Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy is truly a Christmas story of hope, joy, and overcoming heartache through love and patience. This is the second book I have read in this series about quilts of valor and I have enjoyed both of them. It was nice to be reunited with characters from the first book including the matchmaking butterflies who definitely had an active role in trying to bring Cole and Sophie together.

My heart went out to Cole, an ex-Marine, whose past is causing him pain as he navigates in his new role at the Pine Hill Fire Department and does not have much of a Christmas spirit. Sophie was literally a ray of sunshine wherever she went. She saw the good in Cole he could not see even after accidentally reading his journal where he wrote of his Marine life. It was so much fun watching them together, especially when she really needed his help around trees.

I also like the cat in the story no matter what his name was and the special quilt of valor that Sophie made for Cole. I hope there will be more books in this series because I have grown to the small town of Pine Hill and its wonderful characters! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

If you love Hallmark Christmas movies, you won’t want to miss this book. You will have no problem visualizing a movie as you read this delightful Christmas book.

Joyful Sophie, a quilt shop owner who spreads joy wherever she goes and Cole Aaron, a retired Marine, who is still fighting battles within his mind from PTSD and his time in the service, meet and continually face obstacles in getting to know each other. Most of them are of Cole’s doing as he has no self-esteem after his time of service. Sophie tries to befriend Cole but finds it almost impossible.

We meet many interesting citizens of Pine Hill who are delightful and many of these people do their best to reach Cole and be matchmakers for Cole and Sophie.

This is the first book by this author and will look for more of her books as I really enjoyed this one. I would definitely recommend it to my friends.

Thanks to Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sophie is a bundle of Christmas joy. She loves her small town, her quilt shop, family, and friends. When she finds a journal of a tormented Marine, she knows exactly what he needs, a friend, and Sophie vows that she will share her joy of Christmas with him. When Sophie returns his journal, she is taken aback when he tells her he does not need any friends. Maybe what this Marine needs is one of Sophie’s veterans quilts to wrap him in love.

Cole Aaron is a retired marine trying to settle into civilian life in small town Pine Hill. He keeps to himself and has few friends because he is still battling his nightmares and regrets of his time in the marines. He does not need some bubbly, happy bundle of Joy feeling sorry for him.

Sophie and Cole are quite the couple. She is relentless in her pursuit of becoming Cole’s friend, and Cole is relentless to keep his distance so he cannot hurt anyone else. With the help of the “Butterflies” in town, it seems that Sophie may get her way after all.

I adored this Christmas story by Janice Lynn. It was so heartfelt and heartwarming. You could feel the joy in Sophie, and the pain and suffering in Cole. They were both strong and brilliantly written characters. It was also fun to meet the other residents of Pine Hill and I hope there will be more books in the series! Thank you so much to the author Janice Lynn, Hallmark Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was amazing! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

This would make a perfect Hallmark Christmas movie some day. What a heartwarming story of romance between a quilt shop owner and a military vet turned firefighter in a small town in Kentucky. A perfect read at Christmas time. Thank you to Hallmark Publishing and netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.

Wrapped up in Christmas Joy was a delight to read.

Sometimes our best intentions can be misread and that’s what appears to be the case for quilting enthusiast and sewing shop owner, Sophie Davis. With a heart of gold that radiates from her day and night, everyone finds her a joy to be around. Everyone it seems but one veteran turned fireman who unsuccessfully tries his best to stay as far away from her as he possibly can.

It was nice to have a unique take on a Christmas novel involving veterans, firemen, and sewing. Quilters will love this sweet novel. I enjoyed many of the supporting characters in this story. The Butterflies and Cole’s fellow firemen were great additions to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy written by Janice Lynn is a Christmas story that has all the emotional feels, setting and community coming together in the spirit of the season. It is also a story of coming to terms with the horrors of war, finding peace and believing in love.

Sophie Davis is a wonderful character, who has empathy for returning soldiers especially the one who wrote a war journal that she finds. She has experience with the struggles that returning veterans can have because of her father. Empathy is not the same as pity but former Marine Cole Aaron now firefighter confuses. This Christmas is the one where he learns the difference but I can say he is a slow learner. The community and Sophie do not give up.

A sweet romance with plenty of community involvement. Need a lift this story will do that.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A heartwarming, heartbreaking festive story. Perfect if you love hallmark films and Christmas.

Cole Aaron, is haunted by his time as a marine, now living in Pine Hills as a firefighter. After Sophie finds his journal he feels her pity and wishes to never see Sophie again.

Sophie and Cole are thrown together through the town's festive activities. Pine Hills is a perfect festive setting. Cole sees himself as broken and Sophie is too good for him. A darkness surrounds Cole and Sophie is Christmas light and cheer.

I'll definitely be looking for more books by Janice Lynn. Highly recommend.

Published 27th October 2020

Thank you to Netgalley and Hallmarkpublishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am a sucker for pretty much all Hallmark movies, especially Christmas ones so this book was right up my alley. Was it predictable? Was it corny at times? Did it make me smile from beginning to end? Did I look forward to that first kiss at the end of the book? YES to all of the above!! This book needs to be made into a Hallmark movie! The whole time I was reading it I would picture certain actors and actresses for each character. If anyone from Hallmark is reading this review then my suggestions for Sophie and Cole are Lacey Chabert and Marc Blucas....they would be perfect!!!!!

I just finished this book today and guess what...today is it’s pub date so I highly recommend you go out and pick up a copy if you love Hallmark. I guarantee it will not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

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Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy brings something very real that so many returning military personnel experience… PTSD and survivor’s guilt. It’s done in a kind way but a realistic view of one soldier’s experience and the lie he tells himself about the one woman who sees his as a hero but a human one as well.

Sophie finds the journal of a soldier returning from the war in a donation box she’s sorting through. It’s a devastating account of one man’s pain, his thoughts, and his emotions of that life-changing experience. She’s convinced that he could not have really meant for it to be tossed away and sets out to find him in their small town, which is not difficult to do at all.

Cole believes he’s faced his feelings about his time as a Marine, the experiences he had, the life he led is now far behind him. A born helper, Cole is now working at the local fire station and is shocked when Sophie tracks him down with the journal that he wants nothing to do with. While there is a spark of attraction between them, Cole is convinced that the only thing Sophie feels for him is pity at what he privately expressed in that journal. It will take a town’s residents, one stubborn woman, and an awakening moment to show Cole that what he needs most is the woman he’s pushing away.

I enjoyed Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy very much, and it certainly is filled to the brim with everything I love about a Christmas Romance. But Cole had to work his way into my heart for his belief in the lie that he keeps telling himself is turning him into quite a jerk around Sophie. I kept waiting for Sophie to stand up to his meanness and tell him off… but she was simply being true to her personality. They work so well as a couple but they’ll have to get past Cole’s instinct to turn everyone away before their happy ever after can happen.

If you love an engaging Christmas Romance with a hero who needs a stern talking to… then you’ll love Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This is a heartwarming Christmas story that I loved reading! It’s the story of Sophie and Cole. It’s a story of a soldier and the things he has has to do that haunt him. This is a story that shows that true love can conquer many things and that the Christmas season is magical and wonderful. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the writer for a chance to read an ARC of this lovely Christmas story!

This is story about Sophie and Cole. They have had pain their past so will they get together.

It is a small town and there is a group called the butterflies who seem to match make are they trying to get Sophie & Cole to become a couple. There is a toy drive and of course who is paired up together. Prior to this Sophie she buys a journal from a sale and discovers who the owner of it is. She tries to give it back to Cole but he tells her to burn it.

There is an episode of Sophie up a tree which was funny. The story has sad bits and happy bits.

I really enjoyed this book it was a nice easy read I would recommend you to read it and I would certainly read more of this author's books.

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn 5 stars

Cole is an ex-military and is the new firefighter in town. Sophie unintentionally read his journal that details his time in the military. It's a slow burn clean romance but I didn't mind it. I enjoy all the events and Cole and Sophie's meet up. I think it's added fun to have Cole as Santa. I feel like Sophie did so many efforts to get close to Cole but I guess that's just her personality. Like Cole said, her virtue is joy. I wish I have her Christmas enthusiasm.

I was so touched by that moment when Cole went inside the church for the first time in years. Then it was so sweet when he finally sat with Sophie. Oh that moment was precious. The Butterflies are fun. I anticipated Cole's change of heart and the wait was worth it. It's a very sweet and fun story. It also made me cry a few times. I highly recommend it. It definitely wrapped me in Christmas joy.

Thank you #netgalley and Hallmark Publishing. All opinions are my own.

This is not your typical sappy romance Christmas book. It’s so much more. You are going to definitely get your spirits uplifted because the first character we meet is truly a remarkable lady who had a journey of her own filled with heartache!
Sophie is the light of her community! She is truly the one who puts Joy in peoples hearts especially those who have given service in the military.

Cole served his country, but he doesn’t want to be anyone’s hero and he definitely does not want what Sophie is doling out! He is closed off to everyone, but a few! He got the green candy cane and he has to be Santa Clause in the Parade! Talk about Bah Humbug! Ha ha or is that Ho Ho!

Can these two souls come together at the holidays and discover they both have something to help each other? PTSD is a difficult and emotional subject matter, but Author Janice Lynn takes the topic and intertwines it through this community that it not only affects this couple, but others as well. The characters all have a strong storyline, but yet they all seem to flow as one cohesive unit.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

This is a great cozy Christmas romance book. The main character is Sophie who is an upbeat person with a lot of joy for the world. She owns a quilting store and loves to create and give quilts to veterans that have emotional damage and need someone or something to show them they are cared for. While the other main character Cole is a veteran that has become a firefighter. He is a person that does not believe he is a good person anymore because of what happened to him when he was a marine.
The story goes on to show how Sophie helps Cole show that he is still a good person and that he deserves to be happy and I really loved the different ways they were forced together and all the side characters that helped the two main characters to get together for Christmas.

This was such a wonderful, cozy, heartwarming Christmas book. Reading it put me in such a Christmas mood. It was wonderful!

Sophie and her sister Isabelle are partners in a fabric store, living at home with their mother. Their father divorced their mother and left his family many years ago, leaving all of them with bittersweet memories.

A new firefighter and former soldier has moved to town and Sophie discovers a journal of his in a box of books donated to her church. She returns it , but not before reading it and a kinship develops. Aaron fights the feelings as he doesn't feel worthy of her friendship. She makes homemade quilts for veterans and works on one for Aaron.

They work together on a variety of community service projects. Sophie continues to involve Aaron in the ongoing holiday events. She never gives up hope on helping him to realize he's more than the events of his past.

This is the second Quilt of Valor story I've read and it touched me as much as the first one. Such a beautiful and uplifting story of strength, resilience, self-worth, and redemption. A great holiday story to give you faith in second chances!

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

Sophie is a young business owner in the small town of Pine Hill. She runs a craft shop, specializing in quilting and fabrics, with her older sister. One of Sophie’s passions… and she has many… is making quilts for military personnel, past and present. Quilts of Valor’s mission is to make and award these healing quilts with the aim to show love and support to those military members who have endured so much while protecting our freedom. It’s an organization close to Sophie’s heart because her father was tormented by his time in the Army and she wishes that she could have saved her father from the pain he felt regularly.

Sophie finds a journal in a donation box at her church and reads the entire thing trying to figure out who it might belong to. She becomes fixated on finding and helping this person, who wrote of their traumatic experiences in the military. When she finds the person, she sees how hurt he is… but he is also gorgeous. Everyone in town can tell that Sophie has feelings for him but her sister doesn’t support the attempts to befriend him. Sophie’s fixation persists throughout the story and it’s hard to tell her motives and what exactly causes her to fall for him beyond his looks.

I expected there to be some element of magic in this Christmas novel, mostly because it comes from Hallmark Publishing and their holiday movies make everything okay. I didn’t feel it here. I actually was annoyed with Sophie the entire story and I considered putting the book down but I had hopes there may be a turning point. Usually the point where a blah story gets better is around 50%... that did not happen here. I didn’t love how Sophie kept pursuing someone who had no interest in her and was very rude to her and it left a bad taste in my mouth. It’s Christmas… I don’t want this type of dysfunction.

This book has all the elements that interest me: making someone happy (even when they don't want to be happy), quilting, Quilts of Valor, veterans, and firefighters. So what's not to like? Sophie is the ideal person to fix someone's broken soul. Cole resists her efforts to befriend him, but she is a force to be reckoned with. Sophie is loving and considerate of Cole's inner problems and she is determined to help him be the man she knows he can be, one that will stay with her.

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy tells the heart warming story of two wounded soles searching for understanding. Marine Cole Aaron hopes to return to a quiet civilian life. However, he is haunted by his past. When Sophie Davis shows up with a journal from his past, Cole tells her to throw it away. The memories and the ghosts still haunt him. Sophie and Cole are drawn to one another because each feels the need to volunteer and give back to their community. Will they be able to find healing? Will they be able to get past the past and move on to a future full of hope and love? A received a copy through Netgalley/publisher. A review was not required.

Sophie Davis sews quilts to donate to The Quilts of Valor Foundation. She volunteers with the foundation and every year at the annual Pine Hill Christmas On-the-Square Festival she mans a booth to educate the event participants about The Quilts of Valor Foundation as well as sell quilts and items from the quilt shop she owns with her sister. When Sophie found the journal/diary of the firefighter and ex-Marine Cole Aaron in a box of books Cole donated to her church Sophie read the journal in an effort to find out the owner's name so she could return it to him. After reading the journal Sophie knew Cole should have a quilt. Cole is a loner and fought the friendship Sophie offered him. But Sophie is no quitter and Cole couldn't resist her.

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn brings home the effects of war the people who fight them experience. It's tough to put what happens in war out of a military person's mind. I liked how Sophie understood Cole so well after reading his journal and was determined to make him see that he is a really good person.