Two-For-One Christmas Romance. This is one of those Christmas Romance novels that almost seems destined to be made into a Hallmark Christmas movie - you've got the quirky town, the various leads that have no interest in an actual relationship, the innkeeper, the local shop owner, the mysterious stranger, and even the unusual-yet-cool career... and *none* of them are actually looking for romance. And yet... Mallery has a lot to cover in nearly 400 pages, and does a solid job of showing the two relationships - one new, one second chance - building throughout. If you're looking for a book where the couple is already together a quarter into the book... this isn't that. This is one of those where they finally actually get together closer to the end (which isn't a spoiler due to genre ;) ), and it is indeed a satisfying conclusion. It will be interesting to see where Mallery takes Book 2 of this new series, with a couple of interesting possibilities there. Very much recommended. ( )

2022 Advent, Day 12: Today's book was an extraordinarily predictable narrative that his been done to death by the likes of hallmark traditional movies and made for TV specials and whole shelves of the book shop seasonal display. I am here for it! I think so many people go through life thinking that they have to read "good" books. They read what "everyone"/ culture thinks they should and try to like classics that, let's be honest, are simply not very likable to most. I'm here to tell you to read the trash books. Read the predictable and derivative and simple and charming. Read whatever it is that makes you happy. These sorts of books will never win any prizes and are generally considered "bad" but you know- when the mood strikes they can be such a source of joy. I would have never got this book for myself but I was so happy to have it today. It brought me joy. I hope whatever you read next does the same for you (regardless of what anyone else thinks) ( )

This book was way too predictable as always and way too long so I decided not to finish it. I did like the cover. ( )

A great story that intertwines the romances of two sisters, with a magical town and a wonderful cast of characters around them - including their parents getting married again. There are other stories being set up so wonder if this will become a series. ( )

Last Christmas, I was enchanted by Susan Mallery's Happily This Christmas, a holiday story in her Happily Inc. series, so I was excited to see that she has a new Christmas book in a new series. The Christmas Wedding Guest is the second book set in Wishing Tree, Washington, a town that celebrates Christmas year-round.

Sisters Reggie and Dena are helping their mother plan a Christmas vow renewal. Their parents didn't get the big wedding 35 years ago, and now Mom wants all the bells and whistles.

Dena is a schoolteacher who also owns the town's B&B, left to her by her aunt. She is also pregnant, ready to be a single mother after she feels that love has passed her by. Last year on Thanksgiving weekend, Reggie's boyfriend proposed on Friday, hosted a big engagement party on Saturday, and broke up with her on Sunday.

Reggie moved to Seattle for her job, and is not excited to see everyone again after last year. Her high school boyfriend Toby moved back to town with his eight year-old son to live with his grandmother. He is a hugely successful businessman, and his son is in Dena's class.

Micah is a rock star who lost his wife and unborn baby in a car accident last year. He came to Wishing Tree to work with a friend and get away from it all, and ends up staying in Dena's B&B. Dena, like every other woman, is attracted to the handsome man, and Micah seems to like Dena as well.

The characters in The Christmas Wedding Guest don't necessarily have secrets, it's more that they have complications in their life. Dena is a pregnant soon-to-be single mom with horrible all-day sickness, Micah is trying to move on from his tragic accident, and while Reggie is thrown together with Toby who left town abruptly at age eighteen without a word to Reggie, Toby is determined not to get romantically involved with anyone.

No one creates these charming towns populated with characters that you feel like you know as friends as well as Susan Mallery. On her website susanmallery.com, you can see maps of the towns like Happily, Inc. and Wishing Tree, with all of the charming small businesses highlighted. Looking at them makes you feel like you are walking through the town you just read about. Her books are Hallmark Christmas movies waiting to happen.

I adored The Christmas Wedding Guest as much as Happily This Christmas, and like last year, I will be giving this book to someone I know who loves Christmas. I can't wait to read more books in the series so I can get to know the people of Wishing Tree better.

My review of Happily This Christmas is here.

Thanks to Harlequin Books for putting me on their Holiday Romance Book Tour. ( )