Home Sweet Christmas

by Susan Mallery

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

If you want a one-two punch of holiday charm after reading a Debbie Macomber holiday romance, then we present you Susan Mallery’s latest in small town romance. Mallery’s been placing her sweet and charming romances under our tree for years. The Wishing Tree series continues here after last year’s The Christmas Wedding Guest.

"The perfect holiday confection."—Booklist

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes a witty and heartfelt story of two friends who unexpectedly find the person-and the place in which-they belong this Christmas.

With twinkling humor and heartfelt Christmas spirit, two friends find love in a town called Wishing Tree…

Until Camryn Neff can return to her “real” life in Chicago, she’s in Wishing Tree to care for her twin sisters. She’s not looking for forever love, not here. But handsome hotelier Jake Crane is a temptation she can’t resist, so she suggests they pair up for the season. No golden rings, no broken hearts. At his side, she sees her hometown through Christmas-colored eyes. The cheer is cheerier, the joy more joyful. She thought she had put her future on hold…but maybe her real life was here all along, waiting for her to come home.

New in town, River Best is charmed by Wishing Tree’s homespun traditions and warmhearted people. When she’s crowned Snow Queen, she’s honored but wary. Dylan Tucker, her king, seems like the stuff of sugarplum dreams, but she can’t shake the feeling that he’s hiding something big. As they perform their “royal” duties—tasting cookies, lighting trees—Dylan’s good humor and melty kisses draw her to the brink of love. But she can’t let herself fall until she uncovers his secret, even if her lack of faith means losing him forever.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781335934000
Publisher:	Hqn
Publication date:	10/04/2022
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	56,652
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives—family, friendship, romance. She's known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/29/2022

Interweaving two heartfelt love stories, Mallery expertly captures a festive yuletide spirit in her sparkling second Wishing Tree novel (after The Christmas Wedding Guest). Camryn Neff left her life in Chicago to return to small-town Wishing Tree, Wash., and take care of her teenage sisters after their mother’s death. While running her family’s custom gift-wrapping business, Camryn is selected by local matron Helen Crane as one of the candidates for “Project: Jake’s Bride,” a mission Helen’s embarked on to marry off her son. Camryn quickly rejects the idea of being involved—and spills the beans to Jake about his mother’s scheming. As their friendship blossoms into love, Camryn must question her life plans, having never intended to settle in Wishing Tree for good. Meanwhile, River Best, a transplant from Southern California who’s turned her computer hacking skills into a legitimate business, is chosen at an annual festival to be the town’s Snow Queen, and is drawn out of her shell by Dylan Tucker, the newly crowned Snow King. Love soon follows, but a secret Dylan’s keeping may threaten their happiness. Mallery highlights the charm and community of her inviting small-town setting while still exploring grounded real-life issues. Add in undeniable Christmas cheer, and this feel-good holiday romance proves irresistible. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

09/01/2022

Mallery's second installment in this heartwarming and humorous holiday romance series (following The Christmas Wedding Guest) brings readers back to Wishing Tree, WA. Camryn moved back home to Wishing Tree to take care of her younger sisters and the family business, but she has every intention of heading back to Chicago to resume her life. When she meets Helen Crane and is blindsided by the matriarch's plan to find a wife for her son Jake, she feels she has to warn him, but spending the holidays with Jake makes her reconsider staying in town. Meanwhile, River Best has always wanted to belong, but trusting and making connections has never been her strong suit. She takes on being the community's Snow Queen as a challenge to help her fit into the town she's chosen to make her home, although her Snow King, Dylan, makes her wish for more. VERDICT Hand to readers who enjoy romances featuring tight-knit small-town communities with heartfelt holiday traditions and friend groups that are more like found families.—Morgan Lockard

Library Journal

"Interweaving two heartfelt love stories, Mallery expertly captures a festive yuletide spirit in her sparkling second Wishing Tree novel...Mallery highlights the charm and community of her inviting small-town setting while still exploring grounded real-life issues. Add in undeniable Christmas cheer, and this feel-good holiday romance proves irresistible." —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Home Sweet Christmas

"Mallery's second book set in Wishing Tree (after The Christmas Wedding Guest, 2021)is just as charming, with two gentle romance story lines and a reminder that family ties can bind a little too tightly, but it's still family. The perfect holiday confection for fans of Jill Shalvis and Sarah Morgan."—Booklist on Home Sweet Christmas

"Mallery’s second installment in this heartwarming and humorous holiday romance series (following The Christmas Wedding Guest) brings readers back to Wishing Tree, WA. Hand to readers who enjoy romances featuring tight-knit small-town communities with heartfelt holiday traditions and friend groups that are more like found families."—Library Journal on Home Sweet Christmas

“This two-in-one romance starts a new series that Mallery’s many fans will devour like a Christmas cookie.”—Booklist on The Christmas Wedding Guest

"Mallery packs in the Christmas spirit, with friends and family coming together to celebrate. The result is alluring, well plotted, and sure to please."—Publishers Weekly on The Christmas Wedding Guest

"Perfectly heartwarming, touching, and romantic as each sister explores these potential relationships. Author Susan Mallery is a powerhouse and if you haven’t read anything by her this will start you down a rabbit hole of late nights and covert booking reading."—The Girly Book Club on The Christmas Wedding Guest


"Author Susan Mallery writes the best family themed novels about love and starting over. If you’re a fan of rom-coms/family based novels, her books are perfect for you." —Red Carpet Crash on The Christmas Wedding Guest

"A charming Christmas romance. This light-hearted novel is absolutely delightful. It's got depth and humor, endearing characters you want to befriend. and yet, even with its festive tone, there's substance to the characters and a depth to the story that makes it meaningful." —The Garden City News on The Christmas Wedding Guest

"Susan Mallery never disappoints."—Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Mallery is one of a kind."—RT Book Reviews

“Mallery is an expert at writing about strong women, their friendships, and their romances.” —Booklist

"[Mallery] will appeal to fans of women's fiction, especially such friendship books as Karen Joy Fowler's The Jane Austen Book Club." —Booklist

“Fans of RaeAnne Thayne and Robyn Carr will enjoy how prolific women's fiction master Mallery orchestrates community connections, friendships, and fulfilling romances.”—Booklist

From the Publisher

Narrator Tanya Eby returns the listener to the small town of Wishing Tree, where dual romances emerge. While caring for her teenage sisters, Camryn is thrust into the path of Jake when his mother decides she would be a good wife for him. Eby aptly conveys Camryn’s sisters’ youthful enthusiasm. The second couple, River and Dylan, are brought together when they are elected Christmas king and queen for the town’s festivities. River has a tough time trusting people, and Eby emits appropriate hesitancy in her performance. As Dylan falls for River, Eby’s voice fills with tenderness. This is a multilayered performance, and the listener will enjoy both the Christmas setting and the two romances. S.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2022 - AudioFile

Narrator Tanya Eby returns the listener to the small town of Wishing Tree, where dual romances emerge. While caring for her teenage sisters, Camryn is thrust into the path of Jake when his mother decides she would be a good wife for him. Eby aptly conveys Camryn’s sisters’ youthful enthusiasm. The second couple, River and Dylan, are brought together when they are elected Christmas king and queen for the town’s festivities. River has a tough time trusting people, and Eby emits appropriate hesitancy in her performance. As Dylan falls for River, Eby’s voice fills with tenderness. This is a multilayered performance, and the listener will enjoy both the Christmas setting and the two romances. S.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2022 - AudioFile