The Christmas Village

Annie Rains

Oct 2021 · Sold by Forever

About this ebook

USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains returns to Somerset Lake, North Carolina, with a heartwarming Christmas story about a midwife and her ex-fiance who face high stakes when they must team up to compete in the neighborhood house decorating contest, in this trade paperback that will help get readers in the holiday spirit.

Once upon a Christmas, she gave him her heart. This year, he'll have to win it back again . . .
 
When Lucy Hannigan returned to her childhood home in Somerset Lake, one of the first things she did was join the local book club. And thank goodness, because now that Lucy’s first Christmas without her mother is bearing down upon her, she can use all the help and support she can get.  Especially when she has to take in a tenant and the only person interested is Miles Bruno, her ex-fiance.

Lucy’s friends keep teasing her about the way Miles is trying to make up for his mistakes but forgiving and forgetting isn’t coming easily to Lucy. With bills piling up and her mother’s finances in disarray, however, Lucy isn’t in any position to say no.

As the small town prepares for the holidays and competition heats up in the Merriest Lawn decorating contest, Lucy can’t help feeling like a Scrooge. Her mom loved the holidays and won the contest each year, but as much as Lucy would like to carry on the tradition, she isn’t sure she has it in her to deck the halls this holiday.

Yet when Miles shows up with tons of tinsel, dozens of decorations, and lots and lots of lights, Lucy begins to wonder if maybe the spirit of the season will finally mend her broken heart.

Ratings and reviews

The Christmas Village by Annie Rains definitely put me in the holiday spirit and gave me all the Hallmark movie vibes! This second-chance romance hit all the right notes. Lucy Hannigan is facing the first Christmas since her mother passed away and while she's close to paying off her mother's debts, she's also feeling melancholy due to the season and having to face it without her. She really just wants to fast-forward through the holidays, but that isn't an option and on top of that, she learns there is another outstanding debt she wasn't aware of, which causes more stress. She realizes her best option is to find a way to make some extra cash and to do that, she's going to rent out the garage apartment. Miles Bruno is a deputy at the Sheriff's office and is Lucy's ex-fiance. He broke Lucy's heart years before, but it's clear he still loves her. When he's forced from his home, he's got a couple of options, move home with his Mom or rent the garage apartment from Lucy. The apartment wins and the two are put back into one another orbit. They definitely had great chemistry and when they work together to win a lawn decorating contest, the feelings from years ago rose back to the surface along with some new ones. The question is, can they get past the past hurts to make a future together? I enjoyed this story so much. It got me into the spirit and it's another win for Annie Rains!

ARC for honest review with no compensation Received from NetGalley, Forever 4.5 stars The Christmas Village is book 2 the Somerset Lake series by Annie Rains, a new to me author. Lucy and Miles were high school sweethearts, became engaged and thought they had it all…until something happened and Miles broke her heart. Now years later Lucy is coming to grips with the passing of her mother and the huge amount of debt to be paid. She needs a Christmas miracle…but not in the Miles wants her back way…he will do anything to show her he made a huge mistake and wants to start over and build a life together… Will she open her heart again to Miles and have the miracle or will she let the past keep her from happiness? Only time will tell…

Whenever I pick up a book by this author, I know it will be a jewel and this one proved that point. The story centers around Lucy Hannigan and MIles Bruno. These two were sweethearts and engaged at a young age, but circumstances broke them apart. Neither has really found someone special. Nowadays Lucy is a midwife, living in her childhood home, and trying to pay all the debts her mother incurred prior to her death. She has no desire to celebrate the holidays but needs a tenant to help with the expenses. Miles has never forgotten Lucy. Needing a place to live, he approaches Lucy, hoping to rent her apartment. Will the spirit of Christmas and a contest bring them together? Or will past hurts never be healed? Another wonderful story in this series. I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Forever.

About the author

Annie Rains is a USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author who writes small town love stories set in fictional places in her home state of North Carolina. When Annie isn't writing, she's living out her own happily ever after with her husband and three children.