This is a nice Christmas romance published by Harlequin Special Editions. Amanda is hired to repair and decorate Blake's ancestral home. He's traveling when his young nephew runs away from boarding school and shows up in Gallant Lake. He and Amanda bond and the Christmas magic begins. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Amanda applies for the job of restoration expert for Blake’s 13 bedroom castle in New York. An entertaining story is offered by Jo McNally, one with spirits (Not quite like the Ghost of Christmas Past).

Blake is a businessman who has custody of his nephew. While Blake cares for him, it’s painfully obvious that he really has no idea what he’s doing. Amanda saves the day, building a relationship with Blake at the same time.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I liked Amandas strength thru adversity and how she made Blake see a future with love. I also liked how Blake took the time to help Amanda get stronger.

I really loved doing back to get Amanda and Blake's story! However, I felt like I read them in the wrong order. Looking at release dates, I didn't! Oh well, it was still very enjoyable!

This book was very heartwarming and I just loved it! It’s a Christmas romance with a haunted castle....what can I say? Perfect read for me!
Loved the two main characters, Amanda and Blake. Amanda learns to trust again with Blake’s help.
Overall, a very touching Christmas romance I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and give my honest review about this book.

Amanda is a down on her luck Interior designer looking for a job since getting fired from her last one. Before that she was having a correspondence with Blake Randall who needs his castle renovated. Problem is Blake believed shes someone else from the old place shes working at maybe she can convince him shes the person for the job.

This was a pretty good contemporary romance. I enjoyed seeing how things played out. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, seeing their past demons, seeing how Blake was raised and how it impacted their lives to show how it made the two characters the way they where. Its was pretty clear Blake wasn't' wanted in the town and I kept wondering if there was going to be problems that were going to get into the way of why he was even there he was currently at. Then there was the nephew that was in the mix and seeing his relationship between Blake and seeing how he was with Amanda. She defiantly overstepped but truly cared for the child and it was interesting seeing her meddle a bit and I was pretty curious to see the out come. Wondering if Blake would send him back, if people were to find the child's connection would something happen, would he be impacted by the backlash of the protesters who clearly didn't want Blake there. Then there was the romance and seeing the healing between the two and seeing how they opened up to one another it was pretty cute. Overall it was a pretty great book I really enjoyed it.

Amanda has come to try and win an interior design contract, but under false pretenses. Blake doesn't really have a choice on updating his building, well, castle - but can it ever be a home? Mistaken identity, missed opportunities, and sparks that won't be ignored fill the pages of this fast paced book. Add in a lonely little boy and you get a heart warming romance that feels just right for the holidays.

It Started at Christmas
by Jo McNally
Pub Date Nov 19 2019
224 pages
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Interior designer Amanda Lowery can turn Blake Randall’s crumbling castle into a Gallant Lake showplace. But helping the real estate mogul with his guarded heart and his troubled, orphaned nephew? A much bigger challenge. With demons in her own past, Amanda yearns to help them both heal. But will she find the family and safety she’s craved…or become a Christmas casualty in Blake’s latest business plan?
🎄📕MY REVIEW📕🎄
I loved this book so much and did not want it to end. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.
What a page turner! I started and finished this book in just a few hours . It was fun reading about these two opposites working things out. I fell in love with this town so much I wanted to move there. The characters are well developed and the plot is very attention grabbing. It started at Christmas is a Beautiful and Heartwarming book filled with laughter, joy, and some sadness. The author did an amazing job with this story and i can’t wait to read more!There are some surprising twists that I didn't see coming close to the end. Loved the nice touch of the ghost. I really do hope we get to read more from this town and other characters in this story. Thank you netgalley, Jo McNally, and Harlequin for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It Started at Christmas... (Gallant Lake Stories)

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 4.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!