The Christmas Wedding Guest

Written by Susan Mallery

Narrated by Tanya Eby

Perfect for fans of The Pumpkin Spice Café ☕

***

Full of festive cheer, heartwarming romance and cute dogs – loved it! Bella Osborne, author of One Family Christmas

***

You won't want to miss this festive treat!
Katie Ginger, author of The Perfect Christmas Gift

'Tis the season to fall in love

A year since she was dumped by her fiancé, the last thing Reggie Somerville wants is to come back home for Christmas. But when her parents announce their plans for a lavish Christmas wedding she has no choice. She expects to face town gossip, she does not expect to run into her first love Toby, or deal with the feelings he stirs in her…

Dena Somerville is single and pregnant-on purpose. Wanting a family her way she's determined to do it alone. She didn’t expect the distraction of a handsome musician checking into her inn-and one snow-kissed moment-to make her question what she really wants this Christmas…

As the Christmas wedding draws closer, these two sisters may just find the most unexpected gift of all—love.

***

Perfect for fans of:

Gilmore Girls ?

Second chance romance ?

Small-town settings ?

***

Readers Love The Christmas Wedding Guest

‘The Christmas Wedding Guest is a delight. It's so good that I didn't want it to finish and rationed chapters to make it last longer.’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Grab a blanket and a hot chocolate and snuggle down for the most delightful Christmas romantic comedy. So uplifting and loads of feel good moments it’s like having a hug in a book.’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Highly, highly recommend this book and I need to find more of Susan's Christmas books to read!’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘The characters are wonderful, the town is great. I laughed, I cried and I am so glad there will be more to come. I love the multiple HEA's.’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘You cannot go wrong with Susan Mallery’s Books, they are the ultimate in Rom-Com’s and this is quite possibly my favourite so far!’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Sep 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9780263300642

Susan Mallery

#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.

Reviews for The Christmas Wedding Guest

[bookchickdi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

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.

[fredreeca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reggie has had to come back home for the holidays. This is NOT what she wants to do. Since her last break up was humiliating, she just wants to avoid everyone! But, her parents are renewing their vows and family is family. So, she heads home. She runs into her high school love, Toby. And as hard as she tries…she can’t stay away from him.Then, there is Dena. Dena and Reggie are sisters and they are extremely close. Dena has decided to do artificial insemination to get pregnant. She is tired of waiting for Mr. Right. But, Mr. Right, Micah, just might have just checked into her Bed and Breakfast.It has been a while since I have read one of Susan Mallery’s books. This one hit the spot. This story is sweet and charming. I absolutely adored Toby and Micah, especially Micah. These two gentlemen are broken in one way or another and Reggie and Dena help them get back on the right path! Plus there is a cute dog in this novel!Need a sweet, Christmas story for the holidays…This is it! Grab your copy today!I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

[bettytaylor56 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Right up front let me tell you that I LOVE BELLE! This charmingly shy 120-lb Great Dane steals the spotlight throughout the entire book. Her immediate attachment to Toby’s son Harrison will melt your heart, and her fear of 22-lb dachshund Burt is hilarious. That said, I really enjoyed the book but soon found myself drowning in “Christmas overload.” Christmas year-round? Not for me, but I could probably handle a once-a-year visit to Wishing Tree. There is a lot going on in this book - two romances, Reggie and Dena’s parents renewing their vows, mentions of domestic abuse, and the challenges of being a single parent. I liked the characters but got a bit tired of Dena’s constant fantasies about Micah. She is definitely the less mature of the sisters. I loved Reggie who just said what was on her mind. The bond between the sisters is heartwarming. Harrison is adorable and wise beyond his years. I could easily see Toby, Reggie, Harrison, and Belle as a family unit.The scene with Electra at the B&B in Wishing Tree and the fallout, in my opinion, went overboard. This is definitely a book you will need to suspend reality to really enjoy.Perfect for a holiday read.

[cclpad · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It’s fall! That means Pumpkin Spice Lattes, a chill in the air, and Christmas books and movies! Yes, it’s time for Christmas. Decorations are appearing in stores, ads are showing telling us what to shop for, and I just read my first Christmas book.THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING DRESS is the first in a new small town series by Susan Mallery. Mallery has given us series based in Fool’s Gold, Mischief Bay, Blackberry Island, and Happily, Inc. Now, we have Wishing Tree, Washington, a town focused on Christmas. All year long. Mallery recently released a novella, SAY YOU’LL STAY, that introduces the town and some of their traditions.In THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING GUEST, we meet the Sommerville sisters. Dena lives in Wishing Tree. She’s a teacher and owns a local B&B. She’s given up on finding “the one,” and is having a baby via a donor and IVF. Reggie lives in Seattle, but has come back to Wishing Tree to help her parents plan their vow renewal ceremony. Last year, she was engaged and dumped in the same Thanksgiving weekend.Micah is a grieving rock star who lost his song writing mojo when his pregnant wife was killed in a car accident last year. His friend invites him to Wishing Tree to heal and help out at his Christmas tree farm. Micah never expects the sweet and attractive owner of the bed and breakfast where he’s staying to be the inspiration to get him writing again.Toby left Wishing Tree at eighteen, intent on leaving behind his pain, including ex-girlfriend Reggie. But circumstances brought him–and his young son–back to town. It’s too bad he and Reggie still have a spark, because his son comes first, and he won’t allow anything–or anyone–to disrupt that order.I love Mallery’s new setting of Wishing Tree. It’s fun and quirky, just like Fool’s Gold and Happily, Inc. Her characters feel real and have real problems and real reasons why they can’t get together immediately.There are a couple of adorable dogs, Belle and Burt, that add to the holiday fun.I highly recommend this book!-------I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher, but that did not induce me to review it, favorably or not. I just happen to love well-written, quirky, small town, holiday romances.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Christmas Wedding Guest is the first book in this new series from author, Susan Mallery. While, I may not have been in "love" with this book, I did find the people that I was introduced to charming and look forward to getting to know more people better in Wishing Tree. I liked sisters, Reggie and Dena. Although, my favorite is Dena. I applaud her for independent attitude. Plus, she was so likable and I connected with her instantly. I did like Reggie too. The second chance romance is sweet. While, I did like this book, I felt like there times when it seemed to be wordy without much happening or progression in the story. Yet, I am still a fan of Susan and her books.