Home for Christmas by Heidi Swain a NetGalley review. Bella is Christmas obsessed living in Wynbridge in the house she inherited from her grandparents, whose Christmas traditions she continues. However Bella closes her heart off to love following her father and step dad leaving. Bella is happy and contented with life or so she thinks!
I am a huge fan of this author and couldn’t wait to read this book, but I will be honest that even though I enjoy the book, for me it wasn’t her best. It was great to be reintroduced to familiar characters and Wynthorpe and the setting gave me the Christmas feels. It felt on more than one occasion like I had read this book before (which I obviously hadn’t), parts feeling over familiar if that makes sense and although when I picked this book I expected it to be predictable it was a bit to predictable for me, no small twists or turns or surprises. Having said all that it is without a doubt a delightful festive read that will make you smile and I did get behind Bella’s character. Bella is head strong and independent, her ever expanding business ‘away with the Fairies’ sounds like something I would buy and such a wonderful idea on the authors part and it’s these little touches and eye for detail that makes this book a good read and show cases the authors talents for writing. Bella also has a vulnerable side which is endearing and she has the kindest heart often putting herself before others. Even though I don’t necessarily think this is the authors best book, as a fan there’s no denying that it’s a must for any TBR pile for new readers of this authors or already fans of @heidi_swain and will definitely get you in the Christmas spirit. I will be recommending this to family and friends and it’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me 📚📚

I absolutely loved this book. Its so Christmasy and gets you all excited for the festive season. The characters are literally the best I love them so much!

This is a book that will definitely be number 1 this Christmas on the charts.

First of all can we please just have a round of applause for the gorgeousness of the cover, the paperback has shiny gold lettering and I guarantee would bring so much joy to anyone unwrapping this as a present on Christmas morning. Home for Christmas is the sixth of Heidi's books set in Wynbridge and I was excited to head back there for this Christmassy delight.

Bella loves everything about Christmas and every year she follows her family's tradition by starting the preparations on the first of December, each day she has a specific task to do whether it be decorating the whole house with festive fayre, (yes the whole house, even the bathroom) or making mince pies and sausage rolls. She is a creature of habit and is happy to carry on the ways of her grandparents keeping their memory alive as her house belonged to them before they both passed.

When she's asked by her friends Catherine and Angus if she will put up a lodger who is writing a book for them about the history of Wynthorpe Hall, she is reluctant but feels they've been so kind to her over the years so eventually agrees. Expecting an older gent to turn up she is more than a little excited to see a gorgeous hunk of a man appear on her doorstep by the name of Jude. The only thing is she quickly finds out he hates Christmas. Whilst Bella and Jude don't exactly hit it off at first, Jude is immediately enamoured by Bella's gorgeous little spaniel called Tink and I just know you will fall in love with her too.

Jude's dislike of anything remotely Christmassy creates an awkward situation for Bella who feels that she can't express herself properly in her own house which is very soon taken over by the mounds of paperwork involved in researching Wynthorpe Hall. She has to keep reminding herself that it's only temporary but as the time draws near for him to leave she begins to get to understand him a bit better and wants to get to know him more.

Jude turned out to make Scrooge look like Santa himself such was his dislike of the festive period and anything to do with it and Bella makes it her business to find out why.

I loved the little business that Bella worked very hard at, it was called Away with the Fairies, Bella made fairies and also dressed like one when she went to fairs etc to sell them. It was such a quirky idea for a business which sounded like hard work but satisfying and fun, I could just imagine how cute the fairies were and Bella gets a lovely request about her fairies which was amazing.

Home for Christmas is literally everything about Christmas all wrapped up in a book, the sort of story you need to read curled up in front of the fire when the weather is freezing outside as it is guaranteed to warm your heart.

Heading back to Wynbridge was lovely to see how lots of Heidi's previous characters were getting on, including Holly and Bear and the staff at The Cherry Tree Cafe which was the author's first book.

Fabulously festive and fun, you will struggle to find anything more Christmassy than this uplifting read from one of my favourite authors, Heidi Swain.

Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to Heidi Swain, @netgalley and @simonschusteruk for giving me the opportunity to read my first arc book.

I am a huge fan of Heidi Swain and have read all of her published books, this means I now wait for each new title with baited breath. In this book, we're back in Wynbridge and at Christmas time no less. This automatically means that I have high expectations and I'm pleased to say that Home for Christmas does not disappoint.

The thing I love most about Heidi's books is you always know there will be a happy ending. The joy of each book is following the characters' journeys to get there and the hurdles they have to overcome along the way. Generally, in the Wynbridge series, the love affair is between two new comers to the little fenland town but alongside this, you have the wonderful mainstay characters of the eccentric Connelly family of Wynthorpe Hall, the lovely ladies of the Cherry Tree Café and landlord and landlady of the Mermaid pub.

In Home For Christmas, not only do we have the two new characters staying in the town, Jude and Bella, let's not forget Bella's little doggo Tink. In fact, Tink features quite prominently in this book, will be appealing to other animal lovers like myself. Particularly since she is well loved little pooch and plays a substantial role in the two characters coming together in the end.

I know I haven't spoiled anything by writing what I have, as I have already said, happily ever after is expected, it's the twists and turns along the way that we're here for.

In short, if you are a fan of Heidi's books already, you will love this. And, if you are not a fan of Heidi's already, you must have a heart of stone to not enjoy this festive love story.

#heidiswainauthor #heidiswainbooks #netgalley #simonshusteruk #arc #bookreview #HomeForChristmas #wynbridge #ebook

Oh ladies and gentlemen, she’s done it again… I swear every time I read a book by Heidi I think it’s the best one yet, and that hasn’t stopped with this one. Especially as we’re back at Wynnthorpe Hall which I think has to be my favourite book setting of all.

All of our old favourite characters stay with us in this but we also have a few newbies, Bella and Jude (not forgetting Tinks 🐾) are the focus of Home for Christmas but then we also have Jeanie and Tim who play a secondary role.

I really loved Bella’s enthusiasm for Christmas and it was a shame to see this dampened at times - and Jude’s massive dislike of Christmas! But, that doesn’t stop the festive feeling from flowing through the pages and you can’t wait for the Wynnbridge magic to strike!

Get ready to cosy up with a mug of hot chocolate, some festive baked goods (mince pies, spice biscuits, maybe even a glass of mulled wine too) and get ready to be wrapped up in a book that will hug you right back.

I could wax lyrical about the book but it’s just a Christmas indulgence - if you’ve read any of Heidi’s books before you’ll know what I mean, Christmas isn’t Christmas without a Heidi book (and yes, I know it’s only October but shh).

These novels work wonderfully as stand alone novels, but there is something magical meeting main characters from previous novels getting little updates as you move theough the Wynbridge series.

I need to be honest and confess I am a complete Heidi Swain fan and the novels bring me an incredible amount of joy. So I realise this may appear a bit much to others; but I feel like crying happy tears when I melt into another Wynbridge novel, especially at Christmas time. I even got a bonus Halloween start to the story, perfect timing or what??

It's easy to assume we know what's going to happen, because we do know, in essence, what's going to happen, but..... But the journey is just so magical. This is my favourite of the Christmas Wynbridge books, the festivities are ramped up to the full, thanks to our Christmas loving protagonist, Bella.

I loved it with my whole jingle bell loving heart, rerurning to Wynbridge, certainly was like coming home for Christmas.

I love Heidi Swain, and have read every single one of her books with relish. However, this one just felt like it didn't hit the usual mark for me.

Whilst I was beyond thrilled to be returning to Wynbridge and Wynthorpe Hall (my favourite setting of all the series), and the pages were filled with Swain's usual delicious descriptions that envelope the reader in Christmas cosiness, this time the main protagonists were not for me.

Both Bella and Jude sadly grated on me, and I was happiest when some of the earlier characters such as the Connelly's were on the page with them. I especially liked the short cameo appearance from Chris and Steve in the market square!

All in all, it was a good book, and an easy festive read for the holiday season. It just wasn't up there with the previous titles for me.

Absolutely loved this book, Five star plus from me. Set in Wynbridge, a location used many times by Heidi with cameo parts from people from other books.
A standalone book definitely , but also part of the Wynbridge series of books. If you enjoy this book as much as I did you will have plenty of other books to catch up on.
Bella, Jude and Tink the dogs story this time and the community of Wynbridge.
A lovely wintry read, full of Christmas cheer or not in the case of Jude!
Beautifully written characters which come alive to the reader, great storyline, a book I didn’t want to finish
The perfect Christmas read
Highly Recommended
Thank you to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster , and Heidi Swain for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

I was hooked from the first page, loved the individual stories of Jude and Bella and their relationship. I love revisiting the fabulous wynbridge winter wonderland and I definitely want to try one of Bellas fairy making kits. A book that makes you smile and get into festive mood another fabulous read from the lovely Heidi Swain.

I love my Christmas visits to Wynbridge knowing there will be the Christmas tree auction and the family day at Wynthorpe Hall. Bella loves Christmas and has a set timetable for events but when she does Catherine Connelly a favour things change with the arrival of Jude (who hates Christmas)!!. Can Bella show him why her Christmases are so special and maybe change his opinions.. Heidi Swain books are like a huge loving hug and I always look forward to them knowing I will possible going somewhere familiar.

Another great book from Heidi Swain. It was wonderful to be back in Wynbridge with all the old characters from previous books. I really enjoyed this book, and could not put it down. It was a lovely, cosy book with a will they won't they story at the heart of it and kept me captivated to the end.

Oh, I love visiting Wynbridge, especially at Christmas to catch up with old friends and new and to find out if Bella and Jude manage to get their happy ever after. Bella is Christmas mad and Jude doesn't like the season at all so it was interesting to see how they managed that. Heidi's books are warm and comforting without being too mushy and smutty, a perfect Christmas read

Another cracker of a read from Heidi! And one of those books that should give you the festive feels whatever time of year you read it!

Bella is moving back to her grandparents home, full of happy memories, and to get by she rents out the main part of the house and she lives in the apartment while she runs her own craft business. And when an unexpected offer comes in to rent out the main home again, she finds herself unable to say no as it's helping her friends out, no matter the squeeze it is in the apartment!

Jude is the man moving in as he's got lots of research to do and their initial meeting doesn't get off to the happiest of starts! Especially when it transpires he hates Christmas - the total opposite of Bella who is a Christmas nut!

But the more time they spend together, the more they begin to get along and it's wonderful seeing the friendship change to more, although you sense Bella is a little reluctant to get too serious. Life has a funny way of moving things along and it was so sweet to see how life panned out for them both. A really cosy romance that gave me a warm glow!!

Heidi's books are like a cuddle wrapped up in a comfortable blanket with a nice hot drink. I love that characters from another book were featured. It's fun to spot them. Heidi's book made me feel Christmassy from the get go and. I can't wait to see what she has next

I just loved this book so much that I couldn’t put it down. It’s such a great read that is so heartwarming and it has amazing characters and is so Christmassy with wonderful things happening that I would love to be there.

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

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

Over the last few years, Heidi’s books have been the first Christmas books that I have read every year. This one did not disappoint.. I love how Heidi really manages to capture the festive feeling and makes you want to go to Christmas light displays, Christmas markets… even to Wynbridge.

This was a lovely story with some familiar faces making a comeback. It was lovely to read the sixth festive book set around the lovely community of Wynbridge.. please keep writing these magical Christmas books Heidi, I absolutely love them!

Loved this book! The characters where so fun! I loved the chemistry between Bella and Jude🔥 and I loved little tink too! This book truly got me into my christmas feels! If you love enemies to friends to lovers and close proximity then you will love this book! Loved Heidi's writing❤️

Heidi books are always one to watch out for at Christmas and this was no different. The chemistry between Bella and Jude is hot. With the Christmas as the background it's always time to curl up on the couch and read Heidi's next journey. However this is a sequel in a previous series even if it is a standalone.

A very typical Heidi Swain story. It reminded me a little of my first book of hers, ‘Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells’. I’ve read all but one of her books and enjoy the familiar, easy to follow light-heartedness of her story telling. It seems the perfect book to end on for me and wish her many more books.
A trip to Wynthorpe Hall, the Mermaid Pub, the Cherry Tree Cafe and my most favourite place, Cuckoo Cottage.
We follow Bella and Jude’s stories, who are thrown together by necessity. Jude being a bit of a Christmas hater (Anna anyone?) and Bella being the Christmas theme dream.
Both creative souls with backstories that explain their quirks and blocks. Tink’s being the star of the book, as ever, the path of true love never runs smoothly. It was nice to read familiar people.

You can never go wrong with a Heidi Swan book! I loved the Christmas theme and adorable pet Tink! Also the chemistry between her and Jude was on fire! I couldn’t wait to see how this novel unfolded and I wasn’t disappointed! Such a good close proximity troupe with hate to love and I loved very minute of it!