Don't be deceived by the cover, this is not your normal festive read, with snow, mince pies and Christmas trees, it is however an absolutely amazing book. The story revolves around One Winter's Morning in December when Genie's life changes forever, and she doesn't know how to move on from this.
The storyline of this book is set mostly in New Zealand. Isabella Broom is very talented at bringing locations to life, as well as having strong characters. She has definitely outdone herself with this book. If I had the money, then her descriptions make me want to book a plane ticket to New Zealand right now.
The character of Genie is very lost, and almost teenage like,in the beginning of the book,although she is in her mid twenties. It was lovely to see her character evolve, and discover who she really wanted to be.
The characters in the book are well developed, and throughout the book you feel like you really know them, and you can picture them in your mind.
This book is heartwarming,joyful and tear jerking in equal measures. Although it wasn't the festive read that I was expecting to read, I was sad when I finished reading it. It was such a delightful read, and I am so pleased that Netgalley and the Publishers allowed me to review this book.

Genie had a happy childhood but, after the death of her adoptive mother her father decided to let go of some information about her birth mother. With mixed feelings she flies across the world to New Zealand to confront her. I enjoyed the descriptive elements of New Zealand in the book. I felt the storyline was a little predictable in parts, although there were some surprises. This was my first Isabelle Broom book and I enjoyed reading it.

Isabelle Broom's novels can read like travelogues as you are immersed in the setting. This time we are in the Otago region of New Zealand, an area I know well. As with her previous books, this book is very well researched and the scenery and ambience is written with great care and attention to detail.

This is a story about coping with grief, guilt, new beginnings, family and love. The characters are well drawn and likeable and the story flows well..

Highly recommend to anyone who wants to escape for a few hours to the beautiful Queenstown region of New Zealand.

I liked this book, but the story felt a bit flat to me. I didn't feel uplifted by it at the end. The nicest element was Tui and Genie getting to know each other, and I really liked Tui. I also liked Kit, but Genie/Evangeline less so. I liked the element of the children's stories being based on Genie, and the descriptions of New Zealand were wonderful. The way we got to know both mothers through letters/journals was clever. Genie's changing feelings were conveyed well. A good read, and not really a festive one in my opinion. Although it's set in winter time and Christmas is alluded to briefly, you could read it any time of the year.

This book just gave me all the feels and let me escape to a far off land for the time it took to read. This book was touching, it was an adventure and it was just so full of emotional it really did have it all.



Genie is a wonderful character because she is somewhat sheltered and a little set in her ways so when she decides to go off to New Zealand, you really know it is out of her comfort zone and there is a very good reason for this, Genie is also someone who is grieving and so instantly you have sympathy for her and really feel every emotion with her on her travels.



Bonnie is an interesting and very intriguing character. This is a dual narrative novel and so we get to hear a little from her as well as the sections from Genie. We don't really know who Bonnie is or why she is also on her travels but we get to learn the whole story as the book unfolds. I enjoyed Bonnie's sections because she is very reflective and in some ways she is just as unsure about who she is as Genie.



I loved the fact that this story unfolds slowly, oh so slowly, one fact at a time and so you literally don't find out everything about these characters and their tales until the very end of the book. The wonderful secondary characters in this book definitely help. Kit is a great tour guide to Genie and he brings lovely Tui along with him. The horses at the stables they work at also really help to bring Genie out of her comfort zone a little more and make for an interesting addition to the story. And then we have David, He was frustratingly closed with his emotions and is a real man of mystery but he is key to some of the facts that are revealed over the course of the novel.



I also really loved the setting of this book. We couldn't have had a better escapism during winter than New Zealand., There is wonderful scenery and some great wildlife to be seen and Kit takes us, as readers, along for the ride with Bonnie and Tui. If you love Paige Toon's escapism in her novels then you are going to love this one. If you go into it for the travel alone then you will stay for the feels. I loved this book and I am sure you will too.

Simply beautiful story, beautiful location and beautiful people featuring in it.

I loved every single moment of this book, words can't really do it justice, it is that good.

It's the story of Genie who, a year after her mother dies, is encouraged to find and meet her birth mother, and it;s also the story of Bonnie, and just what lead to her giving up her baby.

We get chapters from both perspectives, and seeing Bonnie tell her story was rather moving and completely gripping, But at the same time, Genie from the moment she lands in New Zealand, starts to feel free-er and more like her old self from years before.

However the character that I loved the most was Tui. She is a young lady, who has assorted conditions, and just the most amazing personality and zest for life. She really is an inspirational character.

I loved discovering Queenstown and some of the surrounding area in New Zealand. Reading about penguins and seals is just magical, and for the animal lover there is a good amount of horses and time spent in stables, plus an adorable young dog.

Isabelle Broom has outdone herself with this book, the writing draws you in, I could see everything so clearly and although I did have some suspicions about elements of the book, I was enjoying the journey and seeing exactly what would happen.

It's a journey of self discovery for Genie, set to a fabulous backdrop, some brilliant characters that I loved reading about, and although it tackles adoption, and the sense of family, it does so in such a compelling manner.

An incredibly good book, that you really should curl up and read one winter's morning!!

Thank you to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I have loved every one of Isabelle's books up to here and this one certainly didn't disappoint either. It's definitely one the Horse Girl in your class at school would love – if you're still in touch, buy her a copy of this book as a Christmas present.

You can't talk about an Isabelle Broom book without mentioning the setting. I've never been to New Zealand, but I for sure have some strong wanderlust now.

I loved Genie and really could relate to her on so many levels. She seems to have self confidence issues and can't seem to make peace with her past and move on. I think we've all got elements of that for sure. Her relationship with Tui is heartwarming to see, and you can't help but think even after the book ends their bond will only strengthen.

I adored Tui. Her learning and physical disabilities weren't made a huge deal of – in fact, we barely find out what they are. She's such a breath of fresh air.

I also have to give huge snaps to Hayley. We don't often see a character so refreshingly in love with cake and working out, and Hayley is the perfect best friend for Genie.

I also love dual narratives, and Bonnie's input was also fantastic to read.

A very moving and sentimental book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Isabelle Broom always writes such strong, empowering female main characters, raw, flawed but endearing. Genie was all of this and more. Overwhelmed by grief following tragic circumstances that resulted in the loss of her mum, she embarks on a journey of discovery that leads her literally and figuratively in to far flung places where she has to unravel all the secrets, emotions and guilt to find a way back to happiness.
I adored the setting of the book that captured the magical, wild, wonderment of the scenery. The final chapter was so overwhelmingly perfect and possibly the most uplifting ending I've read in a long while. I loved it.
This book is perfect to read all year round to lift your spirits.

I like books by Isabelle Broom and this one does not disappoint. It is not as lightweight as I was expecting and therefore had more depth. The characters and storyline were good and I would definitely recommend this book.

I enjoyed other books by this author and this one didn't disappoint. And made me want to visit New Zealand again.

A lovely heart warming story.

Wow wow wow! I will be writing a proper review on my blog but One Winter Morning left me with all the feels of hope, love and living in the moment. A book where the pages kept turning.

What a breathtaking book this is, I cannot fault a word of it. This had me enchanted all the way though with its awe inspiring setting in New Zealand and the characters of Genie, Bonnie, Kit and especially Tui, I have read all of Isabelle Broom’s previous novels and to me without a doubt this is her best. Personally at the moment my concentration is not great so for a book to have me as gripped as this did shows what a hidden gem it is, it truly is wonderfully written with a warmth running right through it.

Where to start?? Isabelle Broom has yet again entranced me with her characters, the setting in a beautiful country, and with her writing.

I connected with Genie instantly, there’s something about her that made me like her immensely and really felt for her. I loved her bond with Tui and her chemistry with Kit works beautifully. I really felt her pain which radiated from the page, it felt real. The things that I liked most about Genie are her name (it’s fabulous!!), That she didn’t think twice about trying to find Tui, that she didn’t try to stop Kit, and that she got all her answers plus more.

It took me a little longer to connect with Bonnie but over time I did end up liking her a lot. I felt for her as we learn her story and why she did what she did. I ended up understanding her a lot more from a mother’s point of view than as her teenage self. Her bond with Tui only clicks into place for me towards the end of the book, but you can tell throughout how much she loves her. I was really intrigued by her story, and what happened to put everyone on the path they were on. I was sort of expecting her ending, but not exactly how we got there.

You can tell that the author has done intense research on New Zealand. Her descriptive writing style has left me wanting more from the country. I loved the easiness of slipping into the world of Genie and her journey in finding Bonnie, her blossoming friendship with Tui and her easy chemistry with Kit.

Overall thoughts… Another spectacular book from Isabelle Broom. Extremely likeable characters, beautiful scenery, handsome men, and wonderful relationships between characters. Another wonderful book worthy of a thousand stars!!

Isabelle Broom books always make me feel all the feels and One Winter Morning was no different. Genie ‘s just lost her adoptive Mum and spent the last year doing nothing. Nearly a year after Anna died, Genie decides to head off to New Zealand to find her birth mother. Except she’s not there, she’s in England...

This book was full of heartbreak and joy in equal measures. I’ll certainly be recommending it to everyone and can’t wait to read what Isabelle writes next.

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

Another magical novel from Isabelle Broom!
Genie is lost after the death of her adoptive mother, but finds more than she was looking for in New Zealand. The story is beautifully told from the points of view of both Genie and her birth mother, Bonnie, providing an in-depth narrative and a smorgasbord of emotions.

As always, the author describes the setting with such detail and passion, it's impossible not to feel as though you've visited New Zealand yourself. There are a lot of characters in this novel- some in England, some in New Zealand, and all feel authentic and likeable.

This author goes from strength to strength and this, her latest novel, would make an ideal Christmas read.

Many thanks to Netgalley, as well as the publisher and the author, for an advance copy of this book to review.

Isabelle Broom has done it again, I’ve just finished One Winter Morning and the last line literally gave me tingles because it was so beautiful.

I’ve loved each of Isabelle’s books so far, they aren’t just stories but also informative little travel guides. She describes her settings so vividly that they almost become characters themselves. The writing is sublime and I feel that Isabelle’s talent as a writer is getting stronger with each book.

One Winter Morning is set in New Zealand and whilst I’ve never been I can see the Koru Stables very clearly in my mind as well as the beautiful mountains and lakes.

I loved all of the characters, especially the hunky Kit but the character of Tui was my absolute favourite, I completely fell in love with her, I loved her carefree ways, her joyfulness and her laugh.
The concept behind the story is just brilliant and I really hope that Isabelle follows this up by writing the children’s book which featured strongly in the book.

I really feel that Isabelle has captured so well that absolute raw emotion and grief that comes from losing someone close. Also the innocent and protective love she felt for Tui was so sweet. I bawled my eyes out at 18% in as I felt such a good connection.

I really didn’t know what was going to happen from one moment to the next and was quite shocked in parts.

A beautifully written journey of one young lady’s journey through grief. Totally uplifting, intriguing and filled with pure love.

I can totally tell that Isabelle has poured her heart and soul into this book, it’s absolutely perfect.

Genie's adoptive mother has died and Genie can't move on from it. She blames herself and is carrying the guilt like a ton weight. Nothing seems to help. Nearly a year later her father tells her he knows where to find her birth mother.
Eventually after a lot of thought about what she will find when she gets there, Genie is on the plane to New Zealand, the other side of the world.
It is a big step for Genie to come face to face with her birth mother, wondering if she'll even want to see her.
When her birth mother is not there Genie gets to know other people connected with her and is accepted by them.
This is the place where eventually Genie will begin to heal.
A really lovely story in a beautiful setting. I wanted to get on a plane ,and and fly to New Zealand to experience the delights described in this book.
I think this story calls for a sequel.

One Winter Morning is a wonderful book,it makes your heart sing but also breaks your heart .The story is about Genie and her Mum Bonnie and how they reconnect after Bonnie gave her up as a baby and went back to New Zealand.Genie has had a happy life with her adoptive parents David and Ann until last Christmas when Ann is killed in a tragic horse accident .For nearly a year Genie has been in limbo ,then David tells her that her real Mum is living in New Zealand so Genie decides to go and find her and ask her why she abandoned her .The story is so well written the descriptions of New Zealand beautiful and the characters feel very real .I thoroughly enjoyed this book .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my preview copy in return for an honest review .

Last winter Genie’s adoptive mother passed away in the most tragic of accidents and since then she has mourned her and become almost reclusive. She totally blames herself and no amount of reassuring will give her peace. She no longer goes riding and has no interest in socialising. Her adoptive father and author of the endearing Evangeline storybooks, makes a huge decision, one that he feels should have been taken before. He tells Genie that her birth mother is living in New Zealand and that he knows exactly where. Once again, in the lead up to Christmas in yet another year, Genie is rocked, stunned and amazed. Her emotions are all over the place. Her father suggests she goes to New Zealand and introduce herself to her birth mother in the hope that it will be a positive experience and make her feel like living her life to the full again. At first Genie is not at all interested but gradually she comes around to the idea and she sets off on a massive adventure, all alone. She will be spending Christmas and the New Year on the other side of the world
This is the story not only of Genie, but of her birth mother, Bonnie as well. She is desperate to see her daughter and has never stopped loving her. Thinking about how she can best explain why she made her decision to leave her baby in England with her adoptive parents and travel back to her homeland alone, Bonnie comes up with the idea of writing the story of her first visit to England for her daughter to read, so this is what she does. She labours away, recalling her friendships and her unplanned pregnancy. She reasons that her daughter will then be able to decide for herself whether or not she should meet her biological mother, secretly hoping that the answer will be a resounding YES.
Things don’t initially go as they were planned to, and when these two threads do eventually merge, so the story develops as one single thread. It is both heart-warming and heart-breaking. I loved all of the characters and became totally immersed in their stories. I thought Genie’s adoptive father was a brilliant character, full of love, wisdom and empathy. He had such a big heart and was so unselfish. Isabelle Broom is a wonderful storyteller and her characters come alive. She always manages to sprinkle her stories with a little bit of magic and her endings are so lovely and satisfying. I loved her vivid and lyrical descriptions of New Zealand and I thought the front cover of her novel was beautiful. It was so appropriate for this story. I was excited to be accepted as a reviewer for her book and I knew I would be in for a treat.
I received this book through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Penguin in return for an honest review. Thank you most sincerely for my copy. It’s a thumbs up from me and a 4.5* review.
Emotional, life affirming and beautiful story of family love 4*