This is a Hallmark Christmas movie in book format. It was wonderful! Does it get more festive than a holiday themed store setting? The town was unique and charming, leading me to google the actual town and mapping out how far away it is from my own house. Spoiler alert: too far. However, I was able to transport there via this book and I loved every second of it. Hallmark, please turn this into a movie!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of The Wishing Bridge by Viola Shipman. I liked this book and the premise was different than other romance books. 4/5 stars

Viola Shipman is an author I’ve read before and knew could do a good feel good story that I like to sit down with when I start thinking ‘Tis the Season. The Wishing Bridge certainly also looked to be just one of those contemporary romance/women’s fiction reads that would fit that bill too.

The Wishing Bridge features Henrietta ‘Henri” Wegner who had moved from her hometown and threw herself into the corporate world only to find her job on the line this holiday season. Henri comes up with a plan to save her career by heading home and convincing her parents to sell their iconic Christmas store, Wegner’s, in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Having read Viola Shipman before I knew that this story would pull me right in and of course that is what I found to happen. I will admit that the main character, Henri, did confuse me a bit as I did struggle with liking her at times with this major plan of hers, a bit Scrooge’ish if you ask me, but Shipman didn’t disappoint and brought the character and story together nicely as expected and in the end I really enjoyed this little Christmas tale.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Wishing Bridge is a heart-touching story of small-town life, family and our life choices. Henrietta Wegner has made a deal with the devil, her boss, to deliver her family’s Christmas shop business as the next deal in order to save her job and career. She’s going home at Christmas in order to convince her parents to sell, but what looks good in the boardroom doesn’t look so good in person. Her parents are delighted she’s home but her brother is suspicious, so she is walking a fine line in helping her family’s business get back on track, or stabbing them in the back by setting them up for a huge fall. The tension builds with each passing day as she wonders if she has made the best choice for herself now and in the past when she left her hometown to pursue a career.

Viola Shipman has done a wonderful job at writing a soul-searching story that a person goes through when they are at a crossroads in their life. Henri is 52 years old and she wonders if what she has pursued her whole life has been the right thing for her in the long run. Years ago, she said no to a proposal from the love of her life. She comes home infrequently and uses work as her excuse to stay away during the holidays. What does she have to show for it? Now she looks at her hometown again and sees the small-town life differently and how much it means to her family and friends. Her father worked hard to make his dream came true to make a Christmas shop and why would she think he is ready to let it all go. The journey Henri took was sometimes painful and heart aching but she figured what was important to her and her family. I loved how much a story can take you back in time and your mind floods with your own Christmas memories. Viola Shipman is one of my favorite authors and his stories are so relevant to our times and our lives. The Wishing Bridge is a captivating story that makes you feel the spirit of Christmas and the love of family.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Henri and Shep. They have known each other for all their lives. They were sweethearts all through high school. But they broke up and grew apart. Henrietta gets a job in Detroit. She is told either get your parents to sell or lose your job. She goes home but she can’t make her parents sell. She quits her job. She and Shep date and fall back in love.

Unfortunately I could never get this book to download so I could , sadly ,not read it. I hope to pick up a copy from my library

Unfortunately I had to DNF this title. The heroine was not charistmatic and was very hard to root for. I didn't enjoy the flashbacks to her childhood at all either. I wish I could have made it further in this book, but unfortuantely I simply could not.

I ended up loving this Christmasy read! I have never heard of Frankenmuth, Michigan, but I have for sure added this city to my bucket list of places to travel. I also loved the protagonist was a 50ish year old woman. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. I did review the book on my bookstagram page (@thebookdistiller)

I absolutely adored this Holiday romance and family drama. This was such a sweet and beautiful story that will touch everyone's heart. So good!
I just reviewed The Wishing Bridge by Viola Shipman. #TheWishingBridge #NetGalley
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I love reading Christmas stories at this time of year, and I have loved all of Viola Shipman's stories in the past. I knew this was going to a win-win for me before I even started reading it. And I was not disappointed... at all.

Henrietta has tried to escape the family legacy, the renowned Wegner's Christmas store. She always wanted to prove that she could make it on her own and be her own women, out there in the big, bad business world. Coming back home to close the biggest deal of her life sets off a whole chain of events that has her doubting all of the decisions she has ever made in her life.

Told with the wonderment and magic of the Christmas season, The Wishing Bridge is a look at who and what is important and takes the reader on a journey to discover the joys of family and celebration. I fell in love with the Wegner community, which included family members as well as longtime friends in the community, friends who were like family. Christmas can be such a magical time of year.

Like I said, I have loved all of Shipman's stories for their hominess and love, and this one is going to the top of the list as one of my favorites. The Wishing Bridge is a must-read for everyone who enjoys a heartwarming holiday story. You will not be disappointed.

Henri is a woman who left her small home town and family Christmas business to become a big shot executive in a wall street business. The owner has died and his son is ruthless about money and warns Henri she is out unless she can find a business to buy and make the firm money. Henri tells him she can deliver Wegner’s—her family's iconic Frankenmuth, Michigan, Christmas store—to a massive, soulless corporation. It’s the kind of deal cool, corporate Henri has built her career on.
But now that she's home and involved with her Dad and his business she has a change of heart. She is determined to help her Dad and brother update and expand the store. But herrr boss isn't about to accept this change of heart. Another wonderful book frrom one of my favorite authors, Viola Shipman

This book brings you on a trip where Christmas meets Corporate, the single life explores family, and true friends stick by you no matter what. Very satisfying.

A perfect winter read that engages from the beginning. Get cozy and curl up with this holiday read! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a wonderful story of a woman who chooses a path in her life and then wonders if she choose the right one. She is coming back to her home town, which is very much like traveling to the North Pole due to the Christmas spirit and she has to look back at the past and what she choose to do.
She walked away from the love of her life, walked away from friends and family and walked away from the town the would always support her to move to the big city and make something of herself. What she did not take into account was that small towns protect their people and families and big cities could care less. Big cities are all about what can you do for us even though it may go against your beliefs or values.
The other question is can you really go back home and start again even at 50+ years old. Is it ever to late to make amends or when people care about you will they welcome you home like the prodigal son with tears, laughter and arms wide open.
Such a wonderful story by Viola Shipman full of the Christmas spirit and the feelings of the holiday.

Can I step right into this cover? The Wishing Bridge is Henrietta’s story. She works in mergers and acquisitions, a highly competitive, lucrative field. Her parents own an adorable Christmas shop in a small town in Michigan, and when Henri’s job is in jeopardy, she’s determined to convince her parents to sell the shop to a massive corporation.

Henri travels home to Frankenmuth to start her work. What she finds is entirely different than her previous plans…

Well, now I not only want to jump into the cover. I also want to visit Frankenmuth during the holidays? Wow. What a charming story of the magic of Christmas. There’s a little lost love spark, and all the small town dynamics with secrets of the past. I especially enjoyed the dynamics between the family members. There was so much love. Looking for a sweet holiday contemporary with a fantastic setting and a second chance story? Look no further.

I received a gifted copy.

This was an entertaining holiday romance. I liked the plot and the characters were a lot of fun. Very much recommend this book.

The Wishing Bridge by Viola Shipman (Wade Rouse) is the perfect book to read under a warm blanket during a cold December snow. It has the plot of a Hallmark movie and the main character's attitude evolution towards the holidays is very Hallmark as well. If you are a lover of all things Christmas, this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House for the chance to read this novel.

Henrietta Wagner's job is on the line. As a last ditch effort, Henri promises her boss that she can get her parents to sell their iconic Christmas store in Michigan. Henri's father built his business up from scratch and hoped to one day leave the business to Henri and her brother. So, after years of only pop in visits with her family, Henri travels to the town of Frankenmuth. Now, to get her parents willing to sell and not break the hearts of everyone that has faith in her.

Her parents are thrilled that Henri is visiting during the holidays, but her brother doesn't trust Henri's motives and even the friends she grew up with have their suspicions. Staying away from the real reason for her extended visit, Henri must contend with difficult texts from her boss. What is happening? Will his company be able to buy her parents business, in effect stealing it right from under them?

Viola Shipman does it best. Tells a story that captivates the reader, makes one feel compassion for the primary protagonist. Relates an impossible situation and yet delivers a satisfying conclusion. Bravo!

Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this book for review. This is my honest opinion.

Another heartwarming novel by Viola Shipman. The story is set in Frankenmuth, Michigan, which is a historic town with a year-round Christmas spirit. The main character, Henrietta, aka Henri, is a corporate acquisition executive. She needs to close a lucrative deal before the end of the year to keep her job. She impulsively tells her boss that she can convince her parents to sell their Frankenmuth Christmas store to a large corporation. Henri arrives home to orchestrate the deal in early December. As she reunites with her family and friends during the magical holiday season, Henri begins to doubt the choices of her cold corporate career. A touching story written with all the warmth and emotion that you come to expect in a Viola Shipman novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

Viola Shipman never disappoints! The story invites you in and the details make you feel as you are strolling the streets of Frankenmuth right along with the characters! Makes me want to jump in the car and drive there, it’s truly an experience everyone should have but this book is the next best thing. Absolutely recommend!