Perfect Christmas read! I enjoyed revisiting these characters and love anything written by Carole!
Cant wait for more of her books!

I've read a number of Carol's books now, and was thrilled when I was approved for an early peek at this. It's competently written, but (and maybe this was just me) I felt it wasn't quite what I had been expecting. Nevertheless I managed to finish it and will be looking out for Carol's next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read in this in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Carole Matthews, so when given the opportunity to read and review this book I couldn't wait!
I really loved revisiting Hope Farm and the characters in which I had grown to love and seeing how their lives had changed. Molly has Lucas living with her, and Shelby still drifts between both houses and is still not a lover of animals at all.
Their two worlds couldn't be any different, and as neither of them are willing to compromise on where to live or what to do, with Christmas fast approaching it certainly leaves their happy festive plans up in the air.
This is another heart warming page turner by Carol which I couldn't part with. The characters are brilliant, with humour, serious moments and so much love thrown in to the mix, it is undoubtedly an absolute must read.

I love Carole Matthews, she is one of my top favorite authors and I was super excited to read her new book! "Christmas for beginners" was no exceptions, I loved this book as much as the other ones from Carole! A brilliant, very cheery, christmassy with a nice romance but also touches serious and grave topics such as domestic violence and I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it! 4 stars out of 5 for me!

Loved this book.  I fell in love with these characters in the  first hope farm book & I really hope there will be a 3rd instalment.  Amazing would recommend to anyone.

I just saw that in my previous review for the introductory book of Molly Baker and her lovable farm, I mentioned that I would read a whole book with the animals' antics without even the humans in it. I got my wish and cannot believe I let this book sit unread for so long!
I had a so-so experience with another book by the same author but different characters, so maybe I was just wary.
I read this in almost one sitting. I could not tear myself away. Surprisingly enough another book I read recently showed the afters of a 'happily-ever-after'. The concept of different people coming together is 'aww' inspiring, but the practicalities of sustaining that kind of relationship are very rarely delved into in fiction like this. 
When we left the lot at the end of the last book, everyone had been rehomed (it is not necessarily a spoiler) and the new 'digs' come with their own pros and cons (cons being the idea of benefactors required to keep things afloat). Molly now has Lucas with her almost all the time. She is enjoying (as well as being extremely terrified) of her role as a mother figure. She is termed a worrywart, although there are several things to be worried about, she adds unnecessary stuff onto the pile as well! There is Christmas around the corner, and the animals are all being their mischievous, deviant and adorable selves
Our leading lady is such a perfectly three-dimensional character to root for. She has so many insecurities but is extremely strong and resourceful and cares oh so much about every one! There were so many laugh-out-loud moments as well as those tear-jerkers I knew were coming, but still caught me off guard. I adored the writing and was basking in the warmth of the narrative well into the evening after reading and setting aside the book. If I wanted to recommend a book to start someone in this genre, I would recommend this duology.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

In the run-up to Christmas, Molly Baker has taken on more than she can chew. That can definitely be said for her mad alpacas who have eaten the crêche Baby Jesus. How Molly is going to find a replacement this close to her fundraiser for the new Hope Farm is anyone's guess. With the animals and people running amok around her, will she be able to pull it all together and win over the community? Unlikely she'll get help from boyfriend and knight-in-shining-armour Shelby. He's knee-deep in his own issues. Nothing for it but to pull on her wellies and go knee-deep in the cosy bustle of Hope Farm and its lovely cast of misfits.

Carole Matthews' introduction to the book pays timely homage to the unbelievable year we have all had. Speaking directly to readers as friends was very soothing, as is her writing. I enjoyed every moment of walking the farm with Molly. I was thankful to her for introducing each animal and each troubled teen so that when the time came, I was so deeply emotionally invested that I read on with relish.

The plot is soothing in pace, and flowed like a rolling stream through the countryside. Carole was kind to her characters and spiked each with their own labours of Hercules. I devoured each page, hoping for the best. I know Shelby is a soap heartthrob and it was sly of Carole Matthews to turn his story arch into something of a soap opera too. Lucas, the angsty teen, was accurately portrayed. He had enough burgeoning altruism for even the most teen-sceptic reader to root for him through those cringeworthy teen mishaps.

I came to the book not having read Happiness for Beginners, but that wasn't a problem. In fact, I've already begun the prequel so immersed was I into the crazy, cosy world of Molly Baker. I loved the stalwart independent spirit of the main character and the positive relationship she had with best friend and co-worker Bev Adams. While I read, I was reminded of Venetia Summers in 'Hens Dancing' by Rafaella Barker, both had determined strong female leads who powered through hectic country life. 

I know you will love this book and want to wallow in it like you would a deeply warm and bubbly bath. But don't wait until next Christmas. This book is the feelgood title for Lockdown 3. Enjoy

Great to catch up with Molly and all the characters and animals and daily goings on  at Hope Farm. A beautifully written feel good story. Yet another bestseller from Carole Matthews

Christmas For Beginners is a lovely book, I enjoyed every page. It touched home with the help that Home Farm provides and all the way through I was rooting for its owner! I wanted so much happiness for her for the love and support she had given to everyone else. The book follows areas and angles that all teens face and shows how handling them in there own way, might sometimes be for the best. 

I highly recommend this as a must read!

A perfect festive read perfect to get you in the holiday spirit. I loved this book was a heartwarming read. 
It was well paced and I enjoyed the writing style. Although this is a sequel I had not read the first book in the series “Happiness for Beginners” and did not feel out of knowledge while reading. The description is perfect in explaining the new Hope Farm. This book is lovely treat to read over Christmas and would recommend to anyone who is looking for a nice cosy read with a great cast of characters and of course cute animals! 
Thank you NetGalley and the publish for a cope of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this festive tale, and I didn't realise until the last few chapters that it was actually a sequel. 
This was great because everything that I needed to know was well explained throughout. 

I loved Molly tremendously, I thought all of the farm yard animals had the most funny characteristics and I was in Molly, Matt and Lucas's corner the entire time. 

Such an uplifting story, full of love and laughter, that shows you throughout that it's never too late to teach an old dog new tricks, and although a leopard very rarely changed its spots, that that's okay too. 

It also dealt with heartbreaking moments really well, and I found myself grieving for the characters loss alongside them. 

I would definitely recommend this book.

My thanks to Netgalley and Sphere for a copy of “ Christmas For Beginners “ for an honest review.

Carole Matthew’s is one of my favourite authors and I always look forward to her Christmas books..
I put off reading this until the week of Christmas , but really from the storyline it could be enjoyed at anytime of the year. 
I’ve taken off one star ,just for the fact that I didn’t think it was as good as others I’d read from other years , but I would still recommend

Another great book by Carole Matthews,   when Carole brings out a new book you know you're in for a right treat! Christmas for beginners was such a lovely, heartwarming story I feel like the characters are part of my family you grow a real attachment to them, this is definitely a highly recommended read and I enjoyed it very much.

A sweet and well-written Christmas story with some lol scenes that will put a smile on your face! I enjoyed the story but what delighted me the most is the love and tenderness that Carole Matthews writes about animals. The story will put you in the Christmas spirit!

I haven't read anything by Carole Matthews in a few years and I'm struggling to figure out why. I just adored this book. It's so full of heart and I finished it grinning like a mad woman. It's a hug in a book and contains everything a good book should. I laughed with Molly, my heart broke for her, I just loved her. She took everything in her stride and was the most caring and compassionate character. Her relationship with Lucas was utterly heartwarming. There are some serious laugh out loud moments in this book (alpaca orgy being one that had me howling) as well as some more serious topics like mental health and domestic violence. One of the best books I've read this year and I definitely won't be leaving it so long to read more of Carole's books. I really hope that there is a follow up.

A very charming read, sweet, engaging, great characters, and a wonderful story that flowed wonderfully and kept me interested until the very end. 

A really lovely read.

Die Autorin nimmt sich Zeit wieder an die alte Geschichte aus Teil 1 anzuknüpfen, das hat mich zunächst schon etwas ungeduldig gemacht. Ich habe schon befürchtet, dass es eine mäßige Fortführung wird, da die Ausgangssituation zunächst unverändert ist, aber dann hat sie doch noch eine neue Richtung im Ärmel und kann die Stimmung und die Schwierigkeiten wieder sehr gut rüberbringen. Gespannt folgt man dem Handlungsstrang und fragt sich, was das wohl für ein Ende nehmen wird. Wieder mal total witzig sind die detailreichen Begebenheiten mit den Tieren. Gut gezeichnet sind auch die sehr unterschiedlichen Jugendlichen mit ihren jeweiligen Herausforderungen. 

Immer wieder geschehen mehr oder minder katastrophale Dinge, manchmal zum Lachen und Mitfreuen, manchmal zum Weinen. Im Letzten Teil wird das Buch dann zur harten emotionalen Achterbahnfahrt. Es werden sehr ernste Themen aufgenommen. Die Erzählungen um die Naturkrippe sind einfach herrlich! Ich konnte mich ganz hineinversetzen. Es kommt eine schöne weihnachtliche Stimmung auf. Das Ende ist dann herzerwärmend und überzeugend, lässt vielleicht auch noch Raum für einen dritten Band. Ich würde mich freuen, mehr von der Farm, den Tieren und ihren Bewohnern und Besuchern zu lesen.

Man kann dieses Buch vielleicht auch ohne den Vorgängerband lesen, aber dafür ist das erste Buch zu gut und es wäre schade, das zu übergehen.

As usual Carole Matthew's books never fail to delight. A brilliant feelgood  Christmas  novel. Full of crazy animals, testing teenagers and romance. .

I already loved Molly, having met her in Happiness for Beginners – but if you’ve never experienced the joy of a visit to Hope Farm, don’t worry about it for an instant. One of the lovely things for me was rediscovering all my favourite characters, however many legs they may have – but the author does an superb job of telling you everything important you need to know within the first few chapters, a welcome reminder if it’s a while since you read the earlier book but also a perfect introduction if you’re a beginner.

Life has changed a little for Molly – the farm’s moved to its new location, and she’s living in a snazzy mobile home rather than her ramshackle caravan, with Shelby’s son Lucas ensconced in her spare room. Their relationship is one of the loveliest things about this book – both loners, their love and care for each other really warms the heart, even though he’s not the easiest of teenagers to cuddle. Cuddling her partner Shelby isn’t proving too easy either – his visits are fleeting as he tries to establish his acting future, and his aversion to the farm’s animal residents doesn’t make their time together any easier. But Molly’s generally happy and content – surrounded by her beloved animals, every one of them a distinct character so superbly drawn, running the many activities for the groups of troubled young people she welcomes to share life at the farm.

If only Molly didn’t have to interact with other grown-ups, all would be fine – but Christmas is approaching, the farm is in need of funds, and her wonderful sidekick Bev is enthusiastically organising a big Christmas event, complete with a visit from the mayor to turn on the lights. But what a lovely surprise he turns out to be – Matt is a mayor who turns out to be distinctly hot, doesn’t mind getting his wellies muddy or turning his hand to tasks others might a bit less than easy, and a really supportive friend to both Molly and Lucas.

I don’t want to tell you the whole story, but let me share just a few of the things I loved about this book. Molly’s voice throughout is a sheer joy, and tremendously engaging – you share her moments of satisfaction and enjoyment with a wide smile on your face, but she makes your heart really ache at times when things aren’t going as well and the challenges start to mount up. The emotional content to this book is wonderfully handled – there are plenty of laughs, a lovely lightness about the whole book, but I loved the way it dipped at times into more serious issues and the challenges that human relationships can bring.

The animals are absolutely enchanting, but also a real handful at times and provide many of the laughs – the atrociously behaved alpacas, Anthony the Anti-social Sheep conducting his vendetta against the world, the shire horses regularly bringing down their fences, the guard-geese creating their usual havoc, while Little Dog always has a wide smile on his face. If you read the first book too, you’ll remember the elusive Shadow the barn cat – and he provides such a lovely moment in this book, although his impact is perhaps eclipsed by the sheer mayhem caused by those out-of-control alpacas. The children are equally wonderful, if also challenging sometimes – I already loved angry poet Lucas (just wait for that Christmas performance… you’ll be in floods too), but I also developed a really soft spot for Jack (who has his problems with “joining in”), and the story of Poppy and her mum is simply heartbreaking (and so very well handled).

The whole book – as is befitting when it begins with the devouring of the baby Jesus – is gloriously Christmassy in every way, but I really do think this is a book you couldn’t fail to enjoy whenever you chose to read it. Every single character, whether at the story’s centre or at its periphery, entirely won my heart – and as I raced through it (did I mention it’s quite a page-turner too at times?), I laughed (a lot), cried at times, and was entirely drawn in by them all. I haven’t mentioned the romance either – but it was just what I hoped for, and I entirely loved it. Quite wonderful, and a book no-one should miss – and I’m sure you must have room for just one more Christmas read, haven’t you?

I am so looking forward to reading this wonderful Christmas novel again! Chloe, Bev, Luke and the Hope Farm regulars are joined by a very sexy newcomer. With Chloe and the gang on countdown to organizing a Christmas open day and nativity fundraiser her love life has taken a backseat. Shelby has accepted a role in a panto miles away and Chloe is torn supporting his career and ambitions or the farm animals and the vulnerable kids the farm helps. While Shelby is treading the boards in Birmingham, Matt the new mayor lends a hand with everything from Christmas trees to feeding naught alpacas. All of this is set against a beautifully described wintry countryside. I loved Chloe’s relationship with Shelby's teenage son Luke, it properly made me LOL (as Luke might not say!). I simply adored Christmas For Beginners.. don’t want to give the ending away but it was perfect and the stage is set for a follow up!