

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5 stars
1,531 (42%)
4 stars
1,093 (30%)
3 stars
711 (19%)
2 stars
194 (5%)
1 star
66 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
Profile Image for Berit☀️✨ .
2,096 reviews15.7k followers
December 14, 2018
this was a charming story that completely envelops you in the Christmas spirit🎄

Something about this story reminds me of my favorite Christmas movie “The Polar Express” it completely emerges you in Christmas... A quaint steam engine train ride that drops you off in a town full of Christmas cheer🚂

Maggie has planned a Christmas getaway for her and her boyfriend, a last ditch effort to rekindle their relationship.... but Dirk is a jerk and doesn’t show up to their romantic getaway in order to spend time with someone else...... Maggie finds herself stranded, however she is in the middle of Christmas central complete with a reindeer farm... of course henry the reindeer farmer is super sweet and isn’t too bad to look at, so will Maggie make the best out of a bad situation? Will she find herself under the mistletoe with Henry?

The story was just so sweet I really liked Maggie... although I think she should have kicked Dirk to the curb a long time ago! Renee her BFF was the best friend anyone could ask for, so supportive! And all the villagers were so charming and quirky and unique.... this is a village we would all love to visit this time of year❄️

A beautiful Christmas story that will make you feel merry and bright!🎅🏻

*** many thanks to the author and Rachel for my copy of this book ***
Profile Image for Dash fan .
1,520 reviews714 followers
December 13, 2018
4☆ A Sweet Romance with Oodles of Festive Charm.

I'm Glad I Found you this Christmas is a warm, cosy, Sweet Romance with oodles of festive charm.

If you love your Christmas Reads to be magical, Then you are in for a real treat as the setting descriptions are superbly written.
Ward whisks you away with beautifully descriptive writing which enabled me to immerse myself into the heart of the story.

Maggie and boyfriend Dirk are going through a rough patch, after Maggie discovers Dirk has cheated on her. It doesn't help matters that they have a long distance relationship.

Determined to start over and rekindle their love, Maggie decides a getaway is exactly what they need.
So she books a holiday to Hollydell in Scotland, at the most romantic and magical time of the year...the Christmas period.
But will Dirk show up?.... or Will Maggie be spending a lonely few days alone?
Or is Maggie ready to move on and find someone who will treat her like a princess.

The Characters are engaging, but not all are necessarily likeable. Maggie comes across as needy at times, I was willing her to stand up for herself and tell Dirk to do one!!
However I did warm to her in the end, it's hard not to get swept away as the setting is so captivating.

I'm Glad I Found you this Christmas is an Utterly Charming, light hearted, feel good read about relationships, friendships, moving on, finding love and having fun.
It's a quick and pleasant read, the writing style is lovely and flowed along nicely, it's full of warmth, romance, a lil humour, sass and charm.

So be prepared to be Enchanted by Hollydell and it's residents.
You're in for a Heart warming, fun and festive treat!
The perfect read for a lil escapism.....Enjoy!!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

My Review is also on my Blog Website :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/1...
Profile Image for Zoe.
2,383 reviews337 followers
November 3, 2018
A really sweet, feel-good, festive romance full of everything that we love about the holidays, Christmas cheer, good times, delicious treats and a a touch of magic.

Full review to follow shortly as part of the blog tour.
Profile Image for Rachel Gilbey.
3,372 reviews572 followers
December 11, 2018
It's the most magical time of the year...
... and this the most magical Christmassy story I have read all year.

All I want to know is where the real Holydell is, and can I please visit it. It is such an amazing setting for a festive story - its a little hidden away winter wonderland somewhere in Scotland that is quite remote but one of the most special settings about.

There are real live reindeer, there is dog sledding, Christmas markets, the largest Christmas pudding imaginable, festive concerts, new friends to be made and some of the most delicious sounding food I've read about for ages.

All the locals are incredibly friendly and the other guests, are fabulous too, for this really is a Christmas holiday location with a difference. The main one being its not advertised particularly and has a rather unique business model, but you will soon see why.

From the moment Maggie arrives in Hollydelll, the book takes on a new dimension of loveliness and warm feeling.

Like probably almost everyone else reading this, and her friends, it is obvious that Maggie's boyfriend is up to no good and clearly doesn't deserve her. It takes her far too long to come to that same conclusion, but in the mean time, there is one local who catches her eye.

But her first interactions with him, aren't exactly smooth.

If you are looking for an extra special treat to read over this festive season then this is definitely a book worth reading. It is quick and easy to read, the writing flows, and I can't believe the author hasn't written in this genre before, as it feels quite natural. A truly magical story that will leave you open mouthed in wonder, and a firmer belief than ever that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!

Thank you to the author for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
10 reviews
December 20, 2021
Boring

How many times does the main character need to lament her boyfriend isn’t paying any attention to her and yet not accept the inevitable…. Slow plot… repetitive dialogue …. Characters not very engaging.
Profile Image for Els .
2,289 reviews53 followers
December 10, 2018
Normally you would expect a feel good book to be written by a femaile author, but CP Ward shows that male authors can do it as well.

This story takes us to a small village in Scotland where normal life almost seems to come to a standstill and everything revolves around Christmas. But it's not about the commercial site of the festive season. Here the focus is on the cozy atmosphere where natives and visitors celebrate together and enjoy all kinds of events involving food and drinks as well as games and sports. Are you someone who dreams about a white Christmas and romance? You will be in for a treat.

If you are still not sure about Santa being real or not, you should definitely read this book. You question might be answered here once and for all.

A lovely and fluently written tale that will put a smile on your face.

Thank you, CP Ward and RachelsRandomResources.

https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
16.8k reviews158 followers
November 22, 2018
Her boyfriend has got a new job in London and she now thinks she is not good enough for him. Her friends make a plan and book her a break. Will he turn up? What if she meets another man? See what will happen

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
November 20, 2018
This book had me smiling it is a story that makes you feel good, this is the first book I have read by this Author by I am going to be looking to see if she has more out. A Christmas story I know I will be reading again. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader).
1,487 reviews48 followers
December 12, 2025
What a magical Christmas contemporary romance!

There's an enchanting, scenic hamlet in Scotland called Hollydell. Part of the magic is that only those who need the charm and allure of a festive retreat can find the website to make a reservation. Maggie Coates is still holding on to the dream that, inspired by a romantic getaway over Christmas, Dirk will propose after four years for their Happily Ever After.

C.P. Ward creates a combination of a winter wonderland and the most festive village on earth, bringing to life all those childhood images of the North Pole and adult images of incomparable holiday/winter activities to enjoy. Add private, cozy accommodations and the best of delicious food, a variety of drinks, and holiday treats at different local venues for an irresistible holiday extravaganza.

In reading About the Author, it was quite a surprise to learn that
CP Ward is a pen name of Chris Ward, the author of the dystopian Tube Riders series, the horror/science fiction Tales of Crow series, and the Endinfinium YA fantasy series, as well as numerous other well-received stand-alone novels. Chris has always wanted to write a Christmas book. This is his first attempt.
I never would have guessed that this book was his first attempt at penning a Christmas book, and rejoice that
"There will be more ..."
I simply can't wait!
Profile Image for Malin.
814 reviews5 followers
January 7, 2025
Maggies pojkvän har flyttat till London pga arbetet och de ses och hörs allt mer sällan, men hon är helt säker på att giftermål är nästa steg - han har ju sagt att han har något viktigt att prata med henne om vid jul. Så hon bokar en resa för bara dem över julhelgen: en liten stuga i en by i Skottland, som hon aldrig hört talas om, men som ser väldigt mysig och julig ut på bild.

Men när det väl är dags att åka kan han inte, men lovar att möta upp. Och sedan att han kommer nästa dag…

Medan hon väntar gör hon upptäckter i den helt underbara lilla byn Hollydell, som är så julig att det inte är sant. Och folket är så trevliga. Speciellt Henry som hjälper sina föräldrar med renarna…

***

En söt julromance med klara Hallmark-vibbar. 🙂

Visserligen vill man ruska om Maggie både en och två gånger, men Hollydell och dess invånare drar upp betyget.
Profile Image for Sophie Kemp-Smith.
179 reviews7 followers
December 8, 2021
I loved the setting, the main character, the festive feel, the vivid descriptions, the friendly side characters and overall gave me good feels. So why 2 star rating you ask? Because the author constantly references “Is this festive hot chocolate worth the calories?” “Is he going to leave me because of my weight?” “I’ll get up early to walk off the calories” and it was too much and has the potential, in such a feel good book, to be horrifically triggering!

I will absolutely read another book by this author because I was very disappointed to have to stop reading.
Profile Image for booksofallkinds.
1,021 reviews175 followers
December 10, 2018
**RATING 3.5**

A sweet, Christmas story, I'M GLAD I FOUND YOU by CP Ward is like something you would expect to see on the Hallmark channel only in book form.

Maggie Coates feels like she has lost her boyfriend ever since he got a big job in the city and they embarked on a long-distance relationship. She wants to get married but feels like Dirk is slipping away from her, especially since he cheated on her before. Determined to give it one more chance, Maggie books a Christmas break in a remote part of Scotland, so remote that Maggie isn't even sure it exists, hoping to reconnect. But when Dirk doesn't show up, Maggie throws herself into the festive spirit in what seems to be the most welcoming and magical place she has ever been. As Maggie makes new friends and takes the advice of her oldest friend, Maggie soon begins to rethink her life and her relationship. But will Dirk show up and redeem himself or is there another special someone who may just be perfect for her?

While Maggie is likeable (if a little naive and annoying at times) and the community of Hollydell completely loveable, it is the setting itself that is the real winner in I'M GLAD I FOUND YOU by CP Ward. The author paints a magical picture that will transport you to a village that is my dream place to live - cosy cottages and cafes, beautiful woodlands, and that extra dash of special something. There is drama, misunderstandings, snowflakes, and friendship in I'M GLAD I FOUND YOU by CP Ward and is sure to entertain readers who enjoy a sweet romance.

*I voluntarily reviewed an e-copy of this book via the tour organiser
Profile Image for Desislava Mihaylova.
199 reviews35 followers
December 31, 2023
Книгата е повече, отколкото мога да понеса. Не ме разбирайте погрешно, обичам романтиката и леките сюжети, но всичко си има граници. Главният герой е прекалено нереалистичен, като коледен сладкиш с всякакъв пълнеж, облян в шоколад и полят с карамел! И, да, сюжетът се развива в мистично селце, има елени, коледен дух и тн. Най-хубавото е обстановката и идеята, че това място се открива от хора, които имат нужда от него. Самата романтична история е с много плоска.
Profile Image for Sarka B.
406 reviews3 followers
December 31, 2025
This is a Christmas romance book. It is set in fairy Scottish village Holydell during Christmas and it is magical there. The book has a nice atmosphere and I enjoyed reading about Maggie's adventure and romance in this magical village. I will continue to read other books by CP Ward.
Profile Image for Pat Eroh.
2,619 reviews32 followers
November 16, 2018
I'm not usually a romance reader but I do usually love the stories written by Chris Ward and gave it a try (plus, I love Christmas so what could go wrong?). So glad I did. This is such a heartwarming story of heartbreak and healing, and of course, the magic of Christmas. And as always, the characters are so wonderful that you wish you could be friends with these people. What a great way to spend a holiday! I recommend this story to all Christmas lovers with a big heart.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Swatilekha Majumdar .
37 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2025
This is a very endearing, feel-good Christmas romance that really warmed me up. It's the perfect read for the Christmas holidays, whether you're taking a short break or just want to curl up on the couch with a hot drink. The story itself was nothing out of the ordinary, and we know what's coming, but it still manages to draw you in somehow. I guess it's the feel-good factor. The only unanswered question in the book was whether Henry could make his own jam.

Now, it's time for me to head to the kitchen and make myself a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. ;)
Profile Image for Suze Prescot.
Author 12 books31 followers
December 16, 2021
Hot chocolate and a real fire; this is that type of festive treat. Maggie is pushed into going away for Christmas by her best friend and so she finds herself in the little-known Scottish village of Hollydell where Christmas is a way of life. A sweet and very festive romance; and while I didn't cry, this is everything I want in a Christmas tale.
Profile Image for Sanah Paul.
82 reviews
December 5, 2025
Absolutely perfect for anybody who wants a easy, romantic, feel good, christmas novel. Is it ground breaking? No.
Is it amazing and oh so surprising? Again no.
But it is full of christmas magic and hope and love and all the feel good things.
Profile Image for RaeLeigh Larson.
29 reviews
January 28, 2026
Hallmark Feel

From page one this book had a hallmark feel to it. I loved how it set it up though. All the characters played well together. However when some were introduced it was almost as if they were just thrown in. But I could imagine being in the book the whole time!
Profile Image for Veronica.
38 reviews3 followers
December 27, 2021
Sweet Christmas Romance

This story is a quick read that is genuinely sweet and full of Christmas magic! It’s a perfect pairing for the holiday season.
231 reviews1 follower
March 11, 2022
Too frothy - a fairytale
Profile Image for Taylor Wilson.
316 reviews6 followers
December 24, 2023
Maggie is hoping to rekindle her relationship with her long distance boyfriend in the tiny little town of Hollydale. Heading to town before him, Maggie gets swept up in the Christmas magic the quaint town harbors. Nothing can possibly go wrong in this festive, wondrous village.

What a fun, quick, festive little holiday read. I’ve read one other book by CP Ward that I enjoyed, so when this came up as a freebie one day, I decided to download it. Definitely will help put you in the festive spirit!
Profile Image for Kristen Valenzuela.
647 reviews
December 15, 2025
This one had a rough beginning but slowly redeemed itself. I loved the “magic” of Christmas the FMC discovers. It reminded me of Brigadoon where the city disappears.
Profile Image for Elsbeth.
838 reviews
November 26, 2018
"I'm glad you stood me up this Christmas...
...because it gave me the chance to meet someone who is worthy of me."
A tiny 'Hogwarts-express' takes Maggie to an almost magical Winter Wonderland, hidden in the Scottish highlands. Her best friend Renee is like a fairy godmother who helps her to find herself and her knight in shining snowman outfit.
Beautiful, magical and funny story!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Victoria.
4,739 reviews
November 14, 2018
What a magical journey Maggie takes, have to admit, I'd like to make that journey myself! This book has wonderful characters, fun days, a relationship breakdown, a possible romance on the horizon, well meaning characters, sweet background stories and a best friend who has your back. This was a really nice Christmas read which was fun in places but sad as well - such is life. A new author for me, one who I will look out for in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Texas.
1,685 reviews394 followers
November 4, 2018
I'm Glad I Found You This Christmas - This wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Mr. Ward writes good stories and this is one, but the main character is too stupid, too immature and too much eejit to be likable. It takes awhile for the story to get interesting because of Miss Lack of Confidence or Brains, AKA Eejit, dominates the story with her neediness and silliness. She can't make a move unless she calls/texts her bestie whining about everything, and repeatedly calls/texts her boyfriend. She worries about everything and appearances. Even when she accepts her dreams of the last four years are over, she continues to treat a wonderful, gifted man with rudeness, ridicule and disrespect. When she decides to fall for him, she flip-flops between insulting him and wanting to rip his clothes off.

The other characters, villagers and bestie, are wonderful and interesting, and help Eejit find her way. The variety of characters add to the depth of this delightful story. The village of Hollydell is filled with the magic of Christmas as well as being a healing place; it gives what a person needs as an individual. It took awhile for the joy and magic of this story to shine, but it is a good read even though Eejit is a little too much for me. Hopefully, Mr. Ward will come out with another Hollydell story with the intelligent bestie and the also wonderful brother.

I own both the Kindle and Paperback Editions. 4*
Profile Image for Claire Mc Partlin.
802 reviews29 followers
December 28, 2018
This was a very sweet, Christmas feeling story, set in a snowy village in Scotland.

Maggie books a surprise break away in a tiny Scottish village called Hollydell in the hope that she can reignite the spark that seems to have been lost with her boyfriend Dirk, who has recently moved to London to start a new job and is proving quite elusive to get hold of since moving. He was obviously up to no good but Maggie couldn't see it and kept clinging to the fact that they were still a couple and he was about to propose - a bit deluded when she couldn't even get him on the phone!

Hollydell was a magical, charming little place that seemed cut off from the world and there was definitely a magical feeling to it, but in a very Christmassy way. Whilst there Maggie bumps into Henry who owns the reindeer farm. They did have a interesting initial meeting when he nearly ran her over with his sleigh and she reacted quite rudely to him. But they eventually met up again and she got over her crankiness! I did find Maggie a bit of a drip, she kept ringing her much more practical (and likeable) friend Renee to ask for advice, she really needed to get a grip on her own life.

I definitely enjoyed the story but the only issue I had was with Maggie, the main character, who I found really very irritating, but if you took her out of the equation(!) I loved the people and the whole vibe of this tiny little village, and the second half of the book was definitely better than the first. Hollydell is definitely a magical place I would love to visit, especially at Christmas.
2 reviews
February 21, 2022
Maggie, the main character, was absolutely TOO pathetic….Thick as mud also comes to mind, possessing no intelligence. She WAS very beautiful (OF COURSE!!….surprise, surprise!!), which was the only thing she had going for her as far as I’m concerned. I wanted to give her a good shake. I cannot image the wonderful intelligent, well learned and gorgeous-looking Henry going for such a dipstick as Maggie. Surely she would bore him to death after a couple of days (if not sooner). Nearly everything she says starts with “Um”. Renee, the (must be) long suffering friend Maggie had to keep phoning every few hours (most annoyingly) did have CHARACTER and a good sense of humour (lucky for her, having such a dumb friend as Maggie). No matter how much in love with someone you might be, surely you could clearly see that Dirk the Jerk was a lost cause. I guess he’d got totally bored with Maggie (it took him 4 years to get past her beauty) and with a sigh move away to London and pastures new. She expected him to propose and Marry her? Come on…..

The ending of the book was far too abrupt, leaving well too much to the imagination, which was very disappointing following the vivid descriptions of every part of each day throughout the book up until the end. “And they lived happily ever after”. YUK!! For me, this book was just an “okay” read in bed before nodding off to sleep.
1,171 reviews5 followers
December 20, 2021
Who could resist the reindeer?
I have a confession to make - I don't normally read or review romances. However, I am a sucker for a lighthearted Christmas story, and when I got the chance to review this book I agreed - and I am happy that I did so! Had I been asked to review a book with reindeer in, then I might just have bitten the author's e-hands off.
The romance part is good - I was gunning for her to chose the right person, so that worked out well. The supporting characters were well fleshed out, and believable, and the girl wasn't too ditzy. Well, just a bit...
This book is set in a place that you will want to exist, just to be able to go there and witness the production of The Snowman. Please, read it and see.
1,204 reviews16 followers
February 22, 2022
I know Christmas is over but I am so glad I read this sweet story, loved the characters, the town & the reindeer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews

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