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!

This story shines through its quiet strength, emotional depth, and heartfelt moments. Beth Moran crafts a gentle, deeply human narrative that reminds you of the goodness in people, the healing power of community, and the courage it takes to start over.

The romance is understated but sincere, built on mutual respect and emotional connection rather than instant attraction. The holiday theme is present but not overpowering—more a backdrop for healing and reflection than a constant flurry of Christmas clichés. If you enjoy stories where the characters carry emotional weight and grow with grace, you’ll find something really special here.

have i told you lately was one of my favourite books OF ALL TIME. So to say i was excited to get to read this book by Beth is a major understatement.
and wow she has done it again. now both books fight for my heart.im trying to make them sit there nicely together as there is definitely more room for Beth's books.
Mary needs all our hugs. and im so glad when she arrives at a place where folk might be just what she needs. but she arrives with an arrival of her own when she goes into labour. and this is where we all meet Beckett and aren't we glad to do so.
and finally its time for Mary to find her people, her home, her security?
we've got a gaggle of new characters to fall in love with. some really special ones that once again we all fall in love with and just want in our lives too.
this book took me away to a comforting and safe place. it hugged me and made me have that escape i needed. existing in our world at the moment can feel hard. and its a stark but beautiful reminder of how much a love for books and lovable books can make all the different in the world. a reminder of how lucky we are to have talents like Beth. how lucky we are that books exist. i feel such a privilege to get the chance to read this book. i hope Beth and other authors we love know how much we appreciate them.

When I get the chance to read new festive reads in the summer months I grab the opportunity with both hands. I love curling up with cute and cosy festive novels and The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year certainly didn't disappoint. It was beautifully written and easy to follow. plus it had a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💖 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Beth Moran throws the reader directly into Mary's situation: alone in a cottage in the middle of Sherwood Forest, in a snowstorm, about to give birth. The reasons for this are hinted at, but the action is fixed on Mary's understandable panic. Finally a taxi arrives, driven by Beckett who is clearly going to be a significant player in the book. Fairly unfazed by the situation, he sweeps Mary up and makes for the nearby hospital but road conditions make that impossible. Seeing lights on in a Church, he decides that's a better option than Mary giving birth in his car and goes to ask for help. The baby is born safely and Mary is well taken care of by the Church people, not just then but in the days ahead.

In fact the Church, unusually in a book of this type, has a central role, something I enjoyed. There is an interesting congregation of characters and these people are the supporting cast in the book, providing wisdom, humour and background. Mary's back story is slowly unwound and we discover more about Beckett and his life too. It is clear from the start where the action is heading but that doesn't make the journey there any less enjoyable. The ending is perhaps a little contrived but it feels real, and Mary and Beckett's relationship moves at a believable pace.

Although the book is set over and around Christmas, it's not overly festive and it felt quite acceptable to be reading it in July! I enjoyed the Christian world view of the author which is genuine but unobtrusive. There's a strong of community with all its flaws as well as its joys. I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.

Thank you @bethmoranauthor @boldwoodbooks @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

My thoughts:
A heartwarming story about two strangers meeting up in a very unexpected way. Mary and Beckett are wonderful characters I enjoyed getting to know.
This was an emotionally charged story that will pull on your heartstrings in so many ways.
Though the story seemed drawn out in some places, it still flowed quite well. Mary’s story about her past was very slow to develop in my opinion.
This is a clean story with minimal romance.

At the heart of the story is Mary, the co-owner of a wildly successful fashion company in Sheffield. She’s fleeing a painful past when she unexpectedly gives birth—completely alone—in the middle of Sherwood Forest. Enter Beckett, the kind-hearted taxi driver sent to take her to the hospital… but the baby arrives early, in the middle of the New Life Community Church.

With no baby supplies, no plan, and no familiar faces, Mary begins to lean on the people she meets that night. What starts as a moment of desperation slowly becomes something more, as she finds friendship, purpose (by sewing costumes for the church’s Christmas concert), and maybe even love—with Beckett.

The story alternates between Mary’s present and flashbacks to her old life in Sheffield, gradually revealing the heartbreak that led her to start over. Beckett’s perspective adds even more depth, especially as he struggles to care for his beloved Gramps. Both storylines are moving and at times unexpectedly emotional, with a few twists that tug at the heart. The side characters shine just as brightly as the leads. Each one feels real, with enough personality and depth to carry their own novel. They bring warmth, humour, and heart to Mary’s journey.

Ultimately, this is a gorgeous, uplifting story about second chances, letting go of the past, and the power of kindness—perfect for curling up with in winter… or anytime you need a little hope. This novel is more about healing, community, and unexpected new beginnings, making it a beautiful read any time of year.

This is such a happy, warm, and festive read. Full of hope and friendship, this is a emotional rollercoaster of a book to snuggle up in a blanket and enjoy.

I read so many of the author’s books that it did not surprise me that much that if I read another so quickly and it worked as well as I hoped. It did please me though, since there have been a few I have not enjoyed as well.

There is also a fact that registered this time, something I had not realised previously was the slight use of faith or faith based individuals. It has made its quiet appearance in multiple books and is used as a tool by the good people in the narrative. I realised it was a reasonably repetitive presence only recently! It is not preachy so it makes a nice background for the kind of people we encounter.

This story begins with a woman going into labour early. Having gone into labour early but with everything else going as expected, I can only imagine the terror of the situation. The author did a good job bringing it to life. After the precipitous delivery during a snow storm, our leading lady finds new purpose and a new found family to celebrate the season with. In between we get a glimpse of the past and see who she was and how she got there.

It’s a story with several layers and each layer brings with its own emotional section.

I am glad I stumbled on to this author. I would highly recommend most of her books to anyone who likes found families as the core of the narrative.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ written by Beth Moran in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Mary Whittington has moved into a ramshackle cottage situated in the middle of a forest as she’s running from the two people she thought were her friends and the man she loved whose baby she’s soon to give birth to. When her labour pains begin she rings for a taxi that’s driven by Beckett and as a blizzard closes the roads he stops at the New Life Community Church where she’s welcomed and helped to give birth to a baby boy named Bob. Beckett has a big generous heart and soon becomes her friend and Mary realises that with him and the ‘coffee-mums’ she’s made a new and happy life for herself and Bob.

‘The Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ is an utterly charming and heart-warming story of Mary who loses her career, friends and marriage as she runs away from the business that she, Shay and Kieran set up in Sheffield to a ramshackle cottage in Sherwood Forest where she makes a home for herself and her baby. Her new friends Beckett and the ‘coffee-mums’ become important to Mary who realises that life as she knew it may have ended but a new one is just beginning. Beth Moran’s characters have been so beautifully described that I felt I knew them and as her relationship with Beckett evolves from friends into something more I wanted to hug them and babysit Bob. This is a lovely novel that I thoroughly enjoyed and is perfect to read in the run-up to the festive period.

An enjoyable story set in Sherwood Forest around Christmas, mainly set around Mary and Beckett. Mary is on her own and pregnant and goes into labor, Beckett is the taxi driver she rings to take her to hospital, and who ends up being a good friend. Beckett is also struggling to take care of his grandfather who has dementia and scares off all his carers with his rudeness. So Mary and Beckett end up helping each other out.

There are a great group of side characters, mainly from the community church that Mary ends up delivering her baby in due to the weather.

There are plenty of amusing parts and some sad parts, but eventually everyone ends up with their happy ever after. Very enjoyable.

4.5 stars.

“Awesome comes in all shapes and sizes.” Ah, I just love settling into a new Beth Moran book! I love how she creates such a close, special, and cosy community within each of her books – usually set within Sherwood Forest – and often, like this one, with some Easter egg mentions of places and characters from her other books, like the Peace and Pigs and journalist Bea Armstrong. I want to move right into her little fictional world immediately!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is not REALLY a Christmas story, so you don’t need to wait until December to read it, but it does have some lovely festive moments, culminating with a Christmas Eve concert and Christmas Day itself.

The main story centres around Mary – co-owner of a hugely successful fashion company in Sheffield, who has escaped from her old life, just in time to give birth completely alone in the middle of Sherwood Forest. There, she meets Beckett, her taxi driver tasked with getting her to hospital. Only they don’t make it in time, and Mary gives birth in the New Life Community Church.

With no nappies, cot, or anything ready, she starts to accept help from the people she meets that night. Soon, she’s made a host of new friends, making costumes for the Christmas concert extravaganza and developing feelings for Beckett.

Alongside the main story, we flash back to Mary’s old life in Sheffield and gradually discover what happened in her past to have brought her here. We also get Beckett’s point of view, and his story as he struggles to care for his Gramps. Both were quite heart-breaking and had me a bit tearful, with some unexpected revelations.

As always with Beth’s books, the minor characters are outstanding. Every one of them has a story and struggles that make them strong enough to be lead characters! This was another gorgeous story from Beth, and perfect for getting cosy this winter (or right now!)

A superb Christmas tale by Beth Moran. A wonderful book of Christmas cheer with great characters and a story to tweak all your emotions. I could not put it down.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. It was an absolute pleasure.

Lovely story, this was my first book by this author and will definitely not be my last. The characters are very convincing and leave you think about them once you have finished the book . Looking forward to the next book.

A good book for getting you in to the Christmas spirit; a mums group, a charity Christmas concert, a mysterious backstory and a budding romance. My one gripe is that the middle sort of lost me as it became a bit long winded and I felt it lost its way for a bit.

I usually only read Christmas books at Christmas time, but I couldn’t pass this one up. For me Christmas has always been the most wonderful time of the year and this book gave me all of the warmth and happy feelings of that magical time. This is one I will definitely read again next to my Christmas tree with a cozy blanket. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for bringing me some Christmas joy in July.

When I came out of the Christmassy trance into which this gorgeous book had cast me, I was surprised to find it was mid summer outside my window. So engrossing is Beth Moran 's evocative writing, that she draws the reader into her world to the exclusion of everything else. We were immediately cast into a wintry night with snow swirling around and roads impassable. In the midst of this hostile environment, we meet Mary, a young woman in labour with her first baby who is 4 weeks premature. She has no transport and is living in an isolated, ramshackle cottage in the forest. Alone, helpless and scared she is rescued by Beckett, a taciturn taxi driver, who turns out to be her unlikely knight in shining armour. Unable to reach hospital on time , Beckett takes Mary to a local church, a decision that would transform both their lives forever. There they encounter Moses and his flock of wonderful, warm , loving, quirky and all encompassing human beings and find they are no longer alone in the world. Both Beckett and Mary are carrying heavy burdens of grief, loneliness and heartbreak. Beckett is caring for his beloved elderly grandfather, who raised him and whom he has vowed to never put in a home. This night will be the catalyst to transform all their lives .
Such a perfect, uplifting book. I defy you to read it and not be moved

An absolutely beautiful and heart warming Christmas tale which begins with a birth in a church and offers redemption to the aptly named Mary. It is a slow burn romance but the side stories of friendship and second chances make it engaging and worth the wait. I loved gramps and his story was both emotional and thought provoking. Beautiful!

“The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is a romance book by Beth Moran. This book begins rather quickly - Mary is in labor when she gets into Beckett’s taxi and thanks to a snowstorm, going to the hospital isn’t possible. Fortunately a church is open and folks are willing to help Mary deliver her baby. Mary is on her own - and now a new Mum - and Beckett wants to help her although he’s a caregiver for his elderly grandparent. After that rather exciting opening bit, the story grinds to a much slower pace as background is filled in and the story progresses forward. One of the comfortable things about this book is that the reader knows how it’s going to end - but it takes its sweet time getting there. The drama at the 75% mark could’ve been avoided if Mary and Beckett had communicated with each other (though thanks in part to technology they didn’t … if ever people needed landlines with answering machines, this was a prime example!). I have mixed feelings about this book - it was really great that the church folks embraced Mary (and her baby … and Beckett) and it wasn’t a preachy church, but due to Mary’s story unfolding so slowly, at times I skimmed some parts. This was a fine book, but for me it felt like there was a bit too much dancing about things.