I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

I would like to preface this by stating I am very much a mood reader. This wasn't my favourite book by the author, but it wasn't my least favourite either. I think the best word for how I personally feel is middling - it was fine, but some parts were slower than I would have liked and I frequently found myself drifting disrtractedly. Overall, it wasn't a "bad" book, it just wasn't anything new or exciting. If you're looking for a simple feel good romance in a special small town, this may be exactly what you're looking for.

Great Christmas book . It is an easy romantic read that will get you in the Christmas spirit.
I do recommend this book.

Susan Mallery always writes and wonderful Christmas story and she has done it again. A charming story, I really enjoyed and and suggest for a great holiday read.

This is book 2 in the Wishing Tree series. It's Susan Mallery so you know it's romance and a happy ending. Camryn returns to Wishing Tree to raise her twin sisters. She gives up her life in Chicago thinking she will return to that life. But Wishing Tree pulls her heart and Dylan makes her think that small town living isn't too bad. When she is chosen as the queen of the Christmas ball she has lots of responsibilities as well as the gift wrapping store she and her sisters run.

An entertaining Christmas romance that has all the postive feelings; family,romance,firendship, traditions and of course a happy ending. A light enjoyable read. I always enjoy reading a Susan Mallery romance !
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve reviewed a lot of Susan Mallery’s novels,.

The town of Wishing Tree is her home when she leaves Chicago to care for her twin sisters. Operation Jake’s Bride is a plan devised by Helen, his mother.She wants to get him married to Camryn.

I liked everyone’s backstory and the parallel subplot with Dylan and River was great too. I felt sympathy and empathy for River with her scoliosis and pain as well as her severe dislike of the cold, since I experience all that too.

I liked the idea of the snow king and snow queen contest as well as the festive traditions and especially the cookie contest and Cookie Tuesday.

Wishing Tree is so atmospheric and as always the pacing of this novel is excellent.

I shared an excerpt on my blog for the blog tour.

Thanks to Susan Mallery and HQN Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars

Susan Mallery never fails to brighten up the holidays with her charming, effervescent and wonderfully emotional stories and she has outdone herself yet again with her latest novel, Home Sweet Christmas.

The small town of Wishing Tree is far removed from the hustle and bustle of her real life in Chicago, but with her twin sisters to look after, Camryn Neff has to stay put for the foreseeable future. Romance is the last thing on her mind and even if by some miracle she finds somebody in Wishing Tree, she doesn’t intend on settling down and putting down roots – until she meets handsome hotelier Jake Crane. The two agree to pair up for the season and forever and happy ever after are strictly off the table for them. However, the more time she spends with Jake, the more Camryn wonders whether her future might have been in Wishing Tree all along…

Newcomer River Best has fallen under the spell of her new hometown. The customs and traditions of Wishing Tree have stolen her heart and the community has welcomed her with open arms – and even crowned her Snow Queen! Dylan Tucker is her king and even though she immediately finds herself drawn to him, River cannot shake off this feeling that he is hiding something from her. Falling in love with him is inevitable, but will River and Dylan’s romance have a fairy-tale ending or will secrets turn these lovers into enemies?

The holidays wouldn’t be the same without a Christmas novel by Susan Mallery and this year this much-loved author favorite hits the jackpot yet again with a warm-hearted, feel-good and captivating tale of friendship, community and romance that ticks all the right boxes. Home Sweet Christmas is a delight from start to finish and readers will be completely swept away by Susan Mallery’s uplifting and sensational tale of unexpected blessings, finding your soulmate and the magic of the holidays.

Enchanting, enjoyable and outstanding, Home Sweet Christmas is vintage Susan Mallery.

RATING: 4 STARS
2022; HQN/Harlequin

I love the stories set in Wishing Tree. This is the second book in the series, with also a novella. The first and second book contain two love stories, but beyond that are family stories. If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies, this will be right up your alley. While this novel can be read as a standalone, it is better to read the first book before this one. It helps to know some of the back stories for some of the secondary characters in this book. I will be honest that this novel is not anything that stands apart from other holiday novels, other than the town and characters coming to life. It's a great romantic read to take you away for a few hours.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley and Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery Wishing Tree series #2

Two romances all wrapped up in a charming holiday package.

Cameron Neff returns back to Wishing Tree to care for her young sister’s and take over the running of the family business. The one thing Cameron knew for positive she would be returning to Chicago, this small town was not her home. Cameron is such a wonderful heroine so full of life, but I could sense there was more to her than that.

Jake Crane needed to head off his mother, and her obsession with his love life. There was only one thing to do. A Fake Relationship. Oh Goodness I just adored Jake and his mother’s antics to have a Daughter-in-Law. *Grins*

River Best a new transplant to Wishing Tree, and from her first visit she was absolutely charmed. River wants to get to know her neighbors, one way to do that she guessed was to run for Snow Queen.

Dylan Tucker has been ducking Helen Cranes match making skills for years, but some how he finds himself running for snow king. Dylan has something about him that no one else knows about. Dylan was sure the town he loved would disown him, if his secret was discovered.

From the beginning Home Sweet Christmas pulled me into the story straight away, just as the first book Christmas Wedding Quest. I always enjoy the surprise of a bonus romance. Yay! Both couples have their own inner battles they need to deal with, on top of the budding relationships they are seeking. If Helen had her way, these four would be checked off her Christmas Wish List. *Grins*

I truly enjoy returning to the town of Wishing Tree, it’s a wonderful place to take a break from life and get lost in this fictional town. Home Sweet Christmas is book two and is a great addition to the Wishing Tree Series by Author Susan Mallery.

Rated 5 Stilettos and a Recommended Read by Deb!

This is a great book by Susan Mallery. The two main characters are Camryn and Jake. They have known each other all their lives Camryn has moved back home to take care of her younger sisters. They start dating. They have some trust issues but together they work them out and find love.

Another highly entertaining book by Susan Mallery. This was a perfect holiday read. As always Mallerys characters were likeable , and nmade the story hard to put down. Thanks You to netgalley and the publishers for this ARC copy.

In 🎧︎Home Sweet Christmas, Susan Mallery takes her readers on another trip to the town of Wishing Tree. Sit back, relax and enjoy the trip to the town of Wishing Tree. 

🎧︎Home Sweet Christmas by Susan Mallery is the second book in the Wishing Tree series.  I had a blast re-visiting the town of Wishing Tree. A town that fills you with cheer and warm Christmassy feelings. Once you come to Wishing Tree you will not want to leave, making Home Sweet Christmas the perfect holiday read.

If you are looking for a heartwarming holiday story, then 🎧︎Home Sweet Christmas is the perfect read. When it comes to heartwarming stories, Mallery is a master and she did not disappoint in her latest novel. I enjoyed getting to know the characters featured  and reconnecting with those from the previous book.

Like the previous we get not one but two romances. I loved how both romances developed. The main couple Jake and Camryn had no interest in a relationship due issues from both their past. However, interference from a meddling mom who desperately wanted grandchildren would see these two slowly falling for each other.

The second couple Dylan and River dreamed of finding their special someone. Their relationship blossomed nicely, but secrets  and fears threatened their budding relationship. 

Tanya Eby narrated. She did an excellent in bringing the story to life. She’s a new to me narrator, but I really enjoyed the way she brought life to the story and the characters. So I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to her again.

Perfect feel good book for Christmas that left me wanting to know what happens next. Camryn is in Wishing Tree running her family wrapping business and being there for her twin half-sisters after her mother died but she doesn't feel like it is her 'real life'. River is trying to create a real life in Wishing Tree, she has friends for the first time she can remember but being Snow Queen was not in her plans. Jake Crane is not looking for a wife but his mother is embarking on a plan to find him a wife. Dylan has a secret that he doesn't know how to share but will not sharing destroy his chance at happiness. A story of friendship and community and discovering what a real life is.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review and I liked it so much I bought a copy.

I loved the two stories that were going on throughout this book - both Camryn/Jake and River/Dylan. And I love when we get both POVs in relationships. It was sweet watching the two connect in very random ways, but mostly thanks to a very meddling mother-figure and it broke my heart when they faced their major conflict. I loved the secondary characters in the story and am already excited for what next Christmas will bring for the single people in Wishing Tree.


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Spoilers for the conflicts below.
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I felt like Camryn's conflict with her sisters was much more impactful than the one she had with Jake because her sisters broke my heart. My goodness. I also feel like the conflict with Dylan and River was a bit off. I don't know that I would so easily forgive someone who hacked into my life and I'm not sure why it was such a big deal that he kept his secret from her, especially when he had good reason to.

I really enjoyed this one. It was so festive and made me want to visit Wishing Tree. I loved the developing relationships in the book.

Susan Mallery takes us back to Wishing Tree in this standalone contemporary holiday romance. Filled with meddling mothers, dogs, Christmas cookie bake-offs and unexpected romance you won’t want to miss. Home Sweet Christmas is the perfect read for a cold winter’s night.

Yesterday, I shared the first novel, The Christmas Wedding Guest, and I was excited to return to this quaint town and its holiday festivals. Our tale begins right before Thanksgiving and takes us through the holiday season.

Camryn Neff has been back in Wishing Tree for two years now. She cares for her teenage sisters after their mother died and runs the family business. Last year the holidays were hard, and she is hoping to make wonderful memories for Lily & Victoria this year.

Meanwhile, Jake Crane is the head of his family’s hotel. After past mistakes, he’s not looking for romance. However, his mother, who recently lost her spouse, is lonely and wants grandchildren. She is determined to find Jake a bride. I love meddling grandmothers and laughed from the start.

The story that unfolds is filled with wonderful moments, holiday treats and character growth as Jake and Camryn navigate romance, the teens, a dog and his mother. Oh, his mother! The woman is relentless and adorably ornery.

We get a second romance featuring River & Dylan. River is a newcomer and has her own business overtop of Camryn’s shop. She is hoping to make friends in Wishing Tree if she doesn’t freeze to death first. Dylan is Jake’s best friend, and in fact, lived with his family as a teen. Jake’s mom has plans for Dylan, too. He will be this year’s Snow King.

We see characters from the first novel and get updates, but you can read Home Sweet Christmas on its own. You’ll love the town with its holiday street names and town wreath. The romances were sweet and filled with character growth, tender moments, and more.

No one does holiday romance and small-town charm quite like Susan Mallery. I loved every moment spent in Wishing Tree as I cheered for these characters. From the cute little dog to the problems they had to resolve, I found myself all in.

Amazon | Audible

Welcome back to Wishing Tree. Two women who are not looking for love fine it with two friends, Dylan and Jake. ARC from NetGalley.

Thank you so much to Harlequin and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of Home Sweet Christmas! I’m a Susan Mallery fiend and I love all of her books so I was the most excited about reading this one, especially because I love the town of Wishing Tree! What a cute little small town and I love how Susan Mallery has two romances in each one of these books!
Home Sweet Christmas 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: With twinkling humor and heartfelt Christmas spirit, two friends find love in a town called Wishing Tree…
Until Camryn Neff can return to her “real” life in Chicago, she’s in Wishing Tree to care for her twin sisters. She’s not looking for forever love, not here. But handsome hotelier Jake Crane is a temptation she can’t resist, so she suggests they pair up for the season. No golden rings, no broken hearts. At his side, she sees her hometown through Christmas-colored eyes. The cheer is cheerier, the joy more joyful. She thought she had put her future on hold…but maybe her real life was here all along, waiting for her to come home.
New in town, River Best is charmed by Wishing Tree’s homespun traditions and warmhearted people. When she’s crowned Snow Queen, she’s honored but wary. Dylan Tucker, her king, seems like the stuff of sugarplum dreams, but she can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something big. As they perform their “royal” duties—tasting cookies, lighting trees—Dylan’s good humor and melty kisses draw her to the brink of love. But she can’t let herself fall until she uncovers his secret, even if her lack of faith means losing him forever.
Home Sweet Christmas was so cute! I loved being back in Wishing Tree and seeing all of the adorable Christmas traditions that they had- like the Snow King and Snow Queen and the Advent Calendar! I also really liked Camryn and Jake- Dylan were not my favorites, but that’s ok, I don’t always have to like all of the characters to like a book. I thought Mrs. Crane was so sweet and funny with her meddling and trying to set Jake up with the right girl and Camryn’s sisters were so cute. I generally liked the plot as well- this was one of those books that you needed to go into with your critical thinking kind of shut off, because as soon as you logically started thinking about stuff, it lost the magic and stopped being cute, which is not what you want. Overall, Home Sweet Christmas was a very cute, fun holiday read and I think y’all should read it with some cocoa and cookies and enjoy the holiday spirit!

Link to be added once post goes live

Home Sweet Christmas is another solid addition to the Wishing Tree series. I wished there were more to wrap up the story of River and Dylan. It felt like there should have been more, but maybe we will hear more about them in the next installment. I suspect some of the supporting characters will be featured soon. You do not have to read these in order, but you will recognize previous characters if you do. If only there were a real Wishing Tree! I will recommend this to readers who enjoy a warm holiday story.