Organizing his hometown’s Fourth of July celebration was not part of combat veteran Emilio Mancini’s plan for the summer. But as he and his nieces settle into the family guesthouse of his childhood friend Kitty MacIntyre, he can’t turn down her request. As the single mom helps him figure out how to be a parent to the girls, Kitty’s unaware that the fireworks display she has her heart set on could trigger Emilio’s PTSD. But as their connection deepens and the event draws near, Kitty discovers the truth. Together, they must create a new kind of celebration for the town—one that just might spark something brighter than fireworks…
From Love Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
Holiday Haven
Book 1: A Home for Mother's Day Book 2: His Fourth of July Blessing
New York Times bestselling author of emotional, heartwarming romances. Visit http://www.leetobinmcclain.com to join newsletter, get book release details, and find out more.
Faith, forgiveness, and God's perfect timing are the backdrop for a story about life-long friendship, new family growing pains, and the way public perception can change when grace enters the picture.
Two life-long friends reunite when Emilio Mancini moves his young nieces to River Haven. Kitty MacIntyre is a single mom in charge of the small town's Fourth of July festivities, and her old friend and retired service member is just the man to help her. And in exchange, she can offer parenting advice to help him with his new charges.
I love everything this gifted wordsmith gives us, but this one has an extra dose of special. The characters are vulnerable with human flaws, but faith and trust in a plan greater than self provides a blessed life beyond imagination. Sweet, charming, and heartfelt, this is just the romance to put a smile in your heart.
I loved this story about Kitty and Emilio who grew up together as friends in River Haven. Emilio served in the military and deals with PTSD, and just became the guardian of his sister's 2 children so he came back to his hometown, living in the guest house to get help from Kitty and help her with the 4th of July celebration in town. Emilio asks help from Kitty for advice for his 12 yr old niece, Nora who has a few issues. Emilio tries to avoid any thoughts of romance with Kitty because he does not want to ruin their friendship but love can win over.
His Fourth of July Blessing by Lee Tobin McClain is a sweet second chance romance.
Emilio Mancini is caring for his two nieces. With no experience he reaches out to his long time friend, Kitty Macintyre, a single mom raising her son. She agrees to help Emilio if he will help her plan the Fourth of July town celebration. But how is he going to deal with his PTSD and fireworks?
This is a clean heartfelt romance. McClain writes a beautiful story about faith, healing and community.
I received an e- copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Love Inspired and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Lee Tobin McClain brings the reader the second novel in the Holiday Haven series with 'His Fourth of July Blessing'. Emilio Mancini has become the guardian of his two nieces and returns to his hometown for the summer. As a retired combat vet he suffers from PTSD, but agrees to help his best friend, Kitty MacIntyre with the Fourth of July celebration in exchange for her family's guesthouse. When the fireworks company she had hired closed, they must come up with a plan for the holiday celebration that will bring everyone together for a great celebration.
Set in small town Pennsylvania, this christian romance brings to life the characters of Emilio and Kitty, who each have their own challenges to deal with. There are several aspects of the military addressed. First, we have Kitty's ex-husband who was dishonorably discharged. Kitty is trying to prove that she and her son are patriotic and want to prove that by organizing a wonderful Fourth of July celebration. Second, we have Emilio dealing with his PTSD. The author does a wonderful job of addressing that within the book. Not only are they looking for a way to have a celebration without fireworks which can trigger it, but Emilio reaches out to his veteran community to get their input. Refreshing to see a group of individuals working together rather than apart.
The family dynamics between Emilio and his nieces is an honest reflection of what both of them must be feeling. To land in a situation, where one must step in to become a guardian is not an easy spot to be in, but the author does a remarkable job of bringing the character's emotions to life, so the reader can have a better understanding of them. Well done.
Of course, this is a romance that has both characters growing in their friendship, making decisions base on faith and healing together to build on their community. Their friendship was a solid foundation for the added growth to love. If you are looking for a read that celebrates the Fourth of July, then this novel is for you.
An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Holiday Haven Book 2)
Book 2 of 2: Holiday Haven Becoming a guardian won’t be his only challenge this summer…
Organizing his hometown’s Fourth of July celebration was not part of combat veteran Emilio Mancini’s plan for the summer. But as he and his nieces settle into the family guesthouse of his childhood friend Kitty MacIntyre, he can’t turn down her request. As the single mom helps him figure out how to be a parent to the girls, Kitty’s unaware that the fireworks display she has her heart set on could trigger Emilio’s PTSD. But as their connection deepens and the event draws near, Kitty discovers the truth. Together, they must create a new kind of celebration for the town—one that just might spark something brighter than fireworks… My favorite quote is
“How’d you get so smart about parenting?” he asked finally. “I was fortunate, having both parents.” She frowned, looking at the ground. “Although…”
He could tell she had something more to say. “What?”
“My mom was just…” She trailed off and waved a hand. “I’ll tell you the story sometime. I think my childhood was pretty good on balance, even though there were a few rough spots.”
I recommend reading this book. His Fourth of July Blessing by Lee Tobin McClain is a 5-star book. I am looking forward to reading more books by Lee Tobin McClain . I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own. From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.
Lee Tobin McClain has a gift for creating characters who feel like people you would genuinely enjoy knowing, and His Fourth of July Blessing is no exception. I quickly became invested in Emilio, Kitty, and the two young girls as they learned to navigate life, healing, and unexpected new beginnings together.
While I enjoyed the sweet romance and small-town setting, the aspect of this story that impacted me the most was the way it thoughtfully addressed PTSD and the importance of empathy. With several retired military members in my own family, I appreciated the reminder that holidays like the Fourth of July, while filled with celebration for many, can also be incredibly difficult for the men and women who have served our country. The author handled this topic with compassion and grace, encouraging readers to think beyond their own traditions and consider how they can honor veterans in meaningful ways.
I also loved watching Emilio and Kitty learn from one another as they supported each other through parenting challenges, past hurts, and the courage to embrace a different future than either had imagined.
This is a heartwarming story filled with faith, hope, healing, and second chances. If you enjoy wholesome romance with relatable characters and meaningful themes, I highly recommend adding His Fourth of July Blessing to your reading list. The message of empathy and understanding alone makes this book well worth the read.
This is a perfect romance with a hero who is responsible and who has flaws and vulnerabilities as well as a heroine whose heart belongs to the town and to her young son. Emilio comes to town to help Kitty prepare for the Fourth of July celebration while also establishing himself as the head of his new household since he has taken on the task of raising his two young nieces. Kitty has a place prepared for him to stay and is delighted to welcome her best friend to town and get to know him again. This is a friends to love trope and the author does a wonderful job of plotting the romance along with some drama. The parts about the PTSD of the veterans was very realistic and informative and made me think about the effect of fireworks on veterans in our area. I enjoyed the personalities of the children in the story, Mason who was bullied because of past misdeeds of his dad, and Nora and Alice, abandoned by their mom and not trusting the love of their Uncle Emilio. There is so much to enjoy about this story, but mostly I enjoyed the heartwarming aspects of family and friends coming together to celebrate and finding hope for a new and brighter future. I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
His Fourth of July Blessing by Lee Tobin McClain is a sweet, comforting small-town romance with strong family themes and a gentle emotional core. The story balances faith, healing, and second chances without becoming overly heavy, making it an easy, relaxing read for fans of wholesome romance.
The chemistry between the main characters develops naturally, and the community atmosphere gives the book a warm, lived-in feeling. The Fourth of July backdrop adds charm and nostalgia, especially with the family gatherings and small-town celebrations woven throughout the story.
What stood out most was the emotional sincerity. The characters feel believable in their struggles and hopes, and the quieter moments often work better than the more dramatic ones. The pacing is steady, though at times it can feel a little predictable, particularly if you read a lot of inspirational romance.
Overall, this is a cozy, heartfelt romance that delivers exactly what it promises: warmth, healing, family, and a satisfying happily-ever-after. A solid 4-star read for anyone who enjoys clean romance with heart and community spirit.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
His Fourth of July Blessing by Lee Tobin McClain. I must say, this is the cutest cover I've ever seen! I was in love the moment I saw it. I knew then that I had to read it. I wasn't disappointed at all! Wonderful characters that were fun to know and love. I did learn a little bit about PTSD and what might trigger it. So sad. It has to be hard to deal with. I couldn't imagine. I don't like the noise of fireworks either. Never had but they're beautiful to look at. I imagined myself watching them along with Emilio, Nora, Alice, Kitty and Mason. I really admired Emilio for taking on his nieces and wanting to do right by them. I truly enjoyed watching these amazing characters grow and find love again. I loved every minute of this sweet story.Tobin is one my favorite LIS authors. I look forward to reading her next one. I loved the supporting characters too. Of course as always 2nd chances and learning how to get past life's difficulties. It is a fast paced story that will keep you turning the pages. I enjoyed it all. 5 stars for a job well done. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
His Fourth of July Blessing by Lee Tobin McClain is the second book in the Holiday Haven series. It can be read as a standalone. Emilio, a decorated veteran with PTSD, has guardianship of his nieces, Nora and Alice, who were abandoned by their mother. He is bringing them to his hometown for the summer. They're staying in the guesthouse that his best friend since childhood, Kitty, runs with her family. Kitty is divorced and raising her son Mason. Kitty will help Emilio with his parenting skills while he agreed to help her plan the town's Fourth of July celebration. The author does a great job developing the characters to be relatable. The settings are well described so IMO it's easy for the readers to imagine themselves there. I thought the PTSD, divorce, and abandonment issues were handled with grace and respect. I enjoyed this book as I have with previous books by this author. I plan to read book #1 and look forward to reading book #3.
His Fourth of July Blessing is a quick romantic read dealing with a Fourth of July celebration suitable for veterans with PTSD....something that most of us have not thought about! Kitty McIntyre is a divorcee with a young son who runs a guest house with her father. Her childhood best friend, Emilio Mancini, has just gotten guardianship of his two nieces who were deserted by his sister and brings them back to his hometown and old friend as they get acquainted and adjust to this new relationship. Kitty enlists Emilio's help with the community Fourth of July celebration not realizing how fireworks will affect him. His Fourth of July Blessing deals with a variety of relationships including the fact that neither Emilio nor Kitty feel like "just friends" anymore. I enjoyed His Fourth of July Blessing! I received a complimentary e-book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
His Fourth of July Blessing is a found family, small town, hometown hero slow burn romance. Although there are a few things that took me out of the story overall this was a sweet book.
The author did a good job writing the relational dance that the best friends were experiencing, showing how they were drawn to each other, but also how they kept pulling back, pulling away from each other.
It’s obvious this is the second book in a series, which I didn’t notice before I read it (which is totally on me) but while I was dying of curiosity about something, my curiosity was satisfied by a reference to The Thing within this book.
I received an advance copy of this book, and my review is voluntary
I loved getting to know Kitty and her son Mason in this Holiday Haven miniseries book number 2. Her longtime friend Emilio and his two nieces, Nora and Alice come to Rich Haven for the summer to help Kitty plan the Fourth of July celebration in town.
I loved how they worked together to make the celebration more veteran/PTSD friendly. This sweet story was about reconnecting second chances and the struggles of parenthood. With faith and prayer, Kitty and Emilio found they could achieve and get thru hard things together! I really enjoyed reading this story from beginning to end! Great characters and story line.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions and views expressed are my own.
His Fourth of July Blessing by Lee Tobin McClain is the second book in the Holiday Haven series. The story's two main characters are Kitty McIntyre, a middle school English teacher and Emilio Mancini, a combat veteran who has just gained custody of his two nieces. These two characters are childhood friends, and as they work together to make the upcoming Fourth of July celebration a huge success, their feelings for each other begin to change. Will their friendship develop into something more?
This was a fun read for me. The story is filled with second chances, faith, and forgiveness.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed herein are strictly my own.
This story was naturally compelling and insightfully impactful in teaching us how veterans' suffers for their daily perspectives.
A quite captivating and emotionally journey for Kitty as she tried to organize her community 4th of July celebration. I admired her resilience and internal delmnias as I was never fully aware how fireworks are devastating, shockingly disturbing and horrifying to veterans' PTSD. The storyline of Emilo's hardship was extremely impressive, realistically relatable, and compassionatly honest.
I love how this extraordinary talented author showed development and growth in this lovable community. Highly recommended 👏👏👏
This is a remarkable book which may change your mind about how to celebrate July Fourth! It made me think! Kitty MacIntyre is determined to put on a quality Fourth of July celebration. However, her old friend Emilio Mancini shows how fireworks trigger his PTSD! She has been assisting him in his newly acquired role of parenting his two nieces, as he in return has agreed to help with the celebration planning. It was at this point that I looked up alternatives to fireworks and learned a few things! Read this book and learn! The other details of the plot served to enrich the story! I read this book with the permission of the publishers. The views expressed are my own honest opinion.
Loved this story about Kitty and Emilio who grew up together as friends. Kitty is divorced t has a son. Emilio served in the military and just became the guardian of his sister's 2 children so he came back to his hometown and living in the guest house to get help from Kitty and help her with the 4th, of July celebration in town. Follow them on this learning experience and see where it leads. A VERY GOOD READ.
I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. Emilio returns home to Holiday Haven with his nieces Nora and Alice. He is going to help his best friend Kitty with planning the 4th of July celebration. Kitty lives in one of the cottages with her son Mason Kitty and Emilio have a challenge ahead, how to celebrate the holiday without fireworks. In the meantime they have fireworks of their own. One of my favorite authors. This is a must read.
This book is filled with amazing people you will love reading about. You will read about two people who have been friends since elementary school. When Emilio returns to River Haven with his nieces there lives will change forever. Kitty and Mason are getting their lives back together after moving back home. They adventures that happen in this book will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next..
What a great book to read, especially on the 4th of July. Truly a blessing to read. The characters face a lot of issues but overcome them with the help of family & friends. Best friends are brought back together to help each other and face difficulty in their lives together. However difficult times can make it difficult for them to move forward. I loved that their small town celebration honored the veterans PTSD regarding fireworks.
This was a nice romantic story. It was set in Pennsylvania in a small town that was originally home to both of main characters. You never know what to expect when you run into old friends that you haven’t seen for a while. I enjoyed this story. I was given a complementary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.
Loved reading the inspirational and entertaining story. Since Kitty, a single mom with a son, needs help with the Fourth of July Celebration, Emillio agrees to help while Kitty helps him with his two nieces. Read the highly recommended and wonderfully written story.
Can be read as a standalone but does have, characters that overlap with other books. Reading in order recommended. Best friends to more Blending broken families Struggles dealing with PTSD from combat, parental abandonment/absence Second chances
The characters are well written and the storyline is very well written and it was great to revisit this small town and see this wounded community and visit old friends
This was a great book. Emilio has become guardian of his two nieces and is not sure how to be a parent. Kitty is in charge of the fourth of July celebration and hopes to make it good enough that the town will forget her ex-husband’s shenanigans from the year before. Can Emilio and Kitty work together to help each other? It was a heartwarming story with a very satisfying ending. I received a copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a positive review.
His Fourth of July Blessing by Lee Tobin McClain is a touching, uplifting story with charming characters and a warm setting. The author thoughtfully explores healing, family, faith, and the effects of PTSD on veterans. I especially enjoyed the friendship that grows into romance, giving the relationship a sweet and believable foundation. Although this is the second book in the Holiday Haven series, it can easily be read on its own. I truly enjoyed this heartwarming, star-spangled story.