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Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy: An uplifting small-town romance from Hallmark Publishing

Janice Lynn (Goodreads Author)

4.15 · Rating details · 371 ratings · 204 reviews

When a quilt shop owner finds a former Marine's journal, she longs to heal his heart... When Sophie Davis sorts through a box of donated books to her church, she's surprised to find a soldier's journal. As the daughter of a veteran who watched her father struggle over the years, she feels a deep connection to the man who wrote the emotional entries.

Former Mari ...more

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Published October 27th 2020

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Nov 29, 2020 Eva K (journeyofthepages) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, netgalley

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn ticks all the boxes when it comes to finding a Christmas romance and feel good story in one. This is the perfect Hallmark Christmas movie in audiobook form. It is sweet and romantic, with an edge of tension to build the story while peppered with all kinds of goodies related to holiday cheer, charity, and church.

The brooding hero, Cole and naive bell, Sophie are an adorable pair in that opposites attract. The author creates a sweet dynamic between Cole ...more

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Nov 09, 2020 Kelly rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars

Wrapped up in Christmas Joy is the first Christmas book I've read in a long time and I'm excited to read a few Christmas-y books after this one. I'm curious to see what there is out there as I was never really interested in them before.

In this book, you'll follow Sophie and Cole. One loves Christmas, the other don't. To him, it's just another day. When Cole forgets his journal in the donation pile, Sophie ends up reading it because she couldn't find a name to give it back until the end ...more

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Dec 23, 2020 Anna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, audiobook, romance, christmas

What could be better than watching a Hallmark movie, listening to a Hallmark book! Filled with charm, sweetness, a couple battling with their feelings and of course a happy ending.
3.5 stars.

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Nov 08, 2020 Deanne Patterson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, netgalley-oct-2020

Sophie Davis owns a quilt shop, Threaded Needle in Pine Hill.
Her passion is Quilts of Valor, she along with others make quilts in this nonprofit organization for military and veterans.
This book came alive for me as I read about Sophie finding a journal written by a soldier who has returned from war. Being she lives in a small town she believes this journal was mistakenly donated and she sets out to find it's owner.
When she does find him he's convinced she feels sorry for him after she reads ho ...more

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Oct 07, 2020 Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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 im ...more

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Oct 07, 2020 Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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Nov 10, 2020 Chloe (Always Booked) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark publishing for allowing me to read and review this eARC.
This is a grumpy/sunshine Christmas romance about an ex-military fireman named Cole and a quilt shop owner named Sophie. One day Sophie finds Cole's journal from his days in the military in a box of books. She doesn't know who he is so she reads it, but awhile later runs into him and instantly feels like she knows him. However, he is not receptive or eager to start a relationship with this Christmas lovi ...more

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Dec 02, 2020 Rajiv rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

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Like Sarah and Bodie in the first book, “Wrapped Up in Christmas,” the author focuses on Sophie and Cole in this one. I liked Cole more than Bodie because he was challenging to open up to Sophie. My heart went out to Sophie whenever Cole was harsh at her or pushed her away.

There are so many scenes that make this story memorable. I loved the parts where Sophie gets stuck in the tree to rescue the cat and calls Cole to come and sa ...more

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Dec 24, 2020 Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy-provided-for-mmbbr, signed-copy

#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 ...more

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Aug 21, 2020 Bree Hill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: holiday-romances

Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy is the small town, I'd say slow burn romance between Sophie and Cole. While serving on his last deployment, Cole who was a Marine wrote in a journal. His entries were very descriptive and heartbreaking. He put the journal in a bin or something upon returning to the states not knowing that it was a donation bin. Sophie finds the journal and reads it (all of this happens before the story) Sophie tracks Cole down wanting to put a face with the person whose journal she co Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy is the small town, I'd say slow burn romance between Sophie and Cole. While serving on his last deployment, Cole who was a Marine wrote in a journal. His entries were very descriptive and heartbreaking. He put the journal in a bin or something upon returning to the states not knowing that it was a donation bin. Sophie finds the journal and reads it (all of this happens before the story) Sophie tracks Cole down wanting to put a face with the person whose journal she couldn't put down. He is now a civilian firefighter and the fire house always assists with the local toy drive so as much as Cole wants to keep his distance from Sophie-it's impossible. The spark is noticeable amongst everyone, so everyone joins in, in finding ways for these two to spend time together.

One gripe that I had in 2019 was romances marketed as "Christmas Romances" weren't actually feeling very Christmas'ey so that is something I am paying even more attention in 2020. I am happy to say that Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy, mentally transported me out of this 100+ degree South Texas heat to a small town with beautiful snow falling, hot chocolate to drink, wrapped in a warm quilt.

The lie that Cole tells himself basically 90% of this book is that Sophie pities him; she is only nice to him out of pity, only hangs out with him out of pity. Despite all of the nice, genuine things she does, and the moments where he lets his guard down a little..he always falls back on, she pities him after having read his journal. This honestly got a bit frustrating after a while but it wasn't a bad frustrating. You want to shake Cole and yell, SHE REALLY LIKES YOU, CHILL! But he really has to figure it out for himself. A lot of his issues have to do with some of his Marines not making it home and that survivor's guilt of being the one that did. So, you understand where his head is mentally and how he uses this to rationalize the lie about Sophie and her intentions that he continues to tell himself.

I liked Sophie and how despite what happened to her family, she still has such love and respect for military members. I love how she uses something she is very good at doing as a way to give something back to those who serve. She is very selfless and there was never any doubt that her heart was in the right place. There were a few times I was conflicted about her character but this is more of a preference thing-I know Cole was going through what he was going through but there were times he was a jerk and Sophie was a nice girl and just took it! I like seeing heroines stand up for themselves especially when you did nothing wrong. I mean, the entire book and conflict of the story lies in the lies COLE has convinced himself of. He is the one who twists everything and makes everything into something else-so in those moments, especially once what he thinks is put out in the air, where he's being a jerk to Sophie, I really would've liked to see her stand up for herself. That is a personal preference though. I know some readers will think she handled things correctly.

Overall, this is a sweet, inspirational holiday romance sprinkled with the author's faith. Thank you to Hallmark Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to review it early, all opinions are my own. ...more

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Nov 08, 2020 Micky Cox rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Think of this audiobook as a Hallmark movie on the go! It's the perfect audio for those times you don't have time to cuddle up and enjoy a Holiday Hallmark movie. You can listen to this as you head out to shop, work, clean, work out or whatever you need to get done, but still want the Christmas joy of enjoying a heart touching Hallmark movie! Sophie and Cole's story will reach out and touch your heart while helping you get the Christmas spirit. If you like a good Hallmark story, this checks the ...more

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Nov 13, 2020 Chantale Canadian Book Addict rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Nice heartwarming Christmas read.

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Nov 12, 2020 Jennifer Ritter rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Wrapped up in Christmas Joy is the second book in the Wrapped up in Christmas series by author Janice Lynn. These stories are set in Pine Hill, Kentucky and are the heartwarming stories of the affect of Christmas love on the souls of American soldiers who have seen and lived horrible things.

This story centers on Sophie Grace Davis, co-owner of The Threaded Needle quilting and needle craft shop and local director of the Quilts of Valor project, and former Marine, now fire fighter, Cole Aaron.

Col Wrapped up in Christmas Joy is the second book in the Wrapped up in Christmas series by author Janice Lynn. These stories are set in Pine Hill, Kentucky and are the heartwarming stories of the affect of Christmas love on the souls of American soldiers who have seen and lived horrible things.

This story centers on Sophie Grace Davis, co-owner of The Threaded Needle quilting and needle craft shop and local director of the Quilts of Valor project, and former Marine, now fire fighter, Cole Aaron.

Cole mistakenly includes the journal he wrote at the direction of his counselor when he returned from a tragic Middle East deployment in a box of donations for the church rummage sale. As the commander of the mission, Cole takes all blame for the ambush that lost some of his men. He feels he has no hope for a future and that the best he can do is to continue doing acts of good to try to make amends for such a black mark on his soul.

Sophie Grace Davis is the one who was helping to sort donations and came upon his journal. She was desperate to find its rightful owner feeling that the journal in this box was a gross mistake. She gave a donation to the church and took the box to try to find the owner. She finally discovers it is Cole Aaron’s, the newest firefighter in their small town. When she tries to return it she is taken aback by his response that he not only never wants to see the journal again, but he also never wants to see the woman that has read his journal, even if reading it started as an effort to discover his identity and ended a connection to her soul.

In a small town, two people who are consummate volunteers are bound to be brought together, which Sophie and Cole are with the annual toy drive to help children in need. When the others in their committee conspire to put Sophie and Cole together, a truce is called for the good of the children. As the story unfolds, as much as Sophie’s sister Isabelle is against her baby sister becoming involved with a veteran, the local group of matriarchs, the Butterflies, seem determined to bring them together.

In a delightful holiday story, the residents of Pine Hill will bring joy to the reader. This is a lovely story that I very much enjoyed. Perfect for a holiday read, I do recommend this book. ...more

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Dec 05, 2020 Debby rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: beach-read, read-2020, women-author, 2020-arc-reviewed-2020-netgalley, halmark-movies, romance

Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn. This is a sweet romance that would be perfect for curling up with after the hub bub of Christmas. The characters are interesting and enjoyable, this is the perfect Hallmark movie book. The author wraps the story around the Quilts of Valor Foundation. ( The Mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. ) This is a story of a vet that needs to feel lovable a ...more

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Nov 16, 2020 Jennifer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Sophie, a cheery local quilt shop owner, finds the military journal of Cole, a fireman and ex-Marine who suffers from PTSD. She reads the journal to find out who the owner is, and ends up reading the entire thing. After reading the journal, she feels like she knows him and wants to break in through his tough exterior.

This is a Christian romance so religion and God are mentioned quite a bit, which I enjoyed. I did feel the writing was a bit simplistic Although their relationship is a slow burn, ...more

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Oct 27, 2020 Cherihy808 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am a sucker for pretty much all Hallmark movies, especially Christmas ones so this book was right up my alley. Was it predictable? Was it corny at times? Did it make me smile from beginning to end? Did I look forward to that first kiss at the end of the book? YES to all of the above!! This book needs to be made into a Hallmark movie! The whole time I was reading it I would picture certain actors and actresses for each character. If anyone from Hallmark is reading this review then ...more

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Nov 15, 2020 Doreena Silva rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Hallmark Christmas fans

Shelves: arc, kindle, hallmark, book-funnel

Thank you to Hallmark publishing, BookFunnel and the Author, Janice Lynn for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was the second book in this series and it was another wonderful, whimsical Christmas read.
While I found this book to be slow at times I still thoroughly enjoyed the story, characters and settings.
The main Female protagonist sure shows that persistence and love always win and the main Male protagonist shows that love can conquer all!.
Great to read a Veteran based ...more

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Dec 13, 2020 Roz Curney-Sherod rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very cute Christmas story and my first book by this author. The story was engaging and it was nice that the focus was on the military and what our heroes experience dealing with PTSD without getting to heavy. I liked all the characters especially the “butterflies “. Good couple and well matched. I’ll be reading this again next year.

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Jan 05, 2021 Malvina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A very sweet and heartwarming book with a war-damaged hero and a quiltshop owner heroine. Loved the Christmassy setting and the small town atmosphere.

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Nov 27, 2020 Kathryn rated it liked it

Shelves: christmas-season

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn is a sweet, heartwarming story of the Christmas holiday season.

It has a gentle, outreaching heroine in quilt shop owner Sophie and a cautious, guilt ridden retired Marine, Cole, who is now part of the local firefighter team, fight fires and rescue the odd cat up a tree.

Sophie and Cole are thrown together as they canvas for goods for giving to children in need at Christmas and while reluctant, Cole finds it difficult to resist her charms. Although he doe ...more

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Nov 27, 2020 Chrysti rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

(Audible).

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Nov 24, 2020 Amelia Foster rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am *that* girl.

I am the one who doesn’t allow any Christmas in her world until after I’ve eaten copious amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. I’m in the US and since our Thanksgiving falls at the end of November, I am a stickler for it being the magic door that leads into Christmas. I mean, otherwise, what is the point of ending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with good ole St. Nick if that isn’t the entire point???

However my exception to this is Hallmark Christ I am *that* girl.

I am the one who doesn’t allow any Christmas in her world until after I’ve eaten copious amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. I’m in the US and since our Thanksgiving falls at the end of November, I am a stickler for it being the magic door that leads into Christmas. I mean, otherwise, what is the point of ending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with good ole St. Nick if that isn’t the entire point???

However my exception to this is Hallmark Christmas movies. I am a sucker for them 12 months out of the year. Even so, I hadn’t yet actually read a Hallmark Publishing story. I’m not exactly sure why, but I just never picked one up. Until Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy. It pulled me in based on the blurb because one of my absolute most favorite Hallmark Christmas movies is not, in fact a romance, but a story about a soldier who was deployed to the Middle East and killed on Christmas Eve. And since his death his family stopped celebrating Christmas… even though they had another child at home who then internalized this as being a sign she wasn’t enough for her family to celebrate the season for her. Their son then makes a special, supernatural appearance at Christmas and teaches them some life lessons. It’s called A Christmas Visitor and if you have never seen it, please do.

But I digress.

So because of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movie, when reading the blurb this drew me in. And, let’s not forget your girl has a special affinity for broken boys and Oh Emm Gee is our Cole broken. And now our dude drew the short straw and is now gonna be Santa in the Christmas parade. Yup, there’s that.

But even more than just the well-loved Grinch turned Elf trope, is the depth of the story. While Cole was on his last deployment he kept a journal. A very, very detailed and explicit recount of the horrors of war and the traumatic events he lived through. It was a deeply personal and emotional memoir. One he… accidentally donated.

And one that Sophie, the town quilting queen, stumbles across. She finds it as she is sorting books that have been donated and, as the daughter of a veteran herself, connected immediately with the author of the journal and knows she needs to return it to him.

(Side note: gonna gush about another of my beloved Hallmark movies that this book reminded me of and that’s The Christmas Card. Just go watch and thank me later)

The problem is that the nightmare of war has scarred Cole so deeply that he doesn’t feel like he is deserving of the love Sophie tries to pour on him. And let me just say that Sophie is one of the single most caring and kindhearted characters I’ve ever met despite her being subjected to a hard family life.

Wrapped Up In Christmas Joy is an excellent story of redemption, the healing power of love, with a dusting of the author’s faith shared lightly, but clearly. This is a fabulous entrance to the holiday season for everyone who loves the wholesome Christmas romances the Hallmark Network has mastered. ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 Michelle Lovato rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wrap yourself up and relax with this inspiring Christmas romance

The Christmas season is not complete, in my opinion, until I read at least one Christmas novel. And though Wrapped in Christmas Joy, by Janice Lynn is my first Christmas novel for this season, it isn't the last.

Like all holiday fiction, Wrapped in Christmas Joy offers readers the eternal gift of love, joy, and a warm inspired heart, and, as a bonus, this lovely story is wrapped up with a pretty Christmas bow at the end.

Awww. So sw Wrap yourself up and relax with this inspiring Christmas romance

The Christmas season is not complete, in my opinion, until I read at least one Christmas novel. And though Wrapped in Christmas Joy, by Janice Lynn is my first Christmas novel for this season, it isn't the last.

Like all holiday fiction, Wrapped in Christmas Joy offers readers the eternal gift of love, joy, and a warm inspired heart, and, as a bonus, this lovely story is wrapped up with a pretty Christmas bow at the end.

Awww. So sweet. True love in its purest form. Couldn't we all use a little love in our life. I know in mine, this is about as close and I am going to get.

The plot of Wrapped in Christmas Joy, is an old standard; boy meets girl … yada yada yada … and everything turns out wonderful. This story, however, has a deep military-service undertone that addresses their heroic and often difficult-to-overcome service to the United States, and the too-common consequences that arrive home within the hearts of military members who see conflict during their service.

Our protagonist, Sophie,Davis, is a sweet young adult who owns a quilt shop with her sister and is living life with a loving heart and empty arms. Sophie and her sister have a connection to the struggle former combat members suffer because their father, an Iraq veteran, abandoned them as children.

Our hero, Cole Aaron, is a recently released military veteran whose name describes him well;: He is cold, and burning hot.

Left alone, Sophie and Cole would never hook up, even though the couple's private thoughts are irresistibly drawn to one another. But, just like Cinderella's Fairy God Mother, the "Butterflies" quilting group intervenes to help true love and healing blossom in the young couple's hearts.

Wrapped in Christmas Joy is the epitome of a Christmastime chick flick. And it's worth every minute that screams past as you read or listen to this book on audio.

My suggestion is this, reader: Put down the cookies - or maybe serve yourself another plate of cookies - grab this book, wrap yourself up in your favorite quilt, climb into your soft, comfy bed next to your purring cat, and enjoy this inspiring read. It won't take you long to realize that each stage of Wrapped in Christmas Joy is yet another stitch in another Hallmark Publishing classic love story.

I'm such a sap … I love this stuff. ...more

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Oct 27, 2020 Marsha Keeper Bookshelf rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: series, small-town-romance, contemporary-romance, netgalley, keeper-bookshelf, christmas-romance

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

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 h Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

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.* ...more

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Nov 19, 2020 Kym Jones rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

#WrappedUpInChristmasJoy by #JaniceLynn is a sweet, small town, Christmas story that really resonated with me due to the male protagonist being a former Marine having PTSD, and my Dad being a single Father trying to raise two young girls, as well as being a former Marine with severe PTSD and no medical or financial help from the VA. I grew up watching all sorts of strong, brave men (and women, though not nearly as many as the men) struggling to get by in their daily lives, too proud to ask for h #WrappedUpInChristmasJoy by #JaniceLynn is a sweet, small town, Christmas story that really resonated with me due to the male protagonist being a former Marine having PTSD, and my Dad being a single Father trying to raise two young girls, as well as being a former Marine with severe PTSD and no medical or financial help from the VA. I grew up watching all sorts of strong, brave men (and women, though not nearly as many as the men) struggling to get by in their daily lives, too proud to ask for help, or just NOT KNOWING HOW to ask, and many times the community just saying what the Soldier went through wasn't as bad as the media made it out to be, when in fact it was a thousand times worse.

Now I didn't fight over seas, but I spent 12yrs in the Navy, and I did spend time at the Pentagon on 9/11/2001, and the sight and smell still haunts me and all I did was transportation for the crew there. It reminded me of stories my Dad told me of his time in Vietnam, and when I told him of what was going on he spoke some more of what took place there, and I I wanted to get sick once again, because what I took for stories growing up were no longer just stories after 9/11. They were suddenly made horrifyingly real, and I just had a very small taste, whereas the men and women who were serving overseas in the thick of battle were getting first hand experience continuously, so of course what they went through would be much than what any one of could actually imagine, unless of course we actually experienced it for ourselves.

Ms. Lynn did a great job wrapping up the emotions, the heartbreak, the why me, feeling of unworthiness that goes with being a survivor, and the empowerment of healing and learning to love in Wrapped in Christmas Joy, and makes you feel like your right next to a group friends instead of reading about some characters in a book. By the time the book ends, you don't want to put book down, and you feverishly hope this is one book Hallmark makes into their Countdown to Christmas movies. And as a special treat, you get a delicious recipe at the end of the book which I actually made the night I received this book to review, and I can't wait to make the treat again!! ...more

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Dec 20, 2020 Laura rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, audiobook, christmas, clean-read

Title: Wrapped up in Christmas Joy
Author: Janice Lynn
Read by: Alexander Cendese; Rachel L. Jacobs
Publisher: Hallmark Publishing / Dreamscape Media
Length: Approximately 8 hours and 17 minutes
Source: Review Copy from Hallmark Publishing / Dreamscape Media through Net Galley. Thank-you!

Sarah Smith has inherited her aunt’s beautiful home, and she dreams of making it into a bed and breakfast by Christmas. Her aunt was like a mother to her, and her friends, fondly called the Butterflies, are still a ...more

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Nov 26, 2020 Martha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this sweet Christmas romance.

Sophie Davis recognizes the struggle of a veteran with PTSD because she lived with a father who suffered. When Sophia finds and reads a soldier’s journal she feels deeply for the man. She makes the effort to return the journal to former Marine Cole Aaron who now serves her community as a firefighter. Cole doesn’t want the journal back because it his past haunts him. He also wants nothing to do with Sophie and what he perceives as her pity. Even though Cole ...more

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Nov 08, 2020 Clare rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Sophie Davis is helping to sort through some donated booked when she comes across a soldiers journal. As someone who has seen the struggle her dad went through to deal with the horror of active duty and the struggle to adapt to civilian life, she feels a deep connecting to the man who wrote the entries. Having read through the journal and realising the emotional trauma the writer is dealing with she sets out to return it to them.

Cole Aaron wrote the journal as a way to try and find peace with h ...more

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Nov 04, 2020 Pamela Duarte rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Sophie Davis owns Threaded Needle, a popular quilt shop in Pine Hill. She sells fabric, quilt kits and patterns, but her passion is Quilts of Valor, a non-profit organization that awards handmade quilts to active military and veterans. When she stumbles across the journal that Cole Aaron, fireman and former Marine, accidentally donated to the church sale, she realizes he needs a quilt and a friend and she plans on providing him with both, even though he has made it very clear he doesn’t want eit ...more

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Nov 13, 2020 Books, Brews & Booze added it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, netgalley, christmas

A Christmas story about a woman whose virtue is joy. She meets a veteran who copes with PTSD and at first, he doesn’t want anything to do with her. But they work together on a toy drive and get to know each other better.

I don’t necessarily mind cliches in books. They’re comforting and cozy, which is definitely something I like in a Christmas story. But I do need a little more.

I had trouble getting into the book. I liked the parts with the main female character and the cat. They were humorous.

Wha ...more

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