This is a perfect, feel-good, cosy up with the fire and Christmas tree lit behind you kind of book. Perfect Christmas read, simple and easy! This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no large gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book therefore a star is lost for this.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

OMG I absolutely loved this book, it made me smile, laugh and cry. I was so invested in their stories.

The book is about two young women who don't know each other, but whose lives intertwine.

Merrily is an entrepreneur, who runs her own Candle business. She is engaged to be married and going to be a step-mother to Cole's two children. It is all she has ever wanted is a family of her own, as she never knew her father and her mother died when she was 11.

Emily is in a relationship but it's not going well as she always puts her dad Ray first. He has dementia and as she is an only child and her parents split many years ago, she is the only person to help him. She is stuck in a job she likes but doesn't really want to do but it is good working hours to look after her dad. Would putting him in a residential home be the best thing for him ? And what secrets is he keeping

As the story unfolds you will be drawn into their lives and feel all the emotions that they do.

I would recommend this beautiful book to everyone ❤️

What a lovely Christmas feel good book. Merry has found true love with Cole and after losing her mum at a young age feels part of a family for the first time. She has no idea who her dad is and grew up in foster care not really feeling that she truly belonged anywhere. Emily is struggling to hold down a job and be the main carer for her dad Ray. The friendships and connections were so well thought out and made this easy to follow and get involved in. I spent the whole time willing things to work out! I don’t want to give too much away except to say that this is just such a lovely, warm book with the added bonus of being set at Christmas. Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

It was lovely to catch up with the characters of Merry and Cole from The Merry Christmas Project, and to follow the next chapter in their lives. The book has the right level of sadness and happiness, and the occasional humour. It was interesting to find the connection between Merry and Emily and to see how it developed throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story which was made even more festive with a beautiful Christmas wedding in the end. A definite choice for your Christmas reading list if you enjoy a festive romance.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Absolutely loved this story and the sentiment it brought. Written in a wholly engaging manner, I couldn't put this down and loved the characters.

A delightful Christmas read.
This follows The Merry Christmas Project.
Merry is now happily in a relationship with Cole but there are a few bumps with his children.
We also follow Emily's story and how she copes with her dad's dementia.
I loved how the girls meet and how their story comes together.
Emily certainly has her work cut out with her dad's dementia but she meets Will who totally gets it unlike her previous boyfriend.
With thanks to Netgalley and Orion for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Another feel good Christmas story from Cathy Bramley. The storyline was a bit predictable but written in such a way that you feel you are being given a big hug!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the advance copy of this book.

A wonderful, feel good Christmas read.
Merry and Cole are out walking with Cole’s two children, it’s trying to snow and Cole goes down on one knee and asks Merry to marry him…. in a few weeks time on Christmas Eve. Merry's mother died when she was 12, and she never knew her father, so she grew up in care, she’s dreamt of the family life she didn’t have, and now she has a chance.
Emily grew up with her mum and sometimes dad, he was often an absent father, but she is very close to her mum. Her dad is now very confused and she has taken over responsibility for looking after him. Her boyfriend dumps her because she puts her dad first, and maybe it’s time for her to think about a care home for him.
Paths cross, stories interweave, I laughed, I cried!
I could really see this as a Christmas romcom film. I loved it.

Ding Dong Merrily On High! What a fantastic Christmas book. I fell in love with this book from seeing the cover for the first time.
Merry is happy and content running her candle business and living life with her partner Cole. Emily is padding along in her life looking after her father Ray who is suffering from dementia, when Emily and Merry meet up they both feel they have an instant connection.
When Emily finds an old photograph in a tin at her dads as they move him to a care home it changes how she lives her life forever.
Fall in love with some of Cathy Bramley wonderful festive characters. I found myself wanting to buy candles from Merrys shop and nuts from Nell’s stall.
Full of magical love and family bonding a beautiful Christmas read full of seasonal cheer.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this wonderful book.

Cathy Bramley’s books are a delight, especially the Christmas ones. This book is a sequel to last years Merry Christmas Project and it was great to catch up with Merry and Cole. Emily, the other main character is struggling to cope with her father’s dementia. The novel is written from the different POVs of Merry and Emily. Their stories made me laugh out loud as well as moving me to tears. I wholeheartedly recommend this Christmas treat.

I have read other novels by Cathy Bramley, but not the prequel to "Merrily Ever After". It didn't matter though as this can be read as a standalone book.

While Merry and Cole seem to lead an idyllic life, Emily is struggling to deal with a full time job and helping to care for her father, whose dementia is becoming more serious. Although this book may be a bit twee and even predictable, it does deal with a number of social issues. Very readable, and of course there's a happy ending.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Comfort For The Soul…
The new festive, feel-good read from Cathy Bramley is sure to warm the cockles of the hardest heart. Strangers, family, secrets and new discoveries combine for a Christmas not to be forgotten and for fresh starts on the horizon. With a cast of well crafted and likeable characters and an endearing, immersive storyline this is a tale told with care and with empathy. Comfort reading for the soul and, of course, for chilly Winter evenings.

Merry & Emily are two strangers who are drawn together by circumstances that happened many years ago.
Emily's dad Ray sufferes from altzheimers, and only child Emily is struggling to look after him and to keep her job as a school secretary. She decides that the only way is to move him into a nursing home. On moving day he keeps asking about a black and red tin that he has, and is really desperate to find it. Emily finds it at his home, and peeks inside to find a photo of herself as a baby, in her dad's arms. On the back it says the words 'Merry first christmas'. This photo triggers a series of events that will change lives forever.
This book is well written and the story line is good. It is a story of tragedy, family and above all, love. I must admit to shedding a few happy tears at the end.
A great feel good story, with a great mix of personalities. Well deserving of it's 5 stars!

This is the second in this series and it doesn't disappoint the characters are so well written that you end up thinking they are friends, it is a book full of surprises, you will laugh and cry and all in a good way, get in the christmas mood with this lovely book.

Love love this book! Such a feel good Christmas book. Its never too early to read Christmas books and this got me really in the mood to continue.

This is the first book that I have read by Cathy Bramley but hopefully it wont be the last. This is a beautiful, heartwarming love story of two women and their partners inextricably joined together.
Merry Shaw is about to be married to the love of her life, Cole Robinson, she had everything that she wanted in life, she had set up a business that she loved "Merry and Bright Candle Shop", she was working flat out to meet demand especially after appearing on a TV shopping channel. Fred, Cole's father was her saviour, he was retired and had offered to help out but was she relying on him too much ?
The biggest fear in Merry's life was that she didn't know how to be a stepmother, although she loved Cole's children, Harley and Freyer, something that Freyer said on a visit to see Santa put Merry in a tailspin.
Emily Meadows had reluctantly given up a job that she loved and moved to Derbyshire to look after her father ,Ray, who had dementia, if she wasn't careful she would lose the job that she has secured at Darley Academy but her fathers demands were increasing and to top it all her boyfriend, Gavin, had dumped her by text.
Emily didn't even want to thing about care homes but she knew that she had to put her father's safety first so with her mothers help and the help of good looking, caring, occupational therapist , Will, Ray was settled into Springwood House Care Home.
This story is built on coincidences, chance meetings etc and I must admit that I did guess the outcome but that didn't detract from my enjoyment, the author has covered some very emotive subjects with sensitivity, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry but it will leave you with a real feelgood factor.

I adored this book! I didn’t realise that it was a sequel but that didn’t matter, it’s good as a stand alone novel too. I found the plot really heartwarming and especially loved Emily as a character, I felt for her so much with the situation with her dad bless her. I was actually sad to finish this book it was like a little ray of sunshine! Gorgeously Christmassy. I highly recommend!

Wonderful classic Cathy Bramley!!!
Such a warm hearted tale, a joy to read, and highly recommended!!
Two young women, two very different lives, and both strong likeable characters.
Merry and Cole are entering a new phase in their relationship, whilst the candle shop and all their wonderful friends and family are still around. Emily is juggling looking after her dad, who is getting more forgetful by the day, and a new job as a school secretary. Can she manage, when her dad goes walk about? The story and lives of these two lovely ladies unfolds beautifully!
Families secrets, true love, creativity, issues for every generation!! Something for everyone!!
Thank you Netgalley for the early read, much appreciated!!

Lovely gentle Christmas read, great characters with a peaceful entertaining plot. Totally recommend Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

This was a wonderful sequel to the Merry Christmas Project, and I enjoyed catching up with Merry and Cole and meeting new characters too. For those who haven't read the earlier book, fear not, for this book can be read, (and works perfectly), as a standalone. Lovely characters, some laugh out loud moments, and some tears made this a delightful read for me. I'd love there to be a follow up to see how Merry and Cole are getting on and to see what the future holds for Emily and Will. Thanks to Cathy for another Christmas cracker and to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC which it was my pleasure to review.