Title: Christmas Joy
Series:
Author: Nancy Naigle
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published: October 18, 2016
Publisher: St Martin’s Press
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:
Joy Holbrook might be all work and no play, but that changes when her Aunt Ruby takes a fall that lands her in a rehabilitation center before the holidays. Joy takes a leave of absence from her job as a market researcher to run the family farm, even though the timing may hinder her chance at garnering the promotion of her dreams.
Ben Andrews isn’t your average accountant. He also happens to be the handiest man in Crystal Falls. He’s helped his elderly neighbor, Ruby Johnson, decorate for the annual Christmas Home Tour—and win—the last several years. He’s not about to let some drop-in niece break their winning streak.
Ruby seems overly concerned about Joy being able to handle Molly. Under the impression she’s referring Molly the bunny that is one of the menagerie of animals, Joy’s not worried at all until the next morning when a little girl named Molly shows up. For the sake of her aunt, Joy is forced to partner with Ben while Ruby is on the mend to help with preparation for the Christmas tour and, in the process finds her career-focused heart dreaming of a family.
Will the magic of Christmas help her to open her heart and find her everlasting joy?
Read on for my thoughts on Christmas Joy. No true spoilers, promise.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted Christmas romance with plenty of the Christmas spirit, plus a totally lovable couple – then Christmas Joy is one story you’ll want to put on your own Christmas list.
Joy is admittedly a workaholic, career minded woman on the fast track for a sizable promotion. Yet when she receives word that her Aunt Ruby has fallen and is headed for the hospital she drops everything, regardless of the danger to her coveted promotion, and heads to Crystal Falls. What she had hoped would be a quick weekend of getting everything settled for her aunt soon becomes the need to remain here and take care of Ruby’s home and commitments. One of which includes decorating the house for the Annual Christmas Home Tour that Ruby and Ben have won over the past several years. And Ben sees no reason why they cannot win again, even if Ruby is absent and Joy is grumbling.
What follows is a delightful adventure of two seemingly totally different personalities coming together for the good of one very precious lady… and maybe finding that love is the best win of all for them both. Joy needs to learn that it’s people that matter the most, and Ben needs to understand that people can change from the first impression they give. Watching Joy’s clueless-ness about some things was priceless to me. She intends well, but she’s not Ruby. Once Ben opened up a bit and let Joy shine naturally, he discovered a woman that he could imagine at his side for years to come. First impressions don’t have to be lasting, and there is a balance between work and life. So both learned some lessons in this charming story.
I completely enjoyed my time in Crystal Falls with Joy, Ben and Ruby. I’m betting you would enjoy spending some time with them as well. This is a fun, charming Christmas romance that will touch your heart.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
Available in paperback and for the Kindle
