A definite hallmark Christmas vibe with some wholesome moments but I didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped I would. It took me a while to get into as well. I felt the twist near the end (relating to Gabe) was unnecessary. It felt rushed and out of place.

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. Idyllic location that set the tone of the book to perfection. Perfect seasonal book to get you in the mood for the festive season.

This was one of those books that sucked me in from the beginning and didn’t let go until I finished! I thought it was well written, with absolutely flawlessly done characters, and absolutely unputdownable.

I really enjoyed this book but wasn't sure where the story would end up. Poppy's story starts out unexpected. She expected to move into Bramblewood with her boyfriend, Ed, to start a new job and a new life together. This doesn't happen and she has to rebuild her life again, with the help of her best friend, Layla.

She is taken to a ball where she meets her GBF Gabe, she becomes a part of his world and his family, jumping feet-wise into life in the area. and the theatre world that Gabe is in. This leads to unexpected adventures that stem from her three wishes made at the ball, and a complete change in her pace of life and outlook.

Gabe's story is inspirational and a surprise... I love the way that Poppy changes his life, through changing her own.

I would recommend anyone reads this book, and cannot fail to leave its world smiling.

Poppy's Christmas Wishes is the third book from author Annette Hannah and her first Christmas book. I absolutely love a heart warming Christmas novel and was therefore very excited to be asked to participate in this blog tour.

This isn't my first visit to the historic market town of Bramblewood, since it features in Annette's two earlier novels, Wedding Bells at the Signal Box Cafe and The Cosy Little Cupcake Van, and it makes an absolutely perfect setting for a Christmas novel, with its abundance of quaint, Tudor-beamed shops, cafes and restaurants all surrounding the market square. I could picture the market place at night, with Christmas lanterns illuminating the fountain whilst snow gently falls. The surrounding countryside sounds equally idyllic, with the meandering river Bram, the village green and the countryside pubs.

Poppy has recently relocated to Bramblewood for love but finds herself single and lonely just before the holiday season. Fortunately her BFF Layla Rose is there to pull Poppy out of her self-wallowing and ensure she has a good Christmas. First stop, the annual Recharge Accountancy Christmas party at the stunning and stately Belvedere Mannor, where Poppy meets her new GBF (either 'Genie Best Friend' or 'Gay Best Friend' depending on who you ask!) and member of the Bramblewood Amateur Dramatic Society 'BADS', Gabe.  Gabe is exactly what Poppy needs in her life. He's kind, creative, fun and quickly pulls her out of her slump. He challenges Poppy and helps her to rebuild the confidence that her ex, Ed, has so badly shaken. If Gabe is really her Genie Best Friend, can he help her Christmas wishes come true...?

The story takes a look at the importance of relationships, both romantic and friendships, whilst introducing the reader to a host of warm and loveable characters. It also shows the importance of self-belief and kindness, a message that seems all to prevalent as we head into the festive season.

Poppy's Christmas Wishes is warm, amusing and very entertaining. It's a cosy, festive tale of romance and friendship, guaranteed to melt even the iciest of hearts.

It was a first time for me to read a book by Annette Hannah. I really enjoyed my time with that book however I found it a bit slow at some point but other than that, I liked the plot, I liked the characters. It's a cute little story but nothing really extraordinary happens in this book. But i had a nice and fun time reading it and that's why I will give this one a 4 stars out of 5!

Another stunning book from Annette Hannah. Set in Bramblewood again, it is full of festive warmth and emotion. Annette's books get better and better.

A lovely easy read book. Its part of a series but I read it as a standalone. Many thanks to the publisher for the ebook

Poppy has moved to Bramblewood.

It was a real pleasure to return to Bramblewood with Poppy and catch a glimpse of some characters and settings I am becoming familiar with. However, Poppy’s Christmas Wishes needs no prior knowledge of Annette Hannah’s books and is a stand alone helping of total festive joy. There’s a real warmth and genuineness in Annette Hannah’s writing that makes Poppy’s Christmas Wishes a lovely book to curl up with – even when Poppy’s life isn’t going according to plan!

I loved the plot here. There’s a naturalness to events so that even the most dramatic moments feel authentic and Annette Hannah has a real talent for presenting really well-balanced humour and emotion so that I laughed aloud and found a moistness in my eye as I read. Poppy’s Christmas Wishes left me feeling uplifted and satisfied as I finished the book. That’s not to say that it doesn’t have depth too. Without spoiling the plot I will say that there are some profound emotional challenges for some of the characters and an exploration of workplace harassment from Brian adds an extra dimension to the read that is hugely satisfying. There are some really unexpected moments in the story that I found just wonderful.

The characters feel so true to life. I loved Poppy and Gabe from the moment I met them and I desperately wanted them to be together and have a happy ever after ending, but you’ll need to read Poppy’s Christmas Wishes to see what the outcome is! I thoroughly appreciated the way sexual preference is woven so effortlessly into the story. There’s no moralising or heavy handedness, but rather a gentle understanding of people. I think it is this humanity and sensitivity towards human emotion that makes Annette Hannah’s writing so appealing. Even as she entertains her readers and brings them happiness, she doesn’t shy away from her characters’ flaws, poor choices or inappropriate behaviours so that Poppy’s Christmas Wishes provides a glimpse into the real world of real people.

However, what I enjoyed most about Poppy’s Christmas Wishes was the sheer festive fun of it. A trip to New York, amateur dramatics, romance, wishes and, oh my goodness, the glorious food that is becoming one of this author’s trademarks, make Poppy’s Christmas Wishes sheer escapist fun. Poppy’s Christmas Wishes fizzes with entertainment and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

DNF @ 15%

I don’t normally DNF books. The vast majority of the time, I can find something that makes me keen to carry on reading. Or at least if not keen, something to get me through whatever makes me feel like putting it down. Not so with this book. Already by 15% there was too much I really didn’t like. Poppy is extremely naïve. She moves across the country because of her boyfriend’s job, but after moving and transferring office she discovers, nope, he’s taken a different job in the same company that means staying in their original office. Okay. That is A LOT of lengths to go to in order to dump someone. Poppy attends the work’s Christmas party, where it’s set up like an office party but there are other groups there, which considering the size Poppy’s office is indicated to be is, well, surprising. Suddenly we were in one place then outside then Poppy starts flirting with a guy dressed as a genie, except she’s not flirting, or doesn’t think she’s flirting, but she’s definitely flirting, and the guy offers to help her Christmas wishes come true.

This is where the core part of premise comes into play, and I couldn’t make it past this scene. The dialogue was poor, the formatting make it difficult to read anyway and the writing was meh at best. I just didn’t care for any of the characters introduced. Others might enjoy this more, but this was one time I really didn’t want to push through.

My thanks to Rhea of Orion Dash for the tour invite. Having enjoyed the previous book by Annette, The Cosy Little Cupcake Van (also with an author Guest Post) I had no hesitation in saying yes please. I had already pre-ordered this one, I was so sure that I would enjoy it. As well as a review, I also have an extract below.

Mainly set in the beautiful historic market town of Bramblewood, Poppy moves 200 miles away from her Liverpool home and job to be with her boyfriend with whom she is expecting to make her life. Sadly for her she finds herself on her own in a new job with some people who make her life a misery. The only light she has to look forward to is when her best friend Layla comes to visit for Christmas. When they attend Poppy’s firm’s Christmas ball, they come across genie actor Gabe (her GBF) – a meeting which will be life-changing for both of them.

Of course love and relationships never run smoothly and there are misunderstandings and complications but Poppy’s Christmas Wishes is a wonderfully uplifting story of how the love and support of friends can make a world of difference in picking you up from rock bottom and how important self belief and confidence are to make changes. There are many engaging characters here, one or two you might possibly think are a little too perfect…whilst others are worthy of all the curses (I’m looking at one in particular, well two if you include Poppy’s colleague, the obnoxious Burger Breath Brian) but they all blend together well and most are people that you would love to be friends with in real life.

I love Annette’s writing – it has emotion and warmth with the main characters being superbly drawn. Aside from Poppy who I loved (even if I was frustrated at times with her choice in men), Gabe was an absolute star – I think everyone should have a Gabe in their life. Even the supporting characters had their own distinct personality and created their own dramas. The author certainly knows how to leave a reader wanting more, with cliffhanger chapters.

Anyone who loves amateur dramatics will find much to enjoy here – and the food! Reading Annette’s books always makes me feel hungry!

With drama, romance and humour, this was such an enjoyable read and one to cosy up with in the lead up to Christmas. It has a definite feel good vibe and a lovely story to match that gorgeous cover.

I always look forward to reading Annette's books, having known her for a few years now as a fellow book blogger, and am so proud of her following her dreams in becoming a fully fledged author!

This is her third book set in the delightful village of Bramblewood, but it can be read as a standalone novel.

Poppy has been uprooted from friends and family from Liverpool to supposedly follow the love of her life down South. She has to start off her new life waiting for Ed as her new job starts, and there's a bit of a shock for her when she discovers he may not be joining her after all...

Then she meets hot Italian Marco, and her new GBF Gabe. But what does GBF stand for...?

She instantly clicks with Gabe, who is performing as the Genie in his new play, and a wonderful friendship is formed as they share their dreams with each other.

Gabe is just what Poppy needs right now; he encourages her to build her self-confidence, and she quickly establishes herself in the village with her new business, Poppy's Posh Pannier, delivering delicious healthy lunches. She just needs Ed to realise what he's missing and come back to her... or does she?

It's a wonderful story of the importance of friendships, self-worth and love. Annette writes with warmth and gentle humour, and her descriptions of the setting and the characters make me want to move there myself!

Poppy's Christmas Wishes is simply a joy to read.

The first thing that delighted me about this book was that we were back in the gorgeous market town of Bramblewood – after my visits with the last two books, I’ve become quite attached to it and think it’s somewhere I’d rather enjoy living too. It was so lovely, in this book, to bump into old friends from time to time – only small cameos, but something I always enjoy. But if this is your first visit, you’ll soon feel at home there too – which is more than can be said for Poppy who moved across the country to find her hopes of a happy future with the man of her dreams really cruelly dashed. She’s heartbroken and lonely, and really not that happy at work either – she makes a few friends, but the influential Britt is openly hostile, and Burger Breath Brian begins to make her life unbearable with his constant harassment.

But things become rather better when BFF Layla comes to stay – and better still when Poppy attends the office Christmas party and finds a new and rather special GBF (definitely open to interpretation!) in Gabe. His support makes her considerably braver and open to the idea of a fresh start, turning a small idea into a big opportunity and turning it into an unqualified success (I really enjoyed that whole story thread – go Poppy!). She surely wouldn’t turn her back on all that and return to the man who broke her heart, would she? And his friendship with Poppy opens up new opportunities for Gabe too – with a far larger stage than as the Christmas genie with the Bramblewood Amateur Dramatic Society.

There’s something I really enjoy about the author’s writing – it had a fluency and confidence from her very first book, and she just gets better and better. The whole book radiates warmth – with a cast of characters you take to your heart through all their highs and lows, the loveliest focus on friendship and support, and a light humour throughout that matched my tastes perfectly. And it is, of course, gloriously festive and Christmassy too – from that lovely moment captured on the book’s gorgeous cover – filled with well-handled emotional content. The story didn’t take quite the route I expected to the hoped-for happy ending, and things do get just a little complicated: but while I might have preferred a more conventional path, I certainly have no complaints. This book is sheer entertainment from beginning to end – a joy to read, and a book I’d most certainly recommend.

Poppy's Christmas wishes by Annette Hannah.
For the first time she can remember, Poppy is dreading Christmas. Unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend after moving across the country for him, there's nothing cheery about the festive season this year.
A beautifully written book. I loved it. 5*.

I couldn’t finish it. The main character and her best friend acted like 15 year olds and annoyed me a huge amount.

I received an ARC of Poppy's Christmas Wishes by, Annette Hannah. This book started off good then it just dragged on. Poppy and Gabe dragged on.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Poppy isn’t looking forward to Christmas, in fact she’s dreading it. Thinking that she and her boyfriend Ed were going to happy together, she moved from her friends, the people she loved to be with him, only for Ed to break up with her last year.

Her friend Layla, makes her go with her to a Christmas ball, and there she meets Gabe, a genie in a play. As they chat, he asks her for three wishes, after which she’d be happy. Poppy says, a job she’s happy doing as she hates her current one, to do something extraordinary and to have someone love her.

Poppy also asks Gabe the same, and together they decide to make their wishes/dreams come true. Ticking off each of their wish, the friendship between them grows. Until things start to get complicated.

Soon, they realise that what you would like for Christmas, isn’t what you want…….

I was thrilled when I discovered that Annette Hannah was publishing a third book set in the gorgeous Market Town of Bramblewood. I’d thoroughly enjoyed my two previous visits, so I was confident that this would be another wonderful story. I wasn’t disappointed.
The opening chapters see our heroine, Poppy, receive heart-breaking treatment from her boyfriend. It was almost impossible to imagine such a devastating trick, when he knew how much she’d given up for him. Although determined to wallow in self-pity, Poppy joins her friend, Layla, to a Christmas Ball. This is where she meets the gorgeous Gabe. Although I’m very happily married, I would adore to have a Gabe in my life. Everything about him is the stuff of fantasy and just what a broken heart needs in order to mend.
The idea of a genie granting 3 wishes is not new, but in this story, the genie is also granted 3 wishes! Poppy and Gabe then make a pact, to make sure that each other’s wishes come true. Of course, they naturally become closer and that’s when the fun starts.
Poppy is the kind of person that I would want as a friend. Maybe not the fitness part, I’d definitely struggle, but her kindness and loyalty are exactly my life rules. Poppy’s relationship with her best friend is wonderful, when they are together, they are completely unstoppable.
Of course, there’s mentions of the other residents of Bramblewood, and it was fun to catch up with them. The friends and extended families made for a wealth of characters, especially once you included the folks from BADS (Bramblewood Amateur Dramatic Society)
I certainly hope that Annette Hannah isn’t done with this series, as I want to go back already. Poppy’s Christmas Wishes can be read as a standalone, but then you must read the previous books too.

I love a good festive story but I have to be honest, this wasn't my favourite.

It was ok, readable but I didn't get the feels.

Felt as though the writer perhaps was undecided in the direction they wanted to take the story and because of that it seemed as though it dragged a little.

This is one that I think would have worked better as a novella rather than a full novel.