Christmas In Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle | Book Review

I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

A heartwarming love story set at Christmas time by USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle.

In the enchanting mountain town of Chestnut Ridge, where tree farms blanket the hillsides and the promise of a white Christmas is ever-present, a heartwarming holiday romance is about to blossom. When Sheila's best friend convinces her to help decorate a tree in the annual Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser, she embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, all wrapped in the cozy embrace of a tight-knit community. As she immerses herself in the joy of twinkling lights, hot cocoa, and the camaraderie of the townsfolk, Sheila's world begins to transform, and she finds the sense of belonging she never knew she needed.

Meanwhile, Tucker, the town's reliable fire captain, is gathering volunteers to help a family with four young children who have just lost their home to a devastating fire weeks before Christmas. Sheila offers her helping hand, and as the town rallies to support the family in their time of need, sparks of love begin to flicker between her and Tucker.

In this charming town where dreams come true, and Christmas magic is everywhere, come along for a tale of love, community, and the true spirit of the season.

The first book I read to kick off my holiday reading was Christmas In Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle. I am familiar with Naigle’s books and so I had an idea of what to expect. This was a sweet, quick read that I felt started off on a sentimental foot to my season, which is a vibe I quite enjoy at this time of year.

Christmas In Chestnut Ridge follows Sheila and Tucker. Sheila is a high powered real estate agent who lives in Richmond. Tucker is a fire chief who lives in Chestnut Ridge. Sheila decides to spend the holidays with her best friend Natalie in Chestnut Ridge. Sparks fly between Tucker and Sheila, but can it turn into something more, especially when Sheila lives so far away. However, this small town sure can put a grip on people. Sheila and Natalie challenge themselves to submit an entry of a decorated tree for the local Christmas Tree Stroll competition. They are up against the fire department. Both have pretty solid themes (I personally thought the fire department had a more interesting theme, FYI). Meanwhile, Sheila begins to learn how key it is for her soul to participate in community and to give of herself to help others. This revelation occurs when a young family loses everything in a fire and the community comes together to provide support to the family.

Overall, I thought this was a cute story. It was very tame. I liked both Sheila and Tucker — they’re both good people at heart. There was really only one issue between them. This book is very Hallmark-esque in that there’s barely any kissing and nothing spicy is implied. I thought it was sweet though. I did tear up a little over the young family experiencing the fire and how the community helps them. The pacing of this book is such that honestly if you sit down with it and focus, you could probably finish it in a sitting or two. 

On A Scale Of One To Buddy The Elf, How Much Christmas Spirit Does This Book Have?

There is a community Christmas tree decorating contest, multiple holiday meal gatherings and we have people doing charitable works. I would say this book exudes Christmas spirit. I liked the message of community and how it can be to our benefit to be in community with each other. 

The following two tabs change content below.

• Bio
• Latest Posts

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.

Latest posts by April (Books&Wine) (see all)

• Christmas In Chestnut Ridge by Nancy Naigle | Book Review - December 1, 2025
• The Devil She Knows by Alexandria Bellefleur | Audiobook Review - November 30, 2025
• Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane | Book Review - November 29, 2025