The Christmas Village by Annie Rains

If you enjoy a small-town Christmas vibe along with a second chance romance, let me introduce you to Annie Rains’ The Christmas Village.  It is the second book in the author’s Somerset Lake series, but can easily be read as a standalone.  This book publishes today.

Plot Summary

Lucy Hannigan has had a stressful year.  Returning home a year ago to care for her ill mother and then mourning her death has been challenging.  While her Mom left her the large pink house on Gingerbread Lane, she also left behind several large bills.  There were several more bills that she didn’t even know about.  As a result, she’s desperate to find another source of income.  Thankfully, the emotional support she’s received from her girlfriends has been instrumental in keeping Lucy’s spirits up.  However, the Christmas season is just around the corner.  Heading into her first Christmas season without her Mom, Lucy wishes she could just skip Christmas completely.

One night Lucy hears a commotion on her deck and is fearful of someone breaking in.  She calls the police and is thankful when help arrives.  Unfortunately, it’s her ex-boyfriend Miles who attends the call. The high school sweethearts had an abrupt end to their relationship a decade ago which led Lucy to leave Somerset Lake.  While catching up, Miles reveals he needs a new place to live after his landlord decided to take over his rental property.  Lucy reveals she’s looking for a tenant to live in the garage apartment.  She is reluctant to have Miles living on the same property. but with no other potential tenants, she agrees to have Miles move in.  Through the next several weeks, it’s evident to all around them that there is still a strong attraction between the two.  But will it be enough for Lucy to mend her broken heart?

Book Review

I enjoyed this charming story which kept me engaged throughout. The romance between Lucy and Miles was sweet, but not without obstacles to overcome.  I appreciated how the author presented these challenges and the need for each of them to work through their personal issues before coming together.

There are several backstories woven into this book including a series of elaborate Christmas decorations being destroyed. The characters are well defined and I felt connected to them. The central characters in the first book in the series, The Summer Cottage, were also included as they prepared for their New Year’s Eve wedding.

The book is a good reminder that not everyone looks forward to celebrating seasonal holidays – particularly if they have suffered a loss in recent years.  I appreciated the way this town acknowledged Lucy’s loss. It was inspirational to see how Lucy was able to remain connected to her parents –  a process she discovered by trial and error and pushing herself out of her comfort zone.  I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

What I Liked About The Christmas Village:

• The well developed and likeable characters
• The Christmas and small town vibe
• The theme of resolving our own issues before entering into a long term relationship

I Recommend This Book To:

Those readers who enjoy Christmas stories or those involving a second chance romance.

My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Add The Christmas Village to your Goodreads shelf

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for the finished copy and ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

The Summer Cottage by Annie Rains

Season of Joy by Annie Rains

Home for the Holidays by Sara Richardson

Thanks for reading and supporting my blog.  Do you enjoy reading holiday books?  Let me know in the comments.  I hope that you have a wonderful day.