I was quickly drawn into the many character and their maze of relationships drawn together as the patriarch is on his death bed. Sometimes sad, funny but always true to each character's voice. And then there is surprising sweetness and peace Kelley gives them all

The Winter Street books have been a favourite holiday read over the past few years, and Winter Solstice proves to be the perfect bitter-sweet ending to the series. I've enjoyed the likeable characters in this series, and most of their story lines are nicely wrapped up in this book.

I hadn't read the trilogy, so the Quinn family was new to me and it was quite enjoyable---poignant and bittersweet. The author examines many subjects: veterans returning from war, drug addiction, cancer, but also the joys and tribulations of modern day families and relationships.

What a satisfying conclusion to the Quinn family's story. There is lots of happy and a little sad. This is Bart's story and highlights the trials that soldiers face when returning from war. The Inn is once again bustling as the family returns for one last giant Christmas celebration. Elin Hiderbrand writes a wonderful story and the Quinns were exceptional characters.

Loved this addition to the series. I was immediately thrown back into the lives of the Quinn Family. Glad the author decided to add a fourth book to the original trilogy.

Kelley's brain cancer has advanced, so he has chosen to stop treatment. The disease begins taking over.
As a cancer survivor, I felt these choices.
I savored looking through the eyes of a terminal patient at life and priorities.

I enjoyed catching up with the entire family. Living through the eyes of Bart, Eddie, Ava, Jennifer, and Margaret
from Halloween through the Holidays. Seeing how they are dealing with new challenges, and revisit old ones.

From one Breast Cancer Survivor to another, thank you for an truly enjoyable holiday book.
Thank you for another Winter Street Book! I enjoy these books and this family!!
I highly recommend!!

A trilogy with a fourth book! The Quinn family gathers for a bittersweet Christmas at the inn. Bart is back from Afghanistan, Kevin and Isabelle are happily married, Patrick is getting his life back together, Jennifer's design business is taking off, Ava is happy with Porter in New York. Eddie and Grace Pancik and their daughter, Allegra, from The Rumor also appear in this one. A totally satisfying conclusion to the Winter Street trilogy, although I would love to have them all back again!

A family saga that will have you laughing and crying. Much enjoyed

Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand is the 4th novel in what was supposed to be the Winter Street trilogy. I love that the author felt compelled to continue further with the series than she had originally planned. It was nice to catch up with the Quinn family again. I can only hope that there might be a 5th novel a few years down the line that will allow us to continue to read about how their lives have grown and developed. In this book the Quinn patriarch, Kelley, is dealing with his terminal brain cancer diagnosis. This leaves the rest of the Quinn family to contemplate how his loss will effect their lives. Read and enjoy another Quinn novel.

I read this entire book in three days as I was desperate to finish the series. *spoiler alert* I cried absolutely loads at the end. This was another beautifully written book from Elin, who really breathed life into the Quinn family characters. It was the perfect Christmas/summer read but Elin manages to write in a sentimental way without making it too cloying. Highly, highly recommended! Perhaps she can add another volume to this 'trilogy' and we can see what happens to Bart and Allegra, Jennifer with her new adventures and Ava and Potter?

I am very sad that this is the last book in this series. I have enjoyed each book from start to finish and I am not committed to visiting Nantucket!! Ms. Hilderbrand has again written a story which has lively characters and believable plot lines. Her irony in the story having George buy the inn was brilliant! I really enjoyed how she wrapped up many characters storylines. It was a fitting end to a remarkable series of books.

Grab a glass of wine, a box of tissues and settle in for what can only be described as a bittersweet goodbye to the Quinn family. Knowing this was the last time I would get to walk through the doors of the Winter Street Inn and see it decked out for the holiday season—with Mitzi’s infamous nutcracker collection on display, her obnoxious assortment of Byers' Choice carolers screaming to be rearranged and the glass jar filled with the colorful ribbon candies that always look better than they taste—forced me into somewhat of a melancholy mindset. Equal parts sad and elated, I found myself torn between having to let this family go and being grateful that we were given a fourth book in what was initially laid out as a trilogy.

Over the course of the last three holiday season, I’ve become attached to this family and their antics—meaning several rereads have ensued, which is rare for me—can you blame me though? Easy to adore, relatable and downright entertaining, the Quinn family managed to turn this holiday story avoider into an admirer. The mere thought of suffering through what I assumed most holiday stories were—corny, overly cheerful and rife with miracle laden plot lines—kept me running in the opposite direction; until the Quinn's that is. I guess I should've known, if anyone could make me appreciate a holiday story, it would be Elin Hilderbrand and the engaging relationship dynamics she delivers, sans the corny clichés.

The biggest message I took away from this farewell—the only constant in life is change. No matter how hard we try to cling to what we have or plant our feet in refusal, change is inevitable . . . for all of us.

With the winter solstice approaching, almost everyone in the Quinn family, and the few new additions to the storyline (Remember “Fast Eddie” from The Rumor?! Well, he's back!), find themselves in some form of unrest—on the precipice of making a life altering decision or forging a new path.

While there wasn’t a character I didn’t enjoy catching up with—okay, except for Nathaniel, did he really deserve a cameo?!—Bart stole the show. Getting to see life through his eyes was worth all of the emotional turmoil his absence inflicted on the family over the course of the trilogy. I found myself completely smitten and giddy with the possibilities of what was to come for him and with who.

Although the ending wasn’t exactly spelled out for everyone—think of a movie scene fading to black—Elin Hilderbrand closes the chapter on the Quinn family in a heartfelt and very emotional way. Be warned, tears are pretty much inevitable.

“I never thought it would end.”

The absolute most perfect send off to a family I've grown quite fond of since I was first introduced to them in Winter Street in 2014. 💛💛. I personally felt a kindred connection to Ava over the four novels and given that I am now a 30 year old single woman in New York, I especially appreciated the end of her journey. It was lovely to finally see Bart's perspective and see how he changed, considering we only heard about his prior life and horrors in the first three. I always love to see characters pop up from other novels, so it was a delight to witness the redemption of "Fast Eddie" and his panama hats, check in on Benton Coe & as always a little nod to Ed Kapenash, from my favorite Elin book, The Castaways.

Winter Solstice picks up where Winter Storms left off. Ava is happily teaching in NYC and enjoying her relationship with Potter, Bart is readjusting to life after his time held as a United States Marine in captivity, Jen and Patrick are getting their lives back on track after prison and addiction, Margaret is closing in on her retirement from the television network and looking ahead, Mitzi is back at the Inn with Kelly, and Isabelle and Kevin are happily married with two small children. However, as we learned at the end of the third novel, Kelly’s health is not good and his condition is rapidly deteriorating. This becomes even more obvious from the opening pages of Winter Solstice and raises an important question for each of the characters – how do you say goodbye and how do you honor a man as incredible and unforgettable as Kelly?

Elin Hilderbrand is well-known for bringing characters from previous novels into new books but – before Winter Solstice – the Winter series seemed to do a bit less of this. However, early on in this newest book, “Fast Eddie” Pancik and his family (from The Rumor) become part of the story. Though at first it seemed unexpected, ultimately intertwining the two stories creates great material for this novel. The characters are relatable, they are likable and their interactions drive the storyline. There are also clearly common issues and themes that resonate for both families – hope, forgiveness, second chances and, most importantly, love,

Fans of Elin’s work will definitely enjoy Winter Solstice. The end of the Winter series will make you laugh out loud and also bring you to tears. However, when the book ends, you can’t help but have a renewed sense of appreciation for love, community, family, and friendship.

I absolutely loved this book and the story it had to tell! This is actually the 1st book in the series that I had read and I still felt like I was a part of the Quinn family. I loved living through each of their lives and feeling like I was right there with them. I will definitely be checking out the other books now!!

I loved this fourth book in he series. I liked how it was a double sequel to The Rumor and the Winter Street series. I really love the Quinn’s and will miss them. Thanks to Netgalley for granting me an ARC of this book. I am glad Bart found his soul mate. I also liked the other happy endings. I hate that Kelly passed away.

The fourth book in the Winter Trilogy is as every bit as good as the firs three, although since this really does seem to be in the end of the Quinn family saga it is more than bittersweet. Patrick and Jennifer finally work things out; Kevin and Isabelle are doing well, Bart finally gets his act together, and Kelley and Mitzi wonder if it is time to sell the inn. The story is warm comforting tinged with a bit of nostalgia but it is a wonderful homage to family and, of course, Nantucket.

What a fitting end to a great Winter series! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book from NetGalley. I love Elin's books but the last couple of summer ones have left me lukewarm; the characters were incredibly unlikeable. The Winter series on the other hand, is a delight. All of the characters' stories seem to have been wrapped up in this one except for Kevin and Isabelle who seem to be a non-factor throughout. Except for Isabelle and Jennifer; that storyline was sort of left open but I thought Jennifer dealt with Isabelle a lot better than I would've. A little bit of the end felt rushed but that didn't take away from my enjoying every last word. I am sad that our time at the inn but I feel like it's been wrapped up in the best possible way! Highly recommend!

Elin Hilderbrand never fails to disappoint - except this is the last book in the Winter Street series - so sad to see the Quinns family saga end. She does a great job wrapping up the series. KUDOS!

Winter Solstice
Elin Hilderbrand
Available: October 3, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley.com for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A trilogy that turned into a quad – Christmasy Nantuckety Fluff. Nothing of real substance – but in the author’s defense it IS a novella AND she had to whip it up pretty darn quickly so kudos for integrating a few other Nantucket characters (why hasn’t she done this before???), making me shed a tear
What I loved: Its all wrapped up in a Christmas bow. Time to move on – hints are in the book as well as if you read the Q&A with the author at the end. If you’ve read all of her books – its kind of earthshattering!
What I didn’t love: Kevin’s wife Isabelle has never been my favorite (perhaps because we’ve never been inside of her head?) and I think she’s secretly jealous of the entire Quinn family because larger families can require more time and attention.
What I learned: Maybe its time to take a little break from New England and head somewhere warmer.
Overall Grade: B

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