The bestselling Hero's Welcome series continues with a juicy Christmas romance set in Seaside, North Carolina, where a bustling military base keeps this small town stocked with dedicated, lovable heroes.
Three-hundred-and-sixty-four days a year, Allison Carmichael doesn't mind being single. It sure beats dating another loser, and it keeps her heart safe. Then there's that three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth Christmas Eve, the traditional time her entire family gathers together—and gangs up on her, demanding to know when she's going to get married. This year, she swears, is going be different. And that's why, at a charity auction she's throwing on-base, she buys herself a man.
Sergeant Troy Matthews insists that he's not for sale. His time is, though, and he's happy to donate it. Happier still when he learns the identity of the winning the redhead with the killer good looks and smart mouth who runs the veteran's center. Allison needs Troy's...
Annie Rains is a contemporary romance author who writes small town love stories set in fictional towns on the coast of North Carolina. Raised in one of America's largest military communities, Annie often features heroes who fight for their countries, while also fighting for a place to call home and a good woman to love. When Annie isn't writing, she's spending time with her husband and 3 children, or reading a book by one of her favorite authors.
If you enjoyed the Hero's Welcome series, don't miss the short wedding story for Kat and Micah (Welcome to Forever). Get it here for FREE: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/aTSl1
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Welcome Home For Christmas, the 4th book in the Hero's Welcome series, was a sweet read that can be read as a standalone. I haven't read any of the other books and I did fine. Although I enjoyed this book so much I now want to go back and read the first 3 books too. Allison the heroine of the book was sweet, had a big heart, but some bad luck with exes has made her insecure about herself and her judgement. Troy the hero was sexy, charming, and very playful. He had this cute big child goofball thing going on that I really liked. I really liked Allison and Troy together. They had a lot of passion but they had a sweet supporting friendship that was building in this book. What I really liked about Welcome Home For Christmas was it really made me laugh. There was this one scene that made me laugh so hard I had tears This book was such a great lighthearted, sweet, playful read that I loved every minute of it.
Allison Carmichael needs help raising money for charity, she also needs a way to get her relatives off her back about dating. Killing two birds with one stone, she bids on Sergeant Troy Matthews. The orphans will get Christmas presents, and Troy will play her "boyfriend" for parent's annual Christmas party.
Sergeant Troy Matthews is happy to lend his time to a good cause. Especially when it's the redhead with the killer good looks and the smart mouth that buys it. He'll help her out, the orphans will get a Christmas they deserve, what could possibly go wrong?
With Christmas Eve fast approaching, what seemed like an easy charade, is turning into more than either of them anticipated. Will the magic of the Holiday bring these two together, or will they both go their separate ways when the clock strikes midnight?
I enjoyed this one. Another fairly short and festive read. Well written and the plot flowed nicely. It had a mild layer of angst that worked well for me. Both characters were likable, and there was a nice collection of secondary characters. It had an enjoyable Christmas holiday feel to it as well. Including a sweet one year in the future epilogue.
Overall just a really sweet read for anyone looking to add a bit of HOLIDAY to their TO READ list this season.
I am sad to be saying goodbye to the residents of Seaside, the entire Hero's Welcome series holds so many fond memories for me with the couples I have met and the story-lines they have been given.
It also made me fall irrevocably in love with the superb writing of Annie Rains, and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for her readers next.
"There’s no fighting Christmas."
I am so glad that for the final book Allison Carmichael gets her happily ever after, as the manager of the Veterans Center, she has played a secondary role in pretty much every previous book. Troy Matthews, the MP who inevitably turns into Allison’s very own VIP is also not a totally new character, and they worked really well together.
"What you resist persists."
Both are a bit commitment shy for their own reasons, but I liked that this wasn’t the only focus of the story, there is a little suspense thrown in as well as some seasonal magic to keep things moving along.
"I love the holidays… Everything is bright and merry."
We also get to catch up with all the previous couples in the series as well, so this was a great Christmassy ending to a really, really enjoyable series.
"This is my favorite Christmas. Because of you."
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.
Allison is dreading the family Christmas gathering since it's just another opportunity to be hounded about her single-and-no-prospects status. On a whim she bids on Troy during a charity auction with the thought of having him pose as her boyfriend. Problem solved, right?
Troy is a military police officer and is anti-Christmas. Ever since a big argument with his brother he hasn't gone home for Christmas and tries to avoid anything to do with it. But when a buddy tricks him into a holiday bachelor auction he finds himself going along with it since it benefits an orphanage. And he has no complaints when the attractive Allison "buys" him. He's willing to go along with her ruse on one condition: they spend some time together before Christmas so they'll be believable as a couple.
As always, Rains has written totally likable characters that are so easy to pull for. Her main characters are always good people with great chemistry and Allison and Troy are no exception. Troy is truly a stand-out guy. Warm and charming and funny, he helps out when and where he's needed and really goes above and beyond. Allison is dedicated to her work at the veteran's center where she is a director and, like Troy, is civic-minded and always willing to lend a hand where needed. Their "fake" relationship felt real from the very start because it was so apparent they belonged together - they just wouldn't allow themselves to accept it so easily.
My only quibble lies with Allison's constant deference to her mother's opinion. It rankled that an independent, professional woman like Allison would give such credence to her mother's feelings about her romantic relationships. And not just be swayed by them but basically turn them into self-fulfilling prophecies. It seemed odd to me that a grown woman would allow her mother's opinion to matter so much. Because of this I sometimes got a little frustrated with Allison and was antsy for her to show more backbone and make her own choices, regardless of anyone else's opinion.
Even with that one issue, Troy and Allison's story is still completely enjoyable. I liked how they each approached their pretend relationship and what their expectations were. There was plenty of humor and seeing some familiar faces from previous books was an added bonus.
Welcome Home for Christmas is the fourth book in the Hero's Welcome series but can easily be read as a stand alone. Those who like their romance on the sweeter side without a lot of angst will find plenty to enjoy here.
Note: This title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. This does not change my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
The writing is well done, the storyline captured my interest from the first page and held it until the end. The characters Allison and Troy were sweet, likable, funny and very entertaining. Their attraction was totally believable and I loved watching them fall in love.
Overall, Welcome Home for Christmas was a beautiful and heartwarming read that will leave you full of happy feels, perfect for the upcoming holiday season :)
The Hero's Welcome series has been a wonderful read, each book can be read as a standalone and I highly recommend them all!
Sergeant Troy Matthews is a K9 Military policeman and a Grinch. After falling out with his family he has refused to spend time with his brother at Christmas.
Allison Carmichael loves Christmas. Unfortunately her mother has an uncanny knack of pointing out the flaws in Allison's boyfriends, well before they fulfil her expectations and let Allison down. As a consequence Allison is not looking forward to running the gauntlet of the family Christmas lunch, if she doesn't bring a date she will be psycho-analysed professionally and by well-meaning amateurs, if she does bring a date her mother will point out his faults.
Allison organises a bachelor auction on base, her aim is to help soldier's wives get household tasks done while their husbands are overseas (clearing gutters, installing home security etc). After meeting Troy earlier in a wine shop, Allison decides the easiest thing would be to take a fake boyfriend to her family dinner, no pressure and she won't care what her mother says.
Whilst not as funny as the previous book in this series, Welcoming the Bad Boy, I did enjoy this, even though I read it over three months before Christmas, I really like Annie Rains' books and this series in particular.
I received a free copy of this novel from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Allison loves Christmas. However, she dreads going to her family party and having to face her family as a single woman. Tired of the pitying looks from family members and her mother's worrying, she decides to "purchase" a boyfriend at a charity auction. Troy is determined to avoid all things Christmas this year. However, he cannot resist helping a charity for orphans which is how he ends up meeting Allison. Can Allison and Troy's fake relationship pass the family test? And even more importantly can they admit to one another that the relationship is no longer fake? Once again Annie Rains has created fun and enjoyable romance in her Hero's Welcome Series. While the stories share characters, each one can stand on its own.
Note to self: Even if someone is breaking into your house, hide your vibrator first. At all costs.
Important advice that. And also, a good example of why Welcome Home for Christmas was such a good book to read. It wasn't all seriousness; it had soft, sweet moments, and it had funny moments—as evidenced by the above quote.
I've really enjoyed the books in the Hero's Welcome series, and this was no exception. It was charming, and both Troy, the delicious Marine whose best friend is his K-9 partner, and Allison, who works with veterans and orphans and is a good human, were utterly likable. Even lovable.
Their story started with a bachelor auction (always fun), and built with a slow burn. I liked it. When it came time for them to give in...butterflies. It was sexy, but simple, and a total turn on. Likewise, banter was enjoyable. There were several back and forth exchanges that caught my attention (and garnered the use of my highlighting function), and which made me smile.
Simply put, it was easy to read and to like this book. Welcome Home for Christmas had some needed depth, but mostly stayed light and Christmassy enough to feel good.
I couldn't help but feel the ending came together a little rushed, when I would have liked to see more of the gentleness that pervaded the first half (or so) of this book but that epilogue? Definitely a wonderful ending to a book that put me in the mood for Christmas...in September. (Oh, and gave me such excellent break-in advice to boot!)
“I’m falling for you, too. I tried not to, but—” “But I’m irresistible, I know.”
A great storyline, characters, leading up to a most Amazing Wonderful Christmas gift ever possible ! I was captivated by the different humorous , suspenseful and romantic scenarios throughout involving communities, work responsibilities of families and friends. I loved meeting Allison Carmichael and ... especially as the story unfolded introducing Sgt Troy Matthews to her. ... yes ... got very interesting and ramped up the energy to keep the pages moving forward !
Thanks to LovesSwept & Netgalley for providing a book in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting this book down. Don't miss out on the great Christmas book of 2016 by Annie Rains. :-)
I actually received my first Christmas review copies in the end of JUNE … and I have to be honest I refused reading them until beginning of November. So I had a little “early Christmas” last weekend to get myself into the mood. The weather outside was bad with freezing rain and wind so I simply left the curtains drawn to shut out the outside – turned on a few candles and got myself some cake and hot chocolate before I started with :
- Twelve Days of Christmas of Debbie Macomber - Which was followed by Once Upon a Royal Christmas by Robin Bielman - And I ended my Xmas Binge read with Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero's Welcome #4) by Annie Rains
Like the first X-Mas novel I feel that Troy’s and Allison’s story would have also worked perfectly for another occasion and the flair of the winter season was only an added bonus to the warmth of the plot. The leading characters were believable and their connection was interesting, because even though it happened fast the author kept it at least slightly believable – when you allow the Xmas and Book bonus on believing Also this book had me really laughing at the point when Troy actually met Allison’s Mother the first time. And all their freaking out on creating a made up story as real as possible was just really adorable. When I compare those three X- Mas Novels I am not sure which one I would recommend to you as the Best one because I think all three are equally appealing in their romantic “in the season” way. Please check their Blurbs to find out which one of them would suit your reading needs the most.
Allison and Troy had made things happen but at a respectable pace. They cultivated their friendship and things progressed to more. Allison just wanted one Christmas that she was not alone or feeling lonely. Troy just happen to be the big, strong, sexy, funny, guy that fell into her scope. What got me most was the way they were there for each other. The supported one another and maintained their friendship.
There was humor. There was bonding. There was the holiday season. Troy and Allison just worked. They both have a past that keeps them from making that ultimate commitment but work through things together. They work at keeping their friendship. There are other things at work this holiday season and watching things unfold gives that added something.
It’s what I have come to expect from the A Hero’s Welcome series. It was sweet, warm, earnest, and enjoyable from the beginning all the way to the end. I found it to be a good addition to the collections. I have come to enjoy very much the growth of Seaside, NC. All its inhabitants and new comers have something of their own to add to the depth of what you find in this small seaside community. **This ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
ARC Review: Welcome Home For Christmas (Hero's Welcome) by Annie Rains
Most of the time Allison is content. She adores her family, is happy with her choices, but then there are the times that loneliness rears it's head and leaves her yearning. What's a girl to do to shake away those holiday blues? A spur of the moment decision is about to pay huge dividends.
I have been waiting for Allison to get her heart's desire. Her nurturing nature was evident in the care she took of others. The fact that her match had been right in her sights the whole time was a pleasant surprise. I have enjoyed every minute of Annie Rains' Hero's Welcome series. Full of positive, vivacous pleasure with endearing characters and lots of heart.
Its a sweet story, i liked it. Its the first book i have read by this author and based on this book i would definitely try another. Well developed characters, good story-line.
This was my first book by the author. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read it. It had a military man in it (military romance is my no 1 trope!).
I enjoyed the story very much, Allison needs a fake date so what’s a girl to do???? Buy one at an auction of course! Troy is the man she buys (hello, military man!!!).
This was a quick read for me, I plan to pick up the prior books in the series.
Such a great ending to a great series. Troy and Allison stole my heart in this lighthearted fun sexy Christmas story. It made me believe in the magic of the season again.
Allison is over dating. Every guy she seems to find just breaks her heart. But her families annual Christmas dinner is right around the corner and she doesn't want to hear her mothers advice on her dating life anymore. So when the opportunity presents itself for her to have a fake boyfriend to show mom that she hasn't given up on the dating scene she grabs at it with both hands.
troy is not the type of guy who wants to settle down. But one look at the red head at the liquor store and then again at the Veterans centers auction that he has been roped into to help the kids of a local orphanage that was robbed he is starting to change his tune some. He agrees to be Allison's fake boyfriend. And the more time he spends with her the more he thinks he wants more with her. But she is giving off the no strings attached vibe.
it was so fun to watch these two fall for each other. The banter and chemistry between them was amazing. And the way they both denied their growing feelings for one another was humorous as well. It was the perfect way to end such a wonderful series.
This is another great story in a nice feel-good series. If you enjoy stories about strong, hunky military men who aren't raging alpha-males, this series is right up your alley. The men are real men for sure, and that means they're not afraid to say I love you or I need you to the women who have captured their hearts.
I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGallery, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Allison doesn't want to date. She's done with men as she always chooses the wrong ones. Unfortunately her family won't accept this choice and Allison doesn't like being pressured. That's why she decides to bring a man who isn't her boyfriend, this means she will be off the hook while she can remain boyfriend-free, which is exactly what she wants. She bids on the good looking marine Troy at a charity auction and will bring him as her date to the family Christmas party. Troy gladly donates some free hours if that means raising more money for a good cause and he doesn't mind at all that Allison is the one who bought his time.
Pretending to be someone's boyfriend requires preparation. That means Allison and Troy have to spend more time together to get to know each other. Their relationship is fake, but they enjoy each other's company. They're both looking for a good time and nothing more, but the magic of Christmas can easily change a perfectly reasonable plan and turn it into something completely different.
Welcome Home for Christmas is a wonderful festive story. Allison is a sweetheart. She's caring and spends a lot of time taking care of people who need it. She has a big heart, she's generous and she's great with kids. She can be a little bit stiff from time to time. She usually doesn't mean it, but feels like she has to behave appropriately, which is an endearing quality. Troy is more outgoing and relaxed and they effortlessly complement each other. I loved Troy's protective nature and his drive to be there for anyone who might need his help. He and Allison have such good personalities, which makes them perfect for each other. They definitely have the right character traits for a sweet romantic Christmas story, which made them amazing to read about.
Annie Rains writing flows easily and I love the way she makes her main characters interact with each other. There's a lot of teasing and flirting and I liked that Troy breaks down all of Allison's barriers while letting the same thing happen to his own. There's plenty of chemistry and I loved their close connection. Even though they've just met it's like they've known each other forever, which made the story even lovelier. Welcome Home for Christmas is a heartwarming festive Christmas story. It was a lot of fun to rediscover the magic of Christmas together with the main characters.
This year, the Grinch isn’t green. No, ladies. Thanks to Annie Rains, this year the Grinch is tall, dark and deliciously handsome…! Welcome Home For Christmas is a beautiful and funny Christmas romance that will get you in the right mood for the holidays, and will make you swoon and wish you were in Allison’s shoes.
Although the trope might seem like something that’s already been seen and read (single girl in need of a fake boyfriend decides to hire handsome guy who’d go to her family meeting with her), I liked how Annie Rains gave a fresh twist to it, creating a beautiful story that will keep you turning pages to find out what happens next.
Allison is a very nice and relatable character, a heroine you can’t help rooting for from the very beginning. She’s torn between wanting to be independent and needing to feel loved by a man who won’t disappoint her. To make things worse, her mother is a renowned psychologist who never approved of any of the boyfriends Allison has brought home in the past—and she was always right about them.
Troy. Do I really have to comment on him? I mean, can’t you just trust me when I say he’s the most adorable, swoon-worthy Grinch that ever existed? Every hero in this series has something that will steal your heart from the very first moment he steps into the scene, and Troy isn’t any different. He’s as funny as he’s hot—a deadly combination.
Welcome Home For Christmas is a truly beautiful story, with just a bit of steam and a whole lot of heart-warming and entertaining moments, that will keep you smiling and swooning for a few hours. I highly recommend picking up this book, shutting out the rest of the world and losing yourself in Allison and Troy’s story for a few hours.
Sadly, we’ve come to the final book in this beautiful series, and I can’t deny I’ll miss the people of Seaside. Thank you, Annie Rains, for creating these beautiful stories that kept me smiling, crying, swooning and falling in love with a new book boyfriend every single time.
WELCOME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is part of author Annie Rains, A Hero's Welcome series, however you do not need to read the previous titles to follow this story. Fans of stories about military heroes will find this series a bit different, but in a good way. WELCOME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is set in Seaside, North Carolina, part of why I started reading this series is because it's set in NC.
This is Troy Matthews and Allison Carmichael's story. I have to say this was an enjoyable story. I liked watching as Troy, someone who is determined to not let Christmas be part of his life this year, and Allison, a woman who adores Christmas interact and change each other. I loved watching these two fall in love, even as they didn't want to. Allison only needs Troy to help get the pressure off when her family gets together on Christmas Eve, and Troy is happy to be able to help a great charity. What starts off as a simple plan soon turns into something neither expected, wanted or is sure how to deal with. I have to say that I loved Troy, however Allison got on my nerves a little. The only reason this story isn't getting a 5 star rating is because of Allison.
I found Allison to be a little, okay a lot irritating at times. There are times in the story I really wanted to just shake her and say oh stop it, but other times she was a great heroine. The ending did feel a bit rushed to me, and things settled a bit too easily for them to have caused so much trouble earlier in the story. Overall it's a wonderfully written story. I hope to visit Seaside, NC again soon. Fans of this series will enjoy this addition to the series. If you are new to the series, or to Ms. Annie Rains writing, while I think you will enjoy this story I do hope you read the previous titles as well. Overall a good way to spend a few hours.
I’ve enjoyed the other novels in Rains’ series about a military base in North Carolina and the civilians living near the base. This book was also enjoyable, but did involve one of the more over-used tropes in romance fiction about a pretend relationship to fool the heroine’s mother. Really? Do people actually do this? They seem to do it a lot in romance novels. Allison Carmichael works at the veterans’ center in town and was helping raise money to buy Christmas gifts for an orphanage as they auctioned off the time of the military nearby to do work for the families whose family members are serving overseas. She ends up bidding on the charming Troy Matthews a K9 military policeman and Marine on the base to pretend to be her boyfriend on Christmas Eve to fool her mother.
They start having preliminary dates to get to know each other so they can better fool her mother. You know where this is going. They’re attracted to each other, of course, even though neither thinks that they are interested in a real relationship.
The book is very sweet and Troy is an appealing hero. I just would have preferred that the book wasn’t so very predictable. I enjoyed their romance and liked visiting this fictional community again. It wasn’t necessary to have read the previous books and, to tell the truth, I couldn’t remember much of the plots of those books even though I had read them.
I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGallery, in exchange for a fair and honest review
I discovered this author by chance, and am so very glad I did. This book is part of the series , Hero’s Welcome, but if like me , you have not read the previous books, rest assure you will enjoy this stand alone as much as I did. The story centers around MP Sergeant , Troy Matthews , and Allison Carmichael , who runs the Veterans Center in town. In wanting to get funds for an orphanage, the Veterans Center has an auction. The prizes are men who will help the winners in the to-do lists around their homes. Allison decides to bid and wins Troy. Her purpose for the bidding is so that she can take Troy to her parents Christmas Eve party. Her Mom is a psychiatrist , and always tells Allison what’s wrong with her boyfriends or worries when she doesn’t have someone in her life. As Troy and Allison start spending time together in preparation for the party and her Mom , a friendship of sorts develops. But this entertaining story, is also a story about, self-esteem, parents expectations and sometimes hurtful comments, about family dynamics , trust, respect and how love can really be wonderful, warts and all. No one is perfect but if the essence of the individual is solid and loving, love can conquer all.
I was gifted this book by Netgalley. The opinions are solely my own/
3.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
This was a good Christmas romance, but for me personally it was just missing something to give it that extra punch. I think I just wasn't that drawn in by either Allison or Troy. Allison felt kind of stiff, and I tend to be more attracted to heroines with a bit of sass. She just felt kind of dry or something. And could be a little...uppity? or something. I don't know, she just occasionally rubbed me the wrong way with her reactions and things.
And Troy may have had a bit more sparkle to his personality, but I couldn't always get a handle on who he was. He's supposed to be this playboy, but I'm not sure I really felt it. It felt like I was told that he broke a lot of hearts, but I didn't really get why.
It wasn't all humdrum. I enjoyed some of the memory sharing they did about their pasts, and Troy's reluctance to go home for Christmas was a pretty good side story. And the chemistry was pretty good between them. *sigh* I guess it was all just good, not great you know?
So yeah. It was entertaining, but left me a little underwhelmed at the end.
Troy Matthews is a handsome, Marine military policeman who is talked into attending a Christmas benefit for orphan children. All he has to do is volunteer his time to help wives of servicemen whose husbands are away from home. Allison Carmichael is a beautiful redhead who is the director of the Veteran's Center and also the person who has set up the auctioning of volunteer Marines willing to help out families. After meeting Troy, Allison decides that she will be the highest bidder for this tough Marine. Her mother has been really after her to come to Christmas dinner and wants her to bring a date. Allison decides that she will just have to pay for her date! This book had a fun, flirty story that was enjoyable to read. The characters were believable and endearing and the story was just delightful! ( Mature romance with provocative scenes ) Recommended for those who love contemporary romance.
Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero's Welcome, #4) by Annie Rains will be available November 8, 2016 by Loveswept, an imprint of Penguin Random House. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
I'm a sucker for Christmas and anything related. Soon as I saw this book I had to request a review copy. I've never read anything by this author and I really enjoyed her writing and story telling. This is book four of a series but can be read as a stand alone. Allison is always picking the wrong guy and according to her mom there is something wrong with her. Allison decided to have Troy a hottie, Military Police Officer pretend to be her date for Christmas. Troy has family issues so he doesn't mind helping her out with her task. They spend time getting to know each other before the big day and they eventually developed an attraction to each other. I really liked the development between the two of them. Loved the dual point of views. I liked how both characters were able to deal with their respective family issues with the help of each other. Allison developed a backbone which I loved. I will definitely check out more titles from this author. If you are looking for a book a cute holiday romance look no further.
*arc was given through publisher by Netgalley for an honest review*
Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero’s welcome series 4) by Annie Rains is a cute Christmas novel and a great read for the holiday season. Sgt. Troy Matthews is a marine in the K-9 unit at Camp Leon. He meets Allison Carmichael; the director of the Veterans’ Center in Seaside N.C. Allison has a problem. Her mother is a psychologist and always seems to find out the problems with Allison’s boyfriends before she does.
The Veterans’ Center is auctioning off some of the areas single men to do chores for the areas women who have husbands deployed. Allison seizes the opportunity to bid on Troy Matthews to be her date to her family Christmas Party and since they will be playing a charade, it won’t matter what her mother thinks of Troy. Her heart won’t be broken.
What starts out as a simple deception soon has some lasting a affects. Will Allison get a special Christmas present?
This was an enjoyable Christmas story that will make you smile and laugh out loud. A great spicy romance to enjoy by the fire with some great characters to keep you company.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Loveswept. I voluntarily reviewed this book.
Welcome Home for Christmas (Hero's Welcome #4) by Annie Rains 3 stars M/F Holiday romance I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Allison is sweet, kind, but a major push over. I have a difficult time connecting with characters who are strong in one aspect of their life, but noodles when it comes to family. Despite that, Allison's job is her life - she is dedicated and will stop at nothing to find ways to make Christmas the best for kids who, otherwise, would not have a Christmas.
Troy is a military police officer and he has doesn't usually like going to parties around the holidays. He has family who he doesn't normally see because he and his brother had a slight falling out. When he is "won" by Allison - he's somewhat hesitant, but understands her need to attend a holiday party with a date, but also sees an opportunity to get to know her better.
Overall, this was a super short, holiday read. It was sweet, but overall, there was not a lot of development of the main characters.
Welcome Home for Christmas is an appealing opposites -attract story with charming characters set in near a military base in North Carolina. I appreciated how the romance between Allison Carmichael and Troy Matthews developed as the couple dated; the romance was not rushed and this aspect made the couple’s journey more genuine to me. Annie Rains’ use of dialogue is fabulous! Through the honest and sometimes emotional conversations between the characters the reader knew that Allison and Troy were attracted to each other. I enjoyed reading and anticipating when the two of them would realize that their relationship was changing from friends to lovers.
The author does a fabulous job of weaving the true spirit of Christmas in the novel. Allison’s hope is for the orphan’s to have their Christmas wishes fulfilled. She is a character who keeps Christmas in her heart all year long. The novel has a few unexpected plot twists, the ending for all of the characters was perfect. And the epilogue was AWESOME!
"Welcome Home For Christmas" by Annie Rains. Ms. Rains has once again written a delightful tale that is simply perfect for the holiday season. Allison and Troy, our main characters, both are not looking for the one or everlasting love. Allison is basically using Troy to avoid being harassed by her well meaning family. I really enjoyed these two together. Throughout, there is banter, laugh out loud situations, and the feeling of the Christmas spirit. I was chuckling and smiling and cheering all the way. Ms. Rains had created characters and stories that are well developed, flow smoothly and give the reader a sense of warmth and love. If you haven't had a chance to read other stories by this author, I would recommend not missing out on this and the other tales in this series (I don't think it's necessary to read the previous, although those characters do make appearances here.) (received copy for honest review)