The Christmas Village is a fun holiday read that can be read as a standalone. I have not read the first book in this series and I had no problem following along with the plot. Lucy is desperate for a tenant for her garage apartment so when her ex fiance needs a place she agrees but sets many ground rules. Miles is just trying to find a place to stay until he can buy a house but he quickly realizes there are still plenty of sparks between Lucy and him.

I really enjoyed this cast of characters and this town. Second chance romances are always kind of hit or miss for me and this one just didn't quite do it for me. Many of Lucy's decisions were questionable and just felt very superficial. I did like the book overall and will continue to read this series.

This was a really sweet second chance Christmas romance! Annie Rains just has a way with small town romances that sweeps away all of my problems. I would really love to see this particular one as a Hallmark Christmas movie. The hero does a great grovel to our heroine, trying to make up for the past, and having it all wrapped up in a Christmas setting just added to its charm.
If you love Christmas romances, this is one you shouldn't pass on.

A sweet Christmas read that gave me Gilmore girl vibes. I finished it a few hours. Not to mention that I fell in love with the cover.

Author : Annie Rains
The Christmas Village (Somerset Lake Book 2)
Publisher: Forever
Publication date: October 12, 2021
353 pages
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description
USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains returns to Somerset Lake, North Carolina, with a heartwarming Christmas story about a midwife and her ex-fiance who face high stakes when they must team up to compete in the neighborhood house decorating contest, in this trade paperback that will help get readers in the holiday spirit. Once upon a Christmas, she gave him her heart. This year, he'll have to win it back again . . .
When Lucy Hannigan returned to her childhood home in Somerset Lake, one of the first things she did was join the local book club. And thank goodness, because now that Lucy’s first Christmas without her mother is bearing down upon her, she can use all the help and support she can get. Especially when she has to take in a tenant and the only person interested is Miles Bruno, her ex-fiance. Lucy’s friends keep teasing her about the way Miles is trying to make up for his mistakes but forgiving and forgetting isn’t coming easily to Lucy. With bills piling up and her mother’s finances in disarray, however, Lucy isn’t in any position to say no. As the small town prepares for the holidays and competition heats up in the Merriest Lawn decorating contest, Lucy can’t help feeling like a Scrooge. Her mom loved the holidays and won the contest each year, but as much as Lucy would like to carry on the tradition, she isn’t sure she has it in her to deck the halls this holiday. Yet when Miles shows up with tons of tinsel, dozens of decorations, and lots and lots of lights, Lucy begins to wonder if maybe the spirit of the season will finally mend her broken heart.
🎁🎄🐾MY REVIEW🎁🎄🐾

THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE is a story of love, loss, second chances and the story of midwife Lucy Hannigan and police officer Miles Bruno. If is also the second instalment in the Somerset Lake series.
I really struggled with this story. I loved the town and Miles but Lucy just become very annoying which caused me to have to put the book down and read something else for awhile. I normally love all of Annie Rains books. There is however a large cast of
secondary characters that are young and old which you will totally love. I also Loved all the traditions and celebrations that Somerset Lake
does for the holidays.I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
*******Disclosure*******
I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review. I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review , just an honest one. So sorry it has took me so long to get your review done.
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The Christmas Village is a fairly typical Christmas romance with all the right ingredients: star-crossed lovers, small town charm with community gatherings at Christmas events, nosy neighbors (or blog writers), and a couple of cute pets. Throw in still grieving, midwife Lucy, ex-fiance Miles, a Christmas lighting competition, and perhaps the magic of Christmas can overcome hurt and misunderstandings of the past.

This was a nice holiday book to read, but didn't land for me- there are a few themes/tropes that don't really work for me. However, I think that contemporary romance readers will love how cosy this is, and the setting of Somerset Lake!

Annie Rains has done it again! She has written a wonderful story that has taken my heart.
Lucy any Miles are so perfect together and the love story is one that will be with you long after you have read the last word on the page.
The second chance love stories are so comforting to read and the way the couple can work past old issues they had that broke them apart the first time.
This is the second book in the Somerset Lake series. You can read it as a standalone book.
Thank you NetGalley and Annie Rains for this book This is my personal review

Although Annie Rains is one of my very favorite authors, this series is not hitting home for me, in the way Sweetwater Springs did. Second chance romances are usually one of my favorites. I do look forward to the novella coming in November, although I'm not the biggest fan of novellas or short stories: it's Annie Rains so I will read it.

After her mother pass Lucy inherited her mothers house and dog. In the past her parents were known for making the house look fantastic but with her mothers mounting debt Lucy is a hard time trying to deal with that. But with the help of her now tenant and ex-fiancé Miles she might be able to decorate and win that prize money that can really help her out. Thing is with the two now closer old feelings start to arise and complicate things. There also the matter of the town scrooge ruining things for the town making a problem for Miles who is the town sheriff.

If you are looking for a good book to read during the holidays or a book that sets in the holidays then this is the book for you. I enjoyed getting to know these characters and learning of their past and why they even separated. Then there is the confusion Lucy is dealing with wondering why her mother racked up so much debt and never said a thing to her about it while things were looking grim. I enjoyed seeing how everything played out and if you are looking for book to get you in the christmas spirit I suggest you pick this book up. There is plenty to keep you hooked and I really enjoyed myself reading it.

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. Throw in some holiday cheer and this is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

Just as good as a Hallmark movie!

I love Christmas time. It’s my favorite season. There is nothing better than reading a romance novel set during this time of the year.

Anne Rains writes a second chance love story set in a small town. I didn’t read the first book but I don’t think you need to in order to enjoy it.

Our protagonists are Lucy and Miles. They were in love when they were teenagers but Miles broke her heart. Lucy moved away but now Lucy has come back to live at her parents' home after her mother's passing. She loved the pink house and all the memories but discovering her mom had many debts was unexpected. Lucy will need to get a tenant to start paying the bills. Her job as a midwife doesn't give her a great income to cover all the expenses.

Miles is a town cop. He loves his job and he is good at it. He is saving money to buy a home. When Miles finds himself needing a new place to live and Lucy needs money to pay her mother’s bills, Miles becomes her tenant. Having to see each other regularly will bring back all those feelings they had for each other.

Can Lucy forgive Miles for what happened so many years ago? Can they move forward?

The Christmas Village was heartwarming, sweet, and just what I needed for the beginning of the season!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars rounding up to 4
I found this engaging from the get-go. The setting is a small town in which there is a neighborhood of ginger-bread style historic homes called the Christmas Village. Lucy Hannigan, a mid-wife, is our main character, who has come back to her childhood home after her mother dies to settle her finances and maybe move back into her big pink childhood home. She is grieving her mother, and is overwhelmed at all that has to be done. She encounters several obstacles, like things that need to be fixed or replaced, and a lot of debt her mother left behind for her instead of money, and she doesn’t have much of her own. Then, to top it all, her ex-fiance, a deputy sheriff who lives in the town, responds to her emergency call of an intruder at her home, who turns out to be a critter instead. She hasn’t seen him in several years and is mortified that her “intruder” is a possum, and that her attraction for him still exists. Is it reciprocated?

This is much like a Hallmark movie of the holiday season, so you can probably guess the answer to that question. A cheerful setting with great characters, romance, female friendships, birthing scenes, book club scenarios and just enough angst for balance. It's cute, funny, gives one food for thought. I'm happy to recommend this for anyone looking for a gift for a reader, or to just enjoy yourself.

Thank you NetGalley, Annie Raines and publisher

I adore Annie and especially her Christmas books!!! This one is awesome! I love this time of year and love curling up by the fireplace reading a Christmas book! You will fall in love with the characters and never want to put it down!

BOOK REVIEW | The Christmas Village by Annie Rains

SYNOPSIS | Once upon a Christmas, she gave him her heart. This year, he'll have to win it back again...
 
When Lucy Hannigan returned to her childhood home in Somerset Lake, one of the first things she did was join the local book club. And thank goodness, because now that Lucy’s first Christmas without her mother is bearing down upon her, she can use all the help and support she can get.  Especially when she has to take in a tenant and the only person interested is Miles Bruno, her ex-fiance.

Lucy’s friends keep teasing her about the way Miles is trying to make up for his mistakes but forgiving and forgetting isn’t coming easily to Lucy. With bills piling up and her mother’s finances in disarray, however, Lucy isn’t in any position to say no.

As the small town prepares for the holidays and competition heats up in the Merriest Lawn decorating contest, Lucy can’t help feeling like a Scrooge. Her mom loved the holidays and won the contest each year, but as much as Lucy would like to carry on the tradition, she isn’t sure she has it in her to deck the halls this holiday.

Yet when Miles shows up with tons of tinsel, dozens of decorations, and lots and lots of lights, Lucy begins to wonder if maybe the spirit of the season will finally mend her broken heart.

MY THOUGHTS | The Christmas Village would make a great Hallmark Christmas movie with the Christmas lawn decorating challenge! I found the story to be very descriptive and enjoyed it being told in dual third person between Lucy and Miles. It felt to be a bit rushed in the beginning and then fell flat, with the ending a bit unrealistic for that short of time. Thank you to NetGalley for then eARC.

RATING | ⭐️⭐️⭐️

spoiler alert ** VERY SPOILER-Y REVIEW

2.5 stars

Second-chance AND Christmas romance - they're usually my jam. Unfortunately, this one doesn't quite a hit for me.

First of all, the pacing of the romance feels very off. Lucy and Miles were engaged when they were eighteen (apparently Lucy thought she was pregnant, and trust me, this was NOT my favorite trope!) until Miles broke it off (hello, "evil" offer from a parent, yawn-inducing trope as well). Then Lucy is back in town, I can't say there's "chemistry" between them, but Miles says that they are friends, right - whereas I don't get that vibe because Lucy seems to still have feelings for Miles. Which means, it feels VERY one sided....

Second of all, they actually get back together really quick, I mean, like 2/3rd of the book, and I struggle to finish the last third. Yes, Lucy does something, which I totally think as lame excuse. Then there's, like, a secondary plot ... a mystery that involves someone who hates Christmas. Oh, and I'm also not happy with the conflict that seems to be evolving around money *shrugs*

To be honest, this book makes a grumpy girl out of me. I guess I have to be a Scrooge for this Christmas book and says, "Buh, Humbug".


The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

This was a light-hearted, second-chance romance in a small-town setting, which is my holiday romance jam! However, I just didn’t connect to this couple in the way I wanted to. They were good together and watching as Lucy slowly opened her heart back up to Miles after all those years was nice. I loved how the reconnected through her mothers house and Christmas decorating tradition, despite the role her mother played in their original break-up and how much her mother kept hidden from Lucy. I just feel like the story was missing that wow factor I was looking for.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review

I have a soft spot for second chance romance and The Christmas Village embodies this within the story of Lucy and Miles.

The characters in the story all had their positives and flaws. But it was with Lucy whom I felt the most frustrated with. While she faced a lot of loss within a short time, I just couldn’t understand her constant back and forth with Miles. I really wanted to shake her and scream, “What is wrong with you?!”

While I liked the writing, I was missing more of a wow factor or moment in the story. With that being said, I did enjoy the mystery element to the story about the town’s “Christmas Crankster” and that the rest of the storyline had a Hallmark essence that attributed to a good holiday read.

We return to the Somerset Lake series with a charming second chance to get it right romance with a couple who need each other, even though Lucy may disagree at first. The Christmas Village is a lovely reunion between Lucy and Miles years after their engagement was broken off. Miles made mistakes and he’s going to do everything in his power to fix what went wrong between them but to also help Lucy come back to life after her mother’s recent death.

Lucy is overwhelmed not only by her mother’s death but by the mounting bills and trying to keep her head above water in the financial mess that was left behind. The only logical thing to do right now is to lease out the over garage apartment – she just didn’t expect that Miles would be her new tenant or that he’d changed so much over the years apart. Adding to the weight on her shoulder is the upcoming annual Christmas Merriest Lawn competition, one that her mother usually won each year. She’s not got the heart for it this year yet one former love will change her mind as the decorations and their relationship begins to take shape.

I enjoyed The Christmas Village so much. As always with this author the story flows smoothly, the characters come to life on the page, and there are emotional moments galore as Miles works his own version of holiday magic on the woman he still loves and will do whatever he can to win back her heart. Lucy is a character that I understood, life is bashing her down right now, and trust in the man who broke her heart once is not an easy task. I loved watching their relationship grow as the holidays approached. If you love a really good second chance romance, especially one set around Christmas time, then you’ll want to add this one to your Christmas reading list.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

A typical Annie Rains small town romance. Second of the series but can be read as a stand alone. Low spicy but plenty of character development and a cute story. A quick cute read. Nice for the holiday cheer.

What a cute, second chance romance. I loved the setting. We start off around thanksgiving in basically Christmas town USA where two ex lovers are brought together because of a possum. I have to agree with Lucy, I would’ve been traumatized too. It seems clear from the beginning that these two still have love for each other but Lucy doesn’t have the full story of their breakup.
Miles is literally the perfect man. He’s a cop, he volunteers at the youth center, he’s a handy man.
Once he gets kicked out of his rental and moves into Lucy’s garage apartment, you just know things are going to heat up and they do until they ultimately turn into a dumpster fire. The two of them have to realize how each of them played a hand in their break up but also in their now budding relationship. Miles has his daddy issues and Lucy feels like everyone she loves does. But eventually they come to grips with their own faults but is that enough to get back together?
All I have to say is thank god for Reva’s blog. Picturesque setting, adorable couple, sweet romance; all that makes this the perfect holiday read!