The Most Wonderful Time of the Year celebrates the Christmas story, found family, and new beginnings.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Beth Moran

Genre/Categories/Setting: Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Christmas, New Beginnings, Found Family, Rural Forest Community
***This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links
My Summary:
Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheMostWonderfulTimeOfTheYear upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Wanting to escape her past, Mary finds a temporary home deep in the forest and hidden from the world she once knew. She’s pregnant, and a blizzard is raging when it’s time to go to the hospital. She calls a taxi, and Beckett, the one man who is brave enough to attempt the hazardous drive to reach her, will change her life. As Mary settles into life with a newborn, she appreciates support from Beckett and his friends, celebrates Christmas, and finds true belonging.
My Thoughts:
Found Family
I love this community of generous and thoughtful people with whom Mary finds practical help, belonging, and safety. Found Family is one of my favorite tropes.
Christmas
This story gets better and better as it progresses. Everyone pitches in to pull off an amazing Christmas pageant in which there is plenty of humor to be found, and the true meaning of Christmas is lovingly presented. The parallels between contemporary Mary (her situation and baby boy ) and the Christmas story are gently and cleverly drawn.
Themes
Thoughtful themes include new beginnings, second chances, friendship, community, found family, hope, healing, trust, resilience, safety, belonging, and the meaning of Christmas. The slow-burn sweet romance between Mary and Beckett is poignant but is not the focus of the story.
Recommending The Most Wonderful Time of the Year:
Fans of heartfelt Christmas stories, found family, and sweet romance will find a great deal to love in The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Put this one on your winter TBR!
Related: Other stories with Christmas settings
My Rating: 4 Stars

Meet the Author of The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Beth Moran

Beth Moran is the author of fourteen novels including the number one bestseller, Let it Snow. These are mostly set in and around Sherwood Forest, where she can be found most mornings walking her spaniel, Murphy. Prior to becoming an author, she worked as a biochemist doing cancer research and was an antenatal educator. While her older children have all now flown the nest, she is a foster carer for teenagers and babies so life is never boring.
QOTD:
Do you love stories set at Christmas?
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This sounds a sweet read, Carol. I have it coming up. ๐๐
Enjoy!
There’s something comforting about a found family theme.
Heartwarming!
I had been hoping to read this during Christmas in July, but ran out of time. I am really looking forward to it after reading your review, Carol. I don’t think I’ll be waiting until October to read it.
Good reading any day of the year! Enjoy!
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