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Hope at Christmas
A recently divorced woman and her daughter look for a fresh start by moving to a small town that embraces them in ways that only fate and the magic of Christmas can explain.
Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays.
Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born.
But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell.
Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays.
Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born.
But when a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell.
342 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2017
117 people are currently reading
1988 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Naigle
60 books2,189 followersNEW RELEASE: A South Hill Christmas Keepsake—out now!
USA TODAY bestselling author Nancy Naigle writes heartwarming small-town stories of love, faith, and second chances. With more than forty novels to her name, eight have been adapted for television on Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and FOX Nation. Her award-winning ECPA Bestseller The Shell Collector was also the first FOX Original Movie and is now streaming on FOX Nation.
Nancy’s newest Christmas novel, A South Hill Christmas Keepsake, is a heartfelt story inspired by her real-life hometown in Virginia—a tale of lost love, small-town wonder, and rediscovering the magic of community during the holidays.
Up next, she’ll return to the beloved Whelk’s Island universe in Home No Matter Where (coming May 2026), the third installment in The Shell Collector series—continuing her signature blend of coastal charm, healing, and hope.
After a successful career in the banking industry, Nancy followed her heart and took early retirement to write full-time. Now living in the small town of Franklin, Virginia, she crafts stories that celebrate the simple joys of life, the beauty of belonging, and the power of love to restore even the most fragile hearts.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her browsing antique shops, painting, or weaving pine needle baskets—always on the lookout for the next small spark of inspiration to turn into a story you’ll never forget.
USA TODAY bestselling author Nancy Naigle writes heartwarming small-town stories of love, faith, and second chances. With more than forty novels to her name, eight have been adapted for television on Hallmark Channel, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, and FOX Nation. Her award-winning ECPA Bestseller The Shell Collector was also the first FOX Original Movie and is now streaming on FOX Nation.
Nancy’s newest Christmas novel, A South Hill Christmas Keepsake, is a heartfelt story inspired by her real-life hometown in Virginia—a tale of lost love, small-town wonder, and rediscovering the magic of community during the holidays.
Up next, she’ll return to the beloved Whelk’s Island universe in Home No Matter Where (coming May 2026), the third installment in The Shell Collector series—continuing her signature blend of coastal charm, healing, and hope.
After a successful career in the banking industry, Nancy followed her heart and took early retirement to write full-time. Now living in the small town of Franklin, Virginia, she crafts stories that celebrate the simple joys of life, the beauty of belonging, and the power of love to restore even the most fragile hearts.
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her browsing antique shops, painting, or weaving pine needle baskets—always on the lookout for the next small spark of inspiration to turn into a story you’ll never forget.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
October 15, 2017
I had so much fun writing this book. Once I landed in the fictional town of Hopewell, it really came to life for me. The Book Bea and colorful merchants of the small town are as warm as the folks that pull together and welcome the new residents with open arms.
I hope you find this story a heartwarming treat this holiday season.
Hugs and happy reading~
Nancy
I hope you find this story a heartwarming treat this holiday season.
Hugs and happy reading~
Nancy
September 29, 2017
After her divorce Sydney Ragsdale decided to move to the tiny town of Hopewell, NC hoping for a new start with her daughter and to get out from under the thumb of her ex-husband. Sydney's ex is rich and always tempting their daughter with gifts and trips that she just can't compete with so she is hoping the move will bring them close together before she loses her to her ex. The only asset that Sydney had in her name was an old house of her grandmother's so she is determined to make it work for the two of them and make the fresh start they so desperately need.
After settling in Hopewell Sydney finds herself wandering into The Book Bea, a beautiful book store ran by Bea whom Sydney has fond memories of from her own childhood. Talking with Bea Sydney finds she could use some help in the shop through the holidays which is perfect to hold Sydney over until she begins her new job in the new year. Before long though Sydney finds herself falling in love with the small town shop and it's charm.
Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local eligible bachelor in town, a high school history teacher and baseball coach and father of a twelve year old himself he's quite the catch. However when Sydney meets Mac the last thing on her mind is starting a new relationship having not broken completely free from the old one but between working at The Book Bea and her daughter becoming friends with Mac's son the two find themselves spending more and more time together.
Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle was a beautiful holiday romance read that was full of small town charm and real emotions from the characters. The setting of The Book Bea in the story sounded so much like such a magical place to a fan of books and reading such as myself with the owner having this lovely place for years with all kinds of small town charisma and events you'd only find in such a store. Bea and her shop certainly steal a big portion of the story and I just loved every minute there.
Sydney and Mac were also a nice couple to get to know as they got to know one another and come together with their common bond of being single parents. I couldn't help but root for Sydney to overcome the things her ex had done and was continuing to do and hope that she tightened the bond with her daughter along the way too. With some action going on in the story, the small town holiday setting and lovely characters this was one that I'd definitely recommend checking out for those fans of romance stories.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
After settling in Hopewell Sydney finds herself wandering into The Book Bea, a beautiful book store ran by Bea whom Sydney has fond memories of from her own childhood. Talking with Bea Sydney finds she could use some help in the shop through the holidays which is perfect to hold Sydney over until she begins her new job in the new year. Before long though Sydney finds herself falling in love with the small town shop and it's charm.
Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local eligible bachelor in town, a high school history teacher and baseball coach and father of a twelve year old himself he's quite the catch. However when Sydney meets Mac the last thing on her mind is starting a new relationship having not broken completely free from the old one but between working at The Book Bea and her daughter becoming friends with Mac's son the two find themselves spending more and more time together.
Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle was a beautiful holiday romance read that was full of small town charm and real emotions from the characters. The setting of The Book Bea in the story sounded so much like such a magical place to a fan of books and reading such as myself with the owner having this lovely place for years with all kinds of small town charisma and events you'd only find in such a store. Bea and her shop certainly steal a big portion of the story and I just loved every minute there.
Sydney and Mac were also a nice couple to get to know as they got to know one another and come together with their common bond of being single parents. I couldn't help but root for Sydney to overcome the things her ex had done and was continuing to do and hope that she tightened the bond with her daughter along the way too. With some action going on in the story, the small town holiday setting and lovely characters this was one that I'd definitely recommend checking out for those fans of romance stories.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 5, 2017
There was no hope for me...
Oh NO!! Hope at Christmas was...CLEAN! (shudders)
I was not the right reader/reviewer for Hope at Christmas. It was too sweet and drawn out for me. The characters were cheesy, the town too perfect and the hero, a cardboard cut-out. I don't want my hero to be a douchewaffle, but I certainly expect him to show a little confidence and strength. The heroine seemed unbelievably blind, ignorant and weak. Her "strength" that she was so admired for, only showed when it was forced upon her. A "strength" that only arrived when everything was handed to her on a platter.
I need that giddy, heart-fluttering feeling when a couple connects. I wanted to see the attraction, passion and lust between the hero and heroine. Kisses on the forehead and a couple of lip kisses are not going to cut it for me. How am I supposed to believe that they're meant for each other, need each other, are desperate for each other? I didn't feel passion, connection or lust, at all. I was disappointed that there were no sigh-worthy moments.
There was a lack of emotion in this story. I should have been angrier at her ex for the way she was treated. Where were her screams and demands of respect? It was like she didn't even care that her husband had been disrespecting their marriage vows for the last two years they were together. She loves her daughter, then why did she let him get away with treating their daughter as a forgotten piece of luggage? The heroine standing up for herself was a wee bit too late for me.
Small town romances are very hit or miss with me. Don't judge by my review alone. Check out other reviews and you may find that Hope at Christmas is perfect for you.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
Oh NO!! Hope at Christmas was...CLEAN! (shudders)
I was not the right reader/reviewer for Hope at Christmas. It was too sweet and drawn out for me. The characters were cheesy, the town too perfect and the hero, a cardboard cut-out. I don't want my hero to be a douchewaffle, but I certainly expect him to show a little confidence and strength. The heroine seemed unbelievably blind, ignorant and weak. Her "strength" that she was so admired for, only showed when it was forced upon her. A "strength" that only arrived when everything was handed to her on a platter.
I need that giddy, heart-fluttering feeling when a couple connects. I wanted to see the attraction, passion and lust between the hero and heroine. Kisses on the forehead and a couple of lip kisses are not going to cut it for me. How am I supposed to believe that they're meant for each other, need each other, are desperate for each other? I didn't feel passion, connection or lust, at all. I was disappointed that there were no sigh-worthy moments.
There was a lack of emotion in this story. I should have been angrier at her ex for the way she was treated. Where were her screams and demands of respect? It was like she didn't even care that her husband had been disrespecting their marriage vows for the last two years they were together. She loves her daughter, then why did she let him get away with treating their daughter as a forgotten piece of luggage? The heroine standing up for herself was a wee bit too late for me.
Small town romances are very hit or miss with me. Don't judge by my review alone. Check out other reviews and you may find that Hope at Christmas is perfect for you.
Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
October 12, 2017
Hope At Christmas is a sweet holiday romance in a small town. The heroine, Sydney Ragsdale, is soon to be divorced and has moved from Atlanta to escape the hold her somewhat controlling soon to be ex-husband has on her and because her grandparents left their farmhouse and she has nowhere else for her and her daughter to live. The hero, Kevin “Mac” MacAlee, is the high school baseball coach and history teacher at the high school whose wife abandoned him and their child, Seth, years ago. They both have 10 year old children.
Sydney had a lot of self doubt after her husband cheated on her for two years prior to asking to be out of the relationship. Her daughter was against the move and wanted to stay with her dad, but her dad’s new girlfriend wasn’t totally on board with that so Sydney and RayAnne have moved to the small town where Sydney used to spend summers with her grandparents.
I liked both the main characters and honestly, the fact this was a clean romance didn’t bother me at all, it worked for this couple and their relationship. What I did have issues with, and I do realize this was an Advance Review Copy, was there were so many issues with the timeline in this story which distracted greatly from the story.
I did feel like there was a bit of manufactured drama that wasn’t necessary and the ending was a bit too fairytale easy, but it mostly worked for a light holiday read.
For me, the real star of this book was the town, the community, and the holiday traditions they’ve carried on for many years.
Hope At Christmas is a pleasant holiday romance that was easy to read and enjoyable.
December 25, 2017
My Rating:
3.5
Favorite Quotes:
It never hurt to start a plan with a few easy, achievable, or already done tasks to get things rolling. It’s why she usually had “make the bed” at the top of her chore list.
Waking up on Valentine’s Day to a chocolate heart next to her pillow wasn’t unusual, but the note with it had caught her completely off guard. A goodbye note. He’d found someone new, and he was sorry. Which she couldn’t have agreed with more.
I was married for twelve years, but apparently he was only married for ten of them.
Her jaw pulsed, and she didn’t utter a single word. If there’d been a thought bubble over her head he could imagine the punctuation flying around in there like shrapnel.
Let’s take it a day at a time. I have a feeling we will have spent months and years before we take the time to stop and count them.
My Review:
Hope At Christmas was a slowly developing, sweet, wholesome, and easy to read contemporary romance and family drama featuring a divorcing mom with an indulged and huffy ten-year-old daughter. The writing was tame enough for the Hallmark channel and my elderly mother’s Sunday School Book Club, and sweet enough to cause dental concerns. The narrative featured hits of amusing banter, cute and endearing characters, common concerns and daily issues in a small-town society, charming and thoughtful touches and quite a bit of creative flair. I found the names of the businesses to be clever as there was a bike shop named Wheelies and a bakery named Cookie Doe. My favorite character was the kind and gentle Mac, despite his corny jokes and cheesy puns.
3.5
Favorite Quotes:
It never hurt to start a plan with a few easy, achievable, or already done tasks to get things rolling. It’s why she usually had “make the bed” at the top of her chore list.
Waking up on Valentine’s Day to a chocolate heart next to her pillow wasn’t unusual, but the note with it had caught her completely off guard. A goodbye note. He’d found someone new, and he was sorry. Which she couldn’t have agreed with more.
I was married for twelve years, but apparently he was only married for ten of them.
Her jaw pulsed, and she didn’t utter a single word. If there’d been a thought bubble over her head he could imagine the punctuation flying around in there like shrapnel.
Let’s take it a day at a time. I have a feeling we will have spent months and years before we take the time to stop and count them.
My Review:
Hope At Christmas was a slowly developing, sweet, wholesome, and easy to read contemporary romance and family drama featuring a divorcing mom with an indulged and huffy ten-year-old daughter. The writing was tame enough for the Hallmark channel and my elderly mother’s Sunday School Book Club, and sweet enough to cause dental concerns. The narrative featured hits of amusing banter, cute and endearing characters, common concerns and daily issues in a small-town society, charming and thoughtful touches and quite a bit of creative flair. I found the names of the businesses to be clever as there was a bike shop named Wheelies and a bakery named Cookie Doe. My favorite character was the kind and gentle Mac, despite his corny jokes and cheesy puns.
November 9, 2017
#HoHoHoRAT
Small town Christmas, a heroine needing a change, a hero needing a chance, a young girl's Christmas wish for Santa, an enchanting book store and voila, it was the perfect recipe for a Christmas goodie.
Hope at Christmas really was a sugary sweet snow globe-type of Christmas story in some respects, but it also dealt with some realism in a woman getting over a cheating husband and divorce, a child who is in the middle, struggling with not becoming jaded to other chances out there, a homemaker learning to make her own way, and that is all just Sydney's side of matters. Then there is Mac who is further along in the process because yep, his wife left him and his son behind during the holidays, too. He's always played Santa for the town and secretly wished his son would give Christmas a chance, but now he sets eyes on Sydney and wants to be the one to bring her some Christmas magic.
It's all the ooey-gooey goodness for sure and much of the book gently introduces the special bookshop, The Book Bea, and its owner , Miss Bea, who sagely helps Sidney on the road to healing. There is also a great deal of Mac and Sydney separately doing the single parenting thing. But yes, the sweet slow-burn romance happens. It's a low-angst story until Sydney starts to panic about feeling something again for another man and doesn't want to take a chance. She is newly divorced so the panic makes sense for the story and keeps things on the cautious side which totally worked for me with all the other elements that come together in the book.
In the end, I felt it was a bite of Christmas sugary goodness come early and perfect for immersing in the holiday feelings and setting with a nice sweet romance to cuddle up with. Might need Sydney's hot chocolate recipe and Mac's lasagna recipe, too...
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review..
Small town Christmas, a heroine needing a change, a hero needing a chance, a young girl's Christmas wish for Santa, an enchanting book store and voila, it was the perfect recipe for a Christmas goodie.
Hope at Christmas really was a sugary sweet snow globe-type of Christmas story in some respects, but it also dealt with some realism in a woman getting over a cheating husband and divorce, a child who is in the middle, struggling with not becoming jaded to other chances out there, a homemaker learning to make her own way, and that is all just Sydney's side of matters. Then there is Mac who is further along in the process because yep, his wife left him and his son behind during the holidays, too. He's always played Santa for the town and secretly wished his son would give Christmas a chance, but now he sets eyes on Sydney and wants to be the one to bring her some Christmas magic.
It's all the ooey-gooey goodness for sure and much of the book gently introduces the special bookshop, The Book Bea, and its owner , Miss Bea, who sagely helps Sidney on the road to healing. There is also a great deal of Mac and Sydney separately doing the single parenting thing. But yes, the sweet slow-burn romance happens. It's a low-angst story until Sydney starts to panic about feeling something again for another man and doesn't want to take a chance. She is newly divorced so the panic makes sense for the story and keeps things on the cautious side which totally worked for me with all the other elements that come together in the book.
In the end, I felt it was a bite of Christmas sugary goodness come early and perfect for immersing in the holiday feelings and setting with a nice sweet romance to cuddle up with. Might need Sydney's hot chocolate recipe and Mac's lasagna recipe, too...
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review..
January 16, 2019
This is a wonderfully woven tale of betrayal, heartbreak, new beginnings, new friends, finding self-confidence, and our place in the world. The characters in this story felt real to me; as if someone were relaying the information to me about a friend.
Divorce has shattered the world of Sydney and Rayanne Ragsdale. Sydney feels betrayed by her husband, Jon, and her friends; Rayanne thinks her father doesn't love her anymore. Sydney and Rayanne leave Georgia for Sydney's grandparents' home in North Carolina. Sydney inherited it when they died and it is the only thing she solely owns after the divorce. She is starting a job in the new year and is using the time between Thanksgiving and New Year to get settled. Sydney finds that one of her favorite childhood spots, Bea's Books, is still in the small North Carolina town. Sydney begins to feel her wings and imagination spreading as she shakes off the tethers from her ex-husband's demeaning attitude towards her. Sydney and Rayanne begin to put down roots; while Jon moves on with his life in Georgia.
This is a wonderful story and I enjoyed it immensely!
Divorce has shattered the world of Sydney and Rayanne Ragsdale. Sydney feels betrayed by her husband, Jon, and her friends; Rayanne thinks her father doesn't love her anymore. Sydney and Rayanne leave Georgia for Sydney's grandparents' home in North Carolina. Sydney inherited it when they died and it is the only thing she solely owns after the divorce. She is starting a job in the new year and is using the time between Thanksgiving and New Year to get settled. Sydney finds that one of her favorite childhood spots, Bea's Books, is still in the small North Carolina town. Sydney begins to feel her wings and imagination spreading as she shakes off the tethers from her ex-husband's demeaning attitude towards her. Sydney and Rayanne begin to put down roots; while Jon moves on with his life in Georgia.
This is a wonderful story and I enjoyed it immensely!
October 12, 2017
Title: Hope at Christmas
Author: Nancy Naigle
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Hope at Christmas" by Nancy Naigle
My Thoughts....
This was quite a good holiday story that involved two divorced parents and their children. I liked how this author brings Sydney Ragsdale and Kevin [Mac] Alea together in this wonderful Christmas magical read that is fulled with 'love and hopefulness.'
We find from the story that after an very unexpected divorce Sydney moves from Atlanta to Hopewell, North Carolina with her daughter where her grandparents had left her their farm house to get away from it all ... a controlling ex and some ex friends. Hopefully Sydney plan to start a new live there in Hopewell.
As you read through this well written story one will find the characters so very relatable as well as realistic giving you a good senseable read. Will these two people [Sydney & Mac] be able to get just what they needed as they find there way around Hopewell N.C? This author brings out a interesting point of what can happen when there is a divorce ex and who is left hurt and abandon when a marriage is dissolved...the child. In this case the children were Ray Anne & Seth. Be ready for a lots of action, surprises, drama, trust issues, fun, hope, love, sadness and even laughter, and Christmas cheer as the story continues to the end. What will happen when Sydney starts working for Bea over the holidays?What was so special about this book store? Who will she met? What was it about Mac. divorced, who was teacher at the local HS, baseball coach and during the holidays would dress up as Santa in that interested Sydney? Will their be sparks between Sydney and Mac as they go some some series of non-dates? Will these two lost souls who had been wounded be able to find healing? Will Sydney be able to trust again after that ordeal with her ex? To get all of these questions answered you will have to pick up "Hope at Christmas" and see how this author will bring it all out for you.
By the end the reader will get a good heart-warming holiday story of ' love, hope and second chances' and YES, a ending with a wonderful HEA.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
Author: Nancy Naigle
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Hope at Christmas" by Nancy Naigle
My Thoughts....
This was quite a good holiday story that involved two divorced parents and their children. I liked how this author brings Sydney Ragsdale and Kevin [Mac] Alea together in this wonderful Christmas magical read that is fulled with 'love and hopefulness.'
We find from the story that after an very unexpected divorce Sydney moves from Atlanta to Hopewell, North Carolina with her daughter where her grandparents had left her their farm house to get away from it all ... a controlling ex and some ex friends. Hopefully Sydney plan to start a new live there in Hopewell.
As you read through this well written story one will find the characters so very relatable as well as realistic giving you a good senseable read. Will these two people [Sydney & Mac] be able to get just what they needed as they find there way around Hopewell N.C? This author brings out a interesting point of what can happen when there is a divorce ex and who is left hurt and abandon when a marriage is dissolved...the child. In this case the children were Ray Anne & Seth. Be ready for a lots of action, surprises, drama, trust issues, fun, hope, love, sadness and even laughter, and Christmas cheer as the story continues to the end. What will happen when Sydney starts working for Bea over the holidays?What was so special about this book store? Who will she met? What was it about Mac. divorced, who was teacher at the local HS, baseball coach and during the holidays would dress up as Santa in that interested Sydney? Will their be sparks between Sydney and Mac as they go some some series of non-dates? Will these two lost souls who had been wounded be able to find healing? Will Sydney be able to trust again after that ordeal with her ex? To get all of these questions answered you will have to pick up "Hope at Christmas" and see how this author will bring it all out for you.
By the end the reader will get a good heart-warming holiday story of ' love, hope and second chances' and YES, a ending with a wonderful HEA.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.
November 15, 2017
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
I have never read Nancy Naigle before, of course as I write this I'm really not sure about that. For this review I'm going to go off that I haven't. I've often seen her books and her covers always look so good and I've wanted to read them but...again, not sure if I have.
So when I was given a chance to try one of her books and on top of that it was a holiday story how could I say no? If you know me then you know I'm a huge fan of holiday romance stories. I just love them!
Very shortly into the story I figured out that for me this was more woman's fiction then romance. I don't really read women's fiction but since I accepted the ARC I figured I'd keep going.
The story as a whole wasn't bad, it was just overly...sweet. I know, I said that like it was a dirty word. I didn't mean it to sound like that. I'm just not sure how else to describe it. The main characters relationship didn't have much heat between them. Sure, there are problems along the way, just nothing much.
I did like the small town feel of the story but even that wasn't enough to make me really love this story. Like I said, it's not a bad story just not one I was thrill with. I'm sure if the romance aspect isn't what you want front and center and you don't like a more gritty story this would be perfect for you.
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ARC received for a honest review
I have never read Nancy Naigle before, of course as I write this I'm really not sure about that. For this review I'm going to go off that I haven't. I've often seen her books and her covers always look so good and I've wanted to read them but...again, not sure if I have.
So when I was given a chance to try one of her books and on top of that it was a holiday story how could I say no? If you know me then you know I'm a huge fan of holiday romance stories. I just love them!
Very shortly into the story I figured out that for me this was more woman's fiction then romance. I don't really read women's fiction but since I accepted the ARC I figured I'd keep going.
The story as a whole wasn't bad, it was just overly...sweet. I know, I said that like it was a dirty word. I didn't mean it to sound like that. I'm just not sure how else to describe it. The main characters relationship didn't have much heat between them. Sure, there are problems along the way, just nothing much.
I did like the small town feel of the story but even that wasn't enough to make me really love this story. Like I said, it's not a bad story just not one I was thrill with. I'm sure if the romance aspect isn't what you want front and center and you don't like a more gritty story this would be perfect for you.
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
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ARC received for a honest review
December 28, 2018
"Weihnachtzauber in Hopewell" ist eine zauberhafte weihnachtlich Geschichte, bei der die weihnachtliche Atmosphäre sehr gut rüberkommt. Es gibt viele wunderschöne weihnachtliche Traditionen und Dekorationen. Auch das kleine Städtchen Hopewell hat eine zauberhafte und gemütliche Atmosphäre.
In dieses Städtchen zieht Sydney mit ihrer Tochter nach der Scheidung von ihrem Mann. Hier versucht sie wieder auf eigenen Füßen zu stehen und wird durch den Buchladen der alten Bea sehr schnell integriert.
Auch der Buchladen war ein tolles Setting und man merkt die Liebe zum Lesen bei sehr vielen Charakteren.
In Hopewell lernt Sydney auch Mac mit seinem Sohn Seth kennen und zwischen den beiden sprühen die Funken, obwohl Sydney den Männern eigentlich erstmal abgeschworen hat. Die beiden hat für mich sehr gut zusammengepasst und ich fand es gut, dass es sich zwischen den beiden eher langsam entwickelt hat.
Das Buch ist ein zauberhaftes Buch für die Weihnachtszeit, in dem Zusammenhalt und Familie im Vordergrund stehen. Leseempfehlung von mir.
In dieses Städtchen zieht Sydney mit ihrer Tochter nach der Scheidung von ihrem Mann. Hier versucht sie wieder auf eigenen Füßen zu stehen und wird durch den Buchladen der alten Bea sehr schnell integriert.
Auch der Buchladen war ein tolles Setting und man merkt die Liebe zum Lesen bei sehr vielen Charakteren.
In Hopewell lernt Sydney auch Mac mit seinem Sohn Seth kennen und zwischen den beiden sprühen die Funken, obwohl Sydney den Männern eigentlich erstmal abgeschworen hat. Die beiden hat für mich sehr gut zusammengepasst und ich fand es gut, dass es sich zwischen den beiden eher langsam entwickelt hat.
Das Buch ist ein zauberhaftes Buch für die Weihnachtszeit, in dem Zusammenhalt und Familie im Vordergrund stehen. Leseempfehlung von mir.
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February 12, 2018This book is like a G-rated, small-town set Hallmark Christmas special on a page. If that's your thing (it's not entirely mine tbh) then you'll love this one!
About-to-be-divorced mom Sydney moves her daughter to the small town where her grandparents lived, and into the old farmhouse they left to her after they died. Her ten year-old daughter is angry about her parents' split and Sydney's about to start a new job in a few weeks. After she impulsively stops into the small local bookstore she used to love as a child, Sydney ends up with a new part-time job assisting the elderly store owner.
Mac is a single dad to a son, a high school teacher, and secretly dresses up as the town Santa.
Of course these two are made for each other. It was interesting to me that, while the story is told in alternating third person from Sydney and Seth's POVs, the two characters don't even really meet each other until about a third of the way through the book. That wasn't ideal for the romance, but it did work well for a subplot about Sydney's painful divorce and her daughter's anger and sadness over the breakup of her family. As the story begins, she hasn't even signed her divorce papers, so it wasn't a bad thing that she doesn't jump into a new relationship right away. I'm fine with romances without love scenes, but this story was so squeaky clean that it almost felt a little antiseptic. if you're not okay with slow, slow, slow burn romance in which the characters just exchange a chaste peck or two, this might not be the book for you.
What this book does have in large supply - a lot of small town charm and a fun plot about Sydney's plans to bring the bookstore into the 21st century.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com or check out my Bookstagram!
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher for possible review.
About-to-be-divorced mom Sydney moves her daughter to the small town where her grandparents lived, and into the old farmhouse they left to her after they died. Her ten year-old daughter is angry about her parents' split and Sydney's about to start a new job in a few weeks. After she impulsively stops into the small local bookstore she used to love as a child, Sydney ends up with a new part-time job assisting the elderly store owner.
Mac is a single dad to a son, a high school teacher, and secretly dresses up as the town Santa.
Of course these two are made for each other. It was interesting to me that, while the story is told in alternating third person from Sydney and Seth's POVs, the two characters don't even really meet each other until about a third of the way through the book. That wasn't ideal for the romance, but it did work well for a subplot about Sydney's painful divorce and her daughter's anger and sadness over the breakup of her family. As the story begins, she hasn't even signed her divorce papers, so it wasn't a bad thing that she doesn't jump into a new relationship right away. I'm fine with romances without love scenes, but this story was so squeaky clean that it almost felt a little antiseptic. if you're not okay with slow, slow, slow burn romance in which the characters just exchange a chaste peck or two, this might not be the book for you.
What this book does have in large supply - a lot of small town charm and a fun plot about Sydney's plans to bring the bookstore into the 21st century.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com or check out my Bookstagram!
I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher for possible review.
December 23, 2018
After her divorce Sydney Ragsdale decided to move back to the tiny town of Hopewell, NC where she spent many happy summers at her grandparents' farm. Her hope was to get away from her husband who was trying to run her life and constantly tempting his daughter with things and trips in the hopes she would want to live with him and his new girlfriend. Sydney is also hoping to bring the relationship she has with her daughter to a new level and get her to love the little town as much as she did as a child. When her grandparents died, they left her the house, so off they go. Shortly after settling in, Sydney finds herself wandering into The Book Bea, a beautiful, friendly bookstore run by Bea whom Sydney remembers from her own childhood. It turns out she is in the right place at the right time and is hired by Bea to assist her over the holidays. Before long though Sydney finds herself falling in love with the small town shop and it's charm. As Ray Anne begins making friends, she is more and more comfortable in Hopewell as well. Kevin MacAlea, Mac is a single father to a 12 year old son, a high school history teacher and baseball coach and the best Santa Claus the town has. When Sydney meets Mac the last thing on her mind is starting a new relationship but between working at The Book Bea and her daughter becoming friends with Mac's son the two find themselves spending more and more time together. Will Mac help Sydney deal with the new life she has found? Will Ray Anne be happy in Hopewell and want to stay or move back to Atlanta?
Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle is a beautiful holiday romance that is full of small town charm and emotions. The Book Bea sounded like a magical place for book lovers, and families. It was a central part of the town, similar to those country stores and coffee shops in other books. Bea, the owner, knows everyone in town and has wisdom and advice that is simple and honest. I enjoyed every time we visited the store. I couldn't help but root for Sydney to overcome the things her ex had done to her emotionally and was continuing to do to her through her daughter. There is some angst and action in the story that added to the emotional investment of this reader, that made it hard to put down. Between the small town setting, the wonderful bookstore, the great characters and the holiday setting, I was won over by this story. I have recently found out that this book has been made into a Hallmark movie and I am not surprised. This is a story that I'd definitely recommend checking out for those fans of romance stories, especially with a Christmas setting.
Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle is a beautiful holiday romance that is full of small town charm and emotions. The Book Bea sounded like a magical place for book lovers, and families. It was a central part of the town, similar to those country stores and coffee shops in other books. Bea, the owner, knows everyone in town and has wisdom and advice that is simple and honest. I enjoyed every time we visited the store. I couldn't help but root for Sydney to overcome the things her ex had done to her emotionally and was continuing to do to her through her daughter. There is some angst and action in the story that added to the emotional investment of this reader, that made it hard to put down. Between the small town setting, the wonderful bookstore, the great characters and the holiday setting, I was won over by this story. I have recently found out that this book has been made into a Hallmark movie and I am not surprised. This is a story that I'd definitely recommend checking out for those fans of romance stories, especially with a Christmas setting.
November 28, 2017
This was a typical sweet small-town romance story where the entire town chips in to get the two main characters together. If I don't think about it too much, I liked it. It's a gentle read about two people overcoming their own hang-ups and choosing love. I loved the magical bookstore and I can definitely see Sydney and her daughter taking an interest in it and working on making it better. All the initiatives and ideas they carry out are really good, and I could see myself going to them. But when I started writing this review, I found a whole lot of things I didn't like as well. So, Sydney's ex-husband cheated on her, for like two years, with the same girl that he's now expecting a child with. And Sydney was remarkably cool and calm about that. She also allows her ex to choose his new life and leave his own daughter out in the cold. At the same time, her daughter dislikes her for taking her away from her father, who is now not even thinking about her as he's too busy with his own life. Instead of sticking up for her daughter and making her ex live up to his promises, she just lets everything run its course. She could have been a lot more forceful towards her ex about that because even though they have split up and are moving on, they will forever be connected by their child and both should want the best for their daughter. I feel like for most of the book, Sydney is just going along with things. Yes, she is strong in certain situations, but it feels like she first needs to be pushed to her breaking point before she actually steps up and takes charge. And let's also not dive too deeply into Kevin, who doesn't really seem to have a personality... But still, if you are looking for a sweet and gentle romance read with a touch of Christmas, this will be perfect for you!
More on: www.owlishbooks.com
More on: www.owlishbooks.com
November 26, 2020
I will be passing this book on to a friend who loves Hallmark movies because that is exactly what the plot felt like, but in a good way. The small town, the annoying ex, the friendly people, and the charming bookstore all came together in a sweet Christmas story that would fit right in on the Hallmark channel.
January 26, 2024
This is only my second Nancy Naigle book (after THE SHELL COLLECTOR), and I can honestly say that I am a fan! I picked this up because I wanted to read a Christmas book, and I absolutely loved it. Wonderful characters and such a sweet heartwarming story without being schmaltzy. And a gentle little romance thrown in which is always good. It's been awhile since I read a book in two days, but it was just that good.
October 8, 2017
A fantastic story of new beginnings and finding love when you least expect it. This is a great wholesome small town romance. It's wonderfully written and has some very interesting characters.
Recently divorced Sydney Ragsdale moves herself and her 10 year old daughter to Hopewell, NC for a fresh start. Something her daughter is not too happy about. Sydney hopes that the wonderful people of the little town will eventually win Ray Anne over. Spending time at the Book Bea and meeting Kevin "Mac" MacAlea and his son Seth seem to be just the magic needed.
This is a relaxing heartwarming read that you will definitely want on your must read list. I highly recommend it.
Recently divorced Sydney Ragsdale moves herself and her 10 year old daughter to Hopewell, NC for a fresh start. Something her daughter is not too happy about. Sydney hopes that the wonderful people of the little town will eventually win Ray Anne over. Spending time at the Book Bea and meeting Kevin "Mac" MacAlea and his son Seth seem to be just the magic needed.
This is a relaxing heartwarming read that you will definitely want on your must read list. I highly recommend it.
September 18, 2017
3.5 Stars
This was a sweet holiday romance. Overall, I enjoyed the story but it sort of dragged for me.
I may have been too focused on the romance aspect of the story when there was clearly more to this book than that.
While I'm not sure this is a book I would read again, I'm happy that I took the chance to read it at least once.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review
This was a sweet holiday romance. Overall, I enjoyed the story but it sort of dragged for me.
I may have been too focused on the romance aspect of the story when there was clearly more to this book than that.
While I'm not sure this is a book I would read again, I'm happy that I took the chance to read it at least once.
*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review
December 28, 2019
3,5 SterneErneut gelingt es Nancy Naigle, die weihnachtliche Stimmung hervorragend einzufangen. Dazu lässt sie ihre Protagonisten typische weihnachtliche Aktivitäten absolvieren, die hierzulande teilweise kitschig wirken könnten, aber eben zur Atmosphäre beitragen. Obwohl Weihnachten schon wieder 7 Wochen zurück liegt, fühlte ich mich schnell wieder in eine festliche Stimmung versetzt.
Das hauptsächliche Setting – ein Buchladen – wäre für mich genauso ein Traumjob wie es für Sydney ist. Kein Wunder, dass sie mit beiden Händen zugreift als sich ihr die Chance ergibt, dort ihre Brötchen zu verdienen.
Ihre 10jährige Tochter wirkte auf mich wie ein Teenager in ihrem Benehmen, und dass sie immer wieder einen Groll auf die Mutter hatte währenddessen sie ihrem ehebrechenden Vater einen Heiligenschein aufsetzte nervte mich ziemlich.
Doch das war nur ein Nebengeräusch, denn das Hauptaugenmerk liegt auf Sydney. Und zwar wirklich auf Sydney und ihre Entwicklung nach der Trennung von ihrem Ehemann. Selbst die sich anbahnende Romanze ist eher ein nebensächlicher Handlungsstrang, den ich persönlich auch gar nicht so wichtig fand.
Nancy Naigle liefert hier ein beschauliches Weihnachts-Frauenbuch ab, in dem auch ernstere Töne angeschlagen werden, der aber den Leser am Schluss mit einem behaglichen Gefühl zurück lässt.
October 10, 2017
Hope At Christmas is a touching holiday read by Nancy Naigle. Ms Naigle has penned a well-written book and filled it with amazing characters. These characters made this story a joy to read, and really, everyone needs a Miss Bea in their life. Sydney and Mac's story is packed with drama, humor, heartbreak, Christmas cheer and a touch of spice.
November 22, 2017
Sweet and heartfelt.
I can picture this book as a Hallmark movie.
I can picture this book as a Hallmark movie.
December 12, 2017
This is a sweet, clean holiday romance read. Reeling from her husband's infidelity and request for a divorce, Sydney Ragsdale packs up what is left of her Atlanta life and takes her daughter to Hopewell, North Carolina. The old farmhouse where she spent her summers with her grandparents was never a vacation option on her husband's list, and the inherited property has been ignored for years. Making the move means giving up a lot of luxuries and also facing the full force of her daughter's anger.
RayAnne Ragsdale is the classic daddy's girl and she is not happy with her parents splitting up. Moving to smalltown Hopewell means leaving her dad and his money and extravagant gifts behind. She wheedles every chance she can to just get her mother to go back home, not knowing the full ramifications of her parent's separation.
Sydney does everything she can to protect her daughter while maintaining the meager funds she has until her new job starts in the new year. Meanwhile, she will spend the holidays alone in Hopewell once RayAnne goes with her dad on a ski trip, a newfound interest of his after years of never wanting to travel anywhere.
Upon her return, Sydney steps into The Book Bea, the local and longtime bookstore run by Bea. Sydney remembers Bea from her own childhood spent in The Book Bea where Sydney met and befriended Diane. On her first visit back, Bea reveals she could use some assistance in the store. Having nothing but time on her hands until her new job after the holidays, Sydney volunteers to help out. Being in the bookstore with Bea brings out so many of the good qualities in Sydney that I admired about her.
Bea is the little old lady in town that is adored by all. I found such strength and wisdom in Bea's character, who found joy in finding just the right book for all of the readers who happened upon The Book Bea. While Bea is busy finding books, she is also astute in the language of love. While Sydney is looking for a soft place to land, Bea knows Kein MacAlea, known as Mac, is where Sydney needs to end up.
Mac is a divorced teacher and coach with his own teen boy, Seth, who has a hate relationship with Christmas. Residual side effects of his mother's abandonment. What few in town know is Mac plays the local Santa every year and he has quite a knack for it.
Just as Sydney fell in love with Hopewell and its smalltown feel and community, so did I as a reader. Her childhood friend Diane is still in town, married with two kids, and their daughters bond as Sydney and Diane reconnect. RayAnne and Seth also find themselves to be two peas in a pod and their friendship was adorable to watch blossom. RayAnne's anger and emotional yo-yo-ing from her dad lead her into some situations and Seth is the best of friends and doesn't turn his back on her. It was a great testament to another strong friendship.
As Sydney and RayAnne settle into Hopewell and the holidays look, Mac and Seth continue to make them welcome in town. As Sydney and Mac spend more and more time together, she fights the doubts and staggers on the realization she is not ready for a new relationship. Seeing the great things in front of Sydney and her denying them was frustrating, especially lying to her daughter about not seeing Mac and Seth.
Sydney was a mix of a character. At times, I did not like her at all because she seemed she didn't have a backbone when it came to her husband or her daughter's whiny rants. It definitely gave credence to her last name because they both ragged on her more than she should have put up with considering how strong she really is.
There was some manufactured drama toward the end that allowed things to be tied up nice and neat and smooth. It kind of felt like a betrayal a reader after falling in love with the town and characters. I think the ending still could have happened without one particular event. The following chain of events and reactions didn't seem genuine to the magnitude of what happened. It seemed like a disservice on behalf of all the characters involved, and that was disappointing.
Overall a great Christmas read I definitely recommend!
RayAnne Ragsdale is the classic daddy's girl and she is not happy with her parents splitting up. Moving to smalltown Hopewell means leaving her dad and his money and extravagant gifts behind. She wheedles every chance she can to just get her mother to go back home, not knowing the full ramifications of her parent's separation.
Sydney does everything she can to protect her daughter while maintaining the meager funds she has until her new job starts in the new year. Meanwhile, she will spend the holidays alone in Hopewell once RayAnne goes with her dad on a ski trip, a newfound interest of his after years of never wanting to travel anywhere.
Upon her return, Sydney steps into The Book Bea, the local and longtime bookstore run by Bea. Sydney remembers Bea from her own childhood spent in The Book Bea where Sydney met and befriended Diane. On her first visit back, Bea reveals she could use some assistance in the store. Having nothing but time on her hands until her new job after the holidays, Sydney volunteers to help out. Being in the bookstore with Bea brings out so many of the good qualities in Sydney that I admired about her.
Bea is the little old lady in town that is adored by all. I found such strength and wisdom in Bea's character, who found joy in finding just the right book for all of the readers who happened upon The Book Bea. While Bea is busy finding books, she is also astute in the language of love. While Sydney is looking for a soft place to land, Bea knows Kein MacAlea, known as Mac, is where Sydney needs to end up.
Mac is a divorced teacher and coach with his own teen boy, Seth, who has a hate relationship with Christmas. Residual side effects of his mother's abandonment. What few in town know is Mac plays the local Santa every year and he has quite a knack for it.
Just as Sydney fell in love with Hopewell and its smalltown feel and community, so did I as a reader. Her childhood friend Diane is still in town, married with two kids, and their daughters bond as Sydney and Diane reconnect. RayAnne and Seth also find themselves to be two peas in a pod and their friendship was adorable to watch blossom. RayAnne's anger and emotional yo-yo-ing from her dad lead her into some situations and Seth is the best of friends and doesn't turn his back on her. It was a great testament to another strong friendship.
As Sydney and RayAnne settle into Hopewell and the holidays look, Mac and Seth continue to make them welcome in town. As Sydney and Mac spend more and more time together, she fights the doubts and staggers on the realization she is not ready for a new relationship. Seeing the great things in front of Sydney and her denying them was frustrating, especially lying to her daughter about not seeing Mac and Seth.
Sydney was a mix of a character. At times, I did not like her at all because she seemed she didn't have a backbone when it came to her husband or her daughter's whiny rants. It definitely gave credence to her last name because they both ragged on her more than she should have put up with considering how strong she really is.
There was some manufactured drama toward the end that allowed things to be tied up nice and neat and smooth. It kind of felt like a betrayal a reader after falling in love with the town and characters. I think the ending still could have happened without one particular event. The following chain of events and reactions didn't seem genuine to the magnitude of what happened. It seemed like a disservice on behalf of all the characters involved, and that was disappointing.
Overall a great Christmas read I definitely recommend!
December 10, 2018
3,5 Sterne
„Weihnachtszauber in Hopewell“ eignet sich hervorragend als Urlaubslektüre zu den Feiertagen. Viele Weihnachtsromane spielen ja leider nur zu einem kleinen Teil im Dezember oder können kein wirkliches Weihnachtsfeeling entfalten, oft erweckt der Romantitel mehr Erwartungen als das Buch dann halten kann… hier ist das jedoch anders!
Der „Weihnachtszauber in Hopewell“ steckt nicht nur im Titel, sondern in (fast) jeder Seite des Romans! Hopewell ist ein zauberhafter Ort, der seinen Charme ganz besonders in der Vorweihnachtszeit entfaltet und mit liebevollen, sympathischen Kleinstadtbewohnern eine wunderschöne Kulisse für ein Weihnachtsmärchen bildet.
Hopewell wird seinem Namen mehr als gerecht und bietet als Quell der Hoffnung der frisch geschiedenen Sydney und ihrer 10jährigen Tochter RayAnne neue Perspektiven, Halt und ein wahres Weihnachtswunder. Der Ort lehrt sie, zu vertrauen und ihrem eigenen Weg zu folgen, selbst dann, wenn er nicht von Anfang an erkennbar ist.
Eine empfehlenswerte weihnachtliche Story, bei der die Romantik nicht zu kurz kommt. Der Leser muss zwar gemeinsam mit Syd und RayAnne einiges einstecken, die Weihnachtswunderwelt Hopewells schenkt aber neue Zuversicht und lässt einen das übermäßige Drama entschuldigen, das vor allem im letzten Drittel des Romans geballt auftritt. Der Roman ist definitiv ein Weihnachtshighlight.
„Weihnachtszauber in Hopewell“ eignet sich hervorragend als Urlaubslektüre zu den Feiertagen. Viele Weihnachtsromane spielen ja leider nur zu einem kleinen Teil im Dezember oder können kein wirkliches Weihnachtsfeeling entfalten, oft erweckt der Romantitel mehr Erwartungen als das Buch dann halten kann… hier ist das jedoch anders!
Der „Weihnachtszauber in Hopewell“ steckt nicht nur im Titel, sondern in (fast) jeder Seite des Romans! Hopewell ist ein zauberhafter Ort, der seinen Charme ganz besonders in der Vorweihnachtszeit entfaltet und mit liebevollen, sympathischen Kleinstadtbewohnern eine wunderschöne Kulisse für ein Weihnachtsmärchen bildet.
Hopewell wird seinem Namen mehr als gerecht und bietet als Quell der Hoffnung der frisch geschiedenen Sydney und ihrer 10jährigen Tochter RayAnne neue Perspektiven, Halt und ein wahres Weihnachtswunder. Der Ort lehrt sie, zu vertrauen und ihrem eigenen Weg zu folgen, selbst dann, wenn er nicht von Anfang an erkennbar ist.
Eine empfehlenswerte weihnachtliche Story, bei der die Romantik nicht zu kurz kommt. Der Leser muss zwar gemeinsam mit Syd und RayAnne einiges einstecken, die Weihnachtswunderwelt Hopewells schenkt aber neue Zuversicht und lässt einen das übermäßige Drama entschuldigen, das vor allem im letzten Drittel des Romans geballt auftritt. Der Roman ist definitiv ein Weihnachtshighlight.
September 28, 2017
Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle
Nancy Naigle is an author that makes her point known while laying the groundwork for captivating stories. Hope at Christmas gives voice to a woman finding her wings and rediscovering her heart. Adulthood has not been easy for Sydney. An unhappy marriage, a controlling ex - husband and a divorce that's left her twisting in the wind. A fresh start is just what she needs to feel like herself again. Returning home with a daughter and not much else is hard, risking her heart while rebuilding her life is not what she envisioned, but could end up being the most rewarding experience of her life. New beginnings are hard to come by, but worth the effort.
Nancy Naigle is an author that makes her point known while laying the groundwork for captivating stories. Hope at Christmas gives voice to a woman finding her wings and rediscovering her heart. Adulthood has not been easy for Sydney. An unhappy marriage, a controlling ex - husband and a divorce that's left her twisting in the wind. A fresh start is just what she needs to feel like herself again. Returning home with a daughter and not much else is hard, risking her heart while rebuilding her life is not what she envisioned, but could end up being the most rewarding experience of her life. New beginnings are hard to come by, but worth the effort.
June 28, 2019
This story was full of all my favorite things-small town charm, helpful neighbors, sweet romance, and the magic of Christmas!
December 11, 2024
A sweet, small-town holiday romance perfect for the Christmas and winter season.
January 7, 2018
Hope at Christmas is an uplifting, sweet holiday romance that will have us all believing in Santa Clause again.
December 21, 2017
Did not finish.
Too saccharine sweet for my tastes, requested by mistake.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Too saccharine sweet for my tastes, requested by mistake.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
November 10, 2020
Da ich die Liebe zum Lesen erst dieses Jahr wieder für mich entdeckt habe, hatte ich bisher noch nicht wirklich das Vergnügen mir die vorweihnachtliche Zeit im Dezember mit wundervoll romantischen Geschichten zu versüßen. Umso aufgeregter war ich dann, als all die schönen Weihnachts-Romane erschienen sind. Die Cover sind zum Großteil alle wirklich absolute Hingucker. Insbesondere fiel mir das neue Cover zu "Weihnachtszauber in Hopewell" ins Auge, weswegen ich mich sehr gefreut habe, dass ich es im Zuge der Bloggerjury Aktion des Lübbe Verlags lesen und rezensieren durfte.
Ich hatte davor bereits zwei Romane, die rund um die Weihnachtszeit spielten, gelesen, die soweit ganz gut waren. Aber nirgends fühlte ich mich gleich so wohl, so Zuhause, wie in Hopewell. Bereits nach wenigen Momenten, flog ich regelrecht durch die Seiten und ich habe das Buch danach kaum wieder aus der Hand legen wollen.
Die Protagonistin Sydney war mir direkt zu Beginn so sympathisch. Sie ist eine Frau mit Charaktere, vor allem eine, die sich durchbeißen will und für ein besseres Leben für sich und ihre Tochter hart kämpft. Besonders gefallen hat mir dabei, dass jedoch das Hauptaugenmerk eindeutig auf Sydney und ihrer Entwicklung nach der schrecklichen Trennung von ihrem Mann lag. Selbst die sich anbahnende Romanze wurde eher zu einer nebensächlichen Erzählung.
Auch die Stadt Hopewell gefiel mir auf Anhieb. Nancy Naigle, schaffte es die weihnachtliche Stimmung mit ihrem Schreibstil hervorragend einzufangen. Durch ihre Beschreibungen habe ich die Straßen, Häuser und Läden sofort vor meinem inneren Auge sehen können. Alles versprühte so viel Wärme und Charme. Ich würde mich dort sofort wohl fühlen. Außerdem spielt sich der Großteil der Geschichte in dem gemütlichen kleinen Buchladen ab, in dem Sydney viel Zeit mit ihrer Tochter verbringt und die typischen vorweihnachtlichen Traditionen zelebriert. Da kann man nicht anders, als beim Lesen in absolute Weihnachtsstimmung zu verfallen.
Natürlich ist die Geschichte an sich wieder zuckersüß und absolut kitschig, aber genau das liebe ich so an den Weihnachtsgeschichten und darf meiner Meinung nach zu dieser Jahreszeit einfach nicht fehlen.
FAZIT: Alles in allem war "Weihnachtszauber in Hopewell" bisher mein Lieblingsbuch zur Weihnachtszeit und ich werde es im nächsten Jahr bestimmt noch einmal lesen.
* Ich habe das Buch als Rezensionsexemplar von Bastei Lübbe zugeschickt bekommen. Vielen herzlichen Dank an das Team der Blogger Jury.
Ich hatte davor bereits zwei Romane, die rund um die Weihnachtszeit spielten, gelesen, die soweit ganz gut waren. Aber nirgends fühlte ich mich gleich so wohl, so Zuhause, wie in Hopewell. Bereits nach wenigen Momenten, flog ich regelrecht durch die Seiten und ich habe das Buch danach kaum wieder aus der Hand legen wollen.
Die Protagonistin Sydney war mir direkt zu Beginn so sympathisch. Sie ist eine Frau mit Charaktere, vor allem eine, die sich durchbeißen will und für ein besseres Leben für sich und ihre Tochter hart kämpft. Besonders gefallen hat mir dabei, dass jedoch das Hauptaugenmerk eindeutig auf Sydney und ihrer Entwicklung nach der schrecklichen Trennung von ihrem Mann lag. Selbst die sich anbahnende Romanze wurde eher zu einer nebensächlichen Erzählung.
Auch die Stadt Hopewell gefiel mir auf Anhieb. Nancy Naigle, schaffte es die weihnachtliche Stimmung mit ihrem Schreibstil hervorragend einzufangen. Durch ihre Beschreibungen habe ich die Straßen, Häuser und Läden sofort vor meinem inneren Auge sehen können. Alles versprühte so viel Wärme und Charme. Ich würde mich dort sofort wohl fühlen. Außerdem spielt sich der Großteil der Geschichte in dem gemütlichen kleinen Buchladen ab, in dem Sydney viel Zeit mit ihrer Tochter verbringt und die typischen vorweihnachtlichen Traditionen zelebriert. Da kann man nicht anders, als beim Lesen in absolute Weihnachtsstimmung zu verfallen.
Natürlich ist die Geschichte an sich wieder zuckersüß und absolut kitschig, aber genau das liebe ich so an den Weihnachtsgeschichten und darf meiner Meinung nach zu dieser Jahreszeit einfach nicht fehlen.
FAZIT: Alles in allem war "Weihnachtszauber in Hopewell" bisher mein Lieblingsbuch zur Weihnachtszeit und ich werde es im nächsten Jahr bestimmt noch einmal lesen.
* Ich habe das Buch als Rezensionsexemplar von Bastei Lübbe zugeschickt bekommen. Vielen herzlichen Dank an das Team der Blogger Jury.
December 26, 2017
This Christmas novel was pretty dang uneventful. Although this is a romance novel, there is hardly any romance involved. This story revolves more around a middle-aged woman finding herself and how she fits in with a small town. The descriptions of people's reactions to certain situations were so realistic that they were just boring or so unrealistic that I couldn't get into the read. Strangers don't befriend people THIS easily as portrayed in this novel. I am happy I finished this novel, but I wouldn't recommend this story to anyone. I'm surprised that this novel has such a high rating on Goodreads, too. When I am reading a Christmas novel, I don't want to have to work for the joy or work for the romance. This book makes you work for both and leaves you feeling unfulfilled with hope and filled with boredness.
October 10, 2017
Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle
If you are looking for a sweet clean holiday romance between two single parents that takes place in a small southern town AND feels like a Hallmark movie then this might be just the book for you.
Sydney Ragsdale takes her ten year old daughter RayAnne to live in the home her grandparents willed to her when they died. It is an old farmhouse in a small town and a place for to get back on her feet while her soon-to-be-ex-husband stays in Atlanta with more money to spend than she has and lives with his new amour. Sydney has a job lined up in town but while visiting her old haunt, The Book Bea, she is offered a part-time holiday job that feels oh so right for both her and the proprietor of the bookshop.
Kevin “Mac” MacAlee was abandoned by his wife with his young son, Seth, years ago. He is a baseball coach and history teacher at the local high school but also plays a great Santa every year in the Christmas Village the town is well known for. He is a nice guy who cares for family, traditions and shows intrest in Sydney.
Of course Sydney and Kevin meet and there is a spark but with the ink not yet on the divorce decree, holidays coming up, antics of children and an ex-husband to deal with and many Christmas events to participate in the spark never really turns into a blaze but instead stays on a low simmer for most of the book. In the end there is a HFN ending that works for everyone – except the ex-husband.
I really liked the community, the caroling idea, the tree trimming, the Christmas snowflake fortune cookies and…a lot more. There is some drama but all in all things come out right and bright for a happy holidays story that will warm your heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Griffin for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
If you are looking for a sweet clean holiday romance between two single parents that takes place in a small southern town AND feels like a Hallmark movie then this might be just the book for you.
Sydney Ragsdale takes her ten year old daughter RayAnne to live in the home her grandparents willed to her when they died. It is an old farmhouse in a small town and a place for to get back on her feet while her soon-to-be-ex-husband stays in Atlanta with more money to spend than she has and lives with his new amour. Sydney has a job lined up in town but while visiting her old haunt, The Book Bea, she is offered a part-time holiday job that feels oh so right for both her and the proprietor of the bookshop.
Kevin “Mac” MacAlee was abandoned by his wife with his young son, Seth, years ago. He is a baseball coach and history teacher at the local high school but also plays a great Santa every year in the Christmas Village the town is well known for. He is a nice guy who cares for family, traditions and shows intrest in Sydney.
Of course Sydney and Kevin meet and there is a spark but with the ink not yet on the divorce decree, holidays coming up, antics of children and an ex-husband to deal with and many Christmas events to participate in the spark never really turns into a blaze but instead stays on a low simmer for most of the book. In the end there is a HFN ending that works for everyone – except the ex-husband.
I really liked the community, the caroling idea, the tree trimming, the Christmas snowflake fortune cookies and…a lot more. There is some drama but all in all things come out right and bright for a happy holidays story that will warm your heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Griffin for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
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