Coming Home to Glendale Hall (Glendale Hall, #1)

by Victoria Walters

'WOW! From the first page I was absolutely hooked...Would highly recommend to get you in a feel good mood!’ (5 stars) Netgalley reviewer

Uplifting and full of heart - this is an utter treat of a book! The perfect feelgood read for fans of Heidi Swain, Cathy Bramley and Sue Moorcroft, from the bestselling author of Summer at the Kindness Cafe.

Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. After falling pregnant at sixteen, she ran away from her family and the imposing Scottish estate where she grew up, working hard to build a life for herself and daughter Isabelle - but now she’s returning to Glendale Hall.

As Beth tries to mend her broken family ties, and fights to bring the community of Glendale back together, she realises that the story she has told herself for a decade might well be a very different one from the truth. Even though she ran from Glendale it has never left her heart. And, she soon realises, neither has Drew – Beth’s first love.

Will Beth be able to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? What will Drew say when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him for so long? Can a festive trail bring the village back together?

Will returning to Glendale bring back the old magic that she’s been missing - or will Beth be forced to run away from it all over again?

A charming, magical novel that will warm your heart – the perfect read to curl up with this winter. Fans of Trisha Ashley, Debbie Johnson and Cathy Bramley will love this gorgeously romantic read.

Readers are loving Coming Home to Glendale Hall:

‘5☆ A Heart Warming, Cosy Romance, Full of Festive Cheer that will Melt Your Heart!’ Dash Fan Book Reviews

‘It’s a feel good, heart warming read bursting to the seams with family bonds, romance and hope and goodwill.’ By The Letter Reviews

‘Full of charm, heart, humour, pathos and emotion, Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a brilliant read I absolutely adored.’ Bookish Jottings

‘An amazing, emotional roller coaster festive second-chance romance and just – wow! – what a great read.’ Splashes into Books

‘all the ingredients you’d want in a wonderful festive fiction treat; warmth, tradition, family, joy and hope…An utter treat full of heart and guaranteed to lift your spirits.’ Bee Books Beauty

‘I adored the beautiful storytelling, the outstanding seasonal descriptions and attention to detail, but most of all I adored the poignant and emotional underlying message.’ The Writing Garnet

‘an idyllic setting for a winter romance novel. The story is about family and friendship, rediscovering roots and the magic of first love.’ Waggy Tales Blog

‘I loved this book, it's so cosy and happy…the sort of book you can curl up on a cold day to read. 5 stars all the way’ (5 stars) Netgalley reviewer

‘I just could not put this book down, it had me sad, happy and every other emotion you can think of. I loved every minute of it.’ (5 stars) Netgalley reviewer

• ISBN13: 9781788636070
• Publish Date: 25 September 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Canelo
• Imprint: Canelo Hera
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Emma (SCR)]

This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you to Rachel for letting me take part in this tour and to Hera for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I read part 1 of Vicky's A Random Acts of Kindness last year and I loved her style so when I saw Vicky had written a Christmas book I was so excited!

Before you start this book I would check your hot chocolate stocks because this book really gave me the winter cravings. I was snuggled up on my sofa with a hot chocolate and my blanket and it was heaven.

Beth hasn't been home to Glendale Hall for 10 years. Her family turned their backs on her and she felt she had no option but to leave. Now she's returning with her daughter Izzy for what might be her Nan's last Christmas. Beth Williams was very easy to like. She is strong, independent and a wonderful mum. Izzy and Beth have a very strong and close relationship.

Also back in Glendale is Drew. Drew and Beth dated before she left Glendale but she left suddenly and broke his heart. I fell a little bit in love with Drew I won't lie. I mean he's a Dr, he's sweet, kind, caring and I've always had a secret love of redheads.

This book is more than just a Christmas romance though. This book is about family, community spirit and forgiveness. It's about following your dreams and letting go of the hurt and pain of the past.

This is my first Christmas book of the season and let me tell you it was a great one to start with. I can't wait to see what Vicky brings us next.

[Lynn]

Reluctantly driving up to her family home in Northern Scotland, Beth Williams journey is a reluctant one. Along with her daughter, they are spending Christmas with her family because her grandmother is ill and her father pleaded with her to come. However, once she's back at the place she ran away from, it triggers memories and awakes passions she's long forgotten. So when fate steps in to shake up her life, she has to decide whether she can fall in love again with the place she called home and the man she ran away from. 

There's plenty within the narrative I guessed would happen but still, the author manages to inject surprise elements which warmed my heart. As a mum with such a child, I particularly appreciated the references to red hair and the prejudices often faced by those lucky to have such a striking physical feature. I admire the inclusion, highlighting both the negatives and the positives of which I'm a firm admirer of the latter. 

The message of this poignant narrative is righting the wrongs, to make peace with the past so to clear the way for the future. This sentiment is true for Beth's family as well as her relationship with Drew. It's a reminder of how damaging words can be and how they can shape peoples beliefs. Sadness aside, there's plenty of wonderful Christmassy references with a strong emphasis on community spirit. The characters are all loveable and with the beautiful Scottish backdrop, you'll be wanting to pack your bags to spend Christmas there, within this beautiful part of the world. 

Plenty of Christmas themed novels are around now and if you're interested in a story filled with hope, second chances and a happy ending, this one is definitely worth a read. 

***arc generously provided by the publisher Hera via NetGalley***