Home For The Holidays

Vows #1

by Irene Hannon

Laura Taylor, owner of Taylor Landscaping, hides her beauty behind overalls and a baseball cap and tucks her tenderness under a sassy attitude. Yet she still can't fool architect Nick Sinclair. Powerfully drawn to the independent young widow, he wants to know everything about her. But Laura has secrets--ones she can't reveal.

Genres: Romance, Love Inspired, Fiction, Christmas, Christian Fiction, Contemporary, Christian

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 25, 1997

About the author

Irene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 65 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers' Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers' Best, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.

Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.

Reviews

[Kame · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is classic Irene Hannon

Easy to read plot, no angst, not a whole lot of characters to keep track of.

I am going to find book 2 to read next

Perfect beach book!

[martha millette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Many Steps Back

Started to lose sympathy for a woman who chose victim hood martyrdom for years without trying to get help. The man finally put up a boundary to what became a toxic situation for himself. Reunion was too rushed for her boundless fears. Fully expect her to harden up again in marriage and refuse help.

[Kelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd Chances

This was a good clean romance. I enjoyed the characters and the best friends. I have to admit it’s a bit predictable but still a good read.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning to Trust

This book captured my attention from the first page. Laura was afraid to trust again . She's an unknown landscaper and Nick is an architect who agrees to hire her for a new art center. She proves herself well in business, but when he takes a personal interest, her trust issues surface. Highly recommend. If you've read Irene Hannon books, you won't need a recommendation. If this is your first, it won't be your last.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the strong female character working in what's considered a man's profession. I like that she owns her own business and is building it from the ground up. I also like that she has character flaws and fears that she needs to confront on both professional and personal levels to grow within the confines of this story.

[Snoopster 7 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just Ok, G-rated romance

Of the 14 chapters in the book, it took the FMC 12 chapters to finally tell the MMC what happened in her past! It felt like it took forever to get any heat, and that was strictly a kiss. There is absolutely no open door romance and not even 2nd base mention. Towards the end, I skimmed because I was losing interest and my patience with the FMC.

[Sue Chaisson · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was a nice happy book to end my 2024 reading goal on! Happy holidays!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Place to Call Home is a powerful, heart-warming story. Laura is physically and emotionally scarred from a bad marriage and doing all she can to keep her fledgling business afloat when she gets selected for a huge commercial project – a first for her. The author has obviously done her homework into landscaping and architecture, sprinkling just enough dialogue and description to educate the reader and make the situations realistic. I fell in love with Nick almost immediately; the quintessential businessman, smart and savvy, who is trying to make his own business successful, but he’s not so self-important that he doesn’t remember what it was like to start out. I liked that Laura and Nick are older, so they can have real conversations about life and their relationship. He is so patient with her as she fights her demons. I rooted for them throughout the story. A great happily-ever-after.

[D'anah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

It was a good and emotive read. The issues depicted are well represented. Trauma and abuse can leave a lasting destructive legacy, without God's intervention. The friendships in the book are priceless. I wish there had been more reliance on God for those professing to be Christians. Apart from that, it was well done with a fairytale ending.

[Jeanette S. Stracner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful novel!

Irene Hannon did a beautiful job. Architect Nick Sinclair was asked to hire a landscape Laura Taylor. They do not hit it off. Loved every minute of the book! Jeanette Stracner

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Irene Hannon's books like this one, and this one did not disappoint. The characters are great, and the plot pacing is well done, twists aren't too wild and crazy, and there's good spiritual insights shared. I look forward to more good reading!

[Bubby D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes a broken heart can be mended

Sometimes a broken heart can be mended
If trust can replace fear
You might just find your happy ever after

Enjoyable Read
characters felt Real

Received a free copy

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

Very good & clean love story. I read this book in a day. Couldn't put it down. Had a little bit of suspense, which I don't usually like. But it was ok. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Lyn Herbohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of hope!

Laura was full of fear and found it difficult to trust. Nick was patient as Laura struggled to work through her issues. His love was a reflection of God’s, showing how He never gives up on us. What a beautiful story!

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet story, and just short enough not to become annoying!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

June 2025
Setting: ST. Louis and south some
Irene Hannon is a good author.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story of trauma, risk, love.
- Laura, a landscape artist who has been hurt in the past, and
- Nick, an architect.

[Letha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Omg. Really? After FOURTEEN years, Laura is STILL acting like a school girl. Couldn’t finish it. Truly too sappy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really, really good. I so wanted to give it five stars. The story was about a young widow who had come from an abused relationship. She had been physically scarred, but her physical scars were nothing compared to the emotional scars.

And then there was Nick. Nick fell in love with this woman, and though he tried to stay away from women who had a lot of baggage, Nick couldn't walk away from this one. There was something about her...

The storyline was great. The drama was great. It was very romantic, and sweet. BUT...

The author really pushed this Christian romance thing to the MAX...I'm a bit shocked that this book made it into the Christian romance. I'm still not sure how it happened...

First of all, there is alcohol in this story, and though I'm not opposed to a drink every now and then, Love Inspired books for the most part has stayed away from this. I think the champaign to celebrate their wedding night was fine, but when they started talking about Nick drinking several glasses, and when it talked about "Needing something stronger," I was a bet leery...

Second of all, the feelings Nick had for Laura seemed very...physical at times. For some reason, the author concentrated on the physical aspects of the relationship. There seemed to be a lot of talk about Nick's desires to make love to Laura outside of marriage. Nick didn't want to keep his hands off of her. Though I don't have a problem with kissing and holding and stuff, I thought he should have concentrated more on her mental state - what she had to offer in the non-physical sense than what she had to offer in the physical sense...

Third, there is one scene that takes place on Nick's bed that was a bit over the top for me. I'm sorry, but in a Christian romance this was a BIG NO-NO! I understood Nick taking Laura back to his apartment after the attack and letting her sleep there for a couple days. I even understood Nick helping her undress because she couldn't. I EVEN overlooked Laura's needing Nick to hold her when he laid on the bed. But that scene when they started kissing as he laid her down on the bed and the description of his hand and the desires...I'm sorry, but NO NO NO NO NO!!!

I believe that the right thing to do would have been to call Laura's best friend (or mother) and have them stay with her. Descrition, please...or maybe this showed why Nick's taking her into his apartment was a bad idea! And as fearful as Laura was, would she have really allowed such a thing?

Oh, and there's an issue about Nick's salvation. It always talked about Laura's faith in God and Nick's respect of it. There was mention that Nick may try to attend his church more regularly, but there was absolutely no mention of Nick's being a Christian. In a Christian romance, I think that was just not right...

And the fact that Laura suggested they live together instead? As fearful as she is of intimacy, I was a bit taken aback by that. And I thought Nick was being a jerk when he just gave her the option "All or Nothing." I'm sorry, but he's the one who had told Laura he'd take it as slow as he needed to. A couple months was NOT long enough! No wonder Laura was deeply hurt. He should have come crawling back to her, not vice versa!

And from the mention of Nick's past, it's apparent that sex played a role in Nick's past relationships...

With all this said, I must admit that it's still a good read. It's one of those book you'll want to read through in one day (though it took me three). But don't expect a lot of spiritual stuff in it because it just barely made it into the Christian fiction genre, and I'm STILL not sure how that happened...

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the author's intent...perhaps the things I found wrong in this book were done on purpose...perhaps there was an underlying meaning I was supposed to pick up...

Oh, and keep in mind there are a couple curse words buried in the book. I could live with one of them, but God's name in vain was unacceptable...

Hopefully the next book in the series will be a bit less provocative, seeing as how it's about a preacher and Laura's best friend falling in love...

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, I'm super disappointed with all of these books that have Christmas titles and turn out not to be a Christmas book at all. I have read six Christmas books this December and only two were actually Christmas books. Including a chapter that takes place at Christmas does not make it a holiday or Christmas book.
That being said, I really enjoyed this book. It was a page turner. The love story was very enduring and loving. He was the perfect man. I did grow a little tired of how long it took her to come around and get past her issues, but not everyone progresses on the same pace.
Great book, just don't read it expecting it to be a Christmas book.

[Zenobia N Jefferson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very touching and very moving.

It was a decision that Laura made to trust. She prayed. At what point did she realize that God is a part of her healing?

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though the title if the book mislead me it was worth the read. It is not a book about Christmas nor does the story line take place during Christmas. It does however, touch on 4th of July and Christmas briefly. This book tells a story of trust, faith, unconditional love, and healing. The two main characters experience all this and prove that everything happens for a reason and all things work for good. A book I recommend during anytime of the year.