This is a Christmas Romance. This is about a single mom of a toddler with special needs and the local police chief falling in love. I love how this book follows the little girl more then the adult. The book shows the special needs of the kid which I loved. I also love the romance between the two characters was cute and nice. This was a short and quick read, and it was a book I could not put it down. The characters was really developed, and they where very lovable. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Special Edition) or author (Makenna Lee) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

While this one is a Christmas romance, if you are looking for a quick holiday romance anytime of the year it would work. The writing style of the book makes it a quick and easy read and while some of the aspects are very cute, there's a lot of heart and struggle to this book as well. I totally understand Tess' reluctance to allow anyone close to her and her daughter or accept help from others, so seeing Anson work his way into her heart and life and show her that others do want to help her and care for her. I really enjoyed this one and would look forward to more from Makenna Lee in the future.

I loved little Hannah in this book, and I think she gave the story its heart. I admired Tess for the way she did everything she could to take care of Hannah and give her a happy life.

I have to admit that I thought I was getting a different category of book, more of the “sweet” variety, and that this one had some scenes that were too “spicy” for me. But that’s not the fault of the author, but my fault for not checking more carefully before I requested the book. I still liked Hannah’s story and thought the author did a wonderful job with her character.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Everyone she could have counted on left her and she refuses to let another person close enough to hurt her or leave her. He's found love can be used against him, but a darling child and a vulnerable woman teach him to give hope a chance. I was excited to try this debut honey of a story when I read the blurb. The romance sounded like just the right amount of tart and sweet and a child with special need with a perky recovering grandmother as side characters added the perfect dash of extra.

Tess Harper lost her father and brother in the line of duty and her mother soon after. She thought she had a new chance at family and love with a husband until he learned their child would be born with Down's Syndrome and he and his snobbish parents couldn't brush her off fast enough. It's just her and Hannah now. She took a temp job as museum designer in the small Texas town of Oak Hollow until Hannah's heart surgery will take her to the city. As heroic and cute as the town sheriff is, she will resist letting a man get near her heart and particularly one in a dangerous job. Too bad, her heart tumbles at the sight of him being adorable with her child, helping her out, and the way he is around his grandmother and out in the community he serves.

Anson Curry made a huge mistake when he married a manipulative woman who used his desire for love and family against him. He has been determined not to make that mistake ever again. Fate intervenes when he comes to the aid of Tess and little Hannah a few times. Hannah is a darling, but her closed off, prickly mother makes Anson open up to the possibility of love and make him determined to break through her formidable barriers to give him and Oak Hollow a chance.

A Sheriff's Star has the lovely cozy and comfortable elements of a good holiday story, but it was the added nuances to the individual characters, their situations, and the relationships going on that pushed this into a superb story. The romance had angst and was hard-fought, but it made sense and the author grew it at just the right pace. The beginning of relationships forming for Tess and Hannah in Oak Hollow beyond the romance were sparkling. I thought the friendship that sprung between little Hannah and Anson's recovering grandmother were adorable just as his grandmother gives sage advice to Tess about hiding from life because she had loss and met a stinker her first try at a relationship. The many relationships tying together really made this story.

The author wrote Hannah's special needs from a voice of knowledge about having a child with this particular special needs. She gave Hannah heart and personality- as she did all the characters, really.

The romance took a bit to get going with their separate issues going on, but it was sizzling and they were so good together once they gave things a go.

In summary, this was a fabulous story and I can't wait to return to more romances in Oak Hollow. Those who enjoy spicy contemporary with solid character development should give this a go.

A Sheriff's Star by Makenna Lee is the beginning of a new series (Home to Oak Hollow) that is set in the Texas Hill Country. It is also the first book I have read by this author. I can tell you, it won't be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this small town and the residents I met.

Single mother Tess Harper has arrived in Oak Hollow with her four-year-old daughter, Hannah to work a temporary job setting up exhibits for the new Historical Society. Hannah has down syndrome, but is just somewhat delayed. When Tess can't find her in the department store, she begins to panic. Not to worry, Hannah has made her way to Police Chief Anson Curry. Not only is he the police chief, but he also their landlord. They are both attracted to one another at first meeting, but they have both been hurt and are carrying some baggage. Hannah is the one that brings these two together over and over until they can't resist the pull any longer.

I don't want to spoil this story for you so will not tell you anything else about the plot. I will say the main characters in this story found their way into my heart. Anson, Tess, Hannah and Anson's grandmother, Nan, are amazing characters. Nan is a hoot. She may be older, but she is young at heart and her matchmaking manipulations had me smiling. Hannah is absolutely adorable. When she loves someone, she loves with all her heart and she certainly stole mine. The story takes place over a couple of months leading up to Christmas, so while there is not a lot of Christmas celebrations or activities, it does end on Christmas Day. Tess is a bit stubborn and very independent. Anson had to keep chipping away at her to get to understand that there were people that wanted to help her and be there for her. I loved his determination. I really enjoyed this heartfelt story and definitely recommend it to those who enjoy contemporary romance and stories with wonderful children

Single mother, Tess Harper, has her hands full with her special needs four year old daughter, Hannah. After a painful divorce, she moves to Oak Hollow, Texas but it’s only temporary. Eventually, she and Hannah will be moving to Houston permanently.

When they meet police chief Anson Curry, Tess and Hannah grow close to him. Tess isn’t sure how they will be able to leave him, but she has no intention of making Oak Hollow her permanent residence. She definitely isn't looking for a relationship with Anson. After losing her father and brother in the line of duty, there’s no way she can get involved with a police officer. She just can’t risk it.

This is a poignant story with a little girl that will melt your heart. It’s a sweet, heartwarming story. It’s a fast read that had me in tears, as well as smiling, throughout the book. This is the first book in a series and I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.

Makenna Lee is a “new-to-me” author and I was very impressed. She handles situations quite realistically. Tess and Anson are characters readers can care about and cheer for.

This is a feel good book that is perfect for the holiday season.

FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Sheriff's Star is beautifully written and has more of a focus on Hannah's Down Syndrome and her life as a cute, happy little 4 year old. She is ADORABLE. Anson is the town sheriff who has gone through some tough personal stuff. Hannah and her mother move to his town and things go from there.

Not only does Makenna Lee write beautiful characters, the setting is charming and I was wholly invested in the book. It's short, but is tender, loveable and realistic regarding the struggles of parents of special needs children. Hannah's needs are shown in a natural way and I loved the openness around disability in the novel.

I'm always searching for good stories with a disability theme as I have disabilities and have always believed there are not enough books with characters with disabilities.

Thanks to Makenna Lee and Harlequin Special Edition for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

I won't give this 5 stars as the Christmas image on the cover, although beautiful, is misleading since not much of the book is set around Christmas.

4.5 stars.

A Sheriff’s Star is the first book in the new Home to Oak Hollow series. It was a great beginning to the series. The characters were heartwarming, and the town was charming. The book was well written and flowed smoothly. It was a wonderful Christmas story where Tess Harper, a single mom of Hannah, a special needs child, moves temporarily to a new town to help organize the town’s new museum. The police chief Anson Curry has been hurt in the past and knows that Tess is only in town temporarily. He tries to keep his distance knowing she will be leaving soon but Tess and her daughter manage to brighten the days for Nan, his grandmother. Will Tess overcome her fears of Anson’s job and stay in the small town of Oak Hollow? I loved this book. It was so touching, and I fell in love with the characters. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Rating 4.5/5*

A single Mum doing her very best for her child finds true love when she least expects it . . . . 

Tess Harper is moving to Oak Hollow to work for a couple of months helping to set up the community's Museum, then she'll be moving to Huston whilst her four year old daughter, Hannah, has open heart surgery. She has learnt to stand on her own, to rely on no-one else and strives to protect her beloved daughter. However, Hannah is a real sweetheart and soon wins the hearts of those she meets - including their new landlord and neighbour, police chief Anson Curry and his grandmother, Nan. The attraction between Anson and Tess is there from the start but she's so wary after how her ex-husband treated her and what happened to both her father and brother whilst he's trying not to get involved with someone he knows is leaving . . . but maybe fate and love have different plans for them all!

This is a moving story to put a smile on your face. Hannah is such a brilliant young lady, and she's emotively brought to life in the pages of this book. Nan is young at heart and is a blatant matchmaker for Anson and Tess, happily giving advice and often giving readers a laugh as the story progresses. I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming read and am looking forward to reading more in this series and other books by this talented author in future. She deals with some delicate issues with sensitivity and feeling, making this a truly heartwarming read that I have no hesitation in highly recommending.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

This book was exactly what I need this week. I was looking for an escape and A Sheriff's Star was exactly the perfect way for me to unplug for a few hours. I loved this story about two broken hearts who find home and love in each other. The slow burn attraction between Anson and Tess was delicious. I was so rooting for them. I loved little Hannah. She was one of the best parts of the book. Her relationship with Anson was heart melting. This is a quick read and one I highly recommend. I can't wait to visit this little town again.

Despite the picture on the cover, "A Sheriff's Star" by Makenna Lee isn't really a Christmas-themed romance, but it is a holiday romance with the majority of the story taking place around Halloween and Thanksgiving. Main characters Tess and Anson had each faced more than their fair share of heartache before the story began, and it wasn't easy for them to open their hearts to love again. Tess was particularly afraid because she had a vulnerable young daughter, Hannah, to protect and knew that they would be leaving town again in just a few short months. Anson was determined to convince her to stay, and his delightful grandmother, Nan, proved to an excellent ally. She played matchmaker without being overly interfering or pushy and gave Tess valuable advice when she needed it the most.

Tess's daughter Hannah was an adorable little scene-stealer, and her relationship with Anson was the highlight of the book for me. I loved when she would refer to Anson as "her chief" or ask him to read her a bedtime story. Hannah deserved to be settled and happy with a family of her own every bit as much as Tess and Anson did, and it was very easy for me to root for them to overcome the obstacles they faced and find a way to be together.

My chief complaint about this book is that the ending felt very rushed to me. Tess and Anson still hadn't managed to resolve their differences with only 3 minutes left in the Kindle edition! That was a relatively minor annoyance, however, and I would still recommend this heartwarming story for all fans of sweet contemporary romance.

*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Fantastic book about two people who are wary of risking their hearts again brought together by a little girl with a heart full of love to share. Tess is the single mother to Hannah, a four-year-old girl with Down Syndrome. She came to Oak Grove to work on a museum job until it is time for Hannah to have surgery.

I loved Tess. Her life has not been an easy one. Her police officer father died in the line of duty, as did her Navy brother. Shortly afterward, her mother died of cancer and a broken heart, leaving Tess alone in the world. Then the man that she loved and married left her when they found out that the baby she carried has Down Syndrome. For four years, Tess has raised Hannah on her own, dealing with all of the ups and downs of having a child with special needs. Tess is a fierce momma bear when it comes to taking care of Hannah, as is shown throughout the book.

Tess's arrival in Oak Hollow gets off to a rough start. While shopping, Tess loses sight of Hannah, who loves to play hide-and-seek in the clothes racks. Frantic, Tess is relieved when Chief Anson Curry discovers Hannah and somewhat dismayed to find out that the handsome police chief is also her new landlord and neighbor. She has no room in her life for men or relationships.

I loved the development of the relationship between Tess and Anson. He is just as wary and guarded as Tess is. His ex-wife betrayed his trust, and he has been cautious ever since. It doesn't take long for little Hannah to steal his heart. Tess is reluctant to trust him, but she can't deny how happy his attentions make Hannah. Anson quickly becomes a regular part of their lives. I loved the sweet relationship between Hannah and "my chief" and the many heartwarming scenes of the two of them together. As Tess and Anson spend more time together, the attraction they felt at their first meeting continues to grow. So do deeper feelings and a sense of family. But Tess fears risking her heart to another devastating loss. When an incident involving Anson brings those fears back to the surface, she panics and runs. I loved that Anson didn't give up on her. The hospital scenes were emotional, especially as Tess took a good look at her fears and made some crucial decisions. Anson's Christmas Eve moment was sweet and romantic and perfect.

I loved the small-town setting and look forward to more stories set there. Anson's grandmother, Nan, was one of my favorite characters. She, too, had suffered a significant loss and was a remarkable example and mentor for Tess. I loved seeing how Hannah helped pull Nan out of her funk and give her a reason to rejoin life. Nan turns out to be quite a character, and I had to laugh at some of the things she said to both Tess and Anson. I liked the friendliness and support shown by most people and the realism that not everyone fits that mold. The scene on the playground was heartbreaking, but there was also more to that story.

A SHERIFF’S STAR (Home to Oak Hollow Book #1) by Makenna Lee is the start of a new Harlequin Special Edition series contemporary romance set in the Texas Hill Country.

Single mother Tess Harper has arrived in Oak Hollow with her four-year-old daughter, Hannah to work a temporary job setting up exhibits for the new Historical Society. While shopping, before checking out their temporary rental home, Hannah walks away. Tess is frantic until a handsome lawman brings Hannah back to her mother.

Chief of Police Anson Curry is enchanted with the little girl he finds who calls him “Sheriff”. He is also interested in Tess, but she no pushover. Anson has had his heart broken in the past and is not sure about Tess. While Tess has been a single mother on her own even before the birth of her daughter and is not interested in a relationship. Anson is not willing to give up though and is willing to work to get Tess to give them a chance.

Tess has experienced several losses and is worried Anson’s job is too dangerous, but Anson wants to prove to Tess that he has no plans to leave her and Hannah.

I loved this single mother romance and the determination of Anson to make Tess understand that she had so many people who wanted to help her if she would just let them in, including him. Being a single mother myself, I know how difficult it can be and how protective I was of my child, so with Hannah having special needs with her Down syndrome and being rejected by her birth father and his family, I feel that Tess’s fight against letting anyone into their lives was very realistic. Hannah’s love and innocence will steal your heart and Nan, Anson’s grandmother, adds to the healing that occurs in all their lives.

I can recommend this heartfelt small-town romance and I am looking forward to the future stories in this series as well.

Who are Anson and Tess? How do they meet? Who is Hannah? Oh, I fell in love with Hannah very quickly! Just pages into the story even! Where are they all from? I was angry and sad for Tess and Hannah for a good chunk of the book. I was mad for Anson. All because of their pasts! I think I groaned several times at the phrase "Panty Posse". What special date does Anson take Tess and Hannah on? What happens while they're there/ What happens to Anson at work that makes Tess rabbit? Read to see what happens!

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT from Netgalley FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

Tess Harper and her four-year-old daughter Hannah are living temporarily in Oak Hollow Texas while they wait to move to Houston for a surgery Hannah desperately needs. Hannah is a special needs child with Down’s Syndrome and needs heart surgery. Tess and Hanna are on their own, and she is feeling the pressure of the upcoming surgery. Her one and only priority is Hannah. She does not have time for relationships, but when she meets her handsome landlord, she just may have to leave some room in her heart for one more.

Anson Curry is the local police chief, and he thinks his life is just fine until he meets his new tenant, Tess Harper and her adorable daughter. When Tess’s job at the local museum prompts her to call on his grandmother for local stories, he starts to see that his life is missing one thing. Love.

This is just the sweetest love story set in a small town. All the characters are so beautifully written, and you just can not help but fall in love with Hannah. I loved how the emphasis on the story was on a special needs child and what it takes to care for her and how it can be all consuming but also such a gift. The fears, frets and joys are so well written, it really helps the reader gain so much insight into how a parent feels. This story touched such a special place in my heart and I would love to thank the author Makenna Lee, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was so heartwarming! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

This is a lovely story about a young woman who needs to learn to trust again and the sheriff in a small town who helps her along the way. Tess Harper lives alone with her toddler daughter who has Down’s Sydrome. Being the parent of a special needs daughter is a challenge, but being alone in that frightening world is even more so. The author expresses perfectly how fiercely protective Tess is of her daughter and of her heart. When Sheriff Anson Curry enters their lives, it’s like exploding stars. Little Hannah just eats up his love and attention and Tess is gradually swayed to begin trusting him. I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas story of love and acceptance, even in the midst of great trials. The author did an amazing job of characterization and her plot moved along at exactly the right pace to keep me engaged. The events evoked tears, anger, happiness...all the expected moods for a romance with just the right dab of conflict. Fans of Christmas romances will love this book, especially the portrayal of a little girl looking for her perfect circle.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is such a good story. I love the characters so much and the story is so well done. This was such a quick read. .

I would really like to see this book turned into a movie.

I give this 5 out of 5.

This book is so heartwarming, so full of love and I love it and it's like those Christmas movies, once you start you just can't stop.
It's an easy-to-read sweet books, it has an adorable little girl that melts your hard from the get go, she brings the light and definitely a star in this book, a wonderful single mother and a great sheriff that so good with children.
Yup it's all about family and love.

Totally recommended for harlequin fans and anyone who's looking for a heartwarming read.

A SHERIFF’S STAR is the first book in the HOME TO OAK HOLLOW series. Set in a small town in Texas, the book opens with Tess and her daughter, Hannah (who has Down syndrome,) moving there for a couple months until Hannah has her heart surgery in Houston. Little does Tess know that they will both fall in love with the town and its inhabitants, especially Anson, who’s the police chief and their landlord.

Both Tess and Anson have lost in love before. Hannah never knew her father, since he left Tess once he found out their yet-to-be-born child would have Down syndrome. Enter Anson, Tess’s new landlord, who lives right next door at his grandmother’s house, and there is definitely an attraction when they first meet. They’re both gun-shy but slowly seem to let down their guard. Then it’s one step forward and two or three steps back as they navigate their new relationship. Hannah is a lovely child you can’t help but love.

The romance plays out nicely. The family togetherness and sense of support in this story is heartwarming. There is nice closure and a happily ever after that I was rooting for from the first page. A lovely story by an author who made me fall in love with kind characters who know the importance of family.

Ms. Lee is a new-to-me author. I look forward to reading more of her books.

This was a pretty cute and heartwarming book. So theres Chief Anson who helped Tess Harper when the roamed off and from then they kept finding themselves running into eachother. Now Tess is working with a family member of Anson's and her daughter seems to be claiming the hearts of those around her. Problem is Tess is only going to be there for a short while and two of her family members died in the line of duty so she's got her heart a bit guarded cause of his job.

This book was pretty sweet and if you are a seasonal reader this book does take place in the fall / christmas time so this is a good time to read it. There was little to no drama in this book. I loved seeing the romance between Tess and Anson and there was plenty of steamy scenes to go with that. I loved seeing the family life going on it was pretty cute I loved that the child didn't fade in the background. Tessa was dealing with a lot and clearly she's trying to do her best and do what she can for her child and it was interesting seeing how she was dealing with things when it came to her daughters heart issues and downsyndrome. Overall I really enjoyed this book.