When a quilt shop owner finds a former Marine’s journal, she longs to heal his heart… who wrote the emotional entries.
Former Marine Cole Aaron battled to find peace after returning to civilian life. He’s always needed to protect others. Now, fighting fires in Pine Hill, Kentucky helps him put out the demons within him. When Sophie shows up at the fire hall with his journal from when he’d first returned stateside, Cole can’t believe it was in the box he’d donated. Not wanting to face painful memories, he tells her to trash it.
Sophie and Cole are drawn together as they both volunteer for their community, but it’s hard for Cole to let down his guard, and he doesn’t need anyone’s pity. After all he’s been through in the past, can he find faith in a more hopeful future…one touched by joy?
This heartwarming romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Dilly Duchess Potatoes.
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Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy is Janice Lynn’s follow-up to last year’s huge Hallmark success, Wrapped Up in Christmas. This book is pure holiday joy.
This was a wonderful small.town romance read. I loved the storyline and it was a wonderdful written. The characters are enjoyable and easy to read. It held my attention throughout the story.
I read and and reviewed an Advanced Copy of this book All thoughts and opinions are of my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for letting read this book.
I enjoyed this feel good novel. The male narrator was my favorite and I think his viewpoint was more fun to read and listen to. Told in alternating viewpoints, each narrator did a great job at differentiating voices.
The book focuses on two people who seem made for each other but neither is looking for a relationship commitment at this moment.
Sophie is a young woman dedicating her loyalties to community service and giving back to military veterans. One of her main projects is quilt making.
The focused upon male protagonist is recently separated from service and doesn’t want to relive those memories or retell them to anyone. He still wants to be of service, so joins the fire department. Being the new guy, they volunteer him to play the Santa role. This role leads to other opportunities and crossed paths with Sophie.
The secondary characters are also a hoot.
Some sections may have been a bit repetitious but not annoyingly so.
Anyone who enjoys Hallmark movies and Happily Ever After small town romances will enjoy this book. I listened to this as an audiobook via Netgalley
Such a sweet romance! I loved the main characters of Sophie and Cole. They are perfect for each other. There are plenty of other characters too. The Butterflies, a group of ladies from town, are hilarious and endearing. The cat is quite a character too. Cole is former military who is broken and Sophie is just a big hearted lovely young woman. Their romance is so sweet and made me cry! Doesn’t happen often and I loved it! Will definitely be looking for more by Ms. Lynn. Merry Christmas!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy, by Janice Lynn.
This is a wonderful Christian romance that brings all the joy and warmth of the Christmas season straight into your home. I enjoyed this book so much!
Small town quilt shop owner, Sophie, comes across a journal written by an active duty soldier. She is deeply affected by what she reads. He is a former Marine struggling with PTSD, now a fireman. The story is about Sophie’s conviction to reach through the hard protective shell to find the man beneath. The relationship is a slow build for him– but she is connected to him from the start. I liked the values portrayed and will read more by this author.
The audio version brought this story to life!
Thank you to #HallmarkPublishing#Dreamscape for allowing me to listen to and ARC of this lovely book. The opinions expressed are my own—I always review books I enjoy so my friends can enjoy them ,too.
#WrappedUpInChristmasJoy#NetGalley
Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy brings something very real that so many returning military personnel experience… PTSD and survivor’s guilt. It’s done in a kind way but a realistic view of one soldier’s experience and the lie he tells himself about the one woman who sees his as a hero but a human one as well.
Sophie finds the journal of a soldier returning from the war in a donation box she’s sorting through. It’s a devastating account of one man’s pain, his thoughts, and his emotions of that life-changing experience. She’s convinced that he could not have really meant for it to be tossed away and sets out to find him in their small town, which is not difficult to do at all.
Cole believes he’s faced his feelings about his time as a Marine, the experiences he had, the life he led is now far behind him. A born helper, Cole is now working at the local fire station and is shocked when Sophie tracks him down with the journal that he wants nothing to do with. While there is a spark of attraction between them, Cole is convinced that the only thing Sophie feels for him is pity at what he privately expressed in that journal. It will take a town’s residents, one stubborn woman, and an awakening moment to show Cole that what he needs most is the woman he’s pushing away.
I enjoyed Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy very much, and it certainly is filled to the brim with everything I love about a Christmas Romance. But Cole had to work his way into my heart for his belief in the lie that he keeps telling himself is turning him into quite a jerk around Sophie. I kept waiting for Sophie to stand up to his meanness and tell him off… but she was simply being true to her personality. They work so well as a couple but they’ll have to get past Cole’s instinct to turn everyone away before their happy ever after can happen.
If you love an engaging Christmas Romance with a hero who needs a stern talking to… then you’ll love Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Hallmark Publishing via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy is truly a Christmas story of hope, joy, and overcoming heartache through love and patience. This is the second book I have read in this series about quilts of valor and I have enjoyed both of them. It was nice to be reunited with characters from the first book including the matchmaking butterflies who definitely had an active role in trying to bring Cole and Sophie together.
My heart went out to Cole, an ex-Marine, whose past is causing him pain as he navigates in his new role at the Pine Hill Fire Department and does not have much of a Christmas spirit. Sophie was literally a ray of sunshine wherever she went. She saw the good in Cole he could not see even after accidentally reading his journal where he wrote of his Marine life. It was so much fun watching them together, especially when she really needed his help around trees.
I also like the cat in the story no matter what his name was and the special quilt of valor that Sophie made for Cole. I hope there will be more books in this series because I have grown to the small town of Pine Hill and its wonderful characters! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy tells the heart warming story of two wounded soles searching for understanding. Marine Cole Aaron hopes to return to a quiet civilian life. However, he is haunted by his past. When Sophie Davis shows up with a journal from his past, Cole tells her to throw it away. The memories and the ghosts still haunt him. Sophie and Cole are drawn to one another because each feels the need to volunteer and give back to their community. Will they be able to find healing? Will they be able to get past the past and move on to a future full of hope and love? A received a copy through Netgalley/publisher. A review was not required.
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Sophie makes quilts for Quilts of Valor and when she happens to find a personal journal in a donation box of a soldier she reads its, and has a connection with the man that wrote it. Cole is a firefighter in Pine Hill, Kentucky and is trying to find his way after being in the marines. He meets Sofia when she returns his journal, and the story takes off from there. This book is about finding peace, hope and faith in a stressful world. This is a wonderful story, and I love Quilts of Valor being added into the book. Definitely recommend.
I received an ARC from Hallmark Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. This book far exceeded my expectations and I was expecting a lot. When Sophie met Cole to return his journal, she thought he had donated by accident, he told her to throw it away but she couldn’t do it. Cole was returning to civilian life like many soldiers do today. As the town was preparing for Christmas and collecting donations so all the children would have a Christmas, they kept pushing the two together. There were feelings there but Cole fought those feelings.
Sophie makes quilts and donates them to the Quilts of Valor Foundation and she wanted to make one for Cole. She was working on a quilt and finally, she realized she was making it for Cole. Cole once again pushed her away. But on Christmas day she put it in a box with other things and took it to the fire station and gave it to one of his friends. Cole did take the package home and did indeed open it and there was a note. That note was so beautiful it made me cry and I so wanted for Cole to realize he was worth loving. Now you will have to read the book to see what happens but you will really enjoy it.
This book is Christmas magic with all the Christmas spirit, traditions, and a community that comes together and truly believes in what they do.
Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn is a great, heartwarming, sweet and romantic Christmas novel.
It was truly wonderful reading Sophie and Cole’s separate and combined journeys. It was a relaxing and satisfying festive story.
Anyone that enjoys holiday themed books and a great romance will enjoy this book.
5/5 stars
Thank you Hallmark Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.
This is a delightful and heartwarming Christmas story. I enjoyed Cole and Sophie’s story – romance, laughs, tears. This is an entertaining holiday story in a charming town filled with fascinating characters.
This is a Christmas story that will go straight to your heart! Such a wonderful cast of characters, headed by Sophie and Cole, two people who couldn’t be more different. Sophie is everything light and Cole is everything dark and although he thinks he’s not good enough for her, she teaches him differently.
Cole has a tortured soul, caused by the horrors of war and he vows never to get emotionally involved with anyone. Sophie’s father left them when she was a young girl due to the effects war left on him so she understands what Cole is going through and wants to help him heal. He does everything to deter her but Christmas is known for its magic and miracles:)
Lose yourself in this story which includes a journal, an ex-Marine who is now a firefighter, a quilt shop owner, a group of matchmaking elderly ladies, Christmas volunteering, a special quilt and a stray cat….all of which will make your heart smile:)
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Need a mental vacation? The town of Pine Hill, Kentucky is a top ten, small-town destination, especially during the holidays. Author Janice Lynn brings another tale packed with humor, personality and the complete range of emotions. This delightful town is full of larger-than-life characters who confront real situations and learn interdependence is the key to a successful life.
The meet-cute is an epic disaster for Cole and Sophie, proving that no good deed goes unpunished. The hope of redemption and healing inspires several out-loud discussions with them. True to form, the sweet, yet meddling older ladies cause a firestorm of issues that no travel guide can navigate.
Book one, Wrapped Up in Christmas, is not a prerequisite in the Quilts of Valor series, but is fantastic reading in its own right. I hope to see many more tales from Pine Hill.
I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This book is my opinion.
This was a really good book a heartwarming romantic story. I loved the quilting slant in the book. Great characters very well written quick to read. Really enjoyed it well worth reading
I started this book this afternoon and just could not put it down. I loved it from start to finish.
Cole is a marine who came home from the military thinking he was not a hero and someone that no one could be proud of. He trained and became a firefighter and was glad that no one in this town knew him and knew what happened in the military. He donated some things to a church fundraiser and happened to donate his journal that he wrote his deepest darkest secrets in. Sophie found that journal and read it trying to find the owner of the journal.
A very good book that tugs at your heart strings and makes you wanna laugh, cry and slap Cole all at the same time. A must read and it will put you in the mood for Christmas.
This is a sweet story of innocent love. The book is beautifully written and loaded with lovable characters. I had to chuckle over the antics of the Butterflies. (You will have to read it yourself to find out who they are.) It is a Hallmark series book so, of course, it is a happily-ever-after story. But, you know, sometimes you just need a magical story like this one.
Now I am looking forward to reading Janice Lynn’s first book, “Wrapped Up in Christmas” so I can visit with these characters again.
Beautiful heartwarming read for the soul .Cole and Sophie’s story is full of hope , Sophie will not give up on Cole after reading his journal. I loved that the “butterflies “are back , as well as Sarah and Bodie from book one .This book is more than a story its about hope and charity.The quilts made for these vets , the meaning behind them, the good they will do for the vet who get them is amazing .This Author put her heart into this book , fills your heart with Joy!
Audio Review: Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn, Narrated by Alexander Cendese and Rachel L. Jacobs
Janice Lynn coins the term heartwhisperer. Wrapped in Christmas Joy aims for emotion and the rest just falls into place. From brokenly beautiful to willfully inspiring, Cole and Sophie cast a spell that refuses to be broken. Falling in love has never seemed so easy, even as your heart is falling apart.
#FirstLine – “I’ll pay somebody fifty bucks to take my place, “ Cole Aaron offered his fellow firefighters at the Pine Hill Fire Department.
This book was everything I needed it to be on Christmas Eve. It was sweet, had amazing characters and a setting you wish you could escape into. I loved that there was a lot of heart wrapped into the story, as well at patriotism, humor, small town relationship and romance. It was beautifully written and allowed the reader to be pulled in and watch the story unfold. I felt like I was inside a Hallmark movie and I loved every minute of it. A must read for Christmas lovers like myself! Highly recommend!!!