Although I have yet to read all of the books in the Love Heart Lane series - of which this is the twelfth - the ones I have, I have absolutely loved!

Starcross Manor is at the heart of the series and is a gorgeous hotel nestled in the Scottish Highlands run by Flynn and his fiancée. Libby (his sister) and photographer Guy have been tasked with the organisation of a Winter themed wedding after Flynn was let down.

The characters are wonderfully engaging, with the will they won't they romance brilliantly built up throughout, leading to....nope, not going to ruin it for you!!

A heartwarming, enjoyable festive read.

It's my first novel by Christie Barlow and wow! Why have I just found Christie Barlow!?! I need the rest of her novel.

A winter wedding at Starcross Manor is fantastic the storyline is the perfect cosy read, it could be a cosy hallmark Christmas movie...yes these are my favourite movies.
I loved everything about this novel, the way it's written, the characters and the storyline.
I loved the fact it left you warm and fuzzy at the end.

Thank you NetGalley, Christie Barlow and One More Chapter for the copy of A Winter Wedding at Starcross Manor. This is my personal review.
I adore this series – Love Heart Lane. Every book I have read takes me into the lives of so many wonderful characters.
This book takes me into the life of Libby. Libby meets Guy and I could feel the sparks fly between them from the second they met.
There is so much happening in this book and the author again does a magnificent job of connecting it all together to make them fall in love with the characters.
Each book can be read as a standalone.

A Winter Wedding At Starcross Manor is a lovely festive read. Libby returns to help her brother Flynn with a Christmas Eve Wedding. Nothing, of course, is straightforward despite the venue's perfection and Libby and photographer Guy have to spend quality time together to sort out the conflicts. Both have heartbreak in their past lives, leaving them with emotional issues. It's an engaging festive tale with believable characters, an entertaining plot, and a delightfully described location. I like the sense of community, the festive ethos, and the romance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and the author for providing a free copy jn exchange for an honest review #awinterweddingatstarcrossmanor

Flynn Carter owns and runs Starcross Manor. The stately home and venue of the century. He has decided to boost wedding business by running a competition to win an all singing and dancing wedding at the manor until his wedding planner suddenly leaves. The only person he can ask is his sister Libby in the hope she can help him out until she jets off to her new life in NYC. Will she help and will she get more than just the wedding of the century organised?

After reading book 2 in the series "Foxglove Farm." I have been following the author. Knowing I wanted to read all the books in the Love heart Lane series. So far I have read all the books after and including book 2.

This is book 12 however you would not know this when reading it and this book makes a great stand alone. Something I think this author has got down to a fine art. Although I can guarantee you'll soon be reading the rest of the series because you just won't want to leave Heartcross

It's always great to meet your old friends again in the next book and watch how their lives become what they wanted from it throughout their own book. This book gives a refresher on all the main villagers and shows how fair they've come since their own books. It really brings them all together and refreshes you memory- not that you ever forget them.

Furthermore the community spirit in Heartcross is always spectacular it just shows how everyone only wants the best for you and how it takes a village to pull any event off particularly Heartcross events. Something you can only hope is replicated in your own community.

This book is a great romance read. Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as LGBTQ+, retirement, infertility and family feuds amongst other things. I do not feel this takes away from the romantic feel of the book but has you heart growing fonder of the struggles each character faces. This book really shows how inclusive 21st century living can be particularly when the winners don't want a traditional wedding. I really felt you could see Libbys mind widening infront of you. This book also has the biggest twists and turns out of all the love heart Lane series in my opinion. You have an idea on where this is going in your head and Christie uses a topic to provide a twist and throw a spanner in your thinking. Christie uses her stories to really bring up and raises the profile of important and often taboo subjects in modern Britain. Which effect the world more than anyone realises.

I Cannot wait to read the next book as always but an incredibly sad it'll be the last one.

I would also say that I much prefer the titles like the other books of eg "Heartcross Castle." I feel changing it to the long title it now is 1, doesn't roll off of the tongue so easy and 2, isn't in keeping with the love heart Lane brand. This doesn't effect the book hence my review is no different but just a thought for the publishers and one I also said since book number 8.

Firstly, thank you to One Chapter, Christie Barlow and net galley for an ARC of this book. I’ve not read any of the previous Love Heart Land series but didn’t feel at a disadvantage when reading this book which is book 12 in the series. I really enjoyed this book, the characters with the exception of two were so likeable. It both made me smile and pulled at my heart strings. The setting of the book was simply gorgeous and the way Christie described it transported me there. If you want a feel good read I highly recommend this book. 5⭐️ read for me. Will definitely read more in the series.
Also reviewed on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

There was some mystery, some tension, lots of romance and so much Christmas feeling in this book.

This is a book in a series, and so if you've read then then you'd be thrilled to see characters you know and love popping up!  I haven't read any of the other books, but it was still enjoyable.

It's that time of year when the Christmas books start coming out, and this is a good place to start, with ice skating, hot chocolate and warm cosy fires.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to One More Chapter.

Yes, it's the end of September and I'm about to mention the ... "C" word .... that's "Christmas in case you are wondering. As a fan of the holiday season, I'm happy to read Christmas themed novels all year round, but I'm aware that many readers, prefer to be more seasonal on their approach. Either way, the time is quickly arriving for the perfect time to enjoy, A Winter Wedding At Starcross Manor.
Set at the unusually named Manor in the idyllic Scottish Highlands, the village of Loveheart is the setting for previous novels in the series, but it's easy to read A Winter Wedding as a standalone (and if you have read earlier novels, then the reappearance of former characters provides an enjoyable catchup on their lives).
Flynn and his fiancee Julia are running the Manor and aim to turn it into the "must be" location for weddings. As part of this plan, they are running a competition for a couple to have their dream wedding, all costs covered, hosted at the Manor. Of course, it would be a particularly short novel, if all went according to plan and soon we have staff resigning, a grumpy photographer, a decidedly unusual wedding couple and Flynn's sister Libby recruited to save the day. As the wedding edges closer, the number of disasters increases and our photographer and Libby have to team up to save the Hotel.
It's no surprise to say that the tale will have a positive ending, but the overall positivity of the novel, while dealing with issues of family and health problems is interesting and held my attention throughout.

My thoughts :
Wow wow and wow now i said to myself is it acceptable to read a christmas book in September and i can now confirm that is and this book is the absolute perfect book to settle down with a hot chocolate and a blanket on a chilly winter evening.
I immediately fell in love with the village of Heartcross,its people and of course the main characters.
I love the extremely strong relationship that exists between Libby and her brother Flynn it and just goes to show that siblings will do anything to protect each other.
The venue Starcross Manor which is owned and run by Flynn and his wife to be Julia is at the absolute heart of the community and this is really proven by the event that takes place at the end of the book(no spoilers included here).
I loved how Libby's hard work and perserverence in the world of fashion design is about to pay off by a major fashion house in NYC. This book encompasses love, family and how a community can achieve anything. O and the breakdown of Guy's relationship with his sister Lydia and how he has now changed and found love was such an amazing twist and i hope he returns in future books soon.

Nestled in the Scottish Highlands makes Starcross Manor the ideal location for a Christmas Wedding. But Flynn's wedding planner has left him in the lurch just weeks before competition winners are getting married at the hotel. Luckily his Sister, Libby is a fashion designer and steps in to help Flynn out of the bind.

A Winter Wedding at Starcross Manor is the first book I've read by Christie Barlow. It is book 12 in the Love Heart Lane series but it totally works as a stand-alone too.

What I enjoyed most about this book was it was far more than just a romance. Its an uplifting story about family and community too and maybe a little bit of a mystery thrown into the mix.

This was a delightful book to kick off the festive season and after finishing it I'm left with all the warm, fuzzy feelings. Perfect!

Libby, Flynn and Guy are all very likeable characters. Libby who has a few weeks off before starting her job in New York immediately helps her brother when Jenny, the wedding planner he employed, quits immediately. Guy a photographer and filmmaker is also asked by Flynn to assist in the project, as he is temporarily not that comfortable in terms of accommodation he also accepts the job. In fact, a beautiful winter wedding is to be held at Starcross Manor, Flynn's hotel in Heartcross. Brides and grooms could apply for this and Jenny selected a wedding couple from these. When first talking to the bride and groom, Libby sees her brother's idea, a promotional film to put his hotel on the map as the wedding venue in the area, fall apart.

Libby doesn't leave it at that and sets out to investigate in the meantime. Helped by Guy who is residing with his daughter in the lodge next door to Libby. There is more to it than meets the eye. But the big question is and remains of course will there be any wedding on the day before Christmas that filmed by Guy could put Starcross Manor on the map as a top location. The tight-knit nature of the village comes across well in this book, although I find it somewhat implausible that it is always very busy and yet it is a very small village. Perhaps it is a small town rather than a village. In any case, I would definitely travel there if it really existed because it sounds like a nice and warm neighbourhood.

Characters = 8 | Atmosphere = 8 | Writing Style = 7 | Plot = 7 | Intrigue = 7 | Logic = 7 | Enjoyment = 8 | Score 7,43 = 4 stars

Flynn Carter owns Starcross Manor in the Scottish Highlands. It is a huge and elaborate place. Hoping to put it on the map as the go-to spot for weddings, he put together a national competition for a couple to have a dream wedding on Christmas Eve and completely free. He has a wedding planner and a famous photographer named Guy to film the wedding and use that for publicity. But he is faced with a huge problem in November when his wedding planner suddenly quits and he doesn’t have time to search for another one. So, he contacts his sister, Libby, who is a fashion designer and is headed to New York in the New Year for a fabulous fashion job.

Libby agrees to help Flynn and his fiancée, Julia, who owns a local B&B. Libby will stay in a cottage on the grounds. It turns out that Guy is staying in the cottage next to her. Libby’s engagement ended 10 years ago when she got some bad news. It turns out that Guy is also divorced with a daughter and an adorable dachshund. When Sam learns Libby will be the wedding planner he will be working with, he is delighted.

This is the first book I have read in this series and I realize I have truly been missing out! What a delightful story with people with normal problems, hopes, and dreams. The descriptions are outstanding and I could feel myself right in the story. So much love, strong friendships and wholesome to boot. I loved it!!! Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a heartwarming and comforting read as we head off into the cooler season. It was a page turner and the author sustained interest all through.

I loved the setting. The description of the village, manor and the surrounding countryside was very vivid and very beautiful. You will fall in love with Scotland.

All of the characters were wonderful and delivered more than expected. From the villains to the villagers, every one gave their best.

I love the relationship between Flynn and his sister, Libby. I enjoyed reading about the first meeting between Libby and Guy. It was hilarious.

Holly was the star and it was entertaining to read about her and her relationship with her parents and grandparents and even Libby.

If you enjoy cozy books with a Christmas setting and wedding then you will enjoy this.

I received a copy of this book and the review is mine and voluntary.

This was the first book I've read in the Love Heart Lane and it can definitely be read as a standalone. That said, the town has left an impression on me and I'm going to have to go back and read some of the earlier stories. This one focusses on Libby, helping out her brother Flynn, organise a wedding at his Manor. It was a wonderful story and I really felt like I was taken to the village in Scotland and was part of the community. The story is full of family, friendship, love, twists, a bit of mystery and of course Christmas. Great story that left me feeling happy.

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resource and One More Chapter for my arc copy; here's my honest review from the heart.


This is such a heartwarming story. Her world changes instantly once Libby agrees to assist her brother, Flynn. Scheduling a wedding in the blink of an eye for two people she has never met is difficult, but holding her heart tight against Guy, the cameraman is even more difficult. She may have a fancy new job in New York, but Scotland may triumph. A light, enjoyable book with excellent atmospherics.


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The combination of a cosy Starcross Manor book and Christmas is perfect. Libby moves into Starcross Manor to help her brother when his wedding planner leaves him in the lurch just as they are about to hold a big wedding for some lucky competition winners. However when she meets them they are not quite what she expected and she is not sure if the wedding will put Starcross Manor on the map for the right reasons. With the help of an extremely handsome filmmaker can she pull everything together and create the perfect Christmas wedding for one happy couple?

A Scottish hotel in a winter wonderland provides the perfect backdrop for a Christmas wedding!

Libby Carter is a fashion designer who loves weddings, so when her brother asked for help at Starcross Manor to plan holiday reception she says YES. Only, this is not an ordinary wedding and everything goes awry. Libby finds herself asking the "grumpy" videographer for help. This isn't Guy's normal gig, he's a nature videographer but here he is taping a wedding as a favor.

Guy isn't looking for love. He's a single dad with a broken heart on the mend. Sparks soon fly when these two kiss under the mistletoe. Their path to true love was heartwarming as they build trust and understanding.

This installment in the Love Heart Lane series can be read as a standalone as this is book #12.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the complimentary copy.

A Winter Wedding at Starcross Manor by Christie Barlow

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Love Heart Lane – where friends are there for you no matter what.

Fashion designer Libby Carter has always loved weddings, so when her brother finds himself in a bind and asks her to step in and plan the perfect winter wonderland wedding for guests at his hotel, Starcross Manor, she happily takes on the challenge. But this is no ordinary Christmas wedding and when everything starts to go awry Libby asks gorgeous videographer Guy Hart for help.

This isn’t single dad Guy’s usual gig – and he is not a fan of weddings – but saying no to vivacious Libby isn’t an option … especially when saying yes leads to one very unforgettable kiss under the mistletoe!

My Opinion

Sadly this is yet another series that I am reading out of order, but so far it has not spoilt my enjoyment. Each book can be read as a standalone and it always feels lovely to return to the familiar characters or Love Heart Lane.

As I was reading this, I could really picture it being made into a lovely, festive movie. With a close-knit community, returning to Starcross Manor really feels like you are returning to visit old friends. I read this over a few short stints and at the end of each sitting I really wasn't ready to leave.

This is such a heart-warming read that it will make for a great addition to your books to read over the upcoming festive season and I would recommend catching up with the whole series if you haven't started it yet.

Rating 4/5

Libby’s brother Flynn is left in the lurch when the wedding planner at his hotel quits unexpectedly right before she’s due to plan a wedding that will put the hotel on the map of wedding destinations. Flynn begs Libby to come home for Christmas to plan the wedding instead. While visiting home she meets Guy who, the wedding’s videographer, and finds a love of her own.

I haven’t read the other books in this series and got this one as an ARC through NetGalley. I don’t think you need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one though there is a reference to a massive cast of characters.

The Christmas setting really comes through in this book. If you like Hallmark Christmas movies I think there is a real chance you’ll enjoy this as you can really picture the truly magical Christmas setting.

Unfortunately generally the writing style of this wasn’t for me. It’s a very specific British writing style that just isn’t my preferred way to consume romance stories.

There’s a fair amount of plot in this which works quite well. I found the insta love nature hard to get on board with in this particular scenario but there is definitely drama (to the point where I did want to tell Libby to seriously back down). I liked Holly and Guy’s relationship.

TW for not being able to have children. It’s a relatively big plot point, although is abandoned part way through the book in a way I didn’t love.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. Not sure why I haven’t read any of Christie’s books before. Great setting, a festive novel, romance, weddings, strange happenings, a cute dog, and delicious food combined make an enjoyable story.