I loved this book because it was such a different take on a snow globe story. It was a story within a story and both unfolded before my eyes. The characters were thrust back in time so they could fulfill their wish they made on the snow globe. They both wished they had never married.

The book had beautiful, flawed characters trying to face their past so they could have a future. It did not matter what they had wished on the snow globe because it seemed fate had other ideas. The antics of Elliott, the 200 pound mastiff made the story a lot of fun, especially when Elliott adopted a cat that Noel named Moxie. I liked how Noel's mom kept knitting sweaters for the pets. Add in Jonah's and Noel's families that want different things for their town of Winter Falls in Wyoming and I found the story to be quite interesting. Jonah's father does not like Christmas and since he was the mayor his town did not decorate their downtown. Noel's family wants to make a Christmas Village in the town but the mayor will not allow that to happen so Noel's father is running against Jonah's father for mayor. I could not put the book down because I wanted to see if Noel and Jonah's wish would come true or if their marriage would survive. I thoroughly enjoyed Padraig's story within the book. It was quite interesting. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

4.2 Stars
One Liner: Beautiful and heartwarming

Nora and Jack are drifting apart after a decade of marriage. Even their 205-pound mastiff, Elliot, doesn’t seem to keep them together. With busy careers and no time for anything else, the couple finds it hard to remember why they have been in love with each other since their school days.
A chance meeting with a mysterious old man (kinda like Santa), all thanks to Elliot’s escapades, gives them something to think about. When the man asks them to wish on a snow globe, the couple’s lives may change in a way no one expected.
Nora and Jack are now Noel and Jonah, still successful in their careers but leading single and separate lives. However, they continue to come face to face, and as their friendship grows into something more, they have to decide what to do with their lives.
The story comes in the first-person POV of Noel and Jonah, with the first chapter in the third-person POV about Nora and Jack.

My Thoughts:
This is about second chances, love, family, relationships, and healing. The story starts in the city (NYC) but moves to a cute small town, Winter Falls.
Set in December, we see quite a bit of snow, cold, dampness, chill, festive decorations, cooking, baking, food, etc. The city and the town are easy to visualize.
The pacing is wonderful. It doesn’t even feel like reading 360+ pages. The story continues to move and has bits of chat messages and emails inserted to add to the mix. This is pretty much a Hallmark-type book, so don’t expect any intense drama or complex situations.
Despite dealing with some heavy themes like dementia, death of loved ones, etc., the book achieves the right intensity and has many light moments between different characters.
Elliot is such a darling, you’d want to take him home (never mind that he drools all over). Moxie is another highlight of the book. I could have read an entire book with just these two.
Jace and his mother, Izzy, Noel’s parents, and a few other characters like Avery, Emily, etc., add more flavors to the plot and are good supporting characters. Not all of them get the same space, but they shine in their roles.
There seem to be minor discrepancies in the timeline, but nothing major to distract from the central plot (however, you should go with the flow).
The ending is, of course, HEA, but a bit different from what I expected. I like it enough, but there isn’t that crucial moment that should have been there based on the blurb.

To summarize, A Wish for Christmas is a heartwarming and cozy Christmas read with a super adorable dog. Read the book for Elliot!
And oh, this is a clean romance.
Thank you, NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

While this wasn't my favorite by Courtney Cole, this second chance, marriage in trouble holiday romance still had her trademark touch of magic as an unhappy couple make a wish on a snow globe only to find themselves living separate lives in an alternate universe.

It takes help from their beloved pet and a complete stranger for them to find their way back together and realize they really are meant to be with each other.

Heartfelt and great on audio this is perfect for fans of authors like Mary Kay Andrews or Emily Stone. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love a good Christmas story and I was drawn into this book from the very begging! Perfect holiday read! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

What happens when a book editor and a financial analyst are living their busy life and forget why they first fell in love? A Wish For Christmas by Courtney Cole offers a sweet twist on a ‘what if’, the chance of a do-over, in the form of a wish on a snow globe and a manuscript. It’s got bookish vibes and a big lovable dog, what more could you want in a holiday book?

I recommend for readers that love:

❄️ Small town stories with quirky characters
🎄 Hallmark vibes
❄️ Closed door, sweet romance
🎄 Books about bookish people
❄️ A little magical realism, time travel
🎄 Can’t resist big dog that brings everyone together

I thought Cole did a beautiful job touching on complicated family dynamics of adult children returning home, seeing parents through a new lens and yet falling into old roles. The grief of watching a loved one suffer from dementia was navigated very well.

Thank you to my friends at @netgalley , @avonbooks & @courtneycolewrites for the review copy!

A Wish for Christmas is a fun holiday romance about a couple who have drifted apart and what happens when a magic snow globe makes it so they never met. While the premise seems familiar it had plenty of fresh moments along the way. My favorite parts were all Elliot, he really steals the show. As for the human characters they were well-written and had some funny and touching moments. I thought having the characters written through the book Pad was working on was really cool and the idea of an Alzheimer's village is neat. This will make a great addition to your holiday TBR pile.

Noel Blake and her husband Jonah's marriage is in trouble. They have been drifting apart, and they bicker constantly. The only real time they even spend together is when they walk their dog, Elliott. When, one snowy day, Elliott manages to slip his leash, they find him blocks away in the care of a mysterious old man who gives them a snow globe and asks them to make a wish on it. Neither one realizes that the wish they’re about to make will change the course of their lives... possibly forever. When Noel and Jonah wake up the next morning, they’re in separate beds, separate apartments, separate lives. But are they any happier? As they live the existences they’d always wished for, both feel that something very important is missing. And when a chance encounter brings the pair back together, they find they have a spark of something very special. Will they be able to find their way back to each other before it’s too late, or does the Christmas Magic have another fate in store?

This had the feel of "It's A Wonderful Life" to it. The chapters are told in the alternating viewpoints of Noel and Jonah, so you get to see each one through the lens of the other person. It turns into a bit of a rom-com, and you pretty much know how the story will end, but the journey there is fun none the less.. This will make a great addition to anyone's Christmas book collection.

Do you believe in the miracle of Christmas? This is a Charming holiday story. It has a little bit of a twist. The couple in the story are already married, living successful lives, and when one evening as they were walking their dog, a giant mastiff, he got away, and was running through the streets of New York City. Suddenly he dashed into a store, which is where Noel and Jonah found him with the shopkeeper. An older gentleman with a snowy white hair and a snowy white beard. And I when the gentleman if they would care to stay for a cup of hot cocoa, they accept. Unfortunately, the evening seems to turn into a disagreement between the couple and they seriously wonder if they are really happy together. When they’re about to leave the shopkeeper says I have a gift for you. They of course, decline it, but he insists. When they open the box, there’s a beautiful snow globe with the perfect Christmas scene of a family. He tells them to make a wish what they want their future to look like. The next morning life has made an abrupt change. But the couple don’t even know anything is different. The story goes on with the magic of Christmas. The lives that are changed, and the happily ever after miracle. All from one wish. Can I say Hallmark movie? It would be perfect. A clean, uplifting and enjoyable story that brings a whole town together. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

I really enjoyed this! Just the perfect amount of cozy Christmas fiction that I was looking for. It had a unique plot, and the second chance romance mixed with the witty banter worked really well. However, some parts of the plot were lost on me and made the pacing really slow down — especially the mayoral race, since it took away from the overall story in my opinion. I wish there was a lot more of a focus on Noel and Jonah re-discovering themselves and their relationship. I feel like there was just a lot going on, lol.

Overall I had a good time reading this and would recommend it! I just didn’t have a huge takeaway from it and I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

A Wish for Christmas brings some real magic to the holidays, as Nora and her husband Jack make a wish on an old man’s snow globe and wake up in different lives.

Nora and Jack had been growing apart, bickering over what their life should look like. When they wake the next day with different names and separate lives, they are granted the opportunity to remeet each other and fall back in love. This being Christmas, Noel and Jonah are from the same small town and their parents are currently enemies, giving this book so many fun storylines to branch into!

I adored their hometown of Winter Falls, Wyoming, which Noel’s parents are trying to turn into a Christmas town. Jonah’s father is the mayor, and he doesn’t have a bit of Christmas spirit in his body, leading to the feud between the two families. The feud and competitiveness between the two fathers was such a fun concept, leading to many laugh out loud moments as Noel and Jonah were placed on opposite sides over and over.

This book also deals with loss and grief during the holidays, and I thought the topic was handled beautifully. Christmas is a hard season for many people just as it is magic for others, and this felt like a kind nod in that direction.

The magical realism is clearly a big part of the story, so be ready to believe in magic for your trip to Winter Falls. The romance is playful, with plenty of hints to their prior life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

In my annual search for a light, entertaining romance to kick off the holiday season, Courtney Cole’s <i>A Wish for Christmas</i> caught my attention. Turned out it fit my requirements perfectly except for just a few small quibbles.

I enjoyed everything about this book – the setting in a small Western town, a variety of characters with interesting back stories, and, of course, the canine star – Elliot. But somewhere in the plot set up, I blinked and was left a bit behind as the key plot shift occurred. Fortunately, I caught up as the story picked up pace and evolved nicely from there until the ending. Somehow the wrap up just didn’t have the same energy as the rest of the book. It seemed like the character's personalities morphed when their relationship took a turn and things just wrapped up a bit too predictably from there. I was also left wondering why Noel and Jack didn’t seem to remember much about knowing each other just 15 years earlier...

Overall, this was an entertaining and worthwhile holiday read - it just could have used a few tiny tweaks.

As many other reviews mention, this book is very Hallmark-esque. If you are looking for a more light, fluffy Christmas read and are a fan of those movies, this would be a book for you.

The story starts out with an unhappily married couple who make a wish that alters their entire lives. It can be confusing because their story starts over with different names and them not knowing each other. I was disappointed because I was hopeful this book would be more of a marriage redemption story but instead it is really a clean slate type of story. I also felt it seemed odd that Judd and Jonah behaved as if their wife/mom had passed very recently instead of over 30 years ago. No, you never get over it but to dwell on it that long and stop living certain areas of your life for that long is very unhealthy. All in all, as a lover of cheesy things, it ended up all being a little too cheesy for my taste. Too many convenient wrap ups and predictable plot lines. Hopefully it will find its audience though because there is still a lot to it that people could love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

A Wish for Christmas is definitely a candidate for a great holiday Hallmark movie. When things are difficult in Noel and Jonah's marriage, a chance meeting with a snow globe gives them a chance to see what life may have been like if they'd never met. But as with most soul mates, their paths will definitely cross again. Can they bridge their differences in the today to make for a lasting forever? Elliott is the star of the show of course as precocious as a child.

Noel works as an editor and Jonah works in finance and they live in the same building in NYC. She received an unsolicited manuscript from an older gentleman and somehow agrees to work with him and ends up with his giant rambunctious Mastiff. Both Noel and Jonah get summoned home before Christmas and discover at the airport that they are going to the same little town in Wyoming. This is a story of facing your fears and the strong bonds of family, even when they are driving you crazy.

A Wish for Christmas by Courtney Cole is a holiday story where a couple who are drifting apart get the opportunity to see what life would be like if they had not married. The story starts with Nora and Jack walking their oversized dog, Elliott, who leads them to Padraig’s shop. After making a wish, they wake up the next day as Noel and Jonah. They are each leading their own lives (the same careers and they live in the same building). Padraig is an author who sends Noel chapters of his book which features (you guessed it) Nora and Jack. The best character is Elliott, a large lovable dog with a fun personality. Elliott added loads of humor to the story. Moxie, the kitten, is a delightful addition. Moxie and Elliott steal the show. The story itself is reminiscent of a couple of holiday books that I have read and at least two Hallmark movies that I have seen. I did not understand Noel and Jonah’s memory loss from their school years. The pair grew up together in the same small town, but they do not remember each other. Noel and Jonah kept getting thrown together throughout the holidays (Elliott was a big help) as their fathers’ bicker over what is best for the town. A Wish for Christmas is an easy-to-read story, but it was way too long (368 pages). I enjoyed Elliott and Moxie’s sections, but I found myself skimming through others. It is a lighthearted Christmas story that will appeal to those who enjoy watching holiday movies.

A Wish for Christmas by Courtney Cole is a heartwarming Christmas story with some sorrow and sadness. It is reminiscent to me of It’s A Wonderful Life.

Noel and Jonah are the main characters in the book, but their lives mirror the lives of fictional characters’ and their own previous lives—even if they don’t remember the memories or each other.

Their story is being brought to life in a soon-to-be-published novel that Noel is editing for the company she works for, and it is both eerie at times as well as confusing. The author, Pad, resembles St. Nick and adds another layer to the story. The story is told in alternating chapters by Noel and Jonah, and it was sometimes confusing since I had to look back to see who was telling that part of the story.

Pad gives his dog, Elliott, often referred to as a “Moose” due to his size, to Noel for safekeeping so he can continue to write uninterrupted. Elliott is also a gentle giant, which is reflected throughout, especially when he cares for Moxie, a kitten he found. He’s a nice addition to the story. There are a lot of Christmas references and activities, even if Jonah and his dad don’t celebrate the holiday due to a loss they suffered at Christmas when Jonah was four. Since Jonah’s dad is the mayor of their small town, he won’t authorize any decorations or display anything related to Christmas or the holidays, and their small town is suffering in its current economic times.

On the other hand, Noel’s parents love Christmas and want to turn the town into a year-round Christmas Village, and Noel’s dad is running for mayor to make his wife’s dreams come true.

This lovely story has many smaller tales enveloped within, involving politics, grief, small businesses, and much more. There is a happily ever after, thanks to the epilogue, but I wish the story would have gone on a little longer. The ending seemed very rushed to get us to that point. The cover is spot on due to the importance of the snow globe to the story, and who doesn’t love a snow globe?

A Wish for Christmas is a delightful story that puts me in the mood for the upcoming holidays.

This is perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies! It has a little bit of everything - it's sweet and heartwarming, filled with fun banter between the two main characters and a few deeper moments - with just a touch of magical realism. I loved the small town setting and the holiday spirit! This may be my favorite Courtney Cole book to date!

A Wish for Christmas by Courtney Cole is a unique Christmas story that would, perhaps could be said to be a second chance with the same marriage partner type of story. It really is an original take on the whole “What if” we hadn’t married. It is not A Christmas Carol or It’s a Wonderful Life kind of story. Just its own kind of story. I found this first book for me to read by this author to be quite interesting. The book’s Dedication states, “To everyone who believes in Christmas magic,” which a good description of the novel.

I am still not sure which couple were the real ones in the beginning. I do know that Noel and Jonah seemed to be the true couple who had never met until that Christmas. Destined to be together no matter when they meet, I did find it odd that these two end up flying to a small town where they both grew up but had never meet when younger. Also Elliott steals the scene every time he runs though and yes, he is often running. Another favorite character of mine is Padraig Sinclair. I loved this old man from the very beginning. I also loved the idea of the village that Jace want to build as well as why he wants to build it.

For a different kind of Christmas story that would make a great Hallmark movie, be sure to read A Wish for Christmas.

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

A WISH FOR CHRISTMAS – Courtney Cole
Avon
ISBN: 978-0063296398
November 14, 2023
Contemporary Fiction

New York City & Winter Falls, Wyoming – Present Day

It’s two weeks ’til Christmas and Noel Blake and her husband Jonah are drifting apart. They first met and married while living in Wyoming. They recently acquired a mastiff dog named Elliott, who has a bad tendency to get out. One day, the dog leads them to a stranger’s home. Padraic is an elderly man and friendly toward Noel and Jonah. He gives each of them a snow globe and tells them to each make a wish and when they wake up in the morning, their wishes will come true. The next morning, Noel wakes up and she is living another life—one without Jonah, though it turns out that he lives in the same building as her.

While neither Noel nor Jonah can remember the other, it turns out that they grew up in the same town of Winter Falls—and they’re both returning to visit for the holidays. A book editor at a publishing house, Noel has taken on a new client and his story intrigues her even though it’s not completely finished. His name is…. Padraic and his tale starts out innocently with characters who seem much like Noel and Jonah with the names changed. But our couple does not realize it. They are living a parallel life where they are not married to each other and only meet in A WISH FOR CHRISTMAS. But one thing remains constant: Elliott the dog.

If you could get a chance to re-do your life, would you? Noel and Jonah unwittingly get a second chance to find their way back to each other as they get to know one another again. But they will have a few barriers along the way. The biggest challenge is that their fathers are adversaries running for mayor of Winter Falls. Jonah’s father, Judd, is already the mayor and he doesn’t like Christmas and has banned any Christmas pageants or decorations in the town. Noel’s father, Rich, wants to open a Christmas-themed store and Judd opposes it. This rivalry is a big part of A WISH FOR CHRISTMAS as Noel and Jonah have to support their parents but want what is best for the town.

Meanwhile, Jonah and Noel soon grow closer. Because they don’t remember each other, they are learning about each other like it’s the first time. Elliott the dog was given to Noel by her author client, Padraic and she takes him to Winter Falls with her. She couldn’t get the dog on the plane, but luckily her neighbor, Jonah, was there to get her on his private plane. The dog is a handful and provides for a few lighthearted moments in this tale. A WISH FOR CHRISTMAS is also emotional due to Christmas approaching and the reason why Judd hates the holiday soon becomes apparent. Will there be a Christmas celebration in the town of Winter Falls?

A warmhearted tale of hope and second chances don’t miss A WISH FOR CHRISTMAS.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

What a wonderful holiday novel! I enjoyed Noel, Jonah, Elliott, and all of the other characters in this story. It's kind of a careful what you wish for/second chance novel. So much fun to read and get into the holiday spirit. Highly recommend reading this one!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely