Sophie is a young business owner in the small town of Pine Hill. She runs a craft shop, specializing in quilting and fabrics, with her older sister. One of Sophie’s passions… and she has many… is making quilts for military personnel, past and present. Quilts of Valor’s mission is to make and award these healing quilts with the aim to show love and support to those military members who have endured so much while protecting our freedom. It’s an organization close to Sophie’s heart because her father was tormented by his time in the Army and she wishes that she could have saved her father from the pain he felt regularly.

Sophie finds a journal in a donation box at her church and reads the entire thing trying to figure out who it might belong to. She becomes fixated on finding and helping this person, who wrote of their traumatic experiences in the military. When she finds the person, she sees how hurt he is… but he is also gorgeous. Everyone in town can tell that Sophie has feelings for him but her sister doesn’t support the attempts to befriend him. Sophie’s fixation persists throughout the story and it’s hard to tell her motives and what exactly causes her to fall for him beyond his looks.

I expected there to be some element of magic in this Christmas novel, mostly because it comes from Hallmark Publishing and their holiday movies make everything okay. I didn’t feel it here. I actually was annoyed with Sophie the entire story and I considered putting the book down but I had hopes there may be a turning point. Usually the point where a blah story gets better is around 50%... that did not happen here. I didn’t love how Sophie kept pursuing someone who had no interest in her and was very rude to her and it left a bad taste in my mouth. It’s Christmas… I don’t want this type of dysfunction.

This book has all the elements that interest me: making someone happy (even when they don't want to be happy), quilting, Quilts of Valor, veterans, and firefighters. So what's not to like? Sophie is the ideal person to fix someone's broken soul. Cole resists her efforts to befriend him, but she is a force to be reckoned with. Sophie is loving and considerate of Cole's inner problems and she is determined to help him be the man she knows he can be, one that will stay with her.

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy tells the heart warming story of two wounded soles searching for understanding. Marine Cole Aaron hopes to return to a quiet civilian life. However, he is haunted by his past. When Sophie Davis shows up with a journal from his past, Cole tells her to throw it away. The memories and the ghosts still haunt him. Sophie and Cole are drawn to one another because each feels the need to volunteer and give back to their community. Will they be able to find healing? Will they be able to get past the past and move on to a future full of hope and love? A received a copy through Netgalley/publisher. A review was not required.

Sophie Davis sews quilts to donate to The Quilts of Valor Foundation. She volunteers with the foundation and every year at the annual Pine Hill Christmas On-the-Square Festival she mans a booth to educate the event participants about The Quilts of Valor Foundation as well as sell quilts and items from the quilt shop she owns with her sister. When Sophie found the journal/diary of the firefighter and ex-Marine Cole Aaron in a box of books Cole donated to her church Sophie read the journal in an effort to find out the owner's name so she could return it to him. After reading the journal Sophie knew Cole should have a quilt. Cole is a loner and fought the friendship Sophie offered him. But Sophie is no quitter and Cole couldn't resist her.

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn brings home the effects of war the people who fight them experience. It's tough to put what happens in war out of a military person's mind. I liked how Sophie understood Cole so well after reading his journal and was determined to make him see that he is a really good person.

Christmas is near and new Christmas romance books are being released! Do you love Christmas stories? Hallmark Christmas movies? Oh, it’s all so dreamy! Wrapped Ip in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn fits the season!!

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn. Hallmark Publishing. Release date: 10/27/20. ISBN: 1952210038
Sometimes I request books to read and review without even reading the book summary. Is that really such a bad thing? I can’t say I’ve been disappointed and certainly not with this book! It’s an especially a good book when it teases you when sparks are flying for everyone else to see but the characters are refusing to admit it. Particularly when the characters deny to everyone else that they’re not even friends!

I really love the characters in this story! It’s the male firefighters versus the female Butterflies coming together for a Christmas toy drive. While everyone else seems to realize Cole and Sophie are made for each other, the two refuse to admit they’re even friends! I love how they come together when it matters. Then quickly Cole pushes Sophie away because of his history.

I’ll have to admit my favorite characters aren’t the main characters! My favorites are Ben and Andrew, Cole’s fellow firefighters! Their banter and teasing of Cole not only in the Santa suit, but also with interactions with Sophie! Butterfly Ruby comes in a close third for my favorite character. She seems fun loving and loves to tease her friends!

And the setting of Pine Hill sounds so heavenly! I want to love there, too! This town sounds like a quaint village where there’s many reasons to get together and everyone knows everyone, yet it’s large enough to include farmland! It’s the perfect setting for this lovely story.

A digital copy of Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn was provided complimentary by Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I give this book five out of five tiaras because I fell in love with the community of people and it’s little town of Pine Hill!

Sophie is so bubbly and energetic. She loves Christmas and sewing. Cole seems to be her complete opposite. A couple times he completely dismisses her and refuses her friendship. It was heartbreaking because you could almost see the light in her eyes dim. The ending was perfect. I love how he has this Scrooge type revelation.

An entertaining and well written romance. Well developed plot and believable characters. I highly recommend it. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I received an ARC from Hallmark Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. This book far exceeded my expectations and I was expecting a lot. When Sophie met Cole to return his journal, she thought he had donated by accident, he told her to throw it away but she couldn't do it. Cole was returning to civilian life like many soldiers do today. As the town was preparing for Christmas and collecting donations so all the children would have a Christmas, they kept pushing the two together. There were feelings there but Cole fought those feelings.
Sophie makes quilts and donates them to the Quilts of Valor Foundation and she wanted to make one for Cole. She was working on a quilt and finally, she realized she was making it for Cole. Cole once again pushed her away. But on Christmas day she put it in a box with other things and took it to the fire station and gave it to one of his friends. Cole did take the package home and did indeed open it and there was a note. That note was so beautiful it made me cry and I so wanted for Cole to realize he was worth loving. Now you will have to read the book to see what happens but you will really enjoy it.
This book is Christmas magic with all the Christmas spirit, traditions, and a community that comes together and truly believes in what they do.

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy
An uplifting small-town romance from Hallmark Publishing
by Janice Lynn
Hallmark Publishing
General Fiction (Adult) | Romance
Pub Date 27 Oct 2020 | Archive Date Not set

This was an enjoyable gentle romance from Hallmark Publishing. These are the type of romance stories that our patrons love. If you enjoy Christmas uplifting romance you will enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for the ARC.

5 stars

Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn is a great, heartwarming, sweet and romantic Christmas novel.

It was truly wonderful reading Sophie and Cole’s separate and combined journeys. It was a relaxing and satisfying festive story.

Anyone that enjoys holiday themed books and a great romance will enjoy this book.


5/5 stars

Thank you Hallmark Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

Was a fun read and love any Christmas romance book. Sophie pairs up with Cole for the Christmas toy drive. The butterflies as some call them are trying to play cupid in town. Who will be there next victim's. Read the book to find out.

This is a heartwarming Christmas story that will touch your heart. Cole and Sophie's story was a joy to read. This is a book that once you start reading it you can't put it down. I loved it! Thank you Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a gentle romance that made me smile. Sophie and Cole had a sweet and heartwarming relationship and it was lovely to see them having a happy ending. I'd love to read more books in this series, especially one with her sister Isabelle as a protagonist. I loved the book ♡ ♥💕❤

Release Date: October 27th 2020

Sophie is happy in her town and with her life. When she reads Cole’s journal that he accidentally donated to the church sale. She tries to return it but does not want it back. It’s filled with tragic things from his past and he would rather it never existed. Through town circumstances Sophie and Cole are thrown together and begin to develop feeling for each other. Will the love between be enough to help Cole battle his demons?

This book was good, it’s not my favorite hallmark book. I am married to a fireman so I liked that part but it was a little arduous to get through. I wouldn’t read it again but I enjoyed reading it.

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All options are my own.

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WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS JOY by Janice Lynn. Such a delightful and heartwarming tale. Sophie and Cole, our lovely couple, are a bit opposite. Sophie is light, pure and simple. She is truly a good person, down to her very soul and brings joy to all around her. Cole, a former Marine, has some issues from his time in the service, and fears he will hurt her. The story revolves around his trying to avoid her and Sophie trying to become his friend. Ms. Lynn certainly painted the picture with her words - I often felt I was watching it as a Hallmark movie while reading. The small town feel - from the festival and parade to the sledding and snowball fights. This was a slow burn, for sure, and the author offers glimpses of faith too. This is, simply put, a wonderful holiday story that warms the heart and soul. (received NetGalley ARC for honest review).

Janice Lynn's 'Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy' is absolute perfection! I literally couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. There is joyful humor, tears and difficult subjects all wrapped up in Christmas in Kentucky. The only issue I have is that it will be another year to see who else in Pine Hill finds love (sister, single mother, aged mother). There are many stories yet to be told and I am looking forward to the reward of reading them.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is a delightful and heartwarming Christmas story. I enjoyed Cole and Sophie’s story - romance, laughs, tears. This is an entertaining holiday story in a charming town filled with fascinating characters.

This is a Christmas story that will go straight to your heart! Such a wonderful cast of characters, headed by Sophie and Cole, two people who couldn't be more different. Sophie is everything light and Cole is everything dark and although he thinks he's not good enough for her, she teaches him differently.

Cole has a tortured soul, caused by the horrors of war and he vows never to get emotionally involved with anyone. Sophie's father left them when she was a young girl due to the effects war left on him so she understands what Cole is going through and wants to help him heal. He does everything to deter her but Christmas is known for its magic and miracles:)

Lose yourself in this story which includes a journal, an ex-Marine who is now a firefighter, a quilt shop owner, a group of matchmaking elderly ladies, Christmas volunteering and a stray cat....all of which will make your heart smile:)

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This book was a pretty quick and easy read! would have liked a little longer read, but it was very enjoyable.

A beautiful Christmas story set in a lovely little town. A ex marine who doesn’t feel like he deserves happiness falls for the wonderful joy filled Sophie & the story of their blossoming romance. I loved reading about them slowly getting to know one another. The butterflies were so much fun too.