Home for Christmas: A Dickens Holiday Romance

Holly Hill Inn #2

by Maddie James

A star-crossed, holiday romance story of young love, old love, holding on, and letting go.

During the summer of 1989, Jenny Anderson meets Ben Matthews during a beach vacation with their families. Fresh out of high school and ready to get on with life—Jenny to Penn State in the fall and Ben to work for his uncle at Dickens Hardware—they didn’t expect to fall in love.

But love-at-first-sight happens anyway.

This long-distance relationship doesn’t deter them. After a summer of love letters and clandestine trips in the fall, Ben asks Jenny’s father for her hand in marriage over Thanksgiving weekend. Much to Jenny’s horror, her father angrily denies his request.

That’s when Ben and Jenny devise a plan to elope, enjoy a Christmas honeymoon in the mountains, and settle into life in Dickens, the Christmas Village. Jenny hopes her parents will come around, finally give their blessing, and welcome Ben into the family.

But plans go awry when Ben’s truck breaks down not far out of Dickens. The young couple takes refuge from a fast-approaching snowstorm at an old farmhouse with elderly occupants. The pause in their getaway causes Jenny to have doubts—until she witnesses first-hand the power of love and the magic of Christmas.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Romance

152 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2021

About the author

Maddie James also writes as Madeleine Jaimes.

The author of 70+ romantic novels, novellas, and short stories, Maddie James pens romance and suspense stories in contemporary and paranormal worlds. Her contemporary worlds often lean toward small towns and western settings, complete with cowboys, Alpha men, and strong, take-charge women.

Her romance writing career launched in 1997 as a traditionally published author with Kensington Books. Currently publishing as an independent author, she writes full time from her Midwest, small town home, where she also gardens, cooks, and chases the dog.

Affaire de Coeur says, “James shows a special talent for traditional romance,” and RT Book Reviews claims, “James deftly combines romance and suspense, so hop on for an exhilarating ride.”

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet Christmas romance about the power of first love.

[Lucinda Race · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet and wholesome holiday novella and can't wait to read the next book from Maddie James. What a nice diversion for a Saturday afternoon.

[Linda Galella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced and small town charming with like able characters that I would enjoy checking in on again.

Author, Maddie James, built a craveable setting in Charmington, N. Y. It becomes a character in its own right. This book is novella length with a small cast but the few characters we do meet beyond the mains can easily anchor future installments.

Clean and sweet romance with just enough tension to keep the story interesting and the pages flipping. A great way to start Christmas in July 2024📚

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Making a Life Together . . .

This is a sweet, heart-felt love story involving Ben Matthews and Jenny Anderson. The two of them met on family vacation at the beach. They realize their strong connection and stay in touch with each other through letters, phone calls, and visits. Jenny is going to college to study law. Ben is working in his family’s store where he is expected to take it over in the future.

The two of them want to get married, so Ben asks her parents. Unfortunately, her father was furious and flatly refused his request. When they decide they truly do love each other, they decide to elope. But on the way, Ben’s truck breaks down and they take shelter in a farmhouse with an elderly couple, the Petersons. Mr. Peterson is dying and is on oxygen. When the power went out, Ben went outside to try to start the old generator. It gave Mrs. Peterson time to talk with Jenny about how wonderful Ben is and how much he loves her. They talked for awhile and the wisdom and advice were just what Jenny needed. Decisions would need to be made, but love could make all the difference. His family was so full of love and he and Jenny could have that too. Will she understand her feelings better now? Is she comfortable to accept the life that waits for them?

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet love story with strong characters in Ben and Jenny. The author does a great job building the story and bringing all the feels in this emotional and heartwarming story. She pulled me in with the story line and kept me turning the pages right to the end. I enjoyed and would recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet clean romance story about Ben and Jenny. Well written. Good characters. Lovely story.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a free Kindle book. Usually you get what you pay for but it looked cute so I took a chance. The verdict: I didn't hate it. I guess I got my money's worth. LOL. It's a sweet story of first love. It is weirdly set in 1989 so the characters were just a few years older than I was at that time. They felt so YOUNG to be running off together. Now I have kids this age and the actions of the characters and the decisions that they were making still felt like Ben and Jenny were much TOO YOUNG. But putting that aside...the story is simple. It's sweet. There isn't much more to it than that.

My Rating: Okay

[runofthemillwallflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and heartwarming book. It focused on Jenny, a 19 y/o striving artist and Ben, a 20 y/o native to the town of Dickens. This book was about finding your first love, your forever love. Of willing to fight for that love despite the fear and outside voices naysaying. I very much enjoyed reading about Jenny and Ben falling head over heels in love. Of their creating a future together and through small holiday miracles getting more than you've ever dreamed of or planned for.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Hill Inn a home for Christmas!

This trilogy, set in a Dickens New England village, the Holly Hall Inn, a couple finds true love at the most special time of the year, Christmas. The tale is continued following their children and another family.

A delightful happy tale, sure to bring joy to everyone who reads it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Connie M Spence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story

Fast-paced romance and good characters. Sounds like a small town living. Excitement near the end will have you guessing will they or won't they.

[Dena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas all the way.

This was a good story to read before the series. I liked that we got to know Ben and Jenny first. We got the back story and how they met and their families.

[Crystal Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Super cute and a fast read. Looking forward to reading the next book about this couple.

[Lori Tremain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good clean romance of the Hallmark Variety. Jenny and Ben meet at their families vacation homes on the beach. Love at first site. But families of 2 totally different mind sets.

[Donna Peake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one for the Great American Family Channel, very wholesome. Can't wait to read #2

[Nora Leduc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sweet Romance

I enjoyed the couples devotion to each other no matter what came their way. Their romance boosted my Christmas cheer.

[Terri McClean]

Perfect Christmas story to curl up with and read for a couple hours.

A sweet love at first sight story . Even though , it has some tense moments and some heartbreaking moments. While being a short novel, the characters still had depth to them. A great start to the series.

[Holly Doyal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is a very short story (takes just a few hours to read) that is about two late teenagers that experience falling in love instantly when they first see each other while on vacation at the same beach.

Ben has been out of high school for a few months and he is working in his family’s hardware store in a small, Christmas town in Nee England. Jenny is about to head off to Penn State to begin her college studies. She is going to obtain a law degree because that’s what her parents want her to do.

Ben & Jenny keep in touch and they make plans to get married. However, Jenny’s dad forbids them from getting married so they decide to sneak off and do it. Will her parents have a change of heart before the wedding?

This book wraps up all the loose ends very easily - a little too easily for me. No one can be that perfect. At times in the book, I felt like the scenes were from the early 1900s even though it took place in 1989.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was just like reading a Hallmark movie. It was absolutely perfect and a bit cheesy but that's part of the charm. I think that this book held some extra special elements for me, as it was a small town, they owned a hardware store and they met at a beach on summer vacation and instantly fell in love. I grew up in a small town and my family owned the local hardware store, so that part was truly reminiscent for me. The love on the beach thing reminded me of summers up at the lake and falling in love quickly and hard with a local boy. However, it was usually only a few weeks or months and often fizzled by the time school started in the fall. I'm glad to see that Ben and Jenny stuck to their guns and fought for their love. The night of the storm and being with the Petersen's was both a tender loving moment and a heart-breakingly sad moment. I cried a bit while smiling through that part. The ending was a true happily ever after moment and I'm looking forward to the next two books in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books written by Maddie James; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is the first book in the Holly Hill Inn Series. She has written a great holiday book. Jenny & Ben meet while on summer vacation; it’s love at first sight but they are both going in different directions; she’s off to college and he’s going back home to work at his uncle’s hardware store. They make the long distance romance work and over Thanksgiving he asks her father for her hand in marriage but he denies his request. They decide they are going to get married anyway; they plan to elope and have a honeymoon in the mountains during the Christmas holiday but when his truck breaks down before they get there they end up staying with an elderly couple at a old farmhouse because of the snowstorm. Seeing them together shows them the power of love and the magic of Christmas.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Diane Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home for Christmas by Maddie James is a sweet holiday read. It is enjoyable with wonderful characters. It is a great quick read.

Jenny and Ben meet briefly while each is enjoying family vacation at the beach. They stay in touch after with letters, phone calls and the occasional visit. She is attending her Freshman year at Penn State while he is in New England managing his family's hardware store, one he will take over in a few years.

Their families could not be more different and have completely different views of their relationship. It is almost like a modern day Romeo and Juliette. The story can be a bit predictable but still enjoyable.

Home for Christmas will give you all the feels and a wonderful HEA. Isn't that what we all want from a quick Holiday Read? You will enjoy and not be disappointed.

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Christmas love story. Jenny is a college student under the oppressive thumb of her parents: she still wants their approval. But her parents deny her heart's desire, Ben, when they refuse his request to marry her. Miscommunication between her and Ben leads to doubt as they are forced out of his truck and into the home of an elderly couple during their elopement. The personal growth which Jenny exhibits that Christmas is inspiring as are the changes in family and friends. The ending is quite heart warming.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Inspirational. Romantic. Tear-jerker. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.

I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.

[Norma Wiegert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home for Chistmas is a enjoyable quick read. A very good book by Maddie James
This is Jenny and Ben's story. They met at the beach while each was vacationing with thery family. Over the years they kept in touch by letter, phone cale and occasionally a visit. Jenny is in her freshman year at Penn State while Ben is in New England managing the family hardware store which he will take over in a few years. Their families have different views about their relationship which can result in some interesting and challeging situations which all must work through and as they do,a wonderful HEA is visible on the horizon.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this short sweet story about Jenny and Ben. It was love at first sight when they first meet each other. They both fell hard and fast. A little too fast according to her parents. I loved Ben's character because he always wanted to do the right thing where it concerned Jenny. Jenny needed to make some decisions that would ultimately affect her relationships with her parents and with Ben. It was such a sweet story about the power of love and just a little bit of Christmas magic. I would highly recommend reading this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margery Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful
Jenny and Ben are in love and want to get married despite her parents’ objections. They’ve been together for years and understand that although they are relatively young they both know in their hearts there is no other person for them. They decide to elope and end up spending the night with Elaine Peterson due to a horrible snowstorm. Events change drastically the next day, and they are free to proceed with their plans. You’ll enjoy finding out if they’re the original plans or the plan to elope. Great characters and writing in this short, but definitely entertaining read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben sees Jenny and has no idea she has been waiting on him to notice her - then life for 2 teenagers change and they go their different ways - her to college per her parents and him to working full time in the hardware store. Her parents are very strict and even though met Ben and his parents, believe that they are too far beneath their social standing for them being together to work out - they have to fight for their love and I found this to be a special story and can hardly wait on the next one in the series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rhonda Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this sweet Love Story. Perceptions are plenty when these two fall in love. Ben and Jenny meet and fall in love. They go there seperate ways when she goes off to college and he stays to work in town, staying together and making the long distance thing work. Ben asks her father for her hand in marriage. He refuses angrily as he feels Ben is below his family and that she can do better. Jenny is upset with this and they plan on getting married anyway even without her parents blessings. What will happen, will her father come around.? This story reads like a hallmark movie. Sit back and enjoy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet story of not only first love, but also being true to yourself. I enjoyed this story that followed the story of Ben and Jenny. It was love at first sight for the young couple. They were very young and wanted to get married but her parents didn’t like the idea. They wanted her to finish getting her degree and become a lawyer. Ben and Jenny get stranded on the way to elope and what happens next will seal their fate. I would recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Penny Leidecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet Christmas story, but the ending was my favorite part. If you love a love at first sight story, but they have to work to get their happily ever after, I think you’ll enjoy this book set in Dickens. This book is centered around Jenny and Ben. Jenny has always done everything to make her father happy, so what’s going to happen when he won’t give his blessing for Ben and her to be together? Grab your copy and find out. This book will definitely leave you with a smile on your face.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben and Jenny meet while both are on vacation. She heads for law school and he heads back to work at the hardware store he will take over later on. Keeping in touch and falling in love, they decide to elope when situations arise. A sudden storm has them meeting the Peterson couple, who give them a little advice. Great ending. Loved the characters and the storyline had its ups and downs but the couple were stronger together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cathy Egan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute romance between Jenny and Ben. It's a love at first sight story. I like the way Maddie James starts out with the story in present tense and then goes back in increments to explain how they got to this point. I liked the story line and the characters, but I wish she would have developed them a little bit more. I do love a story that makes me emotional, so I did enjoy this one. It wasn't too long and easy to read.