An utterly delightful read which I thoroughly enjoyed and a definite true romance. Wonderful, believable characters in Ollie and Bea, although, I do have to say, I did get slightly frustrated with Bea especially towards the end. Along with the main characters, there are a fabulous range of others on the periphery with Leroy and Aunt Nora leading the way. Good location descriptions and particularly atmospheric when in Ireland. A definite for romance lovers to escape from the world with whether on a sunny holiday or curled up by a cosy winter fire.

Hotel manager Bea and nurse Ollie meet by chance at Heathrow airport on Christmas Eve, when their flight home to Ireland is delayed. They immediately create a connection, but as both are preoccupied with the reasons they are going home for Christmas, neither thinks to exchange numbers or contact details.
Fate has other plans however, and the two do meet again unexpectedly - but is it too late?

This is like a warm hug of a book. Starting at Christmas and finishing the following Christmas, this book should definitely be made into a movie! I found myself totally invested in the outcome of Bea and Ollie's second meeting and really enjoyed the supporting characters who helped them on their journey - everyone needs a Leroy and Aunt Nora in their lives!

This is a book that could be read and enjoyed at any time of the year, but be warned you will want to visit Ireland after reading!
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK, Cornerstone for the review copy.

I read Emma’s debut novel and thought it was a great festive read, but this really upped the ante pulling on my heart strings (I actually cried on a train reading this, with zero shame!)

I thought this was a beautifully written, emotional love story with a sparkly dollop of festivity. I fell in love with Bea and Ollie, and of course Nana and Leroy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

This is a delightful read that pulls you in right away and had me invested in the story and characters all the way through. I like the authors writing style, the portrayal of the two main characters is very, very good and I think Emma Heatherington captures their personalities, thoughts, feelings and emotions perfectly. I feel like the characters jumped out of the pages and felt like old friends and I can picture them, The Carnation Hotel and Oyster Cottage in my mind when reading. The book takes place over a year, and the pacing in my opinion is perfect. It is about finding 'the one' and the trials and tribulations of a long distance relationship and how Ollie and Bea try to make this work for them. The ending is perfect, and really complements the story by giving it good closure. I'd have loved to have seen an epilogue though just letting the readers know how the couple were getting on a few years down the line. I really like Ollie and Bea and the other characters who are in the story and was rooting for them all throughout.

If you like romances, particularly ones set over Christmas then this is for you. You'll love the characters and writing and won't be disappointed.

Emma Heatherington knows how to delivery a Christmas novel! Her descriptions of the small details, the food, decorations, traditions immediately trigger a resonance in you of your own Christmas past and creating instant Christmas spirit,

A story spread over a year: starting at the Christmas they meet and recounting the year up to and including Christmas the following year.

It’s been a while since a book has made me shed a tear but this one did. Such a romantic Christmassy read, beautifully written I would love to see this as a Christmas movie. Full of emotions from happy to sad and I will admit to fist pumping the air a couple of times! I couldn’t put it down. Characters are fab loved them all. A magical Christmas read that I highly recommend to all. Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and Emma Heatherington for the opportunity to read.

It felt like christmas in July while I was reading this book. Absolutely perfect I loved every second of reading this lovely romantic descriptive book. I can't wait to read it again during the christmas season.

You can’t beat reading your first Christmas love story of the year. This was an absolute belter and sat reading it in one sitting. Full of Christmas cheer and showing that sometimes things are destined to be however difficult they seem.

This is, hands down, the best book that I have read in a long, long time. Although it is a Christmas book, it can be enjoyed all year round. Initially, I thought it was another boy-meets-girl story, but it is so, so much more.

The story is heartwarming and humorous, yet it thoughtfully explores themes of grief and healing, illustrating that getting over grief can't be rushed. The importance of looking for rainbows amid life's storms is a poignant message woven throughout the narrative.

The powerful story and genuine, authentic characters made the book impossible to put down. Their journeys and interactions are so compelling that I felt an urge to hop on a plane to Ireland immediately after finishing it. It's a truly great read that will stay with you long after the last page.

A really lovely feel good book. I loved the main characters and the setting in Ireland. Highly recommended.

This is a five-star read that isn’t just special at Christmas, but all year round. This story may start and end at Christmas, but it would make an ideal read at any time of the year, honestly, I am looking up places that sounds like Oyster Cottage, as my goodness the magic, just jumps of the page. There was something extra special about this one, and I don’t know if it was the passion that Ollie has for his job and his family, where there was a realness as life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, so it was nicely shown in this story. Maybe it was the way that Bea sees the good in everything even people stealing the fancy baubles of the tree. There are just so many wonderful moments in this story, that will make you smile and bring a tear to your eye as well, but my goodness the emotions that you have wrung out of you as you read this story, are worth every moment. If you are in the mood for something to really grip you, and leave you with all the feels then this is the story for you.

A novel that starts and ends around Christmas time and covers the bits inbetween. What’s not to love as the sun shines down outside. A tale of two people that meet at an airport and wonder if the other person is ‘the one’, mixed in with a few coincidences here and there as their story plays out, you can’t help but end the book with a smile on your face. Loved every bit of it and couldn’t wait to get to the next chapter.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful Christmas story, and as usual, Emma Heatherington does not disappoint. To be honest, reading it in the middle of summer did not detract one tiny bit. Curl up, get cosy and enjoy!

Emma Heatherington’s Christmas stories never disappoint. Heartwarming, thoughtful, cheery with sadness in parts. A perfect story for any time of the cheer when your heart needs filling with warmth and a “Will they, won’t they?” Storyline. Sweet characters, no real villains, just perfect

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

A lovely Christmassy read. Bea and Ollie meet when they're both delayed in a London airport on the way home to Ireland. They click immediately but neither of them think to keep the other's phone number. Will they manage to contact each other again? A great book to read at any time of year, especially if you need cheering up.

Absolutely loved this book. A total winner. Great story. Good characters and enjoyable from beginning to end. Sit down, get comfy and prepare to enjoy it all.

Absolutely loved this book, despite it being a Summer read for me. We follow Bea and Ollie over 12 months from one Christmas to the next. Such a good read I read it in a day.

A fabulous deep love story . Told between the two main characters Bea and Ollie. Just amazing. The clever link they had . Can’t say any more. Loved it. A great Christmas read. Even the sad bits were good in a strange way. Loved Aunt Nora as a character . Read it

An enjoyable festive read.
Bea is coming home for Christmas. She works in a boutique hotel in London and is leaving it to go home and visit her family. Ollie a nurse at a busy London hospital is also going home for Christmas, afraid he is going to miss his flight he makes it to the airport only to find out the flight is delayed. He meets Bea and they have an early Christmas dinner at the airport. When they arrive to Derry airport they go their separate ways but Ollie wishes he had got her number all he knows is her first name. Will they meet again is love meant to blossom between them.

Some people think I’m mad for reading Christmas books in June. However, this book made me feel all
Warm and fuzzy! Fell in love with all the characters and have decided I need to hang about airports more often! This book tore at the heartstrings and had me sobbing but also made me chuckle! Gives you a warm glow! Highly recommend a read!