I have to say I am not normally a reader who reads festive fiction out of season but as there is a definite autumnal chill in the air I found that the season did a great job of adding the right seasonal atmosphere!

Beth Williams left Glendale Hall in Scotland at 16 thinking she had no other option but to leave her home and family. 10 years later she gets a call from her father to say that Beth’s Grandmother is ill and that Beth should return home. Beth brings her daughter, 10 year old, Izzie who will visit her mums childhood home for the first time.

Within a few pages I was hooked as the author introduced me to Beth and her daughter Izzie. It wasn’t long before I then got to see Glendale Hall and meet the rest of the family. From their meeting up after Beth’s long absence I was aware of an underlying anger and frustration as old feelings of sadness and rejection crept into the conversations as feelings of things being unsaid stood like a shadow around the adults.

Beth’s shock at how things had changed in the area after her decade away really did home for her and gives her a sense of motivation. People from her past come into her life once again, her best friend and also her first love. This adds for more tension between some of them and misunderstandings are rife. Yet another emotional twist is woven into an already emotional story.

Izzie is such a wonderful character and she is like glue, she has the ability through her childhood innocence to see things for what they actually are. She injects a great sense of fun and also the author uses her character to give others the ability to take part in Christmas activities that help put the sad feelings to one side for a moment.

This is a glorious read that brings out all the hurt and pain from the past, the author has brought everything to the forefront again and foces her characters to deal with things that have gone on in past. It is a personal journey for not only Beth but for others as well. As adults there are things that have happened and they have sat and festered, now is the time for them to be revisited.

This is not just a story about the family at Glendale Hall, it also encompasses the local village as well. The changes in the community have not been for the best and it has left the village feeling a loss of identity and is threatened. Its story works so well and compliments the one with Glendale so well and is perfectly woven.

This is a wonderful read that had me guessing and kept me on my toes right the way through. I was never sure how the author was going to work through the threads and there were several moments when I had that fabulous will they/ wont they feelings as I read. Nothing was guaranteed to work and it kept me addictively turning pages.

A wonderful read from the first to the last page that dealt with the past and the present and also the future, and it made for the ideal “snuggle down and read” book. It is one I would definitely recommend

Coming Home to Glendale Hall was another slow starter but once it got going I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a family driven story packed full of festive goodness, healing and forgiveness.

There is a second chance romance that wasn't as straight forward as I was anticipating (bit of a love-triangle) but it felt like it was secondary to the family and community driven elements of the book.
It was a surprisingly emotional and uplifting read packed full of the magic of Christmas.

The characters were likeable and relatable, even the ones who were doing, or had done, things that weren't so nice.
The setting was beautiful... Glendale Hall felt like a character in itself, although the regularity of snow was a little bit unrealistic even for the Scottish Highlands! But it gave the story an extra sprinkling of magic so I can't complain too much.

I guess the thing that irked me about the story was the pseudo-love triangle and the constant repetition of things we already knew.
Not to mention the fact that the entire plot would have fallen apart if the parents of the 16-year-old (who ran away to London to have a baby all alone!) had just a long and honest conversation with their daughter at some point over the course of the 10 years she was gone!
But hey ho.
Minor irks do not take away from the fact that this was a lovely read that gave me all the festive feels.

What a delightful story this turned out to be! The setting (Scotland) naturally lent itself to a cozy, family oriented Christmas gathering for me and it worked so well. The plot was on point and lighthearted as well as gave me all the feels. Overall, the story is well-rounded with a focus on family and communication as well as learning from mistakes. There's something here for everyone! Definitely recommend!

If you have any doubts about reading another Christmas book, no worries here. Check out this highly rated Christmas romance now!

A delightful, sweet, heartwarming Christmas romance! Loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title Coming Home to Glendale Hall

Author Victoria Walters

Release Date September 25, 2019

Description from Amazon

Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. When she fell pregnant at just sixteen, knowing that her family would never approve, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate that had been her home, building a new life for herself and her daughter hundreds of miles away.

But when her father begs her to return home to see her gravely ill grandmother, Beth is apprehensive at the thought of seeing her family again. With her daughter Isabelle, now a feisty ten-year-old, in tow, she plans to cut her visit as short as she can whilst fulfilling her duty.

Beth has worked hard to leave her past behind her, living in London with Isabelle and working hard to be the best single mother she can be. Returning to the Glendale Hall estate means facing her strict and unaffectionate mother, formidable grandmother, as well her teenage boyfriend, Drew, who broke her heart and doesn’t know that he has a daughter.

But Beth is about to discover that everyone has their own version of the past, and the true story she thought she knew for the last ten years might well be a very different one to the truth. Will Beth be able to find it in her heart to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? Or will she end up running away all over again?

Your home isn’t a place, it’s the people you share it with.

Initial Thoughts

Now that my birthday is officially in the past (sigh, I love my birthday), I can officially begin reading Christmas books. This book sounded adorable and while it’s not YA, it sounded like a super cute read.

Some Things I Liked

Gilmore Girls vibes. I loved that this story reminded me of Gilmore Girls. A rich girl gets pregnant at 16 and feels like she needs to do everything for herself – sound familiar?
Love, Rosie vibes. Similarly, one of my favorite rom-coms is Love, Rosie and this book gave me all the same feelings.
The relationships. I loved that this book focused on the relationships between all fo the characters. I have read far too many Christmas books where everything is perfect and nobody seems to have any real problems. This book was riddled with real issues. I really enjoyed seeing how everything panned out and I thought that Beth’s relationship with her mother and grandmother was really interesting.
Harry Potter references. I loved all of the references in this story. They were subtle but I loved them all the same.

Final Thoughts

I read this book all in one sitting. I fell in love with the story. It was so cute and made me wish it was December. I loved every page.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Last Note by Grace McGinty – if you liked all of the feelings and slightly older characters in this story, give The Last Note book a try. It’s a bit more of a tear-jerker, but still has a ton of emotions and a really nice story.
The Christmas Countdown by Donna Ashcroft – if you like cute, Christmas rom-coms, check out this book.
Christmas at Frozen Falls by Kiley Dunbar – I literally just started this one, but it’s giving me all kinds of similar vibes. If you’re in the mood for something Christmas-y, pick up a copy of Christmas at Frozen Falls.

What a wonderfully heart warming story. Beth and Drew were childhood sweethearts.
Drew was 18, he was destined for great things and was following his dreams of becoming a Dr, first of all he was moving to America to study.
Beth was sixteen living in the family home Glendale Hall with her parents and grandmother and dreaming of working outdoors when she discovers she is pregnant.
Fast forward 10 years. Drew lives in Boston and Beth and Izzy live in London. Beth’s grandmother is unwell so a visit home for Christmas is required.
A tale of chances and missed opportunities unfold. Was is really worth coming home to Glendale Hall and all of the memories this brought flooding back.

Absolutely loved this book and will definitely have Victoria on my Author watch list from now on.

This is a complex story about multiple generations and multiple secrets that require multiple plot lines. As I often see in contemporary British literature, the story was slow to unwind. But if you understand this and just go along with it, you might just feel yourself pulled into the complex web of the story like I did. I kept this book off to the side near my computer, and when my computer slowed to a crawl at certain websites, I would just pull this book out and keep reading. I sometimes found that when the site came in, I wanted to continue reading anyway. I often did and even stayed up later than I should have on certain nights so that I could read more.

I thought that the book was perhaps not as cohesive in structure as it could have been. It could have been tighter. I had recently read a similar multi-generation book that had a very controlled structure, and I did like that better.

The book is told solely from their perspective of a daughter who is coming home after ten years away. There were problems at that time that caused her to essentially run away from her family, which I will let you discover for yourself, but her grandmother is dying, so her father asks her to come back for her grandma's last Christmas. So she and her young daughter return to the family home in Scotland. I don't want to give too much away, but there are plot lines that have to do with just about everyone in the story: the main hero and heroine of the romance (of course) as well as a side romance, the dissolution of a long-standing relationship, the bringing together of a community that seems to be in its own death throes, and the revelation of several secrets that have a significant impact on several of the relationships. The author definitely put these characters into some tricky circumstances, but she made the characters seem very realistic and relatable. Most of the characters are inherently good people who might have made bad decisions in the past but are trying during the holiday season to make amends and make things right. I think stories of hope, forgiveness, family, and community are perfect for holiday stories, as these themes are such essential elements for the Christmas season itself. If you would enjoy meandering contemporary British literature as I do and heartfelt family stories that are complex and feel so genuine, you may very well enjoy this book.

A good Christmas read that enjoys realistic characters with honest reactions.

Pregnant at 16, Beth leaves home when her grandmother tells her that everyone in the house agrees she should have an abortion. She surprises herself at how strong she really is. She makes her and Izzy’s home in London and doesn’t return home for ten years.

Gran has become so sick that if Beth and Izzy to not return home now, they may never see her again. Izzy’s father, Drew, didn’t know Beth was pregnant when he left Ireland for America. Coming home after all this time, makes Beth very nervous. It doesn’t take long to discover that Drew has also come home for the holidays.

Walls crumble between the members of Beth’s family. Will they fall as easily between her and Drew? What about when he discovers he is a father to a 10-year-old? Will they ever spend time together?

This book is an easy, but interesting read. It is refreshing in that the characters do not immediately change when learning a new fact that affects them greatly. The author uses more appropriate reactions, allowing the characters to process this information. Drew truthfully states that it will take him time to process information. This leaves the reader wondering if everything will be happier ever after for all the characters or only some.


I received an ARC from Hera Books and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review.

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley in exchange for an (honest) review.
This was really cute! I am not a Christmassy or decorative person but this makes me want to be one! I loved Beth and Drew’s relationship but really wish they had gotten together sooner so I could see more of it play out. A sequel for Heather and Rory might be nice as well showcasing their relationship as well as highlighting Beth and Drew too. I loved the setting and the plot was great. I really enjoyed this one.

Who does not want forgiveness and second chances?
Victoria Walters presents "Coming Home to Glendale Hall. A feel good romantic read that will make you smile", published by Hera Books. The book contains a number of interesting characters: There is Beth who ran away from her home in Scotland because she was pregnant at sixteen. Now she is back in Glendale Hall due to guilt and duty and discovers multiple lies and secrets. Her daughter Izzy (Isabelle) is smart and loves to read. She always wanted to know her dad and is finally getting to know the place where her mother grew up and some of her relatives. Drew was Beth's boyfriend and they had planned to get married pone day. He is a medical doctor who studied in the US and is also surprisingly visiting his home. He is ignorant of the fact that he is Izzy's father. What will happen when he learns the truth? Beth's mother Caroline is very proper, but drinks too much and has problems in her marriage. Will there be something to heal her relationship with Beth? David, although being Beth's father is pretty absent from life at home and is having an affair. Nevertheless it was he who asked Beth to come home. Interestingly it was Margaret, Beth's grandmother, who wanted Beth to have an abortion. Now she is terminally sick and troubled by the lies she told ten years ago that tore the family apart. Will she have the chance to correct things? And then there is the village of Glendale which is endangered. Will there be a way to restore it? Who will be able to do it?
This was the first book by Victoria Walters which I read and I am looking forward to more books by this author. I highly recommend this book of homecoming, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters are strong, believable, and well developed. Walters puts importance on family, family ties, and forgiveness, but she also touches the topic of abortion. It is indeed a feel good story, even if it is a long book.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#ComingHomeToGlendaleHall #NetGalley

I recommend you go grab yourself a copy of this book right now – it is an amazing emotional roller coaster festive second-chance romance and just – wow! – what a great read.

When her Grandmother informed the pregnant sixteen year old Beth Williams that she was going to take her to the doctors in the morning to arrange for her to have an abortion, Beth packed her bags and ran away to London. She believed her parents agreed with her Gran but was determined to keep her baby safe and let the baby’s father, Drew, follow his dreams. Ten years later, her Gran has terminal cancer and Beth returns home to Glendale Hall for the first time. As confessions reveal secrets that have torn her family apart, Drew also returns home but is unaware that he has a daughter. What will his reaction be to discovering he’s a father? What is going on with Beth’s parents? Why is no one fighting to save the village she has such happy memories of?

This is a moving story with great characters that are easy to empathise with. Discovering the lies that have torn the family apart for a decade leaves deep emotional wounds that will take some healing. Can Beth’s return to Glendale Hall give her a second chance to reconnect with her first love, her family and the community she grew up with?

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book, absolutely adored reading it and this is my honest review after doing so.

If you are looking for a cozy book to curl up with this winter this is the perfect book for it. Coming Home to Glendale Hall has a bit more grit than the typical fluffy christmas book but it's still spirt-y enough to keep it light and enjoyable.

I really loved getting to know Beth and Izzy. Izzy may be one of my favorite kid characters ever! She's a doll.

Overall I enjoyed my stop at Glendale Hall and think it's a great novel for the cozy season!

5☆ A Heart Warming, Cosy Romance, Full of Festive Cheer that will Melt Your Heart!

Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a heart warming and Cosy Romance about Second Chances, repairing fractured relationships, Secrets and New Beginnings.

Beth hasn't been home for ten years, since she run away from home after she fell pregnant at just sixteen.
But when her father rings her and begs her to come home to see her grandmother before she passes away, she knows she has no choice but to home.

So she sets off back to Glendale Hall with Daughter Isabelle.
But can Beth forgive her family and make peace with her Grandmother or are the wounds just too deep?

Beth's return isn't going to be easy as another blast from her past rocks up and is about to get one big shock. As secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface.

I loved Beth and Her daughter Isabelle relationship. They are so close and strong it's so wonderful to see how much they support each other. Especially as Beth isn't finding being home easy, and having Isabelle by her side makes her so strong.

Although this is a festive romance it's about so much more, it's about family, and repairing fractured relationships. It's about forgiveness and letting go. I also loved the community spirit and how they all pull together to save their village.

I adored everything about this Gorgeous Book, the cover is so cosy and festive.
Walters has created a magical location, the perfect setting for a festive romance.
The Characters are simply delightful, they are very relatable and very well written.

So if you are looking for an Enchanting, Heart Warming, Cosy Romance that will melt your heart and leave you feeling all warm and festive then this truly is the PERFECT Book for You!!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What a sweet , Realistic , Heart-warming and Relatable Novel . Coming Home to Glendale Hall Is a book about Family , Holidays , Love , Forgiveness With great deal Of Nostalgic Christmas Vibes .
I really loved reading about Beth and Izzy Life , the challenges they went through with their family and their relation .
All the characters were brilliant , supportive and added great element to this beautiful story .
Victoria Walters Words are delightful , her writing style is charming and really entertaining , I couldn’t put the book down Until I finished it completely , Definitely going to check out her other books .
If you like warm books , full of Christmas vibes , family secrets , touching moments with great writing style then You should read Coming Home to Glendale Hall.

This is the first book I have read by Victoria Walters. What have I been doing all my life to not have read one of her books! After reading the synopsis I instantly knew this was a bit of me and I just had to read it!

The story follows Beth, running away from home at sixteen, pregnant and alone. Beth has learnt to cope without her family while bringing up daughter Isabelle. But Ten years later a Christmas family reunion brings Beth back to Glendale bringing up all sorts of emotions that she thought she had buried deep.

Feelings of regret overwhelm Beth after witnessing the breakdown of her family and the decline of the local village. Especially after seeing the love of her life Drew who she never quite got over... I mean after reading this I can't seem to get over him neither!
Beth has to put her feelings to one side to support her family, the community and more importantly her daughters happiness.

Where to start?! I loved all the characters throughout the story, all having their own background and mini story not just Beth. My favourite was definitely Isabelle... a book worm who would rather stay inside to read then go outside will always have my vote.

The story takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions that's for sure. The story and the characters felt very real and totally relatable that you easily got swept up in the situations that arose in the story. The first chapter had me hooked and I struggled to put it down when adulting got in the way.

This book had me feeling super Christmassy which was a nice distraction from the grey damp weather we have been having! The festive trail sounded beautiful making me wish I could visit Glendale and the festivities.

All in all a charming book that I would recommend you read anytime of the year, not just Christmas.

Home is where the heart is... That quote is simply perfect for this story.

This is one of those special festive books which you dive straight into and feel sorry when it has finished. It has a great setting, up in snowy Scotland and you feel from the beginning that this sad, run-down village conceals a community that is ready to find its identity again - a bit like Beth herself, really. As she settles back into life in the Hall, she begins to remember some of the good moments from her childhood as well as the trauma which sent her away. You know that she is a fighter and will her on to help heal the fractured family and community she meets again.

I loved the relationship which Beth has with her grandmother. She struggles to forgive her for the past but you can sense that there is a strong bond between all the female members of this family. You come to understand somethng about Beth's mother's behaviour, as well, and realise that there are many tensions beneath the facade she presents to the world. With romances brewing and lots of Christmas sparkle, this is a lovely book to savour. Second chances and starting anew with a clean page - there is hope and affection in every page.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book.

Oh, my days! Lawd help me, this was only my second Christmassy read of the year so far and I’m already a big snottery mess of festive mush. Attractive, aren’t I? *snorts*

“Your home isn’t a place, it’s the people you share it with.”

*sigh*

Never a truer word spoken *shakes head*, I mean written!

*sings*

🎼 Regrets, I’ve had a few... 🎼

Now, don’t laugh, but these lyrics were on repeat in my head when I read this story along with...

🎼 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... 🎼

That’s some mash-up for you there, isn’t it? *laughs*

This is a tale of family, friendship, community, secrets, forgiveness, and second-chance love backlit by the *sings* 🎼 most wonderful time of the year! 🎼

(Sorry *blushes*, I don’t know what’s gotten into me!)

As Beth is about to find out, anything worth having is worth fighting for. Don’t live with regrets! We all deserve love and happiness.

*blubs*

TMI alert – I think my hormones are giving me a rumble. I apologise for the mush *palms face*.

There are so many wonderful characters in this story, for a plethora of reasons. But little Izzy stole my heart. Her heart and wide-eyed innocence shine through.

Plus, as it’s a Christmas story, and in good old panto fashion, we have a couple of characters to boo and hiss at!

I was having full on conversations with the characters via my kindle screen. Did they listen? Pfft, what do you think? *rolls eyes*

Victoria Walters can definitely tell a story and I wish I could bottle the feelings it left me with at the end.

Finally, this quote *points down* says it all:

“...always remember to show the people we love how we feel before it’s too late.”

Okay then, I won’t bore you lot any longer. Just add this gem to your festive reading list!

Christmas comes but once a year yet I never feel that a festive tale should be saved for the holiday season alone as stories as special as this one wouldn't see the light of day as often as they deserve. This book was a dream come true and one that I know I won't be forgetting any time soon.


The narrative was like a warm and welcomed hug that pulled me in with it's glowing charm, it was a sheer delight from start to finish and I loved each and every moment of it. The art of forgiveness wove a neat and emotional thread throughout the tale which acted as a catalyst for many outstanding moments in the plot.

Beth's plight was filled with heartache and hope and I fell in love with her character in an instant. Her steely determination to succeed in life at all costs, for herself and her daughter, was both inspiring and uplifting and I was a true believer in all that she could and would achieve. Her connection to the gorgeous Drew kept this book alive with a simmering chemistry that had me on the edge of my seat in a will they won't they moment that kept me second guessing right until the final moments. But I can't discuss character creations and miss out the tiny star herself which is Izzy, Beth's daughter, who lit up every scene she was in with her remarkable perception on life and true heart of gold.

Coming Home to Glendale Hall was an extraordinarily moving story that had me reaching for the Kleenex one minute and smiling from ear to ear the next. This cannot be the last we hear from these outstanding characters so I will sit here patiently waiting for my next visit to this gorgeous pocket of the world.

Victoria Walters has written a wonderful, festive, feelgood story about real people with real life problems. Beth Williams fled her home in a small country village in Scotland ten years ago. She was 16 and had just discovered she was pregnant and not wanting to upset her family anymore she leaves her home and heads for London. Scared and all alone Beth finds the strength and courage to bring her daughter into the world but she still has resentful feelings for the family that disowned her. However, 10 years on and Beth with her daughter Izzy are on their way back to Scotland to the home she grew up in as her grandmother is very ill. Beth is very apprehensive for her return to the family home but as soon as she drives up the gravel drive and sees the gardens she adored a sense of longing that she put to the back of her heart and mind is emerging.
There is a frosty atmosphere within the household but the enthusiasm of Beth's daughter Izzy visiting the house is infectious. Beth slowly starts to remember what she loved about living in Glendale Hall and the village life but when they visit the village centre they are shocked to see it's almost deserted with many well loved shops and cafes closed. With the help of her old school friend Heather the girls are on a mission to bring the community back together. Will bringing the community together help break down the barriers that have built within her own family?
However, when a figure from her past turns up Beth's life is about to be turned upside down. Beth fell in love with Drew ten years ago and thought she'd never see him again. Her emotions are so confused at the moment and she doesn't know what to believe or which step to make?
A story filled with a family full of secrets and miscommunications. When life gives you a second chance will this be the moment your heart and mind could be set free and be able to move forward?
Perfect festive loveliness.