After nine, lonely years as a military wife, Holly McGuire has returned to her late husband’s home town of Marietta, Montana, to finally close that chapter of her life and begin again. She’s spent the last year rediscovering herself and she’s sworn off military men. All she wants is a child of on her own—no strings attached. But her plans are threatened when old, unwanted sparks ignite between her and her husband’s one-time best friend.
Buttoning up the past isn’t what Trey Reyes has in mind when he welcomes Holly to town. Secretly in love with her since day one, his old vow to his friend to watch over her, come what may, doesn’t include enabling a terrible idea. As the men of their old unit—the Band of Brothers—gather to honor her husband, Trey must take one last stand to win her heart and prove Holly wrong about him. Christmas in Marietta, with all the trimmings, may be just the ticket.
Title: A Little Christmas Magic
Series: connection to the Canaday series
Author: Barbara Ankrum
Genre: Contemporary Christmas Romance
Published: November 6, 2017
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Everyone has dreams, not everyone’s dreams come true exactly as they envisioned. Holly had dreams realized in her marriage to a wonderful man. The reality was that they weren’t often in the same place at the same time. She’d married a military man, a man who in many ways answered to his own drum. So one of Holly’s biggest dreams never was realized before her husband’s death. Now after mourning the loss of a very special man from her life Holly is heading to Marietta, Montana. She has a plan, not one that everyone would agree with but she’s determined to get that one dream fully realized. It just might be that her dreams come true in a way she wasn’t expecting or considering. And maybe, with a little unseen help, Holly will get exactly what she desires this Christmas season.
A Little Christmas Magic is an emotional, touching story that really could be told during any season of the year. It has depth, understanding and possibilities that many couples would do just about anything to see come true. That it is based around Christmas time simply opens up possibilities to step back from what one perceives as fact and simply believe in those possibilities.
If you’ve followed The Canadays of Montana series then you’ve met Trey as a secondary character often. Seeing him get his own well deserved happy future was a special treat for me. It’s a strong and honorable man who loves a woman, and steps aside for her own happiness. Now with the chance for something more between Holly and Trey, he’s not going to give up so easily this time.
Love comes in so many shapes, sizes and personalities of people. One little girl is about to play a part in Trey and Holly’s happiness. You’ll fall in love, and perhaps believe in unseen forces at work. Never give up on second chances, they’re all around us. I loved this “band of brothers” and I cannot wait to revisit them again – soon.
I loved this story and would happily recommend it to any reader who loves a deep, rich story with characters who soon feel like old friends.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Available for the Kindle
