Belki de mutluluk, elmas gibi ışıldayan bir kar tanesinde saklıdır…
Londra’da yaşayan, gezgin yazar ve araştırmacı Stella Fisher, babasının kaybı sonrası geçireceği ilk Noel’de annesinin yalnız yaşadığı çiftlik evine gitmeye karar verir. Evde onu bir sorun bekliyordur: Küçük kız kardeşi Lily’nin kimseye haber vermeden evlenmesi, zaten dağılmış gibi duran aile için ağır bir darbeden farksızdır.
Stella eve döndüğünde, yıllar önce terk ettiği Henry Dutton’la karşılaşır. Her ikisini de mahveden o yıkıcı ayrılıktan sonra Henry onunla tek kelime dahi konuşmaz. Stella da bu düşmanca tavrın ardında çok büyük bir nedenin olduğunu fark etmez. Genç kadın geçmişi geçmişte bıraktığını düşünürken, Henry’nin o mavi bakışları her şeyi tekrar su yüzüne çıkarır.
Stella, çam ağaçlarının ışıltısı altında, hayal ettiğinden çok daha fazlasını keşfedecektir. Belki de eski hayatına geri dönebilmek, kaçtıklarını kucaklamaktan geçiyordur?
Jenny Hale’in kaleminden dökülen Noel’de Buluşalım, gerçek sevginin yaşanan acılara rağmen tüm coşkusuyla bizi sarıp sarmaladığını gösteren sıcak çikolata tadında bir aşk hikâyesi…
Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies.
She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now.” Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family.
Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers. When she isn’t writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.
EXCERPT: Eleven hours ago, Stella Fisher was on the other side of the Atlantic. The day before, after a long day of research at London's St Thomas' Hospital, she'd hurried into the old market building in Covent Garden, weaving through the Christmas crowds. Under the festive bunting of British flags, she dipped into a coffee shop for a decaf latte to combat the cold December temperatures. Then with the hot beverage in hand, her boots clacking along the cobblestones, she rushed past the massive Christmas tree in the square, barely glancing at it as she headed for the station. Her laptop bag slung across her body, she stole sips from her latte as she swept through the corridors and down the escalator of the underground to grab the tube back to the edge of the city. She was ready to get home to relax and warm up, unaware that the next morning she'd be on a crowded flight out of the country.
ABOUT 'MEET ME AT CHRISTMAS': Traveling writer and researcher Stella Fisher is working in London when she's called home to her family’s farmhouse in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee to help her mother through the first Christmas without her father. Compounding the situation, her younger sister Lily has run off to get married without telling anyone.
When Stella arrives home, she doesn’t expect to find Henry Dutton, the man she’d left behind. As she could guess, after her heartbreaking exit so many years ago, he isn’t speaking to her. What she doesn’t realize, however, is there’s a much bigger reason to blame for his unfriendly reception. She quickly becomes the one person he believes can fix everything, but she isn’t sure about that. She thought she’d buried her past, yet the look in his alluring blue eyes brings it all right back to the surface.
Under the glitter of the holiday trees at the local lot called Christmas, Stella uncovers more than she’d ever imagined. Will she be able to return to her old life? Or will the unexpected be the biggest Christmas gift of all?
MY THOUGHTS: Jenny Hale has written a sweet and heart wrenching Christmas story involving second chance love. There is love, grief, family, friends, secrets and some big decisions to be made.
All the way through, I was keeping my fingers crossed for Henry and Stella but there seemed to be so many obstacles in the way of them rediscovering their love for one another, not least the devastating secret that Stella is keeping, not only from Henry but from everyone.
Stella and Henry are both grieving: Henry for his lost past, Stella for her recently deceased father and the future she has lost with Henry. Stella seems adept at running away and avoiding difficult situations. I became cross with her at the way she kept evading answering Henry's questions, reading and muttering "Tell him! Just get it over with and tell him!'
Meet Me At Christmas is an easy and entertaining read, and sure to put you in the mood for Christmas. I listened to the audiobook and Emma Love is a superb narrator.
⭐⭐⭐.7
#MeetMeatChristmas #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: When she isn’t writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, Jenny can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Dreamscape Select, Harpeth Road Press via NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of Meet Me at Christmas by Jenny Hale for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
It has been years since the last time I read one of Jenny Hale's books. I appreciate her as an author and I have followed her writing journey since her beginning, but somewhere on the way I started to postpone reading her new releases.
This year I was looking forward to see how her writing has developed and honestly, spending some time in the cozyness she usually creates in her stories was appealing to me.
Unfortunately, Meet Me at Christmas didn't do it for me. I was so excited for a small town festive story, but I didn't click with it. The writing style was, although familiar, kind of boring. At times it felt like, no matter how much time I spent reading, I didn't make mich of a progress. I am serious, it felt like I was reading a never ending story.
It could be that I felt that way because I didn't particulary like the way our MC lied and kept secrets from the guy who was a love interest, how a so small the town was that the guy (who's name I already forgot, and he is the love interest and the only somewhat young male in the book) didn't have any friends who would guide him or tell him the truth, and that even his sister didn't hold the grudge against MC. It also rubbed mw the wrong way how in 21st century people can't make connections or talk with their family. Also, family gatherings were screaming fake to me, when you can't even gather on more important accesions, like weddings. Maybe just start with a phone call, then a visit?
As you can probably conclude, this novel wasn't for me. However, I hope other readers will enjoy it more.
3.85⭐ Genre ~ fiction Setting ~ Tennessee Publication date ~ October, 17, 2023 Est Page Count ~ 276 (25 chapters +e) Audio length ~ 8 hours 14 minutes Narrator ~ Emma Love POV ~ single 3rd Featuring ~ small town, childhood sweethearts, second chance, no steamage
Stella & Henry were childhood sweethearts. When she comes back home to spend time with her mom she's surprised when Henry doesn't recognize her. What comes next is a nice, somewhat heartbreaking, second chance story for them.
I really enjoyed Stella's relationship with her mom. Her father passed away last January, so it's a hard time of year for them both, and their bond was evident. Overall, a heartwarming read.
The lovely cover just screams 'it's Christmas time'🎅🤶❄️🎄
Meet Me at Christmas by Jenny Hale Holiday contemporary romance. Second chance troupe. Stella returns home for Christmas to help her mother get through their first year without Stella’s father. But Henry is also in Leiper’s Fork, TN and Stella isn’t ready to face the man she had planned to spend her life with before it all went wrong.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook version of this book narrated by Emma Love. The performance is fantastic with distinctive voices for Stella and Henry, so much so that I double checked there wasn’t a second narrator. Emotions are clearly heard from happiness, to fear, and anxiety. I listened to the audio at a speed of 1.5 for the best conversational comfort.
I grow inpatient when situations are repeated and I wanted to yell at Stella. First because the lack of communication makes everything worse and second, she is hurting more than herself. It’s emotionally heartbreaking and ultimately heartwarming as Stella and Henry work through their history and remembering. Henry is so charming and clearly in love, I wanted the best for him. A beautiful holiday romance.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and from Dreamscape Select.
Jenny Hale's Christmas books are just what is needed to get you into the festive holiday mood. If you are ready to escape to the small town of Leiper’s Fork make sure to add this one to your holiday reading list. Available on Kindle Unlimited.
🎄Stella Fisher left her hometown 12 years ago and headed for London to become a traveling writing, but when her mother called her home to Tennessee for the holidays after her father's recent passing, she didn't hesitate, finding comfort in their first Christmas together.
🎄While at the airport, Stella finds a necklace on the ground. Unable to find the owner, she brings it with her to the farmhouse. With some research, the mysterious story of the necklace is revealed. Is it really a curse?
🎄Being home brings back mixed feelings for Stella: fond memories of family Christmases and painful memories of leaving Henry, the man she loved 12 years ago.
🎄Stella finds out that Henry returned from Afghanistan a different man. As Stella and Henry spend time together, Stella hopes that she is strong enough to share her secrets in the hopes of forgiveness and possibly a new start. What they get is so much more….
🎄I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming love story and the multiple plotlines added depth, keeping me completely captivated from start to finish.
🎄This book covers small-town living, second-chance romance, miscommunication trope (very well done), secrets, death, miscarriage/infertility and life/struggles of a veteran.
🎧 Emma Love's narration of "The Christmas Letters" was exceptional, just as it is in this book. She seamlessly shifted between various character voices and incorporated a subtle southern accent, immersing us in the Tennessee setting and drawing us into Stella's story.
It's just not Christmas until I have read a Hale Christmas book. My one gift each year is Hales book. This year I devoured Meet Me at Christmas, and I loved Stella and her mom. Henry was just icing on the cake. I highly recommend this one.
Meet me at Christmas was a very Heartwarming Christmas story and I really loved it. Henry and Stella’s story is very special. However, will their love for each overcome their past? Only time will tell. If Henry remembers their past, he may or may not forgive Stella. And will Stella stay and not run away from the secret she has kept from everyone all these years. There is a lot for these two to accept and move on together or apart. I highly recommend this book. I hope you won’t miss out. I promise you will not be disappointed. Thank you for allowing me to read and review your next book Jenny Hale.
This one had a few facets that I wasn’t expecting and it really made me like it. Huge critic of Christmas themed books but this one was well done. I love that he couldn’t remember her and he honestly didn’t have to. He was willing to take her for her word and give her a new start. It was cool that they could find a way to help each other and find a way back to each other through so much pain and heartbreak.
Това не е първата книга на авторката, която чета. Преди години бях прочела нейна книга и не бях впечатлена особено. Когато видях новият ѝ романтичен коледен роман с прекрасната синя корица и порезки, посегнах към нея с много надежда. Пожелах да разбера дали авторката има градация в писането на историите си, дали е развила романтичната нишка на по-високо ниво. Уви, за съжаление и тази нейна книга не успя да ме докосне. Причината за това е, че не я почувствах като коледна и вълшебна история, която да ме зареди с настроение. През повечето време героите бяха с насълзени очи, а това не предразполага към празнично чувство. Стела е загубила баща си преди една година и се прибира по спешност в родното си градче. Майка ѝ продължава да страда за баща ѝ, а двете си спомнят с носталгия за него. Във всяка глава имаме описание на тяхната тъга, очите им блестят от сълзи, а майката все крие мокрите си кърпички, за да не я види Стела. Бащата и спомените за него също присъстват във всяка глава и се получава едно безкрайно повторение. Навръх Коледа Стела и Хенри се срещат отново след дълги години драматична раздяла. Хенри е с амнезия, а Стела има кариера. Но на солидните 31 години тя продължава да бяга от проблемите си, вместо да се изправи срещу тях. Не ми хареса отношението ѝ към Хенри, това че го лъжеше, бягаше от него и премълчаваше доста истини. Романтиката напомняше на филм на Холмарк, което принципно не е лошо, харесвам филмите. Самият сюжет беше изпълнен с топли семейни взаимоотношения и имаше лека мистерия с един син диамант, но за мен нищо от това не беше достатъчно, за да ме докосне емоционално. Стилът на авторката е лек, книгата се чете бързо и съм сигурна, че ще се хареса на феновете ѝ, макар аз да не успях да оценя историята.
„Да се срещнем на Коледа“ е от онези книги, които те унасят още от първите страници. Толкова се бях потопила в историята на Стела и Хенри, че докато съм нощна смяна, дори не усетих кога е дошъл клиент… Чета си, забравила света, а в съзнанието ми се сипят коледни снежинки и проблясват празнични светлини. ❄️🎄
Стела се прибира в Лейпърс Форк за първите празници без баща си и решава да съчетае работата с уютa на родното място. Градчето е толкова приказно украсено, че в сърцето ѝ се настанява топлина, която сякаш е чакала точно този момент. А срещата с Хенри – мъжа, когото някога е оставила – е като малко чудо. Съдбата обича да ни връща там, където ни е мястото… и този път не прави изключение.
Хенри, пациент с амнезия, не помни коя е Стела – но привлечението помежду им отново пламва под коледните гирлянди и звънтящия празничен въздух. Това е история, която доказва, че когато нещо е писано да се случи, просто няма как да избягаш от него. ✨
Stella Fisher is working and living in London as a writer and researcher. Her dad passed away and this is “the year of firsts” without him. She returns home to Leipers Fork, Tennessee to help her mother navigate the first Christmas without her father. Stella isn’t looking forward to the trip home for many reasons. One is the fact that her younger sister Lily eloped, and the last person she expected to see is Henry Dutton, the man she left behind. With his cold and stand-offish reception she is ready to turn around and head right back to London. She soon realizes that the reason she is there is to help her mother, so, leaving in an instant may be what she wants to do but exactly what she cannot do. She enjoys the holiday season with the snow falling ever so beautifully in her picturesque town. The lights twinkling inside the homes and businesses and the buzz of the locals on the streets, maybe this is exactly the kind of Christmas she needed.
Meet Me at Christmas by author Jenny Hale is the perfect Christmas story I have been waiting for all year. Hale does it again, with a perfectly written story of making you feel like you just walked into Christmas. At the turn of each page, all my senses were sent into overdrive. With the sights, sounds, and feels of Christmas it made me want to start unpacking the decorations and put up the tree. This story has all the feels from laughter, love, tears and of course the smell of fresh cookies. I loved everything about this book, especially the detailed description of Leipers Fork, Tennessee. I am so ready for the Christmas season to begin and now that I read Jenny Hale’s new Christmas book the snow can start falling. This unputdownable story played out like a warm and cozy movie in my mind. This book would make a wonderful gift for yourself and all of your friends and family that love to read. This is definitely going to be a repeat read for me. I loved everything about this book and I highly recommend it.
Meet Me at Christmas is a heartwarming Christmas story, each page filled with over and memories. Besides being a romance, this is an endearing book about family and home, perfect for reading during the holidays.
This is a small town holiday story with so many heartfelt moments. I’ve never read anything by Jenny Hale but definitely will again.
Stella living in London gets a call from her mom and decides to go home for the holidays. This is the first Christmas without her dad and she regrets not spending more time at home with her parents and sister.
Once home she runs into her ex Henry and for some reason he is acting strange. Not wanting to spoil it too much I will leave it at that.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select, Harpeth Road Press for this early audio arc.
“ Christmas is what family’s all about. It’s the season of happiness “
Meet Me at Christmas is a heartwarming holiday read that will pull at your heartstrings set in small town Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. The author writes about small towns where people value connection and each other. While this is a holiday romance, it is also so much more as it deals with family, loss, and past secrets.
Stella Fisher is a lead researcher and travel writer for Brain Borders magazine. Stella, currently working in London, receives a call to come home to her family’s farmhouse in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee to help her mother through the first Christmas without her father. Adding to the situation, her younger sister Lily has run off to get married without telling anyone.
When Stella arrives home, she doesn’t expect to run into Henry Dutton, her first and only love, the man she’d left behind. Henry isn’t speaking to her, rightfully so, after her heartbreaking exit many years ago. What Stella doesn’t realize is there’s a much bigger reason for Henry’s behavior. Henry suddenly believes that Stella is the one person who can fix everything. Stella is hesitant that she can help after burying her past so many years ago.
Under the twinkling lights and magic at the local lot called Christmas, Stella discovers more than she imagined. Stella must decide will she return to her old life or the life she had dreamed about so many years ago.
Jenny Hale’s Christmas novels are just lovely.This book is full of heart and emotion with a few twists along the way. I love Christmas stories that deal with love, family, friends and community. Another fantastic story from Jenny Hale written straight from the heart.
A special thank you to Harpeth Road Press for the advanced copy.
Stella Fisher lives in London and is a researcher for Brain Borders Magazine after deciding medical school was not for her. The international travel was what made this job attractive. When she gets a call from her mom that she needs to come home early for Christmas, she flies home. Stella arranged for an assignment at Vanderbilt Hospital, so she could spend more time with her mom. It’s not the same after her Pop died as she could see her mother grieving. Her sister, Lily, is in Costa Rica, so it’s just the two of them for Christmas. Stella finds out her mom never organized the annual Christmas parade. Can she help her mom pull it off on short notice? Can her time at home help her mom? How will she juggle the emotional toll of being home?
When Stella reports to work at Vanderbilt Hospital, her first patient to interview is Henry, a man she had grown up with and had once been married to. Henry suffered a brain injury while serving in the Army, where he has no memory of his recent past, including their marriage. She had to pretend that she didn’t know him because she needed to research and write this article as her promotion depended on it. Can she pull it off? Will she be able to help Henry and will they reconnect? If Henry starts to remember ,will he get angry and push her away after leaving him?
Wow, just wow, this book is incredible. From the story, to the characters, this book will have you hooked from the beginning. Jenny Hale takes heavy hitting topics such as death of a parent/spouse, brain injury, failed relationships and weaves them into a heartfelt and engaging story that will leave you feeling satisfied with a happy ending! A great book for your next book club! As this book will spark many great discussions!
Stella Fisher has returned home to Tennessee for Christmas. Her mother needs her as this is the first Christmas they are facing since the death of her father. Her sister, Lily, has run off to get married giving the rest of the family little to no details, so it's just her and her mother this holiday season. Stella has been consumed as a writer and researcher, so she hopes to continue working on her piece while at home this holiday season. Her piece requires her to do some research and observation at the local hospital, and while there she runs into Henry Dutton, her ex, who she didn't leave on good terms. Slowly, Stella gets used to being back at home and dealing with her ex, running into his sister, and helping her mother with her holiday plans. It feels good to be home, but the more time she spends with Henry the more she is questioning things, not to mention, what exactly happened to him. Henry is dealing with a lot and Stella has just scratched the surface. Meet Me at Christmas by Jenny Hale is a sweet story filled with tender moments and reminiscent of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Read the rest of my review here: http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review thanks to Harpeth Road Press.
Blurb
Traveling writer and researcher Stella Fisher is working in London when she's called home to her family’s farmhouse in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee to help her mother through the first Christmas without her father. Compounding the situation, her younger sister Lily has run off to get married without telling anyone.
When Stella arrives home, she doesn’t expect to find Henry Dutton , the man she’d left behind. As she could guess, after her heartbreaking exit so many years ago, he isn’t speaking to her. What she doesn’t realize, however, is there’s a much bigger reason to blame for his unfriendly reception. She quickly becomes the one person he believes can fix everything, but she isn’t sure about that. She thought she’d buried her past, yet the look in his alluring blue eyes brings it all right back to the surface.
Under the glitter of the holiday trees at the local lot called Christmas, Stella uncovers more than she’d ever imagined. Will she be able to return to her old life? Or will the unexpected be the biggest Christmas gift of all?
A heartwarming holiday escape that will have you rushing to your loved ones this Christmas. If you enjoyed the Christmas movies based on Jenny’s books and are looking for more feel-good, small-town romance, look no further!
My Opinion
It isn't Christmas until you have read the latest festive release by Jenny Hale. Thos is a stunning novel that will really make you feel like it is time to decorate for the holidays already. Stella is returning home to spend the first Christmas with her mother since her father had passed away early in the year. I took this book everywhere with me and read it at every available opportunity.
This was such an easy book to get lost in and whilst it plays with your emotions, it is a great book to read. Jenny Hale has written another stunning book and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
Years earlier, Stella Fisher was married to Henry Dutton when she was only 18. She realizes she has made a mistake and asks for an annulment. She leaves town and doesn't return. She now lives and works as a writer and researcher living in London, but is called home to Leiper's Fork, Tennessee to help her mother get through her first Christmas without her father. Stella is surprised when she runs into Henry, and he doesn't seem to remember her. She is also going to be observing the treatment of a patient with memory loss for an article she is writing and is shocked to see that it is Henry. He enlisted in the military after she left town and had an injury that left him with a traumatic brain injury. As she spends time with Henry, his memory begins to come back as well as the feelings they used to have for each other.
Meet Me at Christmas is a sweet romance with a great setting and wonderful characters. I loved how patient Stella was with Henry as they traversed their memories and spent time together. Henry was happy for the first time in a long time and that seemed to trigger their memories. There were obstacles along the way and it takes a while to find out the reason that Stella left so many years before. This book triggered lots of emotions, there is grief, anger, guilt, happiness and love. The relationships between the characters was well developed and I related to them in different ways. There is a happy ending and I loved how it turned out as well as enjoying the journey with Stella and Henry. This was an easy story to listen to, with a wonderful narrator. Emma Love does a great job with the voices, tone, pacing and expression. I recommend this one in audiobook if you enjoy listening.
Stella Fisher left Leiper’s Fork long ago to pursue a career traveling the world and writing for a medical publication. Though she loves her job, her heart has always remained in her quaint Tennessee hometown and with her first love, Henry Dutton.
When she returns home for Christmas, the first since losing her beloved father, she realizes that though it looks the same, things have changed, especially with Henry, who is very different from the boy she fell in love with. Now she must face her choices—the ones she ran away from years ago. Can the magic of Christmas, the nostalgia of coming home, and a mysterious necklace bring Stella the joy that she’s been longing for?
I absolutely devoured this book. You will fall in love with Stella and Henry’s story and will be rooting for them from the start. I especially enjoyed how Stella’s father’s voice pops up throughout the novel, encouraging his daughter. His words are ones to live by.
A heartwarming story that will keep you wishing for more. This is a must for readers who enjoy holiday-inspired books.
Warm up your coffee or your cocoa and enjoy this sweet Christmas read. Great characters, good development, interesting dynamics. It's your typical miscommunication keeps a couple from being together and leaves you rooting for them the entire way. How many times in life do we love people from afar and feel disappointed because we are too stubborn or think we already know things which we do not? This story works through these issues, but with some themes I hadn't read before, so I like that it had something different mixed in. It was an engaging story that felt realistic and nostalgic with Christmas sprinkled in. What more could you want from a cozy Christmas novel?
Listened to this one on audio and the narrator was excellent, too.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Select, Harpeth Road Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
Not my typical witty banter read, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would! Very hallmark Christmas movie vibes. Once again, pro-marriage and pro-family. Mom, you will enjoy this one for sure!
A sweet and entertaining Christmas love story. I really enjoyed the audio version while sewing a Christmas quilt, so it was a perfect fit and a lovely escape from holiday chaos 🎁
Almost a bit too Hallmark for me. It wasn’t bad, just felt very generic with an over the top type ending. Not terrible, just not something that stuck with me but maybe somebody who loves Hallmark Christmas season!