Coming Home to Glendale Hall

Beth left home at 16 when she discovered she was pregnant and her grandmother told her she had to have an abortion. She hasn't been home to Glendale Hall in 10. She then discovers that he grandmother is dying and wants to see her.

I loved the ‘Summer at the Kindness Cafe’ by this author so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. It didn’t disappoint! I’m going to be recommending it to our library bookclub as a Christmas read. I know they are going to love it!

WOW! From the first page I was absolutely hooked! I was finding it so hard to put down but at the same time I didn’t want it to end! I felt like I was in the village and was part of the community! Such a beautiful read and didn’t once get boring! Would highly recommend this book to read during the festive season to get you in a feel good mood!

This was a lovely holiday homecoming filled with second chances.

I enjoyed the story of Beth and Izzy's homecoming. Family is complicated and many times have conflicting ideas about whats best for everyone.

In a way this story was somewhat predictable but was well done and kept me hooked. It really gave me all the holiday feels and a lovely happily ever after.

I would definitely look into reading more by this author.

A fantastic cosy book for the festive season! Brilliant characters and settings really felt you were there along side them. My first by this Author will be looking out for more absolutely loved her style of writing

I enjoyed this cozy holiday story. I liked the strong main character and her love interest. She’s a good role model for her daughter and parents took

Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a great romance/women's fiction novel. The setting worked perfectly in this book. I loved that it was set in a small village in Scotland and that it was during Christmas. It really gave me a cozy feeling. I will not go too much into the plot of the story, because the synopsis gives a great summary of the story. This book was about family coming together and forgiveness. The main character Beth Williams has stayed away for ten years for a reason. But regardless of your issues with your family, you'll always come when they need you. This was also the case for Beth, she goes home with her daughter after being gone for ten years. I absolutely loved the relationship Beth had with her daughter Isabelle (Izzy). She was a single teen mom but did everything in her power to give Izzy a good life. Beth is very strong and independent and I loved her character a lot. When Drew – Beth’s first love is visiting as well, things get a bit complicated.

This book had so many great elements. It was just a well-rounded contemporary romance with strong aspects focusing on the community and family. All the characters were great and elevated the story. This book definitely made me feel good and smile. I was happy that the romance didn't overwhelm the story. The author gave the right amount to satisfy my romantic heart. I definitely didn't want the story to end, because I really enjoyed spending time with the characters and seeing them grow. Every character in this book went through major character development, which I loved a lot. I would've liked maybe a chapter or two told from Drew's POV, just to get an insight into his thoughts. But it wasn't something I needed to fully enjoy this book. I can't finish this review without mentioning that I love the cover, it really fits this book.

This is a really lovely book, great to cosy up with over the winter months. A warming story with lovely characters, I really rate this author!

Absolutely fantastic had me gripped!!! Loved it! Can't wait for more from.this author. Storyline was great, characters were easy to.connect with

Thank you for the advanced copy

I loved this book it's so cosy and happy it's the sort of book you can curl up on a cold day to read it.
I managed to read it in 2 days I couldn't put it down.
I'm so glad it had a happy ending and everything was ok in the family. Apart from mum and dads marriage.
I can just see the snow on the ground, better than what we get in England, and the christmas trail.
I can't wait till this book is published.
5* all the way xxx

A twee tale full of family drama and learning to forgive, this book is the perfect little Christmas tale. It's a light read, great for a night by the fire or in cozy socks, and it has its sad moments, but you can see where the author plans to go with the story line easily without giving away the whole tale before it is told.
The cast of characters are witty, the child who is a major player smart without being a clever clogs, and it's a story for any woman who knows what it can feel to be lost and found.

It may only be the middle of summer, but there’s always something so magical and cosy when reading a book set around winter time.

Glendale Hall is a wonderful property on picturesque grounds. It made me wonder how Beth had managed to stay away from it for so long, but then as we find out a bit more about what happened in the past to make her move away, I started to understand.

It was sad to see the decline of the small town that Beth finds herself returning to. Things have certainly changed since she was last there. One thing that hasn’t, is her friendship with Heather, her childhood friend. I enjoyed seeing the friendship between these two as it was so effortless and comfortable.

There’s lots going on within the story to do with Beth’s family, her childhood sweetheart and the decline within the small town. It all blends wonderfully together though making for an all engrossing read.

Coming Home To Glendale Hall is as gorgeous on the inside as it is on the outside. It promises so much and delivers it all and more. It’s a feel good, heart warming read bursting to the seams with family bonds, romance and hope and goodwill. Definitely one you need to add to your to be read file if you’re a fan of this genre.

This is a great novel.
The setting was lovely a small Scottish village at Christmas
This book gave me a cosy feeling.
This book had so many great elements within it
The characters developed throughout the book due to the authors excellent writing style.

Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. After falling pregnant at sixteen, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate where she grew up rather than risk her family’s disapproval, working hard to build a life for herself and daughter Isabelle - but now she’s finally returning to Glendale Hall.

As Beth tries to mend her broken family ties, and fights to bring the community of Glendale back together, she realises that the story she has told herself for a decade might well be a very different one from the truth. Even though she ran from Glendale it has never left her heart. And, she soon realises, neither has Drew – Beth’s first love.

Will Beth be able to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? What will Drew say when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him for so long? Can a festive trail bring the village back together?

Well, I just could not put this book down, it had me sad, happy and every other emotion you can think of. I loved every minute of it and am looking to read more from this author.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It has a great plot, excellent main characters and I read it in one sitting! I would highly recommend this book.

This was so good! I wish there was a sequel. I think the characters have so much more to say! I read this in one sitting because I needed to find out what was happening. I liked all the twists and turns and the imagery was great. The characters were fun and interesting.

Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a week written story of forgiveness and second chances. Love this author’s writing style and will definitely be reading more of her books. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a perfect festive read which I found myself losing myself in so quickly. There's romance, family tensions and challenges along the way and I just couldn't put this down once I had started it. The setting is vividly created and the characters written in such a genuine and relatable way; I could picture the village and its residents clearly and I was rooting for them to get their happy ever afters.

This was the first book I have read from Victoria Walters but I'll now be looking for more.

Just as described, a feel good story. Well written, in a believable manner, this is a tale of romance, family, friendship and love lost and found, This characters were all very interesting and believable. A book I could not put down.

A great Christmassy, heart-warming story proving that yes, you can go home again. After 10 years away, the impending death of her grandmother brings Beth and her young daughter back home. But while she has been gone, home has changed. The village is on the edge of ruin, and some relationships are in danger as well. With the same grit and determination that sustained her 10 years ago, Beth is determined to forge a new future.

I love Christmas books and was thrilled to get a copy through Netgalley. It has all the ingredients of a magical Christmas story with strong interesting characters, snowy scenes and family values. Beth returns home to Glendale Hall with her daughter after running away as a frightened pregnant sixteen year old. She just wants to see her elderly grandmother, have Christmas and leave. She feels there are too many unhappy memories to keep her in Scotland but can the past be healed. Her daughter would love to meet her father but Beth hasn't seen her teenage sweetheart since she ran away what will happen when they meet again. Ok so the ending is predictable but how the story unfolds is a real page turner and a great read

This book is as gorgeous on the inside as it is on the outside. There are so many things going on in this story- decline of Glendale, family relationships and secrets.
This was a book which was really lovely to read and difficult to put down. The style of writing was engaging and the plot is easy to follow.
The characters in the book are easily relatable and the book has an extremely picturesque setting which makes this a stunning read.
This is the first book I've read by Walters, but it definitely won't be the last. This is a story which has left me smiling.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Lovely feel good read. It was well written and flowed well. I enjoyed it very much. The plot was good and interesting. Hard to put down

I enjoyed this book. It is well written, and the characters are well developed. It’s quite long, but there are multiple threads of plot, so it doesn’t feel excessively lengthy.

It’s nice to see characters behaving in a relatively sensible manner, actually communicating rather than just trying to hide things from each other. And not just flying off in a temper at not having been told sooner. It felt more realistic in a lot of ways than many of the romances I have read.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a lovely Christmas tale of a family coming back together, and rebuilding the local community.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really lovely christmas read. I enjoyed it imensley. Easy to read and unputdownable. Thank you netgalley for a copy in return for an honest review.

What a sweet and heartfelt book this was. Cosy and touching with just the right amount of Christmas themes thrown in. Glendale hall sounds amazing, I kind of wish someone would adapt this story for tv or film.

Beth and Izzy had a great relationship to read about, it’s nice when a mother daughter bond is portrayed so positively. Even Beth’s backstory at home had a nice plot in the end. I liked that everything wasn’t tied up too tidily and a little bit of mystery was still left for the reader.

All in all a very satisfying and cosy read.

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #cominghometoglendalehall #netgalley

Beth Williams is 26 years old and is a single mum to her daughter Isabelle. She ran away from her family 10 years ago when she found out she was pregnant. Can Beth's return to Glendale Hall for Christmas provide the answers she desperately needs and will her future remain the same as her past.

Although it is only September, with the weather turning colder, i fancied reading a christmas book. The cover of this book enticed me in with the beautiful Glendale hall and snow covered cover.

Once opening the book it is a page turner. Each chapter has a cliff hanger. The next chapter answers the previous chapters cliff hangers and then provides more cliff hangers. This is something i love within a book and it also makes the book a page turner. I read this book in 48 hours. Any spare time i had i felt myself wanting to oixk this book up.

This book is a great cosy read and you never feel that you are missing anything from the story line allowing you to follow it through until the end with confidence that you will get a good ending. Although their are some emotional subjects included in this book such as parents divorce and teenage pregnancies and single parenthood. I do not feel this takes away from the cosy feel of the book.

I would love a follow on book in this series regarding Beths relationship with Drew and her new life at the hall.

Beth and Izzy are doing just fine! It had been just the two of them for 10 years and, returning to Glendale was purely to see Beth's grandmother before she passed away. Beth and Izzy live in London where Beth had fled after her grandmother made it clear that an illegitimate child would not be welcomed at Glendale Hall. Abandoned by her family, Beth had done her absolute best to make a good life for them both. Her heart still ached for what could have been but, Beth knows that she would never have prevented Drew from taking his University place in Boston.

Arriving back in Scotland, Beth remembers happier times and, bumping into her childhood best-friend, Heather is bittersweet. Happy to reconnect but devastating to learn that the Village of Glendale is in terrible decline and that her Father is involved in a money making scheme that would see Glendale turned into lodges and no shops or the library left.

Beth's life changes when her grandmother confesses to having manipulated the situation and effectively driving Beth away. Beth's parents are estranged with her Father having an affair and her mother drinking to excess. When things look hopeless, Izzy''s Father, Drew, returns for a visit and he knows nothing about his daughter except for what Beth told him in a letter to which he never responded.

Can Beth unite the villagers and save Glendale? Can she repair the damaged relationship with her parents and, is there any hope that Drew will be interested in learning about Izzy?

This is a magical tale with the perfect mix of well described characters and scenes coupled with the anguish of unfinished business.

This is my first official Christmas read of 2019 and what a magical start!

Coming Home To Glendale Hall has all the ingredients you'd want in a wonderful festive fiction treat; warmth, tradition, family, joy and hope.

Beth has so much to struggle with on her return to her Scottish childhood home with her now 10 year old daughter, Izzy. Her relationship with her Mum is strained, her father is mostly absent, her Grandmother is gravely ill, her childhood friends are surprised to see her back, and the village she cared about has changed dramatically since she left. Add in the mix the simultaneous return of her first love, Drew, and things become ever more complicated. However, determined to make this the best Christmas possible for Izzy, they share so many festive delights, traditions and memories that thaws even the coldest hearts.

There's so much to say about the hall itself; as a fan of stately homes I could visualise the gardens and the large kitchen, and picture how grand it all was at the centre of the community in Glendale. The beautiful picture on the book cover really does it justice and provides that spectacular Scottish backdrop to this tale. There were little touches throughout the book that really added something a bit special to the plot, and I truly enjoyed every page.

This is a story about what matters at Christmas (and any time); family, forgiveness, magic and hope. Though it's not all snow flurries and hot chocolates. As secrets threaten to tear the fragile bonds of both the family and the community apart Beth isn't the only one that has to reconcile with the past and decide what the future holds.

An utter treat full of heart and guaranteed to life your spirits.

This is so much more than a Christmas book, although the festivities do take up a good part of the story. It is more a book about family, forgiveness, and a fight to save a local high street and thus the community of Glendale.

It's the first time that Beth has been back to Glendale Hall in 10 years, and the first time her daughter Isabelle has ever been to Scotland, not to mention the Hall. Beth has only returned because it may be her grandmother's last Christmas, and it felt like the right thing to do, even though it may have been her fault that Beth left the Hall all those years ago.

There is 10 years of hurt to try to get past, and Beth is amazed how much has changed in Glendale, and how at home she and her daughter seem to feel there. There are so many fabulously heart warming storylines in this book, and they all work so well.

I loved everything about this book especially all the festive celebrations, but also ... well no I do mean everything. I'm not going to list fabulous things about this book, you are best discovering them for yourself.

From the first few pages this story captured my heart, and it was a sheer joy to read it. Between old friends, old loves, and rediscovering a love of Glendale and her family, it truly is a wonderful book. I enjoyed curling up with it and throwing myself into loving every second of it.

Definitely a book to add to your winter reading pile!

Thank you to Hera on Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This book warmed my insides in a wave of rapture. Beth returned back home after 10 years with her daughter Izzy as grandma was ill. Secrets got revealed, and she decided to take action to mend her family, smoothen the rough edges, patch up with Izzy's father, and bring the village of Glendale back to its thriving grandeur.

My first book by author Victoria Walters saw me smiling almost throughout the read. The writing was smooth with emotions frolicking in it, sometimes bringing a lump in my throat, other times a gurgling laugh. Secrets revealed were pretty shocking, and I wondered how someone with so much love could rip a family apart.

Beth was the sweetest character ever written. At 16, she found herself pregnant and was forced to run away to London, after being apparently shunned by her family. Her love for Izzy started in utero and was palpable in the entire book. They were a strong team; their dialogues reflected the joy in each other's company. It warmed the cockles of my heart.

Set in a small village in Scotland, at Christmas time, the author brought out the emotions which signified the true spirit of Christmas. Second chance romance with Drew was powerful and felt just right.

This was a strong book written in a loving manner where each character showed changes as the pages turned. Author Victoria Walters has made me her loyal fan with this fabulous book. A beautiful read, indeed.

An amazing novel, heartwarming and entertaining. It's an excellent Christmas book and I loved it.
I liked the cast of characters, the atmosphere and the setting.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I feel as if every Christmas season, I need to read at least one book that's all about coming home - usually featuring a long-standing, maybe even unfounded, grudge and a family needing to grow back together.
If you feel like this season you haven't got that fix yet? Coming Home to Glendale Hall has everything you need.
From the idyllic background of Scotland, to multiple snowy mornings - and even a white Christmas! Combine that with a double miscommunication that is about to be resolved after 10 years of distance... And of course to top it all off: a more realistic view of a happy after - where that might mean getting the man, or just finding the strength to continue on your own. Not to forget Beth's daugher Izz, who was basically me as a ten-year-old...
Honestly, this book somehow manages to deliver just about every element you could be looking for in a holiday read. And it is narrated in such a clever way that it had me gasping and reeling at a plot twist I did *not* see coming. Mind you, that was right after putting tears in my eyes for a goodbye that was very obviously coming. I will definitely need to check out Victoria Walters' writing!

Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect escapist read.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great story with lovely characters. will definitely be looking out for this author in the future

Wow! This book was amazing - kept me hooked from beginning to end. Once I started I just wanted to keep reading. Kept me up late.

The story line kind of reminded me of Gilmore Girls.

We follow Beth Williams the now 26 year old through her return to Glendale Hall. At 16 years of age Beth became pregnant and left home. For 10 years she has done everything for her daughter Isabelle and kept away from Glendale Hall as she was sure her family didn't respect the choices she had made.

However Beth returns home when her Gran is sick and is told she may not make it through the Christmas. When Beth returns home she finds out things weren't really as she thought and that her Gran had kept secrets. Can Beth forgive her Gran before she passes?

However Glendale isn't the same as Beth once remembered, its now run down and possibly will be lost to a developer. Beth is reunited with her best friend Heather and together with her mum will the three of them be able to save Glendale?

Isabelle the sweetest kid ever has always wonder about her father and always wanted to meet him. On their return to Glendale Beth runs into Drew - Isabelle's father. Will she tell Iz that he is in town or will she keep the secret to herself? The other question is does Drew even want to be in Isabelle's life? Beth tried to contact him once and he never responded but she has some serious decisions to make! Will she make the right ones?

Well you'll just have to read on to find out yourself. Thankyou Netgalley, Hera Books and Victoria Walters for allowing me to read this book.
Fantastic writing skills, made me feel I was right there in the book and along for the journey!

After finding herself pregnant at 16, Beth leaves her home in Scotland to start over in London and raise her daughter. 10 years later, daughter in tow, Beth returns upon hearing her grandmother is on her deathbed. Beth's return causes her to deal with family matters, build a different kind of relationship with her daughter, mend fences with others, and help try and save her hometown.

I absolutely LOVED this book. I could not put it down. I started reading it expecting it to be a traditional Christmas book and found so much more. The characters were well developed, the stories were interesting and unique, and I enjoyed every minute. I found myself invested in what happened not only to the characters but to the town of Glendale as well.

I always love a nice festive book, and this one was set in Scotland. I love Scotland, and I love reading books that are set there. I have read a previous book by Victoria Walters, and really enjoyed it. I was happy to have an early copy from Netgalley and the Publisher to review.
This book starts off with Beth, as she returns home to Glendale Hall with her daughter Izzy. She has lived away in London for 10 years, after falling out with her family. Her Grandmother is dying, and she needs to see her one last time. With her family back together, secrets are revealed, along with misunderstandings. Beth is shocked to see how much things have changed in the village in her absence.
I thought that this book was enjoyable, and an easy read. It was good to read about the community rallying together.
Snow at Christmas, as well as a Christmas event give the book a very festive feel.
The book was fairly predictable, although there were a few surprises along the way, and I still enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book for a fun and festive easy read.

"No matter how far you go, home is where the heart is...

Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. After falling pregnant at sixteen, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate where she grew up rather than risk her family’s disapproval, working hard to build a life for herself and daughter Isabelle - but now she’s finally returning to Glendale Hall.

As Beth tries to mend her broken family ties, and fights to bring the community of Glendale back together, she realises that the story she has told herself for a decade might well be a very different one from the truth. Even though she ran from Glendale it has never left her heart. And, she soon realises, neither has Drew - Beth’s first love.

Will Beth be able to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? What will Drew say when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him for so long? Can a festive trail bring the village back together?

Will Christmas work its magic on Glendale - or will Beth be forced to run away from it all over again?

A charming, uplifting novel that will warm your heart - the perfect read to curl up with this autumn. Fans of Trisha Ashley, Debbie Johnson and Cathy Bramley will love this gorgeously romantic read."

Like a Christmas Scottish Gilmore Girls!

Oh my goodness this storyline had everything, twists and turns, romance and a mother daughter relationship to rival that of the Gilmore Girls! Seriously if you love Lorelai and Rory, you will love this book too!

This is a Christmas story but this just happens to be set at the most wonderful time of the year so this would absolutely be alright to read at any time of year. I loved the festive touches here and there and the effect the cold had on our main characters but this book is really a homecoming and everything that comes with that. There are secrets to be uncovered, romances to be had, more secrets to be uncovered and bonds to be rebuilt and I loved the balance of all of these aspects f the plot, they were just woven together so beautifully.

Of course I love the characters and well, Beth and Izzy are a great mother daughter combo. Beth is such a great character because she is independent and yet she isn't quite sure how she's going to move forward from the position she has found herself in. I loved her vulnerability whilst still being so strong! Izzy just provides the counteracting point to some of Beth's moments and together they are just such a cute little family. Of course Beth is home to see the rest of her family and there are many skeletons in closets and past mistakes that need to be explored there but I loved watching them reconnect and grow together.

And then there are the friends the Beth left behind, we have Drew, Rory and Heather and they form a great squad when they are all in the same place. I loved Rory's comedy moments, he and Izzy really do lighten the atmosphere sometimes.

This book is also about a sense of that lost community spirit from so many of our smaller towns and villages, I loved watching Beth rediscover what is was like to grow up in a small town and see the perils facing that community as a whole. This is a great take on what modern society can and has become and possible suggestion in how to fix it.

I would love to see a sequel to this book, perhaps with a business plan from lovely Beth and I really really hope there will be one because I would love to revisit these characters and Glendale hall again. Highly recommend.

Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a lovely Christmas book that kept giving me the best kind of Gilmore Girls vibes. At 16 Beth feels she has no choice but to leave her home, Glendale Hall, and escape to London to give birth to her daughter, Izzy. For 10 years they've been on their own, with only strained relationships with Beth's family. When Beth receives word that the matriarch of their family is ill, she realizes she has no choice but to return home for Christmas. Coming home offers unexpected opportunities, disappointing discoveries, rekindled friendships, and clarity to decisions made 10 years ago.

This book keeps you entertained and wanting to read more, but is light and stress free. It is a wonderful read and definitely worth adding to your holiday season reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of Coming Home to Glendale Hall in exchange for my honest opinion.

❄A young single mother learns you CAN come home again: cozy and charming!🎁
👍😊🎄👨‍👩‍👧
What a heartwarming story of second chances. It's full of family connecting, rehashing mistakes and might-have-beens, and taking action to achieve a better, happier life. Beth, the narrator of the tale, comes north to Scotland with her young daughter Izzy to see her failing grandmother and finds a small community fading away, parents withdrawing from each other, a dying, regretful grandmother, and a surprise reunion with the love of her life. The character Izzy is energetic, joyful and the center of Beth's world. For her, she makes efforts to reconnect with her family, community and Drew, the man she's afraid is lost to her forever. In one Christmas school holiday in Scotland, their lives are set on a new course.

I really enjoyed the story and its cozy chats over hot chocolate and holiday feel. I did find it somewhat longer than necessary and repetitive in rehashing Beth's feelings rather than just getting on more quickly with the action. Telling it from only Beth's point of view also restricted me from connecting better with characters like Drew until his inner thoughts finally came out in a letter like the hero in Austen's Persuasion. Beth frustrated me by dragging her feet and not taking sound advice as she avoids expressing her true feelings time and again.

Thanks to publisher Hera Books and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

This is the time of the year when I look forward to more "Feel-Good" novels, something comfy to read that makes me smile and feel warm inside.
Coming Home to Glendale Hall completely delivered.

Ten years after having run away from home, young, unmarried and pregnant, Beth Williams, rebellious daughter of the family from the "big house" returns. Her grandmother, matriarch of the family, is down to her last days. It is time to clear the air and make peace, before time runs out.

It seems that Grandmother is not the only one running out of time. The entire village seems to be dying. Can Beth find it in her heart to do something about a place she once loved?

Speaking of love -- someone very special from Beth's past is home for the holidays. Is it time her daughter meets her father? How will he respond to this incredible young person he never knew?

Change is inevitable but it comes from so many angles this holiday in Glendale.
Who will be strong enough to survive it all?

With aspects of Gilmore Girls as well as a bit of the formality of Downton Abbey (the later years) this is a heart warming read about what can be accomplished when you put your mind and heart together for a purpose.

16 and pregnant, Beth makes the very hard decision, after a ultimatum from her grandmother, to leave home to have her baby. Now 10 years later she and her daughter are back in Scotland. Returning to the grand home she ran away from for Christmas.

Beth is saddened to see the village she once loved has fell into disrepair, so she encourages the community to stand together and fight against the developers. Repairing family feuds and friendships along the way.

But, she isn’t the only one who has returned to Glendale this Christmas. Her first love is also home, is this a second chance for Beth to have the family she always wanted?

This was a great story. It was very Gilmore Girls-y. I felt emotionally connected to the characters from the first chapter. I really would like to revisit Glendale and read more about the supporting characters.

My first festive read of the season! I am so disappointed by Christmas books that are barely Christmassy, but this one is full of festive fun. There’s snow, lights, family dramas…everything you expect at Christmas. Actually, most people don’t have snow.

The book is mostly set over Christmas and New Year and in the fictional village of Glendale in Scotland. It’s a lovely romance with lots of secrets and miscommunication causing problems. Forgiveness features strongly throughout the book too.

This has got me feeling all Christmassy with 3 months to go until the big day. I was even reading it whilst listening to Michael Bublé’s Christmas album, and eating a Terry’s chocolate orange (I didn’t mean to eat the entire thing in one sitting…!)

Fantastic book to add to your friends stockings this Christmas.

Beth Williams is returning home to Glendale Hall in Scotland after living in London for the past ten years, the city she fled to at sixteen when she found out she was pregnant and that her family wouldn’t support her decision to keep the baby, her daughter Isabelle (Izzy).

Her Grandmother and owner of Glendale Hale is terminally ill and her parents have asked that she return to the house for what seems will be her Grandmothers last Christmas. Tensions are high as family secrets and broken relationships are still at the forefront, plus things don’t get any easier for Beth when she bumps into Drew, the love of her life when she was a teenager and Izzy’s absent father.

To top it all off it looks like the local village is about to be bulldozed to make way for flats leaving all the local shop keepers without a place to work. Beth soon realises that she isn’t a scared sixteen year old anymore, she is a grown-up and she needs to take grown-up action to sort all of her problems out.

What I loved about Coming Home to Glendale Hall was how realistic it was, especially as I come from a family where hardly any members talk to one another. It was like a close friend telling you about their Christmas, with family fights, secrets released, and tensions running on high, as well as all the fun and laughter they had.

The characters are all so delightful, even those that you find out have made serious mistakes, it’s hard to stay mad at them. I must say that housekeeper Sally and ten-year-old Izzy were the two characters I fell in love with. Why is it that the housekeeper always has all the answers and wisdom?

The family home was so picturesque and made you feel all festive, with snow-covered gardens and twinkling Christmas lights, this is a book that really gets you in the mood for the festive period and when it comes to me, that isn’t easy.

The story is so heart-warming and touching. This is one of those books that you just want to grab a hot chocolate, don your fluffy socks and robe and settle down by a roaring fire with. I loved every minute of it and it is as perfect on the inside as the cover looks.

Heartwarming Family Tale, Women's Fiction
This is a heartwarming tale of several generations of a family becoming closer over the Christmas season. I don't want to spoil the plot, but this book is so good it's almost haunting. I will be re-thinking this book for quite a while. I know that I will re-read it again soon. I love that the story is tied up at the end, but leaves plenty of room for the reader to daydream about the characters and their futures. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

It is absolutely impossible not to fall in love with Victoria Walters’ charming, feel-good and emotional page-turner, Coming Home to Glendale Hall. A spellbinding tale sure to appeal to fans of Harriet Evans and Veronica Henry, Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a wonderful treat for romantics everywhere.

When Beth Williams had fallen pregnant at sixteen, rather than risk the censure and disapprobation of her family, she had run away from the Scottish estate she had called home in order to make a new life for herself and her beloved daughter, Isabelle. Beth hasn’t been home since that day she had decided that Glendale Hall was no longer her home, however, the time has come for her to face the music and to go back to the house that is full of memories and to the family she hasn’t had any contact with for years.

Returning to Glendale, Beth finds herself confronted by echoes of the past and bittersweet memories that have shaped and moulded the past ten years into a narrative that might not have been as truthful as she had initially believed. As old ties are restored and broken bonds renewed, Beth realizes that Glendale has always had a very special place in her heart – especially as it was where she had met and fallen madly in love with the person whom she has never quite managed to forget: Drew. As the two come face to face after so long, feelings that have been buried and suppressed for quite some time come rushing back to the fore with a vengeance leaving them to wonder whether a second chance at love might be on the cards for them…or whether their relationship should be consigned to ancient history once and for all.

As she begins to feel at home once more in Glendale, Beth wonders whether she can lay old ghosts to rest and forgive her family and herself – or whether she should run away once more and never set foot in Glendale ever again…

I loved this book! I started reading Coming Home to Glendale Hall thinking that I was going to get a wintry romantic comedy, but I got so much more besides. A brilliantly written, highly emotional and immensely captivating tale of healing from the past, redemption, forgiveness, renewal and love lost and found, Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a book that will stay with you and linger in your mind and heart weeks after you’ve finished reading this book.

Victoria Walters is my new favourite author and I shall not only devour every single thing she’s written since, but also count down the days until her next release. Full of charm, heart, humour, pathos and emotion, Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a brilliant read I absolutely adored.

Thank you to Rachel for letting me take part in this tour and to Hera for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I read part 1 of Vicky's A Random Acts of Kindness last year and I loved her style so when I saw Vicky had written a Christmas book I was so excited!

Before you start this book I would check your hot chocolate stocks because this book really gave me the winter cravings. I was snuggled up on my sofa with a hot chocolate and my blanket and it was heaven.

Beth hasn't been home to Glendale Hall for 10 years. Her family turned their backs on her and she felt she had no option but to leave. Now she's returning with her daughter Izzy for what might be her Nan's last Christmas. Beth Williams was very easy to like. She is strong, independent and a wonderful mum. Izzy and Beth have a very strong and close relationship.

Also back in Glendale is Drew. Drew and Beth dated before she left Glendale but she left suddenly and broke his heart. I fell a little bit in love with Drew I won't lie. I mean he's a Dr, he's sweet, kind, caring and I've always had a secret love of redheads.

This book is more than just a Christmas romance though. This book is about family, community spirit and forgiveness. It's about following your dreams and letting go of the hurt and pain of the past.

This is my first Christmas book of the season and let me tell you it was a great one to start with. I can't wait to see what Vicky brings us next.

After ten years, Beth Williams is ending her self-imposed exile in London to finally return to her childhood home, Glendale Hall in Scotland, just in time for Christmas. However, coming home means digging up old ghosts and facing the family that turned her away when she became pregnant at sixteen. As the holiday ramps up and secrets unravel, she discovers a past unlike the story she was led to believe. And after an old love shows up in the village, she realizes the happy ending she’s waited for might just be possible.

Family is complicated and Beth Williams certainly understands that better than most. She’s lived her life cut between two separate ones: her mother, father, and grandfather, who she feels abandoned her when she became pregnant as a teenager, and Isabelle, the daughter she’s devoted her every moment since then to. But circumstances spurred by the Christmas season force these two sides together in an unavoidable clash.

Author Victoria Walters milks this tension for everything it’s worth. This is a group of people who have suffered from a breakdown in communication long ago, and Walters drops hints at the start that everything could work out if only everyone would start actually talking and listening. It’s incredibly effective, more so because Beth reads like such a grounded, well-balanced woman. It’s easy to read into her side of the issues, casting her mother and father as unreasonable, almost callous. And yet when everything clicks into place through an expert reveal, it’s impossible not to want to see these characters work everything out.

While this makes for an entirely satisfying book in its own right, Walters weaves in an even bigger complications. If Beth hasn’t been home in ten years, she might as well tie up all of her loose ends in one go. Drew, Isabelle’s father, shows up in Glendale, and she has a few surprises for him. Their scenes together are utterly charming as their worlds are pulled together after so long without speaking. It’s a tour de force for anyone who enjoys a solid second chance romance.

Of course, no Christmas love story is complete without a charming, idyllic village, and Walters does not disappoint. Glendale is looking a little shabby at first, with rundown shops and a library on its last legs— a far cry from what Beth remembers. Yet as she finds an understanding with her family, she also senses an opportunity to do something about her hometown.

In the end, this all combines to form a beautiful examination of family and community in all of their shapes.

This is my first Christmas read of this year and Coming Home To Glendale Hall was hard to resist with its gorgeous snowy cover and the magnificent Scottish mansion in the background. I would class this more of a winter read, so don’t feel that it has to be saved for the festive season.

The main character is Beth who hasn’t been back home to Glendale Hall since she fled at the tender age of sixteen. She returns with her young daughter when she gets a call to say that her grandmother is extremely ill. Beth is hesitant to return to Scotland for Christmas and intends to leave straight after, back to her flat in London and her job at the local school.

However, it appears that a break down in communication has taken place with both her parents, grandmother, and ex-boyfriend Drew. Beth begins to realise how many wonderful memories she has of her childhood home. With Christmas approaching, Beth and her family host a community project to unite the residents of the village and save the high street shops from closure.

I loved the community spirit within the story and the special relationship between Beth and her daughter. The author adds plenty of suspense, secrets, and tension which keeps the plot flowing nicely. The Scottish mansion location is an idyllic setting for a winter romance novel. The story is about family and friendship, rediscovering roots and the magic of first love.

Reluctantly driving up to her family home in Northern Scotland, Beth Williams journey is a reluctant one. Along with her daughter, they are spending Christmas with her family because her grandmother is ill and her father pleaded with her to come. However, once she's back at the place she ran away from, it triggers memories and awakes passions she's long forgotten. So when fate steps in to shake up her life, she has to decide whether she can fall in love again with the place she called home and the man she ran away from. 

There's plenty within the narrative I guessed would happen but still, the author manages to inject surprise elements which warmed my heart. As a mum with such a child, I particularly appreciated the references to red hair and the prejudices often faced by those lucky to have such a striking physical feature. I admire the inclusion, highlighting both the negatives and the positives of which I'm a firm admirer of the latter. 

The message of this poignant narrative is righting the wrongs, to make peace with the past so to clear the way for the future. This sentiment is true for Beth's family as well as her relationship with Drew. It's a reminder of how damaging words can be and how they can shape peoples beliefs. Sadness aside, there's plenty of wonderful Christmassy references with a strong emphasis on community spirit. The characters are all loveable and with the beautiful Scottish backdrop, you'll be wanting to pack your bags to spend Christmas there, within this beautiful part of the world. 

Plenty of Christmas themed novels are around now and if you're interested in a story filled with hope, second chances and a happy ending, this one is definitely worth a read. 

***arc generously provided by the publisher Hera via NetGalley***

It's official! I am now in the festive spirit thanks to this wonderful and uplifting novel.

The settings of Glendale Hall and Village in Scotland are perfect for this festive family drama and romance novel.  I just wanted to put my pyjamas on and curl up on the sofa with hot chocolate whilst reading it.  The hall is a home most people would kill for and I was completely invested in saving the village - especially the library. 

Beth is just charming and although not always mature, it is easy to forget how young she is despite having a ten year old daughter.  I applaud Victoria Walters for highlighting how amazing single and teen mothers can be whilst also bringing attention to the loneliness and sacrifices that have to be made.  The character and story of Beth is written sensitively and with compassion.

Families are complicated and often, even as adults, things are not always handled well.  For me, the family drama is at the heart of this novel.  Mistakes and misunderstandings from years ago have haunted most of the main characters some moments in this book had me in tears.  Watching the Williams family piece their town and their relationships back together slowly was so heartwarming and comforting to read.  When you add the romantic element of the story into the mix this is a novel that just leaves you with a warm glow.

An entrancing feel good read, well written with lovely characterisation.
A story of building bridges and learning from past mistakes, a perfect Christmas read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

As inviting and captivating as its cover, COMING HOME TO GLENDALE HALL by Victoria Walters is a wonderful story of second chances and new possibilities and I didn't want this story to end.

Beth left her beautiful home, Glendale Hall, and all those who knew her best behind ten years ago to build a life for herself and her beloved daughter. She could never forget what happened in the past but when her grandmother becomes very ill, Beth is summoned home before it is too late, but she is unsure just how she will feel being back in the home and town that had meant so much to her once. But things have changed in so many ways and as Beth begins to reconnect with old friends and her family, she soon realises that her heart has always belonged here in some shape or form. But with secrets still lurking, will the magic of the season pave the way for a new and exciting future for Beth and her daughter? Or is it always a bad idea to live in the past?

Enchanting characters in a wondrous setting, COMING HOME TO GLENDALE HALL by Victoria Walters is everything you could possibly want in a heartwarming festive read and I loved every second of it. Watching Beth as she tried to re-establish old relationships and understanding what had happened to her in the past, made it very easy to connect with her and I really hoped that she would find happiness at the end. The setting is breathtakingly described and I would pack my bags and be there in the morning if I could.

​With plenty of family drama, community spirit, old friendships, and love along the way, COMING HOME TO GLENDALE HALL is a superb read and I cannot wait to read more from Victoria Walters.

I absolutely adored this book and the setting is just magical!

I am happy to read books that are based in winter, or the Christmas period at any time of the year and I happily escaped whilst reading this one on a recent holiday that was 24 degrees most days!

It was a book I had been saved as I was so looking forward to reading it after seeing the gorgeous cover and reading the blurb and I was not disappointed at all – it is a fabulous story!

I thought that the characters were lovely, so well developed and I warmed to them straight away. Their interaction was great and the author did such a lovely job with the story and had a super writing style that really suited this genre – it is 5 stars from me for this one – very highly recommended!!

Christmas comes but once a year yet I never feel that a festive tale should be saved for the holiday season alone as stories as special as this one wouldn't see the light of day as often as they deserve. This book was a dream come true and one that I know I won't be forgetting any time soon.


The narrative was like a warm and welcomed hug that pulled me in with it's glowing charm, it was a sheer delight from start to finish and I loved each and every moment of it. The art of forgiveness wove a neat and emotional thread throughout the tale which acted as a catalyst for many outstanding moments in the plot.

Beth's plight was filled with heartache and hope and I fell in love with her character in an instant. Her steely determination to succeed in life at all costs, for herself and her daughter, was both inspiring and uplifting and I was a true believer in all that she could and would achieve. Her connection to the gorgeous Drew kept this book alive with a simmering chemistry that had me on the edge of my seat in a will they won't they moment that kept me second guessing right until the final moments. But I can't discuss character creations and miss out the tiny star herself which is Izzy, Beth's daughter, who lit up every scene she was in with her remarkable perception on life and true heart of gold.

Coming Home to Glendale Hall was an extraordinarily moving story that had me reaching for the Kleenex one minute and smiling from ear to ear the next. This cannot be the last we hear from these outstanding characters so I will sit here patiently waiting for my next visit to this gorgeous pocket of the world.

This is the first book I have read by Victoria Walters. What have I been doing all my life to not have read one of her books! After reading the synopsis I instantly knew this was a bit of me and I just had to read it!

The story follows Beth, running away from home at sixteen, pregnant and alone. Beth has learnt to cope without her family while bringing up daughter Isabelle. But Ten years later a Christmas family reunion brings Beth back to Glendale bringing up all sorts of emotions that she thought she had buried deep.

Feelings of regret overwhelm Beth after witnessing the breakdown of her family and the decline of the local village. Especially after seeing the love of her life Drew who she never quite got over... I mean after reading this I can't seem to get over him neither!
Beth has to put her feelings to one side to support her family, the community and more importantly her daughters happiness.

Where to start?! I loved all the characters throughout the story, all having their own background and mini story not just Beth. My favourite was definitely Isabelle... a book worm who would rather stay inside to read then go outside will always have my vote.

The story takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions that's for sure. The story and the characters felt very real and totally relatable that you easily got swept up in the situations that arose in the story. The first chapter had me hooked and I struggled to put it down when adulting got in the way.

This book had me feeling super Christmassy which was a nice distraction from the grey damp weather we have been having! The festive trail sounded beautiful making me wish I could visit Glendale and the festivities.

All in all a charming book that I would recommend you read anytime of the year, not just Christmas.

Home is where the heart is... That quote is simply perfect for this story.

5☆ A Heart Warming, Cosy Romance, Full of Festive Cheer that will Melt Your Heart!

Coming Home to Glendale Hall is a heart warming and Cosy Romance about Second Chances, repairing fractured relationships, Secrets and New Beginnings.

Beth hasn't been home for ten years, since she run away from home after she fell pregnant at just sixteen.
But when her father rings her and begs her to come home to see her grandmother before she passes away, she knows she has no choice but to home.

So she sets off back to Glendale Hall with Daughter Isabelle.
But can Beth forgive her family and make peace with her Grandmother or are the wounds just too deep?

Beth's return isn't going to be easy as another blast from her past rocks up and is about to get one big shock. As secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface.

I loved Beth and Her daughter Isabelle relationship. They are so close and strong it's so wonderful to see how much they support each other. Especially as Beth isn't finding being home easy, and having Isabelle by her side makes her so strong.

Although this is a festive romance it's about so much more, it's about family, and repairing fractured relationships. It's about forgiveness and letting go. I also loved the community spirit and how they all pull together to save their village.

I adored everything about this Gorgeous Book, the cover is so cosy and festive.
Walters has created a magical location, the perfect setting for a festive romance.
The Characters are simply delightful, they are very relatable and very well written.

So if you are looking for an Enchanting, Heart Warming, Cosy Romance that will melt your heart and leave you feeling all warm and festive then this truly is the PERFECT Book for You!!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

What a sweet , Realistic , Heart-warming and Relatable Novel . Coming Home to Glendale Hall Is a book about Family , Holidays , Love , Forgiveness With great deal Of Nostalgic Christmas Vibes .
I really loved reading about Beth and Izzy Life , the challenges they went through with their family and their relation .
All the characters were brilliant , supportive and added great element to this beautiful story .
Victoria Walters Words are delightful , her writing style is charming and really entertaining , I couldn’t put the book down Until I finished it completely , Definitely going to check out her other books .
If you like warm books , full of Christmas vibes , family secrets , touching moments with great writing style then You should read Coming Home to Glendale Hall.

If you are looking for a cozy book to curl up with this winter this is the perfect book for it. Coming Home to Glendale Hall has a bit more grit than the typical fluffy christmas book but it's still spirt-y enough to keep it light and enjoyable.

I really loved getting to know Beth and Izzy. Izzy may be one of my favorite kid characters ever! She's a doll.

Overall I enjoyed my stop at Glendale Hall and think it's a great novel for the cozy season!

Oh, my days! Lawd help me, this was only my second Christmassy read of the year so far and I’m already a big snottery mess of festive mush. Attractive, aren’t I? *snorts*

“Your home isn’t a place, it’s the people you share it with.”

*sigh*

Never a truer word spoken *shakes head*, I mean written!

*sings*

🎼 Regrets, I’ve had a few... 🎼

Now, don’t laugh, but these lyrics were on repeat in my head when I read this story along with...

🎼 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... 🎼

That’s some mash-up for you there, isn’t it? *laughs*

This is a tale of family, friendship, community, secrets, forgiveness, and second-chance love backlit by the *sings* 🎼 most wonderful time of the year! 🎼

(Sorry *blushes*, I don’t know what’s gotten into me!)

As Beth is about to find out, anything worth having is worth fighting for. Don’t live with regrets! We all deserve love and happiness.

*blubs*

TMI alert – I think my hormones are giving me a rumble. I apologise for the mush *palms face*.

There are so many wonderful characters in this story, for a plethora of reasons. But little Izzy stole my heart. Her heart and wide-eyed innocence shine through.

Plus, as it’s a Christmas story, and in good old panto fashion, we have a couple of characters to boo and hiss at!

I was having full on conversations with the characters via my kindle screen. Did they listen? Pfft, what do you think? *rolls eyes*

Victoria Walters can definitely tell a story and I wish I could bottle the feelings it left me with at the end.

Finally, this quote *points down* says it all:

“...always remember to show the people we love how we feel before it’s too late.”

Okay then, I won’t bore you lot any longer. Just add this gem to your festive reading list!

Who does not want forgiveness and second chances?
Victoria Walters presents "Coming Home to Glendale Hall. A feel good romantic read that will make you smile", published by Hera Books. The book contains a number of interesting characters: There is Beth who ran away from her home in Scotland because she was pregnant at sixteen. Now she is back in Glendale Hall due to guilt and duty and discovers multiple lies and secrets. Her daughter Izzy (Isabelle) is smart and loves to read. She always wanted to know her dad and is finally getting to know the place where her mother grew up and some of her relatives. Drew was Beth's boyfriend and they had planned to get married pone day. He is a medical doctor who studied in the US and is also surprisingly visiting his home. He is ignorant of the fact that he is Izzy's father. What will happen when he learns the truth? Beth's mother Caroline is very proper, but drinks too much and has problems in her marriage. Will there be something to heal her relationship with Beth? David, although being Beth's father is pretty absent from life at home and is having an affair. Nevertheless it was he who asked Beth to come home. Interestingly it was Margaret, Beth's grandmother, who wanted Beth to have an abortion. Now she is terminally sick and troubled by the lies she told ten years ago that tore the family apart. Will she have the chance to correct things? And then there is the village of Glendale which is endangered. Will there be a way to restore it? Who will be able to do it?
This was the first book by Victoria Walters which I read and I am looking forward to more books by this author. I highly recommend this book of homecoming, forgiveness, and second chances. The characters are strong, believable, and well developed. Walters puts importance on family, family ties, and forgiveness, but she also touches the topic of abortion. It is indeed a feel good story, even if it is a long book.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#ComingHomeToGlendaleHall #NetGalley

I received this book complimentary from NetGalley in exchange for an (honest) review.
This was really cute! I am not a Christmassy or decorative person but this makes me want to be one! I loved Beth and Drew’s relationship but really wish they had gotten together sooner so I could see more of it play out. A sequel for Heather and Rory might be nice as well showcasing their relationship as well as highlighting Beth and Drew too. I loved the setting and the plot was great. I really enjoyed this one.

A good Christmas read that enjoys realistic characters with honest reactions.

Pregnant at 16, Beth leaves home when her grandmother tells her that everyone in the house agrees she should have an abortion. She surprises herself at how strong she really is. She makes her and Izzy’s home in London and doesn’t return home for ten years.

Gran has become so sick that if Beth and Izzy to not return home now, they may never see her again. Izzy’s father, Drew, didn’t know Beth was pregnant when he left Ireland for America. Coming home after all this time, makes Beth very nervous. It doesn’t take long to discover that Drew has also come home for the holidays.

Walls crumble between the members of Beth’s family. Will they fall as easily between her and Drew? What about when he discovers he is a father to a 10-year-old? Will they ever spend time together?

This book is an easy, but interesting read. It is refreshing in that the characters do not immediately change when learning a new fact that affects them greatly. The author uses more appropriate reactions, allowing the characters to process this information. Drew truthfully states that it will take him time to process information. This leaves the reader wondering if everything will be happier ever after for all the characters or only some.


I received an ARC from Hera Books and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review.

A delightful, sweet, heartwarming Christmas romance! Loved it!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**

Title Coming Home to Glendale Hall

Author Victoria Walters

Release Date September 25, 2019

Description from Amazon

Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. When she fell pregnant at just sixteen, knowing that her family would never approve, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate that had been her home, building a new life for herself and her daughter hundreds of miles away.

But when her father begs her to return home to see her gravely ill grandmother, Beth is apprehensive at the thought of seeing her family again. With her daughter Isabelle, now a feisty ten-year-old, in tow, she plans to cut her visit as short as she can whilst fulfilling her duty.

Beth has worked hard to leave her past behind her, living in London with Isabelle and working hard to be the best single mother she can be. Returning to the Glendale Hall estate means facing her strict and unaffectionate mother, formidable grandmother, as well her teenage boyfriend, Drew, who broke her heart and doesn’t know that he has a daughter.

But Beth is about to discover that everyone has their own version of the past, and the true story she thought she knew for the last ten years might well be a very different one to the truth. Will Beth be able to find it in her heart to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? Or will she end up running away all over again?

Your home isn’t a place, it’s the people you share it with.

Initial Thoughts

Now that my birthday is officially in the past (sigh, I love my birthday), I can officially begin reading Christmas books. This book sounded adorable and while it’s not YA, it sounded like a super cute read.

Some Things I Liked

Gilmore Girls vibes. I loved that this story reminded me of Gilmore Girls. A rich girl gets pregnant at 16 and feels like she needs to do everything for herself – sound familiar?
Love, Rosie vibes. Similarly, one of my favorite rom-coms is Love, Rosie and this book gave me all the same feelings.
The relationships. I loved that this book focused on the relationships between all fo the characters. I have read far too many Christmas books where everything is perfect and nobody seems to have any real problems. This book was riddled with real issues. I really enjoyed seeing how everything panned out and I thought that Beth’s relationship with her mother and grandmother was really interesting.
Harry Potter references. I loved all of the references in this story. They were subtle but I loved them all the same.

Final Thoughts

I read this book all in one sitting. I fell in love with the story. It was so cute and made me wish it was December. I loved every page.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommendations for Further Reading

The Last Note by Grace McGinty – if you liked all of the feelings and slightly older characters in this story, give The Last Note book a try. It’s a bit more of a tear-jerker, but still has a ton of emotions and a really nice story.
The Christmas Countdown by Donna Ashcroft – if you like cute, Christmas rom-coms, check out this book.
Christmas at Frozen Falls by Kiley Dunbar – I literally just started this one, but it’s giving me all kinds of similar vibes. If you’re in the mood for something Christmas-y, pick up a copy of Christmas at Frozen Falls.

This is a complex story about multiple generations and multiple secrets that require multiple plot lines. As I often see in contemporary British literature, the story was slow to unwind. But if you understand this and just go along with it, you might just feel yourself pulled into the complex web of the story like I did. I kept this book off to the side near my computer, and when my computer slowed to a crawl at certain websites, I would just pull this book out and keep reading. I sometimes found that when the site came in, I wanted to continue reading anyway. I often did and even stayed up later than I should have on certain nights so that I could read more.

I thought that the book was perhaps not as cohesive in structure as it could have been. It could have been tighter. I had recently read a similar multi-generation book that had a very controlled structure, and I did like that better.

The book is told solely from their perspective of a daughter who is coming home after ten years away. There were problems at that time that caused her to essentially run away from her family, which I will let you discover for yourself, but her grandmother is dying, so her father asks her to come back for her grandma's last Christmas. So she and her young daughter return to the family home in Scotland. I don't want to give too much away, but there are plot lines that have to do with just about everyone in the story: the main hero and heroine of the romance (of course) as well as a side romance, the dissolution of a long-standing relationship, the bringing together of a community that seems to be in its own death throes, and the revelation of several secrets that have a significant impact on several of the relationships. The author definitely put these characters into some tricky circumstances, but she made the characters seem very realistic and relatable. Most of the characters are inherently good people who might have made bad decisions in the past but are trying during the holiday season to make amends and make things right. I think stories of hope, forgiveness, family, and community are perfect for holiday stories, as these themes are such essential elements for the Christmas season itself. If you would enjoy meandering contemporary British literature as I do and heartfelt family stories that are complex and feel so genuine, you may very well enjoy this book.

If you have any doubts about reading another Christmas book, no worries here. Check out this highly rated Christmas romance now!

What a delightful story this turned out to be! The setting (Scotland) naturally lent itself to a cozy, family oriented Christmas gathering for me and it worked so well. The plot was on point and lighthearted as well as gave me all the feels. Overall, the story is well-rounded with a focus on family and communication as well as learning from mistakes. There's something here for everyone! Definitely recommend!

Coming Home to Glendale Hall was another slow starter but once it got going I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a family driven story packed full of festive goodness, healing and forgiveness.

There is a second chance romance that wasn't as straight forward as I was anticipating (bit of a love-triangle) but it felt like it was secondary to the family and community driven elements of the book.
It was a surprisingly emotional and uplifting read packed full of the magic of Christmas.

The characters were likeable and relatable, even the ones who were doing, or had done, things that weren't so nice.
The setting was beautiful... Glendale Hall felt like a character in itself, although the regularity of snow was a little bit unrealistic even for the Scottish Highlands! But it gave the story an extra sprinkling of magic so I can't complain too much.

I guess the thing that irked me about the story was the pseudo-love triangle and the constant repetition of things we already knew.
Not to mention the fact that the entire plot would have fallen apart if the parents of the 16-year-old (who ran away to London to have a baby all alone!) had just a long and honest conversation with their daughter at some point over the course of the 10 years she was gone!
But hey ho.
Minor irks do not take away from the fact that this was a lovely read that gave me all the festive feels.

I have to say I am not normally a reader who reads festive fiction out of season but as there is a definite autumnal chill in the air I found that the season did a great job of adding the right seasonal atmosphere!

Beth Williams left Glendale Hall in Scotland at 16 thinking she had no other option but to leave her home and family. 10 years later she gets a call from her father to say that Beth’s Grandmother is ill and that Beth should return home. Beth brings her daughter, 10 year old, Izzie who will visit her mums childhood home for the first time.

Within a few pages I was hooked as the author introduced me to Beth and her daughter Izzie. It wasn’t long before I then got to see Glendale Hall and meet the rest of the family. From their meeting up after Beth’s long absence I was aware of an underlying anger and frustration as old feelings of sadness and rejection crept into the conversations as feelings of things being unsaid stood like a shadow around the adults.

Beth’s shock at how things had changed in the area after her decade away really did home for her and gives her a sense of motivation. People from her past come into her life once again, her best friend and also her first love. This adds for more tension between some of them and misunderstandings are rife. Yet another emotional twist is woven into an already emotional story.

Izzie is such a wonderful character and she is like glue, she has the ability through her childhood innocence to see things for what they actually are. She injects a great sense of fun and also the author uses her character to give others the ability to take part in Christmas activities that help put the sad feelings to one side for a moment.

This is a glorious read that brings out all the hurt and pain from the past, the author has brought everything to the forefront again and foces her characters to deal with things that have gone on in past. It is a personal journey for not only Beth but for others as well. As adults there are things that have happened and they have sat and festered, now is the time for them to be revisited.

This is not just a story about the family at Glendale Hall, it also encompasses the local village as well. The changes in the community have not been for the best and it has left the village feeling a loss of identity and is threatened. Its story works so well and compliments the one with Glendale so well and is perfectly woven.

This is a wonderful read that had me guessing and kept me on my toes right the way through. I was never sure how the author was going to work through the threads and there were several moments when I had that fabulous will they/ wont they feelings as I read. Nothing was guaranteed to work and it kept me addictively turning pages.

A wonderful read from the first to the last page that dealt with the past and the present and also the future, and it made for the ideal “snuggle down and read” book. It is one I would definitely recommend

I loved it. Brilliant Christmassy title with lovely messages about family, friendships and community.

Coming Home to Glendale Hall has such a beautiful cover but don't let it fool you.
The book really packs an emotional wallop especially towards the end.
Coming home after 10 years away we get to see a story of second chances and the possibilities of building new hope.
Fabulous story where the characters actually talk out their problems instead of trying to hide them.
I enjoyed the setting and getting to know the characters.

Published September 25th 2019 by Hera
I received a complimentary copy. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was a brilliant read and one that is perfect to escape for a few hours and loose yourself.
A great read.

I just loved Coming Home to Glendale Hall so much so that I read it in one sitting. A great Christmassy read. I loved this story.

A full good romance novel full of Christmas spirit, it’s one that will leave you feeling warm and tingly inside.
Beth Williams escaped from her imposing home after falling pregnant at 16. Leaving the large Scottish estate she rushed to London working hard to build a life for herself and her daughter Isabelle.
But after ten years Beth is finally returning as her Grandmother isn’t very well. Discovering also that the reasons behind her leaving may not have been what she though, Beth realises that she is still in love with Drew but can the secret that she has harboured for so long pull them back together or will it tear them even further apart? Can she ever forgive her mother for her part in Beth’s leaving? Can the festivities help to bring everyone back together again?
An absolute charmer of a story. A focused story line helps to weave its away around the dramas of Beth’s life, it leaves you wanting more.
Victoria Walters is a new author for me but I will definitely be reading more, especially the follow on to this novel!

A light, festive read that will have you reaching for the hot chocolate in those colder months! I loved the family dynamics in this, and the romance with Drew. A wonderfully warm novel for Christmas.

Beth left Glendale ten years ago, sixteen, alone and pregnant, and now for the first time since she is returning home due to her grandmother illness. Hoping to make it just a flying visit she starts to get drawn back in and realises that to her her Glendale has always been home. Her daughter Izzy loves it there but then to Beth's horror she bumps into Drew, Izzy's father, will he forgive her for the past and the lost years with Izzy...... were all her reasons for leaving at the time the true story and will she ever be able to forgive her family?

A lovely heartwarming story with lots of past hurt and lies to be uncovered, the main characters are great and I particularly loved Drew who was such a kind warm man... as well as being gorgeous obviously...... and so you are willing everything to get sorted out.

Beth Williams hasn’t been home for ten years. After falling pregnant at sixteen, she ran away from the imposing Scottish estate where she grew up rather than risk her family’s disapproval, working hard to build a life for herself and daughter Isabelle - but now she’s finally returning to Glendale Hall.

As Beth tries to mend her broken family ties, and fights to bring the community of Glendale back together, she realises that the story she has told herself for a decade might well be a very different one from the truth. Even though she ran from Glendale it has never left her heart. And, she soon realises, neither has Drew – Beth’s first love.

Will Beth be able to forgive her mother and grandmother (and herself) for what happened ten years ago? What will Drew say when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him for so long? Can a festive trail bring the village back together?

Will Christmas work its magic on Glendale - or will Beth be forced to run away from it all over again?

Festive and cute read. Loved it!

This is such a lovely book! I absolutely adored the characters,.especially Izzy! It's a great festive read but it works any time of year and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Fabulous and fun, sweet and charming.

The cover of this book feels like a real Christmas and the story that goes with it doesn't disappoint either. Great read, lovely characters and a plot that you can believe in. 5 Stars to a great read and I recommend it.