🎄Escape to Sherwood Forest pays off!👶

4.5+🌟 stars
A really lovely story with newfound friendships to buck up the spirits and a sweet friendship with romantic vibes. Mary, the soon-to-be first time mom, starts the story dramatically with a frantic trip to the hospital and, somehow, instead finds a whole little church community and a simpatico taxi driver who take her in and provide the kindness and support she and her tiny son need.

The characters were great, especially physician turned taxi driver Beckett and his grumpy grandfather Marvin. Beckett is the quintessential good guy, often exasperated by Marvin's odd behavior and his difficult search for a caregiver for Marvin, but generous and instantly emotionally tied to Mary and young Bob who he almost has to deliver! There's humor, too, with a wacky line-up of Santas, including a Santa slug(!), needing Mary's design and sewing skills before the local Christmas concert. But for me, Mary and Beckett's will they or won't they vibe was the biggest draw.

Mary's background story about why her life imploded and sent her scurrying to refuge in Sherwood Forest took longer than I would have liked to be revealed, but otherwise I loved the plot, characters and the feel-good community spirit of this story. So much cozy warmth and sweetness, but not a bit cloying.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Review shared on 7/30/25 on Waterstones and Goodreads, and with Barnes & Noble and BAM. To be shared with kobo and on Google Play upon publication.

What an interesting meet-cute! Beckett is such a cinnamon roll right from the start. I love how he supports Mary through the best (and also the toughest) day in her life.

He is truly an amazing caregiver, from caring for her baby to Mary herself. Parenting is no joke, and doing it alone is truly scary. Thank God that Beckett is there for Mary!

I absolutely loved how their relationship progressed from strangers to friendship and to more. While life is difficult and complicated for both of them, the bond they share is truly unique and undeniable.

This was such an enjoyable, festive read that had me smiling the whole way through. I found it so easy to get into, with characters that felt genuine and easy to root for. There were moments that had me laughing out loud and others that were sweet and a bit soppy in the best possible way. It’s such a heartwarming story about friendship and finding where you belong.

I love a cozy Christmas book as much as I love microwaving my hot cocoa three separate times because I keep forgetting it exists, but “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” took that Hallmark formula, threw it into a snowstorm, and gave it a crying newborn and a traumatized widow. And I mean that as a compliment. It’s like if your favorite holiday rom-com got quietly hijacked by grief, healing, and emotional honesty, but still remembered to light the Christmas tree and cue the church choir.

Mary? Oh, Mary is running. Emotionally, physically, full “flee-the-past-into-the-woods” energy, and yes, she is very pregnant and very alone in a crumbling Sherwood cottage, having a full-blown denial spiral. She’s not naming the baby. She’s not decorating. She's not unpacking anything besides her trauma. She’s basically the Ghost of Christmas Can’t Even. And then comes Beckett, the human version of a sturdy mug of peppermint tea, showing up in a snowstorm like, “Hi, I heard you’re in labor, emotionally paralyzed, and possibly feral. Hop in.”

And God bless this man, because Beckett is just out here taxi-driving through a literal blizzard, dealing with his grandfather’s advancing dementia, and still managing to be calm enough to get a very pregnant woman to a random church for an emergency birth. This man’s origin story is clearly just one long, painful lesson in patience. But when I tell you that their romance is slow burn, I mean it is the emotional equivalent of putting marshmallows near a candle and calling it s’mores. And that’s exactly what this book needs.

The vibe here is less “steamy holiday fling” and more “two emotionally bruised people accidentally co-parenting and awkwardly building a life together with zero expectations but way too many feelings.” Like... I wouldn’t call it a romance so much as a long, gentle exhale after years of holding your breath. And it works, because both Mary and Beckett are walking case studies in quiet resilience, and watching them fumble their way toward trust is weirdly satisfying.

Now let’s talk about the community, because these people do not mess around. You think you’re just reading about a traumatized single mom adjusting to rural life, and then suddenly you’re emotionally invested in a group of middle-aged women planning a Christmas show like it’s their personal Olympics. I would absolutely join this church, not for the sermons, but to get adopted by the choir director and peer-pressure Mary into fashion design again. The found family vibes? Immaculate. A full casserole mafia.

And okay yes, the whole “using her old career skills to help a Christmas event” thing is peak Hallmark energy, but it’s also such a sweet metaphor for reclaiming the pieces of yourself you thought you left behind. The whole book is about learning to take up space again, even when grief told you to shrink. Mary is trying to earn a life she already deserves. Beckett is trying to hold it together without breaking. And everyone around them is quietly saying, “You’re safe now. Stay.”

The faith element pops up like that one neighbor who never stays long but always brings a pie. It’s there, it’s gentle, it’s more vibes than doctrine, and it honestly fits. It’s less “Jesus saves” and more “Karen from the church group will absolutely organize a fundraiser and also fix your entire emotional life before December 25th.”

Is it perfect? Not really. It gets a little soft-focus at times, and the lack of any romantic heat might make you check your pulse. But if you’re looking for a story that wraps grief, healing, and emotional renovation in a fuzzy Christmas blanket, this is it. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will Google if Sherwood Forest has Airbnb listings. 3.5 stars and one very dramatic snowstorm birth later,

Merry Mayhem Prize: For Delivering a Baby, Finding Yourself, and an Emotional Reckoning in a Church During a Blizzard

Huge thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” I appreciated the chance to emotionally spiral in Sherwood Forest from the safety of my couch.

Mary is heavily pregnant and living alone in the depths of Sherwood Forest. When taxi driver Beckett comes to her rescue, a friendship develops for the two lonely people.
Finding support from an eclectic group of people at a local church, Mary's story is gradually revealed.
This is a heartwarming book.

Another great book from Beth Moran.
Mary arrives in Nottingham wanting to hide from the world but heavily pregnant. The night she calls into labour she calls for a taxi with a driver called Beckett. Having to stop suddenly as Bob is born a friendship develops alongside those folk who they meet at the Church where the baby is born. A different Christmas but one that won’t be forgotten. Thanks to Beth and her publisher.Thanks also to NetGalley

What a book from this talented author. A sleepless night was had needing to keep turning those pages to find out what would happen.

This is a story of love and loss and of making a new start. It shows people have flaws and things in their lives that they need to contend with and that fairytale stories aren’t always the only ones we want to read about.

Mary and Beckett meet when he picks her up in his taxi as she is about to give birth. Their relationship develops into a lovely friendship and their story and that of those that they support and who champion them is so well written I really didn’t want it to end. The backdrop to the story is a beautiful woodland setting and a snowy Christmas and this will certainly make a great fireside read.

Highly recommend for this who enjoy a beautifully told romance with some humour and sadness.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year was a lovely, soft romance. There was instant attraction between our two MCs which isn't always something I enjoy but it worked due to the slow burn nature of their romance. I think my favourite character of all though was Gramps, he was an absolute doll and reminded me of my own Grandad. I loved the fact that this book was set in an area that is fairly close to me - so it almost felt familiar. It was well written, heart- warming and the very definition of a cosy, feel-good read perfect for the festive season.


I was invited to read The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by the lovely team at Boldwood in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this new book from Beth Moran, good characters, well written and a lovely storyline. Some sad moments , some laugh out loud moments , but most of all joyful. Recommended

This book is eventful right from the very beginning. A birth in an unexpected place, with unexpected people is bound to grab your attention and get a story started in a dramatic way.

Mary's life has been a whirlwind, so many changes in such a short period of time. Could Beckett be the unexpected knight in shining armour that Mary so desperately needs? While I experienced a drag in the middle of the book, the beginning and the end made it worth the read. This story is filled with many heartwarming characters (possibly too many) and a community that brings comfort to broken hearts and people in need of friendship. Throw in a Christmas play, a church, helping hands, seasonal decorations and some winter snow, and you have yourself the makings of a cozy, holiday read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for the digital advanced copy via NetGalley. These opinions are entirely my own.

Ooh, I can already declare that this will be my favorite Christmas read of 2025! I am reading it in July, but it will be hard to top. I loved every thing about it - the setting, the characters, and such a tender, uplifting storyline. My favorite element is the sense of community and love Mary and Beckett discover through the church family at New Life Community Church
This is a sweet and tender Romance between two likable but fragile people, but more so an ode to the power of friendship and community.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold wood Books for the Advance Read. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

What a beautiful, heartwarming read this was.
Once I picked it up I really struggled to put it down.

We meet Mary, living alone in the middle of nowhere, when she goes into labour, then we meet Beckett, calm and dependable. Both have pasts they would rather forget, and presents that aren’t easy, but maybe they need to face them and acknowledge them to move forward?

There are some brilliant characters within this story, Mary and Beckett are both wonderful, you will want to gather them in a hug and make their world better. Then there is Gramps, a very special character who is pivotal to this story, you will definitely fall in love with this slightly difficult older man! Then there are the people who Mary meets along the way, people who help her. People who will tell it as it is, when you need to hear that, but also protect you and distract you when you need to stop and take a breath.

I found this story refreshing, lots of different ideas to make it such a wonderful tale.

I don’t want to give any of the plot away, but I really loved how it all progressed and how Mary especially dealt with things from her past. The author describes the emotions of the characters so well, letting the characters take their time to process their thoughts as well as those of others.

By the end, you will definitely feel a part of this group of people and want to continue to live among them!

What a great story to get me in the holiday mood.

Mary is in labor and it is snowing. She knows no one in the little village she has moved to she calls a cab and becomes friends with Beckett, her driver. They can’t make it to the hospital and she ends up giving birth in a church.

Beckett is taking g care of his ornery grandfather, who is removing from a stroke.

Both Mary and Beckett are lonely and in need of a friend. Together with the people they met at church they each find their community and eventually, each other.

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC

This was truly such a mood booster of a book!
I randomly decided to indulge in Holly Jolly July and picked up The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Mary and Beckett stole my heart in a really unpredictable way. I often find holiday books to be so incredibly cliche and lacking heart. Not this one!

Mary was living a nightmare when she goes into labor early in a cottage in the woods with no car and having to rely on a taxi service. But this nightmare may have been the biggest blessing in disguise. I adored the friendships she found at the church in town. I loved that the coffee mums were SO REAL. I loved Beckett - his own messy life that worked so well.

This was a total delight!

After suffering a life changing event, expectant mum Mary finds herself in the throes of labour, three weeks early and in the middle of Sherwood Forest.

Grumpy Beckett has given up his career as a doctor to take care of his grandfather after he has suffered a stroke, He now finds himself driving a taxi in order to pay the bills and take careful his grandfather.

The two are brought together when Beckett arrives I. His taxi to Mary to the hospital, but they don’t make it to the hospital, leading to a birth in a new life church, new friendships and romance.

A wonderfully cosy festive read that pulls on the heartstrings.

What an amazing book. It's such an emotional rollercoaster and you get so invested with Mary from the start that it is almost impossible to put the book down. There are tears of joy, laughter and pain. The sense of friendship and community it one we all strive for. As for romance? Well you'll just have to read it and find out

This was a lovely light hearted read. Not overly Christmas themed but the church play sounds hilarious. Mary and Beckett both have difficulties in their lives and support each other until a misunderstanding ruins everything.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mary is alone, pregnant and hiding out in the middle of the forest, when she realizes that her baby is on the way. In the middle of a snow storm, she calls for a Taxi hoping to make it to the safety of the hospital.

Beckett, becomes more than a Taxi driver over the next few hours, helping to deliver her beautiful baby boy, in the local church.

Along with the wonderful warm and welcoming local community, Mary settles into new roll as a mother to baby Bob.

A beautiful story showing that friends can become the family that we are missing and that love concurs all!

This is a lovely story about starting over, the importance of community and support, and at heart it's a gentle romance.
The holiday theme is not over-powering and it was a very cosy and hopeful story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

I want to thank Boldwood Books, Netgalley and Beth Moran for an early copy of this heartwarming story of second chances, friendship, love and a community we all wish for. The cover was just gorgeous and I highly recommend this feel-good uplifting novel.

I was totally invested in this book from the first page. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is such a lovely story as are all of the author’s books. This is the third book I have read by the author and I look forward to many more.

Mary has a baby on the way and a past she would like to forget. After a personal tragedy she runs away deep into Sherwood Forest alone with no support. Beckett is a taxi driver who cares for his grandfather who is showing signs of dementia. The two meet when Beckett receives a call to drive Mary to the hospital when she goes into labor during a blizzard.


The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is such a lovely and uplifting story about new beginnings, healing, friendships and a tight-knit community that comes together to help Mary. An absolute comfort read and I adored it!