This is the third book in this series and, even though I have read the other two, I read them last year and admit I don’t remember much about them. I do know I was pretty disappointed in them. And this one? Well…

It’s not horrible but it still misses the mark. I think my biggest issue is the conflict was too weak. (This seems to be the general problem with most romances I’ve read of late.) There’s no real reason the hero and heroine can’t get together. This means Wine tries to add some along the way and she doesn't manage to pull this off well at all. This vain attempt by Wine to add a little bit of tension towards the end unfortunately ends up ruining any chance the book had of winning me over, with the heroine suddenly sounding like a snobby shrew. I’m not sure if that was what Wine was intending.

Talking of tension, there was not much sexual tension between the leads. There was a bit of a nice moment where they were making music together (literally) and Wine could have taken advantage and made this a little sensual but it was wasted because, by this time, they’d already been intimate.

There was also this part right at the end, almost an epilogue, which was completely wasted. It was an okay idea and I don’t understand why Wine didn’t just use this as the plot/conflict, instead of the usual ‘returning to your hometown and meeting up with your first love’ trope. (I feel like writers need to take a break from this trope. Seriously.)

Wine also never took full advantage of the setting (supposedly a coastal area in Queensland), the foodporn (the chef from the other books is mentioned again) or the heartbreak of having a parent who is a hoarder and suffering from dementia.

Christmas is... mentioned but it is a fleeting mention. And in fact, unless I messed up the timeline somewhere along the line, the hero even has a bit of a working bee with one of his employees on Christmas Day. Not what most of us do usually…

Anyway, 2 wasted opportunities out of 5 maybe?

I tend to read books that appeal regardless of whether or not they are written for the time of year in which I am reading. Her Christmas Homecoming was one such book, set in the hot, humid weather that is Christmas on the Australian east coast. This book is one of a multi-author series set around a resort development at Rainbow Cove. I was familiar with some of the peripheral characters but really the story stands alone well.
It took me a while to get into the story. I was not taken with the beginning, which is set in a cemetery. I found the aggressive meeting between protagonists Je Marshall and Marta Field somewhat disconcerting. As a result I was a little perplexed when in the next chapter things were completely different.
This is a classic second chance at love story, with Marta and Joe coming back together after about ten years apart. These two both had lots of baggage to unload. For Marta it was dealing with a mother who had early onset dementia and a brother in jail. For Joe, it’s the after-effects of a very controlling mother. The story is nicely paced and flowed well with a satisfactory conclusion although I did feel that things were tied up just a little too neatly at the end.

This book has a very distinct Aussie feel. The language, at times, was a little hard to understand because I am not from Australia, but the story was good.

Joe had taken over the farm when his father passed away. He was estranged from his mother who was controlling and manipulative and had almost destroyed both Joe and his sister. He was happy with his life except for one thing; the only woman he had ever loved had left without telling him why. When he goes to his father's gravesite one morning, he sees her at his father's tombstone. What the heck was Marta doing here? Why would she be at his father's grave?

Marta had left when Joe's mother had threatened her family. Her mother was now in a care facility with advancing dementia and her brother, Ben, was in prison. She had come back home to clean out her childhood home and sell it so she could get back to her life in Sydney. She didn't count on seeing Joe and having all those former feelings return.

This was a story about interesting family dynamics and how that shapes who you become. The sex scenes were behind closed doors and not descriptive but there was some foul language, including a few f-bombs thrown in to the story.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

The third book in The Rainbow Cove series, Shirley Wine bring to life the story of Marta and Joe. This is a second chance romance story, and it will not disappoint you. Grab yourself a copy and find out for yourself.
I am enjoying this series and am looking forward to reading the final book.

First I want to say thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my review. There were a few things that kept me from really enjoying this book. Some of them being the characters. I felt like Marta was the worst character of all time. She was rude and narcissistic. She bullied others. The relationship was toxic with them going from hating each other to some how loving each other and then turn right around and call each other idiots and morons in a fight. I guess this is the biggest reason as to why it took me months to finish this book.

I was drawn to this cover. I wanted to read it immediately and was thankful to be able to get a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This isn't a normal holiday book. It's mostly about the characters and their falling out and rekindling their romance. If you like a romance with a little bit of Christmas thrown in there... you will enjoy this book.


3.5 stars from me
Big Thank you to @EscapePublishing for allowing me to get a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley widget.

Third book in a series of four, and basically the best of the bunch. A sweet second chance romance, and one that I would recommend, especially if you have read the previous in the series.

This was a wonderful second chance romance. I loved the holiday setting. This is the third book in a series of 4 books by 4 different authors. This was my favorite book of the series. I am a sucker for a good holiday romance and a sucker for second chance romances and this one checked both boxes!

Her Christmas Homecoming is a well written second chance romance. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. Romance readers will enjoy this book. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

A sweetly thrilling, action packed second chance romance filled with engaging charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and exciting passion.... was a great read. Really enjoyed this small town, returning home to heal romance!

Her Christmas Homecoming is part of a series revolving around members of the Marandowie, Australia community. In this book we meet Joe Marshall, a classically trained pianist, who is now the owner operator of Joe’s Gourmet Vegetables. He has worked years to overcome his father’s death and his overbearing mother, not to mention Marta Field, the love of his life. She has returned to Marandowie from Sydney, where she was educated and had worked since that day 10 years earlier when she left without Joe knowing she had tried to say goodbye. Her mother is suffering from dementia and she is home to organize the homestead in preparation to sell to support her mother’s care needs. Now, at Christmastime, her homecoming is most unexpected.

When Joe and Marta first encounter one another there is tension. But Joe, channeling the words of his beloved father, decides to offer his help instead of harsh words. In doing so, he opens his heart to further heartache but his kindness could make his wishes come true.

This is a nicely written story, and something very different for those of us in the northern hemisphere to read a summertime Christmas tale. Although part of a series, this is definitely a stand alone. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it.

Joe Marshal had a perfect moment of early dawn to share a beer with his dad.For the longest time, Joe had not been able to come here without a sense of waste and a terrible sorrow. Now he came to remember the happy times and to acknowledge that today his father would be celebrating his sixtieth birthday. Ten years gone in a blink of an eye. He walked into the cemetery. He deliberately timed this visit to avoid other visitors. He knew Emily visited her sister Lisa’s grave often and today also being Lisa’s birthday. He felt awkward and uncomfortable around Emily’s raw,fresh grief. A reaction that left him ashamed and embarrassed. He’d known Emily and Lisa since they were small. He’d grown up down the He’d been the one to teach Emily to ride a bike. Joe vowed if he ever had kids, he would make sure they were free to create their dreams. Than Joe saw his father had another visitor. When he realized who it was.Betrayal quickly morphed into blazing anger. Joe said” Marta, what are you doing here?” She replied “Visiting your dad, it’s allowed.” Joe asked her if she was feeling guilty? Marta answered she had loved his dad. Joe retorted” Yet you never stirred yourself to attend his funeral.” His voice held an unforgiving edge. Marts said” And run the gauntlet of your mother’s fury?”Joe could never be within spitting distance of Marta without rousing violent emotions in himself. Marta said she decided to come home. She added she was relieving the events coordinator at the resort. She also said it was a pity Joe hadn’t got past his bitterness and learned to forgive. Joe wondered why Marta couldn’t stay away. Marta left and then pulled to the side of the road and whispered her voice breaking “How did something so right, go so badly wrong?”She knew returning to Marandowie would be tough. The toughest challenge would be facing Joe Marshal, the only man she ever loved, the man she’d turned her back on and left behind without explanation or goodbye. She had not expected this meeting would be at the grave of Joe’s father. Odele Marshall- Joe’s mother gave up her career as an opera singer to marry Frank- Joe’s father and Adele was hell-bent on moulding her children into fulfilling her thwarted dreams. They had planned it all out-her and Joe- she was so sure they were destined to set the concert scene on fire, She wondered if Joe had spent ten years nurturing his resentment at her leaving him behind or her encouraging his sister Becky to follow her heart? Joe laid back and casual, is at one with the land. He fits here Marta thought. In a moment of clear insight Marta knew that was a state she would never reach.
I liked this but it wasn’t a great read for me. I did enjoy the pace and the plot. I liked the small town vibe this had. I did feel a little confused at times. There were also issues between Joe and Marta that weren’t “fixed”. Also Marta changing to be so angry was not enjoyable for me. So I liked this book but had mixed feelings about it.

This is the third book in the Rainbow Cove series and it doesn't disappoint. Another couple who fell out a long time ago find themselves thrown together again. What will happen,, read this and find out for yourself I recommend the whole series , there is one more book to come.

Her Christmas Homecoming by Shirley Wine is the third book in the multi author series, Rainbow Cove Christmas. The story has a feel-good theme, however it also lacked any real depth. I mostly liked the character portrayals, but did find Marta’s sudden nastiness at a party, a venomous and unnecessary act. That said, this was basically an enjoyable and I look forward to the next instalment in the series.

A multi author series with Her Christmas Homecoming being the third book and is written by Shirley Wine.
A lovely feel good read. I enjoyed the story and the characters and look forward to reading more.

I went into this knowing nothing about the author or the book. It was a holiday book and I WANTED to read it! With that said I didn’t feel it was a normal holiday book. I think it would be better described as a romance with a little holiday added in. The main focus wasn’t on Christmas but the falling out and rekindling of the two main characters. The story was good but not something I just couldn’t put down.
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The one thing that I didn’t quite understand was Marta and all her anger. At the flip of a switch she turned into a nasty you know what. It was slightly confusing. I also felt that Joe and Marta had so many unresolved problems that were never addressed.
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Overall it was ok but not something I would suggest if you are looking for a holiday read. But pickup if you want a romance.
Thank you to Netgalley for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This was a nice warm holiday story with good characters & a good plot. Marta left her home town to pursue her career as a singer leaving behind her mother & Joe Marshall, the man she loved. Joe has stayed in their hometown running his family business. Marta has come home to put her mother into care, clean out the house & put it up for sale. The hardest part will be running into Joe. Can she handle it?

The hardest part of this story is the lack of resolution of the problems that pulled them apart. I really enjoyed the characters & their definition. The small town & close friends that pull together to help each other out are realistic & a great part of the story. I liked the way the story ended but there was just something missing for me to rate it higher. This was an enjoyable story to read.

I mostly enjoyed this book, however all of a sudden the heroine becoming a nasty, gaslighting piece of work at a party, which seemed out of the blue and completely toxic. The story seemed a bit underdeveloped as I thought both the hero and heroine should go get some support to resolve their individual problems before they committed to each other! Overall pretty good and I like these homecoming type stories.
I received a free digital copy via NetGalley, but the opinions expressed are my own.

Her Christmas Homecoming by author Shirley Wine is ultimately a feel good read that has some nice characters. A story with some happy antics and challenging moments for reader's to sift through.
Review copy received from Escape Publishing via Netgalley

This series is written by different authors. But the writing is close enough that I didn't notice a difference. The series is good but not one that I just couldn't put down. If you like a simple romance set in Australia this is a good book.