Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I think Harlequin Special Edition is not my go-to category line. I think I am more of a Blaze, Dare and Desire.

3.5 really sweet stars

I usually like a bit of spice in my romances, but this was sweet and well-rounded enough that I didn't miss it too much. Both characters had personal issues to overcome and they did, beautifully. Toxic family can be super difficult to deal with, but with love and support from someone who truly sees you, truly values you and lifts you up, the choice is clear. Having a safety net that got her out of all the drama really worked for me. Seeing a career end that was supposed to be your life can be incredibly difficult as well, but making the transition while having someone to support you and have your back as you make the change makes it all worth it. This story had both MC's in just the right place to really bring it all together and make it believable.

They met once before at his brother's wedding. And they hit it off. However, they went their separate ways. Now, Hannah Carpenter and Russell Danielson find themselves acting as if they are dating. What brought on the change? It was due to the fact ex-fiancé showed up out of the blue one day while Russell was in town and visiting her shop. He came up with a plan, and that plan included a kiss.

Why would Russell kiss Hannah when they hadn't seen each other in quite a while. He could see how upset she was at seeing her ex, and he figured if it looked like Hannah was seeing someone - and happily in love - the guy would walk away. The two come up with a plan and decide to extent their sudden fake relationship until at least the holidays, which is about how long Russell will be in town.

Before long, they both begin to have feelings for one another. However, there is some baggage that each of them are dealing with. Will this time that they are around one another be the time for them to find their way to a real relationship, possibly to love?

In this sweet romance Russell and Hannah tackle some issues that they each face. I loved watching each of them work through things in order to discover that things could indeed become real. Whether or not it was even feasible, I will leave to the reader of this delightful book by Kathy Douglass. Although I only read the previous book in this series, I can most certainly say that it is an enjoyable one, enough to be a lovely one-sitting read.

Many thanks to Harlequin Special Edition for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

A Soldier Under Her Tree reads exactly like a cozy, sweet holiday romance that would hit the Hallmark channel in November. Charming small town, fake relationship, and the female lead hates Christmas. My favorite part of the story had to be Russell's family and the friends in Sweet Briar! Warm, loving, and just enough razzing to make them feel authentic.

The over-the-top Disney level villainesque Mother and Sister, and I use those terms loosely, kicked me out of the story every time and had me gnashing my teeth. Hannah's hatred of Christmas confused me but I think I was missing something thanks to my issues with her big obstacle.

I definitely recommend for readers looking for a quick, low steam (none) romance featuring a fake relationship. I'm not sure I'll continue as cozy romances aren't really my thing but I definitely recommend this to my friends that avoid sex scenes.

3.5 Star Rating

This was part of my Blog Tour post for Harlequin.

This was a sweet and a bit tragic story. The Main Character Hannah has been wronged most life and more so now by her evil sister. And out of the blue, the guy she would have loved to hit it off with, who ghosted her, appears and saved the day. He gives her the idea of having him as a fake boyfriend until she can get rid of her horrid family. All in the weeks leading up to Christmas, which she hates! I enjoyed reading this book, it was light and sweet and it made me sad at times but also made me really excited to see how their fake relationship would turn out, in the end.

Blog post is up now!

I do like a good small town romance that is sweet and quick to read and this book is one of those books.

A Soldier Under Her Tree is a great story that I did very much enjoy. I liked Russell and Hannah.

I do recommend this.

I am giving this 4 out of 5.

Hannah Carpenter owns a boutique in Sweet Briar and is not in the Christmas spirit. A few years ago, she was planning her own Christmas wedding, that is until she found her fiancé in bed with her sister just days before the wedding. She moved to Sweet Briar for a fresh start and a new life. When she hears the door jingle in her boutique, she turns and finds her mother, her sister and her ex-fiance coming to beg her to design a wedding dress for her sister. Hannah can not believe the nerve of her family and just wants them out of her life and out of town. How can she get rid of them before everyone in town finds out?

Russel Danielson has been medically discharged from the military after twenty years of service and has no idea what his future holds. He is back in Sweet Briar for the holidays to see his family and plan his future. When he opens the door to a boutique, he finds a family in the middle of a situation and quickly comes to the owners rescue by telling everyone he is her boyfriend. Can he convince not only her family but his own of this little charade?

This novel by Kathy Douglass was such a fun Christmas story. I felt a connection to both main characters, Hannah, and Russel as they try and help each other out of an uncomfortable situation. The story was funny, sweet, and just the perfect book to cuddle up with this holiday season. It was brilliantly written and even though I had not read the previous books in the series, the back stories were filled in by the author beautifully, so I did not feel lost at all. I would love to go back and read the rest of the series though and was so happy to find a new author to follow. Thank you so much to the author Kathy Douglass, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

It seems like there's a run on fake relationship romances lately, and the situations run the gamut. That said, the situation here has been done a few times with varying degrees of success, and it works pretty well with the Christmastime setting. I mean, who wouldn't want a sexy soldier under their tree? Russell and Hannah are likable characters, both together and separately, and they both have things to work through. They're genuinely good people, and the attraction and chemistry between them just feel right. This one is a quick read, but it doesn't lack in sweetness. It also works well as a standalone even with it being so far into the series. As far as the fake relationship trope is concerned, I'd have to say that this specific circumstance may have seemed tired, but the Christmas theme seems to have breathed new life into it. All in all, A Soldier Under Her Tree is a sweet romance that just leaves you feeling good.

Hannah was really looking forward t0 her wedding (which just happened to be on my birthday). She felt her fiancé was her soulmate.

Then, she suddenly learns she can't trust either him or her best friend. I felt I loved the Christmas atmosphere in this book but I groaned at the "best friend cheating with ex" plotline that I feel was too cliché and has been done one too many times.

This did not ruin the overall plot of A Soldier Under Her Tree. The "injured ex-army guy" was also a little cliché, but one I find works well in clean romances if the characters, setting and overall plot are well developed.

And I loved witnessing Russel and Hannah develop.

Although this is book eight in the series, it is also a good standalone. I realise I have a lot of catching up to do if I want to experience the whole series. Which I do.

Kathy Douglass has a writing style I like. A Soldier Under Her Tree gave me that warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling we need more than ever this year. This is my second book by Kathy after The Single Mom's Second Chance which is book 7 in the Briar Sweethearts series, so it was great to continue the series from there and I enjoyed how it developed.

Thanks to Kathy Douglass and Harlequin for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars.

I can read Christmas stories any time of the year, but closer to the holidays it’s even better. Add in that A SOLDIER UNDER HER TREE is published by Harlequin and I couldn’t wait! This is the eighth book in the SWEET BRIAR SWEET HEARTS series, and I look forward to reading all of them. (Note, this is the first book in the series I’ve personally read and the first book by Ms. Douglass.)

Sweet Briar is a small town in North Carolina, and it’s going all out for Christmas. Hannah is a clothing designer and has her own boutique, but due to things that have happened to her in the past at Christmas, she’s now a Scrooge. When her path crosses with Russell, there are definite sparks. But she’s guarded because he let her down once before.

Russell is related to two of her good friends, who are royalty in their small town, and is a soldier in the United States Army. But he’s got secrets, as do Hannah and her dysfunctional family. When Russell comes to her rescue more than once, takes her on a few fake dates to fool her family, and moves into her guest room to keep his early arrival in town a secret from his family, things get interesting fast.

There’s a nice flow to the story and beautiful descriptions of the town. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching some of their walls come down. Watching Hannah and Russell bond but then take a few steps back was heartbreaking, but I loved the way they started to communicate. There was closure but the story ended too abruptly for me, as I prefer an epilogue. I love the cover, and I truly enjoyed the story.

A lovely and festive rom-com that made me smile and root for the characters.
This is an interesting and highly entertaining story, it’s part of a series but it can be read as a stand-alone.
I like the two MCs, they’re both hurt and searching for something more. Their character development was excellent and they’re both realistic and likable.
The cast of characters is well thought, the villains are fleshed out and you cannot help disliking them.
I loved the festive atmosphere and the delightful setting.
It’s the first book I read in this series and I want to read others and I liked it.
It’ recommended.
Many thanks to Harlequin Special Edition and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I'm definitely in the mood for sweet Christmas stories, especially romances, right now and this one perfectly hit the spot. The pacing was good and the writing flowed really well so that this story just flew by. I did enjoy the characters and the progression that happened throughout the story with their own personal issues and growth over the span of the story. I really enjoyed Russell and Hannah as a couple and felt like everyone felt realistic and well developed.

This is the perfect heartwarming read to get you in the Christmas spirit. Hannah is a strong heroine and I loved seeing her walls crumble after the unbelievable betrayal in her past. I also really enjoyed the fact that she owned a boutique where she sells beautiful clothes and I was living vicariously through her. Our hero, Russell, is dealing with his own insecurities about his future but he still made Hannah his priority. I also appreciated how Douglass made the lines of consent very clear and how Russell always respected Hannah... even if it led to some miscommunication between them. Russell also makes it his mission to help woo Hannah from the Scrooge she currently is back to the Christmas loving girl she used to be. I enjoyed all the festive activities they did together and all the time they spent unknowingly falling in love. This is a very tame romance but the chemistry between our characters was still obvious. Honestly, this book gave me all the warm fuzzies and I highly recommend. I can easily picture someone spending their evening next to their Christmas tree all cozy with a cup of hot chocolate reading this book. I can even see myself rereading this book every Christmas because I love how festive this book made me feel. This is Douglass's first Christmas book and I really hope it's not her last!

The author connects two people who are very much at a loss in their life. They are a perfect couple to bring together.

Hannah is at odds with her family with their terrible treatment of her. Russ swoops in and saves the day and also manages to kind of save himself at the same time. After being released from the military he has a lot of soul-searching to do. The author connects them in a heartwarming way but not without some issues they must overcome.

This is a quick and easy story to read that is just perfect for a chilly winter’s day. Bringing a Christmas story to light with a touching romance that leaves you with a smile on your face. Douglass definitely develops the whole meaning of Christmas in this book. Besides, who wouldn’t want a hunky soldier under their tree?

Fun and sweet with a setting that envelops a small-town life we all wish for, especially this time of year.

This story is part of a series about a specific town however the books are definitely a standalone story to read and enjoy.

A SOLDIER UNDER HER TREE (Sweet Briar Sweethearts Book #8) by Tracy Douglass is a cozy, second-chance, contemporary holiday romance. (I label all romances that do not have sex scenes as cozy romances.) This book is a part of the Sweet Briar Sweethearts series, but it can be easily read and enjoyed as a standalone story.

Hannah Carpenter has made Sweet Briar, North Carolina her home after catching her ex-fiance and sister in bed together just three days before what was to be her Christmas wedding day. While she has made of success of her personal design clothing boutique and has great new friends, she only participates in the holiday for show around her friends and customers. She refuses to celebrate in private and avoids anything Christmas as much as possible.

Russel Danielson is on leave in Sweet Briar for the holiday to see his family and try to decide what he is going to do for the rest of his life after having to take a medical discharge from the military after 20 years of service. He is also looking forward to once again seeing Hannah, who he met one day before returning to duty over the summer.

Russ walks into Hannah’s boutique and into a situation between Hannah, her mother, sister and ex-fiance. He pretends to be her boyfriend. When they leave, Russel and Hannah decide that being a fake couple over the Christmas holiday will solve both of their problems.

Can a fake couple help each other and become the real thing?

This is a fast and easy read with a lot of heart. Russel and Hannah both have personal obstacles to overcome and the author does a good job of emotionally moving them along to the HEA. This is a cozy romance, which is the term I use for a romance with no sex scenes. All of Hannah’s friends and Russel’s family are realistically portrayed and interesting secondary characters that make me want to go back and read about their stories in other books in the Sweet Briar series.

Entertaining, heartfelt and fun holiday contemporary romance read.

After a really bad day all I wanted was a nice, feel good book. That is exactly what I go with A Solider Under Her Tree. After being betrayed by her fiancé and sister the week before their wedding, Hannah has spent the last three years building a good life for herself in Sweet Briar. So, when her toxic mother and sister turn up with a set of demands, it sets her world into a spin. Luckily, Russell Danielson is on hand to step in as her pretend boyfriend for the holiday season.

This is a sweet book where scrooge meets solider and somewhere in the middle, they manage to heal each other. Set in a sweet little town at Christmas, this had a lovely amount of festive cheer to make me smile and give me that love warm Christmas fuzzy feeling.

A well written story full of likeable characters set as that most wonderful time of year, readers who enjoy Harlequin books will love A Soldier Under Her Tree.