Dena and Reggie Somerville are two sisters that have given up on love. For Dena, Mr. Right never showed up, so she has decided to become a single mom, and with the use of medical intervention she will be having a child. She is a schoolteacher and will gladly finish out the school year before the baby arrives. For Reggie, she was engaged but he quickly called it off.

Now her parents are renewing their vows so she is back in town. The fact that Toby, who was her first love, is back in town is a bit disconcerting. However, it doesn't take either of them long to realize that they still have a connection. What about Dena? Well, there is a songwriter staying at the inn that her family runs and they also have a connection. Is it possible that the two sisters might find their chance at love after all?

Both Toby and Micah have their own stories and baggage that come right along with them, but Reggie and Dena soon find that their lives will indeed change. Love is in the air for both of them.

Reggie still feels a measure of pain from when she and Toby broke up but the two of them are working together on a holiday project while she is in town. Meanwhile, it soon becomes clear as to why Micah might find drawing close to Dena becoming a problem.

This story about finding love in a holiday season was quite enjoyable. The story was very touching and very sweet. I loved how the story went back and forth to both couples and how they find their path to happily ever afters. I wanted so much for them to find love and they did, as this is a romance.

I love that this book is the first in a new series. The town of Wishing Tree is quite charming and I cannot wait to see other couples and their stories.

Many thanks to HQN and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I was definitely ready to pick up a book to get me in the Christmas spirit and this one absolutely fit the bill. I loved the small town setting that Mallery created for this series, it felt like a place I would love to visit and enjoy. I was a little worried with dual romances happening that one would far overshadow the other but I was pleasantly surprised at the balance between the two and how the stories wove together. Each relationship had real issues and believable scenes and just felt very organic. I also really enjoyed the characters themselves and how they balanced off of each other, there were unique personalities with depth, especially with the sisters. All in all a great holiday book to kick off the season.

Last Christmas, I was enchanted by Susan Mallery's Happily This Christmas, a holiday story in her Happily Inc. series, so I was excited to see that she has a new Christmas book in a new series. The Christmas Wedding Guest is the second book set in Wishing Tree, Washington, a town that celebrates Christmas year-round.

Sisters Reggie and Dena are helping their mother plan a Christmas vow renewal. Their parents didn't get the big wedding 35 years ago, and now Mom wants all the bells and whistles.

Dena is a schoolteacher who also owns the town's B&B, left to her by her aunt. She is also pregnant, ready to be a single mother after she feels that love has passed her by. Last year on Thanksgiving weekend, Reggie's boyfriend proposed on Friday, hosted a big engagement party on Saturday, and broke up with her on Sunday.

Reggie moved to Seattle for her job, and is not excited to see everyone again after last year. Her high school boyfriend Toby moved back to town with his eight year-old son to live with his grandmother. He is a hugely successful businessman, and his son is in Dena's class.

Micah is a rock star who lost his wife and unborn baby in a car accident last year. He came to Wishing Tree to work with a friend and get away from it all, and ends up staying in Dena's B&B. Dena, like every other woman, is attracted to the handsome man, and Micah seems to like Dena as well.

The characters in The Christmas Wedding Guest don't necessarily have secrets, it's more that they have complications in their life. Dena is a pregnant soon-to-be single mom with horrible all-day sickness, Micah is trying to move on from his tragic accident, and while Reggie is thrown together with Toby who left town abruptly at age eighteen without a word to Reggie, Toby is determined not to get romantically involved with anyone.

No one creates these charming towns populated with characters that you feel like you know as friends as well as Susan Mallery. On her website susanmallery.com, you can see maps of the towns like Happily, Inc. and Wishing Tree, with all of the charming small businesses highlighted. Looking at them makes you feel like you are walking through the town you just read about. Her books are Hallmark Christmas movies waiting to happen.

I adored The Christmas Wedding Guest as much as Happily This Christmas, and like last year, I will be giving this book to someone I know who loves Christmas. I can't wait to read more books in the series so I can get to know the people of Wishing Tree better.

My review of Happily This Christmas is here.

Thanks to Harlequin Books for putting me on their Holiday Romance Book Tour.

Disclaimer: I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Once again Susan has captivated me with her holiday romance.

Dena and Reggie are two sisters who grew up in a small town that actually celebrates the first snow. How wonderful is that?

Both sisters have given up on finding love.

Reggie is determined to focus on her self-made business and has yet to find the love she had with her high school sweetheart. After the shortest engagement in history, Reggie left town only to return for her parent's wedding. Thinking she can handle being back in town she is not ready to run into her high school sweetheart. What happens next is a journey of healing, love, and the ability to trust again.

Dena, Reggies sister has decided Mr. right doesn't exist for her so she decides to become a single mother. Now pregnant and running her B & B as well as teaching she feels her life is as it should be. Until songwriter Micah rents a room from her. Micah is in town to try to heal and find his muse again never thinking it could be Dena a pregnant school teacher. Together they discover what the magic of Christmas can really do and together they discover love.

I love the characters Susan created but more importantly, I love the town she took me to. If this town truly existed in relief I would move there today. I love the feel of it and all the little touches Susan brought to life. I fall in love with Susan's writing more and more with each book I read.

Two sisters are back home in a small town in the state of New York as their parents want to plan the wedding that they never had. One sister, Dena, is in the early stage of a pregnancy that she conceived while single via IUI and is ready to enter parenthood even though the right man hadn't come along. The other sister, Reggie, is returning to this small town for the first time after a horrible ending to an engagement and was avoiding the small town gossip, but wants to be near her family during the holiday season.

I have said this before but the addition of the Christmas season to a romance book, just fills my heart! In this book, there are two romances for the price of one. Each sister has the chance to fall in love and of course there are ups and downs, but we all know how a romance will end! While I had to remind myself that I was reading fiction as you have suspend belief a bit, it is all for the sake of a great read.

I loved that the author included both love stories in this one book. They were so different, but complimented each other so well. Both the sisters and their stories were different, there was a rekindled romance and a new romance, but both were sweet and slow burns. If I am correct, this one didn't have the sexy times, so it is safe to read if you tend to avoid books with the extra physical scenes.

I read this book as the Thanksgiving season was coming to an end and loved that it was sort of a kick off to my holiday decorating and holiday season.

Have you ever finished a book with the feeling that the author wrote it specifically for you? That's exactly how I felt while reading Susan Mallery's newest Christmas classic, The Christmas Wedding Guest. I adored it! I'm ready to book a trip to Wishing Tree (don't you love that name?). I'll be staying at Dena Somerville's Wishing Tree B and B where I will happily engage in the evening wine and snacks event while mingling with the other guests, and hoping to catch a glimpse of Micah Ruiz. Yes, I know he's head over heels for Dena and I love him for that. Actually, I love him for a lot of reasons.

Of course, I'll volunteer to help Dena and her sister Reggie with the elementary school's annual holiday charity project. Those kids are so creative and young Harrison (along with his dad) are real heart-stealers (just ask Reggie). Their journey together is an emotional one with some significant obstacles to overcome. I'm pulling for them!

I'll also be on pins and needles waiting for the horns and sirens to announce the first snowfall so I can join everyone at The Wreath for the big celebration. And I'll probably lose my heart to Belle (who am I kidding, it's already hers), Reggie's fashionista Great Dane. Or maybe I'll just curl up in my favorite chair, with a cozy blanket and a mug of hot cocoa, and lose myself again in Susan Mallery's humorous and heart-tugging novel. It's definitely worth a second read...or more.

These characters are among my Mallery favorites and will not soon be forgotten. Their book is going straight to my keeper shelf where I will no doubt revisit them each Christmas.

I enthusiastically recommend adding The Christmas Wedding Guest to your holiday reading list. It made me laugh, made me cry, and filled my heart with joy.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Reggie has had to come back home for the holidays. This is NOT what she wants to do. Since her last break up was humiliating, she just wants to avoid everyone! But, her parents are renewing their vows and family is family. So, she heads home. She runs into her high school love, Toby. And as hard as she tries…she can’t stay away from him.

Then, there is Dena. Dena and Reggie are sisters and they are extremely close. Dena has decided to do artificial insemination to get pregnant. She is tired of waiting for Mr. Right. But, Mr. Right, Micah, just might have just checked into her Bed and Breakfast.

It has been a while since I have read one of Susan Mallery’s books. This one hit the spot. This story is sweet and charming. I absolutely adored Toby and Micah, especially Micah. These two gentlemen are broken in one way or another and Reggie and Dena help them get back on the right path! Plus there is a cute dog in this novel!

Need a sweet, Christmas story for the holidays…This is it! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Sisters Dena and Regina (Reggie) Somerville are romantics at heart but haven’t been very successful at finding it for themselves. Reggie was engaged one day and her fiancé called it off the next evening. Dena’s done just about everything to find “the one” and finally gave up waiting to start her own family. She’s now pregnant (barely) after going the in vitro route. Their parents have decided to have the wedding they couldn’t do when they first married and are planning a big celebration at Christmas. Reggie’s back home from Seattle for the first time since the fiasco of her engagement a year ago. Dena, who’s a teacher and owns the Wishing Tree B & B, had to reveal her pregnancy early because she’s plagued with morning sickness at all times of the day. But, they’re all in to help their parents have a fabulous wedding, even when Reggie’s first love is now back in town and a handsome musician shows up at the B & B to distract Dena.

If you’re looking for a story to catapult you into the holiday spirit, this is the one! From the charming town, the delightful Somerville sisters and their friends, the hysterical antics of two fur babies and the two men who provide a romantic angle, I got carried away to a happy place. I was a little concerned that one of the romances might eclipse the other but that just didn’t happen. Reggie’s reconnection with her high school “first” Toby Newkirk was just as compelling as Dena’s slow developing attraction to Micah Ruiz who’s the lead singer of a famous rock band (yes, she was clueless about them). They worked well together, beautifully woven into the fabric of this multilayered story.

I listened to the book and am loving the tone the narrator chose for the story. She really captured the lightness of Reggie & Dena who are the type of women I’d like to have as friends. There are serious moments as their relationships are not without issues but they deal with them honestly and maturely. I enjoyed everything about this one and can’t wait to return to Wishing Tree as there are a plethora of secondary characters I’m anxious to see at center stage.

review will be posted on 11/23/21

Reggie Somerville hasn't returned to her idyllic home town since her engagement broke off. Her sister, Dena, is a local schoolteacher, newly pregnant, and is working on a charity knitting project with her students. To top it off, Dena and Reggie's parents are renewing their vows this holiday season, so Reggie will most definitely have to return home to Wishing Tree. Reggie offers to help her mom with her vow renewal plans and to assist Dena with her class project as Dena is suffering from morning sickness. Dena's situation isn't a conventional one. Dena decided to get pregnant as a single mother through artificial insemination and not only is she dealing with her pregnancy by herself, she is also teaching, and she runs the local B&B. She is, quite simply, overextended. While Reggie is helping Dena's class project, she runs into her ex-boyfriend, Toby, who has moved back home to raise his son, Harrison. Toby has also volunteered to help with the class project, so cue the awkward situation as well as the eventual butterflies between them. Toby hasn't had it easy either and has a lot of baggage. Then Micah shows up at the B&B, a well-known musician, to find some rest and relaxation with the hope he can find inspiration for his next song. He is also healing from a tragic event, but Dena catches his eye. Even though both Somerville sisters are bridesmaids this holiday season, it appears they will have their own chance for love in The Christmas Wedding Guest.

I really liked the character of Reggie in The Christmas Wedding Guest. I liked her relationship with her sister, her parents, and even her dog. When she returns home, she has to face her past and things become even more complicated when her high school ex-boyfriend re-enters the picture. I really enjoyed how they slowly rekindled the spark while also addressing a lot of their baggage. Toby's story is a sad one and I did feel badly for him as well as his son. Dena, on the other hand, is an interesting character in that she is taking things into her own hands by deciding to become a single mom. I like her determination; however, I didn't find her story (or her love interest in Micah) to be as interesting at Reggie's.

The secondary characters were just ok in The Christmas Wedding Guest. Reggie and Dena's mother is a bridezilla. The worst. I am not kidding. There's no way as a grown adult I would have put up with her. I mean this is a vow renewal not a wedding at Windsor Castle. Relax. The stuff she put her grown daughters through is bizarre. I really didn't care for that part of the story or her antics.

Be forewarned that The Christmas Wedding Guest can be rather dark for a holiday novel. There's some issues throughout the novel that pop up that can be considered serious, so that took me by surprise a bit; however, it was balanced nicely by the possible love matches and the upcoming wedding.

The thing I liked the most about The Christmas Wedding Guest was the adorable town of Wishing Tree, Washington. I loved the Stars Hollow vibe, the friendly neighbors, and their adorable traditions around Christmas and the first snowfall. I thought it was very well done and reminiscent of a Hallmark movie. Who doesn't love when a charming town comes together to celebrate the holidays?

So, are you a fan of Susan Mallery? Is The Christmas Wedding Guest on your TBR list? Do you enjoy holiday reads? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Am I the only one dying to visit Wishing Tree? Everything about this town is absolutely charming, including the characters. We even get two romances in this one, so it's double the fun. Reggie gets a second chance romance, which is a favorite trope for me, and Dena decides to go after what she wants on her own and then finds love. The sisters are strong women, and both of the love stories are full of chemistry. Between totally falling in love with this town and swooning over the romances, I just couldn't stop smiling. This is one of those books that leaves you feeling happy and in the Christmas spirit, which I think we could all use about now. Susan Mallery is fairly new to me, having only read a handful of her books, but one thing holds true in each of them - they're wonderfully written and full of feels. The Christmas Wedding Guest is another in that list as well as being the start of a new series that I can't wait to read more of.

The Review

This was a beautiful and heartfelt romance novel for the holiday season. I’m a sucker for a good holiday romance, and the author’s perfect world-building in this little fictitious Washington town and the holiday setting really brought a certain level of man-made magic and wonder to the narrative. The exploration of how the past defines our present, overcoming our insecurities and fears, and allowing room for love in our lives were very present themes in this novel, and the imagery that this small-town setting brought along with the holiday wedding storyline made this story really shine.

What was amazing to watch unfold was the personal character growth that this amazing cast of characters showcased. The protagonists, Reggie and Dena, really were special, as their bond as a family and their very positive outlook on romance as a whole was a nice change of pace for the typical characterizations that protagonists in a romance novel will have. Toby’s very emotional background and experiences really showcased the journey he went on as well, and his struggle with his childhood and past relationship and his desire to do what’s best for his son above himself really elevated the romance that bloomed between himself and Reggie.

The Verdict

An emotional, heartwarming, and entertaining read, author Susan Mallery’s “The Christmas Wedding Guest” is a must-read novel of the 2021 holiday season! An engaging story of romance, heartbreak, and letting go of the past to find a brighter tomorrow, this novel really will keep readers invested and add the perfect jumping-off point for the holiday romance season for readers everywhere.

Right up front let me tell you that I LOVE BELLE! This charmingly shy 120-lb Great Dane steals the spotlight throughout the entire book. Her immediate attachment to Toby’s son Harrison will melt your heart; and her fear of 22-lb dachshund Burt is hilarious.

That said, I really enjoyed the book but soon found myself drowning in “Christmas overload.” Christmas year-round? Not for me, but I could probably handle a once-a-year visit to Wishing Tree. There is a lot going on in this book - two romances, Reggie and Dena’s parents renewing their vows, mentions of domestic abuse, and the challenges of being a single parent.

I liked the characters but got a bit tired of Dena’s constant fantasies about Micah. She is definitely the less mature of the sisters. I loved Reggie who just said what was on her mind. The bond between the sisters is heartwarming. Harrison is adorable and wise beyond his years. I could easily see Toby, Reggie, Harrison, and Belle as a family unit.

The scene with Electra at the B&B in Wishing Tree and the fallout, in my opinion, went overboard. This is definitely a book you will need to suspend reality to really enjoy.

Perfect for a holiday read.

Their parent’s vow renewal brings these sisters home.
Combine all this with Christmas time and I see romance and happy endings coming. LOL
I love everything Susan Mallery writes!
I’m a huge fan!!
Grab this book a cup of hot chocolate and escape the snow flying outside. LOL
It’s great!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Two-for-one love story featuring sisters: a second-chance romance between high school sweethearts Reggie and Toby that abruptly ended when she thought he’d betrayed her and then left town with no explanation and a friends-to-lovers romance between a pregnant schoolteacher and an aging rock star who’s recovering from an unspeakable tragedy (in my opinion, way too quickly) It takes place in the small town of Wishing Tree, WA whose citizens, like many cutesy Christmas books, is obsessed with the holiday. I felt it was a little too rushed and unrealistic, especially the idea that a big-time, devastatingly handsome lead singer would fall for a pregnant, basic, small-town woman who doesn’t even know who he is. This is the problem with so many of these Christmas books: everything is all tied up in a pretty bow just in time for the 25th.

Not sure if it’s because it’s an ARC or on a Kindle, but the abrupt changes of scene within each chapter were disorienting. There weren’t even spaces or line breaks to delineate. I’m a big fan of Mallery’s Fools Gold and Happily, Inc. series, but this one just fell flat.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from HQN through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This story of sisters in a small town was a wonderful read for this time of year. The town was a charming place that would be fun to visit. The romances were perfectly paced. All the characters had their flaws, but were very likable. This is the start of new series - I am excited about going back to Wishing Tree. I do hope to see updates on these characters when we visit Wishing Tree again.

The ending was exactly what you would expect and want from a holiday romance.

Want to be entertained then look no further than THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING GUEST, the newest entry in the joyous arsenal of stories by Susan Mallery. Fans of Susan Mallery expect perfection and will absolutely delight in a homecoming for the holidays tour de force. I never miss a chance to read and if lucky review something written by this prolific author that has the habit of lifting my spirits. Her characters are awesomely lifelike as she brings them to life so effortlessly through the ingenious dialog.
And in THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING GUEST we also meet some delightful four-footed friends. I ask, what more could you want.

So Reggie is heading home to Wishing Tree this year for the holidays, having missed them last year stoically licking her wounds after being dumped by her fiancé. Reggie loves her family, her hometown. But she was wounded by the callousness of her ex-Jake.

Going home means being swept away with all the family and community traditions that abound. But of course it also means facing those that were all too aware of her rather short-lived engagement.
But as her mom succinctly states, they all wish him sadness, regret and a rash. Pure joy from the pen of Susan Mallery.

THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING GUEST is a compilation of several characters spending the season at Wishing Tree. Some more transient than others. All looking forward to spending time with the hope of finding peace. Their lives all very different and yet had arrived at this small town. Some returning, others just visiting. Didn’t matter, Wishing Tree believed in inclusion. A truly unique little town with many traditions, some rather questionable but in the end enjoyable and worthy of the folk’s attention.

Susan Mallery created a dreamy place. The many characters are so lovely you almost wish they were real. So enjoy them.

Micah is just visiting, staying at Dena’s, Reggie’s sister, B&B. Micah recovering from the loss of his wife and unborn child in a tragic accident. Micah is hoping that time in this little town, seeing a friend of his, will turn on his song writing juices.

Toby is a returning home-towner resettling in Wishing Tree with his son Harrison. When he left, he was an eighteen-year-old rough guy looking to save himself from a punishing father. Now he was a father and entrepreneur. Town had pretty much stayed the same and offers the two of them a chance at a great life. It also dredged up memories, some good but filled with regrets. And one of those starred Reggie back in town for the holidays and her parents’ wedding.

Reggie was the one who saw through Toby’s tough guy image. She touched him and made him better. But in the end, he ran away from the town and her. Not his best moment.

Lots of lead characters but if I had to pick favorites, they would be Belle, Reggie and Dena. They simply ring my bell every time they appear in this fabulously endearing story. Once again fans of Susan Mallery are going to be swept away with this charming romance novel filled with sassy dialog and terrific characters all created by one of the best. Each time I read something by Susan Mallery I swear it’s my favorite. THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING GUEST is definitely at the top of my all-time Susan Mallery favs.

Reggie and Dena Somerville are sisters from the small town of Wishing Tree. Reggie, however, hasn't been back to visit since her broken engagement, which lasted all of two days, when her finance proposed on a Friday and broke it off on a Sunday. But since Reggie and Dena's parents are renewing their vows, she finds herself back in town, the scene of her humiliation. Dena doesn't have the best track record with love herself, so she's taken matters into own hands. She's gotten pregnant on her own; she's also a teacher at the local school and runs the B&B handed down by her grandmother. Once back in Wishing Tree, Reggie gets stuck working with Toby, her high school boyfriend, on a holiday charity project. Meanwhile, Dena finds herself drawn to the famous singer who has checked into her B&B. Can the Somerville sisters find it in their hearts to love again?

This is a very sweet and charming holiday romance. The town of Wishing Tree exudes a lovely festive air, a cross between Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls and a Hallmark set, and I couldn't help but find myself rooting for our couples. Sure, Toby frustrated me sometimes (he's a single dad with some particular quirks), but these characters were personable, flawed, and strong. Perhaps the most lovable was Reggie's dog Belle, who was a force to be reckoned with, followed by Toby's sweet young son.

The story is repetitive at times and seemed a bit uneven--I couldn't tell if the author was going for cute or erotic at points, and it was a bit jarring--but overall this was a fun and merry read. I would have liked an epilogue, but I am hoping that since this is the beginning of a series that maybe we will see some of these characters again. I would definitely read the next book.

Absolutely fell in love with the Sommerville sisters, Dena and Reggie! This book brings you into the holiday spirit, as well as fall in love not only the characters but the charming town of Wishing Tree and all their closeness! This is a must read for the holidays, and Susan brings you right in and makes you feel a part of the story! Don't wait, and don't miss out on this great holiday book! Grab your copy NOW and enjoy!

I just love Susan Mallery! While I enjoyed this book, it didn't suck me in like the rest of Susan's books. That being said, the audio is incredible, love Tanya Eby and the town is so precious. I read the novella and I loved it, and I will definitely continue this series!

Reggie and Dena are helping their parents plan for a wedding to review their vows. Reggie is still reeling from her short engagement and ends up running into her first love. Meanwhile Dena is tired of waiting to create the family she wants and gets pregnant without the man, of course not long after that she manages to meet a guy she could want to be with but he's a singer and is only around for a short while.

This was a slow read for me but great for those who need a bit of escape to read a slow burn type of romance. I mean theres the second chance at love kinda thing going on with Reggie but there is history there and he has a child and there is a reason he's currently not with anyone right now and when I got to find out I get it. Dena has given up on love and is now planning for the child she's going to have, of course that's when love decides to come around and I enjoyed seeing that romance and love bloom but of course he's a famous singer and is only there for a short amount of times so really what can become of this? If you are looking for book that takes places during the holidays but doesn't absolutely scream christmas and enjoy a slow burn romance you'll enjoy this book. I really enjoyed this book.