I didn’t realise how much I needed this book until I started reading.. what a lovely return to Hope Farm with Molly, Lucas, Bev and Alan this is a comforting funny read with a sprinkle of Christmas magic. Now on their new premises Molly and her students are getting ready for Christmas at the farm, Molly and the animals (especially the alpacas) are still not very sociable but with the help of Bev and hunky new mayor Matt can they pull off the nativity open to the public. Lucas is still finding his feet living with Molly but as his guardian she always has his back. Lovely to have a new Carole Matthews book making these long evenings so much more bearable.

Having read and enjoyed Happiness for Beginners, I jumped on the chance to read Christmas for Beginners.

I enjoyed this book a lot, though I think not quite as much as the first one. It is very well written, I love most of the characters, and the farm, and all the animals, of course. I thought the plot was good, and I really liked the continuing development of the relationship between Molly and Lucas. I felt like the issues between Shelby and Molly went on a little too long, but that definitely fits with Molly’s character. She doesn’t give up on things easily.

If you’re looking for a Christmas book, that shows it’s worth keeping on and has a real sense of community, this is a great one. Just be aware, it’s not one of the light and fluffy Christmas books.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Carole Matthews is always a delight and Christmas For Beginners is no different.

I love Molly - her down to earth nature, her passion for the kids she works with and her honesty.

The book is set in the run up to Christmas and as well as the familiar characters from Happiness for Beginners we meet Matt, the local Mayor who becomes a great friend to Hope Farm. I must admit to falling for Matt a bit!

Delightful book, definite recommended read.

This is actually the sequel to Happiness for beginners, but can easily babe read as a stand alone novel as all of the background information is given in the first couple of chapters.
At first I found this book slow to get going, but it did pick up pace in the second half.
My personal opinion is that this book isn't as good as the authors last one.

When you see Carole Matthews and Christmas book in the same sentence you just know you’re going to get the warm & fuzzies and a brilliant read. This book exceeded all expectations and could quite possibly be my new favourite book of hers.

What a lovely follow up to Happiness for Beginners, the first in the Hope Farm series with owner Molly, 'foster' son Lucas and the lovely Bev and Alan. Not forgetting the motley crew of dogs and some mischievous alpacas....!

This was the perfect book to read at this moment in time. Realistic but funny with down to earth characters and it cheered me up immensely.

I always love Carole Matthews books and her writing style which puts you at ease from the first page and this 2as no exception.

I really hope there is another in this series.

Christmas for Beginners is a gorgeous festive sequel to Happiness for Beginners. Once again we’re back at Hope Farm with Molly and Lucas and an abundance of animals.

With Christmas fast approaching, Milly has been talked into hosting an open day at the farm to raise some much needed funds. Alongside naughty alpacas, anti social sheep, one-legged chickens and a feral cat Molly needs all the festive help she can get. She’s also look in forward to spending Christmas with Lucas and Shelby, Lucas’ dad but while Molly is making plans, it appears Shelby is making plans of his own.

I loved this book and found it impossible to put down. Quite simply, Carole Matthews has done it again. It’s beautifully written with relatable characters. You are easily drawn into the book and totally immersed into it. It’s a fabulous festive read that I can highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and the author for the chance to review.

Carole Matthews has captured my heart and soul with her beautiful book, this book is gorgeous to read especially near Christmas
It follows the world of Molly and her wonderful Hope Farm which has been settling into its new place after the new railway network went through their old farm
This farm is on the grounds of the local Manor House owned by local acting star Shelby who happens to be in a relationship with Molly and Molly looks after his son Lucas who doesn’t want to live with his famous father but would rather live with Molly in her caravan on the farm
The novel follows their chaotic lives filled with children who come to the farm daily as they can’t adapt to life in school or normal educational setting. So there are lots of people on the farm everyday needing help and Molly has a heart of gold and wants to help everyone
The poems in the book are amazing I loved reading them too

It was lovely to visit Hope Farm again. I love all the characters, and find the animals very funny, although sometimes annoying.
The book was full of unexpected twists and although the outcome was a little predictable with some, it still made a very interesting and enjoyable read.
It is a great preparation for the Christmas mood. I can recommend it absolutely anyone who loves a tender romance.

Christmas for beginners returns to Hope Farm. Its the run up to Xmas and Molly feels completely overwhelmed with the Xmas nativity day Bev has organised to raise some much needed funds for the farm. Surely Anthony the surly sheep, Johnny Rotten, Tina Turner and Rod Stewart the not so amiable alpacas and the sequined santa will save the day? All Molly wants is to get through it and have a nice family Xmas with Shelby and Lucas but Shelby has been making plans of his own and Molly has to decide whether the ideal Xmas is what she thought after all.
I had not realised this was a sequel to another book (Happiness for Beginners) so there were references made which I didn't understand but if you don't mind not knowing a bit if the history then this can completely pass as a standalone.
The chapters were all very short which I always like as I feel it keeps the story moving along at a good pace. There were some real moments of hilarity and some educational moments (who knew about alpaca mating calls?!) While it also dealt with some harder issues albeit in a very brief manner.
It was written as if Molly was taking to you which is not a style I'm used to reading and in still not 100% sure how much I like that but it was certainly good to read a different style of book.
Overall I thought it was a good story, it wasn't completely my cup of tea but enjoyable enough. I would definitely look at reading more by the author.

The farmyard frolics turn decidedly festive in Carole's latest offering, Christmas for Beginners. Owner of Hope Farm Molly Baker and her support network of Bev and Alan have settled in well following the farm's relocation to pastures new (literally) but the issue of funding is never far from their minds. Gregarious Bev is on the case as ever and soon has the troops rallied for a Christmas Fayre event to be held at the farm. I mean, after the success of previous events what could possibly go wrong?
Molly's new romantic partner Shelby is significant by his absence - it's a wonder they are a couple at all as they are poles apart personality-wise but they do say opposites attract. Shelby's teenage son Lucas, has moved in to the plush new caravan with Molly, the two of them having a more parent/child relationship than either of them could hope for Lucas to have with his father - but there must be something in the air as Lucas is spending less time at home with Molly and more time at the poetry club in the village. But that's a good thing, right?
We are introduced to a wonderful selection of characters from throughout the local community from the dishy Mayor, who Bev has commandeered to switch on their Christmas lights, to the troubled parents of one of the students who attend Molly's classes at the farm, plus many others besides. There are also new resident animals on the farm who provide some hilarious moments - the old favourites are still going strong too thank goodness but if they keep trying to eat the cast of the nativity scene there could well be trouble!
This is a proper feel-good festive read, just what we need after the awful year we've had in the real world of 2020. It's not all starry-eyed happiness though, as Molly is left wondering if she's bitten off more than she can chew in taking on the role of Lucas's guardian in Shelby's continued absence. Help comes from an unexpected source in more ways than one and once more Carole leaves us with a warm glow of contentment as we turn the last page. Christmas can't get more Fluffy than this - can it?
Huge thanks to the publisher for granting me the opportunity to read this lovely book ahead of publication.

As soon as I heard about this book I knew that I would absolutely love it and I was right. It's a gorgeous and wonderful book.
This is the second book in the Hope Farm series. It can be read as a standalone book though, as the main protagonist, Molly recaps the previous events of the first book at the start. I highly recommend reading the first book though, as it's fantastic.
Molly doesn't really celebrate Christmas, but this year her assistant Bev decided that there would be a nativity held at the farm.
There is a lot of Christmas cheer in this book, it's a lovely easygoing festive read. There are some poignant and emotional scenes in this book. Overall though it is funny and heartwarming. Once I had started reading it, I had to carry on until I had finished it.
The animals are the highlight of the book, you can picture them and their various foibles and characteristics. The scenes with the animals are very entertaining and amusing.
If you have read the first book, you will have met most of the children already. It was lovely to see how the characters had developed, especially Molly and Lucas. I hope that there is another book in the series. I really look forward to reading more books by Carole Matthews. I have read most of her previous books and the Hope Farm books are definitely my favourites. I highly recommend them.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

I really enjoyed this book all the way through. It had a really good plot, great main characters and really keeps you hooked on the plot. I would highly recommend this book.

With great characters and some slightly excentric animals, this was a really enjoyable story from Carole Matthews. It has some really funny moments as well as a few more poignant ones. This story is a follow on from Happiness for Beginners, which I hadn't read but I honestly didn't feel I had missed anything because of that.

Set on Hope farm where Molly looks after some crazy animals with big personalities and helps children who find it hard to fit into mainstream education, with the help of Bev, Alan and Lucas, her partner's son; plus the new mayor, Matt, who is happy to lend a hand. I did like Molly, she is ever the peacekeeper and I felt she deserved more than her partner Shelby was giving. She is stoical in the face what the farm and her life presents her with but still keeps smiling and helping others. I really liked all the characters. especially Matt and Lucas.

A real bonus was the poetry. There were some fantastic poems that Lucas writes and I did enjoy these. At times I felt the story was a little slow but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Overall though, it is a lovely, gentle read which deals with some tough realities in a quiet manner. definitely worth a read.

Is there anything better than a new Carole Matthews? Yep. It's a Christmas Carole Matthews!

I love this author, and was really pleased to be given an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Yet again, Carole delivers warm, likeable characters, this time wrapped up in festivegift wrap and a sparkly bow.

The book is a follow up to her previous 'Happiness for Beginners', and continues the story of Molly, Lucas and Shelby, with a whole host of supporting characters and of course, animals with big personalities.

I really enjoyed this gentle, warm read and hope it's not the last we hear of this lovely bunch!

Perfect to get you in the mood for Christmas.

This was just a sweet read. I wasn't disapointed at all. This wasn't the first book from this author and I got it what I expected.
4.5 stars

Carole does not disappoint this was a lovely follow up to Happiness for Beginners and I am really hoping for a third .... the characters are so well written and you can really relate to them ...... certainly worth curling up with a hot chocolate and enjoy the read

Another wonderful book written by Carole Matthews. We return to Hope Farm with Molly and her wonderful 'family', and enjoy the run up to Christmas. It was lovely again to be immersed in the life at the farm and see how they all enjoy Christmas. Molly and Lucas have their fair share of problems to deal with, and the animals antics leave us with smiles on our faces and laughing out loud at their behaviour - wonderful. We all need a Bev in our lives to make things run smoothly. I look forward to returning to Hope Farm in the near future.

Thank you for the chance to review this new novel.

This is such a cute and sweet Christmas read. The characters are rather well developed and Carole Matthews have a great language. It just flows. If you're looking for a Christmas book to read in front of the fire, here's one!

Yet another amazing book from a Carole! I don’t even bother reading the blurb anymore I always know I’m going to enjoy them. A great warm hug in a book. One to curl up with this winter.