My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. I am just so sorry that it languished on my TBR pile for as long as it did before I got round to reading it.

I gave this charming festive story an 8/10. It's the first of the Hope Island series that I have read and I look forward to reading some more soon.

Telling the story of Eden and her childhood friend Dougie, this is a lovely story that draws the reader in. Can friends become more than friends, especially when one of those friends doesn't realise that his childhood friend would like there To be much more between them?

For the reader to find this out, they need to grab a copy and let the story wrap them up in it's cosiness, the same way that it wrapped me up. Sometimes we just need to take a step back from real life and let the world of romance and all it's twists and turns take us on a journey.

Holly Martin is great at writing romances and this is a great romance in my opinion..

I'm sure that this is a perfectly charming Christmas book, but I keep putting it off because it's a series hoping I'll be able to get around to reading the first two books, and I just haven't.

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove is another feel good must read from Holly Martin. I was trying to put my finger on what it is exactly that is so special about Holly Martin books and I think it is the charm and warmth that radiate from her books. I usually have a smile on my face as I read them and of course we get our happy ending. I read this in one sitting and it will make you forget all sense of time as you devour it. Christmas at Mistletoe Cove is a feel-good read that will leave you feeling all warm and cozy inside. Perfect read for Christmas but really perfect for any time of year for romantics.

What can i say another fab book just loved it all so easy to read love the writing style your pulled into the plot wonderful characters that you can relate to i enjoy it this so much

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove is the third installment in the Hope Island series but it could be read as a stand alone.
It was a nice,sweet and enjoyable read perfect for the Christmas time.
I liked to follow Eden and Dougie journey from friends to lovers. They love each other so much but their life choices brought them to live in two different countries but now Dougie is back and he has a plan to conquer Eden's heart forever.

This was my most anticipated book of the whole Hope Island series, as the two main characters, Eden and Dougie was most certainly the most fascinating characters for me.

This is such a cosy will-they-won't-they story that I really enjoyed reading during the December period with a hot chocolate, lots of blankets, and my bed. It was so exciting to finally get to read in to the lives of Eden and Dougie, knowing how strong they're connection was prior in other books. They were the ultimate best friends, so comfortable around each other - yet there was most certainly feelings there that had not been spoken about. Although Eden was the one who had acknowledged her feelings to the readers more, Dougie showed so much love towards her without even realising how he felt, for example, doing all of these magical gestures to allow Eden to believe in magic again. It was so heart-warming, so romantic and who doesn't love a 'best friends fall in love' story?

I've always enjoyed Holly Martin's books and will continue to love them for as long as she brings them out!

I was very lucky to receive this book last year as an e-arc (electronic advanced reader copy) on Netgalley. Sadly, due to the rush that is Christmas I didn’t get round to reading it at the time and I thought hey why not give it a go this Christmas. I then spotted the book in Tescos and was inspired even more to give it a read, I mean how pretty is the cover!

I have to say, I started reading this book and I really didn’t think that I would finish it. It was classic, girl is in love with her best friend and unable to tell him because he doesn’t see her in that way…but of course he does and he can’t tell her either for the same reason. I have to be completely honest and say it started off really sickly and I thought it would keep going like the above, but alas I was wrong and I am glad I persevered.

Once I overcame the want to scream at the characters to talk to each other, I grew to enjoy reading about the island and its quirky ways. I also enjoyed how a bit of magic came into their lives through little twists and turns.

Whilst this is the third book in the Hope Island series, it can also be read as a standalone. I know this because I have not read the other books. Although, adfter reading reviews on GoodReads I am intrigued to see how the relationship between Dougie and Eden is seen through the eyes of others in the other books.

It really is a story about hope, love and trust, in a Christmas wonderland setting.

Massive shoutout to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read this – sorry it took me a while to read it.
So there we have it. My third Christmas book of the year. I love reading festive books this time of year – really does get me in the spirit that is Christmas.

I read the first two books in the Hope Island Trilogy last year and loved them. For some reason, I did not read this one, so with Christmas on the way, I anticipated a lovely visit with siblings Rome, Eden and Bella. Best-friends Eden and Dougie have been fumbling around, neither realizing how the other felt for them in the previous books. I couldn't wait to see how their story would play out, knowing that it was just a matter of time before they finally acting upon those feelings. The book opens with the news that Dougie has sold his business in the US and is moving home to Hope Island. When he arrives, we see that easy going relationship between the two best friends, the looks they share, the secret glances when they don't think the other is watching, and the brief touches as they pass one another. It is very apparent to the reader and everyone else in the village that there is something special going on. But, after they venture to Mistletoe Cove, where it's rumoured wishes come true, the story lost some of that charm, becoming too sweet as Dougie begins to overdo it with his gestures of love. Add in Eden's over the top doubt and drama and the book lost some of its charm and worked too hard.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad story; there were moments I adored and I did like Dougie and Eden, I just didn't love their story as much as the couples in the previous books. This story was supposed to be magical, but it seemed a little far-fetched as opposed to magical. There were also some passionate moments with some explicit scenes that I was not expecting. There was some laugh-out-loud humour courtesy of Eden's dad, Finn, and the family relationships that helped each other get over some difficult situations were also present. Bella and Issac have a few moments of angst as well, but they were finally married in a beautiful ceremony. Overall this has been an enjoyable series with a great bunch of characters that I enjoyed, unfortunately, it did not end with the best story of the three. I will still continue to read Holly Martin's stories as they always leave me with a good feeling upon finishing.

Review: I love Holly Martin. Her books are so magical and full of love. I get completely lost in Holly Martin's world. Christmas at Mistletoe Cove is brilliant. I adore a good Christmas book and this is such a book.  The plot is about two best friends ready to take their friendship to the next level or will their friendship be ruined forever. A beautiful romance set at Christmas. One I will read again and again.

This is a friends to lovers/unrequited love romance that takes place in Hope Island. If you read the first book then you would be familiar with Eden and Dougie and there simple but complicated friendship. Christmas In Mistletoe Cove is charming, sweet and often time satisfying, despite the fact you wanted to wallop Dougie to get with the program in the first two books, he did redeem himself with this one! This is classic Holly Martin, sweetness, funny, romance and yes of course sizzling chemistry between the leads. It's a nice way to wrap the series.

It just wouldn't be Christmas without a wonderfully festive, romantic read from Holly Martin. We know we've said this before, but it's true, so we feel like it's only fair to say it again. Holly is brilliant at bringing cozy, quaint, magical villages to life at Christmas time, so much so, that you will wish you could visit them, or even live there yourself, in wintry wonderland bliss.

Cafe owner Eden Lancaster always believed in fairy-tales and magic, that was until her one true love left her for New York twelve years ago. It wasn't a case of moving on and forgetting about him because he also happens to be her very best friend, who often visits her and her brother and sister in Hope Island, causing more heartbreak each and every time he comes and goes. Dougie Harrison has never shown any signs that he feels the same way about her, even though they do share a very close relationship. So, when he moves back to Hope Island all these years later, Eden doesn't know what to think. Could this be her chance at telling him how she feels and finding her happy ever after or will it just prove to her that there's no such thing as fairy dust and wishes after all?

Kelly: Like a warm cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and those little tiny marshmallows on a cozy evening in December, ' Christmas at Mistletoe Cove,' will make you feel warm, festive and smiley. It's all the wonderful feelings you get at Christmas time, wrapped in a pretty little cover. Open it up and the inside is bursting with magic and sparkles. Eden and Dougie's story is sweet and homely, especially if you've read Holly's first two stories this year. It always fills me with excitement seeing how the characters I met in previous stories are getting on. In 'Christmas at Mistletoe Cove,' Rome and Freya, (Summer at Buttercup Beach) Bella and Issac (Spring at Blueberry Bay) are all doing well, as their lives run merrily alongside Eden and Dougie's. This made me content and feel like I was back home with the characters.

As for Eden and Dougie, they did have such a special relationship. It was cute the way they were already very touchy feely and the way they were so relaxed around each other, yet they both weren't sure how the other one felt. One of my favourite things about Eden was that her feelings for Dougie never changed throughout the whole story. Her love for him never wavered, even with their ups and downs, which showed just how strong and true her feelings really were. Dougie was such a sweetheart the way he wanted to see Eden happy and with a smile on her face. I loved that he went through great lengths just to make her believe in magic again, it was incredibly romantic.

Lucy: What can I say? Holly Martin is delightful, this book is delightful and I still feel delighted thinking about it, when I finished it over a week ago. This is another dose of Christmassy, romance perfection and I adored it. You will want to put up your Christmas tree, pour yourself a mug of your favourite hot drink and snuggle up under your coziest Christmas blanket and do nothing but read this book. Best friends Dougie and Eden were incredibly endearing and I was sucked up into this story from the very first chapter. Their relationship made me happy. I loved that they were so close with each other and could be themselves around each other and were always having fun. Watching their relationship blossom was beautiful, they way they laughed with each other and the shenanigans and awkward moments they had with each other were so heartwarming and at times made me chuckle out loud. We got a little suspense in wondering if they would end up together and I liked that there were moments where they didn't hold back and really told each other how they felt. It made me love Eden even more when she didn't run away and feel sorry for herself, but chose to go after what she wanted and stand for what she felt and admit to her mistakes. Dougie was ridiculously cute. You know by now I am a complete soppy and mushy romantic and the things he did for Eden melted my heart. Wait till you read it, uh the list, the wishes, oh how I loved what he did for her. I truly feel we should all have lists, not because we should want more or not live in the moment but because I feel when making the most out of life and love, we should always want to see our other half happy. We should want to go out of our way and experience everything with them. Furthermore, I think it's an amazing way to ensure you don't get complacent or settle. Like Eden and Dougie show, it doesn't have to be big things or extravagant surprises, it can be as simple as taking a bath together or holding hands. This was something special I loved about this book and that Holly created! :)

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove was such a delightful read, I thoroughly enjoyed it, fell in love with Eden and Dougie, they made the perfect couple, love Holly Martin's style of writing her writing.

Whilst I'm not a massive fan of chick-lit I do enjoy reading these indulgent festive books around Christmas, there is a beautiful magic feel to them.

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove is the third and last in the Hope Island series by Holly Martin. I feel like I am always saying this but again this book is easily read as a standalone if you haven't read the first two in the series. The fact that this can be read on its own means the author has supplied enough of a back story so the reader doesn't feel like they are missing out on huge chunks of the previous stories. We have already read of Bella and Issac and Rome and Freya so now our attention turns to Eden and Dougie. What I like about this series is that there are no pretensions as to what they eventual outcome will be. It's fairly obvious to everyone, the readers included, except for the pair in question what will happen but in the case of this series I feel it's really more about the journey to get to that point that really makes the books so enjoyable.

Holly Martin certainly writes romance really well and in this book there were a few scenes that were just so perfect and really portrayed the love Dougie and Eden felt for each other. Yes there are lots of trials and tribulations, misunderstandings and secrets along the way but that all adds to the fun and the question of actually will they or won't they get their act together and realise what all the residents of Hope Island and their friends and family can see?

Eden Lancaster is the sister of Rome and Bella whose own relationship status' have been established in the first two books. She runs the local pottery painting café Pots and Paints with help from Claire. I was delighted now was the chance to finally get to know Eden as I felt she had been very much hovering on the periphery in previous books. She has been waiting impatiently to share her story and for her chance at long term romance to hopefully come her way. Eden is very nervous as her best friend Dougie Harrison is coming home from America after many years away from the island. He has decided to sell everything and buy a small cottage next to Eden's. You would think Eden would be over the moon with this. The best friend she misses so desperately is coming back for good. In fact it's the complete opposite and she is a total bag of nerves. For as long as she can remember she has been madly in love with Dougie but has never had the courage to confess her feelings to bare all to him. I thought how on earth if you love someone so much could you be around them and act all normal without giving away what was always running through your heart and mind. It must have been killing Eden to keep everything all bundled up. Even her friends and fellow islanders could see what Eden was going through. So why couldn't Dougie?

In one way I understood why Eden kept everything bottled up and at other points in the story the further everything developed I thought she was totally over acting and not appreciating what was unfolding in her life. By not telling Dougie how she was feeling she could keep her feelings to herself and the fear of said feelings not being reciprocated would never happen. At the heart of it all she didn't want their fantastic friendship to be ruined and I got that. But sometimes I feel we have to grab every opportunity and express how we feel. Forget the consequences, if your heart is saying one thing, go for it. If you don't you would always live with regrets for the rest of your life. If Eden didn't get everything off her chest it would only make her miserable and she would never find happiness in her life. So Eden questions why Dougie is forgoing his dream of making it big in the gaming world in America? Has Dougie something up his sleeve? Maybe he is much more in tune with Eden than she realises. Maybe the two of them needed to be locked in a room until they confessed how they felt seep down and then they could have dealt with the fallout or not? Eden was in pain, not the physical sort more the kind that is on your mind and in your heart every moment of every day. She really couldn't have gone on like that in the long term.

For two people that were only supposed to be friends they certainly were very touchy feely so it was obvious what was going to unfold but it's the manner in which it did that was both lovely and very frustrating at times. I thought the whole idea of Mistletoe Cove was just gorgeous and so romantic. If you go to the blow hole at Mistletoe Cove at midnight, having written three wishes on a piece of paper you throw it in, said wishes will come true. This is what Eden does. Mistletoe Cove was a special place for Eden when growing up and a certain something that happened there many years ago has always been at the forefront of her mind. I'll admit the 'magic' element of the book seemed over the top. I knew there had to be something else behind it but the way Eden reacts and gets all caught up with it in very much the wrong way with regard to the 'magic' made me very annoyed and frustrated with her. As I've said I wanted her to stop and appreciate what she had and not seek affirmations and concrete proof of stuff. Things were turning around for her and why couldn't she go with the flow and not stop and question everything at every juncture. She had the man of her dreams right before her, why couldn't she just leap into his arms and never let go ? Instead doubt and mistrust crept it's way in.

For me Dougie definitely rivalled Issac in the battle for who was the 'best man' in the Hope Island series. I thought he was sensible and had a good head on his shoulders. He was a natural flirt who made women swoon at his feet but he only had eyes for one woman. It's just a pity the path to true romance and honesty with his good intentions proved so rocky and not without its faults. Dougie was so incredibly romantic, every little thing was so well thought out and I think the bath scenes was very steamy, excuse the pun. Holly Martin can write scenes that have you wishing it was you actually with Dougie or whoever the man in question is according to whatever book you are reading. I could understand Dougie's hesitancy in relation to what he wanted for the future considering his past experiences with what happened to his parents marriage but I think Hope Island and Eden very much held a special place in his heart. Therefore over time and the fact he loves making people feel good about themselves someone may well just do the same for him. I fervently wished himself and Eden could get over their issues and get all the truth out in the open. It would be such a shame if two people who were destined to be together couldn't bare their souls and unite as they should do.

As Christmas was in the title, it surely had to be mentioned in the book. It wasn't to in your face but the descriptions of the island over the Christmas period and the Christmas festival as organised by Bella were wonderful. They certainly got me in the festive mode with all the glorious descriptions of the food and various activities. I really enjoyed Christmas at Hope Island. It was a lovely conclusion to the series. Overall I would place it second behind Spring at Blueberry Bay. This was an honest, romantic, sparkling and captivating read that proves Holly Martin never disappoints with any of her books.

I am a huge Holly Martin fan so was excited to see another festive read from her. However, when I started reading this book I felt a little lost, and, after some checking, realised it is actually part of a series about three sisters. Consequently, I decided not to keep reading, but to read the other two books first and will save this as a treat for next Christmas.

Christmas at Mistletoe Cove is another sweet (and a bit sexy) Christmas read. This was quick and fun, and the characters were mostly likeable (except I just wanted to give them a big shake! Just talk to eachother people! Haha).

I didn't realise that this was the third book in a series (Hope Island) - it did feel a bit like one based on the amount of background given, but I didn't feel like that was annoying or that it got in the way of the story at all (and I would probably read the other two books).

I gave this one 3 Christmas Stars.

Another perfect Hallmark Christmas movie in a book to accompany the snow-globe im currently living in!

This book was about two life long friends recognizing their love for each other and doing something about it. It was perfectly predictable, but in a cozy, comforting way.

I definitely recommend spending a cold wintery afternoon with this book!

"Christmas at Mistletoe Cove" is the final part in the triology of Hope Island and fortunately it was better than the second of the series.

Eden and Dougie have been best friends forever, and been loving each other forever as well but never told each other.
The love story is really cheesy but I loved it and it was just perfect for the christmas time. Eden and Dougie were really sweet, especially Dougie's "wooing". It was perfectly romantic and really warmed my heart.
Eden was a tiny bit annoying with her constant struggling and too much thinking. I also enjoyed that we met the characters from the previous books and that her stories continued.

Holly Martin's writing style is enjoyable and great as always.

I was really excited for this book at first but a quarter of the way through I realized it was not going to be the book for me. I felt like there was a lot of negativity around the characters and issues that just didn't make the book feel like a happy Christmas story. The whole best friends secretly in love trope felt way over done here. It got really annoying at times. For instance when Eden would say he was just being himself when he kissed her "as a friend." I don't know about you but i've never had just a friend kiss me on the lips or show that much affection.

This is the third book in the Hope Island series and I have loved all three. I know that a lot of people sneer at chick lit type books, but for me they are mind clearing. I have recently read two serious books, and sometimes I just want to read a happy book. Holly Martin's books are always comforting and relaxing to read.

Eden is a successful business woman, and her family is near and dear to her. But her heart went to America with Dougie, although she never let him know. These were small characters in the previous books, so it's so cool to start reading about their thoughts and daily lives because you haven't paid them a lot of attention before.

Dougie is coming back to Hope Island to start another business with his buddy, although he keeps saying there is something else that brought him back.

Eden is thrilled but can't even entertain the idea that she might be what brought him back. Her self-esteem is so low that she actually believes that magic is what is bringing them together. She begins trying to "break the spell" because if she can't have him without magic, she doesn't want him at all. We really can be our own worst enemies!

Current Goodreads Rating 4.39

About half way through this story, I wanted to bang Eden and Dougie's heads together. Especially Eden!

For some reason, I struggled to read this book - it took me a long time to get to the end, and though it contained all the things I usually love in a novel, with all the Christmas themes firmly in place, the relationship between these two just didn't seem to do it for me. I think the heat level was slightly too high for me, too.

Sigh - I really, really wanted to love this, but sadly I didn't.