I hadn’t read the first book involving these characters but I didn’t really need to as it can be read as a standalone.
I whizzed through this book quite quickly and enjoyed the adventures around December on Molly’s farm. I liked the fact that she held craft classes and made children who didn’t quite fit in at school, welcome on her farm and involved them with the animals to give them self worth. I did not warm much to Shelby, but his prickly son Lucas melted my heart. It had some lovely characters who helped Molly out and it was just what I needed to read, this time of year.

Not the typical feel good Christmas story I was expecting. It was more serious, dealing with family and tough relationships. It was the second book in a series, but I didn't read the first one and I don't feel like I was lost or needed to read the first to understand what was going on. To be honest, I didn't enjoy this one. It was slow and uninteresting. TW: miscarriage, domestic abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this eARC.

They say where there's muck there's brass, well I don't know about brass but this book has plenty of muck, love and laughs. From a giant sized "miniature" pig to a trio of delinquent alpacas, Molly really has her hands full and that's before you take into account a group of sometimes unruly but always needy children. This is a great read which will put you in the mood for the festive season.

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. Idyllic location that set the tone of the book to perfection. Perfect seasonal book to get you in the mood for the festive season. Love this author she’s one of my favourites. Once again she did not disappoint

This is a sequel to the authors ‘Happiness for Beginners’ so bear that in mind as you don’t get a full backstory of the characters. However it’s easy enough to pick up who’s who and the relationship with each other.
The story continues with Molly on her farm and concentrates on her continuing relationship with Lucas and his trials of growing up, now that she’s in a romantic relationship with his wealthy, famous father.
All that coupled with the animal shenanigans and some heart wrenching side-stories give a great book to get emerged in.
Although set at Christmas its not particularly centred on it so could be enjoyed at any time really, don’t let the title stop you.

Lovely to be back at Hope Farm and see all the characters again. Great fun read with plenty of humour especially concerning the animals but also warmhearted and caring. Molly is a great main character and you can't help but love her and hope she gets her special Christmas

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

🌟Irresistibly quirky, funny and absolutely jam packed with heart! Join 🌟Molly and the cast of dysfunctional but lovable characters on the farm that gives them purpose, joy and a sense of community.
🌟The antics the animals get up will have you giggling in no time.
🌟Matthews at her very best.
🌟This is feel-good fiction at it's finest I didn't want it to end!

I think I have just come to the conclusion that Carole Matthews books aren't for me. They are ok, but just don't grip me like others.

5☆ An Uplifting Page Turner!

Christmas for Beginners was an Uplifting, Laugh out Loud, Heart Warming Romance that swept me off my feet.
Oh and not forgetting an array of cheeky loveable farm animals, some Christmas Sparkle and you have an unputdownable book!

Molly has a hard time with Christmas, she just doesn't go all out to celebrate.
But this year is certainly going to be different, when co worker and best friend convinces her to hold a Christmas Open Day to raise money for the farm and children.

However things don't get off to a great start when the mischievous Alpacas Eat Baby Jesus. I can't tell you how much I laughed especially when you discover what their names are 🙈😂

Also things are looking up for Molly, her gorgeous wealthy boyfriend Shelby and his troubled son Lucas are firmly in her life and she couldn't be happier.... or could she?
Is the New Hunky Mayor, who's spending a fair amount of time helping out around the farm.... about to throw a spanner in the works?
I guess your going to have to read it to find out.

I absolutely adored this book, it was just the tonic I needed after such a miserable year!

So if you are looking for an Uplifting Read that will literally have you laughing out Loud and Smiling the whole way through, that has Romance, Drama and the most
adorable, mischievous farm animals that will melt your heart.
Then I highly recommend you grab a copy of Christmas for Beginners.
This book can be read anytime of the year, it truly is the perfect pick me up!

Christmas is fast approaching at the new Hope Farm. Owner Molly Baker has been convinced to organise an open day to raise some much-needed funds ahead of the New Year, but the nativity tableau is proving challenging. With anti-social sheep, awkward alpacas and a seriously sequined Santa Claus to assemble, Molly is feeling overwhelmed, and in desperate need of some Christmas spirit . . .

Despite the chaos of the farm getting in the way of her event planning, Molly is looking forward to spending the holidays with Shelby and Lucas, hopeful that a happy family Christmas is exactly what they need to draw them all together. But while she is busy making plans on the farm, Shelby, it seems, has ideas of his own.

As the nativity draws near, the team are working hard to pull off a spectacular festive fete - and make sure the animals and humans remain on their best behaviour. Will this Christmas be merry and bright, or is there more than one surprise in store for Hope Farm?

This book is second in the series and I absolutely loved it. I do not think you have to read the first in the series. I did not and I still loved it.

This is an excellent festive series and I would recommend for anyone who wants to escape into a Christmas world.

I really enjoyed this book! It is apparently a follow up from a previous book, I didn't realise this and it didn't matter - you can read this one as a standalone and it's perfectly fine! I felt lovely and fuzzy after reading it and ready to be in the Christmas spirit. There are also some important issues raised within the story - fostering, trouble with mainstream schooling etc - and Carole Matthews talks about them sensitively. I really enjoyed this book, it's another great read from a brilliant author.

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