Nell's small hotel is struggling, because how do you compete with a swanky big hotel offering expensive options? This could be Nell's last chance to make a go of it by holding a wedding there. This is a sweet and heart warming Christmas romance story that has wonderful characters and a very well-written story. It's a story about being able to overcome obstacles and find love in the face of hardships. It will make you emotional. It will also make you smile. Excellent book!

I discovered Katie Ginger's novels last Christmas and was excited to read this one. It did not disappoint with its festive air, humour and uplifting romance. I enjoyed the tension between the two characters and Nell's hotel was the ideal place to escape to and if it was real, I would spend Christmas there. This was a feel good read which I will return to next year.

Delightful easy winter read to curl up in front of the fire with. A lovely conclusion to the Swallowtail Bay series with a nice Christmassy feel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Katie Ginger for the advanced review copy of Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay. I absolutely adored this book and the sweet character of Nell Jones who often drifts off into a dream world. This was a lovely book and felt like a warm hug for your soul. I would thoroughly recommend as a light-hearted and easy going read. The only thing I would say is that I wanted to know more about the aftermath for the awful Kevin and Bryan!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review. 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?

Now this IS a romance story! Having read several books over the Christmas period, each claiming to be romance stories and turning out to be something entirely different I opened this book up with the resignation that once again perhaps I was going to be duped, However, I loved it! It is romance and feels at its finest. I read it in one sitting (kids are ok with super noodles anyway!) Things I loved: The characters the setting the story. Things I didn't like: Felt very short as I read it in one go so that must mean that a sequel is possible eh Katie Ginger???

This is a Hallmark holiday movie on the page, and none the worse for that. We follow Nell, proprietor of Holly Lodge, as she scrambles to stage the perfect wedding for guests while a fancy new hotel is stealing most of her business. Cute and easy winter escapist reading with a romance. Who could ask for anything more?

A gorgeous final instalment in the Swallowtail Bay series. Lovely Christmas story - new characters but a little glimpse of people who featured in previous books.

I did enjoy this book, although it’s part of a series, you can read it as a standalone book. It was a little predictable, but I enjoyed it non the less. I liked the main 4 characters of the book and how they all interacted with each other.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

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.

In this story we meet Nell who is gearing up for the first wedding that will take place at her small but beautiful hotel. Nell’s best friend Tom is happy to help, all the while keeping a few secrets himself including his love for Nell. Add in a rival hotel causing problems and things get quite tricky for Nell. What follows is a story of friendship, romance and love.

The characters in this story were wonderful and I loved the romance that blossomed. There was also a depth to the plot that I wasn’t expecting and I thought that this brought an extra emotional touch. Making me care for the characters even more and hope for a happy ever after for them. A special mention also has to go to Mr Scrooge, the cat. I loved him!

This book had that all important uplifting feel with a sweet plot that worked so well. Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay was the perfect book to get me in the festive spirit. I also really enjoyed the setting with its comforting feel. Making me wish that I could visit Holly Lodge especially at Christmas. Even though this is book three in the Swallowtail Bay series this was actually my first visit to Swallowtail Bay. It worked very well as a standalone but after enjoying this story I’m now eager to read the previous books in the series!

If you are looking for a gorgeous festive treat, then look no further! Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is a wonderful story that made me feel as cosy and warm as the blanket I was wrapped up in!

Oh how bittersweet this return to Swallowtail Bay was! Whilst I was extremely excited to be back, ready to learn more about Nell, I was also extremely sad that this was the final time I’d be here. It has been an absolute pleasure and I can’t wait to also see what Katie has in store for us next!

I fell in love with Nell pretty much from the get-go, with her obsession with fairy-tales and romance, living in a dream world that she could create by herself, filled with happy endings and the perfect person, I couldn’t be more of a Nell! Her dedication to the hotel, after taking it on from her parents was extremely admirable, I felt myself wanting to tell her how much I loved her ideas and quite frankly, if I could have jumped in the book to help, I sure would have! She is a best friend that everybody needs in their life; with her own problems piling on top of her, she still made the time and effort to support her best friend, Cat, every step of the way with her wedding. There was tiffs and tumbles amongst every page when it came to the wedding, so much so that I became desperate to reach the final pages, making sure Cat and Kieran got their happily every after. I really felt for Cat and her relationship with her mum – it was irritatingly controlled and I just wanted to scream at her Mum “she is a grown woman!!! stop manipulating her in to what you want because you’re paying!!! pay out of the goodness of your own heart, not as a way to claim power and control!!” Luckily, Nell stepped in and took the reins on convincing Cat to stand up for herself and to let Kieran have more of a contribution. It was really aching to see Nell and Cat fall out at times because of the stress that was lying heavily on both of their shoulders, however, it also warmed my heart, as they had that strong of a bond, they had no problems with openly communicating with honesty and despite all of the bad words they may have said and the anger they had once felt towards one another, they always pulled through and come together to make everything work. Their friendship was truly a beautiful one to witness.

Where do I even begin when it comes to Tom? This man had my entire heart in the palm of his hands! His friendship with Nell was the most sweetest thing ever. He is always there when Nell is in need of some assistance, no matter the time of day and when they’re both not surrounded in work, they spent time together at Christmas, amongst every other day of the year and was always there for one another at any given time. My heart really went out to Tom, as he was doing all of this, with a heart so full of feelings towards Nell, that he had locked away for an incredibly long time. Her perception of love and living in a dream land where everything was perfect had his guard up high, fearing that he would never be enough. Let me tell you now, no matter how dream like a woman’s mind is, this man is absolutely enough! His skills and handiwork as a florist came in hand a lot when it came to allowing Nell’s hotel to be it’s most beautiful – he is just the most generous, giving and caring man to grace us in a fictional character! His story in it’s entirety, however, did have my heart aching so so bad, I was turning every page, in hopes that he was going to be okay and there was a happy ending in it for him, because he deserved it so much.

Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is a perfect and cosy festive read to pick up during the holiday season. It will have you in your feels in every way possible and have you with a beaming smile on your face from beginning to end. I was so excited to catch glimpses off how the other characters were also doing as well, they all seemed to still be very successful and in love, which was the best bit of closure we could have asked for to end this gorgeous series.

Great book and it is part of a series but can be read as a standalone, i really like Katie Ginger and this book didn't disappoint

I really enjoyed this book. I love Nell and the way she wanders off into a daydream world of her own, trying to conjur up Mr.Right, not realising he may be closer than she thinks. A nice easy to read story.

I've been eyeing up Katie's books for a while now, and I'm so happy that I took the plunge on this festive read.

Nell runs Holly Lodge in Swallowtail Bay, but with the opening of a grand hotel nearby she is struggling for business. It's a good job her best friend Cat is getting married soon and wants to host her wedding there! Nell also has other ideas to keep the lodge at the centre of the community, such as a wedding fair and a carol concert for the local school.

Nell and Cat's friendship reminded me a lot of my own, very protective and only wanting the best for each other, which was great to connect to. I also loved the entrance of Tom, who despite a few secrets he has to spill, is lovely and helps her out at the lodge.

A wonderfully festive and uplifting read I would recommend you pick up this festive season!

I love love LOVED this book!. Nell was a kindred spirit who loves romance and Christmas. Add in some wedding planning for her best friend Cat, an "are they just friends?" friendship with Tom, a cat named Mr. Scrooge and some delicious mince pies and you've got the recipe for a wonderful holiday book! I also loved when the author referenced the wedding of two characters from the a previous book in the series!

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.

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.

Katie Ginger has a distinct way of writing the heart that is so truthful and real, you immediately get immersed in her stories and fall in love with her characters. This book is no exception and I just loved it. Perfect for readers who love a truthful and heartfelt friends-to-lovers romance.

Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay by Katie Ginger was a great festive read, great for snuggling down to escape into for a few hours. I did not want to put this book down, I loved it.

Sometimes liking romantic stories to much can be a dangerous thing - it can keep you from actually living your life, as you're waiting for the movie to begin. And, listen, I've definitely been guilty of this as well - but I certainly hope I've never had it quite as bad as Nell does. I can certainly understand why Tom might've been a bit hesitant to tell her he loves her - after all, those are some expectations to live up to!
This Christmas, though everything's about to change - and that's not necessarily in the way these characters might have wanted. Although, you know, it did give us some great Christmas decorations and holiday spirit to dream away at!
From health problems to weddings being put into danger to a hotel manager that honestly just made me think of the grinch (or that guy from Home Alone 2, you know the one, with the smile) - these characters just could not get a break. Maybe it's because of that, that the romance didn't grip me quite as much as I'd hoped it would. Or maybe it just was the bit where this wasn't so much a story of two people falling in love, as it was of them (finally) getting together. Leading with a Christmas wedding, though? That was always going to be a hit, wasn't it? :)