A Christmas Love: A Wholesome Holiday Romance

by Shanna Hatfield

Will a Christmas romance lead two searching hearts to a lifetime love?Bound to the Hudson House family estate, Vienna Hudson strives to uphold the legacy her grandparents established. When she’s not busy preserving her heritage or managing the family corporation, she steals away for horseback rides across the sprawling grounds—until a chance encounter with a handsome stranger turns her world upside down.

Surveyor Sam Bishop is tasked with plotting a new interstate through the Silver Bluff area. He faces a significant challenge when his calls to an elusive landowner go unanswered, prompting an impromptu visit to Hudson House. Excited to explore the beautiful acreage, nothing could prepare him for Vienna's fiery welcome—armed with a pistol and a courageous spirit.

As holiday bells ring across the estate, Vienna and Sam work together to navigate the complexities of both the road project and the ever-evolving feelings dancing between them. Will the pair find a way to embrace their unexpected connection? Or will the pressures of responsibility and ambition tear them apart before they realize love is the most precious gift of the season?

A Christmas Love is the third book in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season.

Genres: Christmas, Romance

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2024

About the author

A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a best-selling author of clean romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor.

In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.

To learn more about Shanna or the books she writes, visit her blog http://shannahatfield.com
or find out news at her facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/shanna.hatfield

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas Love takes place in the late 1950s when the Interstate Highway System is being built. Vienna Hudson is the third child of Kase and Dori. Her oldest brother, Wendell, was more like the Hudson family in the east, greedy, entitled, a gambler and nasty. When he secretly sold off large tracts of the estate, Kase exiled him from Hudson House. Jack, her loving brother fought in WW3 and was taken as a POW in Japan. By the time he came home he was seriously ill. Although he managed to father a son, he died shortly after. The final blow came when Vienna and her parents were returning from town and they had a head on collision with Wendall and they were all killed except Vienna. Her face was severely scarred from glass and her fiance dumped her in the hospital. She is now running the Hudson Estate and businesses, content to never marry. She lives in Hudson House with Grandy (Holland), her widowed sister-in-law Susie and nephew Jesse. When a surveyor shows up, Vienna wants to run him off, but with the Highway Act, the road will be built, so working with Sam to find the best way for it to run through the Hudson Estate is her best bet. As they get to know each other, Sam sees a beautiful Vienna, inside and out, but will she let down her guard?

Vienna was a great character. She was smart, feisty, independent yet extremely self conscious about her scars. Sam was patient, kind and loving. He brought his dog to the estate and Jesse was smitten. They played together and both of them were happy. Jesse was a delight. He was such a cutey, and his behaviour and comments were do sweet. As Vienna and Sam worked together, they developed feelings toward one another, but there were some roadblocks to get past. Grandy loved Sam right away and was there to support their relationship, even if her mind wandered somedays. I also enjoy that the extended family of the Moores and Drakes are still around and working on the estate. This was another great addition to this series.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this third installment of the Hudson House Holiday series, we meet Vienna Hudson. She is a single lady who has taken charge of the Hudson House. We met her grandparents in the first installment, A Holiday Dream. (You can read this as a stand-alone.) Vienna is trying her best to uphold the legacy of her grandparents after her brother has lost a lot of the acreage. She leads a very busy life managing the family corporation. One day she is out for a horseback ride and comes across a man putting in stakes on HER land! This meeting turns out to turn her world upside down! Her pulling a gun on the man certainly leaves a lasting and shocking encounter.

Sam Bishop is a survey who has the tasked of plotting a new interstate through Silver Bluff area that begins our highway system. I had never thought about how the whole process started so it was kind of fun the feel like I was in on the ground floor of the whole thing. Can he convince her that allowing the road to go through the Hudson estate is a good thing? She invites him to dinner and so
the process begins.

Vienna and Sam work together to navigate the process of the complicated process of finding common ground and both getting what they want and need in this project. Can they meet somewhere in the middle. We see their hearts melting. Can her cold heart warm?

This is the third installment in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season. You won't want to miss it!

[Lana Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vienna is now the executive in charge of the Hudson Estate Corporation. Her oldest brother, Wendell, was a throwback to the bad side of the family, whom Brant and his sister Eloise had left the east coast in order to get as far away as possible-the west coast. Vienna loves to ride horses, but is ever mindful that her dear father, Kase, who had also loved to ride, couldn’t ride anymore after the wounds he received in the war that killed his brother. Then, Vienna’s dearest brother, Jack died, and all she has left is Grandy (Holland) and a little nephew, Jesse, and sister-in-law. Jesse is her world after the accident that killed her parents and almost killed her, too. The accident was caused by her brother Wendell’s drunk driving. She has severe scars on the left side of her face, so she wears her hair to cover it as much as possible. One day, as she’s running across her property on her horse, she sees a man. She stops the horse, pulls her gun, and tells the man that this is Hudson property and for him to get off! He begs for her to listen to what he has to say and she says “One hour in my office or no deal!” Well, as you may guess the two hit it off almost immediately! This is the book of their love story at Christmas time and it is SO GREAT!! I am on the AR team and this is my honest review. You NEED this amazingly powerful book of true love. ❤️

[Dolores East · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Christmas Love" is a beautifully written love story with beautiful characters who have been deeply wounded. But they also realize their blessings. They choose to love their families despite past wounds. A very precious book filled with lessons to go beyond our griefs and sorrows and looking forward.

[Beverly Dibble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third book in the Hudson House Series takes a little different turn than the first two. The first two books are filled with family and a lot of connections throughout the estate. However, Vienna has seen a lot of loss, and there is not a lot of family left. The family that she has is still wonderful, but it is just a little change in the feeling of the series. Sam has a difficult job – he has to convince Vienna to get on board with a road project that she does not like at all. He faces his challenges, and he and Vienna work together to find the best solution. As Sam works on the surveying that must be done, he takes “art appreciation” breaks to spend some time with Vienna, which of course helps to advance their relationship. Vienna’s nephew and Sam’s dog add a lot of fun to the story. And, as always, the author ties in so many historical facts and features of the times into the story that help to make it come to life, from a particular shade of lipstick and popular foods to television and radio shows that were very popular at that time.

[Joyce Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vienna Hudson is running the Hudson Corporation in 1956. Her parents were killed in a car accident 5 years before. Vienna was injured. She has a scar on her left cheek that she keeps covered with her hair. When her fiancé saw her in the hospital, he told her she was hideous and pulled the engagement ring off her finger. Vienna's oldest brother, Wendell was like the NY Hudson's. He was greedy and vicious. He caused the accident that killed their parents. He was also killed in the accident. Vienna's brother, Jack was in the war and was held prisoner by the Japanese for 3 years. He made it home, but was very weak and never really recovered. He and his wife had 1 son, Jesse. Grandy Holland, Vienna and Susie and Jesse are the only ones living in Hudson House now. Sam Bishop shows up to survey the road for the new interstate. He is smitten with Vienna, but never really planned to marry because he traveled all the time. Vienna hasn't planned on marrying because of her scar. Sam comes to appreciate the estate and the family.

[Renate Deutsche Oma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas romance inspired by the Biltmore Estate (Asheville, North Carolina). This reader of Shanna Hatfield loved the premise of the series, and usually her whimsical style shines with delightful characters (Vienna Hudson and Surveyor Sam Bishop), believable conflicts, and a satisfying resolution. BUT while I appreciate an author including background information from previous stories and with this series, the history of Hudson House Chapter 1 was lengthy and confusing with too many characters, too much detail and NO Family TREE included. Also felt the story was rushed. Sam and Vienna found their Happily Ever After, but the conflict of the highway running through her the Hudson property was kind of resolved because the family had no choice - the final outcome was not included. Recipe for Cheesecake included.

Growing up in the 1950s, I remember the conflicts involved when the Interstate Highway I-94 was proposed through Southern Michigan from Chicago, Illinois to Detroit. For years there was a stretch of highway not completed because it would disturb a butterfly habitat.

[April Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vienna’s adult life holds many heartaches and tragedy; her beloved loved ones have all passed away and left her a little melancholy. She has many responsibilities to carry now for her family and legacy that the last thing she needs is the government trying to build their road on her estate. Enter Sam, the surveyor, who possess a tender, caring heart and an adorable dog, Jingle. Their friendship quickly moves into a HEA in spite of all that life has thrown at them.

I enjoyed this new addition to the Hudson House series. It was a fairly quick read but had much depth in the characters. It seems through the years that the conservatory is the place to be if you want to steal your first kisses. Brant, Kase, and now Sam have all benefited from its warmth and isolation. 😁

I received a complimentary copy and these are my voluntary and honest opinions. I was not required to leave a positive review.

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

To get the full impact of this story, you really need to read the previous two books. In Book 1, you get the beginnings of the Oregon Hudsons, Brant and Holland/Papa and Grandy, then in Book 2 you get the next generation, Kase and Dori. This book is about the third generation and Vienna, Brant and Holland’s granddaughter. Shannan Hatfield is good with word pictures, and I know exactly what this estate looks like, the people we’ve met and the times they are living in. Vienna Hudson is a beautiful, capable, proud, young lady, fully able to run the empire she’s been left. She’s known great heartaches and is now facing losing part of the estate to the new Interstate Highway system. Frankly, although I owned a surveying company for 45 years, and have used the Interstate Highway system many times, I was cheering her on in her opposition to it, knowing she is going to have to compromise. You will come to appreciate Sam. I can’t wait to find out what is in store for Jesse in Book 4.

[Elaine Kiefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the next chapter in the Hudson family legacy. Vienna Hudson, after surviving a tragedy that killed her parents and brother, is left to run the Hudson enterprises. Scarred from the accident, she doubts that she will ever find love. When the federal government decides to build a highway that will cross the estate, Sam Bishop seeks to find a way to preserve Hudson House. As they work together, the attraction they feel grows to something more. With a lot of patience and encouragement, Sam brings out the real Vienna and helps her believe that she is worthy of loving and being loved. Of course Hudson House and the Christmas season play a huge part in their happily ever after. This is such a great series and I can't wait for the last story.


I received a copy of this book from the author but this is an honest review of my thoughts.

[Christie Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vienna is the granddaughter of the builder and original owner of Hudson house. She is now the manager of the Hudson Estate Corporation, a family enterprise. Due to an accident which damaged her face and impaled her body, she believes herself too damaged to ever marry or have a family. Sam is the road surveyor tasked to lay out an interstate highway that will run through the Hudson Estate. He is smitten the first time he sees Vienna, having no idea who she is.

This is a wonderful addition to the Hudson saga. The characters are well-written and endearing. I love the small mentions of things from generations past, both historical and family related. I very much appreciate the Christian elements incorporated into the story.

I received a copy of this book from the author. My review is entirely voluntary and unbiased.

[Lori R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed returning to the Hudson Estate to learn more about Vienna Hudson.  She was now responsible for the entire Hudson Estate Corporation.  It was such fun to see how she met Sam, a surveyor sent because there were plans to put a road through their property. I found it interesting that if she did not cooperate there could be dire consequences.
I admired Vienna's strength through all of her losses.  She tried to find the good as life went on.  I also liked the sparks between Vienna and Sam and could not wait to find out more about their blossoming relationship.. It was nice to see Grandy and Vienna's sister-in-law, Susie and her son, Jesse, living in the house that Vienna's grandfather had built in 1892.  I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This part of the Hudson saga took me by surprise with the direction the story went. I had not expected to lose some of the beloved characters. It is a very sweet story about loss and love. Vienna has lost so much. She has ended up with a scar on her face that makes her feel like she isn't still beautiful, after an accident. There is a road that will go through the Hudson estate, and it is up to Sam to figure out the direction it will take. If Vienna doesn't help him, Sam will have to demolish Hudson House to put the road through. As he sees Vienna galloping across the field, he is instantly in love. She is amazing. Vienna doesn't want to give up one inch of the estate, they have lost so much already, but if she doesn't help Sam, she could lose everything. As they work together, they find that love has found them whether they are ready for it or not.

[Marty Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sweetest story. As the country has grown, so did the need to build more roads and highways to allow people the ability to get around easier. Unfortunately, the government decided that a freeway needed to go through the Hudson property. That was enough to make Vienna Hudson pull a gun on the surveyor Sam. Once cooler heads prevailed, Vienna, had a meeting with Sam to determine the best location. It was that, or have the house that was a historical beauty, torn down and the freeway go right where it had stood.
As Sam and Vienna worked together, ate together and got to know each other, their love grew. As hard as it was for Vienna to trust a man's true love after a horrible incident left her with a scar on her face, she found that Sam was truly in love with her.
His love brought her the confidence and joy she'd been missing.

[Catherine Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life isn't always easy but it's your attitude to the challenges that makes all the difference. That was something that was so apparent in this book as Vienna has had to cope with some massive challenges in her life but through it all smiles and finds delight in making others happy. Thankfully Sam makes her happy and gives her a chance to blossom into full happiness. I loved the interactions they had with Jesse and Jingle and the simple delight in honoring Grandy and her memories. This book was a really sweet read and one I absolutely delighted in.
This is book three in the Hudson House series and while different to the others, and starting with the news that our previous characters are dead, it was a great read and leaves me looking forward with anticipation to book 4.

[Linda R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vienna Hudson, daughter of Kase and Dori (A Christmas Spark), is the sole owner of the family holdings now. She is determined to maintain their legacy. Samuel Bishop is a surveyor tasked with overseeing a road project that threatens to destroy Hudson House.

A Christmas Love is the third book in the Hudson House Holiday series by Shanna Hatfield. I enjoyed that this romance was set in the 1950s. I've always loved this time period. Having the family vacation in Seaside and Sam be from Grass Valley were nice touches.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book. I volunteered to read it and write a review. 

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful multi-generation series! After many tragedies and losses, Vienna is working hard to preserve the Hudson legacy started by her Grandfather. Sam, a surveyor for the Interstate Highway System shows up seeking to run the highway through Hudson property. As they work together to preserve as much as possible love blossoms. This author weaves a story that will tug at your heart. I sang the songs and laughed remembering the TV shows and toys from the 1950’s! I love the dedication of the family in this clean, romantic, inspirational story and eagerly await the next in this series! This is a standalone story but you will want to read the earlier books in the series.

[Nita Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas Love

Another great Christmas story and of love. Sam Bishop, a surveyor, met V.E. Hudson for the first at one of the pastures belonging to Hudson family. He had to explain his job about a highway to be constructed by the government. Vienna showed what the Hudson estate means to her and family. Sam fell in love with Vienna and vice versa with Vienna. Vienna shared some family secret like how her brother killed their parents and left her face with scar s due to shattered glass. Sam proved to Bee how she was th most important person and how much loved. A beautiful ending to the holiday season for the couple.

[Tamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not been this emotionally invested in a book in a long time. Starting off, I almost stopped reading when I read that Dori and Kase had died!! 😭😭😭 I loved their story so much. Anyway, I’m so glad I kept reading because Vienna and Sam’s story is now one of my favorites. I love how Sam helped her break away from her insecurities with patience and love but without trying to tamper her fire. Sam was a total sweetheart who wasn’t even looking for love but was blessed with it anyway, as he totally deserved 🥰! I love the faith elements as well. I’m sad there is only book left in the series, but I’m sure it will put a nice bow on it. ❤️

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tale is quite entertaining in that it contains tragedy, a heritage won by years of building and being successful. Shanna has continued the tale of the Hudson's over nearly4 generations. After a horrible and deadly car crash, the person to maintain this Heritage is physically scared and afraid to reach out or seek a future with any man. Needless to say, this will definitely have you believing in the curing of someone who values character and honesty over everything else. Enjoy the whole series of the Hudson generations.

[MaryEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vienna and Sam have a contentious first meeting, but they quickly come to respect one another and even to fall in love.

The feelings are easy, but do they stand a chance as a couple when you consider their jobs and the secrets she's hiding?

The characters are fantastic—all of them! The house and the memories it holds, the lands, and the family legacy are all integral characters in this story, too.

This book includes a super simple cheesecake recipe.
This is my voluntary review of a copy I received from the author.

[Tracy Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vienna Hudson runs the Hudson home and businesses after the loss of her parents and oldest brother. When a stranger comes knocking on the door wanting to run a road through Hudson land she isn’t happy but finds she must work with Sam Bishop or lose the only home she’s ever known and the home her family built from the ground up. This book has well written characters and storyline that draws you in and makes you feel as you’re in the book experiencing the story first hand. I found it a truly enjoyable read.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Christmas romance that tells of everlasting love, a new love, and resilience. Vienna and Sam meet under not so great circumstances. Especially when she pulls a gun on him. He is a surveyor there to assess a road that will go through her property. She will find he is trying his best to save her home while falling in love. A sweet little boy and a dog named Jingle add great warmth. Granny and Vienna's sister in law are a great support. But Vienna has an important concern she has kept hidden. When she finally opens up to Sam, it will definitely prove his love to her.

[Roni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam and Vienna share a very special love for one another. From the first time she rode toward him like a “legend from the Wild West” and aiming her gun at him he fell in love. Sam was there to survey her land for the government and she was determined at first to send him packing. Slowly Sam gains her trust and eventually her devotion. These novels are magical in the sense you want to visit Hudson House and be a part of every thing that has gone on from the very beginning of this saga. I am looking forward to reading the next novel in this series.
R. Fody
Nov. 14, 2024

[Laura Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how strong the character of Vienna was, what she went through and yet it didn't make her bitter, quite the opposite, she was full of love, compassion and generosity. Sam was also quite the character as well, he was true, honest, loyal and hard working. Together as a couple they were great, balancing each other out and Sam helped Vienna see her through his eyes when she couldn't quite see herself as she truly was. I loved seeing Holland, or as they called her Grandy, and meeting new characters like Jesse and Susie and of course seeing the Hudson House again

[Cindy y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Hudson House series takes a different turn than I expected but was beautifully written. So many times stories are all sweet and sappy, and I like those, too. This one was a little bit edgy and delved into more family drama and tragedy - and to be honest was more realistic in my opinion. While we learn of things that happened with the ancestors of Hudson House, we see the work that the current heir, Vienna, is doing to continue her family’s legacy. Loved the story!

I received an advanced copy of this book but my review is voluntary and my own opinion.

[Mrs. Darcy or Mrs. Columbo? · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just had an overall sad/depressing vibe. If it weren't for the H and nephew, I would have dropped it. A little too much of the past/repeating things from earlier books. I really didn't like the H being blocked from the h by a servant. It was annoying/frustrating/forced drama. The author also has a habit of saying one thing then doing the opposite a moment later. For example, the H had no thoughts/didn't want to settle down, get married, or start a family yet. The next chapter he talks about doing just that with the h. Shanna did this in the last book too.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a wonderful story of learning to trust and let go of the past. vienna is the head of the family now and does not want a highway to come through the land. sam is a surveyor and is there to find the best place for the highway. when they talk they decided to work together. this is a with a familey trying to move forward after they survived several tragedies you will laugh and cry. looking forward to the next book. i was given a copy of the book but this is an honest review

[Desiree Luhnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas Love is a sweet story that tugs at your heartstrings. Vienna has had more tragedy in her life than most people. She has tremendous responsibilities and people that depend on her so she has built strong walls around her heart to help her cope. Sam is there to do a job but he is drawn to the strong, spunky Vienna. I loved watching Vienna’s wall come down. Her heartaches made me weep and cheer for her happily-ever-after.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can someone with physical and emotional scars learn to live outside of their comfort zone - Viv has been hiding on the estate since the accident that scarred her for life - She finds Sam in the cow pasture and pulls her gun to get him to leave - hiding her scars is very hard to do on a daily basis - this is a great story about learning to rely on others and giving you heart a chance to heal and grow - I read a book funnel version and freely leave my opinion.