I really enjoyed this read, it was the perfect cosy festive read that I had been looking for! I loved the characters in the book, although Rhett did get on my nerves a little. This book has a few emotional moments that had me tearing up and other moments that made me smile ear to ear.

This is a first for me by this author... but it won't be my last.

Holly McAdams loves spending the Christmas holidays at her family’s cozy cabin, with its little red door and twinkling lights, tucked in the snowy hills outside Nashville. But this year will be different. Someone unexpected is joining them…

After Holly and her beloved Nana struggle through a snow storm to reach the cabin, they discover gorgeous and wealthy Joseph Barnes, who has been renting the cabin for the last few weeks, is now snowed in. And it looks like he’ll be staying for the holidays.

Determined to make the best of the surprise situation, Holly tries to bring everyone together by baking delicious treats and decorating the cabin with plenty of festive sparkle. She finds herself growing close to handsome Joseph, who is unlike anyone she’s ever met before, even if Nana isn’t so keen on the dashing stranger with the mysterious past.

But charming and irresistible musician Rhett Burton is also back in town. Thrown into close proximity with the person who used to be her best friend and the man who broke her heart, Holly realizes it’s time to face her feelings and figure out what she really wants from her life. But to complicate things, both Joseph and Rhett have secrets to reveal…

Will Holly be able to find herself and the love she’s always dreamed of this Christmas?

A fabulous festive read that is full of Christmas and about moving forward after loss... it's both heart-breaking and heart-warming... a great book to snuggle down with on a chilly winter's eve.

Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC>

Holly plans to spend Christmas with her Nana in their cabin in the mountains, but is shocked to find Joe, a short-term tenant, snowed in there when she and Nana arrive. Holly finds Joe to be incredibly kind and is immediately attracted to him; however, she soon finds out that he is engaged to another woman. Somehow, she even finds herself in the position of wedding planner, when Joe and Katharine’s wedding planner quits. About the same time, a man from the past reenters her life. This is a truly heartwarming tale of love and sacrifice that somehow ends exactly the way it should.

3.5
Cute and festive story. Holly and her grandmother head to their cottage to find joe, the last renter, has been snowbound in. As no flights are leaving anytime soon they prepare to spend the holidays together. Joe and Holly have an instant connection but it’s not going to be that easy of course. Joe is engaged and if that’s not bad enough a friend (and possible past love interest) of Holly’s will be added to the mix. During all these shenanigans Nana starts to slowly heal from the grief of losing her husband. She was the true heart of this book for me. This was a good one. Nice characters, setting and plot. Not all that sexy but sweet.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for a copy in exchange for a review.

It's my second book by this author and it does not matter if the setting is a bitter cold or scalding hot one, she always makes you feel warm inside.

If you are a fan of feel good books, you know from the beginning that the author will take you on a trip towards a happy ending, but often it's a bumpy one and sometimes it even feels like the happy ever after is not on the horizon.

That adds to the reading pleasure, because you feel a slight panic, but then there is the relief. It's almost like there is a little supsense thrown in for extra fun. I could call it mildly sadistic (lol), but it's  so rewarding in the end.

This story is about family, friendship and love and romance, of course.

You might think you lost the love of your life, but then life happens ... You might think you have found the love of you life, but then life happens ...

It's never to late to start your life ...

A really nice book to snuggle under a blanket with, a cup of hot cocoa in your hand, a fire blazing and let Holly take you on her journey.  Fluently written, lovely, romantic, with some laughter and some tears : a winning combination. 5 stars.

Thank you, Jenny Hale, Bookouture and Netgalley.

Lovely holiday story set in a delightful small town - and a snowed in cabin. Holly and her Nana are hoping for a good old fashioned Christmas. They didn't expect to find someone staying in their cabin. This is the setup for Holly and Joe to meet cute. But wait.....is there a second chance romance out there with Rhett? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is sentimental and positive.

Great festive read. It is christmas and Holly agrees to take her Nana to the family cabin to celebrate christmas. But when they get there, the previous tenant is still there, snowed in and unable to leave. They end up stiuck together for Christmas, but the more time she spends with Jo, she can't help falling for him, even when she agrees to help plan his wedding to someone else.

Holly McAdams has recently lost her grandfather and the grief she feels is all encompassing. Her parents and sister live abroad and she is determined her lovely Nana will not be alone and will have a traditional Christmas with all the festive joy that had always been a part of Christmas with her husband and their family. Holly has been to their holiday cabin high up in the mountains of Nashville and remodelled it completely, removing items that may upset Nana and storing them. It’s snowing as they make their way to the cosy cabin which Nana usually rents out but has been vacated by the last guest.

Joseph Barnes was due to fly out of Nashville airport to return home for Christmas and his impending marriage. He had been forced to stay on when the airport closed due to heavy snowfall. He intends to cover the cost of his extended vacation, unaware that Holly is taking Nana to her cabin to cheer her up with the company of much loved old friends. So when they walk in and discover a man fast asleep in the master bedroom everyone is shocked. However big-hearted Holly and Nana extend their hospitality and the three adults make the most of Joseph’s bad luck. Holly and Joe get along well although Nana is wary of this unknown stranger.

Also back in town is Rhett Burton, Holly’s best friend. They both felt let down following Rhett’s attempted kiss of Holly the last time they were together. She had no idea Rhett had feelings for her and reacted badly, only to discover that he had left the area first thing the next morning in his quest to be a famous musician and heartthrob. Holly feels awful about what happened and very cross with Rhett while also missing his cheerful company. What hurts her most is that he has never got in contact at all. It’s not the actions of a lifelong best friend and she dreads meeting him, not knowing how she can possibly handle the situation.

What Holly doesn’t know is really the very heart of this novel about family, friendship and romance. With fluid storytelling and a host of cleverly crafted and carefully developed local friends, this is a heart warming novel. There are surprises, some tensions and eventually closely kept secrets are revealed. You will laugh and maybe cry a bit, but you almost definitely won’t be able to foretell the details of how this story will end. I particularly loved the Epilogue which rounded off the story particularly well. It’s because of such a strong finale that I have upgraded my review to 4*

I received this very festive novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Bookouture in return for an honest review. Thank you most sincerely for my copy. I love to read festive romance novels on these cold dark nights and this was a lovely addition to my ‘to be read’ pile.

Holly has spent the time since her grandfather’s death looking out for her grandmother. Nana is still grieving from her husband’s death, and looking for a way to make her smile, Holly thinks it’s the perfect time to head to the cabin north of Nashville for the holiday. While the cabin has been rented out since she redecorated, her grandmother had cleared the reservations, and the cabin is empty: Holly is hoping to recapture some of the magic from the family Christmases of past and off they go. Being worried for her grandmother and being at a bit of loose ends herself, Holly has hopes that a change of scene and place will help her find a new direction for her life, one where waitressing isn’t the be and end all. She planned to go to school for interior design but her grandfather’s death threw all of those plans into chaos, and she’s mired in self-doubt and questions.

With the storm, added complications in the form of Joseph, the most recent guest stuck in the cabin with the weather, and his own wedding coming soon, the connection between he and Holly is instant: and something her grandmother doesn’t seem happy with. It’s difficult being in the place where her grandfather’s memory is so present, and with the return of her best friend from his career in music on the road after leaving without a word, and his belief that he’s in love with Holly and they are meant to be together adds yet another complication. Constantly revisiting memories of her grandfather, torn between her feelings for Joseph and the shock at being asked to finalize the wedding plans, and helping Joseph find his own family connections, the story has plenty of sidetracks into emotionally fraught and tearful, all with a touch of joy and happiness attached.

When push comes to shove, and a box of presents left by her grandfather all bring tears and smiles to everyone, and the holiday arrives with choices for Holly to make for her future, an opportunity from her best friend turned singer Rhett becomes the chance she needs to move forward and find what she wants, without expectations, without influence and without worry. A story about being grounded in your past, reaching for your future, and finding out what is most important in this life.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-a7F/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Full of Christmas charm and magic, this is such a heartwarming story that had me enchanted from the first few pages.

I've no idea why but I always seem to be really attracted to books with a Nashville connection, so one set in a cozy cabin just outside Nashville was always going to be of interest, especially when the book is written by an author that I know write a fabulous Christmas book.

I loved everything about this book, from the small town community where the cabin is, to seeing Nana really start enjoying life again, to Holly slowing realising what it is she wants to do with her life, and who she may want to be with. Then there is Joe the man who shouldn't have been in the cabin had it not been for the snow, and wow is he hot, I loved the clear chemistry that there was between him and Holly no matter how much they deny it.

In addition there is Rhett, who used to be her best friend and who is now declaring his undying love for her, all manner of southern foods that were made to sound very tasty, and just a lovely small town community feel.

There are a couple of key themes explored, some in more depth than others, but all in a way that kept me reading as I needed to see how the storylines would progress.

From the moment I started reading, I felt as though I was being hugged by polar bear - well it was a huge bear hug feeling, while also feeling as thought it wouldn't let me go. Definitely a story that kept me smiling and has once again secured in my mind, that I tend to prefer Jenny Hale's Christmas books to her summer ones - although they are all great.

With just a sprinkling of Christmas magic, this is a gorgeous story that I suspect you may enjoy as much as I did.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

The story is cute, and it's probably more like 3.5 stars.

The writing seemed very calculated. At least when I was reading it, I didn't find myself getting lost in the story or the emotions. I felt like I was always thinking of the details, the happenings, and etc. It was one event after another, and for me, right now, I wanted swoon, feelings, emotions.

I did enjoy the characters, their journeys, their stories. I loved the small-town feel. I did enjoy the events that catapulted the story from 0-50.

Overall, a good read.

Started off just perfect. The setting for every festive read. Snowed in for Xmas. And to top it off Holly isn’t alone with her nana like they had planned. Joe the last visitor to the cabin is still snowed in too. Instant attraction for Holly and on there 1st night in the cabin they fall asleep together m on the couch and caught by nana in the morning.

The book was lovely. Perfect for the festive season

I thought this was super sweet, although I have to admit Holly and Joseph nearly drove me crazy with their refusal to see how perfect they were for each other! It Started with Christmas had a fantastic cast of background characters with great big personalities - I find they are a bit less quirky in the US stories than the UK ones. The setting for this book was a cabin in a small town outside of Nashville, and I loved the hints of music and heapings of southern hospitality throughout the story.

I gave this one three cups Christmassy hot chocolate - complete with whipped cream, candy canes and a sprinkle of Christmas magic!

This lovely book by Jenny Hale really touched my heart. Holly has cared for her increasingly remote grandmother since the death of her beloved grandpa and the circumstances of trying to cheer her 'Nana' introduce charming characters and delightful relationships. I just couldn't put it down or figure out how it could turn out without breaking many hearts. 'It Started With Christmas' is a keeper, and I highly recommend it!

My first time reading Jenny Hale and what a great romance author. The story and characters were great and it was not all predictable like some romances. Great read!

Loved the first 90% of the book....had mixed feelings about the ending. Without giving anything away, I would probably have felt odd about the opposite ending, too. It's not your classic love triangle book.

When Holly McAdams meets Joe Barnes, the attraction between them is instant. The only problem is is Joe will marry his fiancé, Caroline, within weeks.

Holly and her Nana have decided to spend Christmas at the old family cabin. Joe is renting the cabin and they get snowed in, so Holly invites him to share Christmas with them. As Holly and Joe become closer, Holly’s best friend from childhood, Rhett, suddenly arrives back in town and declares his undying love for her. Knowing her feelings for Joe cannot be reciprocated and unsure how she feels about Rhett, Holly has to decide what she wants from her life and the best way to accomplish it.

A fun festive story: the perfect Christmas read.

I don't think I've ever read a book set in Nashville so was very much looking forward to being transported to a new part of the world to me. It's hard not to fall in love with the idyllic setting of a cabin at winter time. I was very envious of Holly and her Nana getting to spend Christmas there, especially as it comes with an unexpected guest.

There are some wonderfully touching moments to do with Nana and her dear departed husband. I could feel my eyes filling up more than a few times and I reckon anyone with a relationship half as good as the one they had would still be something special. You can really feel how much he's missed by Nana and Holly and it really was endearing. 

I like how you don't quite know how the story is going to go. Holly and Joseph you can feel a connection there right from the start but he is weeks away from getting married, then you have Rhett who obviously has feelings for Holly. It's very much a will she, won't she as to who Holly will end up with. 

It Started With Christmas is an entertaining and festive read that might have you rethink your present giving this year. It's a wonderful and wholesome read that definitely leaves you with that warm tingly glow that you only ever get with this genre of book. Great read!

I haven't read many books by this author and now want to as the book was really good and great characters and the plot is so good so realistic. Full of Christmas and moving forward after loss and romantic and heartbreaking while heartwarming to. Very well written and so true to life can make you think. Brilliant book.
Holly lives with her nana abs is worried about her as she lost her husband over a year ago and she just can't live with him and Hly misses her papa so much to. She's booked extra time off for Christmas to be with nana and as she finishes work she goes home and nana says she's ready to go to the holiday cottage they use to go to with papa so they set off and are hit by very heavy snow. Holly has done the holiday place all up and has been renting it out but knows know one will be there so looking forward to spending time with nana. When they get there Joe turns up and is still staying there as can't get out due to the snow so they suggest sharing the place with him. Problem is Holly can feel her heart warming to him and she's falling for him but then he happens to mention his wife to be and Holly feels her heart is broken. Everyone in the town is pleased to see Holly and nana and joe over heard she planned someone's wedding so he asks her if he will help finish planning his wedding to Katherine and nana is worried as they are spending a lot of time together and she's worried Holky will have her heart broken. Holly see Rhett someone she knows and nana things it will be perfect for them to spend time together so she can forget Joe but of course she is still planning his wedding and he told her about his father and she offers to try and find him which she manages to do and he arrives the day of the wedding. Holly decides she can't stay for the wedding as will break her heart but instead she has decided to travel with Rhett for a year so has everything ready to leave with him. Nana is pleased she is doing something for herself but will miss her Rhett and her leave and they soon realise they are best as friends they think so Holky goes travelling on her own for a year but promises to be back for Christmas with nana and when she does she's in for a surprise and is it going to make her happy or not and will she find her romance and be happy or not.
A great perfect Christmas read.

A wonderful Christmas offering from the lovely Jenny Hale :c)

Fun and festive as expected :c)

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.