What's not to love about a lifelong friends to lovers book set at Christmas? It sure didn't hurt that Logan was an extremely hot firefighter. This book had a lot going on: dealing with the loss of a parent, an engagement with someone who is clearly the wrong guy, and huge issues at work that keep her busy. I liked that the book wasn't completely Christmas based and they had real life issues to deal with. It kept the tone where it needed to be even dealing with deeper issues. Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had to give up at chapter 14. I found it a hard slog to get into the book and by chapter 14 I still wasn't invested in the characters. Which is a shame because I really liked the sound of it but it just took too long to get anywhere.

A lovely book. An easy read and perfect for a Christmas time curl up. Well worth the effort.
Beth us home trying to save the hospital set up by her deceased mother and all she wants is the rest of her family to be with her at this time.

I picked this book up thinking it was a light Christmas romance. Well, it was a romance, but there was so much more to it than that, including a Christmas miracle. We had some serious issues introduced in the story dealing with lack of proper funding for hospitals, police and fire services which causes hospital closures and people having to travel further for care as well as serious injuries and death of firefighters using faulty equipment. There was also a subplot about contractors not following proper rules and trying to bribe officials to get certified. Add in smoke jumpers and the dangers they face as well as metal and verbal abuse of women and you can see that this story is jam packed. The author did a great job of keeping these stories flowing and they all fit together using the two main characters Logan Mitchell and Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Harding. They were childhood BFFs who were actually in love with one another but neither of them would admit it to each other. There is another subplot about Maria and Michael who are called in to help out at the short staffed hospital. I figured out their story pretty quickly, but I do not want to ruin it for anyone else. It might sound like there is a lot going on, and there is, but it kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. A great Christmas Story.

Dr. Beth Harding is following in her mother's footsteps as she has taken over as administrator of River Dale Hospital. With looming budget problems, Dr. Harding is ordered to close the facility, but her fear of the well-being of her community keeps her from following orders. Dr. Harding has more on her mind, though, as her sister is far away, her relationship with her fiancé is uncertain, and the guy raised as her brother, Logan, is really her secret crush.
This story, placed in small town River Dale in the middle of the Christmas season, is a delightful read that combines romance, mystery, and a little of a Christmas miracle as Dr. Harding and Logan attempt to figure out just who they are. The characters are believable and the reader is drawn into their lives. I'd recommend this book for anyone wanting to read a short, quick holiday story that will leave you feeling upbeat.

A nice christmas book that deals with a good amount of drama, heartbreak and shows a good amount of miracles.

The writing is nice, the characters okay and the overall story itself good.

For me personally it as a bit much.
There is a lot happening in this book.
A woman that lost her parents, her mother just a few months before the book starts, and tries to find her way without them, while also trying to organise the first family christmas without any parents to guide her or her family.

At the same time the woman is a doctor in a hospital that has to fight to stay open, we see a lot of people going into the hospital for treatments throughout the about week the book is set in, clearly showing the necessity of the hospital.

On top of that an old family friend that is a fire fighter -and lots of story moments devoted to his job and his problems as well- shows back up and adds drama and feelings into the mix. She is also engaged to a man in chicago (which to me made NO sense what so ever since they seemed to barely know each other or even like each other that much?) who suddenly pops up for a visit...

Its just a lot.

Its too much for me personally.

I am also not a huge fan of the over the top drama simply to have this "christmas miracle" ending. I know a lot of people love that type of story especially in their christmas stories.

Personally its not my favourite, and since this book did feature that in many different occasions... it was just a bit too much for me

Its still a nicely done book and if you are not (like me) someone that wants just light and fluffy and over the top cuddly christmas stories this one will he PERFECT for you!

I thoughr the book would be a little more exiciting,but the story put me to sleep. The writer tries to incooperate too many streams of conscienceness in the story. The constant changes in characters thinking had me bored,

I received this book through Net Galley for a honest review of the work. I was first drawn to this book by its cover art - whats not to love than a beautiful christmas cover! But the story was just as wonderful! I have never read any books by Bryan Mooney but after reading this one I am sure to try more works by this author. The book is a sweet tender romance set around River Dale, New Hampshire. Dr. Beth Harding is working hard to keep her hospital open where she works as a administrator and is happy to learn her best friend Logan Mitchell is in town for the holidays. This story surrounds doctors and firefighters. It a very enjoyable book to read!

I loved reading this book. An emotional story that grabbed my attention and I didn’t want to put the book down. The story is set during the Christmas season and it has become one of my favorite holiday reads.
Logan comes homes when he finds out his friend was burned while working a fire and he will see his lifelong best friend Beth who he happens to love she just doesn’t know it. Beth is faced with having to close the hospital she runs unless she can come up with 2 million dollars. You get introduce to characters that are emitted to the hospital due to accidents or illnesses.
You will fall in love with the River Dale and the people in that community. A wonderful written story that will leave you wanting more so I highly recommend you read this book.

A Christmas Flower introduces you to Logan Mitchell a smoke jumper based in California and Dr Beth Harding a hospital administrator in River Dale New Hampshire. Childhood friends they are brought back together at Christmas just as they both have so much going on in their lives.
Beth has moved back to River Dale initially to look after her ailing mother who used to run the Hospital. After her death she decided to stay and took over the administrator position. Now that the hospital is being threatened with closure due to funding she is determined to do everything she can to save it, even if it means going against the board. In her professional life Beth is very confident and assured. Not so much in her personal one. She seems quite happy to make life and death decisions when it comes to her patients yet unable to tell the two men in her life exactly how she feels. She has taken on so much responsibility with work and worrying about her younger sister it’s as though she just hopes her personal life will just sort itself out.
Logan risks his life on a daily basis as a smoke jumper however when he returns to River Dale at Christmas to visit with an old firefighter friend who is fighting for his life in hospital he is put straight back into the path of the woman he loves. For a man who seems to have no fear, telling her exactly how he feels just seems to be way too scary for him and he risks losing her to someone else. Its only when his own health comes into question that he really starts to re-asses his life.
I have to admit I didn’t particularly like Beth’s boyfriend. He seemed very self-centred and more concerned with getting Beth to ditch the hospital and start working at the same company as him as a way to advance his own career. In fact the lengths he would appear to go to in order for that to happen would probably have most sane women running in the other direction once they found out his motives.
A Christmas Flower is a charming gentle love story that shows you that even the most organised together people can be insecure and doubt themselves. This is a gentle read that also pays tribute to the risks that the fire service take with their own lives in order to save others.

Some Spoilers below.

On some level, Logan has always been in love with Beth, but it's only since her mother died earlier in the year that he's begun to realise his true feelings. He works out as a fire jumper in California and it gives him the best thrill in his life. When he hears that his old boss has been injured in a blaze, and with the California fire season over, he returns home to check on things. With budget cuts, the local fire brigade is short on staff, so Logan is persuaded to take on some cover. The budget cuts also mean that the accountants plan to close the hospital that Beth's mother set up - and to do it by New Year.

Naturally Beth is upset with this, and with staff shortages, she covers rounds, and realises that she misses the patient contact. Her sister Clare has announced that she wont be home for Christmas, as she will be staying with her boyfriend-of-the-month (roger) who seems to be controlling, and doesn't celebrate Christmas. Meanwhile, Beth's fiance (Rory) is under pressure from his company to make sure that Beth is signed up to join their pharmaceutical company, since her reputation is strong.  He is also told, in no uncertain terms, that he needs to get married to her, in order to progress his career. These pressures, plus the fact that he's an ill mannered, tight git, means that when he turns up in River Dale just before Christmas, things dont go smoothly.

Positives: it's a nice, clean romance; decent descriptions of what it's like to be working in a Firehouse and a hospital; Logan and Beth are fleshed out well; there's a nice spin on the Michael and Mary subplot.

Negatives: Clare could have been fleshed out a little more - there was potential when Logan goes to visit her and meets the boyfriend, but then she doesn't really make another appearance until the end; the same could be said about Rory - there's so much pressure on him to have Beth join the company and the pair to get married, he puts a lot into Drake's presentation, but after Beth turns him down......he disappears....unless I missed something, he doesn't even hang around to plead his cause; the arsonist that doesn't get caught or set any more fires after 2 firefighters land in the hospital

So a bit of a curate's egg - good in parts, missed potential in other areas.

This is a sweet Christmas story. Like many, it takes place in a small town and focuses on bringing people together. It was an enjoyable read.

A Christmas Flower is a wonderful book. The book is well written with a great plot and well developed characters. I really enjoyed this author's writing and will be reading more of her work. I couldn't put this book down. I highly recommend this book

I loved this story. I received a copy through Netgalley for an honest review. The story revolved around Dr Beth and Logan. Logan had been loosely adopted by her family when his parents died. Logan was a smoke jumper and had real feeling for Beth and she for him, but she got engaged to someone else and they didn't say anything to each other. There are quite a few side characters that are important too and have some great side stories. I loved the story about Mayerle and the twist with Mary and Michael was wonderful. I would recommend this story to anyone. I look forward to more of Bryan's books.

A Christmas Flower was a quick, easy read. I enjoyed the fire fighting and hospital settings. There was a lot in this book - romance, hospital shutting down, injured fire fighters, abusive relationships, wrong fiance, medical problems, angels. I personally think there was just a bit too much drama for one book, but I will try another book by Mr. Mooney.

A good holiday read which I read in one sitting - a feel good factor enjoyable book

Not really a Christmas story but rather a nice love story between two people who initially don't want to admit they are right for each other. Beth is a determined and devoted physician; Logan is a hard working and strong fire fighter. Both of them are dealing with crisis as the novel opens- Beth with the hospital, Logan with the injury to his old mentor. There are some topical issues here (health care for sure) but the charm of this lies in the people. You know going into it that everything is going to work out but Mooney has written a charming and engaging novel which will keep you reading. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for. a feel good story.

Love how everything ultimately tied together and the tribute to our firefighters.

Friends to Lovers.
A gentle romance centred on the small town of River Dale with a whole raft of characters. Dr Beth Harding is fighting the closure of the hospital where she is the administrator, but is overjoyed that her best friend Logan Mitchell, a smoke jumper is in town for the holidays. A thoroughly enjoyable story that pays tribute to doctors and firefighters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

A Christmas Flower is a sweet, genuine and touching Christmas story that tugged at my heartstrings. Although this is a lovely book, evoking a sense of Christmas spirit, it also has a bit more meat and substance to it and includes some quite topical storylines.

Logan Mitchell is returning to his home town in New Hampshire for Christmas. He's been out working west as a smoke jumper, but as the fire season is at an end, he decides to take a break. Back home in River Dale, the local fire station is short staffed and facing an outbreak of fires with an arsonist causing problems and Bruce Devlin, the longtime Captain, hospitalised. Logan agrees to step into the role, until after the Christmas season.

He's also facing some tough decisions; he's not getting any younger, and at 42 is thinking about giving up being a smoke jumper for a role based at a station. He loves his hometown, yet now the woman he has loved for many years is engaged to another man, he can see little reason to stick around after New Year. He's been offered a permanent position at the local fire station, and would be in the area he loves the most, yet without Beth he's thinking of moving back to California where there aren't heaps of memories around every corner.

Dr Elizabeth Harding - Beth - works as the acting administrator of the River Dale General Hospital. She had quit her job in Chicago and returned home when her mum became ill and passed away. But the board wants to close the hospital by New Year's, starting on Christmas Day of all days. The town council doesn't want to spend more money on new equipment. Yet without new equipment the hospital will fail to stay in compliance with state regulations and would have to close, yet the new regional hospital is in Winston - over forty miles away!

Beth is engaged to Rory - who's still in Chicago - who works for a pharmaceutical company that has also offered her a job once the hospital shuts. However, she will do anything to help the hospital her Mum helped grow and thrive to remain open. But with a board, and seemingly her own fiancée against her, she faces a tough fight.

With the return of Logan, she also has some huge personal decisions to make. The entire town thinks she should be with Logan, yet she's engaged to another man. With getting over the loss of her mother, her worries over her younger sister, the hospital, a fiancée, and now Logan making feelings resurface, Beth has a lot on her plate.

The book is mainly from the viewpoint of two characters - Beth and Logan - yet we are also introduced to a whole number of River Dale residents. From the fire station to the hospital, the book really makes you feel part of the community. I loved the relationship between Logan and Beth, you could literally feel the tension between them, and wanted to scream at them along with the rest of the town.

There are heaps of descriptions of the village of River Dale located in the snow filled valleys of New Hampshire. It does sound like the most special of places to be during the Christmas period with its Yule Log ceremony, sledding and cross country skiing in the snowy valleys, looking for the perfect Christmas Tree at the local tree farm and fresh maple syrup bought from nearby tree farms poured over homemade biscuits and pancakes - YUM!

The descriptions of the food and smells from Schmidt's Bakery filled with holiday customers picking up their orders of Christmas sugar cookies, shortbreads, fruitcakes, pies, and pink-powdered Springerle cookies with pink, red, and green sprinkles on top, are enough to get you reaching for a couple of mince pies.

A Christmas Flower is a very charming and cheery Christmas read, full of delightful descriptions of all things magically Christmas, that evoke warm feelings and memories. However, as the book progressed, it transpired to not just be a relaxing and cute book to curl up with and read during the hectic Christmas season, but also quite political. The plot
progressed to be more about saving the local hospital, than just a typical holiday book.

The book discusses the shortages in many areas of public funding for hospitals, fire fighters and stations, in many cases with fire fighters using substandard and old dangerous equipment. Meanwhile, the finance departments are looking to make more cuts to save more money. Yet the only effect this has is on the public and the service workers who face longer hours and heavier workloads with a lack of funding to replace outdated equipment. Hospitals find themselves under the threat of closure, due to lack of funds. Yet the money is being redirected elsewhere. Although this book is located in the U.S these same issues are faced in the U.K and Australia - the state I lived in in Australia was closing hospitals, yet the demand was outstripping resources before the closures. I'm guessing it's the same story in other western countries too.

There was also a subplot surrounding Beth's younger sister Claire, who was in a controlling relationship, and another involving the issues caused by the over subscribing of antibiotics which has led to antibiotic resistant bacterium. So it definitely wasn't all light and fluffy, yet the more serious plot lines didn't detract from the book being a Christmassy feel book. The slightly grittier plots, actually led more depth to the book and made it feel more realistic.

There were plenty of charming family moments; memories of Beth baking with her mum, and the sweet budding romance and the realisation that dawned on Beth and Logan, that all added to the perfect dose of sentimental Christmas spirit that is needed. I enjoyed the scenes set in the fire station, along with the camaraderie, it was quite enlightening going "behind the scenes". You also feel yourself tied up in the lives of some of the hospital patients, and root for them to make it.

This book would make for an awesome Christmas film; the snowy New England setting, cast of believable, realistic and lovable characters, the holiday romance, and the obstacles. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the story and didn't want it to end. Definitely recommend to any readers wanting a Christmas book, but with a bit extra.

With thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Bryan Mooney, for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.