This is worthy of being a Hallmark movie if it isn’t already being considered. It has all the right components – a successful woman put in a disappointing situation that she turns around to make better for her, the town, and the man she didn’t know she needed in her life.

Delightful and easy read to take you away from today’s world.

I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest and unbiased review.

To launch the Christmas book season, I’m starting my festive selection with a heartwarming cozy read by Nancy Naigle. I had first discovered this author with The Secret Ingredient (a novel that I loved!) and the Christmas in Evergreen series. So I couldn’t wait to read this new Christmas book from her.

Overall, it’s a pleasant feel-good read with lovely descriptions, infused with a heartwarming mood. You get a good sense of all things sweet about the season. Of the warmth of a small-town community. However, I felt as though there wasn’t that much at stake, so it came across as very slow-paced. The slow atmosphere is reminiscent of the easygoing rural life, but it fails to keep your interest going strong throughout the whole book. So I have mixed feelings about this one, in general.

I received an ARC for an honest review from St. Martins's Press through NetGalley.  We meet so many wonderful people in this story.  They each bring their way of life to us.  Vanessa Larkin was supposed to be spending Christmas in Paris but instead, she is heading to Fraser Hills, North Carolina.  It is known as the best fruitcake in the USA.  While she is there she finds some Christmas magic. and some ideas on saving the town from Porter's fruitcake from being shut down and turned into warehouses. 
Seeing Vanessa slowly enjoying this rural town, and learning how enjoyable the festivities can be, the Christmas magic is in the air.

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise is a heartwarming holiday tale by author Nancy Naigle.  Vanessa Larkin is in position for a new project to manage as Thanksgiving approaches. She and her older cousin Anna have planned to spend the holidays together this year. While Vanessa is in hopes of a fancy assignment such as the Paris or Leavenworth, Washington, projects, Anna is good with anywhere they can be together again,

Although Vanessa has the position to earn either of those assignments, she is given the project to close down Porter’s fruitcake factory and turn the warehouses into usable space for a sporting goods company.  Porter’s, set in the scenic small town of Fraser Hills, NC, is not the assignment Vanessa sought, but when offered double bonuses to get the job done on schedule, she sees the extra money as a way she can purchase a suburban home still close enough to her Chicago office and offer a retirement destination for Anna, who has recently retired and lives outside of Atlanta.

When Vanessa arrives in Fraser Hills and becomes acquainted with the charming residents, she begins looking for ways to spin off the warehouses and protect Porter’s and its staff, as they are the backbone of this lovely community. When corporate doesn’t agree, Vanessa employs unexpected strategies to protect this new found ‘family’.

This is such a delightful story with wonderfully developed characters and a Christmas card setting.  With several twists, the reader will be surprised and delighted at the climax.  Once again Ms. Naigle has provided her followers with a lovely holiday story which I very much enjoyed. I do recommend this book!

A single dad, Mike, who lost the love of his life and is estranged from his grandfather starts falling for a new person in town.  Vanessa, sent to a small town in North Carolina to dismantle Mike’s family business, starts realizing that life can’t be all about work. As she starts getting to know the residents of this town, she starts opening up and falling for everyone and everything about the town. 
  The characters were realistic and I found myself rooting for everyone to get their happy ending. With help from some unlikely residents of the town Vanessa starts opening her eyes to the reality of life, but just when things look like they are headed in the right direction, her bosses do the unthinkable and it could destroy what she has started to build. 
  My only concerns were with Misty and with the end. I had a hard time believing that a young girl who lost her mother when she was young would be as put together as she was. I felt like some anger issues could have been mentioned a few times. I also wish they would have had Vanessa have a conversation with her boss about the underhanded tactics they employed. Overall a sweet, clean romance. 
  I received ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise by Nancy Naigle

Small towns have their own rhythm and heart. Vanessa finds herself having fun and realizing her life may not have been all it could be back in the city. 

I have to give a Vanessa high marks for wanting to do the right thing. I wasn’t so happy with all the town citizens. Of course it’s understood but maybe there was a bit of prejudice involved as well for the city woman invading their town. 

Great writing descriptions and of course, in romance, a happily ever after.  Deep breath. Sigh. Peace and joy in the ending. 

Excerpt:
“Vanessa’s cheeks stung from the crisp air. She briskly climbed the stairs and grasped the shiny brass door handle. A whoosh of warm air washed over her like a hug, as a set of gleaming brass bells on a leather strap jangled against the heavy door.“
Excerpt from A Heartfelt Christmas Promise by Nancy Naigle 

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to share.

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise by Nancy Naigle is a magical holiday story that reads like a movie. A lovely read that is sure to seep you away.

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise is another heartwarming story from Nancy Naigle. Small towns in trouble is an issue that has been incorporated in stories before. Without a doubt it is a growing problem for business to stay afloat. This story hits close to home since every year we drive to visit such a place as Porter’s, the fruitcake factory. 

Along with the problem of the factory closing there is a sweet romance taking place. Vanessa Larkin whose company sent her to Fraser Hills, North Carolina when she had planned a Paris holiday and horse farmer, Mike Marshall. Mike has family ties to Porter’s. Neither planned to spend the holidays the way that it turned out to be. 

A heartfelt look at the future of small towns, trusting and appreciating others and a lovely romance make this an enjoyable Christmas story. 

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise is a wonderful story with endearing characters. Vanessa and Mike are a great couple who draw you in and keeps you engaged until the end. This small town romance is a heartwarming holiday read that pulls at your heartstrings. As I turned the pages I was drawn into the story and I felt the love and the magic of the season. Truly a wonderful story.

This was a very sweet romance.  The characters were likeable and well drawn.  Loved the small town setting and the animals.  The puppy stole the show!  Big city girl goes to small town to close major business and learns that work is not everything.  Very heartfelt story.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

What a wonderful sweet and clean romance. It's fun and entertaining. I love all the characters and the town. Vanessa and Mike are perfect for each other. An excellent book for the holiday season.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

Title: A Heartfelt Christmas Promise
Author: Nancy Naigle  
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

Vanessa Larkin was supposed to be spending Christmas in Paris, France on a business trip she hoped to enjoy as a working vacation. Instead, she’s been assigned to Fraser Hills, North Carolina—home of the Best Fruitcake in the USA—to convert her company’s property into warehouse space and shut down Porter’s, the fruitcake factory. Offering retirement packages and selling locals on new job opportunities may not spread holiday cheer, but Vanessa believes she’s helping secure the town’s future.

Mike Marshall’s family founded Porter’s. For decades, the factory served as the lifeblood of the community until his grandfather sold the business to a Chicago corporation. The sale cost the town its independence—and the Marshalls their family ties. A horse farmer, Mike was never involved with his grandfather’s company, but still felt Fraser Hills lost part of its identity. And as a widower raising a teenage daughter, he’s suffered enough losses in one lifetime. News of the factory’s closing means losing another piece of the town’s legacy.

Far from the skyscrapers and rapid pace of the city, Vanessa finds herself enjoying the easygoing rhythms of rural living. With Mike as her guide, she learns to appreciate the simple pleasures found in shared holiday festivities among friends. Fraser Hills is a town she is growing to love—and Mike is someone she is falling in love with. Now all Vanessa needs is a Christmas miracle to give her newfound friends and home a gift they’ll cherish for many New Years to come.

This was a sweet, easy read that made small-town life sound appealing. And I kind of wanted to sample that magical fruitcake!

I liked that Vanessa wasn’t portrayed as a stereotypical uncaring city girl, but as someone truly trying to do her best to help the people and town of Fraser Hills. I thought all the characters were well-done and believable, the setting was realistic and charming, and this was a solid, enjoyable read. 

Nancy Naigle lives in North Carolina. A Heartfelt Christmas Miracle is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Review link will be live 9/30.)

I have loved very book I have read by Nancy Naigle. This one did not disappoint. I am all about small towns, Christmas, family and doing what’s right. Vanessa has a very unpopular job, but she turns it around once she actually sees what is happening and gets to know the players involved. I want to go see these horses that Mike and Misty have. In my mind they are quite awesome. Who wouldn’t love Porter? I loved the story and the characters and just wanted the story to keep going. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

This is a light and quick read that will give you all the warm fuzzies of the holiday season. The characters were great and I love the feeling of family and a small town, especially during the holidays.

This is one of those books that I will read over and over again with characters that jump right out of the book and into your heart and a beautifully written story that immediately captivated me and kept me totally involved in all that was happening from beginning to end. I loved the small-town southern charm of Fraser Hills, North Carolina and felt like I was right there in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, enjoying the festivities, chicken stew and delicious fruitcake! I enjoyed the attraction and undeniable chemistry between Vanessa Larkin and Mike Marshall with the engaging secondary characters adding to my reading pleasure. This is a must-read for anyone who needs to escape everyday stress and will leave a smile on your face, joy in your heart and ready for the Holidays! I received an advance reader copy of "A Heartfelt Christmas Promise" from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I always look for books by Ms. Naigle. I know that they will be heartwarming and believable. She has a knack of putting a story together with great characters, amusing situations and bringing the story to such a satisfying end.

In this story, Vanessa Larkin works in a cutthroat industry. Her company acquires other companies. They then decide what to keep, what to sell and what to close down.

Vanessa is top at the game and should be heading to one of two great cities to work over Christmas. She is looking forward to Paris, but at the last minute, she is sent to a small town in North Carolina. To say she is not happy is putting it mildly.

However, her job is her job and she will be able to spend the holidays with her older cousin who is her remaining family.

The company she is to close down is a fruitcake factory. Yes, that is right, fruitcake. You either love it or hate it. Unless you are me. I like some versions but there are many I don’t like at all.

While she is there, the citizens of the town, Frazier Hills begin to become real to her. She finds herself wanting to help them but it will cost so much. The question is, who is more important to Vanessa, herself or the people of Frasier Hills.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

I absolutely adore holiday stories and read them throughout the year. There are some that are strictly "holiday themed" but so many others are really wonderful feel-good books that make you happy just reading them. A Heartfelt Christmas Promise, while absolutely revolving around the holidays - it begins with Thanksgiving and goes through Christmas - is, at its roots, a beautiful love story and I LOVED this story! 

Vanessa is the consummate over achieving business woman who excels at all that she sets her mind to accomplish. She hasn't made time for friends or romance and rarely has time for family. When a new project in Paris comes up at work, she is positive she will be sent to Paris for the holidays. Her boss, unfortunately has other plans. Vanessa is sent to a small mountain town that makes fruitcake to shut down the company in order to put in a warehouse. Yes, I know this sounds like so many Hallmark Movies and I thought it was going to exactly like that. I was WRONG! I won't divulge how it is different but, please, believe me when I say that it is. Vanessa is not your sappy woman who gets all emotional upon arrival; she sees a solution and she goes about accomplishing her goals - goals that will benefit everyone. Of course there is a snafu - it wouldn't be a holiday story without one - but in the end it all works out! Sniffle Sniffle.... yeah, I cried. 

here are so many things to love (!) about A Heartfelt Christmas Promise. First and foremost, Vanessa is intelligent and never makes excuses for being a strong, independent woman nor does she shy away from being a caring one! Second, this book includes so many age groups from Buck and Anna who are older, to Vanessa who is younger, to Misty who is a teen. Each of these people were depicted as able, smart, capable adults. It is so rare to read books that don't make older adults or teens out to be stereotypical and this was very appreciated! Third, there are horses and puppies. Oh, hello!? Naigle did such a great job at depicting the Percheron horses that I swear I could hear their thundering hoofbeats going down my cobblestone street!! 

We have llamas pulling our sleigh here in my hometown so I cannot complain but can you imagine these beauties pulling Santa!? WOW! The horses play an integral part of the story and add so much character to the overall book! 

What more can I say!? I LOVED A Heartfelt Christmas Promise! Whether you are an early reader of holiday books or just thinking about later, this one definitely should be on to-read list for the holidays!

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise is a great story to get the reader ready for the upcoming holidays. Very cute and wonderful to read.

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise was a beautiful, heartfelt story of Vanessa, who was sent to Frasier Hills, North Carolina to shut down Porters fruitcake factory before Christmas. Nancy Naigle made Fraser Hills seem like a picturesque Christmas postcard full of hope, dreams, romance, and love.

The small town had wonderful characters that often gave their two cents to Vanessa. Mike and his daughter, Misty and Grandpa Buck and Anna, Vanessa's cousin were some of the characters I really liked. Buck was so full of wisdom and often made Vanessa think.

Mike's beautiful Percheron horses and the cute puppy, Scooter added beautifully to this story. I felt like I was watching a wonderful, snowy movie as I read the book. It made me happy and hopeful too. It also made me want a cup of hot chocolate. It is truly the perfect Christmas story! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Instead of spending her Christmas in Paris, France, Vanessa Larkin has to go to North Carolina to shut down the fruitcake factory and convert it into warehouse space for her company. Mike Marshall's family had founded that fruitcake factory, and as a widower with a teenage daughter, he had enough loss to deal with. He still has to be Vanessa's guide to the town and is someone she grows to love as much as the small-town life. How can Vanessa find a worthy gift for her newfound home?

The cover sports an adorable puppy with a huge bow. Between that and the obvious plot, this is a perfect story that would be on the Hallmark channel for the holidays. Vanessa is a hard-working woman, never having vacations, friends, or even serious romantic relationships as she did her job. The man she was seeing at the beginning was convenient and she had no real feelings for him, and he felt that she suited his needs. Not exactly romantic, so she left him and took off for North Carolina. It's a town of under two thousand people, so everyone knows everyone else, and a number of them are determined to think the worst when the two people who'd worked at the fruitcake factory the longest were let go, even if they had generous severance packages. Mike is upset with Vanessa; not only did his grandfather sell the factory, but one of those two people was his mother.

Vanessa incorporates the locals' ideas into her plans to redo the factory without completely upending everything they've ever known. It also helps that her boss is conveniently incommunicado. The romance budding between Vanessa and Mike is slow, building from friendship to a closer connection. It means more when they spend time together, taking time to get to know each other and what they dream of for the future. This isn't a book with a steamy interlude partway through, so you don't have to worry about that if it embarrasses you. It's definitely a sweet story, and just as heartfelt as the title.