Coming Home for Christmas: A heartwarming, feel-good Christmas romance

As a devoted fan of Hallmark Christmas movies, I quickly selected this book which inspired a Hallmark Christmas movie which I cannot wait to watch! Interesting characters, warm-fuzzy feelings emitted by the family members, eventually, and memories to cherish in aTheir family's historically loved home!

I liked the character development, the timing of events and the twists and turns. I came to love the characters and their stories. Some predictable parts but I wasn’t bored and the I didn’t get lost in descriptions. I felt good when the book was over and was happy for the outcomes.

Coming Home for Christmas was an endearing love story that grabbed my attention instantly. In the first chapter the author begins to introduce you to Allie, the main character, and her family. I could relate to Allie immediately and knew exactly how she was feeling knowing she was moving back home, in with her mom, and to her childhood room. As the story unfolds, Allie gets a job managing Ashford estate, an early twentieth century manor that is for sale. The descriptions of the house, grounds, and characters where picture perfect. Even though the story took place around the Christmas season, Christmas was the underlying event, but Allie's story definitely is the main attraction in this book.The author quickly introduces the reader to the other main characters: the staff that has been with the estate for years, Mrs. Pippa Marley, the grandmother; the two brothers, Kip and Robert, and their sister and her children. I loved reading this book because I couldn't wait to learn more about the Marley family members to find out the history behind their relationships. Many times I found myself talking to the book and the characters trying to figure them out. I loved the relationship that developed between Allie and Mrs. Pippa Marley. Pippa, the matriarch of the family, had a way with words and truly made Allie rethink her actions or thoughts just when Allie thought she had sorted things out.The love story kept you guessing. (I don't want to give too much information, because I don't want to ruin it for anyone!) I enjoyed it because I constantly thought I had it figured out and then some event would happen, and I'd have to reevaluate my thinking. What was great about Coming Home for Christmas was that it was not an explicit love story. Instead, the author gave you just enough information for you to use your imagination and enjoy a tasteful love story. I loved the happily ever after ending, and felt perfectly content when I finished the book. What a great read! Once I finished, I actually reread it! The book is like an old friend: you love your time together and you never want it to end!!! Fantastic! So grab a cup of coffee, curl up with a blanket, and be prepared to read through the night, because you will not want to put it down!

I like the development of her characters and I look forward to reading more from this author. I would love to see this as a series.

A beautiful mansion that has been home to several generations is put on the market. The matriarch of the family is being moved to a care facility. Before the house sells a family must heal at Christmas. Wonderful story

I didn’t really care for the main character-Allie, if she was as professional as she kept claiming to be, she would not be behaving the way she did with the two brothers. I did enjoy the plot of the book and how she was able to bring a grieving family together. I just didn’t like how she was portrayed in her job as the house manager.

Great characters and a good storyline that included different generations. Love reading any book by Jenny Hale and especially liked this Christmas story

I recently read my first Jenny Hale book, We'll Always Have Christmas. Overall I enjoyed that story and thought while reading it, that it would make a good Hallmark Christmas Channel movie. I came to find out that this book, Coming Home for Christmas, was being made into a Hallmark movie. I watched the movie first, and enjoyed it enough to want to read the book. I wish I would have stuck to the movie and advise everyone else out there to do the same. The main character, Allie, was one of the most immature and annoying female lead characters I have ever read in a book.Let me elaborate further and spoilers ahead for those who don't want to know more. Allie pretty much acts like a teenage girl. She likes her boss Robert but ends up dating his brother Kip. She even says to herself she doesn't really care for kissing Kip and seems not into him at all; but she keeps dating him. She let's Kip sleep in her bed (literally sleep, nothing else) but then suggests to Robert she will spend the night with him based on a coin flip. Then lets not even mention how unprofessional she is. One, she never seems to work. Two, she is constantly criticizing Robert and nagging him about questions as to why he is selling the house. In one scene she "dismisses" Kip like a child saying she needs to talk to Robert. You would think its work related; but its just to pester him, yet again,about why he is selling the house. The author tried to make it sound like she was the type of person who spoke her mind. She is somehow outspoken about a house but not strong enough to stand up to Kip? A brother who reportedly is a known playboy and constantly puts the moves on her. I don't like the message it sends that she can't stand up to the rich playboy who tries to manipulate her. Plus the term "Cinderella Complex" was an overly used term. I kept hoping she would grow up and stop acting 14. Maybe its because her former job was a nanny, and she forgot how to act like an adult.I laughed when someone in the book called her an, "old soul."I did like the character of Robert. I felt he was interesting but I feel like we hardly got the time to get to know him. I also don't feel like he was the type of guy who would date someone like Allie. Someone that doesn't seem to respect him, nags him constantly, and dated his brother. I honestly don't understand what she did to make him fall in love with her. There wasn't even that much of a love story between them other than a few phone calls and emails. There was too much focus on Kip.I do feel the story concept had potential and I enjoyed the Marley characters. That is why I rated it 2 stars instead of 1.

In many ways this was beautifully written but it was one of the most frustrating books I have read for a long time too. Thankfully, it did have the essential happy ending and there were a few twists, some fairly obvious, others a bit more subtle. The trouble was that [spoiler alert] Allie spent most of the book with the wrong guy and didn't get herself together enough to do something about it... it made me almost jump up and down in frustration!Some will love that tension but for me I am afraid it was just too much, hence the lower star rating than the writing skill merited on its own

This is the story of Allie Richfield. She is about to start work as House Manager at the Ashford Estate. The Ashford Estate is for sale after being the Marley family home for many, many years. Her job is to ensure that the day to day running of the house is carried out, but also to ensure that the family celebrate their last Christmas at Ashford, well some of the family.Immediately I loved Allie's character. I loved her independence but also loved her absolute love for her family. Her love for her family, her mum and her sister, overflows into the Marley household, as she uses it to try and inject some warmth into the old house again.At first when we meet Richard there is an instant connection between him and Allie, but this is put on the back burner as he is completely shut off and reserved, feeling like he is very cold in his attitude to his family and the house.We meet the other members of the family as they all return to Ashford one last time. Kip, Robert's brother is an absolute player, he wins Allie's affections straight away with his outright flirty manor. Robert's sister Sloane appears to be a little wary of Allie at first but when the story unfolds you get to learn a little more about Sloane's current family situation. Then there is Robert's grandmother. She is somewhat of a mystery. Robert's description of her makes you think of a frail little old lady who's house has outgrown her. But when you really get to know her you discover her true family spirit and the tragic events which dominate her relationship with Robert.This story is centred around the family coming home for Christmas, but it also so much more than that. The story is predominantly about family, about the relationship we have with our family members but also how blood is thicker than water and that truly family can overcome anything which is beautifully portrayed in the story between Pippa and Robert.I really enjoyed that the focus was also on Christmas as it resonates with the family theme that runs along with it in the story. A really, truly great story which will warm your hearts and show you the true meaning of family at Christmastime.Erin x

One of the first books I started reading after many years, it was the first book I could remember and recite the story lines, so engaging. I love Christmas and this book delivered on every level, describing the family,bthe characters, vividly describing the house all of which dragged you in and I was consumed by the story, the characters and just a fantastic read before Christmas Eve Tomorrow. A magical story that filled me with happiness and emotion, loved it!

Those is the second book I've read and tbh they are both very much the same story. Sweet, but very predictable. I won't be reading another one as I now assume all the stories are the same just different location, big house etc.

I couldn't put this book down. Of course it is going to be everything you want in a Christmas read! I loved Allie taking the job at Ashford and meeting Robert - who you know she is going to be perfect for. Pippa couldn't be a more perfect grandmother. Kip of course is the rogue one who is never at home and travels all the time!I don't want to ruin the book but it's pretty obvious how it is going to end as soon as you start reading. I loved it even though I was just waiting for confirmation! There are funny parts (but it's not a comedy), there are serious parts and some sad (but happy) parts. This is simply a perfect read just in time for Christmas!