George is a veteran who has hit bottom but through the help of some caring friends has begun to get his life back together. Along comes Amy, the twin sister to his best friend, Ian, whose death under his command led to George's down spiral into homelessness. Amy wants answers about what happened to her brother, but George isn't willing to risk his hard fought recovery by bringing up the past. Can Amy and Geoge work through their issues and find a happy ending?

George Reilly worked as a handyman at the Ladybug Garden Center.
He has a history of overcoming that, in fact, he had not yet overcome.
After returning from his time deployed and having lost his best friend there, the one whom he had promised the family he would protect, George was never able to face his friend family again.
Thanks to Laurel, the owner of the flower shop, he had a job, had a roof over his head and food.
After years, George is surprised by his friend's twin sister, Amy.
She just wanted answers.
Reluctantly, George and Amy talk, and gradually, as Christmas approaches, they also reconnect.

A beautiful Christmas short story, with a second chance, and a great lesson: the ability to forgive yourself.
You don't need to read the previous book to understand this story.
5 stars

This is a lovely story with relatable, amazing characters. It reminded me of It's a Wonderful Life. I could visit here every day!

It’s always good to go back to a beloved town to revisit characters you love, and Deck the Halls is another charming addition to the Darling, VT series by Donna Alward!

George Reilly’s life is finally looking up. After being discharged from the military, he wandered aimlessly for some time, fighting his internal demons, and ultimately found himself living on the streets. But now he’s found himself a new home, and a surrogate family of sorts, in the town of Darling, Vermont. He has a job at The Ladybug Garden Center, a rusty truck, and a small apartment. It may not seem like much to anyone else, but it’s a long way from where he was six months ago, and George is content to keep moving forward with little thought to the past.

That changes one night when Amy Merck shows up. As the brother of George’s best friend in the military, Amy is hoping to get some answers about her brother’s death. As one could imagine, it’s not a topic George wants to discuss. But Amy is determined, and sees George for who he is - a kind, traumatised man who deserves happiness and love.

There’s nothing sweeter than seeing a broken and hurting man become healed by the love of a good woman. That Amy has her own heartbreak that George can heal, too, makes this book all the more heartfelt. It’s often difficult to pack in sufficient character and plot development in a novella, but Ms. Alward did a fine job. I loved going back to Darling, and I loved learning more about the mysterious George and getting to see him on his road to a happily-ever-after!

(this review will also be published on book blog Straight Shootin' Book Reviews at a later date - I will update with link when it is published!)

4 - "You gave me a wonderful Christmas gift." Stars!

We return to Darling, Vermont for a little seasonal catch-up, and Donna Alward gives George Reilly his deserved Christmas wish, with a second-chance encounter turning into the love he doesn’t believe he deserves.

He was a stranger… yet not.

This is one of those novellas that you wish was a full length book, because if you have read the previous three books in the series you will know that George featured quite a lot in them as a secondary character and you could just tell he had his own story to tell, especially in Aiden and Laurel’s book; Somebody Like You, where he started out as the homeless guy, that they looked out for, and by the end of the third book in the series, he had himself a job, accommodation, and a place in the town as someone worthy and not just someone you avoid eye contact with as you walk past them in the street.

"You were his best friend… Now you’re my best friend."

Amy Merck comes back into George’s life 15 years after their last meeting, her brother, was his best friend. They served together, but only one of them returned, and due guilt, PTSD and a few other issues, he never kept in contact with her or her family. Amy is looking for answers, and she’s not leaving town until she can get George to open up about her bothers final, days, hours and minutes. Something that George is reluctant to do, because revisiting those memories take him back to a time he would rather try and forget.

"There’s nothing to forgive."

Second chances at life, second chances at love, redemption, forgiveness and learning to accept the things we cannot change, but to live our lives for those who have been lost, are the main themes that ran through this novella.

"You judge yourself far harder than anyone else does… Things mean nothing to me. Character does. And you’ve got that in spades."

Which with the Christmas Season being firmly in the forefront as well gave this story lots of emotional depth, which gave this reader a few smiles and a few tears, and the hope that the author will take us back to Darling, VT for more stories in 2018, because I really do love everything about this series.

If you've read Alward before, you know that this novella will capture your heart. She's especially good with topical issues, in this case, PTSD. George, a veteran who is pulling himself back into life, is upended when Amy, the twin sister of his deceased buddy Ian turns up in town. You can guess, I think, where this story is going to go but it's a good read. George and Amy both are well drawn, even in this short format, and you'll feel their pain. There's a lot of hope here too, and love. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a good heartwarming read for a day when you need something positive.

Deck the Halls by Donna Alward
Darling Vt #

Second chances are sometimes given in life…to fall in love, to be productive, to be happy and to find one’s way when it is lost. This is the story of a man who went to war, came home damaged, lost his way then began to find it again in Darling, Vermont. When a woman from his past suddenly appears his forward momentum may be derailed or she might end up helping him as he moves forward.

This was a short story in keeping with the holiday season. We see a bit more of George Reilly, the homeless veteran that Laurel gave a job, and how he is doing a few months on. We see a few of the couples that had their stories told earlier and we see how George may find a future with Amy Merck, the twin sister of one of his army buddies that did not make it home. It does not give a definitive answer to the relationship between George and Amy but…they did kiss very near that bridge that has magical powers so perhaps we will see them together in future books of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Swerve for the ARC – this is my honest review.

3 Stars

As this series has progressed, I have become more and more intrigues with George Reilly and how he ended up on the streets of Darling, VT.

This Christmas novella was perfect for me.

Learning more about George was both heartbreaking and uplifting. He has dealt with so much more than I ever thought, and when that past comes to find him in Darling, my heart hurt for him.

But that past was just what he needed to confront to move on.

I don't want to give anything about about who and what happens, as this is something the reader needs to discover for themselves, but believe me, you won't be disappointed.

Deck The Halls was a sweet story, just in time to start getting me into the Christmas spirit.

Can't wait to see where Ms Alward takes us next.

'Deck the Halls' by Donna Alward is the story of George and Amy.
George is just getting back on his feet after being a homeless Vet. George now has a job a place to live and his trying to work toward a future in Darling, Vermont.
Amy is looking for answers and closure in her brothers death. George was a good friend to her brother and just wants answers to her questions.
This starts them both on an emotional journey and love.
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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Deck the Halls by Donna Alward is set in Darling, VT. The name of the town describes this little city perfectly. It is absolutely Darling and makes you not want to leave. George is a veteran who went from homeless to an established citizen of Darling. Amy is looking for closure from her brother's death. She wants answers and will get them no matter the cost.

George has worked extremely hard to become the person he is today. He has went through a lot to forget the past and the hard road his life has taken.

Amy wants to repair her family. They need to know exactly what happen when he died. They know it was during battle but the want answers from the person that was there, his best friend.

Can Amy get her answers? Can George move past his past enough to realize her deserves more than to be lonely? I absolutely adored my visit to Darling. I can't wait to visit again soon.

I love Christmas stories so this visit to Darling, VT was very enjoyable. Darling is a quaint small town with a famous Kissing Bridge with the reputation of couples finding true love if they kiss on the bridge and lots of fun, quirky businesses with names like the Purple Pig, a delightful place to go for farm-to-table organic food and the F Bomb which sells fizzy bath bombs. Christmas stories in small towns always leave me with warm fuzzy feelings and Deck the Halls is no exception.

As much as I enjoyed the ambiance of a small town Christmas in Darling it was author Donna Alward's characters who made this such a delightful read. One of the main characters is former homeless person George Reid who suffers from PTSD and extreme guilt because he blames himself for the death of fellow soldier and his very good friend during an attack in Iraq 15 years prior to this time but who has finally started to put himself back together. The other main character is Amy Merck who is the twin sister of George's friend killed in Iraq who also has some baggage after a divorce. Amy travels to Darling to ask George about her brother's death so she and her parents get to hear the whole story of how her brother died in order to achieve some closure. Both main characters seem so real and I spent the entire story cheering them on to get past their baggage and hangups, to fall in love and find happiness with each other.

If this book was a movie I would most definitely describe it as a "tear-jerker." So when you sit gown to read this story be sure to have some tissues handy and be ready to have a warm and fuzzy feeling at the Happily Ever After. After all the tradition of the Kissing Bridge in Darling has to always come true.

Donna Alward has a gift for taking emotions in surprising directions. Deck the Halls is a journey of second chances, surprising romances and fate. One woman's search for answers leads her into the arms of her happily ever after. One man's struggle with guilt, lands him in the center of a love unlike any other. George and Amy make miracles seem possible and love eternal with his short but sweet holiday read.

Easily the best Christmas book I have read this year. George and Amy are both tortured souls with a lot of baggage. George is carrying around so much baggage and guilt it is a miracle he is still standing. A must read, you will not be disappointed

Deck the Halls is a novella jam-packed with so many emotions and feels! I blew through this novella in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it! This novella was a quick and charming story that put me in the holiday spirit!

I am not a veteran, so I do not personally know what it is like to be a veteran, but I thought this author did a good job at realistically portraying what it is like for a veteran to return home. There wasn't a lot of time to really delve into the PTSD that the characters in this novella faced due to the length of the story, but I was glad that the author still made it an important subject. George was a veteran and this story delved into how he was dealing with his PTSD since the war and other things that haunted him from his past. My heart really broke for George and I was really hoping he would get the love he deserved. George was a kind, gentle, and understanding man. I was so happy that he got a chance to get the happily ever after he deserved.

The romance in this story was adorable and extremely heart-warming. Amy and George had a rocky history, so they definitely had a lot of hurdles to overcome to make their relationship work. It was an emotional and rewarding journey to see them make their relationship work.

Overall, this was a quick and emotional novella. I would recommend this novella to anyone who is in the mood for a holiday novella with a heart-warming romance!

4 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

In the last year, George the formerly homeless veteran now has a job he likes, a family in the residents of Darling, VT, and for the first time in years, a home. However he's still haunted by the past, a past that appears shortly before Christmas when Amy older sister of his brother-in-arms hunts him down and finds him in Darling, working at the Ladybug Garden Centre.
Amy’s looking for closure for her family after her brother's death in the Middle East
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & it was such a heart warming story about a broken man finding redemption. The second-chance romance between mature characters, is simple but well constructed, the characters lovely and layered, the setting delightful. I’ll certainly be reading more from the author
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

What is it about Christmas stories that tug at our hearts? Ms. Alward has given her readers a touching novella regarding a homeless veteran and how far he has come in a year. The characters that reside in Darling, VT have seen past his gruff exterior & embraced him. The readers learn more about George's back story & how he ended up homeless. Amy, his best friend's sister, has found him & they are attracted to each other. Can George take that final step & realize he deserves to be loved too? Prepare to have your eyes well with tears & have your heart touched.

Oh my heart!! For those of us who are already fans of the Darling VT series, we've previously met and fell in love with George. We know he's had a rough life and was down on his luck. Now this book gives us his backstory and gives us hope for his future. Nobody deserves a little happy like George does! If you haven't started the series yet, no worries. The author gives enough detail to give you George's entire story. This is easily read standalone and is a perfect heartwarming holiday read.

Put this on the must read list. I highly recommend it.

Donna, Donna, Donna... you're killing me! I should know I need tissues when I read your stuff, but yet again, I opened this, expecting great things, and getting a roller coaster ride! I laughed, and cried, and laughed, and then cried some more! My hubby interrupted my reading at 95% and I had to tell him, through my crying, that I could not talk to him until I finished!

Like usual, Donna Alward has written an extraordinarily beautiful story. I have come to expect her stories to be full of drama, but to make up for that drama with a great love stories, with characters that have real issues.

In this, she writes again about Darling, Vt. I have read the previous stories from this town, and I suggest reading these in order, but you do not HAVE to. I recommend them mainly because you'll get a bit of a spoiler because other couples are together but fortunately, Donna Alward does a quick overview of the couples. So, if you haven't read it you'll be great, or if, like me, you inhale these the second they are published (or beg the publisher for arcs!), then that quick overview helps jog the memory!

Ok, now that all that is out of the way! Darling, VT! I love reading about the couples in this town. I want follow up books! I want more of them. They are all such fantastic characters, full of life and zest, and issues, that I fall in love with them. This one was no different. George was a vet and saw combat, so he's working towards getting his life together. While in the military he lost his best friend, and twin brother of Amy. He hasn't spoken about the incident for 16 years, and he doesn't plan to start anytime soon. So, of course Amy is going to blindside him by walking into his workplace!

George is such a great character. His pain emanates off of the page. In portions of this story I cried for him and for what he lost, nearly his humanity. And in other parts, I cheered because he was standing up, shaking himself off, and moving forward, even if the steps were minuscule, they were forward. Amy is just as determined as George but also understands that she cannot push him if he refuses to budge. There is so much in this novella that I just want to hug everyone and cry with them!

Donna Alward is a master of bringing out emotions. I am not sure how many times I told my husband that I disliked her while burning through the pages. I dislike the feelings that she demands I feel, while reading about amazing characters. The plot to this one is just as good, if not better, than her previous stories.

I need more! I cannot wait for her next book.

I've read and loved the first three books in the Darling, Vermont series. In each of them, the character, George, was present and a bit of a mystery. His previous military career had left him with issues that have made life difficult, but it's evident he is working to overcome them. Now, with this book, we get to know his story. Add in a woman from his past, and life begins to look up. A great feel-good Christmas story. Reading the previous books isn't necessary, but does give the reader more of his background and perspective for understanding George and his reactions.

4 "You’re not alone anymore, George." Stars

I am a huge lover of the Darling, VT series and was doing cartwheels when I discovered George was getting his story. And Donna Alward doesn't hold back: this story may be fairly short, but it touches your heart and I may have wiped a tear or two away as I made my way through the entire book in one sitting.

"I wish it hadn’t taken fifteen years for me to tell you that it’s okay and that...I don’t forgive you because there’s nothing to forgive."

If ever there is a man who deserves a HEA it's George Reilly, a wonderful, gentle, proud man who fought for his country, lost everything, but with the help of Darling's finest, the Gallaghers, has been given a second chance. Things are meandering along for him quite nicely until Amy Merck arrives in town, the twin sister of his best-friend whose death he blames himself for, and old feelings are reawakened, good and bad.

"...it’s you I want. All of you, not just the easy bits."

This is a story of two individuals who have lost, are still hurting and suffering years later, but together can bring a degree of closure and begin to help one another heal. Some aspects felt a little speedy—I think had this been a full length book then some real emotional issues could have been run with—and because of it's shorter length Amy came over as heavy handed to George's PTSD on occasion, but that can be forgiven as I did enjoy them together.

George stole my heart from the moment we were introduced in the first book of the series, and he did so all over again.