Well what can I say! Christmas for beginners was another heartwarming funny book by Carole Mathews.
Following on from the previous one in the series Happiness For Beginners.
This story returns to Hope Farm and all its animals, taking up the life’s of Molly and her actor boyfriend Shelby’s son Lucas.
Hope farm is a safe haven for both rescue animals and children in need of a bit of of extra support. Molly has a big heart caring for everyone, Lucas has come to look on molly as a mother figure who supports him with the struggling relationship he has with his dad.
This book had me laughing and also made me sad with some big issues covered.
A lovely festive story made me feel like I wanted to put my tree up even although it’s only October.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK for my preview copy of Christmas for Beginners

Did I choose to read this book because it had Christmas in the title? Yes I did!

Carole Matthews is the author of my favourite Christmas book, Calling Mrs Christmas, so when the opportunity to review her latest festive offering came along I jumped at the chance.

Christmas for Beginners is a sequel and I haven’t read it’s predecessor so I did wonder if I would feel a connection to the characters but within a few chapters I felt that I knew who they were.

This is a lovely story, although I felt it could have been set at any time of year. I was rooting for the outcome the whole way through so wasn’t left disappointed.

It warms my heart that Hope Farm is based on actual place - what wonderful and rewarding work they must do. It’s just a shame that every Lucas doesn’t have a Molly.

I highly recommend this book, don’t think it’s just a Christmas book - you could happily read it on your summer hols!

Thank you to #Netgalley and Little Brown Book for proving me with this eARC for review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Everyone is getting ready for the holidays in hope farm. Molly who lives on a farm meets a handsome man who she has never seen before even though he is a famous actor. This was a cute holiday romance. I cant wait to read Carole Matthew's next book

Oh Carole...how you love to play with my emotions!

I spent most of the book wanting to bash the handsome actor about the head & shoulders with a tea towel.

The ups & downs...heartbreak & teen-angst...

Oh my this book was a lot!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Christmas is fast approaching for Molly and Hope Farm, with festive preparations happening. Shelby, Molly's partner is busy working on Panto leaving Molly and his son Lucas living and working on Hope Farm. Molly and Lucas face some challenging times, many ups and downs, can a little bit of Christmas magic be sprinkled on Hope Farm?

There is nowhere better than Hope Farm at Christmas.

Loved this book from page . I love revisiting old characters and places and Hope Farm is one of my favorites of all time!

Praise to Carole Matthews such a gripping but easy to read book!

Be warned you wont want to put it down!

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Happiness for Beginners, so I jumped at the chance of a second visit to Hope Farm.

Molly is an unlikely heroine, more likely to be covered in manure than smelling of perfume, she lives in a caravan on the grounds of Hope Farm, a place which rescues both animals and children (albeit the children are only day-visitors). In the previous book she meets the TV actor Shelby and his recalcitrant son Lucas. Molly and Lucas get on well and he has come to live with her in the caravan, despite Shelby owning a large manor house nearby. Shelby and Lucas do not get on and there is a constant battle between them.

We join Hope Farm on the run up to Christmas. Shelby is about to leave his soap opera and has accepted the opportunity to play the villain in a Birmingham pantomime show and Molly's assistant Bev has persuaded the anti-social Molly to put on a Christmas open day to raise funds for the farm, a prospect that fills Molly with dread.

This is such a feel-good, cheery, holiday novel, despite some sadness and some big issues. Molly and her motley crew of animals, most of which have issues, her students, most of which have behavioural or family issues, and the characters around the farm will make you laugh and make you cry

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I read and advanced copy of Christmas for Beginners, by Carole Matthews. I love reading books by, Carole Matthews, especially Christmas books. This is a lovely Christmas story, it is also the sequel to, Happiness for beginners. Molly, Shelby, and Lucas are back, alongside their animals. Such a great novel, I love the characters.

This is the sequel to Happiness for Beginners from this prolific author. It has all the hallmarks of her style, ie: easy to read, humorous and a strong feel good factor. Many of the same characters appear along with the new 'Hot Mayor' to who is almost too good to be true. If the reader enjoyed Happiness for Beginners they will love this continuing story of Hope Farm.

Lovely story Carole never let’s is down at Christmas. I was really bored with the many many chapters at beginning about the farm. Way too many about the animals before the story even got started. I love back story and setting the scene but I started to think NetGalley had sent me to wrong book. It went on forever.

But once the story started that warm cozy feeling kicks in and I could not put it down, love the 21st century Christmas classic authors Carole, Karen Swan and Sarah Morgan to name a few. Just make Christmas twinkle a little bit more.

Carole did go overboard at the beginning with the back story on this one, I really enjoyed the book. She has a writing style that just makes you want to wrap up in a blanket with a cuppa tea and read. Magical

#NetGalley #ChristmasforBeginners #CaroleMathhews #christmasreads2020

#books #bookreview

I loved Happiness for Beginners and had high expectations for this one and it doesn’t disappoint.

With Christmas just around the corner, Molly has to step outside her comfort zone to help raise much needed funds for Hope Farm. She is also hoping to spend the perfect family Christmas with Lucas and Shelby, but it seems like Shelby has other plans. What does the future hold for Molly and Lucas and will Shelby be part of it?

A lovely festive story. Heartwarming with great characters. This was an enjoyable and entertaining read.

I really enjoyed this book. I hadn't realised it was a follow on to Happiness for Beginners (but can also be read as a stand alone) so I was happy to be visiting old friends.

We're back to Hope Farm where it's in the time leading up to Christmas, Molly is trying to prepare the farm for the upcoming festivities.

This book looks into relationships in great detail, especially between Lucas and his Dad Shelby. I enjoyed this element a lot.

This is the perfect Christmas read, like an afternoon catching up with old pals Molly and Bev.

Unusually for a Carole Matthews book, I felt it got off to a slow start. I quickly forgave this when it became apparent how much Carole loves the animals she writes about. From there the story took off and I quickly became involved with the characters, most of whom featured in a previous book. A delightful book and well worth reading.

Matthews' magic strikes again!
Carole Matthews has once again scattered her pixie dust and produced a touching, tender, heart-warming story. Be prepared to smile a lot and be emotionally moved.
We’re back to Hope Farm to find Molly in a relationship with Shelby, but this is only the beginning. No spoilers, but be prepared to be surprised! I was much surprised indeed! Who would have thought ... what a turn of the events!
As usual, the author’s deep knowledge of the human ( and may I dare, animal LOL ) soul provides us with deep (yet light) characters who are incredibly real. There are old acquaintances and new entries but the book can be read as a standalone.
I was very happy to be back at Hope farm ( and I truly hope to be able to visit Manor Farm, home of Animal Antiks – the real life Hope Farm in the future).
I re-read with great pleasure the poems by that amazing artist that is Paul Eccenric.
A heartfelt thank you to Little, Brown Group UK for granting me access to a review copy of this book via Netgalley and to the author for giving us yet another amazing story!
#ChristmasforBeginners #NetGalley

I am a fan of Carole Matthews and have read all her books so I was delighted to receive an advance copy of Christmas for Beginners!

I enjoyed the first book in this series – Happiness for Beginners– and feel like my reading experience was enhanced by this, since the characters from that book are developed here.

I loved all the animals and, as always, there were both sad and funny moments and I hope she writes another book in this series.

Christmas Escapism.....
Wonderful Christmas escapism from Carole Matthews and a sequel to ‘Happiness For Beginners’. Christmas is approaching at the farm, chaos abounds and Molly is overwhelmed. What next? Christmas cheer is definitely the order of the day. Heartwarming, gently humorous and with delightful characters this is guaranteed to make the reader smile. Thoroughly enjoyable.

I am sorry to say that I was really disappointed by this book. The plot line really appealed and I have enjoyed other stories by Carole Matthews but in Christmas for Beginners, I found that I couldn’t warm to the main character Molly as much as I tried. I also found the storyline to be predictable and to be a bit drawn out.
This is the second book about Hope Farm so maybe I am being unfair. I really wanted to love it but just couldn’t.

I absolutely love caroles books and have been a fan of hers for many years so was very excited to receive Christmas for beginners!
Being back at the wonderfully atmospheric Hope Farm felt like coming home ! catching up with the varied, eccentric animals, the students and molly, Lucas, Shelby , bev and Alan was a wonderful tonic and made even more special with the Christmas theme! Relationships, hope, love and genuine friendships are at the forefront of this read especially with the introduction of the devilishly good looking mayor! A brilliant,heartwarming, funny, comforting read that had me entertained from start to finish and will Definitely put you in the Christmas spirit!
Thank you net galley for this early read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

It felt so lovely to go back to Hope Farm.

Molly, who now has Lucas living with her while Shelby, the non animal lover is still flitting between the two houses.

It seems that the farm and caravan life is not a life that the soap star likes, and the celebrity lifestyle is not for Molly. So what does that mean for their relationship and not to mention Lucas??

So, Christmas is around the corner and there’s lots going at the Farm. But, will this be a merry one?? One that Molly is hoping for??

Recommend it.

I love Carole Matthews and I really enjoyed the last book set at Hope Farm so I was absolutely delighted to receive a copy from Netgalley and Little Brown Books in exchange for a review.

Carole's books are like a nice warm hug and this was no exception. Molly and Shelby are now a couple but this isn't without it's challenges, he loves the celebrity lifestyle and being surrounded by adoring fans. Molly likes nothing more than being surrounded by adoring animals (and some not so adoring, alpacas I'm looking at you here!). Shelby and his son Lucas have a strained relationship and Lucas chooses to live with Molly at the farm in her caravan rather than the big fancy manor house.

I loved being back at Hope Farm with all of it's inhabitants and spending Christmas with them. Well, obviously it's not Christmas here yet, but it was lovely to escape to.

Warm lovely story.Read it over the weekend put a smile on my face.Carol Matthews never fails to entertain .A pleasure to read highly recommend.#netgalley#little row books group