A nice Christmas story in the middle of summer is just what i needed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release.

THE WISHING BRIDGE is a great book! It has everything I love in a story: characters that are real, a beautiful setting (Frankenmuth, MI) that is on my bucket list and family drama that leads up to a happy ending for a reason.
Christmas is a beautiful time to discover that coming home was always where Henrietta (Henri) was meant to be.
Enjoy this wonderful heart warming new book by a favorite Author of mine, Viola Shipman!
Highly recommend with a tissue or two.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review. This is my honest review, I loved it!

I love a good Christmas romance and women’s fiction, especially when it comes from an author like Shipman who writes deeply fulfilling stories. They can make your heart sing with happiness.

This book had me twisted up several times as the main character became almost unlikeable for me in several areas of the book. I really struggled with the actions and choices she made, but I knew that Shipman would not let the reader down and good things would come eventually.

I was not wrong.

What I love about these stories is the small-town atmosphere the author creates. If you grew up in a small town, you cannot help but fall for the townspeople in this book. A reverence-like caring for the family tends to place a lot of pressure on our female lead with her choices and actions.

The plot is load with the Christmas spirit in more ways than most and feels almost like those Hallmark moves we are addicted to. Family issues, work issues, and heavy decisions that need to be made without a clear way forward.

But the ending is so sweet and heartwarming. The magic of Shipman’s words weave a magical spell and all of the hurts will wash away. The Wishing Bridge is about forgiveness, overcoming fear, family strength, and finding love when you least expect it.

Charming, heartwarming and ever so merry! I look forward each year to a new holiday book by Viola Shipman, and loved reading The Wishing Bridge! Set primarily in a small town in eastern Michigan in December, Shipman’s latest features a woman in her 50s who returns home from the big city of Detroit for the first time in many years with a secret mission of persuading her parents to sell the “world’s largest” Christmas shop, founded by her father. While the trope is familiar to any fan of Hallmark’s holiday fare and predictable from the first pages, Christmas cheer permeates the story. Also, Shipman transports the reader to the snowy Germanic village of Frankenmuth - capturing its beauty and charm - and to the family’s shop, which I would love to visit in real life. Bonus points to Shipman for both the nostalgic throwbacks to Christmas traditions of the protagonists’ childhood years (such as circling wished for toys in the Sears Wish Book) and for the romance among 50somethings.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Graydon House for a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I adore books by Viola Shipman, and this one did not disappoint, the story of Henri a woman who left her hometown for college and never looked back, giving up her true love as well, Life in thr big city is great when your moving up ranks and the superstar of the office but things change leaders change tines change and someone younger is looking at Henri's job so she does what anyone would do (ok maybe not anyone) she decides to visit her hometown at Christmas (a famous hometown known for a Christmas store her parents happen to own) with not so great intentions in her heart the story is so good and in your always cheering for Henri that she will do the right thing this book has Christmas, sibling rivalry, female friendships love and my favorite part a furry family member,. Can you go home again? Read the wishing bridge and find out!

Viola Shipman's books always bring joy and ears and often provoke some serious thoughtfulness. I so very much enjoyed this book. I knew I was going to be completely satisfied after reading it, but also really sad when I was done. The author's does such a good job reminding us what is important in life without beating the reader over the head. Thank you for that and for a wonderful book I thoroughly enjoyed,. Frankenmuth is a pretty magical town all year round, and is well presented in the book.

Wow!
As a girl, who grew up with the Sears wishbook… (Oh, boy, I was so disappointed when they stopped that)
I understand little Henri’s excitement when she received one every year

Her family business is Christmas land… In a beautiful Germantown in Michigan
As a college graduate, Henri couldn’t wait to leave that town and become usually successful, so now she’s back for the first Christmas in decades, but not for the Happy reunion her mom and dad want but you actually spy and sell Christmas land
I have to say I had to warm up to her, and in true Viola Shipman style I devoured with this book, love the characters, love the town, and even the nostalgia that came with it!

The Wishing Bridge is an unusual book--the title doesn't invoke Christmas, but it's one of the most affecting Christmas books I've read this year. Early in the story, it appears to have a similar plot to a Hallmark Christmas movie, but later it's clear that it has greater depth. Henrietta (Henri) returns to her home town, real-life Bavarian village Frankenmuth, Michigan, to convince her parents to sell their pride and joy, the world's largest holiday gift and decoration store, and save her job in mergers and acquisitions. In the process, she reconnects with Shep, whose marriage proposal she had turned down years ago. The bond between Henri and her parents is strong, so why hasn't she been home for Christmas in 10 years?

It's clear from the start how this will end up, but there are so many charming delights along the way. The descriptions of this lovely town in December, and especially the huge Christmas store and what it means to its customers and friends, are unmatched. Henri's father is a particularly strong character. Jakob has devoted his life to ensuring that everyone who visits his store is inspired and satisfied. There's even a replica of the "Silent Night" chapel on the premises, which is visited by thousands around the calendar. But he and his wife are aware that the store may not be as strong financially as it once was, thanks to Covid, among other things. The characters in the book are nuanced and undergo development. Henri is an interesting protagonist, as she is older--in her fifties--and still hasn't figured out her life. Her relationships with her oldest friend and her more recent protégé are convincing and gratifying.

Some will probably say the book is a bit preachy, repeatedly emphasizing its theme of family vs. ambition, but it worked for me. It's now one of my favorite Viola Shipman books.

My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Thank you Netgalley for a review copy of The Wishing Bridge. After reading this story, a trip to Frankenmuth is required to go to all the places mentioned and see the Silent Night Chapel, hear the chimes, and walk on the Wishing bridge. This story embodies the meaning of second chances in love, friendship, and family. Life goals change when the family business could be sold. Bonds between siblings and girlfriends are tested. A boss that doesn’t care about human connections and only the bottom line of money, using his power to destroy a lifetime of hard work. An old love may get a second chance. So much shared history between family and friends that builds up stronger relationships. An absolute perfect ending! Viola Shipman has another bestseller! Bonus novella included also.

I always look forward to Viola Shipman books, and this one is just, warm, toasty, heartfelt and wonderful!

Taking place in Frankenmuth, Michigan, a town known as a Christmas town to both residents and visitors., it is filled with family and love. (It is now on my bucket lest to visit.)
When Henrietta Wegner whose family owns and runs the fabulous Christmas store called Wegner's, makes a return to her hometown, it's not for a family visit.
She wants her parents to sell the store to her boss.
It will be a big promotion within her company and isn't that what everyone wants and needs?
She slowly sees and feels the magic of her beloved town after returning, and now needs to make some hard decisions and speak to her parents about this offer. It must be complete before Christmas!
Will she be able to convince her father to sell? Does she really want that?

You should best have a seat, some hot chocolate and a nice fireplace and settle in with this story. You will love it!
Thank you to @Netgalley and @Harlequin Trade Publishing for this beautiful ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review.

The Wishing Bridge by Viola Shipman. I was able to read this copy thanks to NetGalley. Henri is from Frankenmuth, her parents run the World’s Largest Christmas Store. Henri works for a company in Detroit that acquires businesses and streamlines them to be more profitable and efficient. This often leads to the businesses demise. It is a cut throat job. In order to save her job Henri offers her family business. When she arrives in Frankenmuth for the holidays, she is reunited with family and friends. She is forced to re access her life, and fight for family. I loved this book. I love Frankenmuth so much. I was just there a few days before reading this book. I knew the places that are described and the business that the book is based off of. The book had me at the edge of my seat in wondering if Henri would sell out or join her family. This is a must read for Michigan lovers, Frankenmuth lovers, and Christmas lovers. I already ordered a copy for my Mom. It is that good!!!!

Henrietta Wagner used to be the top mergers and acquisitions exec in her company, but the young'uns are coming for her job, and her boss tells her she'll be unemployed next year if she doesn't close on a big deal soon.

Henri impulsively tells him that she can get her aging parents to sell their Christmas store in Frankenmuth, Michigan. (Frankenmuth is Christmas Central in Michigan. Everyone I know goes there every year!) But once Henri is back in her hometown, she realizes the small town charm and the warmth of the close knit community, and starts to question what is really important in life.

I'm a Michigander at heart, and Frankenmuth is iconic as THE place to visit for Christmas, so this story is literally in my backyard! I loved how Henri started to reevaluate the importance of things and people in her life. The characters in her family, their relationships, the different ways they see things, and the way everything falls into place at the end is all beautifully written. Wonderful heartwarming story about family, forgiveness, and the real meaning of the season! 🎄❤️

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

As always, Viola Shipman invites us into a new world. In The Wishing Bridge, we are welcomed into the Winter Wonderland of Frankenmuth, Michigan. The town is known for its love of Christmas and small town vibe. Henri could not flee fast enough, but as Shipman weaves Henri’s story, we learn not only the true meaning of Christmas, but how poor decisions can be righted and how the love of family is stronger than anything. There is something for everyone in this story - family, love, friendship, small town living vs. big city life. Even though it’s a Christmas story, you are left feeling warm inside.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of The Wishing Bridge.

Cute little Christmas read. All about life and second chances and being able to come home. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely loved The Wishing Bridge!! Viola did such a fabulous job of capturing the magic of this Christmas town. Having been to Frankenmuth Michigan I think it made this story even more realistic to me.
Henri didn't return back to her hometown after graduating from college taking the job of her dreams in the big city.
Having the sinking feeling her dream job was coming to an end she put her family's business on the line or did she?
Can she sacrifice everything her parents have worked for for their entire lives or are they ready to call it quits who's really going to decide. Is her fabulous job worth losing your family and friends...
Should she have made these decisions years ago....
I received a early copy for my honest review