Member Reviews
I really enjoyed this book. It was a great story with lovely characters. will definitely be looking out for this author in the future
I always love a nice festive book, and this one was set in Scotland. I love Scotland, and I love reading books that are set there. I have read a previous book by Victoria Walters, and really enjoyed it. I was happy to have an early copy from Netgalley and the Publisher to review.
This book starts off with Beth, as she returns home to Glendale Hall with her daughter Izzy. She has lived away in London for 10 years, after falling out with her family. Her Grandmother is dying, and she needs to see her one last time. With her family back together, secrets are revealed, along with misunderstandings. Beth is shocked to see how much things have changed in the village in her absence.
I thought that this book was enjoyable, and an easy read. It was good to read about the community rallying together.
Snow at Christmas, as well as a Christmas event give the book a very festive feel.
The book was fairly predictable, although there were a few surprises along the way, and I still enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book for a fun and festive easy read.
"No matter how far you go, home is where the heart is...
Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. After falling pregnant at sixteen, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate where she grew up rather than risk her family’s disapproval, working hard to build a life for herself and daughter Isabelle - but now she’s finally 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 Christmas work its magic on Glendale - or will Beth be forced to run away from it all over again?
A charming, uplifting novel that will warm your heart - the perfect read to curl up with this autumn. Fans of Trisha Ashley, Debbie Johnson and Cathy Bramley will love this gorgeously romantic read."
Like a Christmas Scottish Gilmore Girls!
Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a delightful Christmas story about a broken family, that is brought together for Christmas. Beth left home, Scotland, at age sixteen, because she was pregnant, and moved to London.. Beth and her daughter Isabelle return to Glendale Hall, since her grandmother is dying. Beth has not been back since she left at age sixteen. There are more ups and downs in this beautiful story. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I will be reading more books by this author. I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.
Cute, heartwarming Christmas story that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46733407
I feel as if every Christmas season, I need to read at least one book that's all about coming home - usually featuring a long-standing, maybe even unfounded, grudge and a family needing to grow back together.
If you feel like this season you haven't got that fix yet? Coming Home to Glendale Hall has everything you need.
From the idyllic background of Scotland, to multiple snowy mornings - and even a white Christmas! Combine that with a double miscommunication that is about to be resolved after 10 years of distance... And of course to top it all off: a more realistic view of a happy after - where that might mean getting the man, or just finding the strength to continue on your own. Not to forget Beth's daugher Izz, who was basically me as a ten-year-old...
Honestly, this book somehow manages to deliver just about every element you could be looking for in a holiday read. And it is narrated in such a clever way that it had me gasping and reeling at a plot twist I did *not* see coming. Mind you, that was right after putting tears in my eyes for a goodbye that was very obviously coming. I will definitely need to check out Victoria Walters' writing!
Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.
An amazing novel, heartwarming and entertaining. It's an excellent Christmas book and I loved it.
I liked the cast of characters, the atmosphere and the setting.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Beth and Izzy are doing just fine! It had been just the two of them for 10 years and, returning to Glendale was purely to see Beth's grandmother before she passed away. Beth and Izzy live in London where Beth had fled after her grandmother made it clear that an illegitimate child would not be welcomed at Glendale Hall. Abandoned by her family, Beth had done her absolute best to make a good life for them both. Her heart still ached for what could have been but, Beth knows that she would never have prevented Drew from taking his University place in Boston.
Arriving back in Scotland, Beth remembers happier times and, bumping into her childhood best-friend, Heather is bittersweet. Happy to reconnect but devastating to learn that the Village of Glendale is in terrible decline and that her Father is involved in a money making scheme that would see Glendale turned into lodges and no shops or the library left.
Beth's life changes when her grandmother confesses to having manipulated the situation and effectively driving Beth away. Beth's parents are estranged with her Father having an affair and her mother drinking to excess. When things look hopeless, Izzy''s Father, Drew, returns for a visit and he knows nothing about his daughter except for what Beth told him in a letter to which he never responded.
Can Beth unite the villagers and save Glendale? Can she repair the damaged relationship with her parents and, is there any hope that Drew will be interested in learning about Izzy?
This is a magical tale with the perfect mix of well described characters and scenes coupled with the anguish of unfinished business.
This is my first official Christmas read of 2019 and what a magical start!
Coming Home To Glendale Hall has all the ingredients you'd want in a wonderful festive fiction treat; warmth, tradition, family, joy and hope.
Beth has so much to struggle with on her return to her Scottish childhood home with her now 10 year old daughter, Izzy. Her relationship with her Mum is strained, her father is mostly absent, her Grandmother is gravely ill, her childhood friends are surprised to see her back, and the village she cared about has changed dramatically since she left. Add in the mix the simultaneous return of her first love, Drew, and things become ever more complicated. However, determined to make this the best Christmas possible for Izzy, they share so many festive delights, traditions and memories that thaws even the coldest hearts.
There's so much to say about the hall itself; as a fan of stately homes I could visualise the gardens and the large kitchen, and picture how grand it all was at the centre of the community in Glendale. The beautiful picture on the book cover really does it justice and provides that spectacular Scottish backdrop to this tale. There were little touches throughout the book that really added something a bit special to the plot, and I truly enjoyed every page.
This is a story about what matters at Christmas (and any time); family, forgiveness, magic and hope. Though it's not all snow flurries and hot chocolates. As secrets threaten to tear the fragile bonds of both the family and the community apart Beth isn't the only one that has to reconcile with the past and decide what the future holds.
An utter treat full of heart and guaranteed to life your spirits.
This is so much more than a Christmas book, although the festivities do take up a good part of the story. It is more a book about family, forgiveness, and a fight to save a local high street and thus the community of Glendale.
It's the first time that Beth has been back to Glendale Hall in 10 years, and the first time her daughter Isabelle has ever been to Scotland, not to mention the Hall. Beth has only returned because it may be her grandmother's last Christmas, and it felt like the right thing to do, even though it may have been her fault that Beth left the Hall all those years ago.
There is 10 years of hurt to try to get past, and Beth is amazed how much has changed in Glendale, and how at home she and her daughter seem to feel there. There are so many fabulously heart warming storylines in this book, and they all work so well.
I loved everything about this book especially all the festive celebrations, but also ... well no I do mean everything. I'm not going to list fabulous things about this book, you are best discovering them for yourself.
From the first few pages this story captured my heart, and it was a sheer joy to read it. Between old friends, old loves, and rediscovering a love of Glendale and her family, it truly is a wonderful book. I enjoyed curling up with it and throwing myself into loving every second of it.
Definitely a book to add to your winter reading pile!
Thank you to Hera on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I was disappointed in this book the description was so good, yet the main character is unlikeably and story was slow.
Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #cominghometoglendalehall #netgalley
Beth Williams is 26 years old and is a single mum to her daughter Isabelle. She ran away from her family 10 years ago when she found out she was pregnant. Can Beth's return to Glendale Hall for Christmas provide the answers she desperately needs and will her future remain the same as her past.
Although it is only September, with the weather turning colder, i fancied reading a christmas book. The cover of this book enticed me in with the beautiful Glendale hall and snow covered cover.
Once opening the book it is a page turner. Each chapter has a cliff hanger. The next chapter answers the previous chapters cliff hangers and then provides more cliff hangers. This is something i love within a book and it also makes the book a page turner. I read this book in 48 hours. Any spare time i had i felt myself wanting to oixk this book up.
This book is a great cosy read and you never feel that you are missing anything from the story line allowing you to follow it through until the end with confidence that you will get a good ending. Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as parents divorce and teenage pregnancies and single parenthood. I do not feel this takes away from the cosy feel of the book.
I would love a follow on book in this series regarding Beths relationship with Drew and her new life at the hall.
I love a Christmassy book and the title and front cover of this one really appealed to me!
Beth fled her childhood home at the tender age of sixteen to start a new life in London after a family disagreement! Ten years later she is summoned home by her father as her grandmother is dying and wants to see her and her daughter Izzie ,Beth is dreading the visit as she doesn’t really get on with her parents and hasn’t been home for so long. The magic of her home, her childhood sweetheart,and the Christmas period along with a deathbed confession throw Beth’s life into disarray and make her acknowledge her true feelings, needs,and desires.A beautifully written book perfect for the Christmas period full of hope,snow, love, food and Christmas what more could you want?
Thank you net galley for this early read
Really lovely christmas read. I enjoyed it imensley. Easy to read and unputdownable. Thank you netgalley for a copy in return for an honest review.
What a sweet and heartfelt book this was. Cosy and touching with just the right amount of Christmas themes thrown in. Glendale hall sounds amazing, I kind of wish someone would adapt this story for tv or film.
Beth and Izzy had a great relationship to read about, it’s nice when a mother daughter bond is portrayed so positively. Even Beth’s backstory at home had a nice plot in the end. I liked that everything wasn’t tied up too tidily and a little bit of mystery was still left for the reader.
All in all a very satisfying and cosy read.
This book is as gorgeous on the inside as it is on the outside. There are so many things going on in this story- decline of Glendale, family relationships and secrets.
This was a book which was really lovely to read and difficult to put down. The style of writing was engaging and the plot is easy to follow.
The characters in the book are easily relatable and the book has an extremely picturesque setting which makes this a stunning read.
This is the first book I've read by Walters, but it definitely won't be the last. This is a story which has left me smiling.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A great Christmassy, heart-warming story proving that yes, you can go home again. After 10 years away, the impending death of her grandmother brings Beth and her young daughter back home. But while she has been gone, home has changed. The village is on the edge of ruin, and some relationships are in danger as well. With the same grit and determination that sustained her 10 years ago, Beth is determined to forge a new future.
I love Christmas books and was thrilled to get a copy through Netgalley. It has all the ingredients of a magical Christmas story with strong interesting characters, snowy scenes and family values. Beth returns home to Glendale Hall with her daughter after running away as a frightened pregnant sixteen year old. She just wants to see her elderly grandmother, have Christmas and leave. She feels there are too many unhappy memories to keep her in Scotland but can the past be healed. Her daughter would love to meet her father but Beth hasn't seen her teenage sweetheart since she ran away what will happen when they meet again. Ok so the ending is predictable but how the story unfolds is a real page turner and a great read
Lovely feel good read. It was well written and flowed well. I enjoyed it very much. The plot was good and interesting. Hard to put down