Holly Helm was born on Christmas Eve. She loves the holidays more than anything, and running her toy store and Hickory House Inn makes Christmas even more fun.
When a stranger shows up to stay at Hickory House, she has no idea that he's lying about who he is.
Will she find out his plan before it's too late? Or will sparks fly and throw a wrench in both of their plans?
Hey there! Before I tell you all about myself, can I invite you to join my private Rachel's Readers Facebook group? That's where my readers hang out, discuss my books, participate in giveaways and learn about new releases.
So who am I? My name is Rachel Hanna, and I am a wife, mother of three incredible kids (maybe I am a BIT biased?), two lovable doggies and one cat that lives outside and thinks he owns the world. Okay, I also have a gecko now too. Don't judge me.
I started writing as a young child, and I went into the field of Journalism for many years as an adult. Now, as a romantic fiction writer, I get to live out my own daydreams every single day and share them with readers around the world!
I'm a Southern chick living near Atlanta, so I say "yes, ma'm" and "ya'll", but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)
This was a cute Christmassy romance. It was a short story. If the editing had been better I would have given it five stars. I liked the ending and how the story turned out. It was a clean romance, entertaining and a quick read. Holly Helm is a widow and mother to 8 year old Gracie. Holly lives in the small town of Orchard Falls located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. To support her self and Gracie she runs the family toy store in town and also a small Inn near by. Holly has always loved Christmas and in fact her birthday is on December 24th. Then a grumpy man rents a room in her Inn and Holly learns that he doesn’t like Christmas. Greg Ward is a good looking man who wears the nicest smelling cologne that makes her want to sniff the air whenever he walks into the room. There’s things she doesn’t know about Greg. He tells her he works for a magazine based in Atlanta Georgia and that he’s in town to write an article about how the town of Orchard Falls celebrates Christmas. He really works for an investor out of New York City and he’s been sent to Orchard Falls to find property that would be suitable to build a resort on. He thought he would be in and out of town in a week. He didn’t plan on falling for a pretty widow and wanting to get to know her and her daughter better and spend time with them. Then there’s the lie he told her about being a magazine journalist. What will Holly think when she learns the truth? Readers of Christmas romance, women’s fiction and contemporary romance will enjoy this story. I downloaded a free copy in a Christmas giveaway given by a group of Authors. All opinions shared in this review are my own.
"You don't know about the spirit of Christmas? Haven't you ever felt that? It's that feeling that everyone is getting along and loving each other and helping each other. It's that feeling of togetherness like you're a team. It's a feeling of hope and faith and excitement in the air." Greg and Holly come together when he staying at her Inn while he is looking for land to buy for a resort for the company he is working for. Thing is Holly and people who live here want it to remain unchanged. Can they get past their differences. Read Blue Ridge Christmas to find out .
This is a cute, quick Christmas read. It's cheesy and predictable, but I was here for it! I took off a few stars because some of the plot is contradictory (road closure due to blizzard, yet the holiday bazaar had record breaking numbers?) and the plethora of typos is very distracting. I love this author but wish there was better editing!
The little story was nice, but there were too many typos! My goodness! Also how can you have a record crowd at the bazaar and a blizzard that closes the road at the same time? Hmmm….
I love sweet Christmas stories and was looking forward to this one. However I had trouble finishing it. It was too contrived and formulaic and needed editing for continuity.
This was the book I chose to start to kick off December and January. I always choose Christmas themed books.
This book didn't disappoint. I felt transported into a magical Christmas story and fell in love with the characters and hoped and prayed for the ending which I got.
When Holly's husband is killed in an accident, she takes her 3 year old daughter and returns to the small town where she grew up. She takes over running her aunt's toy store and also buys an Inn. When her Aunt dies, the toy store and the Inn provide just enough income to keep her going. There are rumors of a company wanting to buy property to develop as a resort which would put her Inn out of business. Then just a few weeks before Christmas Greg comes to town claiming to be a reporter from Atlanta doing a story on Orchard Falls. He hates Christmas as much as Holly loves it, but he enjoys her company and helps her at the Inn and Toy stores and with the holiday bazaar and finds himself enjoying the small town, the people, Christmas and the time he is spending with Holly and her daughter, Gracie. When his boss orders him to closets deal on the property or be fired, Greg makes some life changing decisions for all involved. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
A Christmas read about Insta love in a small town that celebrates Christmas. It was a quick read, a feel good story about love catching two very different people by surprise and the change in them it facilitated. The story is a short shot in the life of these characters and I felt that I was asked to care for them without a good basis. The story line itself was good and I get the sacrifice a writer must make with a short story but it just did not draw me in. Even so it is still a good story so if you are looking for a quick read I would recommend it.
This was a very cute, quick read. Holly loves Christmas. Greg, a guest at her inn, hates it. In the short time he’s in town, he gets to know Holly and several others residents. He learns more than he ever wanted to know about traditions, giving, and doing what’s right. Anyone can have a change of heart, right? About small towns, everything Christmas, and your own life choices. Feelings start to develop between Holly and Greg, but both agree nothing can happen because he’s leaving soon. Besides, Greg has a big secret.
This is an amazing Christmas love story of hope and true love, winning out over greed! Bruce sent Greg to do a job, his lie got his heart in over his head and Holly was taking by his charming ways, that Greg didn't know he had. Gracie, Aimee and Beetle along with the whole town took Greg by surprise and He gain his love in this mountain town of The Fall!
Rachel Hanna knows how to write a story to keep you entertained and wanting more. This novella tells the story of a single overworked mom and a bitter businessman. The book revolves around Christmas and the start of a relationship between two people who have nothing in .common. The story is cute and has a nice happy ending. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Hanna's books!
I enjoyed this story so much. Everybody likes a love story with a happy ending. I think the ladies in my family and my friends would enjoy reading this book. I look forward to your next book. Enjoy your dream come true of living in the North Georgia Mountains. I envy you getting to live my dream.
Cute.story. I'm glad that Greg screwed his boss out of the resort deal! Bruce wasn't acting like a friend at all. It was nice to realize money wasn't important to Greg as it was to his boss
I loved everything about this lil Christmas read that warmed my heart on a cold winter’s night. Holly is all Christmas cheer and Greg is all grinch. Can the two come to an agreement after falling head over heels? Lovely.
Great book. Only one thing, at the beginning of the book, Holly’s husbands name was Paul but when she starts talking to Greg about him in Chapter 3, his name is Alan.
This is a cute, short read. Love the storyline and the characters.
Loved the novel. Rachel's books never disappoint. Read this one in 1 day. Ready to start another one. Where do I start ?I have finished the beach HOUSE SERIES. READY FOR ANOTHER SERIES .