Author: Jenny Hale
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: October, 2016
Genre: Women’s Fiction / Christmas
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN
Description: All I Want for Christmas is a big, cozy Christmas story about the importance of family, the strength of childhood friendships, and learning to trust your heart.
Fans of Carole Matthews, Susan Wiggs and Susan Mallery – and anyone who likes the glow of Christmas lights and the rustle of wrapping paper – will fall in love with this feel-good Christmas treat.
Christmas comes once a year . . . But true love comes once in a lifetime.
Snowflakes are falling, there’s carol singing on every corner, and Leah Evans is preparing for a family Christmas at her grandmother’s majestic plantation house in Virginia. It won’t be the same now that her beloved Nan is gone, but when Leah discovers she has inherited the mansion, she knows she can give her daughter Sadie the childhood of her dreams.
But there’s a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn’t heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her.
Now David is all grown up. He’s gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house.
They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he’s starting to feel it too.
Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan’s advice to them both about living life without regrets … and take a chance on true love?
My Thoughts: Jenny Hale is quickly becoming my favorite go to author for my Christmas reading fix. She decorates the atmosphere in her stories with all the holiday cheer and whimsy one can expect for the season. The story comes to life with the love and togetherness the holiday brings and is a delight for me as a reader.
Leah has inherited her childhood home from her grandmother and the memories of growing up there are what are driving her to giving her daughter the best childhood she can. Leah doesn’t count on there being a catch to the inheritance. Leah discovers she is co-owner with her childhood friend, David, whom she hasn’t seen in years. As children, they were thick as thieves, but now they are grown up and are on opposite sides of what is to be done about the house they both love.
I liked both Leah and David and empathized with them and the situation they find themselves in. Initially, I couldn’t understand why Leah’s grandmother would name them both beneficiary of the home and when I learned they both had distinctively different plans for the house, thought there would be no way these two former childhood buddies could resolve this conflict. David impressed me right away with his kindness and compassion towards Leah. He makes her a very generous offer that she is torn over taking and the guilt she is sure she will feel if she does. Leah has had to rely on herself to raise her young daughter as the father hightailed it out of there early on, so putting her trust in people isn’t something Leah does easily. Though life has dealt her a rotten hand, I loved that Leah is not bitter or angry at the world. She has a big heart and wants what is right and fair for everyone.
Grandma’s advice to Leah and David is to live life without regrets and they discover Grandma had a few of her own. As they work together to uncover the secrets, they become close and with just the right amount of nutmeg in the eggnog, you have a Christmas miracle that brings together families and friends to embrace the joy of the season. This story made me want to be there, sitting in front of the log fire or in the kitchen that I envisioned big and bright, copper pots hanging over a monstrous island, with the scents of Christmas in the air.
My Final Verdict: A feel good Christmas story of love and friendship to keep the reader toasty warm during the winter chill, I recommend this story any time of the year, eggnog optional.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of All I Want For Christmas from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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