An excellent festive story that made me smile. It's heartwarming and uplifting, the perfect escapist book for these sad times.
I liked the plot, the well thought characters and the setting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you to NetGalley, Katie Ginger and HQ Digital for the ARC of Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay.
This is my personal review.
This is the third and final book in the Swallowtail Bay series. 
This book is the story of Nell who runs the Holly Lodge in Swallowtail Bay. She is doing everything she can to keep the Lodge profitable, but things are not looking too good for her. She has the help and guidance of her best friend Tom. They have been friends for years and Tom is in in love with Nell, but she just cannot see that yet. 
I so enjoyed the first two books in this series but for me this one just fell flat. I did not feel the connection between Nell and Tom. There were no sparks between the two for me. I wanted to cheer for them throughout the book but just could not do it.

What a delightful, festive romcom this proved to be, though I sometimes felt quite angry with several of the characters!

Nell loves watching festive romcoms and can cite excerpts and events from them but she is still hoping for her own romantic hero to appear in her life. Little does she know that her best friend, Tom, has been in love with her since they met. He’s brilliant at helping her as she strives to make her boutique hotel profitable but she’s struggling since another hotel opened locally. When the manager of that hotel sets out to ruin her business, she’s going to need all the help she can get! Not only that, but her other best friend, Cat, is going to get married in Nell’s hotel and Cat’s Mum, Brenda, is worse than any bridezilla, undermining Cat and belittling her ideas so it is turning into like Brenda’s dream wedding and Cat’s nightmare! With all of this going on, and Tom also having health issues to contend with, this is going to be a Christmas they’re unlikely to forget – let’s hope they get to remember it for things going well rather than going wrong!

This is a moving story, with great characters and some important messages. Trying to daydream your way in life may mean your missing out on spotting your opportunity to really live your dream life. Lack of communication almost ruins two romances, making this a roller coaster ride to some HEAs, with a couple of villains and lots of lovely folk, though sometimes you just want to wake them up. Actually, considering everything happening in their lives, I can’t believe the Epilogue occurs so much later! Still this is a story to get you in the mood for the festive season.

Thank you to HQ Digital for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Unexpectedly sad for a Xmas story 
It’s a simple festive story about Nell, who has taken over the running of her parents’ small hotel Holly Lodge. In the run up to Xmas she is losing business to the large Langdon Mansion Hotel and hoping, by hosting her friend Cat’s wedding at Holly Lodge, she will boost her trade and future bookings as a wedding venue as well as a unique boutique hotel experience. Her best friend - the loyal Tom ( who has secretly been in love with her for many years) is always on hand to help out.
As the story progresses we see Cat’s conflict with her overbearing mother Brenda over the wedding plans, Nell’s constant day dreaming of one day getting her own “perfect” wedding and groom, and Tom’s deteriorating eyesight. There is also the growing conflict between Nell and the managers of Langdon Mansion, who are constantly trying to undermine her successes within the community, and posting bad reviews online about her hotel.
While the story was quite enjoyable I didn’t find it very festive and Tom’s diagnosis left me feeling very sad. Not what I want from a Xmas story.
Tom was a lovely character, far too good in my opinion for Nell, who I found to be quite irritating. The other characters Cat and Kieran were quite superficial, but maybe, as I’d not previously read any Swallowtail Bay books , they’d been explored in detail in those stories.
The conflict between Holly Lodge and Langdon Mansion didn’t seem to go anywhere and ended up as something of a damp squib, which didn’t really add anything to the overall story.
If you enjoy simple romances with a festive feel you’ll probably enjoy this book, but be prepared for the sadness element towards the end. I prefer my Xmas romances to have a happy, feel good feeling, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

In conclusion to this trilogy we are approaching the most wonderful time of the year and what better way to spend it than at a wedding!

Nell runs Holly Lodge a small boutique hotel in Swallowtail Bay, but business is not great and when an incident at a competitor's hotel starts to cause trouble for Nell, it seems she is going to have to try some different events to get business moving again.

One thing she has decided on is that hosting her friend Cat and fiancée Kieran's wedding at the hotel is going to be the best event ever. Nell is a romantic and lives in her imagination with the help of all those wonderful romcom movies out there to pass the time. She wants to give Cat the best wedding that she can, the wedding that she wants but it seems that Cat's mother wants to give Cat the wedding that she should have. Will Nell be able to steer the wedding to a happy ever after.

As well as dealing with difficulty mothers and fraught brides, Nell decides to host a wedding fair, a wreath making event for the local elderly residents and also holds the school's carol concert. She relies on the help of her old university friend, Tom. There friendship is strong and tight, but it seems that Tom is hiding some life changing secrets of his own and cannot begin to share them with the one person he truly loves.

Whilst this might appear a light fluffy read full of weddings and Christmas cheer it brings a real sense of friendship, community and sticking with the ones you love.  Overcoming obstacles, is the key theme throughout the book and there are many to overcome, tyrannical mothers, loss of control, stray cats, disability, trolling on the internet, there is a lot that touches not just Nell but all the main characters in the book.

But for Nell will she every have that happy ever after she wants when she realises life is not a film?

A great read full of fun and frivolity and plenty of humour and heart warming moments. And let's be honest - you can't beat a winter wedding!

Bring your tinsel and tissues to this book and sit back and enjoy.

Although I haven't yet read the first book in Katie Ginger's wonderful 'Swallowtail Bay' series the attractive cover design of this one caught my eye and I thought the premise of the book sounded fabulous. Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay was a really lovely story and I especially liked the main character, hotelier Nell, to whom I could really relate. She was caring and a hopeless romantic and I loved the Winter theme with its festive charm and watching for Nell and Tom's relationship to bloom. It was such fun overseeing them plan her friend Cat's wedding, taking place at the Holly Lodge, Nell's family's small boutique hotel, and her and Tom's efforts to save the Lodge from disaster. I wanted to be right there alongside them, especially when it came to the mulled wine, fairy lights and open log fires. The story's overall tone was snug and uplifting, bringing with it those romantic and Yuletide vibes.

This was a beautifully written, humorous story of love, friendship, dreams, community spirit, accepting help, and overcoming obstacles. Dashes of sparkling romance kept things fizzing and everything was wrapped up very nicely in the end. A wonderful read with strong Chrismassy notes, this is a book that I will certainly be recommending to friends and family.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This novel has a real seasonal feel. The Christmas lights shimmer and the holly stands proud by the hotel. Nell is a lovely character and so appropriate for a romcom. Although she is a keen business woman, she lives and breathes for the romantic big moments she has seen in the romcom films she remembers. She comes over as a mixture of realism and fantasy. She has a kind, generous character and is a true friend. There are some lovely touches in the story. I enjoyed the situations which arise when she wonders if this is going to be her big romantic moment.
There are some memorable characters- none more so than Brenda, Cat's formidable mother. Tom's Grandfather is also touching and through him, you can see how caring Tom and Nell are. In common with its two predecessors, this can be read as a standalone but is set in a gorgeous setting and is a delight to read.

In short: Christmas wedding bells.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Lovely festive story, Nell  and her cosy family hotel competing with the new hotel  whilst discovering the her friend Tom has feeling for her. Real feel good factor in this book. Third in series but can be read as a standalone.

An enchanting romantic read from a fantastic storyteller, Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is the latest festive page-turner by Katie Ginger.

Nell is absolutely addicted to romance. With her penchant for romantic comedies, it seemed only natural for Nell to turn her bed and breakfast Holly Lodge into a wedding venue, but unfortunately there seems to be no happy ending in sight for her. With bookings being down and all her savings running out, it’s make or break time for Holly Lodge. If its fortunes don’t change soon, then Nell runs the risk of having to shut up shop for good which would absolutely break her heart. Still, with her best friend Cat’s wedding to organise at Holly Lodge, Nell hopes to pull out all the stops and is determined to do the best job possible in order to entice prospective brides and grooms. With a new hotel having opened in Swallowtail Bay, Nell has got quite the challenge on her hands, but she won’t give up Holly Lodge without a fight.

There is absolutely nothing that Tom won’t do for his best friend, Nell. The two of them have been through so much together and he knows how much Holly Lodge means to her. Knowing that if things won’t pick up Nell faces the agonising decision to close it down, he vows to stand shoulder to shoulder with her in the last ditch attempt to keep Holly Lodge open and thriving. With Cat’s wedding coming up, Tom and Nell are absolutely surrounded by romance – which is rather inconvenient for Tom as he is wrestling with a secret which he simply daren’t reveal to anyone – he has been in love with Nell for years but has kept his crush a secret in order not to jeopardise their friendship. But with the two of them spending so much time together, will Tom manage to keep his secret under wraps? Or will he find himself with no other option but to confess the truth about his feelings for Nell?

Nell has always believed that when she met ‘The One’ she would know straight away. She would hear violins playing and know instantly that she had found her Prince Charming – just like in her favourite movies. But has Mr Right been right under her nose all along and Nell just hasn’t seen it? Will she finally realise that all she has ever wanted has always been within reach? Or will she let the love of a lifetime slip through her fingers?

It’s impossible not to fall with Katie Ginger’s witty, engrossing and delightful romantic comedies and Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is certainly no exception. Full of characters you cannot help but fall in love with, delicious humour, poignant romance and bucketloads of warmth and charm, this is feel-good fiction at its absolute best.

Heart-warming, witty, hard to resist and impossible to put down, Katie Ginger’s Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is a must-read romantic read that is simply superb!

This is a charming holiday romance with lovely characters and settings.  It's just the kind escapism that I'm looking for these days and especially during the holidays.  Perfect to curl up in front of the fire with a cup of tea.

For a dreamer like Nell, managing and running the adorable Holly Lodge Hotel should be the dream. And for Nell it really is. Except for one thing – the glamorous Langdon Mansion Hotel. Since the swanky hotel opened, Nell has been losing bookings and getting bad reviews. She cant understand why as all her guests have always been so complimentary. Could there be someone behind all the bad things happening? Her best friend, Cat is getting married and holding the wedding at Holly Lodge. Determined that Cat will have the best day ever, Nell puts aside all her worries. But can she save her beloved Holly Lodge?

Meanwhile, Tom, another of Nell’s best friends is head over heels in love with Nell, and has been for as long as he can remember. He has never told Nell how he feels for fear of ruining their friendship. But does Nell feel the same about Tom? And with the help of her best friends can she save Holly Lodge and give Cat the perfect wedding day that she deserves? Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is such a lovely, heart-warming Christmas romance story. Packed full of fun, friendship, emotion and love, it is the perfect festive read.

Winter Wishes At Swallowtail Bay was a really cozy read! I had no idea that the book is the third part in a series, but I had no problem reading it as a standalone. From a loving cast of characters to a mesmerizing set up, it was such a lovely festive book to read, even when winter hasn’t officially started. :’) 

I loved knowing about Nell’s life in Swallowtail Bay. Seeing her find the best version of herself, after facing a series of ups and downs, made me feel so happy.  I loved how I connected with Nell through her love for rom-coms as well! I literally wanted to scream “RELATABLE” when she started day-dreaming about famous romance movies. The book had such a heart-warming community feel to it. The supporting characters, specially Cat and Kieran were the sweetest people ever! I absolutely adored the interactions between Cat and Nell – STRONG FEMALE FRIENDSHIP? Check. The celebratory occasions that were held throughout the book literally transported me to Swallowtail Bay. <3 

The romance between Tom and Nell was really sweet too. Tom was such a softie, I loved how much he cared for Nell and supported her through everything. Best friends to lover is one of my favorite trope in books, which is why wanted to see more of their relationship in the book. It started at the end of the book, so the romance felt a bit rushed. This was the only think that I didn’t like about the story.

I’ll definitely recommend reading Winter Wishes At Swallowtail Bay if you’re a fan of cozy & festive books. <3

I so enjoyed this book. Nell loves Christmas, and her best friend Tom loves Nell, though she doesn’t know that. She is trying to find ways to make her beloved Holly Lodge hotel successful, especially since a big, posh, anonymous new hotel opened in the village.

How she sets about doing this as well as organising her friend Cat’s wedding in the run up to Christmas is the theme of the book. There are lovely Christmassy descriptions, lots of rom-com film references and a satisfying amount of hot chocolate! The characters are as engaging or annoying as they are required to be and it also deals sensitively with a health matter.

It’s like drinking hot chocolate by a log fire surrounded by Christmas decorations – warming, cozy and just lovely.

Holly Lodge Hotel is where Nelle has grown up. Now, since her parents retirement, she is running running it. But since a new boutique hotel has opened up in the bay, Nelle’s business is suffering. 

So new business decisions will have to be made, with help from her best friends, including Tom, who has been in love with Nelle for years. Will Nelle realise that the love she longs for has been right in front of her for a long time? 

I’m sad to be saying goodbye to Swallowtail Bay, however I’m excited to read what is next from Katie Ginger.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
This book really hit the right note for me. Yes, it is a Christmas romance, but there’s so much more going on as well. The characters are having to deal with many issues that just makes their stories more rounded and the characters better understood. This story really does pull at all the heartstrings and it will be a wonderful, cosy hug of a read at Christmas. It’s a strange comment to make as well, but I found the author’s message of thanks at the end of the book to be very genuine and heartfelt. I thought to myself, here’s a genuinely nice person, writing a genuinely nice book, and I’m genuinely glad I’ve had the opportunity to read it! Utterly lovely.

It’s a cute love story of struggles, & passion & friendship and most importantly finding happiness in what’s perfect for yourself rather than what’s assumed to be perfect for everyone. If you’re in search of something to put you in a Christmasy mood, this is the book for you.

Absolutely gorgeous read, I adored this, everything you could want in a winter read, makes you want to grab a cocoa, curl up with this book and not escape the pages of this book because it’s so warm and inviting, simply lovely and romantic 

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

This was a lovely, cosy read from Katie Ginger which I really enjoyed. 

The story is about Nell and Tom and them working together to try and save Nell's hotel. Nell and Tom were perfect characters and  I loved to see their friendship grow and development. The story has a good pace and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. It was very east, light hearted Christmas read which fans of rom-com and romance will love. 

Thank you to Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for this review

Wow I loved this book. Swallowtail bay sounds like a lovely place to live.

🎄 
Nell has to try to turn her buisness around and with her first wedding due to happen at holly lodge of cat and Kieran, if they make it then this will hopefully be the first of many and a lovely day to help turn business fortunes around.

🎁
She always has lots of love and support from her best friend Tom but she is also the only one who can't see how much Tom loves her.

🎄❤🎁⭐
This is such a heart warming and emotional book and full of lovely moments. It's a fabulous Christmas book that is a must to add to a Christmas book list.

Just a feel good romance. I like this book. This hasn't a wow factor, but it was all right.
This was My first read from this author, and it was a sweet Christmas read.

3 stars.