She has done it again!
What an absolutely fantastic amazing fandabidozi book you have written Heidi Swain!
You never fail, you always go one better than the book before.
I adored the characters and the way the story was delivered, I could picture every moment, I could smell the Christmas trees and I could taste the mulled wine!
This is a story that has everything you want from a Christmas book, gifts, friendships, romance, mishaps and lots of Christmas decorations!
Beautiful from cover to cover. It's Christmas in a book.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers and the author Heidi Swain for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion

Underneath the Christmas Tree, yet another Heidi Swain Christmas cracker, full of surprises and festive feeling.

I loved Liza Wynter's personality and how she dealt with the reality of lifes tribulations. It is a truly mesmerising, romantic book which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. A hug in a mug with a sprinkle of marshmallows.

If there's one festive tale you should read during our long winter, I recommend this, as it will bring a much needed sparkle into the dull, dark days and nights. ✨✨✨✨✨

This is a gorgeously festive book, it's hard not to feel Christmassy when a huge part of your read is based on a Christmas tree seller.

I love a second chance romance, and this one was wonderfully written. However, I sometimes didn't find the chemistry between the characters to be believable.

This book was really well paced, but at times I found Liza a little hard to like.

As soon as I saw a new Heidi Swain and that it’s Christmas themed I knew it was going to be a good reading Christmas year, I love everything Heidi has written so far so I know if anyone can write a gorgeous Christmas book it’s Heidi, I was not disappointed at all. Gorgeous characters, romance, emotion , family, community, friendships all the ingredients you want to make one warm hug of a book , another classic Heidi Swain book where I am left happier than I entered the book and wondering how long I must wait for her next book of happy.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Where do I start?? I’ve never read any of Heidi Swain’s books before! 🙈 but o my word I’m heading to the kindle store to purchase all of her books!

I found Underneath the Christmas tree so easy to read and so hard to put down! I do love all things Christmas 🎄 from the start where Liza wanted to avoid all contact with her late fathers business partner to her arriving at the Christmas tree plantation, settling off the gate alarm que a very damp and cold Ned! dead set on selling her half of her inheritance to follow her dreams to falling in love and no longer wanting to sell!

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to fall in love with Christmas again, I found myself transported to the middle of the Christmas tree plantation and the smell of the trees and mulled wine! I’m counting the days until I can take my own children to a plantation to pick our Christmas tree 🎄 thank you so much for approving my request for this book 📚

It was lovely to return to Wynmouth again for this festive read.
Having read all of this author's previous books I couldn't wait to read this one. And it didn't disappoint. It was a great read full if romance, humour and festivities.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for this read.

Well, I’m most definitely feeling festive now! Heidi has done it again. Her Christmas books are so full of seasonal joy that you can’t help but crave mince pies, mulled wine and snow falling outside. Even if you love a beach holiday.
I was completely invested in Liza’s story within a few pages and really loved losing myself in the world of Wynter’s Trees. Learning more about a Christmas tree farm was so interesting and I wish there was one nearby that I could visit myself.
There were so many little things within the book that made me smile. From family traditions, to the festive crafts that Liza did. And Bandit the dog sounds just perfect for the location. Who wouldn’t want a gorgeous husky living at a Christmas tree farm?
Family and friendship play a huge part in this book, as in everything that Heidi writes. The characters are wonderfully written and you feel so connected to them and their lives. Even the ones that start off not so nice.
I’m sure many people have also mention this, but the cover of this book is so pretty. Pink isn’t the usual colour for a festive read, but I think it makes it stand out even more on the shelves. I’m sure I say this every time I review one of Heidi’s books, but I think this one might be my favourite. It’s charming, warm and a brilliant cosy read.

Liza Wynter returns to her late father's Christmas tree plantation with one goal: sell her share in the business to her father's business partner and then leave the plantation for good. But David is retiring and leaving his share to his son Ned, who can't buy out both his father and Liza. So he comes up with a plan of his own: remind Liza of the magic of Christmas on the plantation and convince her to stay.

This was a delightful read. While it took me a little bit to warm up to Liza, the community around the plantation felt so inviting and wonderful that it made me wish I was right there with all of them. Ned was the perfect love interest, the chemistry between him and Liza was spot-on from the start.

A Christmas romance from Swain never disappoints. They have become a high point of my festive reading, and after another successful addition to the collection, I do not see that changing any time soon.

Firstly thank you netgalley & simonschusteruk for accepting me to review a kindle book, I picked up the physical copy for only £3 at sainsburys Absolute bargain!! Just look at the book cover, we need more pink books on our book shelves and this one is gorgeous.
I enjoyed this cosy festive read but it was predictable and took me awhile to connect to the main character just because I found Liza a little irritating, but this author always gives us a truly lovely story full of community spirit, good natured characters and happy endings, which makes for a wonderful festive book. What I loved most was the destination, Norfolk!! My home. And that the author brilliantly writes stand-alones that all entwine with each other, I haven’t got through them all yet, but planning on another of her books before Christmas.

Is Christmas even Christmas without a new Heidi Swain festive book?! I was ever so pleased to be approved to read this on netgalley. In it we meet Liza who returns to her family home of Wynter trees (a Christmas tree farm)! She doesn't want to stay but over time she reconsiders her decision. I liked this book, but I feel it lacked some of the festive magic we have come to expect from Heidi. Maybe I’m holding her to a higher standard because she’s my favourite festive author. Also there didn’t seem to be a lot of chemistry between the two leads then suddenly they were together?! All in all, a pleasant festive read but not Heidi’s best in my opinion.

A warm as a bug in a rug Christmas tale that is a definite winner. I would love to have a Christmas tree farm, I think that would be fabulous. An easy five stars from me.

This was a nice, cosy, romantic festive read with a beautiful setting, However within the first couple of chapters i knew exactly how it was going to end. Lovely but predictable

Underneath The Christmas Tree - Heidi Swain

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK I am leaving this review voluntarily

Wynter’s Trees is the home of Christmas. For the people of Wynmouth it’s where they get their family Christmas tree, and where Christmas truly comes to life.

But for Liza Wynter, it’s a millstone around her neck. It was her father’s pride and joy but now he’s gone, she can’t have anything to do with it. Until her father’s business partner decides to retire and she must go back to handle the transition to his son Ned.

As with all Heidi Swain books this was an automatic must read for me. With a fabulous setting, I mean who doesn't love a good book set on a Christmas tree farm. This is truly a feel-good festive book that will help you get into the festive spirit.

If you are getting ready to read this book then I would recommend getting comfy as this will draw you in very fast. Another fabulous Christmas book by Heidi. This works well as a stand-alone but it was nice being welcomed back by the recurring characters from The Secret Seaside Escape.

Rating 4/5

It has taken Liza years to go back to the house and business her Dad built from the ground up - The Wynter's Trees. This is where people come to get their Christmas trees, spend a beautiful day shopping and walking around, but Liza doesn't want anything to do with it. She wants to sell her shares of the business to Ned and David who have been taking care of the plantation for her, after her father passed away. And she wants to get out of there, because she doesn't really care for the place or Christmas like that anymore...Alas, this story had other plans for Liza.


Setting:
What a wonderful and perfect setting for a Christmas book. The writer did an amazing job making this a festive book, filled with beautiful descriptions of the trees, the lodge, the decorations, the Christmas traditions... I loved it all.

Characters:
I really couldn't warm up to Liza. She was just so flat as a character, a bit dull and dreary. I understood that she had a lot of mental baggage, but she came off as stubborn and sort of selfish to me.
She would say things like: ''I knew I should apologise, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.'' She was just a bit too immature and close-minded and caught up in her own world to notice everything around her. She was literally blind to everyone and everything around her, which made me not really like her.
While everyone around her was going out of their way to make this Christmas a spectacular one, she seemed not to notice this at all, or was sort of lukewarm about it. She is more than happy to insist on her vision, as if she doesn't realise the tight spot she put Ned and David in, who have been taking care of the business for her for years.
But I did quite enjoy the supporting characters like Maya and Liam and the rest of the community.

Romance:
Eh, I felt like there was no chemistry between our main characters. I didn't feel the angst, the sweetness, the passion, the longing, the love...I felt like the book sort of fell short in that department.

The book otherwise covers topics such as loss of a parent, guilt, familial relationships, finding your place in the world.

I appreciate the author's references to the Christmas Carol, The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings - all my faves!

The pacing was good, just right, and overall I think this has been among the best Christmas books I have read so far in 2021. I believe I loved it because of the beautiful setting and the community that existed in this story.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Another great book from Heidi.

Lisa Wynter inherited her fathers part in Wynter’s trees following his death. She returns to Wynmouth after learning her fathers business partner is about to retire and she needs to help with the hand over of the business to his son Ned. Lisa is set on helping deal with the hand over and selling her part of the business to Ned as she feels it was her dads love but not hers. Ned has the business under control and the business is thriving, she starts to help around the business and falls in love with the whole idea of Christmas and Ned at the same time. Does Ned feel the same and will she decide to stay and help Ned or will she stick with her original plan of selling her part of the business.

What a wonderful Christmas book filled to the brim with love, hope, dreams, forgiveness and lots of snow, Christmas trees and happy memories. I just loved it,

I do like a Heidi Swain book, she has a lovely way of writing.

Liza Wynter is part owner of a Christmas tree farm, which her father started and she inherited when he died. But she has been happy for the other owner to runs things over the years, as she has bad memories of living in Wynmouth, where the farm is, when she was younger.

But when the other owners wants to retire and pass it on to his son, Ned, Liza is persuaded back to sort things out financially, but she really just wants to sell and move on with her life. But of course once back there, to the thriving farm, things slowly change.

This was such a lovely feeling book, full of Christmas cheer, a Christmas 'beach hut' market and 'living' Christmas trees that people buy and collect every year, delivering them back after Christmas, only to collect again the following year, really lovely idea. There were great characters, and Liza resolved a few issues she had from the past and moved forward.

A lovely Christmas book!

I’ve read all of Heidi’s books as this is another that didn’t disappoint. Left me feeling all warm and with a lovely Christmas glow. Made me think of snowy Christmas trees and the feeling of friends and family at Christmas. Willing Miss Wynter to fall in love with what her dad started. Just loved it from start to finish

Can we just take a moment to appreciate the cover of this novel? I love the candy pink shades and I also love the fact that the tree is front and centre on the cover. If you get the paperback copy of this one its also got gorgeous foil that shimmers in the light-just perfection!

I love the fact that a Heidi Swain Christmas novel focuses on someone who really isn't in the festive spirit. They begin the book wanting to ignore the whole thing but something in the Heidi Swain magic of everything seems sure to persuade them otherwise! This book is no exception and I took a lot of comfort in that. This is the first visit to the seaside town on Wynmouth in the winter time and it was lovely to be in a slightly different setting but still have some familiarity in terms of the people and the magic of the seaside. I also adored getting to know Liza, our aforementioned Christmas objector. She has had a whole heap of heart break in her life and so her avoidance of the season is totally understandable but she also goes on a massive journey throughout the pages of the book!

Wynter's trees is the perfect setting for this novel-what could be more festive than essential a Christmas tree farm? But it's what this place means to Liza and new resident Ned that really makes it special. I love the memories that have been made in the fields and in the lodge and the new traditions that are being made all the time-I really want to go and visit but I feel sure I would encounter some romance there and so probably best to avoid! The other thing about the setting is that it provides comfort for the whole community not just Ned and Liza.

Another thing that Heidi Swain also does really well is to champion the younger and more troubled members of the communities that she creates and I love that about her books. I adored meeting Liam and watching him grow throughout his journey, good and bad. I really hope we get to go back and meet him again in a future novel because I think he is such a deep character I know there is more to be heard from him in the future-here's hoping!

If you're worried that this novel could be too much Christmas for you then have no fear. A Heidi Swain novel is basically as festive as you make it. There's always a mention of the solstice and life outside of the festive season. But if you want warm drinks and snow and Christmas tress then there are plenty of thee within the pages of the book. I love the hope in a Heidi Swain novel but I particularly love it at Christmas time. I actually listened to the audiobook of this and the narrator (one of my favorites) did a great job too-highly recommend!

I really enjoyed my winter visit to Wynmouth and getting to know Liza and Ned. The Christmas tree farm, Wynter's Trees, brought back happy memories of going to pick a tree from a local forestry commission site when my daughters were younger. Similar to Wynter's Trees there was a workshop where you could do crafts, mulled wine, Santa doing rides in a cart for the children and so on. It really was magical. Now, although you can still buy trees there, the site has been developed as a mountain biking centre. It really was a magical experience and a great way to get in the festive spirit. Reading about Wynter's Trees and the beach hut craft stalls really made me feel that same festive spirit.

I enjoyed the idea of people having their own family trees, nurtured throughout the year on the farm and then taken to houses in their pots each year. It was just one of the ways that environmental issues were explored in the book. I liked the emphasis on supporting small businesses such as those working out of the beach huts on the farm.

I also really loved the idea of giving people a chance no matter their background and that forgiveness and putting things behind you could benefit both sides so positively. There was a theme of giving people a second chance and offering opportunities to those who might not otherwise get them which seems to me to be what the spirit of Christmas should be about.

There's a happy ending. Of course, there's a happy ending - it's a Heidi Swain book! The romance builds up slowly throughout the book and does look uncertain at times but I always know I can rely on Heidi Swain for some gorgeous romantic scenes and she didn't let me down.

If you want a book filled with Christmas magic, lots of Christmas trees, snow and plenty romance to warm your heart, get yourself a copy and see if you are charmed by this story just as much as I was.