Christmas in Chestnut Ridge

Chestnut Ridge #2

by Nancy Naigle, Virginia Rose (Narrator)

9 hours, 28 minutes

A heartwarming love story set at Christmas time by USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

In the enchanting mountain town of Chestnut Ridge, where tree farms blanket the hillsides and the promise of a white Christmas is ever-present, a heartwarming holiday romance is about to blossom. When Sheila's best friend convinces her to help decorate a tree in the annual Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser, she embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, all wrapped in the cozy embrace of a tight-knit community. As she immerses herself in the joy of twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and the camaraderie of the townsfolk, Sheila's world begins to transform, and she finds the sense of belonging she never knew she needed.

Meanwhile, Tucker, the town's reliable fire captain, is gathering volunteers to help a family with four young children who have just lost their home to a devastating fire weeks before Christmas. Sheila offers her helping hand, and as the town rallies to support the family in their time of need, sparks of love begin to flicker between her and Tucker.

In this charming town where dreams come true, and Christmas magic is everywhere, come along for a tale of love, community, and the true spirit of the season.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published October 8, 2024

About the author

NEW RELEASE: A South Hill Christmas Keepsake—out now!
USA TODAY bestselling author Nancy Naigle writes heartwarming small-town stories of love, faith, and second chances. With more than forty novels to her name, eight have been adapted for television on Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and FOX Nation. Her award-winning ECPA Bestseller The Shell Collector was also the first FOX Original Movie and is now streaming on FOX Nation.
Nancy’s newest Christmas novel, A South Hill Christmas Keepsake, is a heartfelt story inspired by her real-life hometown in Virginia—a tale of lost love, small-town wonder, and rediscovering the magic of community during the holidays.
Up next, she’ll return to the beloved Whelk’s Island universe in Home No Matter Where (coming May 2026), the third installment in The Shell Collector series—continuing her signature blend of coastal charm, healing, and hope.
After a successful career in the banking industry, Nancy followed her heart and took early retirement to write full-time. Now living in the small town of Franklin, Virginia, she crafts stories that celebrate the simple joys of life, the beauty of belonging, and the power of love to restore even the most fragile hearts.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her browsing antique shops, painting, or weaving pine needle baskets—always on the lookout for the next small spark of inspiration to turn into a story you’ll never forget.

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is a lovely and touching trip back to the small town during the holiday season with friends, picking out Christmas trees, hot cocoa, buying gifts, a sense of community, and falling in love. Sheila left Richmond to visit her best friend Natalie, whom we met in the first book, for the two weeks leading up to Christmas. Sheila is a big city girl, making lots of money in real estate. But she is quickly pulled into this small community of caring neighbors who work together to help each other. One example is how everyone helped a family get on their feet after their home burns. And the usual holiday activities are going on to bring the community together., like providing food baskets and cookie bakes. The big event occurs in the high school stadium with a Christmas tree decorating contest. Sheila falls into place into the community life, one thing she did not expect. She also did not expect to fall for the local fire chief. Tucker is a great guy, and he sure did not expect to fall for a city gal. This is a sweet Christmas romantic read sure to bring on the smiles.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Once you experience Christmas in Chestnut Ridge, you’ll never forget it.”

What a treat to be back in the enchanting mountain town of Chestnut Ridge for Christmas! From the first chapter, I could feel the Christmas magic and was steeped in an immersive story featuring community and the season's true spirit. When I discovered that I was going to meet up with Natalie Maynard from book one, I was hooked.

I loved the camaraderie among the townsfolk and the genuine care they had for each other. The big-hearted fire chief embodied those he protected. I think the thing that will stay with me most is what happened when Sheila finally decided to accept her best friend’s invitation. As with the first book, one decision changes…everything. I’m glad that Sheila found her sense of belonging and was able to bask in the confidence that her friend had found hers too.

As we head into the Christmas season, Fire Chief Tucker’s advice is worth adhering to; remember to water your Christmas tree!

I can’t wait for the next installment of this fantastic series.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love a sweet cozy romance, then this is the perfect story to grab this season. A very slow-burn romance set is an amazing landscape of the Blue Ridge mountains.

The author weaves a delightful story of friends and neighbors, along with a sweet love interest that grows slowly throughout the book. The small-town atmosphere comes across perfectly as the two main characters connect and develop their friendship, leading to more. I loved the Chief and he was a beautiful balance to Sheila, the visitor.

This story is a part of a series, but this is a total standalone book too. Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is a sweet and dreamy romance that leaves you with a smile on your face from an author who delivers the cozy story with finesse.

~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/christmas-in...

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle
Chestnut Ridge series #2. Holiday romance. Closed door. Small town. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Sheila Aldridge owns a real estate company in Richmond, VA. Her best friend Natalie moved to the small town of Chestnut Ridge the prior year. She asks Sheila to come spend the last few weeks of December through New Year’s in Chestnut Ridge enjoying the small town festivities and taking a break from work. Since her business is slow during the holidays and she has no one at home to worry about, Sheila agrees to visit and stay with Natalie for the holidays.
Chestnut Ridge is steeped in friendships, tight-knit community involvement, and that small town magic. Sheila has always been a city person but the more time she spends in Chestnut Ridge with Natalie and Fire Captain Tucker, the more she feels the pull of camaraderie of the town.

A charming holiday story that will leave you feeling joyful from the friendships and generosity of the season.
A favorite author of mine for just such a feeling.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Put on your favorite Christmas sweater, grab a hot chocolate, and enjoy this book while sitting by your Christmas tree! This is a lovely small town Christmas romance. Sheila comes to Chestnut Ridge to help her best friend compete in a tree-decorating contest, and as soon as she meets the good-looking fire chief the sparks begin to fly! Sheila gets caught up in the spirit of Christmas and the closeness of a small community in this heartwarming Christmas novel. The publisher provided an advance reader copy of this book.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair warning: This book is closely tied to the first book in this series And Then There Was You. I felt like I'd been dropped in the middle of an ongoing plot. Not a feeling I like. The wholesome factor is on the high side and the just so sweet setting and characters had my teeth aching. Sugar overload, but a good story about taking a chance on something new. This book would make a great Christmas movie.

Shelia is a city girl with a successful real estate business in Richmond, Viginia. She has worked hard for quite a while, especially since her divorce, and is looking forward to spending two weeks with her best friend, Natalie in the small mountain town of Chestnut Falls.

Tucker is the fire chef of Chestnut Falls and loves his job and the people in his community and he takes their safety very seriously. When he meets Shelia, he is instantly drawn to the warn vivacious woman. But he is, more or less, married to his job and has little space in his life for a relationship.

As Shelia is drawn into the loving arms of the Chestnut Falls community, she comes to reevaluate the things that bring true meaning to her life. Tucker begins to see that all work all the time is no way to live life. Love happens when we least expect it and between people who are busy making other plans and living other lives.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Christmas in Chestnut Ridge, by Nancy Naigle, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This might be Sheila's best Christmas ever, she is really feeling the holiday spirit. This such a delightful holiday read. I could picture myself in Chestnut Ridge enjoying all the Christmas festivities with these wonderful characters.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The situations these people get into are just too funny. I loved all the characters in CHRISTMAS IN CHESTNUT RIDGE and can’t wait to continue to get to know them! I loved how the whole town came together when a large family lost their home to a fire. Sheila and Natalie really stepped up to help them and it changed Sheila’s whole outlook on life. This beautiful story will surely put you in a holiday mood. So much so that you will be digging out that ugly holiday sweater in no time at all! Don’t forget the hot chocolate and candy canes. I truly believe this is the best Christmas book I have read this year so far. Nancy sure knows how to pull on her reader’s heartstrings and she doesn’t let them go until the end of the story.

You can read my complete review at:

https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Taylor Gonser]

ok i’m saying i read this one on here as a place holder for reading elsie silvers holiday novella because it isn’t on here but i want it to count for my 2024 reading goal 🫣

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

guys I haven’t actually read this but I read Christmas in chestnut springs but it’s not on goodreads so im using this as my marker for that one ok thanks 🙏

[Maria Logan-Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this delightful love story set in the mountains of Virginia during the Christmas holidays. It is very similar to several books I have read recently where a city girl falls in love with a small town guy, and decides to move to the small town. It took me longer to read this one, as the story was a tiny bit slow moving. Still, it made me want to look into finding a small town where the people really are close-knit -- does such a place really exist?

My biggest complaint was the repeated use of bring & brought in place of take, took, & taken. We bring things here. We take things there.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

Natalie persuades her best friend, Sheila, to come to Chestnut Ridge for the Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser and put her creative juices to work on a unique theme for their tree, hoping to win the grand prize. Tucker and his fellow firefighters, though, are out to win the coveted prize for their department. In the midst of contest preparations, a local family’s home burns to the ground just weeks before Christmas, and everyone comes together to support the family with donations of time, household items, even gifts for the four young kids.

Nancy Naigle is one of the romance authors whose books don’t make me roll my eyes with every other page, so I was looking forward to reading this book. Yes, much of the plot was predictable, but the characters seemed like people that would be fun to have around, especially at the holidays. While I wasn’t surprised by the feel-good ending of the story, I don’t regret the time I spent with them, and hope to read more about the folks of Chestnut Ridge in another book somewhere down the road. There’s nothing to indicate that this book is part of a series, but some of the characters seem to have been in at least one other Christmas story by this author, so hmmm…

I will post this review on GoodReads on/around October 8, when the book is released. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book by an author whose books I enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Dana Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle. Loved this Christmas book. This book is filled with love, romance and kindness. I love the descriptions of the town, the trees and the people The book makes you feel like you are really there.

[Carly Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

How could you not want to spend Christmas in Chestnut Ridge? The small town community atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. The townspeople are close-knit which is very heartwarming and charming. In this Christmas romance, Sheila comes to Chestnut Ridge to help her friend Natalie decorate a tree for the annual tree decorating contest (adorable!) and winds up quickly catching feelings for the local fire chief. The town also pitches in to help a family that gets displaced by a fire and Sheila really feels the small town giving spirit. This is a great read to sit by the fire and start your Christmas holiday mood off right!
Thank you to both NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my advanced copy in return for an honest review.

[Book.ishJulie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At least once a year, I love reading a Christmas romance that is sweet, charming, and extra heartwarming; in other words, wholesome AF! Christmas In Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle was this year's pick!

I loved the town of Chestnut Ridge, its inhabitants, and its cozy Christmas Tree Stroll! I'm such a sucker for a competition-based plot (especially this time of year), so one featuring decorating Christmas trees outside gets top marks! It was really special seeing the generosity of those involved donating the trees and their decorations to those in need.

And speaking of, the way this town rallied around a family that dealt with a horrific fire was so beautiful! It really gave Chestnut Ridge an edge over other fictional small towns, truly making this the type of feel-good book that gives you hope for humanity!

Despite this being the second book in the Chestnut Ridge series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone, with no confusion whatsoever!

This was the perfect chaste Christmas read, with only a kiss and the promise of forever! Bonus points for the Rudolph and Clearice "cute" reference!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary copy to read and review.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was done for when I read Fire Chief. And then I read the best small-town romance and I was over the top at the best proposal ever. This book had it all. I hated for it to end.
5 stars and I highly recommend it.
Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the perfect book if you need some simple pre-holiday escapism. It is a clean novel. Every situation is heartwarming; the people (and there are many) are very kind and very sweet, the town is quaint, and even the horror of a house fire turns into a lesson in loving your fellow man.

This is a very worthy read.


However, I could not connect with the main characters of Sheila and her best friend. I couldn't even figure out what age bracket they were supposed to be in. A tiny bit of this story was just a tad too sweet for me, even when Sheila and Tucker have their little spat toward the end of the book.

I don't regret reading this book, though - we all need some sweetness with our sour!

[Tristan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ Christmas in April! This book has everything we all know and love about Christmas romances. The story follows Sheila as she visits her best friend in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia at Christmas time. Sheila is a workaholic from Richmond that is going through post-divorce discovery. She agrees to go spend a few weeks in Chestnut Ridge to help her best friend with a tree decorating contest in town. While there she meets the local fire chief, Tucker, and they start to spend time together. Throughout the story, Sheila continues to be drawn to the sense of community and belonging that Chestnut Ridge offers, and that she is currently lacking. Overall, this is a very enjoyable Christmas book about found family, love, and community. The town and community are picturesque and I often found myself tearing up at the generosity and kindness shown by the community. This book is told from a dual point of view, but mostly from Sheila‘s. While an enjoyable story, there was times I felt like it was too long and some of the dialogue with side characters was not needed. Additionally, this book is second in a series. I do not think that I would consider this a stand alone novel as previous visits to Chestnut Ridge were mentioned several times as well as a lot of time discussing the best friends’ past. I found myself wondering if I missed any of Sheila’s story from book 1. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. Sheila’s best friend Natalie convinces her to spend Christmas in Chestnut Ridge, an idyllic small town that holds an annual Christmas Tree Stroll competition. She meets Tucker, the local fire captain, while helping a family in need, and feelings spark between the two in the days leading up to Christmas in this charming town.

I typically love a sweet and cozy Christmas book, but I struggled to connect with this story and the characters. Perhaps this is partially due to the book being second in a series, and while it works as a stand-alone I’m sure I missed out on some key details that may have changed my opinion of the story. I did absolutely love the idyllic Christmas town setting, and I felt transported there through the pages of the book—the Christmas Tree Stroll sounds incredible! However, the characters and story were almost too sweet and cheesy, so it felt a bit inauthentic. Some parts of story also were over descriptive and slow, causing my attention to drift. While this wasn’t the right fit for me, if you want a sugary-sweet, holiday escape, give it a chance for yourself!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for my gifted e-copy!

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle
Chestnut Ridge #2
9h 28m narrated by Virginia Rose, 342 pages

Genre: Contemporary C Romance, Holiday > Christmas

Featuring: Divorcée, Small-Town Virginia, Best Friend, Christmas Tree Stroll, Visiting, Richmond and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Decorating Contest, Inn, Thanksgiving, Firefighters, Alzheimer's, Small-Town Vs Big City Trope, Fundraising, Giving

Rating as a movie: PG

Songs for the soundtrack: "Duck The Halls" by The Robertsons, "I’ll Be Home for Christmas" by Bing Crosby, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" by the Jackson 5, "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont, "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms, "O Holy Night" by Mariah Carey, "Mistletoe" by Justin Bieber, "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" by Carol Channing, "O Christmas Tree" by Tony Bennett, "Let It Snow" by Michael Bulé, "Raindrops Falling On My Head" by B. J. Thomas, "Silent Night" by Celine Dion

Books and Authors mentioned: Paul Bunyan by Esther Shephard, A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz [based on Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz], How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

My rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🌲🎄🌲🎄

My thoughts: 📱16% 1:28:56 Chapter 6 - It's cute. I'm going to read Book 1 in the new year. I could only find it in hardback, and I don't have the time to retrieve it.
📱34% 3:11:25 Chapter 13 - I may be putting a pin in reading Book 1 next year; this is okay and not exciting, a lot of homemade drama.
📱74% 7:02:04 Chapter 24 - From New Orleans was displaced by Katrina but not familiar with fried turkeys, okay. This character is quite the city mouse, I'm a little confused about her friend's story I may have to read Book 1 after all. I'm not going to bed until this story is finished.

This story was missing something, parts felt incomplete. I think it would be good for a palate cleanser, it leaned a little in the Christian Romance direction but ultimately it wasn't although the author does write Christian Fiction. I'm going to take Book 1 off my TBR.

Recommend to others: Not really but who knows, I might if it fits what they're looking for.

Chestnut Ridge
1 And Then There Was You (2023)
2 Christmas in Chestnut Ridge (2024)

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is the second book in the Chestnut Ridge series, but it can be read easily as a standalone story. Having said that, I will definitely go back and read the first one. Sheila is a workaholic real estate agent in Richmond who needs to take a holiday. Her her best friend Natalie, is living in Chestnut Ridge and convinces her to come for the holidays. She needs help decorating a tree for the Christmas Walk and Sheila finally agrees to take two weeks off and visit. She is welcomes and quickly pulled into the community of caring friends and neighbors who work together to help each other. When a fire burns down a family's home, everyone pitches in to find them somewhere to live, bring them food and even supply new Christmas gifts, with much of it spearheaded by the ever competent Sheila. As this all goes on, she and fire captain, Tucker, begin spending time together. Neither of them is looking for a relationship, but they quickly realize that their emotions don't listen to their brains. Can this big city woman fall for a small town guy and vice versa?

Christmas at Chestnut Ridge is a small town Christmas romance, full of festive activities, wonderful characters and lots of Christmas magic. It is somewhat predictable, but when reading Christmas stories, I want happily ever after full of Christmas fun and that is what I got with this book. Everyone has a story, and hearing about Tucker's was wonderful, even with the sad past. Sheila was lost and alone in Richmond, a control freak and someone who was always busy, but in Chestnut Ridge she finds a place to belong and people she wants to be with. This is a romance, but also a story of friendship, community and new beginnings. There are so many wonderful characters in this book and I know there will be more stories to come.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, heartwarming Christmas romance. I loved this book’s small town feel and sense of community. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and following Sheila and Tucker in this story. Christmas In Chestnut Ridge is book two in the Chestnut Ridge series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Overall this was a great, feel-good Christmas romance.

Read this if you like:

📖 Small town settings
📖 Sweet closed door romance
📖 Christmas

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the gifted copy.

[Chanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are looking for a sugary sweet, feel-good Christmas story this book is probably for you.

It was a relatively quick read, but for some reason it was hard for me to get into. While it’s not formally listed as part of a series, CHRISTMAS IN CHESTNUT RIDGE does feel as though you are missing out on understanding some of the setting and characters that get introduced in a different book from Nancy.

Also, the writing style was not my cup of tea. It was a lot of telling details instead of showing which made it hard for me to get into. There were a few scenes I enjoyed (like when Tucker and Sheila go to visit her mom), but a lot of them fell flat in my opinion and way too much time in the plot was dedicated to trivial details and not on the character’s individual developments or relationship.

All in all- this book would probably be the right fit for others, it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

[Lyndsey Bookish Nature · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~~ I received a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is such a whole-hearted, festive read. I thoroughly enjoyed watching successful realtor Sheila discover herself over the holiday and find love with Tucker. I also love the idea of a Christmas Tree Stroll- I wish we had one in our community! Overall, this is a book about giving and love that will bring anyone into the holiday spirit. If you love a festive, feel-good read to cuddle up with, you've found it! Add to your Christmas-to-Read list!

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories like this at Christmas time. It's small town magic, love and romance all wrapped in a pretty bow. This is a Hallmark Christmas Movie in reader form and I enjoyed it.

I sincerely appreciate the author and NetGalley for the review copy.

[Nathalie Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a slow burn cozy romance. Experiencing Christmas in Chestnut Ridge was magical. The spirit of a caring community made this book even better. Certainly a heart warming read during a rough time in the real world. It was a sweet romance, a slow burn love story that felt so genuine. A great read to end the year.

[Irene S · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, this is a book on how an out-of-town visitor can experience the best small town Christmas experience. I am not a craft person so paragraphs detailing planning, shopping, crafting, and decorating the winning Christmas tree leave me cold. I also didn't see any strong connection between the two main characters for a long-term romance nor find them as relatable characters. I did like how the people in the community rushed to help a family in need. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I was disappointed because I enjoyed other Chestnut Ridge books by this author.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheila is at a crossroads in her life. She loves her job as a real estate agent, but is missing being in a relationship. She decides to visit a friend for the holidays and is glad she did. I loved this book.

[Shonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful characters that I instantly feel in love with! Chestnut Ridge is such a sweet town and I could see myself happily living there with all the fun residents. Everything Christmas was pulled into this fun story. I loved the tradition of decorating Christmas trees with a theme then giving them away after the winner was announced. This little town is so full of the most wonderful people who care about others and pour into the community and to those in need. With the Christmas tree stroll and all the fun Christmas activities this is the perfect book for a cold winter day. Add a handsome firefighter, a swoony romance, and you have a book you can’t put down. So much more to love with all the yummy food and laugh out loud moments that are sewn into the pages, earning this book a solid 5 stars from me!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.