I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This book was just a typical Christmas romance novel. Short and sweet.

Every year I look forward to Melody Carlson's annual Christmas book, wondering if she will be able to top the previous year and that in itself is a good recommendation. However, the one reason her annual books are so memorable is that they are all different. If she has a cookie cutter format like you see in those made for television Christmas movies, I have not seen it. From The Christmas Joy Ride to the Christmas Angel Project, her stories are fresh and evoke fond feelings for the Christmas spirit. Perhaps, because they nudge us to think of those caring feelings we have for others. Perhaps because she can touch the heart of the human spirit.

If ever one wanted a new start, moving from sunny Phoenix to Winter Hill, in Eastern Washington is about as fresh as you can get considering the weather, culture and small town life. For someone with an aversion to Christmas, the town's preoccupation with Christmasville had Kristen wondering if she rushed into accepting this new job. To make it more difficult, her daughter found everything about Winter Hill delightful. I found the story entertaining and easy to read. I am certain that this little town is thinly disguised as Leavenworth Washington, a delightful little town where Christmas is their middle name. The fact that my hometown is mentioned a couple of times in passing didn't hurt either. All that aside, I believe the message within the covers of this quick read is simple: honesty and integrity are never out of date. If you enjoy good-hearted stories, this one is for you. I highly recommend it.

This book is really a long ‘short story’, ideal for using as a palate-cleanser between more weighty tomes. How refreshing it is to read of a young girl with such a positive attitude, one who only sees the good in life (despite the rough hand it has already dealt her.) It is almost a role reversal between the parent & child, with the youngster having to chivvy her mother along all the way. What a pleasure she would be to live with! Whilst without the depth of some of Melody Carlson’s books, sometimes we just need a quick, light read - & especially one we know will be ‘clean’.

Krista Galloway takes a City Manager position in Winter Hill, WA and brings her daughter Emily. It is a grand new adventure until she becomes involved in some old battles at the courthouse and also discovers that there is a big Christmas celebration put on by the town every year. Christmas is her least favorite holiday and she doesn’t want to be involved.

Krista meets some great new people and gets involved with the family of her assistant and after a lot of angst she finds a home in this community. This was a fun, relaxing read.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This is a cute story with hope and prayer. Good Christmas book to read if you need something quick and clean book . I would recommend it to my friends to read

A sweet quick Christmas read filled with hope, warmth, and love. The perfect book to sit by a warm fire with a cup of peppermint cocoa and lose yourself in the joys of Winter Hill.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Revell, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This is a quick and enjoyable Christmas read, with Hallmark feel to it. If you're looking for a sweet feel good Christmas novella, then this is it.

Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson is a sweet, easy read. The story follows Krista and her daughter Emily as they move from Phoenix, Arizona to a tiny town in Washington. Winter Hill is not only a small town with a chance for new beginnings, it is also the home of Christmasville, a yearly celebration to help bring revenue to the small place. However, Krista is not a huge fan of Christmas, and being the new city manager, she is expected to get on board and help plan the festivities. When conniving employees, asbestos filled rooms, and unhappy after school caregivers threaten to ruin her first few weeks, Krista is tempted to give in. But a nice young man and his family may be just what she needs to find her Christmas spirit. This was a lot of fun. It made me laugh and I had a few tears a couple of times. Definitely worth checking out if you enjoy holiday romances! I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This delightful Christmas novella totally enchanted me! I love Melody Carlson’s books because they are all quick and fast-paced reads. This little book was a real joy to read and to prepare one’s heart for the holiday season. Krista Galloway, the main character, doesn’t really like Christmas at all because she spent her childhood in foster homes and has no good memories of the holiday. She does want to create good memories for her daughter Emily, though. The two have just moved to the little town of Winter Hill as Krista has accepted the job of city manager there. Unbeknownst to her, Krista has also accepted the job of managing the town’s annual festival called Christmasville. It will take a local man and his daughter to convince Krista that there can be good in life, and especially at Christmastime. Fans of Carlson and Debbie Macomber will enjoy this book because it touches all of the right chords to make your heartstrings hum.

Krista has just accepted a job as the city manager of a mountain town called Winter Hill. She relocates with her young daughter. The longer she’s in the town, the more she wonders if maybe she has made a mistake.

Everyone in Winter Hill seems to be obsessed with the annual Christmasville celebration and expects her to be too. But Krista hates Christmas and has a number of valid reasons why she should.

Christmas in Winter Hill is a Hallmark movie in book format. It was easy to read and the characters were fun to get to know. The plot wasn’t very complicated and I read it as a modern rendition of the Christmas story complete with Santa, Scrooge and the Grinch.

Krista’s and Emily’s were more developed than the other characters. And while I liked Conner, I felt that the romance was a bit forced. I was happy that Ms. Carlson did not claim the characters were in love because while they had some contact, it wasn’t enough in my opinion to create a genuine connection.

The romance between Krista and Conner was not a prevalent feature of Christmas in Winter Hill as it was more of a Christmas magic kind of tale. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a light, feel-good read.

Christmas in Winter Hill is a very well written inspirational romance. I throughly enjoyed the plot and the characters. The book is a good fast read. I highly recommend this book. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

The cover alone would draw you to this delightful book. Melody Carlson always pleases, always brings a feeling of goodness into her tales.
Krista, with her daughter Emily, make a move from the big city, Phoenix, to a small town, where she takes up the position of City manager. It seems as though so many things, and people, are against her to begin with. Gradually she becomes accepted and we share in the delightful descriptions of a small town's preparations for Christmasville.
Emily , without telling her mother, enters a competition to win the Christmasville house. When you hear her letter you can imagine the beautiful result.
It is a very nice book, as are all of Melody Carlson's.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

Christmas in Winter Hill is a clean, fast contemporary Christian Christmas read that leaves you feeling good. The town of Winter Hill has a new city manager, the divorced mom of a sweet 8 year old daughter. As they arrive in Winter Hill, they quickly become immersed in the town's Christmas celebrations. Amidst the beginning of a new job, a new town, and new friends, the main character also uncovers discrepancies in the city's budget. As she works to settle those problems, she and her daughter learn how small towns operate in every sense of the word. Quick, sweet Christmas story with a touch of romance. Well worth your time to read! Another sweet read by Melody Carlson!

This is my 16th Christmas novella by Melody Carlson, and she has yet to disappoint. With complex, realistic characters, her stories always sparkle with the fantasy of Christmas in the midst of everyday life.

Krista Galloway has left her job in Phoenix as an assistant city manager to take on the role of city manager in the small town of Winter Hill Washington. Krista grew up in foster homes and never felt Christmas or her birthday on Christmas Eve got much attention. So she is somewhat of a Grinch when it comes to Christmas. But as a single mother of an eight year old daughter, Emma, she has worked hard to hide her dislike of the materialism of Christmas to make it special for her daughter. But Winter Hill is all about Christmas and their annual Christmas extravaganza called Christmasville that draws in lots of tourists and helps bring in money to the small town. So when she arrives the week before Thanksgiving, as city manager she has no choice but to become involved which, in turn, leads to all sorts of problems that divide the town's citizens.

I loved that this novella is full of the Christmas spirit, great main and secondary characters, and a wonderful plot line. I felt completely drawn into Winter Hill, its citizens, and it's magical Christmas feel. The Christmas house contest was delightful, and I loved Emma's heartfelt letter. You can't finish reading this novella without feeling the warmth of Christmas

Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson is a sweet well-written story about finding the Christmas Spirit as well as finding a place to belong. It has a feel good ending after the main character overcomes many obstacles including her own attitude.

Krista Galloway has had more than her share of difficulties during the past Christmases but taking the position of manager at a small town that is known for having huge Christmasville celebrations, she is going to be right in the middle of it this year. The story focuses on Krista and her daughter, Emily as they negotiate a move across country. The town manager job especially some of the meeting bog the story down a bit but are relevant to the overall plot. However, Emily brighten up every scene that she is in.

This little family of two find hope, love and the magic of Christmas is this charming story. Even the “Ba-humbug” of a town accountant can’t stop this story from shining.

A short, sweet holiday read, Christmas in Winter Hill will delight fans of Hallmark Christmas movies. I wouldn't be in the least surprised to hear of its being made into a screen play at some time in the future.

Krista Galloway and her eight-year-old Emily moved from Phoenix to Winter Hill, Washington for Krista's new job as city manager. Krista is dismayed to learn of the city's obsession with their Christmasville celebration, having no fond Christmas memories of her own. Circumstances cause her to appear to be the town Grinch, and Krista faces disappointing Emily with another move.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Christmas in Winter Hill in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

Christmas in Winter Hill captures the spirit of Christmas beautifully! 5 charming stars!

Christmas in Winter Hill is an absolutely charming story. The gorgeous cover drew me right in to the lovely streets of Winter Hill.
This is a story about finding the joy of Christmas, and divorced single mom Emily is on just such a journey. Her adorable eight year old daughter Emily is a pure delight and ray of sunshine throughout the book. Contractor Connor is a strong and steady influence and his fourteen year old daughter Anna is a great friend to Emily. It's refreshing to see a teenager portrayed in a positive light.
Emily's new job as city manager gives her many problems to solve in edition to adjusting to her move to Winter Hill, a town in love with all things Christmas and completely contrary to her own sentiments.
The story is beautifully written. I enjoyed the Christmasville celebration events and loved the idea of a Christmas house. Melody Carlson is one of my favorite Christmas book authors. I recommend Christmas in Winter Hill for it's ability to capture the spirit of Christmas in such a lovely way.
I appreciate Revell providing a copy of Christmas in Winter Hill for review.

I never miss one of Melody Carlson's Christmas tales. They are so good and hopeful. This time around a single mother and her eight year old daughter move from Phoenix to Washington state where the mom has a new job. It's nearing Christmas time and this town goes all out! Much to the mom's dismay. She has never had a good experience at Christmas time. Never. But what happens will bless you and restore her faith in Christmas again. Don't miss this wonderful little story.

*My thanks to Revell Publishing for a preview copy of this book. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.

Krista Galloway and her daughter have packed up their lives and moved to Winter Hill, in order for Krista to take a job as their city manager. Once there, Krista realizes that this small town may not be a good fit for her; they center much of their city life around Christmas, a holiday that has always seemed to bring catastrophe to Krista's life. She also finds that the city government has several unrealized problem areas, making her seem like the bad guy who moved into town and started cleaning house. Can Krista and her daughter make a life here, or will this be one more Christmas disappointment for Krista?

This was a sweet little Christmas novella, perfect for wintry days by the fireplace. Krista's rough background serves to fuel her disappointment in life, but she gives it her best to give her daughter, Emily, a better shot at a hopeful life. There is a good mix of villainous characters and helpful, honest ones to balance out the story. As with most novellas, the reader doesn't get very deep views into any of the characters, but it was enough to want to root for Krista and to feel the pull of the town against her.

I give this novella 4 stars. I think this town and its Christmas-loving people would make for a sweet series of Christmas novellas, filling in the story of Christmasville and the people who bring it together every year.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas In Winter Hill was one of those classic holiday storiess that leave you with a smile on your face. Sure, it seemed at times pretty predictable.
The author managed to nicely portray the evolution of someone who doesn't have a lot of positive experiences at Christmas to someone who gets a couple of the Christmas miracles she was owed. I especially appreciated the juxtaposition between Anna's skepticism and her daughter's innocent hope and believe in Christmas. Combined with the subplot about possible financial miss doings, you end up with a really lovely, quite uncomplicated, snapshot look that exudes Christmas and the hope that comes with the season.
Well, that, and the need to redecorate your entire house in accordance to the Christmas-house-degrees.