Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Connie would love to find the man of her dreams especially around the holidays. O enjoyed the chemistry between Connie and Henrich. This book was well written and put me in the Christmas spirit.

Residential home caterer Connie hasn’t had much luck with her love life so agrees on taking a trip to Germany to go on date with a man she met online. Armed with her list and a mini-bus full of pensioners she sets off to meet Heinrich and to scatter the ashes of a friend who had recently passed away.

I really enjoyed the Christmas market setting of this book and the activities the pensioners took part in to capture their Christmas memories. I wished I could be there with them to taste the hog chocolate and gingerbread. I enjoyed the competition between the Old Town and New Town and was rooting for the underdog all along.

I found Connie a little annoying at first with her perfect man list and I took an instant dislike to Heinrich because he was so strict about timings and perfection. The other characters I warmed to instantly, especially William and his dog. I have read elsewhere that it’s illegal to randomly scatter ashes in Germany but this did not spoil the story for me.

Overall I enjoyed this read and I am happy with the ending, it’s possibly a bit early for me to normally read Christmas novels but that did not spoil my enjoyment of the book. I would like to thank Netgalley and Pigeonhole for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hot chocolate, gingerbread and thick cosy socks. This book is perfect for snuggling up with on the sofa.
Connie is at a turning point in her life, one more try at internet dating and then she is going to give up. This time however she is going to travel all the way to Germany. She is not going alone though and travels with a group of go-getting pensioners from the retirement flats she delivers to. On arrival they each make a Christmas wish list and set about fulfilling each persons wish.,
The book is set in a charming German village with a picture perfect market that makes you feel as though you are wandering amongst the sights and sounds yourself. I totally enjoyed it and feel all Christmassy now!
Another amazing Jo Thomas book. They just keep getting better and better!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy that I have given an unbiased review on.

This was another great read from Jo Thomas.

This story will definitely leave you with a Christmas feeling. I loved the story, I was quickly hooked into the story and wanted to keep reading. I loved the descriptions of the markets. I loved the humour throughout the book and there are lots of heartfelt moments . I loved that it felt were also with Connie on her journey for finding love.

This was a great heartfelt, fun read and my far my favourite Christmas book so far this year.

I was so looking forward to reading another beautiful novel by Jo Thomas. The cover to this really drew me in and I couldn't wait to get started. I love the beautiful dark sky with twinkling stars and lights strung across the top. The little chalets with more lights looping over the snowy topped roofs. It all looks so magical and inviting and so, so Christmassy!

When I first started reading this, I must admit I was a bit lost and didn't really get into it. I was close to just giving up altogether as there was just so much going on and so many characters to get to know. However, I persevered and carried on reading and by about 25/30% through the book I did start to understand the characters a bit better and the storyline.

The location of the book is absolutely stunning. I love the descriptions that Jo uses, it sounds so idyllic and has made me want to visit a Christmas market in Germany! It was also really interesting reading about the two different towns and their markets. The old pensioners that Jo has included in the story gave it a bit of humour and I also thought that they added warmth to the story as well.

Overall, a nice heartwarming read. I felt a little bit lost in places but it was an easy read in the end. Ended it how I wanted it too anyway! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

Having enjoyed Escape to the French Farmhouse, and given my general love of Christmas books, I was very happy to receive a review copy of this book.

Connie takes her friends across to Germany for the wake of one of their own, and a date. It sounds like a weird and possibly rather unhappy combination, but it actually works really well, and is a happy story.

I loved pretty much all the characters, but especially all of Connie’s friends from the retirement flats. I love the way they all pull together to make their lives better, and find their happiness again. William was also lovely, and I loved the atmosphere of his bakery and the Old Town Christmas market. The whole story had a lovely Christmassy atmosphere.

I didn’t really like Heinrich. He is manipulative, and doesn’t seem keen on letting people make their own decisions. I was very surprised that Connie was still considering being with him, after he acted so unscrupulously. I can’t really give details without spoilers!

Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, that kept me reading long beyond the time I’d planned to stop. It was really Christmassy, with happy endings all around, and definitely leaves you with a happy glow.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

I’ve loved Jo’s previous novels especially the locations however I think the German Christmas market might be my favourite yet and with an quirky bunch of retirees amongst the characters this was a joy to read. Connie is a great main character, happy in her world yet open to both change and love. The contrast between the old town and new town and the bakeries seem sadly indicative of life but luckily so is the love the residents have for the old town. There’s a lot of warmth and fun in this and the Christmas memories were lovely, it really does make you think we lose track of ourselves sometimes. 9/10

This was a cosy Christmas read with a definite feel good factor. If your looking for a light hearted romance with lots of fuzzy feel good moments then this is for you. Perfect escapism in the current times. This book would be the perfect winter read to curl up with in front of the fire with a mug of steaming hot chocolate. This book is definitely for all those out there who are looking for love and hopelessly romantic and looking to find their happy ever after.

This is the perfect Christmas story, quite possibly my favourite for quite some time!
Is it fluffy? Yes. Is it predictable? Yes. Does this matter? Definitely not!

This story follows Connie and her elderly friends who are off to a German Christmas Market to scatter the ashes of their friend Evie who had passed away.

Connie is also planning on meeting Heinrich who she had met online a few months before. On her way to meet Heinrich she mistakes a local baker, William for him and of course she is sure she has been catfished!
There is quite a bit going on in the story with character having their own issues and each one of them wanting to fulfil a Christmas wish/memory while they are there. I loved the characters from the lovely Pearl to the hilarious Norman, he really cracked me up with some of his one liners!

Connie has the wish to build a gingerbread house, so she is invited to do so by William and they strike up a friendship. There is so much going on in this story I could go on and on but I don’t want to spoil it! It’s well worth the read but beware you will be left wanting gingerbread and lebkuchen the whole time!

My Thoughts: it’s never too early for a Christmas book, right? Soppy Christmas romances are one of my favourite genres & this one was my first of the year & it didn’t disappoint, what an absolute delight it was!

We follow Connie, who has agreed to take the residents of the residential home she provides meals to on a trip to Germany, to scatter the ashes of Elsie – a recently deceased resident of the home who always has dreams of returning to Germany to experience the Christmas markets of her childhood again. Throw in a dare with Heinrich who Connie has been speaking with online!

One caterer and a bunch of OAP’s on an adventure to Germany – What could possibly go wrong? 😂

What follows is hilarious, heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.

We work out that life doesn’t have to become boring when you’re old and frail, that the seemingly perfect man isn’t always the right one (sometimes you just have to look at what’s right in front of you)

And more than anything that if people work together they can achieve anything they put their mind to!

I absolutely adored this and will be picking up more from Jo in the future 🥰

A wonderful festive read that is perfect to curl up with in the countdown to Christmas. A story that explores loneliness that is festering in the retirement flats where Connie delivers meals as well as her own loneliness and desperation to be in a relationship since splitting from her husband.

I loved the reflection on past Christmasses and how they thought about traditions that reminded them of Christmas and embarked to bring them to life. From the first pages where your greeted with grumpy pensioners to the final pages where they have left all their cares behind this book made me laugh and feel like I'd been wrapped in a festive hug.

Brimming with my favourite things, I love a Christmas market and the hot chocolate and the gingerbread house were such detailed descriptions you could taste and smell them as you read.

I absolutely loved this book and Jo Thomas always manages to envoke a feeling of happiness as I read her heartwarming books. An author who is good for the soul and leaves you feeling like your ready to take on the world again.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Although it is autumn and early (for me) to read books about Xmas but saying that I really enjoyed this nice easy cosy read. Great storyline and nice characters.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Jo Thomas for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gorgeous, heartwarming trip to the German Christmas markets in search of love. It is lovely that the elderly characters have a voice, but not only that, they have their own developing stories. Connie, although at times infuriatingly naive, is a good central character. She has been damaged by previous experience and so finds committment difficult.

Extremely well written and a pleasure to read.

I have read a few 2020 Christmas books already, but this is the stand out one so far. I have never been to a Christmas market before, but need to visit one soon. Thank you Jo, for another excellent read

I liked the community feel of this book of Connie and her cast of pensioners going to the German Christmas market in the quest for love. Perfect recipe for love at Christmas time. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

This book was a hot chocolate on a cold day, warming and satisfying.
Another great Jo Thomas book.
The setting starts in an old peoples home and Connie, who delivers meals on wheels, has a great relationship with these people, so much so they embark on an adventure to travel to Germany to lay their friends ashes, in a place she loved.
Also to meet Heinrich a German baker she been corresponding with from an online dating site.
The journey was fraught and tiring but was worthwhile when they saw the magical sights of the old fashioned snowy village and Christmas market.
Connie meets another baker William after a she mistakes him for Heinrich.
Connie and her friends start compiling a wishlist and try to accomplish as many as possible before they leave and Connie has to decide if Heinrich is what she really wants for Christmas.

Great setting which makes me want to book a flight to Germany this Christmas.

This is my first Jo Thomas book and I LOVED it. This is an easy read, feelgood, festive book. It's perfect and it's set in a German Christmas Market. It'll just get you in the mood for Christmas.
The story follows Connie who is accompanied by her pensioner friends in a mission to meet her online date at the German Christmas Market. However finding true love never runs so smoothly and most unlikely of friendships can spring up when you least expected it to happen.
Connie was a multi-layered character who I saw develop more through out the book. After failing at love in the past she is now using a tick list system and online dating to choose the perfect man for her.
A lovely, heart-warming story full of Christmas cheer. Perfect read to get one into the Christmas feel.
Jo Thomas is a magical storywriter.I loved it. I will definitely be recommending this story to all romance lovers.

I did enjoy this book by Jo Thomas to a point, i felt there was to many pensioners and i didn't see the point of them. Connie was an ok character .

Connie helps deliver ready meals to a group of retired residents, slipping in her home made bakes in with the meals. Apart from the residents, she is alone, her son having left to go to university.

Encouraged by her son to find love online, she thinks she’s found the perfect match in Germany. She decides to go to Germany to meet him, the elderly residents go with her to visit the Christmas markets and scatter their friend’s ashes.

Of course there are misunderstandings, new friendships made and Connie learns that there is more to finding love than someone ticking all the boxes. It takes alchemy ;)

This book is a real heartwarming story. I could smell the gingerbread and spices, a real hug of a book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

Connie works in a residental home, delivering ready-made meals to the people who live there, but when her online date is at a German Christmas market, the residents decide to hitch a lift with her in their minibus!

On paper, Baker Henrich is everything that Connie could wish for and more, but when she meets his rival William, another baker in the Old Town, Connie starts to wonder if there is more to love than just ticking boxes on a list.

This is a story of friendship and memory making regardless of age. There were times when I wanted to shake Connie, as I was worried that she was going to get sucked into a story of revenge and spying, but thankfully she is more savvy than that and I was really relieved!!

This book is stuffed full of Christmas jumpers, stollen, gingerbread, ice skating and hot chocolate what more could any festive fan ask for?!

Jo Thomas is a magical storywriter who brings to life the smells, sounds and places and lift them off the page so that you feel you are truly there.