HOPE AT CHRISTMAS

A recently divorced woman and her daughter look for a fresh start by moving to a small town that embraces them in ways that only fate and the magic of Christmas can explain.

Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays.

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born.

But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell.

Release Date: October 10, 2017

St. Martin's Griffin

Contemporary Romance

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

Hope at Christmas is the newest release from author Nancy Naigle. Ms. Naigle is my go-to author for sweet and emotional romances and she delivers every single time.

I have to say that after all Sydney's ex had put her through, I loved she decided to move her daughter to Hopewell to start over. Hopewell is a small town and honestly made me think a little bit of the small town where I grew up. My favorite part of the story was the fact that Sydney felt at home again in Hopewell once she found The Book Be was still open. I especially loved Bea who owned and ran the bookstore. Honestly, if felt a bit like the bookstore itself was a character in this story.

My heart broke for Ray Anne and how her father kept breaking promises to her over and over again. I loved that with Sydney's love and new friends in Hopewell, Ray Anne started to find her footing in their new town. I really loved that Seth; Mac's son seemed to become Ray Anne's new best friend. As she was a bit of a tomboy, it made total sense she would have a best guy friend. I also loved the fact that the kids kept pushing their parents together so they were able to spend more time together.

Both Mac and Sydney had really bad experiences with love in the past. Granted Mac's bad experience had been many years ago. I loved how patient he was with Sydney in giving her the time she needed to be ready for more than just friendship. I did love they were friends before they moved into a romantic relationship. Not that everything was completely smooth sailing for them, but I loved that Mac was willing to give Sydney the time and understanding she needed after everything she had been through with her ex.

Nancy Naigle writes emotion filled sweet romances. I've always thought her books would be perfect for the Hallmark Channel and have to reiterate that fact with Hope at Christmas. I highly recommend Hope at Christmas to romance readers who love sweet romances.

Rating: 4 Stars (B+)