The Christmas Village by Annie Rains | Book Review

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USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains returns to Somerset Lake, North Carolina, with a heartwarming Christmas story about a midwife and her ex-fiance who face high stakes when they must team up to compete in the neighborhood house decorating contest, in this trade paperback that will help get readers in the holiday spirit.

Once upon a Christmas, she gave him her heart. This year, he'll have to win it back again . . .
 
When Lucy Hannigan returned to her childhood home in Somerset Lake, one of the first things she did was join the local book club. And thank goodness, because now that Lucy’s first Christmas without her mother is bearing down upon her, she can use all the help and support she can get.  Especially when she has to take in a tenant and the only person interested is Miles Bruno, her ex-fiance.

Lucy’s friends keep teasing her about the way Miles is trying to make up for his mistakes but forgiving and forgetting isn’t coming easily to Lucy. With bills piling up and her mother’s finances in disarray, however, Lucy isn’t in any position to say no.

As the small town prepares for the holidays and competition heats up in the Merriest Lawn decorating contest, Lucy can’t help feeling like a Scrooge. Her mom loved the holidays and won the contest each year, but as much as Lucy would like to carry on the tradition, she isn’t sure she has it in her to deck the halls this holiday.

Yet when Miles shows up with tons of tinsel, dozens of decorations, and lots and lots of lights, Lucy begins to wonder if maybe the spirit of the season will finally mend her broken heart.

 

If you are looking to get into contemporary adult romance that is somewhat closed door, you can’t go wrong with Annie Rains. The Christmas Village is the second in the Somerset Lake series. It features second chance romance, which is a trope I find I really enjoy for the most part. Also — I haven’t read the first book in the Somerset Lake series but found the story easy enough to follow along with. I actually look forward to going back and reading the first book. Love that for me.

In The Christmas Village, Lucy is mourning the death of her mother. She has no family left at this point. However, Lucy does have a pile of bills that her mother left behind. She had thought she paid them all, but turns out she’s missed a year of home owner’s association payments. This means that Lucy may lose the huge house she had inherited from her mother. In order to obtain extra income she rents out the apartment over her garage. Who should the renter be other than her ex, Miles Bruno, a sheriff’s deputy. The past is in the past and the two are mature enough to be friends now. Only, is it so unreasonable for old feelings to come surfacing back?

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♬ Deck the Halls – Christmas

I thought that The Christmas Village was a sweet romance and lived up to expectations. There is absolutely set up for additional characters to get together and have their own love stories to follow. Also, I found that I wanted to know what happens in the first book for further context. The financial issues Lucy inherited did stress me out a little – but at the same time – knowing she’s a nurse practitioner and knowing what nurses get paid here, nevermind NPs, I was a little surprised she was struggling so much. Granted, her specialty is midwifery, but that conflict felt a little manufactured. Oh, and I did feel like it took overlong to get to the bottom of what had happened between Miles and Lucy.

On A Scale Of One To Buddy The Elf, How Much Christmas Spirit Does The Christmas Village by Annie Rains Have?

So, there are a few things about this book that might put you in the spirit. First, there’s a vandal trying to ruin aspects of Christmas nicknamed the Christmas Crank, but you understand why that is. Also, there are charity holiday baskets which is sweet. And one of the main plot points revolves around a lawn decorating contest. This book was a lovely way to pass a few evenings while warming up for the holiday season to begin.

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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