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Chapel of Love #1
A Christmas Bride
A season of hope . . .
'Tis the season in Shenandoah Falls and the first time Willow Peterson has been home in years. But she's determined to fulfill the wishes of her recently deceased best friend and restore Eagle Hill Manor to its former glory-all in time to host the perfect holiday wedding. She just has to get the owner of the historic inn to hire her. Unfortunately, that means dealing with Scrooge himself...
After the death of his wife, David Lyndon has a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But as December counts down and the wedding planning is in full swing, it's harder and harder to stay immune to the charms of Willow, especially when he sees how much joy she brings his eight-year-old daughter. After a simple kiss under the mistletoe turns into something more, David is hoping he can turn the magic of the holiday season into the love of a lifetime.
'Tis the season in Shenandoah Falls and the first time Willow Peterson has been home in years. But she's determined to fulfill the wishes of her recently deceased best friend and restore Eagle Hill Manor to its former glory-all in time to host the perfect holiday wedding. She just has to get the owner of the historic inn to hire her. Unfortunately, that means dealing with Scrooge himself...
After the death of his wife, David Lyndon has a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But as December counts down and the wedding planning is in full swing, it's harder and harder to stay immune to the charms of Willow, especially when he sees how much joy she brings his eight-year-old daughter. After a simple kiss under the mistletoe turns into something more, David is hoping he can turn the magic of the holiday season into the love of a lifetime.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 27, 2016
82 people are currently reading
1024 people want to read
About the author
Hope Ramsay
36 books559 followersHope Ramsay is a USA Today bestselling author of heartwarming contemporary romances, set below the Mason-Dixon Line. Her children are grown, but she has a beloved fur baby, Daisy the Cockapoo who keeps her entertained. Hope lives in the medium-sized town of Fredericksburg, Virginia and when she’s not writing or walking the dog, she spends her time knitting and noodling around on her collection of guitars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
December 4, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a warmhearted read that's perfect for the holiday season. From the setting to the characters and importance of family, it truly captured what's important.
It did take me a bit to warm up to David's character as he seemed so cold in the beginning of the novel. Considering the circumstances he faced, that coldness was understandable but even once he 'warmed' up, it took me a while to get past it.
If you are looking for a quick, cute, and heartwarming read for Christmas....look no further and add this one to the list.
***Thank you to Forever Publishing for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
This was a warmhearted read that's perfect for the holiday season. From the setting to the characters and importance of family, it truly captured what's important.
It did take me a bit to warm up to David's character as he seemed so cold in the beginning of the novel. Considering the circumstances he faced, that coldness was understandable but even once he 'warmed' up, it took me a while to get past it.
If you are looking for a quick, cute, and heartwarming read for Christmas....look no further and add this one to the list.
***Thank you to Forever Publishing for sending me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review***
September 15, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2cwRaG6
Ramsay has a lovely way of mending hearts and broken souls. Love, hope, a little humor. A Christmas Bride was a beautiful romance and start to a new series.
The quick of it is that after many years away Willow's life has gone sideways and she's come home to start over. And it's brought her face to face with the world her best friend left behind when she was tragically killed years earlier. A husband and young child still struggling through the loss and a falling apart inn that her friend dreamed of restoring. And they speak to her soul in a way little has for a very long time. A little Christmas magic in the air, a determined spirit, and the strength of family and friends might bring a bit of happiness in time for the holidays.
David and Willow just grabbed my heart. I loved these two.Ached for them and wanted them to get past their hang ups and start healing. He's feeling quite scroogy this holiday season (for good reason) and she's struggling with finding purpose and embracing the heck out of Christmas in the mean time. I loved the way she brought people together and how kind and caring she was. And I loved seeing it rub off on him even if he put up some fight. They were so good together even if it took them some time to get past their hesitations (their connection via his late wife was difficult for each of them) and grumbles. They had fantastic chemistry together but there was just a small amount of on-page heat.
Then there was his daughter. I adored her. She's darling. Kids can be risky in a romance but I thought it was perfectly done and loved seeing both David and Willow with her. She had a lot of healing to do as well and I loved that they were in her corner.
Now the secondary characters. There were so many I just adored and hope to see in future reads and then there were a good handful of them I wanted to run over with a freaking truck! Goodness but David and Willow had a lot they had to deal with. I would have liked a bit more of a smack down--blood thirsty I know!-- with some of them but I was glad to see them each finding their backbone and not letting others run over them.
All in all, Ramsay brought the spirit of Christmas to the pages with an emotionally charged and touching romance that left ribbons of love and hope in the air. Wonderfully done!
December 3, 2019
A CHRISTMAS BRIDE is not my first time reading Hope Ramsay and I was emotionally invested in this story from the very first chapter. It is why Hope Ramsay is an auto buy author for me. Willow Peterson has left New York City and is back home in Shenandoah Falls for the first time in years. She needs to find something to do with her life or she knows and feels like she is going to go off the deep end…and it’s a very short drive! She’s decided to restore and reopen Eagle Hill Manor, an inn that held a very special place in her heart as well as in her recently deceased friend, Shelly’s heart.
A CHRISTMAS BRIDE is the kind of story that will stay with you for a long time after you finish reading. David Lyndon, mourning the death of Shelly, his wife, has a bah humbug attitude towards Christmas. He is struggling in his role as a parent to his 8 year old daughter, Natalie. Willow is Natalie’s godmother, but has neglected to spend time with her. David has always been a loyal son to his politically connected family, following in his father’s footsteps in running for office. What I liked about A CHRISTMAS BRIDE is that David plays the role of Scrooge. He wants nothing to do with Christmas and Willow does everything she can to get him to open and up and learn to enjoy and celebrate the holiday. Slowly, she begins to worm her way into David’s heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading A CHRISTMAS BRIDE. It is funny and heart warming and filled with so many different emotions. There is so much going on in this story, but Hope Ramsay does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All the characters are very real and believable. David has to get past the grief for his wife and decide if it’s alright to get involved with his wife’s best friend and a woman who is not ideal political wife material particularly because she has her own reputation after the way she was trashed in the New York papers. Once you finish devouring this fun and heart warming story you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A CHRISTMAS BRIDE is the kind of story that will stay with you for a long time after you finish reading. David Lyndon, mourning the death of Shelly, his wife, has a bah humbug attitude towards Christmas. He is struggling in his role as a parent to his 8 year old daughter, Natalie. Willow is Natalie’s godmother, but has neglected to spend time with her. David has always been a loyal son to his politically connected family, following in his father’s footsteps in running for office. What I liked about A CHRISTMAS BRIDE is that David plays the role of Scrooge. He wants nothing to do with Christmas and Willow does everything she can to get him to open and up and learn to enjoy and celebrate the holiday. Slowly, she begins to worm her way into David’s heart.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading A CHRISTMAS BRIDE. It is funny and heart warming and filled with so many different emotions. There is so much going on in this story, but Hope Ramsay does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All the characters are very real and believable. David has to get past the grief for his wife and decide if it’s alright to get involved with his wife’s best friend and a woman who is not ideal political wife material particularly because she has her own reputation after the way she was trashed in the New York papers. Once you finish devouring this fun and heart warming story you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2016
Willow Peterson hasn't been home to Shenandoah Falls in years but after the passing of her good friend she feels she needs to return to honor her memory. Willow plans to finish the job of restoring the historic inn Eagle Hill Manor to its former glory just in time for a holiday wedding.
David Lyndon is the widower of Willow's old friend and has a scrooge like attitude towards the holidays now that his wife is gone. The more time that David spends with Willow though he starts falling for her charms especially since he sees how good she is with his daughter.
A Christmas Bride is the second book I've read by Hope Ramsay and while I can still say she's a wonderful writer I just didn't love this couple as much as I hoped. It was fun to return to the setting of Shenandoah Falls and I did like Willow but David just never grew on me at all. He's a bit of the stuffy type and still grieving over his ex but then suddenly in love with Willow, I just didn't quite see them as a couple to fall in love with their story.
However, even without completely loving this couple myself I still think others may enjoy the story. Shenandoah Falls is a lovely little town where everyone knows everyone else and the small town is a great setting for a romance read so I'd definitely continue the series in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
David Lyndon is the widower of Willow's old friend and has a scrooge like attitude towards the holidays now that his wife is gone. The more time that David spends with Willow though he starts falling for her charms especially since he sees how good she is with his daughter.
A Christmas Bride is the second book I've read by Hope Ramsay and while I can still say she's a wonderful writer I just didn't love this couple as much as I hoped. It was fun to return to the setting of Shenandoah Falls and I did like Willow but David just never grew on me at all. He's a bit of the stuffy type and still grieving over his ex but then suddenly in love with Willow, I just didn't quite see them as a couple to fall in love with their story.
However, even without completely loving this couple myself I still think others may enjoy the story. Shenandoah Falls is a lovely little town where everyone knows everyone else and the small town is a great setting for a romance read so I'd definitely continue the series in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
September 30, 2016
Ahhhh – bah humbug! When I saw that one of my favorite authors – Hope Ramsey – had a new book out I just didn’t think, I just reacted. I snatched it up as quickly as I could without reading the synopsis. When it arrived on my Paperwhite I started to read and suddenly it hit me – this is a widower romance.
Up until now I have yet to meet an author who could write a widower romance that didn’t have me cringing or wishing that the heroine would find someone new and save herself from a lot of heartache. Most widower romance I have read are unrealistic and sacrifice the heroine’s feelings just to that there is a so called HEA. As you can tell these are not my favorite romances to read.
Thankfully Ms. Ramsey was able to do a much better job writing this kind of romance. I was able to only cringe a few times but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. There was several times I feel Ms. Ramsey even got the feelings and emotions just perfect! I am so happy I was able to enjoy this book the way I did!
A Christmas Bride is the very first book in the Chapel of Love series. The next book titled A Small Town Bride is due to be published next year and I already read an excerpt and now I can’t wait to get it!
Up until now I have yet to meet an author who could write a widower romance that didn’t have me cringing or wishing that the heroine would find someone new and save herself from a lot of heartache. Most widower romance I have read are unrealistic and sacrifice the heroine’s feelings just to that there is a so called HEA. As you can tell these are not my favorite romances to read.
Thankfully Ms. Ramsey was able to do a much better job writing this kind of romance. I was able to only cringe a few times but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. There was several times I feel Ms. Ramsey even got the feelings and emotions just perfect! I am so happy I was able to enjoy this book the way I did!
A Christmas Bride is the very first book in the Chapel of Love series. The next book titled A Small Town Bride is due to be published next year and I already read an excerpt and now I can’t wait to get it!
December 5, 2016
Willow Peterson's returning home to her hometown of Shenandoah Falls after she has been vilified for being a "whistle blower" at the company she had been working for. Her best friend, Shelly, died a couple years ago, her mother is the town trouble maker, and Willow felt she had little left to bring her home. Willow could use some friends and a fresh start. David Lyndon, mourning the death of Shelly, his wife, has a bah humbug attitude towards Christmas. He is struggling in his role as a parent to his 8 year old daughter, Natalie. Willow is Natalie's godmother, but has neglected to spend time with her. David has always been a loyal son to his politically connected family, following in his father's footsteps in running for office. David and Natalie still live at Eagle Hill Manor, owned by his mother-in-law, Poppy. Shelly dreamed of restoring the Inn to it's once glorious state. When David's cousin and his fiancée ask to use the Inn for their Christmas wedding, Willow is hired to prepare the Inn for the festivities. Willow and David find themselves bumping into each other and sparks begin to fly. But they each feel they are an unsuitable match. With so many obstacles and family objections in their way, can David and Willow find a way to nurture and foster their relationship?
Filled with likeable and not so likeable, one you want to slap, characters, "A Christmas Bride" is a perfect holiday romance.
Filled with likeable and not so likeable, one you want to slap, characters, "A Christmas Bride" is a perfect holiday romance.
November 12, 2016
A Christmas Bride is by an author that I have come to anticipate good things after reading her Last Chance series. She does small town and colorful characters so well. A Christmas Bride was no exception as there is a new small town in Shenandoah Falls and a new set of town characters to love and enjoy while getting a delightful, heartwarming romance at the core.
The story opens with the ignominious return of newly branded rebel and troublemaker, Willow Petersen, to her hometown. Willow is nothing like her hippie, vegan, cause-demonstrating mother, but now people paint her with the same brush because she blew the whistle on corporate fraud when her CEO boyfriend wouldn't fix the defective hip replacement pieces they sold to Medicaid recipients. He sicced the media and his lawyers on her so everyone thinks she is merely a disgruntled former employee and bitter ex. Christmas is looking bleak this year. What will she do with her life now?
Widower and son of the area's political royalty, David Lyndon, is none too pleased about the return of his dead wife's best friend and absentee god-mother to his daughter. He just wants to sell the old inn that reminds him of his past with Shelly and move on to running for Congress. But with the arrival of Willow, he is faced with pressure to host his cousin's wedding at the inn, fixing up the inn for the wedding, seeing his daughter come alive under Willow's attention, working with Willow to bring the inn back to life, and also his family's expectations that he chuck it all and focus on his future. David has followed his family's expectation for him all his life, but now Willow and his other friends in town are encouraging him to step out and do something for himself.
Alright, this was a delightful holiday story. I love it when the holidays are more than a passing bit and play a role. David's wife died around the time of Christmas so he has shut down any love for it though he tries for the sake of his daughter who is also struggling after the loss of her mother. Shelly was the light and fun-loving parent and David the shy, serious one. The inn is also home to Shelly's widowed mother who thinks she is old and on the shelf, but she misses the wonderful Christmas events the old inn was known for. Willow wants to fulfill Shelly's dream of bringing the old inn back to life and feels a Christmas wedding is a good starter while working hard to find investors and be the one to buy the inn to become a destination wedding location.
The romance is not simple. The pair have been friends for years and never felt that sort of attraction until now. David has to get past the grief for his wife and decide if it's alright to get involved with his wife's best friend and a woman who is not ideal political wife material particularly because she has her own reputation after the way she was trashed in the NYC papers. Willow also has to get over the fact that David is her best friend's widower husband and that he comes from the wealthy and powerful Lyndon clan. She worries that the stirring up will eventually drive David away and also not be good for his daughter. But, through it all, it is obvious that the pair of them are very good for each other and for a lonely little girl. I enjoyed that there was conflict, but it didn't over-balance. Both sides have their issues and must work through them.
The pace was gentle and it was mostly character-driven drama. Good Lord did David's mom ooze the drama. I just wanted someone to bump her off-balance into the icy fishing river and be done. I enjoyed the secondary winter romance going on, but also the camaraderie and fun scenes with a multi-generational group of all the other friends and family. There are some curious and fun folk that hopefully will get stories of their own.
All in all, this was a great beginning to a series (though I do need to go back for the prequel novella) and I can't wait to continue with the next story. These would be great for those who love sweet with a bit of spice small town contemporary romance.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
The story opens with the ignominious return of newly branded rebel and troublemaker, Willow Petersen, to her hometown. Willow is nothing like her hippie, vegan, cause-demonstrating mother, but now people paint her with the same brush because she blew the whistle on corporate fraud when her CEO boyfriend wouldn't fix the defective hip replacement pieces they sold to Medicaid recipients. He sicced the media and his lawyers on her so everyone thinks she is merely a disgruntled former employee and bitter ex. Christmas is looking bleak this year. What will she do with her life now?
Widower and son of the area's political royalty, David Lyndon, is none too pleased about the return of his dead wife's best friend and absentee god-mother to his daughter. He just wants to sell the old inn that reminds him of his past with Shelly and move on to running for Congress. But with the arrival of Willow, he is faced with pressure to host his cousin's wedding at the inn, fixing up the inn for the wedding, seeing his daughter come alive under Willow's attention, working with Willow to bring the inn back to life, and also his family's expectations that he chuck it all and focus on his future. David has followed his family's expectation for him all his life, but now Willow and his other friends in town are encouraging him to step out and do something for himself.
Alright, this was a delightful holiday story. I love it when the holidays are more than a passing bit and play a role. David's wife died around the time of Christmas so he has shut down any love for it though he tries for the sake of his daughter who is also struggling after the loss of her mother. Shelly was the light and fun-loving parent and David the shy, serious one. The inn is also home to Shelly's widowed mother who thinks she is old and on the shelf, but she misses the wonderful Christmas events the old inn was known for. Willow wants to fulfill Shelly's dream of bringing the old inn back to life and feels a Christmas wedding is a good starter while working hard to find investors and be the one to buy the inn to become a destination wedding location.
The romance is not simple. The pair have been friends for years and never felt that sort of attraction until now. David has to get past the grief for his wife and decide if it's alright to get involved with his wife's best friend and a woman who is not ideal political wife material particularly because she has her own reputation after the way she was trashed in the NYC papers. Willow also has to get over the fact that David is her best friend's widower husband and that he comes from the wealthy and powerful Lyndon clan. She worries that the stirring up will eventually drive David away and also not be good for his daughter. But, through it all, it is obvious that the pair of them are very good for each other and for a lonely little girl. I enjoyed that there was conflict, but it didn't over-balance. Both sides have their issues and must work through them.
The pace was gentle and it was mostly character-driven drama. Good Lord did David's mom ooze the drama. I just wanted someone to bump her off-balance into the icy fishing river and be done. I enjoyed the secondary winter romance going on, but also the camaraderie and fun scenes with a multi-generational group of all the other friends and family. There are some curious and fun folk that hopefully will get stories of their own.
All in all, this was a great beginning to a series (though I do need to go back for the prequel novella) and I can't wait to continue with the next story. These would be great for those who love sweet with a bit of spice small town contemporary romance.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2020
This is the first book to a series and very sweet Christmas romance. Willow hasn't been home to Shenandoah Falls for a very long time. Her friend passed away so she came home to honor her memory. So Willow decides to finish the job of restoring the historic Inn Eagle Hill Manor in time for a Christmas wedding.
After the death of his wife, David Lyndon has a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But as December counts down and the wedding planning is in full swing, it's harder and harder to stay immune to the charms of Willow, especially when he sees how much joy she brings his eight-year-old daughter, Natalie.
I loved Natalie, she wasn't a whiny brat like they are in some romance novels. David's mother on the other hand I wanted to strangle.
Mrs. M and her bridge club were my favorite part of the book, as well as Willow's mother. The bridge club playing matchmaker and gossipers.
I received this from Forever for review.
#Forever #hoperamsay
After the death of his wife, David Lyndon has a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But as December counts down and the wedding planning is in full swing, it's harder and harder to stay immune to the charms of Willow, especially when he sees how much joy she brings his eight-year-old daughter, Natalie.
I loved Natalie, she wasn't a whiny brat like they are in some romance novels. David's mother on the other hand I wanted to strangle.
Mrs. M and her bridge club were my favorite part of the book, as well as Willow's mother. The bridge club playing matchmaker and gossipers.
I received this from Forever for review.
#Forever #hoperamsay
February 11, 2017
Original Review on: http://pastriesandnovelthoughts.weebl...
A Christmas Bride is a short, cute, holiday read. Although the novel is called A Christmas Bride, the majority of it takes place in November. I liked this novel, didn't love it but I'd probably read again if only to get in the holiday spirit.
A Christmas Bride is about a young woman who has just had her heart broken and her named tainted. She flees the city, moving back to her home town. There she meets her God daughter and her deceased best friends widower who wants nothing to do with her. In this town she searches for redemption, acceptance, and a new path to take in her life.
What I didn't like: The fact that this book introduces quite a few characters but we don't get to really know any of them is kinda a bummer. More than half the characters in this novel are talked about more than actually being in the novel. I would have wished to get to know some of the key characters a little bit better. Something that nagged at me greatly throughout this book was that Willow talked about wishing she had a mom like Mrs. M, her best friends mother. I feel like this made Willow seem kinda like a brat for the simple fact her mom was great. How Hope describes Willows mom you can tell that, although she is a bit on the odd spectrum, she loves and cares a great deal about Willow. So yeah, this bothered me.
Honesty time! I don't really like David, he's just not a character I connected with. I don't think he was a badly written character. Just one of those character that you love to hate I think. Although David's character got better, after undergoing some major personality checks, in the ending of the story he was still eh to me.
Probably my biggest problem with this book, or any other book for that matter, is unnecessary sex scenes. Now this book just had one, and was like three pages long (i think, I skipped over it…), but I personally don't think there was any need for it. The novel could've gone without it but I digress.
What I like: I really loved the fact that this book was told not only in Willows narrative but in David's and Mrs. M. It makes the book so much more enjoyable. I think out of the whole story my favorite character would have to be Mrs. M. I love reading her point of views because you get to see an older woman's perspective in life. You get to really see how Mrs. M interacts with people her age and how she deals with new romance as a widow.
Willow herself was an okay character, she maybe could have been more fleshed out. David as I said, I wasn't really a fan but out of all the characters, he's probably the character you get to know best in this novel. I adore the fact that this book puts you in the holiday spirit. There was a lot of activities going on, family dinners, matchmaking and chats with friends. Festive.
I rated this book a Three.
Although I had some issues with the characters and unnecessary scene(s) in this novel, I liked it. This book is a cute, winter romance. Quick read and easy to get into. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good holiday romance.
*I RECEIVED THIS NOVEL IN EXCHANGE FOR A HONEST REVIEW.*
A Christmas Bride is a short, cute, holiday read. Although the novel is called A Christmas Bride, the majority of it takes place in November. I liked this novel, didn't love it but I'd probably read again if only to get in the holiday spirit.
A Christmas Bride is about a young woman who has just had her heart broken and her named tainted. She flees the city, moving back to her home town. There she meets her God daughter and her deceased best friends widower who wants nothing to do with her. In this town she searches for redemption, acceptance, and a new path to take in her life.
What I didn't like: The fact that this book introduces quite a few characters but we don't get to really know any of them is kinda a bummer. More than half the characters in this novel are talked about more than actually being in the novel. I would have wished to get to know some of the key characters a little bit better. Something that nagged at me greatly throughout this book was that Willow talked about wishing she had a mom like Mrs. M, her best friends mother. I feel like this made Willow seem kinda like a brat for the simple fact her mom was great. How Hope describes Willows mom you can tell that, although she is a bit on the odd spectrum, she loves and cares a great deal about Willow. So yeah, this bothered me.
Honesty time! I don't really like David, he's just not a character I connected with. I don't think he was a badly written character. Just one of those character that you love to hate I think. Although David's character got better, after undergoing some major personality checks, in the ending of the story he was still eh to me.
Probably my biggest problem with this book, or any other book for that matter, is unnecessary sex scenes. Now this book just had one, and was like three pages long (i think, I skipped over it…), but I personally don't think there was any need for it. The novel could've gone without it but I digress.
What I like: I really loved the fact that this book was told not only in Willows narrative but in David's and Mrs. M. It makes the book so much more enjoyable. I think out of the whole story my favorite character would have to be Mrs. M. I love reading her point of views because you get to see an older woman's perspective in life. You get to really see how Mrs. M interacts with people her age and how she deals with new romance as a widow.
Willow herself was an okay character, she maybe could have been more fleshed out. David as I said, I wasn't really a fan but out of all the characters, he's probably the character you get to know best in this novel. I adore the fact that this book puts you in the holiday spirit. There was a lot of activities going on, family dinners, matchmaking and chats with friends. Festive.
I rated this book a Three.
Although I had some issues with the characters and unnecessary scene(s) in this novel, I liked it. This book is a cute, winter romance. Quick read and easy to get into. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good holiday romance.
*I RECEIVED THIS NOVEL IN EXCHANGE FOR A HONEST REVIEW.*
October 5, 2016
A heartwarming Christmas romance story filled with emotion that will make you laugh and cry.
This is a story of love and second chances, being able to turn your life around even with family interfering and believe in the magic of Christmas. I enjoyed every minute of Willow and David's story.
This is a story of love and second chances, being able to turn your life around even with family interfering and believe in the magic of Christmas. I enjoyed every minute of Willow and David's story.
December 9, 2016
It seems like the Christmas books I've read so far this season has revolved around small towns and someone returning back to the home that they grew up in. This book is like that but it has a good slow burn between Willow and David.
Their lives have been entwined since they were little. When Willow's former job scandal sends her packing back home, David isn't all that happy to see his deceased wife's best friend in town. Her plans are the complete opposite of what David wants. So begins the battle between the two. There is definitely a build where the two of them are frustrated with each other but secretly attracted. The more they butted heads, the more the attraction grew.
What I liked about this book is that David plays the role of Scrooge. He wants nothing to do with Christmas and Willow does everything she can to get him to open and up and learn to enjoy and celebrate the holiday. Slowly, she begins to worm her way into David's heart. There path is full of ups and downs but I think we can all agree that the best thing out of this entire store is the love and joy of David's little girl, Natalie. I just adore that child and couldn't get enough of her.
Overall I enjoyed this small town book that as a bit of everything. Politics, free spirits, scrooges, etc. It has it all.
Review will be posted as a collective review with 4 other books via Forever Romance
*Copy kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Their lives have been entwined since they were little. When Willow's former job scandal sends her packing back home, David isn't all that happy to see his deceased wife's best friend in town. Her plans are the complete opposite of what David wants. So begins the battle between the two. There is definitely a build where the two of them are frustrated with each other but secretly attracted. The more they butted heads, the more the attraction grew.
What I liked about this book is that David plays the role of Scrooge. He wants nothing to do with Christmas and Willow does everything she can to get him to open and up and learn to enjoy and celebrate the holiday. Slowly, she begins to worm her way into David's heart. There path is full of ups and downs but I think we can all agree that the best thing out of this entire store is the love and joy of David's little girl, Natalie. I just adore that child and couldn't get enough of her.
Overall I enjoyed this small town book that as a bit of everything. Politics, free spirits, scrooges, etc. It has it all.
Review will be posted as a collective review with 4 other books via Forever Romance
*Copy kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
December 17, 2016
I love stories about second chance romances, especially as neither Willow or David saw it coming. Willow had been best friends with David's wife so had never thought of David in that light. David had always had a political future and the last thing he had expected was to be raising a young daughter on his own after his wife's death. At times he seemed unsure what to do with his daughter but quickly became a momma bear when a teacher treated her (and other students) unfairly. I so loved this side of him as he seemed to be taking on Scroogy tendencies. I loved seeing Willow fight for herself and the Inn. She was definitely just what was needed to bring life back into the Inn and love into David and his daughter's life.
September 5, 2016
I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of the book… Hope Ramsay takes us from her small town in South Carolina to the small town of Shenandoah Falls, Virginia with A Christmas Bride.
Willow Peterson has come home after life in the big city brings her heartache and disillusion and with time on her hands to sort out her life, she will fulfill a dream for a friend who has died. She will bring to life her dream of restoring Eagle Hill Manor. There is only one flaw in her plan, she has to persuade her deceased friends husband that this should be done in time for his cousin’s wedding in December.
David Lyndon comes from the first family of Shenandoah Falls, and is raising his little girl in the home of his dead wife. He wants no part of Eagle Hill Manor and his former wife’s dream. And he certainly does not want to host a wedding, cousin or no cousin. He wants to sell it and start a new life in a new home and the memories of his dead wife. But Willow Peterson is hard to resist and the pull he feels toward her and a kiss that ignites feelings that he thought were dormant and he gets right into the transformation of a dream.
I enjoyed this book, although I am not one to read Holiday books in the summer, I could not put this one down and read it until I finished it. It was a wonderful story and one you will want to put on your holiday reading list.
Willow Peterson has come home after life in the big city brings her heartache and disillusion and with time on her hands to sort out her life, she will fulfill a dream for a friend who has died. She will bring to life her dream of restoring Eagle Hill Manor. There is only one flaw in her plan, she has to persuade her deceased friends husband that this should be done in time for his cousin’s wedding in December.
David Lyndon comes from the first family of Shenandoah Falls, and is raising his little girl in the home of his dead wife. He wants no part of Eagle Hill Manor and his former wife’s dream. And he certainly does not want to host a wedding, cousin or no cousin. He wants to sell it and start a new life in a new home and the memories of his dead wife. But Willow Peterson is hard to resist and the pull he feels toward her and a kiss that ignites feelings that he thought were dormant and he gets right into the transformation of a dream.
I enjoyed this book, although I am not one to read Holiday books in the summer, I could not put this one down and read it until I finished it. It was a wonderful story and one you will want to put on your holiday reading list.
September 28, 2016
Small town love, tradition and hope…
This isn’t my first novel by this author and going in I had some pre-conceived notions. I expected sweet, small town and family in a mix of love and loss. I was not disappointed.
Willow had grown up in Shenandoah Falls and returned for a number of reasons. Regret, guilt and hope all mixed together when David Lyndon was back in her life. David had changed. He was a widower now with family expectations driving him further away from the man he used to be. Their friendship is complicated but their time to work out their differences, and start seeing the future and its endless possibilities, was at hand…
“Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things…”
There was a lot of emotional turmoil hidden in these pages as both Willow and David had to finally come to terms with the loss of a woman that bound them together. Their relationship struggled within the messiness of family – in expectations and loyalty that didn’t always sit well with either of them. Family dinners, social and professional obligations, and a relationship that seemed to have more objections than a county courthouse, meant a story that played out like an entertaining hallmark movie of the week.
A small town slice of life that was the perfect companion for a rainy Sunday afternoon. ~ Diane, 3.5 stars
This isn’t my first novel by this author and going in I had some pre-conceived notions. I expected sweet, small town and family in a mix of love and loss. I was not disappointed.
Willow had grown up in Shenandoah Falls and returned for a number of reasons. Regret, guilt and hope all mixed together when David Lyndon was back in her life. David had changed. He was a widower now with family expectations driving him further away from the man he used to be. Their friendship is complicated but their time to work out their differences, and start seeing the future and its endless possibilities, was at hand…
“Love bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things…”
There was a lot of emotional turmoil hidden in these pages as both Willow and David had to finally come to terms with the loss of a woman that bound them together. Their relationship struggled within the messiness of family – in expectations and loyalty that didn’t always sit well with either of them. Family dinners, social and professional obligations, and a relationship that seemed to have more objections than a county courthouse, meant a story that played out like an entertaining hallmark movie of the week.
A small town slice of life that was the perfect companion for a rainy Sunday afternoon. ~ Diane, 3.5 stars
September 24, 2016
ARC Review: A Christmas Bride (Chapel of Love) by Hope Ramsay
A shared tragedy helped to unite two broken people and one final promise, could be the beginning of something wonderful. Willow has had her share of disappointments. The biggest heartbreak brings her home to make someone's dream come true. Doing so isn't so easy when grief, Scrooge and obstacles dog her at every turn. Hope Ramsay knows how to pull the heartstrings and supply a reason to bring a smile to the face and have you whistling a happy tune. A Christmas Bride is magic.
A shared tragedy helped to unite two broken people and one final promise, could be the beginning of something wonderful. Willow has had her share of disappointments. The biggest heartbreak brings her home to make someone's dream come true. Doing so isn't so easy when grief, Scrooge and obstacles dog her at every turn. Hope Ramsay knows how to pull the heartstrings and supply a reason to bring a smile to the face and have you whistling a happy tune. A Christmas Bride is magic.
September 27, 2016
good fun romance, review to come
December 27, 2018
A great start to a new series by Hop Ramsay. I really enjoy her books, although I'm not a romance fan, I think of her books as more Chick Lit with romance thrown in.
January 13, 2020
A Christmas Bride is a heartbreaking and uplifting romance about finding love again. It's a quick read that you can swoon over.
Willow Peterson is back in town and not everyone is excited about it. She is known to speak her mind and sometimes people don't agree with her. Her best friend recently passed away and she is now trying to make her friends wish of restoring a historic inn. She needs to be hired but is having trouble convincing the owner who happens to be her best friend's husband.
David Lyndon is now a single father. He is doing what he can to make life go on. He has a business attitude and likes to keep that one of his main focuses. When Willow brings up the idea of restoring the inn, he is not going for it.
As David and Willow spend more time together, they build an unexplainable bond that is stronger than they could have ever imagined. Will they be able to keep things professional when their chemistry is telling them otherwise?
I give A Christmas Bride 3 stars. It is a fast-paced romance that you can devour in one sitting. The two main characters are opposites and their love story is definitely unexpected, but that is what drew me in.
Willow Peterson is back in town and not everyone is excited about it. She is known to speak her mind and sometimes people don't agree with her. Her best friend recently passed away and she is now trying to make her friends wish of restoring a historic inn. She needs to be hired but is having trouble convincing the owner who happens to be her best friend's husband.
David Lyndon is now a single father. He is doing what he can to make life go on. He has a business attitude and likes to keep that one of his main focuses. When Willow brings up the idea of restoring the inn, he is not going for it.
As David and Willow spend more time together, they build an unexplainable bond that is stronger than they could have ever imagined. Will they be able to keep things professional when their chemistry is telling them otherwise?
I give A Christmas Bride 3 stars. It is a fast-paced romance that you can devour in one sitting. The two main characters are opposites and their love story is definitely unexpected, but that is what drew me in.
September 1, 2017
Very good small town romance, full of love, loss, family, and friends with a healthy helping of humor thrown in. When Willow was growing up, she couldn't wait to get out of Shenandoah Falls, away from her hippie, vegan, will-protest-anything mother. She succeeded and hasn't been home in years. But now she's back, trying to rebuild her life after a personal and professional betrayal. When she discovered that her company was defrauding the government, she blew the whistle. Unfortunately for her, her CEO boyfriend was also involved and has taken the lead in trashing her reputation. When she goes to visit her deceased best friend's mother, she is dismayed to discover that Shelly's dream of restoring the inn died with her. Her encounter with Shelly's husband David shows a man determined to sell the inn and move on.
David is still grieving the loss of his wife. The inn is a reminder of her and the way that she died. He plans to sell it and move on with his plans to run for Congress. But Willow's arrival throws his well-ordered life into chaos. She wants him to fix up the inn enough to host his cousin's wedding, something his family is strongly against. They want him to concentrate on his political future. Various townspeople also have no problem voicing their opinions also.
I liked Willow a lot. She may be down, but she hasn't given up. She isn't backing down from her stance on the fraud case. However, her self-confidence has taken a little bit of a hit over what she sees as her bad judgment in boyfriends. She also feels that people look down on her because of her mother. Underneath, she is a woman with a big heart and plenty of love to give. I loved her relationship with Shelly's mom, who had been like a second mother to her. And I loved her quick connection with little Natalie, who called her a "fairy godmother."
David took a little while to grow on me. He was so stiff and cold toward Willow at the beginning. I also disliked the way that he let his mother bully Natalie. I wanted to see him stand up to her. I softened a little bit when I saw how much he was still hurting over Shelly's death. He started to win me over when he stood up to Natalie's teacher over the spelling tests. The more I saw of him, the more I saw someone who buried his own needs and wants to live up to others' expectations.
I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. Willow, Shelly, and David had been friends for a long time. There had never been any hint of attraction between David and Willow until she came home, and both were surprised by it. David spends a fair amount of time feeling guilty about desiring someone other than Shelly. Willow doesn't want to feel anything for a man she thinks is too much like her ex. But she doesn't let any of that stop her from confronting him about the inn and telling him exactly what she thinks. Once David makes the decision to cooperate about the inn, he realizes that his attraction to Willow is a large part of why he did it. As he gets sucked into helping with the inn he also gets to spend more time with her. I loved seeing the effect that they had on each other. Willow is able to help David break out of the shell of grief he'd been in and start to live again. David helps Willow to see that she is much stronger than she thinks she is. The attraction between them continues to grow until it bursts into flame. I loved that scene and the morning after, as each of them begins to believe that they could have something special. But interference from David's family has him making a really boneheaded mistake, which drives a wedge between him and Willow. I loved that she stood her ground, and ached for her heartbreak over his actions. He finally realized the truth and his speech at his cousin's wedding showed just how much he had changed. I loved his big moment at the end as he opened up his heart to Willow. The epilogue was great.
There were some awesome characters and situations throughout the book. Willow's mom is still the same hippie she was when Willow was a kid, but Willow is much more accepting of her now. I really enjoyed seeing the two of them grow closer. The part with the park protest was hilarious. There is also some mystery regarding who Willow's sister's father is, though I have my suspicions. I really liked Shelly's mom and her obvious love for David. She could have been a real obstacle in his relationship with Willow, but instead she was behind him providing the kick in the tail that he needed. I loved their conversation in the kitchen the morning after he slept with Willow. She gave him some good advice from someone who'd been in his shoes. On the other side of the coin was David's mother. I didn't like her at the beginning, and absolutely nothing changed by the end of the book. She is a snob and a bully and incredibly self-centered. I loved picturing the look on her face every time he stood up to her. My favorite secondary character was Natalie. She, too, was grieving her mother's death, which made her especially vulnerable to her grandmother's bullying. David wasn't much better at the beginning, and I ached for Natalie and her unhappiness. I loved seeing her blossom under Willow's influence. It was especially satisfying, though heartbreaking, too, to see her confront David and her grandmother over the way Willow was treated. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing more of Dusty.
David is still grieving the loss of his wife. The inn is a reminder of her and the way that she died. He plans to sell it and move on with his plans to run for Congress. But Willow's arrival throws his well-ordered life into chaos. She wants him to fix up the inn enough to host his cousin's wedding, something his family is strongly against. They want him to concentrate on his political future. Various townspeople also have no problem voicing their opinions also.
I liked Willow a lot. She may be down, but she hasn't given up. She isn't backing down from her stance on the fraud case. However, her self-confidence has taken a little bit of a hit over what she sees as her bad judgment in boyfriends. She also feels that people look down on her because of her mother. Underneath, she is a woman with a big heart and plenty of love to give. I loved her relationship with Shelly's mom, who had been like a second mother to her. And I loved her quick connection with little Natalie, who called her a "fairy godmother."
David took a little while to grow on me. He was so stiff and cold toward Willow at the beginning. I also disliked the way that he let his mother bully Natalie. I wanted to see him stand up to her. I softened a little bit when I saw how much he was still hurting over Shelly's death. He started to win me over when he stood up to Natalie's teacher over the spelling tests. The more I saw of him, the more I saw someone who buried his own needs and wants to live up to others' expectations.
I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. Willow, Shelly, and David had been friends for a long time. There had never been any hint of attraction between David and Willow until she came home, and both were surprised by it. David spends a fair amount of time feeling guilty about desiring someone other than Shelly. Willow doesn't want to feel anything for a man she thinks is too much like her ex. But she doesn't let any of that stop her from confronting him about the inn and telling him exactly what she thinks. Once David makes the decision to cooperate about the inn, he realizes that his attraction to Willow is a large part of why he did it. As he gets sucked into helping with the inn he also gets to spend more time with her. I loved seeing the effect that they had on each other. Willow is able to help David break out of the shell of grief he'd been in and start to live again. David helps Willow to see that she is much stronger than she thinks she is. The attraction between them continues to grow until it bursts into flame. I loved that scene and the morning after, as each of them begins to believe that they could have something special. But interference from David's family has him making a really boneheaded mistake, which drives a wedge between him and Willow. I loved that she stood her ground, and ached for her heartbreak over his actions. He finally realized the truth and his speech at his cousin's wedding showed just how much he had changed. I loved his big moment at the end as he opened up his heart to Willow. The epilogue was great.
There were some awesome characters and situations throughout the book. Willow's mom is still the same hippie she was when Willow was a kid, but Willow is much more accepting of her now. I really enjoyed seeing the two of them grow closer. The part with the park protest was hilarious. There is also some mystery regarding who Willow's sister's father is, though I have my suspicions. I really liked Shelly's mom and her obvious love for David. She could have been a real obstacle in his relationship with Willow, but instead she was behind him providing the kick in the tail that he needed. I loved their conversation in the kitchen the morning after he slept with Willow. She gave him some good advice from someone who'd been in his shoes. On the other side of the coin was David's mother. I didn't like her at the beginning, and absolutely nothing changed by the end of the book. She is a snob and a bully and incredibly self-centered. I loved picturing the look on her face every time he stood up to her. My favorite secondary character was Natalie. She, too, was grieving her mother's death, which made her especially vulnerable to her grandmother's bullying. David wasn't much better at the beginning, and I ached for Natalie and her unhappiness. I loved seeing her blossom under Willow's influence. It was especially satisfying, though heartbreaking, too, to see her confront David and her grandmother over the way Willow was treated. I'm looking forward to the next book and seeing more of Dusty.
August 7, 2018
A feel good story featuring Willow Peterson and David Lyndon as the main characters. David was married to Willow's best friend who has been dead for two years. Willow has moved back home because she is under a cloud due to the fact that she was a whistle blower at her last job. David is suppose to running for Congress but is only doing so because he is suppose to. The book was a very quick easy read.
December 15, 2021
A Christmas Bride (Chapel of Love Book 1)
The love story of Willow and David. David's family wants him to run for congress. His is the husband of Willow's best friend who dead two years ago. She had a dream of restoring the Eagle Hill Inn. Willow has return home after her life is turn up side down when she become a whistleblower. Now Willow has the same dream. Can she do it and not fall in love with David? Great story.
The love story of Willow and David. David's family wants him to run for congress. His is the husband of Willow's best friend who dead two years ago. She had a dream of restoring the Eagle Hill Inn. Willow has return home after her life is turn up side down when she become a whistleblower. Now Willow has the same dream. Can she do it and not fall in love with David? Great story.
January 11, 2020
A christmas bride by Hope Ramsay was my first by this author and I really enjoyed it. I mean how can you not love second chance romance . This was right up my alley and it takes place on my favorite holiday . So whats not to love . I enjoyed the style of the writting , the plot and the characters . This wont be my last read from this author .
October 29, 2020
This was surprisingly good
September 24, 2016
A Christmas Bride
Chapel Of Love, Book #1
Hope Ramsey
5 Stars
Synopsis:
A season of hope . . .
'Tis the season in Shenandoah Falls and the first time Willow Peterson has been home in years. But she's determined to fulfill the wishes of her recently deceased best friend and restore Eagle Hill Manor to its former glory-all in time to host the perfect holiday wedding. She just has to get the owner of the historic inn to hire her. Unfortunately, that means dealing with Scrooge himself...
After the death of his wife, David Lyndon has a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But as December counts down and the wedding planning is in full swing, it's harder and harder to stay immune to the charms of Willow, especially when he sees how much joy she brings his eight-year-old daughter. After a simple kiss under the mistletoe turns into something more, David is hoping he can turn the magic of the holiday season into the love of a lifetime. (Goodreads)
Review:
A Christmas Bride is the story of second chances, standing up for yourself, moving on with you life and learning to let go and move on. I always like these kinds of stories, and I thought this one was well written and entertaining.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Willow is a honest hardworking woman who always tries to do the right thing, even if that causes her problems. She also has a vulnerable side, trying to overcome her past and her mother’s past. David has had his whole life planned out for him, whether he wanted it to be or not. But the one thing that was not planned was his becoming a widow with a young child, Natalie. He has become bitter from the turn his life has taken. I enjoyed reading the bickering and bantering between Willow and David, the interaction between the two of them and the chemistry that flames between them. And Natalie was adorable and my heart went out to her. The secondary characters were also well developed and added a lot to the story line. Most were likable and people you would want to get to know better. But some were easy to dislike and I wanted to see them get what they deserved.
I have read other books by this author and I have enjoyed them all. The author is very talented in writing life adventures that have a ring of truth to them. She is also very talented in bringing out the emotions of the reader. I felt happiness, sadness, frustration, anger and sympathy while reading this book. I think it takes a special author to create all of these emotions for the reader. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy quick read. I read this book in one day, and that is unusual for me. But I just had to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen and learn more about each of the characters.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written women’s contemporary. There was a little bit of heat but nothing over the top, which I liked. I am excited that this is the first book in a new series, because there are other characters I want to learn more about.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Chapel Of Love, Book #1
Hope Ramsey
5 Stars
Synopsis:
A season of hope . . .
'Tis the season in Shenandoah Falls and the first time Willow Peterson has been home in years. But she's determined to fulfill the wishes of her recently deceased best friend and restore Eagle Hill Manor to its former glory-all in time to host the perfect holiday wedding. She just has to get the owner of the historic inn to hire her. Unfortunately, that means dealing with Scrooge himself...
After the death of his wife, David Lyndon has a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But as December counts down and the wedding planning is in full swing, it's harder and harder to stay immune to the charms of Willow, especially when he sees how much joy she brings his eight-year-old daughter. After a simple kiss under the mistletoe turns into something more, David is hoping he can turn the magic of the holiday season into the love of a lifetime. (Goodreads)
Review:
A Christmas Bride is the story of second chances, standing up for yourself, moving on with you life and learning to let go and move on. I always like these kinds of stories, and I thought this one was well written and entertaining.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. Willow is a honest hardworking woman who always tries to do the right thing, even if that causes her problems. She also has a vulnerable side, trying to overcome her past and her mother’s past. David has had his whole life planned out for him, whether he wanted it to be or not. But the one thing that was not planned was his becoming a widow with a young child, Natalie. He has become bitter from the turn his life has taken. I enjoyed reading the bickering and bantering between Willow and David, the interaction between the two of them and the chemistry that flames between them. And Natalie was adorable and my heart went out to her. The secondary characters were also well developed and added a lot to the story line. Most were likable and people you would want to get to know better. But some were easy to dislike and I wanted to see them get what they deserved.
I have read other books by this author and I have enjoyed them all. The author is very talented in writing life adventures that have a ring of truth to them. She is also very talented in bringing out the emotions of the reader. I felt happiness, sadness, frustration, anger and sympathy while reading this book. I think it takes a special author to create all of these emotions for the reader. The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy quick read. I read this book in one day, and that is unusual for me. But I just had to keep turning the pages to find out what was going to happen and learn more about each of the characters.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written women’s contemporary. There was a little bit of heat but nothing over the top, which I liked. I am excited that this is the first book in a new series, because there are other characters I want to learn more about.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 10, 2016
ARC REVIEW
This was probably my least favorite for this year, I still enjoyed the premise of the story but I really didn't like the romance or half the characters. The majority of the book David is still in love with his dead wife and is being very obtuse about Willow, he's down right hateful to her because she is making him feel something he should only be feeling for his wife. The majority of the Lyndon family were pompous, stuck-up, and hateful. Willow I liked, she did what she knew was right and is being punished for it, but she's not going to back down. She goes back home to fulfil the dream of her best friend who died unexpectedly the year before. She only has to convince her bestfriend's husband to let her and give her the chance to buy it from him. David hates the Inn he inherited from his wife, he blames her death on the Inn and he can't wait to sell the thing. When Willow comes back into town and makes him feel things he hasn't felt for anyone but his wife and asks that he open the Inn again for his cousin's high profile wedding and give her the chance to buy it he's doubtful, but Willow also has a special connection with his daughter, and seeing her work with his daughter and the society that is shunning her he starts to have doubts about everything he thought he wanted.
This was probably my least favorite for this year, I still enjoyed the premise of the story but I really didn't like the romance or half the characters. The majority of the book David is still in love with his dead wife and is being very obtuse about Willow, he's down right hateful to her because she is making him feel something he should only be feeling for his wife. The majority of the Lyndon family were pompous, stuck-up, and hateful. Willow I liked, she did what she knew was right and is being punished for it, but she's not going to back down. She goes back home to fulfil the dream of her best friend who died unexpectedly the year before. She only has to convince her bestfriend's husband to let her and give her the chance to buy it from him. David hates the Inn he inherited from his wife, he blames her death on the Inn and he can't wait to sell the thing. When Willow comes back into town and makes him feel things he hasn't felt for anyone but his wife and asks that he open the Inn again for his cousin's high profile wedding and give her the chance to buy it he's doubtful, but Willow also has a special connection with his daughter, and seeing her work with his daughter and the society that is shunning her he starts to have doubts about everything he thought he wanted.
October 2, 2016
A Christmas Bride is the first in a new series by Hope Ramsay. "Friends to lovers" stories are among my favorite types of romances. I really enjoyed David and Willow's story. Willow has moved back home after losing her job for being a whistle-blower at work. David was married to Willow's best friend until her tragic death two years earlier. All he wants to do is sell her Inn and move away.
This story was heartbreaking at times. David's grief over the loss of his wife came across as very real. Even two years later, it was hard for him to move on. Willow was perfect for him as he was for her. He made her see what she really wanted for herself. One of my favorite parts of the story was how David's relationship with his daughter changed as he started realizing what was really important. The story also has a lot of great secondary characters that I look forward to reading more about in future books.
This story was heartbreaking at times. David's grief over the loss of his wife came across as very real. Even two years later, it was hard for him to move on. Willow was perfect for him as he was for her. He made her see what she really wanted for herself. One of my favorite parts of the story was how David's relationship with his daughter changed as he started realizing what was really important. The story also has a lot of great secondary characters that I look forward to reading more about in future books.
September 9, 2016
Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com
2.75 Hearts I had a bit of a hard time with this book. First I never found myself liking any of the characters. Secondly there was a lot of repeating of thoughts and finally David is kind of a jerk who’s family is even worse.
Besides being a political jerk the first half of the book is all about how much he loved his deceased wife and even touched his wedding ring over and over and then BAM! he is all about Willow. Willow’s story never ended. There is a background story that never gets answered.
I can see how somebody else may enjoy the story but I am just not one of them.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
2.75 Hearts I had a bit of a hard time with this book. First I never found myself liking any of the characters. Secondly there was a lot of repeating of thoughts and finally David is kind of a jerk who’s family is even worse.
Besides being a political jerk the first half of the book is all about how much he loved his deceased wife and even touched his wedding ring over and over and then BAM! he is all about Willow. Willow’s story never ended. There is a background story that never gets answered.
I can see how somebody else may enjoy the story but I am just not one of them.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2016
What a lovely story. I loved the chemistry between David and Willow. They were able to open there hearts to happiness even though the circumstances were difficult. It is hard to move on when a spouse passes away especially at a young age. Hope really created characters that were strong in nature and had dreams that clashed with one another's life. I loved that Christmas is a time to be with family and friends especially during a Christmas wedding, wish I dream will be my special day someday. Thanks for writing a book that we all could relate one way or another and love always conquers.
August 17, 2016
I really like it when David shows that he has some balls on him and is willing to take a stand, “come here ,” he commanded, as he reached for her. He pressed his forehead against hers. “Let’s get something clear here. If you think I’m done with you just because of some stupid article in the newspaper, then you need to think again.” I liked this book, it was sweet and heart warming.
September 4, 2016
A sweet Christmas romance that explores not only the relationship between him and her but also the relationships they have with their families. Full review 9/25/16 at http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com/2016...
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