Home for the Holidays

Return to Christmas Island #2

by Amie Denman

On Christmas Island…
Some loves can't be forgotten

For Camille Peterson, coming home to Christmas Island to take over the family’s candy-making business is complicated. After all, she left so much behind. And when it comes to single dad Maddox May—who broke Camille’s heart back in high school—complicated is only the beginning. If only she could wrap up her feelings and forget them. But if forgiveness is sweet, a second chance might be irresistible…

From Harlequin Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

Return to Christmas Island

Book 1: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Book 2: Home for the Holidays

Genres: Christmas Romance, Harlequin

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published January 25, 2022

About the author

Amie Denman is the author of more than fifty romance novels offering plenty of laughs and a few happy tears. She writes sweet Heartwarming romances for Harlequin, but also publishes sassy romcoms and small-town love stories. Amie has a B.A. in English Literature and knows all the works of Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, and Virginia Woolf, but she’s most proud of reaching the milestone of twenty books published by Harlequin—the MVP of romance!

Amie lives on the shores of Lake Erie with her husband, sons, extended family, and numerous pets. She loves playing outside, running, and paddle boarding. Her favorite indoor activities are reading and writing (of course!), sewing and crocheting, and playing her antique Steinway grand piano.

Amie is represented by Terrie Wolf at AKA Literary Management.

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read]

This is a Clean Second Chance Romance/Women's Fiction. I loved this book so much. Once, I picked it I was pulled into the story. I know that I would not be able to put this book down without finishing it. I loved the characters, and the drama that was going on. I also loved the setting of Christmas Island, and Christmas Island sounds so fun and cute. I think you get a lot of Christmas feeling in this book, but you also get a really good storyline with so much feelings and great characters. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Heartwarming) or author (Amie Denman) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Tina Loves To Read]

This is a Clean Second Chance Romance/Women's Fiction. I loved this book so much. Once, I picked it I was pulled into the story. I know that I would not be able to put this book down without finishing it. I loved the characters, and the drama that was going on. I also loved the setting of Christmas Island, and Christmas Island sounds so fun and cute. I think you get a lot of Christmas feeling in this book, but you also get a really good storyline with so much feelings and great characters. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Heartwarming) or author (Amie Denman) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Tina Loves To Read]

This is a Clean Second Chance Romance/Women's Fiction. I loved this book so much. Once, I picked it I was pulled into the story. I know that I would not be able to put this book down without finishing it. I loved the characters, and the drama that was going on. I also loved the setting of Christmas Island, and Christmas Island sounds so fun and cute. I think you get a lot of Christmas feeling in this book, but you also get a really good storyline with so much feelings and great characters. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Heartwarming) or author (Amie Denman) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on January 25-2022.

[Kate Vale]

Second of the Return to Christmas Island series, in which Camille Peterson, middle daughter of the owners of the candy-making store, has to confront her feelings--not always positive--about Maddox May, one of the two brothers who run the ferry business and have inherited a huge house and hotel.

He's definitely a Christmas Island local and intends to stay that way. Camille, on the other hand, took off after he dumped her for someone else and has returned only because her older sister is getting married and won't be running the fudge and candy store any longer.

But until Camille can get over her angst about always thinking herself as the 2nd choice, she isn't going to be happy and that includes how she feels about Maddox. But not his darling 6-year-old son, whom he's now raising as a single father. The question is, can she set aside her past in order to embrace not only the present, but also what might become her future?

[CarolAnn Williams]

This is book two in the Return to Christmas Island series, I believe that even though this is part of a series - it does well as a stand-alone novel.

Camille Peterson comes back home to the island she grew up on to help with the family candy business. While on the island she is met with some very hard to deal with emotions from her past. She struggles with them, however she works hard to overcome and live for the day.

The book is about coming home for the holiday and even though it is set during the Christmas season, it is not overly Christmasy. I found the store line to be a fresh take and I enjoyed reading it. I do think that in several situations that Camille was in I often felt like she was being a bit much and she should have just gotten over it. I do know that without the situations the book would not be as great as it was.

[Happily Ever After Romance]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

Home for the Holidays is the second title in the Return to Christmas Island series, and what a lovely, second chance to get love right this time Camille and Maddox’s story turned out to be.

Camille has, somewhat reluctantly, returned to Christmas Island to take over the family candy shop. It’s not easy being back home after all these years, especially when the boy she loved back in high school is still on the island… and has grown into a handsome, caring man, one she still hasn’t forgiven for breaking her heart and her trust years ago. She can do her best to ignore Maddox but that’s not going to be easy on this small island.

Years ago, Maddox made choices, ones that he lives with to this day, and one that is the joy of his life, his young son. But with Camille back home those regrets of the past are weighing more heavily upon him than they usually do. He’d like to win her back and declare his love again, a love that never really died, but Camille is holding onto their past and any hope for a shared future is rather dim at the moment.

I enjoyed Home for the Holidays very much, I love returning to this world full of Christmas magic year-round. Camille has good reason for how she’s feeling toward Maddox, I don’t deny that at all… yet there were moments when, frankly, I would have loved to sit her down for a stern conversation about letting the past go because it cannot be changed. It’s obvious to the readers and everyone in their shared circle of friends, family, and residents of the island that these two belong together… but they are stubborn (that’s one thing they do have in common after all this time).

I loved watching them work through their past, really see each other for the people they are today, and for Camille to finally understand what happened so long ago. It’s not going to be easy to win his love back but Maddox is up for the challenge, even when it seems there is little hope of a happy ending for them. I understood their reasons (from both sides) and watching them reunite and admit that their love is strong enough to go beyond the past was an emotional journey that I completely got caught up in.

If you love second-chance romance, if a well-written, emotional love story is what you crave… then Home for the Holidays and the Return to Christmas Island series are a perfect match for you.

I own a Kindle edition of this title.

[Lisa Richards]

This book was an unexpected surprise that I received in the mail. I'd just spent about 10 days fighting the flu and was too lazy to figure out what I wanted to read next and this gem appeared like magic. I didn't start it till about 4 am but it didn't take me long to get deep into the book. I loved the idea of living on an island where the only way off was by ferry or plane. As a NC girl who frequents the Outer Banks, I've often wondered what it would be like to live on an island where you couldn't just bop over to Walmart or other stores and be totally dependant on the local stories for your needs. This is a second chance romance that I was so glad to see the author give the main characters a chance to rebuild their lost love. Betrayal of a loved one, even or especially as a teen, needs time to allow regrowth and isn't always assured. In seven years time, you are going to mature (hopefully) and though it was never mentioned, hopefully met and date others. You then have a chance to weigh if what you lost is worth fighting for or not. Throw in a cute kid and you got me hooked.

[Katt Hansen]

For Camille coming homes means proving herself to her family. It also means facing a past love which had ended in disaster. Second chance romance ensues.

The best part of this book is the setting of Christmas Island and the candy shop. As you read prepare to want sweets - lots and lots of them. A large cast of characters, and a lot of relationship dynamics add to this story which is about letting go of the past - but keeping what's important.

I have to admit I rated this down a bit because it was so hard to tell the sisters apart - the similar names meant I was always confused about whose wedding it was, and who was the main character. Also, I was a little disappointed by how little time the main characters spent together (despite this they still managed to fall in love). Overall, this was a decent read, and I will pick up others in the series. But I wasn't in love with any of the main characters though Maddox is my favorite, followed by Ethan. We'll see how the other stories go.

[Harlequin Books]

Categories
Holiday Romance, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Wholesome Romance
Miniseries
Return to Christmas Island (Book #2)