I truly adored the first books in this series, but all the same this could easily be read as a standalone, as the author gives the reader all the information needed to catch up.
Once again, its the perfect read to launch you into your Christmas TBR pile! It gives all the festive feels while exploring friendships and relationships.
What I really loved about this book, is that it tackled very real life events, Merry is venturing into motherhood, and her friend Nell would really love to become a mum. I was intrigued to see where these life changes would take their friendship.
Again, a heart-warming, but realistic read, the characters feel like they could jump off the pages and are relatable, this totally engrosses you in the story.

It was good to catch up with Merry and Cole in this latest book and especially as Merry is now expecting a baby. The accompanying characters all added to the drama. My favourite character was Olek. What a lovely man. I did feel that for a Christmas book there was an unusual amount of sadness and dark storylines covering dementia, infertility, bereavement and best friends at loggerheads. It did create drama, though, and kept me glued to the story to see the outcome and it did become more Christmassy and even quite touching by the end which elicited a tear or two. I just would have liked a few more lighter moments or humour to balance out the sadness. All in all though another excellent book by an author who always guarantees a great read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this book loved the characters and who doesn’t live a Christmas book

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley

How lovely to be back with Merry and Cole. What a lot happening, I’m not sure how Merry kept her blood pressure down when I could feel mine soaring with all the stress she was going through.

It also has to said that the sub story with Nell and Olek was just as heart wrenching. And I must admit to having such a soft spot for Olek.

I loved how family was the main theme and how you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Family is defined differently by everyone and I really liked how it was defined here. Family is more than blood and DNA, it’s love and commitment.

A simply beautiful read, full of so much Christmas magic. I really hope we get to look in on them again soon.

Merry is happily pregnant while her colleague and friend Nell is struggling. Filled with drama and emotion. This is a wonderful book about women and our friendship.

Merry is back and this time she is set to take on her biggest adventure. …. Motherhood but she is secretly terrified and tries to do too much. Nell is equally going through her own issues which sets the women at loggerheads when they need each other the most. With a snowy backdrop there are all the makings for a lovely Christmas, Cathy Bramley deals with quite a few difficult subjects with ease having first hand knowledge of dementia she captures it beautifully and had me in tears with similar memories.

I adored this book. It had lots of ingredients that I love, friendships, love, candles and of course Christmas!
This book gave insights to the strains of friendship during pregnancy and trying for a baby. The hurdles that each friend went to and how how it altered their friendship. It was well written and I have to admit I was rooting for Nell, even when she gave Merry a piece of her mind. It was interesting to see how the characters dealt with their feelings and how they manifested them towards others and each other.
This is a book that you can curl up with on a dreary afternoon and feel warm and snug when reading it.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

This is the third book in the trilogy and was lovely to be back in the market town of weatherly again. It could be read as a standalone but I recommend starting them from the beginning for the full enjoyment and back ground of the characters. This was so much more than a Christmas read as covered a lot of hard hitting issues surrounding pregnancy and infertility which were done in a very sensitive and heartfelt way and was a rollercoaster of a read that took the reader on a journey through Nell and Merry’s friendship, sadness and heartbreak and then onto some heartwarming moments.

An engaging read with relatable characters set against the backdrop of a beautiful setting.

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

We are back in Wetherley. Merry is pregnant, and is nearing motherhood, this is something that she’s dreamed about. But, she’s also scared, and finds it hard to tell her husband and best friend how she’s feeling.

Nell is Nell also wants to have a baby, but when she finds out about a secret that’s been kept hidden, that threatens to put distances between her and those she loves. Having Jo one to confide in and the festive season approaching, tensions are high.

I liked the characters, the story had you feeling all emotions.

I recommend this book.

A great return to Nerry and Bright. This was a really festive read but also quite a difficult, perhaps even harrowing for some, read. It was a great read but perhaps a little triggering for some.

I just loved this book it was so Christmassy. It has amazing characters and it’s a cracking story of the ups and downs in all relationships, ie friendships and marriages that is so heartwarming and heartbreaking but it makes you realise that if you are honest with each other then you will be there and you will always have someone to rely on. It is such a good read that once you start reading it’s very hard to put down.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a heartwarming and heartbreaking Christmas story with amazing characters.

I would like to thank Orion and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

Cathy Bramley is a fab author & I had to read this books as soon as I knew it was out!
It did not disappoint me.
I absolutely loved it!

I was so excited to receive the third instalment in the Merry series and it definitely didn't disappoint. The perfect Christmas read as expected from Cathy Bramley.

A gorgeous return to Merry and Bright during the festive period. This book isn't afraid to tackle difficult issues and still remain a cosy read - loved it.

I do look forward to a Cathy book and this is the third in the "Merry" books, I am not sure what happened with this one, it was very doom and gloom, I know the subject matter did warrant a certain amount, but this just seemed to go on a long time, the "misunderstandings" were also very long and it was only toward the end that we had the festive feel.

I feel it's important to start my review with trigger warnings as this book does contain references to pregnancy, fertility issues and pregnancy loss, which I know from my own experience can be not the content that some people are comfortable with just encountering in a book, especially a festive read.
This is no criticism of Cathy Bramley's writing at all, the book is great, it hooks you in and is full of drama, conflict and a really honest and gritty look at friendship, relationships and parenting, I just feel personally that I want my Christmas books on the lighter, escapist, side of life. It was a great follow up to how life is now treating Merry, Emily and their loved ones after the first book, though you can absolutely read this as a standalone book as it does fill in the plot.
Overall if you want a dramatic and quite harrowing at times book to get stuck into then this is a great read, however if it's uplifting, festive joy and light humour that you prefer in your Christmas books then perhaps this isn't the one for you this time.

A lovely festive sequel!! Great characters dealing with some hard issues but with a lovely feel-good ending.

The third in a trilogy of tales about Merry, this can be read as a trilogy of books or stand alone one off, either way it’s hugely enjoyable and heartwarming.
In the market town of Wetherly Merry and her best friend Nell are preparing for the upcoming festive season with their loved ones.
Merry is expecting her first child but is riddled with doubts and worries, her family history and experience affecting her joy.
Nell has been longing for the gift of a child but it’s not to be, has she lost her chance to be a mother?! She becomes entangled in a web of secrets with no-one to share. Is protecting her love the right way?
A gorgeous comforting festive feel good story, full of hope and resolution, love, respect, loyalty and more , through emotional fall outs, heartbreak and the ensuing chaos of Christmas.
Fabulous characters everywhere and as always with a Cathy Bramley book, beautifully and sensitively written. This is a roller coaster of smiles, sadness heartbreak and real life!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion for the opportunity to read early! A true joy!

Exactly as I'd expect a Cathy Bramley Christmas novel to be. Love, friendship and family. Some sad parts and tensions, but a lovely read

Cathy Bramley is one of my favourite authors and I recognised the characters of Merry and Nell straight away.
Now they are both married to their dream men, we join them as babies become the centre of their world.
Merry is pregnant and Nell is trying to get pregnant. Very quickly small arguments and lies escalate into broken friendships and marital disharmony.
I loved revisiting the characters in this book and the storyline, although not always moonlight and roses, was heartwarming and festive.
A must read if you love a good festive book.