I picked this book up because I have read several of Viola Shipman's books and enjoyed them all. This one reminds me of Hallmark Christmas movies. It is full of both laughs and heart-wrenching angst.

Description:
Once the hottest mergers and acquisitions executive in the company, Henrietta Wegner can see the ambitious and impossibly young up-and-comers gunning for her job. When Henri’s boss makes it clear she’ll be starting the New Year unemployed unless she can close a big deal before the holidays, Henri impulsively tells him that she can convince her aging parents to sell Wegner’s—their iconic Frankenmuth, Michigan, Christmas store—to a massive, soulless corporation. It’s the kind of deal cool, corporate Henri has built her career on.

Home for the holidays has typically meant a perfunctory twenty-four-hour visit for Henri, then back to Detroit as fast as her car will drive her. So turning up at the Wegner’s offices in early December raises some eyebrows: from her delighted, if puzzled, parents to her suspicious brother and curious childhood friends. But as Henri fields impatient texts from her boss while reconnecting with the magic of the store and warmth of her hometown, what sounded great in the boardroom begins to lose its luster in real life. She’s running out of time to pull the trigger on what could be the greatest success of her career…or the most awkward family holiday of her life.

My Thoughts:
Henri, the main character, has a heart-breaking choice to make with difficult consequences for either decision. To me, there was only one choice, but she had to make her decision on her own as the story played out and the Christmas Eve deadline approached. Christmas time is filled with family and friends, but Henri hadn't been with her family at Christmastime for many years, so they were very surprised when she showed up - as well as maybe a little suspicious. The plot was good in that it made for some tense moments as well as some light-hearted humor. The story moved at a good pace and built as it went. I liked Henri, but there were times when I couldn't fathom what she was thinking of doing. I got mad at her. Recommended for anyone who likes reading heart-warming stories or who enjoys the Hallmark movies.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on November 7, 2023.

Finally, a story aimed at the over 30 demographic! Thank you Viola Shipman for creating a character that has matured into a woman who is still chasing her dreams, even if they really aren't what she wants in life. The characters in this story are so relatable and the background settings so conducive to a warm and believable holiday story that I couldn't put this book down. Shipman's story proves that it's never too late to change paths and find out that you're where you're meant to be.

The Wishing Bridge is another nostalgic novel by Viola Shipman! Full of memories of earlier years in Frankenmuth, Michigan, it reminded me of so many of the long forgotten Christmas memories of my childhood.

When Franki returns home in her 50’s with the option to sell the business her parents built from the ground up to her current boss or be fired, Franki must do some soul searching through her past to discover what lies ahead in her future.

Although I felt this book was predictable, I did enjoy learning about Franki’s life in Frankenmuth and meeting her friends and family along the way. Shipman has a way of making his characters feel like old friends.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

Henri Wegner grew up a beloved child in Frankenmuth, Michigan, helped her father plan and execute his dream of opening the world's largest Christmas store, and then moved to Detroit to live her own dream of going to business school. She couldn't wait to leave behind small-town life and her childhood sweetheart. Fast forward a few decades, and the company she has worked for since graduating is now run by the son who inherited when his father died, and the son's a 2-dimensional stereotype of a greedy corporate shark. To save her job, she impulsively promises to convince her father to sell his now-famous, beloved store to a soulless company that will destroy it for profit. All she has to do is go home in December for the first time in years and betray her family to save a job she hates and doesn't really need or have strong ties to anymore.

*sighhhhhh* I wanted to like this book. It's a Hallmark Christmas movie in book form. Sadly, it is NOT one of the good Hallmark movies. There is no real conflict in this book, just a couple hundred pages of a grown woman agonizing over the world's most obvious choice.

This story is an identity crisis, and not in the way it intends (see above about the faux dilemma). Henri is introduced as being 52 years old, but the math on that doesn't work out, since based on the timeline of all the flashbacks, she had to be born in 1967, and the main part of the story has to take place now (2023) or thereabouts because of how the author refers to the COVID pandemic's effect on businesses in town. So Henri is actually 56. A 56-year-old woman with the angst and immaturity of a 26-year-old.

And that's, I think, really the problem. I LOVE finding stories centered on middle-aged characters, but this one doesn't feel authentic in the slightest. We are supposed to believe that Henri has lived and worked in the same place for *decades* and yet seems to have zero community? Her assistant is the closest thing she has to a friend in the city. There is no mention of anything that would in any way tie her to her current life--no friends or neighbors or former coworkers she keeps in contact with, no favorite restaurants or theatres, no faith community, no personality of any sort in her fancy, cold, uber-modern condo, and her work life is unbearably toxic. Apparently Henri has had the world's most routine, robotic life for the past 34 years, and we're supposed to believe this is in some way hard to give up to come home to a place she says she loves and feels loved, to take over management of a business she helped get started and still feels nostalgic for?

If Henri *had* been 26, I could buy that she was a workaholic driven by ambition and focused on her career to the exclusion of all else. I could believe that she was facing a quarter-life crisis and grappling with the realization that her life was going in the wrong direction. Actually, I could believe that of a 56-year-old if the circumstances of her life were different--multi-dimensional instead of a negative caricature of "Big City Life." It feels as though Henri was intended to be 26, but the author wanted to include all the nostalgia of life in the 1970s & 80s, which she couldn't do without making Henri a generation older. And it just doesn't work.

I did appreciate the nostalgic bits--I am old enough to have grown up with the excitement of those huge Wish Books at Christmastime that came from Sears and Montgomery Ward. However, I'm also old enough to know that NO ONE in 1975 was excited to get Star Wars figurines for Christmas, as is asserted in the opening of the book, because Star Wars didn't come out until 1977. That was just the first of several anachronisms.

One other thing really bugged me: toward the end, when Henri's boss & rival showed up at her family's store "unexpectedly" (it was telegraphed so hard...), Ms. Shipman describes the two of them sitting on the giant Santa throne in an "unchristian" way. I'm assuming she meant something akin to "lewd" or "x-rated," so the term raised my hackles. And then I snort-laughed at the implication that Christians don't have sex. Sure would be a lot fewer if that were true!

As with all Hallmark Christmas movies, there was supposed to be a romantic theme. Again, it would have worked quite well if the main characters had been 26 instead of 56. Or if they had spent more time getting to know the people they've grown into over the past 35 or so years since Henri broke Shep's heart, and IF the people they have become were actually a good fit. But that was pretty much glossed over, aside from Shep's newfound maturity a la post-divorce therapy. Nothing at all with the realities of single-sided step-parenting (which I can promise you is tricky!). I honestly think the most real character was Shep's ex-wife Hannah, who had done some major self-reflection and personal growth that Henri and her childhood BFF had not. Well, Sophie might have done a bit. All that is to say, the romance aspect of the book, which is usually my favorite part of a Hallmark Christmas movie, was both incidental to the main story and disappointingly paper thin.

For readers' advisors: I'm going with setting doorway as primary, for the descriptions of Frankenmuth and all its snowy businesses. There was no sex or violence, only a little swearing and a fair amount of drinking. Don't suggest this book to anyone who cares about complex, well-developed characters or a compelling plot, but it will probably appeal to readers who don't care about those things and just want to inhabit a Bavarian Christmas fantasy-land for a while. In that, it succeeds!

Nevertheless, I am very grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eBook ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book. It was the perfect Christmas story. It had romance,family, and second chances. I had tears in my eyes at the end. This is why I like reading Christmas books all year long. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This is another amazing book by this author. I don’t ever miss one when it’s released. This book is about Christmas, our dreams, new beginnings and forgiveness of oneself. When Henri returns home for Christmas with an ulterior motive to save her job she starts looking at her family and legacy differently. Although the ending of the book is predictable it’s such a good story you can’t help becoming engrossed in it. Wade/Viola does such an amazing job of describing the store and the beautiful surroundings of the area you can’t help but feel you’re actually viewing it. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

****Publishing November 7, 2023****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Henri grew up in Frankenmuth, MI, where her dad owned and operated Wegner’s, the world’s largest year-round Christmas store. When Henri graduates from college, she decides to branch out and go work for Tolliver in Detroit. Her dad is understanding, but would prefer for her to work for him.

When Henri’s job is on the line, she tells her boss that she can convince her parents to sell Wegner’s to them. Henri decides to go home at Christmas in order to do this. Her parents are skeptical as to why she is home because she is normally working. When Henri’s boss comes to town because the deal isn’t signed and he wants to seal the deal, will chaos ensue? Will her parents agree? Will Henri have the audacity to follow through with the sale? This book will have you turning the pages to find out!

I love Viola Shipman’s books because they are sentimental, nostalgic, heartfelt, and entertaining! Plus, you always learn something new!

A bonus novella, Christmas Angels, is included with this book! An equally heartfelt and moving story! A perfect book to give as a gift!

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing (Graydon House), I was provided an ARC of The Wishing Bridge by Viola Shipman via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A woman who left her family's business to make her own mark tries to impress her new boss by convincing her family to sell their business. She goes home for Christmas holiday and learns that family is what it's all about.

What a delightful Christmas story just like we have come to expect from the amazing Wade Rouse (aka Viola Shipman)

Henri comes home for the first time in a long time for the Christmas holidays. Her family business IS Christmas and has been ever since her father realized his dream of opening a store dedicated to everything Christmas. Her main reason for coming home is to save her job and try to convince her parents to sell their beloved business to a large conglomerate who will ultimately dismantle her father’s dream and everything he has worked for.

Once Henri is home she starts to appreciate all of the work her dad put into the business and struggles with the decision. She reunited with her first (and only.) love who she disappointed years earlier when she turns down his proposal for the chance to make it on her own in the big city.

Full of heart, love and family this book as always is a love letter to the traditions of the past. Wade Rouse delivers another beautiful story in honor of his grandmother Viola Shipman and I could not get enough!!!

Will Henri really sell her family business to a huge corporation - the business her father created in their basement?

Henri was told by her boss that if she didn't come up with a big idea and deal by the end of the year, she was going to be fired.

Her company invests in small businesses and turns them into chain stores.

After that threat, she thought of her family's business and headed home for Christmas for the first time in years.

She thought of the family‘s business because her parents are getting older and her rationale is that they won’t be able to take care of this much longer, and the money they get will take them through retirement.

Can she really do it after she watched the business grow and as she had helped in the business from childhood?

We follow Henri as guilt tugs at her, but also as she sees what she has missed all these years and all the memories and wonderful things a small town has along with her single boyfriend that had asked her to marry him many years ago.

Will that help with or hinder her decision?

Every memory and comment from customers ate at her guilt.

You will love the characters. They are heartwarming, and the town is nostalgic.

If you need a sweet read, don't miss THE WISHING BRIDGE.

All of Wade’s warmth oozes from every word and page. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was positively delightful! The people who write best about an area are the ones that actually live there and Viola proves that. Wade (Viola) has a way of capturing the complicated beauty of Michigan, why people leave and why they return. Such a charming, heartwarming story with a bit of a twist.

Viola Shipman manages yet again to capture all the feels of the holiday season in this latest Christmas novel. Set in Frankenmuth, Michigan, we find one man's dream of a Christmas shoppe open 363 days a year. (If you live in Michigan as I do, you know all the places in this fictional novel.) But what happens as the owners age, and their children decide whether to take it over or sell to a company who only sees the bottom line? Beautiful, beautiful story that causes all the Christmas memories and feelings to rush back as you read. Perfect!

Who doesn’t love a little Bavarian town known for the world’s largest Christmas store reminiscent of a Hallmark movie? Oh my I could just picture the lights, decorations and the quaint little town.
Henri has grown up watching her father create his dream Christmas store, but now Henri wants to leave her own legacy; a chance for a new beginning. She heads to Detroit for what she envisions as her dream job. Trying to impress her boss and not lose her job, Henri promises to get her parents to sell their beloved store.
Returning home at the holidays to face her family and the past she has worked so hard to forget, Henri must make a decision that could cost her everything.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for my ARC.

The Wishing Bridge
Viola Shipman
Nov. 7, 2023
Graydon House
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
* Christmas fiction
I love to read a good Christmas book in the holidays.
Shipman writes delightful fiction. I love the small town atmosphere he creates. The plot is loaded with the Christmas spirit in so many ways. The ending is sweet and heartwarming! Great for the soul and to recommend.
5 stars

THE WISHING BRIDGE is another winner from Viola Shipman. Henri is immediately relatable as a main character, and we sympathize with her job struggles and getting older. Her hometown is the absolute perfect setting for this Christmas story, and the author. as always, does a wonderful job of immersing the reader into each cozy scene. Henri's struggles are realistic without ever feeling too heavy. The ending is expected but nonetheless enjoyable.

Highly recommended for fans of Hallmark movies. This is basically a Hallmark movie in book form!

I received a complimentary e-galley from the publisher; all opinions are my own.

This is a heartwarming Christmas story in which readers will feel the tug between nostalgic family values and the desire to advance a career. Henri is a successful woman who has gained success in the corporate world. She has been given the challenge to oversee a big acquisition before Christmas - her parents iconic Christmas store. Henri returns home before the holiday and is immediately swept up in memories, friendships, and the values that are really important in the business world. While feeling the pressures from her corporate management team, Henri finds herself struggling with the decision that she has in front of her.

Viola Shipman's latest work, The Wishing Bridge, is another heartwarming story that will captivate readers with its charming Christmas romance and well-crafted characters.
Thank you, to both NetGalley and the publisher, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC ebook.

Another heart-warming story by Viola Shipman.

Heni Wegner was a top notch, cut throat executive in Detroit, but she sees her trainee gunning for her position - and dating the boss as an extra in. In a rash moment, she tells her boss she can convince her parents to sell their business and close the deal by the end of the year - otherwise, she loses her job. I love that this is set in Frankenmuth, MI - twenty minutes from where I live - and that Wade includes a lot of the local scenery, the amazing covered bridge, Bronners, Zehnder's and the Bavarian Inn, the cheese and fudge shops and the woolen mill, all under disguised names. It's an entertaining story about family and holidays and expectations and finding what is important to you.

Christmas Angels is an attached novella - it's a beautiful story, too

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Three and a half stars. It’s a cute predictable holiday story - Henri is a fifty something year old woman going through menopause and feeling like her job is in jeopardy due to her age. She make a promise to her boss that she may or may not be able to keep, and goes home to her family and her family business to see if she can help her career. While at home for that first time in many years she starts to see things differently, and happens to see her old flame. If you love Hallmark movies, you’ll love this!
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!

There is nothing I like more than a Christmas novel, but I struggled to get into this one. To me it seemed like a modern-day Scrooge without all the ghosts. It just flipped back and forth from present time to past and back again. I think what I struggled most with was how this fiercely independent, successful woman who let some clown demean her into convincing her parents to sell the family business to a big corporation. The details in the background story of the family business were amazing. I felt like I was there, too. When Henri’s assistant (a modern-day Tiny Tim) urged her to really get back in the Christmas spirit she grew up with, the tides finally turned. All in all, a beautiful story. Verbose in some sections but I’m glad to have had the opportunity to read this book and thank NetGalley for allowing me to do so.