The Christmas Village

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…

3.25 stars-THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE is the second instalment in Annie Rains contemporary, adult SOMERSET LAKE sweet romance series-a spin off from the the author’s SWEETWATER SPRINGS series. This is Sheriff Miles Bruno, and midwife/nurse Lucy Hannigan’s story line. THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Told from dual third person perspectives (Miles and Lucy) THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE follows the rebuilding romance and relationship between Sheriff Miles Bruno, and midwife/nurse Lucy Hannigan. Ten years earlier, couple Miles and Lucy had their entire future ahead of them but Miles broke Lucy’s heart, and in the interim watched as Lucy lost the people she loved. Fast forward to present day wherein Lucy finds herself in financial trouble following the death of her mother, and the numerous unpaid bills that are due before the end of the year. Meanwhile, Sheriff Miles Bruno is about to be homeless, and his only option is to rent an apartment from the woman he once loved bringing him up close and personal with memories from the past. With the approach of the Christmas holidays, Miles offers to help Lucy set up the Hannigan annual Christmas display, a display that Lucy is hoping to enter in the Somerset Lake holiday contest but all is not well in the small town of Somerset Lake, as a vandal has set their sights on the destruction of holiday cheer. What ensues is the second chance romance and relationship between Lucy and Miles, and the potential fall-out as Lucy is unable to let go of the past, taking her frustrations and anger out on the man she still loves. The relationship between Lucy and Miles is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between two people torn apart by betrayal, ego, heart break and perception. While Miles reconsiders everything that happened in the past, Lucy is unable to move forward. There are no $ex scenes; the romance is limited. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many of whom refuse to leave well enough alone. The small-town mentality and nosy ‘butinskies’ threaten to destroy a relationship that is already struggling with too many painful reminders. THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE is a story of love, loss and second chances. The premise is cute and engaging; the characters are animated; the romance is mostly implied