A typical American high school lighthearted romantic Christmas read. It was ok, but only that, and I think maybe it was aimed at a younger audience than me, as I am sure my daughter would enjoy it. Nevertheless, the writing was good and insightful.

Great book, love this author and how they can keep my attention to the end! The plot is well developed, characters are believable and they obviously paid attention to detail to make the story worth your time to read.

Homecoming for Christmas by Ciara Knight is a sweet, second chance romance about coming home again. I love small town romances, and this is the first in a series about a group of friends in the small town of Christmas Falls. Each novella has a different author, tells a complete story, and are all tied together by this town. Ciara Knight creates a magical story about hope, friendship, and love in her novella.

Ashley Brooks left Christmas Falls eight years ago and claims to have never looked back. However a letter from her old mentor brings her home. She hopes that she can get in and out without being seen, but alas that never happens in a small town. With her mentor’s request to save the community center that holds so many of Ashley’s good memories, she finds that she will be staying in her hometown through the holidays and that means fixing the relationships she left behind.

I like Ash. She’s unpredictable, spunky and fun, the life of the party. Being home only a day, Ash realizes just what a mess she left. Her friends no longer trust her to stay and her family isn’t much better. Then there’s Brent, the boy she loved who couldn’t love her back. Brent seems determined to prove to her that everything she needs is in Christmas Falls, including him. Brent let her go once, he has no intention of letting her leave again.

Overall, I enjoyed Homecoming for Christmas. It’s a quick read, I read it in one sitting. Ash and Brent are easy to root for, and the story unfolds naturally. I love the addition of saving the community center and her dying town. It adds a little Christmas magic to the story. If you enjoy sweet, second chance romances, I highly recommend this one.

2 out of 5 stars. The day of Ash’s (Ashley) high school graduation, she and her best group of friends pull a prank that lands them in jail. That incident changes her life drastically as she moves away from home without telling anyone, but her parents, the following morning and has stayed away from her hometown ever since. Now about eight years later, she returns home at the request of her high school mentor and in the process pick up the pieces of past relationships with friends and more. Yet, will she be able to reconcile with her friend and longtime crush, Brent, or will their insecurities and other people keep them apart for good?

I had been drawn into this novel’s book description from the beginning but what sealed me reading it was when I was looking for a novel to read for the 12 Days of Cozmas read-a-thon. And at first glance I thought this novel was perfect for me. But it was the characters that really through me off. Ash has an abrasive way about her that was at times difficult to read and get into. While Brent is what you would call a Beta Hero yet at time seemed too much of a pushover. Together they might seem like a good couple because of their shared friendship but I’m not sure that Brent was really good enough for Ash. Especially when they try to “deal” with their “relationship,” it felt very forced and made it hard to believe that their “love” for one another was genuine.

Overall, I cannot recommend this novel to you but I am interested to read more about Ash’s group of friends as their stories might make some of the secondary plots more understandable.

If you read this novel or series, please let me know your thoughts!

Review By: From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews
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I thought this was a good story, I liked the small town of Christmas Falls. Our heroine Ashley was likable, it's too bad she had stayed away for so long, but it was nice to see her reconnecting with her family and friends. I've read a couple other books from this series and like how each can stand on its own.

The first book in the Christmas Mountain Clean Romance series eight years ago Ashley Brooks left Christmas Falls over something that happened. But now six women from all over and her are being asked by Miss Anna Cate to come back to put together what is hoped to be the best Christmas pageant they can put together, as it might be the last one the town has. The people of the town need to save the magic of their town as it is losing tourists which it desperately needs to survive. Brent Donnelly and Ashley must work together, but they will have to get through misunderstandings, and things from the past to get their happy ending. I enjoyed reading this book. I cah relate to this story because of things that happened in my past. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This series is so heart-felt and feel good! Excellent writing and character development.Throw in Christmas and you get an amazing read that will warm you from the inside out!

This was a very sweet romance that captured my interest from start to finish. It had very interesting characters and was well written. It had nice emotion and a HEA. Nicely done!

A heartwarming story for the holiday season, Homecoming in Christmas Falls is a fun read that'll keep you company as you curl up with a cup of cocoa.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

I did enjoy this book very much. There were some spelling and punctuation error but it really didn't take anything away from the story itself. I know some authors do that on purpose. I understood the rift between mother and daughter as I kinda felt the same way growing up. My mother and I were too much alike. She would never have pushed me out of the house though even if she thought that is what I wanted.

Brent was adorable. I fell in love with him and his kind, patient ways. I did get a little confused near the end of the story though. It was resolved very quickly. If I were to have a conversation with the author, I would ask my questions. I won't say anything here as it may just be a generational gap issue as I am much older than the characters.

I did feel that the ending was a little rushed but then again. Like it was mentioned in the book, they had wasted all those previous years.

Totally emotional, heartwarming, romantic and relatable. I was in tears most of the book by relating to more than one character. Misunderstandings, silence, fears, and love enter all aspects of Ashley’s decisions until called back home where she is asked to ask questions and untangle misconceptions. In the end, I wiped my eyes and appreciated having spent time in Christmas Falls. Now I am excited I can read more of this multi author series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Reader Copy of this book which I received through Netgalley
I really liked the first book in this new series. It it very well written.

Coming home can be bittersweet. That's what Ashley is finding as she left town on the heels of a bad high school prank. She's only back at the request of her beloved choir teacher.

Soon after her arrival, she sees the 'perfect' Brent. Seeing her has him questioning whether to continue living his life as scripted by his father or to follow his desires.

Overall, a cute story and quick read.

This was a really sweet read and the first book in the Christmas Falls series.I just loved Ashley and Brent's book she has come back home after being gone for quite a few years she is back after her mentor writes to her and asks her to come home.Her high school crust Brent has never left the small town always doing whatever he could to make his dad proud of him that included staying away from Ashley when he was younger but nothing he ever did was good enough.When he see's her back in town he is determined to make her his.A really great read I just loved it

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for a review.

This book is exactly what I seek out during the hectic and stressful holiday season: warm, cozy and has a happy ending. This was a quick read that was thoroughly enjoyable!

Starting 2018 with a Christmas book! LOL

The story follows Ashley 8 years after she booked it out of town. She ran away from her family and her friends and started a new life elsewhere. Why? A high school prank gone wrong. She thought everyone hated her and so she ran away thinking that was what they wanted. For some reason, she decided it was time to return and make amends and apologize for that night and for leaving.

Okay…I get why Ashley ran away…I guess. However, I don’t understand why everyone just forgave her right off the bat. The only person she really had to win over was her mom. There was no real trial for Ashley. She just said sorry for leaving and everyone was all “its okay! No worries!” No…she ran away without a word of goodbye or anything. Coward.

The story itself was good, but I really didn’t like Ashley because she was such a big coward. It took her 8 years to come to her sense and come back? That is so uncool man.

I loved Brent. Sure he forgave her for leaving right away, but it took a while for him to let her back into his heart. Good. I would be scared to love her thinking she was going to take off again at any minute. I wish the story was in Brent’s POV. What was going through his mind after being abandoned? What did he do in those last 8 years? All questions I want answers to!

Kuddos to the author for not making this solely a romance. She had Ashley patch things up with her friends and her parents. I really feel that it made this book a touch better because it was about love all around.

Overall, this was a good Christmas book about forgiving and loving each other. I may not have liked Ashley much, but it didn’t stop me from liking the book. I’ll give this….4 stars.

Ashley Brooks returns to Christmas Falls at the request of her old choir teacher. Ashley Left town eight years ago after being arrested along with her best friends assuming they and her family hate her for the prank she played on graduation night. As Ashley speeds her car back into town, she is arrested for an outstanding speeding ticket, and to top it off, her high school crush is watching it all! Brent Donnelly always enjoyed Ashley's spark for life, but never told her! Now that she is back in town, Brent has the second chance he never thought would be in front of him! Almost everything Ashley believed when she left town, turns out to be of her own imagination! She and her mother mend their relationship, while Brent helps Ashley find out her true passion (the town of Christmas Falls and him)! I was a bit frustrated with Brent sitting back and allowing his father to run his life, while telling Ashley to do what she feels is right for her! In the end, Ashley repairs her relationship with her parents, friends from school and of course, with Brent. And her choir teacher, the mentor for all the girls in the choir, she is the voice of reason through it all. I'm hoping she will overcome her illness as she seems to be the only one in town with wisdom and willingness to force issues to conclusions! Overall a fun Christmas read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I liked this quick clean read. The book touches on the concept of your past not always being what you perceived it to be, as Ash learns that others did not view her as she thought they did. I really liked how Ash reconnected with her mother. I found the interactions between Ash and Brent lacked depth - we see them deal with her mom, and brainstorm business and marketing ideas, and we can tell that Brent likes Ash, however we don't see what currently promotes their affections, nor do we get a good look at what prompted their affections in the past (eg flashbacks etc). So on a whole I had trouble feeling their romance. As typical of short Christmas stories, its low on drama and has feel good Christmas feelings. Overall, a good book that needed just a little more to make it great. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

From reading the synopsis I got the feeling this book would be from a dual POV, but it wasn't. The whole book was told from Ashley's POV. I had to start the prologue a few times, I couldn't get into that little part from when they were young. But when I got to the now part I read the whole thing in a day. In the prologue you read a story from when the girls were younger and all together. You read about the main character of all the books. Some of them you meet when Ashley gets back into the town of Christmas Falls. I liked that Ashley still felt guilty 8 years after the thing happened.
Her relationship with her parents has never been a good one. I liked how messed up it is at the start of the book. The journey they make is a really nice one.
The relationship between Ashley and Brent was one I enjoyed. They've liked each other for years, but have never been together. When Ashley gets back into town he is the second person she comes across. And I liked where it went from there.

I can't wait to get to the other books in the series. For now I only have book 5 and I will review that one next week. I hope I enjoy it as much as this one.

And if you like those Hallmark Christmas movies I think you will enjoy this book.

Homecoming in Christmas Falls by Ciara Knight is a romantic novel about again, the important thematic of "return" during the Christmas Season.

The protagonist of this novel is Ashley Brooks. Ashley or Ash in the past lived in the little town of Christmas Falls but later she decided to move on.

Just few weeks before Christmas and after many years of absence from that town to her a closed chapter of her existence she receives a letter from her teacher.

The teacher, a nice lady she remembers with great joy asks her to return in Christmas Falls. She must speak with her with a certain urgency.

Ash in that town left all her best and sad memories and a boy who made the difference in her life. Who knows what happened in the while to all her ex friends?

Not a call from them during the years and vice-versa.
Her parents are still living in Christmas Falls while the rest of her siblings left for biggest cities.

Who knows what she will wait?

Ash loved in fact Brent and also Brent's family would have approved an union with Ash. Who knows if Brent is married, maybe with some children? Time passed by and Ash didn't search for any news regarding him.

The return will be like a tempest, she will end up in a place she wouldn't never thought she would have visited, but Brent will start soon to be close to her.

Her ex teacher will ask her to do something important during that Christmas and at the same time Ash will re-meet again her parents and the people of the village.

Will it be a real return in a wonderful place, with wonderful people and maybe her old love?

I loved this story because very well built, romantic, profound under many aspects and it won't be the last book I will read of this author.

I thank NetGalley for this eBook!