"A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds" by Lucy Coleman is a heartwarming and festive read that captures the magic of Christmas in the picturesque English countryside. Imogen Tolliman and Gray Adams, engaged after a snowstorm-induced proposal the previous year, are now planning their dream winter wedding. The novel immerses readers in the beauty of the Cotswolds, offering a delightful escape into the holiday spirit.

Coleman skillfully weaves together the elements of wedding planning, the challenges of renovation, and the responsibilities Immi undertakes to raise money for a children's playground. The setting of Immi's grandfather's lock-keeper's cottage at the Aysbury marina adds charm to the narrative, creating a perfect backdrop for a festive celebration.

The characters are endearing, and readers can't help but root for Immi and Gray as they navigate the complexities of wedding preparations, unexpected challenges, and the tight-knit community of Aysbury. The author's attention to detail brings the Cotswolds to life, making it a character in itself and enhancing the holiday ambiance.

The story not only focuses on the romance between Immi and Gray but also delves into themes of community, friendship, and family. Immi's determination to carry on despite unforeseen obstacles showcases resilience, and the novel explores how the bonds of community can overcome even the most challenging situations.

The unexpected twists and turns, particularly the betrayal uncovered, add depth to the narrative, keeping readers engaged and invested in the characters' journeys. The exploration of forgiveness and second chances contributes to the overall warmth of the story.

Lucy Coleman has crafted a festive tale that resonates with romance, laughter, and the joy of the holiday season. "A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds" is perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Holly Martin, and Sue Moorcroft. Let Coleman transport you to the enchanting Cotswolds for a Christmas celebration filled with love, tradition, and the magic of the season. This heartwarming read earns a solid four stars for its delightful storytelling and the perfect blend of romance and holiday cheer.

I haven’t read a Lucy Coleman book in a while and this was a nice reintroduction to her writing. I’m my and Gray are great main characters and I loved the stories of the Santa Cruises and the fund raising. The strength of the community around them was wonderful and I loved seeing how Christmas brought them together to support one another.

A Christmas wedding in the Cotswolds by Lucy Coleman


This is an enjoyable tale following the journey Immi and Gray as they get ready for their Christmas wedding in the cotswolds and the twists and turns along the way some expected others not so.

However the story was a bit slow going and plodding at times and a tad repetitive. The storylines a bit predictable. Although Still a nice seasonal read if you have the time to stick with it.

This was the sequel to a Christmas at lock keepers cottage which i didn’t know at the time of reading however it can be enjoyed as a standalone

This story was a cosy easy read about love friendships and family and finding happiness and how things work out in the end with the help of friends and community

Although Christmas featured in the story this isn’t just a festive read and would make a lovely summer holiday read with the descriptions of the Cotswolds and the narrow boats

I thoroughly enjoyed A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds. It is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold day

Christmas books are a year to be savoured for when I instantly need hygge and festive feels.
This book provided it in bucketloads.
This was a gorgeous book and I really enjoyed it.
It was set in a truly gorgeous setting and had festive ness in abundance.

Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

sadly i didnt get to read this book as I was working double shifts as an Rn during covid and unfortuantly had no spare time

Back with Immi, Gray and the gang in Aylesbury. I would definitely recommend that you read the first book in the series or you could be slightly mystified as to the various characters. A perfect book to read in the winter months not just Christmas as it is not a major part of the book.
A nice, enjoyable read which I would recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Lucy Coleman for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

An enjoyable second book in the series set in Lock Keepers Cottage, set 12 months after the first.
Reading the first book definitely helped set the scene for this book as several characters, and the Santa Cruise, feature again in this book and a familiarity with them helped to enjoy this story.
Set in the run-up to Christmas and Immi & Gray’s wedding, but neither feature dominantly with much of the focus of the book on the village’s characters.
A book to enjoy on cosy evenings or chilly, frosty days in winter-time.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

The perfect Christmas book for cosy nights abd frosty mornings. The ideal mic of. Likeable characters and storyline. Perfect.

Great to be back in Aysbury catching up with the characters from the previous book. Another lovely warmhearted story with great characters and lots of problems leading up to the big day. Great cosy book to curl up with in front of a fire

Lucy Coleman’s novel, A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds, is one of those timeless romance novels that makes you feel all warm inside. I’m not sure you could go wrong with a wedding at Christmas. The magic of both makes something even more special than either alone.

Immi Tollison lives a surreal life in the tiny village of Aysbury. Surrounded by her friends and family, Immi is about to live her dream life with her handsome fiance, Gray. Immi never asks for help, but as the wedding inches closer, Immi realizes that she can’t do everything alone. But, will one of her decisions cost the village everything they’ve worked so hard for?

Immi is both sweet and neurotic. In some ways, she is a perfect character. Unfortunately, she also overwhelmed me with her whining and self-doubt. I felt like Gray was kind of cold. I didn’t feel that their romance was all that special. But, that said, there was another novel before this one that I didn’t read. It feels like I missed the entire plot because I didn’t read the first book, which is disheartening.

Apart from the wedding, there was very little added to this book to rally behind. Then there is the wedding itself. I couldn’t get into Immi’s mindset. I think the author means Immi to be nervous and a bit of a rebel. I didn’t get that at all. To me, Immi seemed somewhat petulant. The rest of the characters all seemed a bit needy as well. I didn’t get the flow, and it is all down to not reading that first novel.

So, while this was not quite what I expected it to be, I did still enjoy the book. I do wish that there was more story to this novel than the lead-up to the wedding. For me, it would have worked better as a novella than a full-length novel. I also wish there were a better segway into the history from the first book. A warning that you need to read the first novel before trying this one wouldn’t have gone amiss. This one doesn’t work as a stand-alone at all.

However, I must say that I adored the simplicity and the wholesome feel of this book. My frustration taints my emotions here, but the book is very good. The descriptive writing made me feel at home in that cottage. I also loved visiting the retreat. And, I can’t leave out the greenhouse! I would love to visit the greenhouse where Immi works. The footpaths and the trowbridge made my little heart pitter-patter. How can you not love a town where it is faster to walk to the church on your wedding day than driving in a Jaguar? Classic.

But, I would like to say that I will read the first novel, called Christmas at Lock Keepers Cottage. After which, I will update this post with more thoughts.

I award A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds 4 out of 5 stars. I hope my frustration doesn’t put you off this lovely book. Because it does have the good bits that made me smile, and yes, I even cried a little. I truly think that my romance fans out there will love this book too. But, with the caveat that you should definitely read the previous novel first.

Lucy Coleman's A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds is an ideal holiday read for those wanting to curl up with a good book in front of a winter fire - or on a beach towel in the hot sun. The village in the Cotswold where Imogen is working and planning her picturesque wedding in the snow comes to life in Lucy's experienced hands. There are road blocks and disappointments on the way, and at times it appears the much anticipated event may not happen after all, but the day of the hoped-for Happily Ever After does finally dawn.
Colorful, heart-warming, and with a sensitive portrayal of the complications of family and village relationships, A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds is an ideal escapist story to see out a gnarly 2021. I was provided a copy by Netgalley and have reviewed in freely. Lucy Coleman talksabout this book and other highlights of her career on The Joys of Binge Reading podcast. https://thejoysofbingereading.com/lucy-coleman-christmas-treats/

This book surprised me by how little Christmas there is in the story. It’s only about three quarters of the way through the novel does the festive vibes truly appear and this was a juxtaposition to the cover and the book’s title. Leaving my disgruntled for the lack of Christmas, this did not help with my attempts at enjoying the story. In my opinion, the protagonist was a moody stress-head, the narrative prolonged and the dialogue protracted. It was a disappointing experience.

I did not realise that this is a follow-on story, taking place twelve months after events at the Lock Keeper’s cottage. Unfortunately, I have not read this and disagree with claims that this book could be read as a stand-alone. Whilst plenty of references are made to past stories, I struggled to connect with the characters, well aware that I have missed a significant instalment about the community. Undoubtedly, Coleman takes the time to develop her characters but it always felt like I was missing something and could not imagine the journey the characters have already experienced.

Coupled with this, I struggled to connect with Immi. She moans a lot and I don’t think there was anything she was not satisfied with! Despite planning her wedding, she appears disgruntled that she has to do it in the first place, feeling overwhelmed by the jobs that need doing. Immi barely feels excited about finding her perfect dress, instead moaning to her poor fiancé about how she doesn’t exactly feel comfortable in what has been custom-made for her. In addition, it seems like Immi is a bit of a martyr: taking on all jobs, being in control of everything but, not being able to cope with all the responsibilities. I’ve met too many people like this and Immi was a personification of all that negativity, bundled into one character. It was just too much.

Although there is a wedding to plan, this does not dominate the story. Instead, Coleman focuses on the Aysbury community and their fund-raising activities. Again, I felt detached from this element of the story because I did not have a full understanding of all the work that has taken place in the past. Furthermore, I found it all quite mundane and wanted there to be more excitement about Immi’s wedding instead.

And this is my main criticism in the book: I was not convinced by Immi and Gray’s relationship. I could not grasp any romance or spark between the couple. With Gray constantly travelling for work and Immi moaning to anyone who will listen, I was convinced there would be a betrayal in the narrative. Surprised that Gray takes over the wedding planning, I still did not believe in the love the couple have towards one another, even when the union takes place. I think the fact that the narrative and dialogue was so wordy, and Immi’s negative attitude towards the world, just ruined my belief in this couple.

So, I’m sorry to say that I just didn’t enjoy this book. It’s my second read by this author and I haven’t been as engrossed as I would hope. Maybe it is the wordy writing style that deters me, but I must say, I was pleased to leave Immi in Aysbury because of how much she irritated me. Coleman certainly takes the time to develop her characters but, personally, Immi was just too much to tolerate.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Imogen and Grey are excited to be getting married. With Grey working away Immi is left renovating their home, working full time and planning the wedding. When a terrible betrayal of the community is discovered Imogen believes it is all her fault for putting her trust in the wrong person and this leaves her wondering if there will be a wedding after all.

Although I had not read the previous novel to which this is a sequel I still enjoyed reading it and did not feel like I was missing out on anything.

Simply lovely, this is a nice Christmas story in a small community in the Cotswolds with some drama and family and relationship issues mixed in. To get the most out of this story I urge you to first read the first book: Christmas at Lock Keeper's Cottage before moving on to this one.

A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds by Lucy Coleman was a lovely read and a great follow up on the previous Christmas book, Christmas at Lock-Keepers Cottage. I loved coming back to Aysbury and to the previous characters. A great, easy to read book to while away some hours during our long winter to come.

I adore Lucy Coleman, this is an author that I always know I will enjoy and a book that will leave me smiling.

As always, this is a book which is filled with gorgeous characters and a beautiful setting. This is definitely a book that has left me wanting all things festive.

This is a fun and heartwarming read which I have found perfect from beginning to end. This is one that hasn’t disappointed. I can honestly say this might be my new favourite by this author.

This is without a doubt worthy of all the stars.

It was good to find out what happened next but this didn't feel as magical as Lucy's other books. Sorry to say that I didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped to.