Loved this second chance romance between Miles and Lucy. A misunderstanding years back separated them but now a friendship has redeveloped between them and soon can't deny the feeling that they share between them.

Loved all of the Christmas traditions that this small town shares. A wonderful sense of community and friends. Loved the book club. Enjoyed the little mystery of the holiday crankster.

I highly recommend this sweet Christmas romance that will pull many heart strings through out the story.

A wonderful heartfelt Christmas romance, I love the premise of a love lost and love found again. You can not help but fall in love with the characters and how they all interact in this small town. Lucy and Miles previously engaged as young teenagers find themselves years later feeling sparks but an they overcome what happened between them years ago and will Miles tell her why? Along the way the daily lives of the townspeople intertwine giving a glimpse into stories to come in future books .
I would recommend this book to friends or any of my book club groups.

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and all opinions on this book are my own .,

Holiday romance THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE will satisfy fans of cozy small-town settings. In book two of her SOMERSET LAKE series, Annie Rains crafts a heartwarming second-chance love story between ex-fiances Lucy, a midwife, and Miles, a police deputy. When Lucy & Miles end up living nearby on the same property, the lovers-turned-friends are irresistibly drawn to each. While partnering up to win a Christmas decorating contest, the couple rekindles their romance while facing emotional roadblocks.

This is a feel good Christmas story right in time for the holidays. Lucy Hannigan is struggling with her grief from losing her mother, debts that her mother has left her and of course the loneliness of the approaching holidays without her mother. When a night time scare and a call to 911 brings back her high school sweetheart Miles Bruno into her life things take an unexpected but sweet twist. 
Miles is now a respected police officer in the town. He has done his best to live down his childhood baggage when his father abandoned his family and they were struggling on the poverty line.  His dream is to own a house so that he has something to offer a woman. Of course the woman he's never forgotten is his high school sweetheart, privileged Lucy Hannigan whom he almost married but then successfully walked away from. 
How things change, Lucy might still be living in the exclusive neighborhood, in the family home she grew up in but she is struggling to stay afloat financially. When Miles Bruno is asked to leave the apartment he's renting on short notice, he approached Lucy about renting her tiny garage apartment for the short term. Of course the chemistry and the romance between them just needed proximity to flare up again. 
Miles is such a great renter, he repairs all the things wrong with his rental even as he helps Lucy out with things that she needs doing. He is a good man working with underprivileged youth and helping out families in need particularly during the holiday season. He comes up with the idea of helping Lucy decorate her front yard and enter the Christmas competition in her neighborhood as a way to earn the money she needs to pay off past due homeowner dues that her mother forgot to pay.
A slow moving sweet romance with a few tiny bumps in the road to true love.

Annie Rains just gets better with each book. The Christmas Village is a sweet second chance romance between Lucy and MIles. Lucy is still reeling from the death of her mother in the last year and struggling to make ends meet as she enters the holiday season. After her mother's death, she came across a lot of outstanding bills regarding her family home that she hadn't known about and so decides to take in a renter in the garage apartment to help offset the cost. This is where Miles comes in.

Miles has to move out of his rental last minute and opts to move in to Lucy's available space. He has always regretted breaking off the engagement with Lucy 10 years ago and is wondering if he may have a second chance. I loved the easy friendship between these two despite their past. Miles, a cop, is one of the good guys and really only wants the best for Lucy. I love how he's willing to be there for her and support her when she needs him. I felt for Lucy and how she had friends but still felt alone much of the time with no family to call her own. I could completely understand her wariness with Miles and yet their reuniting was believable which is not always the case with a second-chance romance. Their chemistry was heartwarming. I found myself cheering them on to their HEA.

Annie Rains writes a small town romance like no other. This was a quick read and was tough to put down. It is the perfect book to put you in the holiday spirit. HIghly recommend!

Lucy, a midwife has inherited her mothers house, dog and all her debt. Lucy is determined to pay off the long-standing bills by renting out the apartment over her garage. The one question though is, will Lucy be desperate enough to rent it to her ex-boyfriend?

Miles is left stranded after he loses his rental. His dream is to own his own home one day but for now his options are limited. When an apartment becomes available, he jumps at the chance, not only to rent but to spend more time with his ex-girlfriend, the women whose heart he broke many years ago. Will there be a Christmas miracle to heal those broken hearts?

I loved coming back to visit Somerset Lake where Annie Rains makes us feel right at home. The characters are fabulous, the setting is amazing, and the book was a delight to read. Even though this is the second book in the Somerset Lake series, you can read it as a stand alone novel. I am a huge fan of Annie Rains, and once again she gives us the perfect holiday romance. Thanks to the author Annie Rains, Forever Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy that I voluntarily read and reviewed.

As the weather continues to cool down, this holiday read by Annie Rains was a good fit to binge in my current mood. It spans Autumn into New Years Day so it feels completely appropriate.
Lucy and Jonah were childhood sweethearts and from opposite sides of the track. Lucy has been back in town following college to take care of her ailing mother. Facing the holidays alone and a never-ending pile of bills makes renting out her garage apartment an easy choice. With Jonah as the only one interested, they decide on a mutually beneficial living arrangement and a handful of rules that are promptly broken.
This second chance romance is sweet and set in a quaint small town. The supporting cast of friends was great.
Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This is a great book. No one does small town Christmas like Annie!

It is really something to watch these characters move through their own issues and hard feelings and then to see them relearn how to be a couple and how to bring out the best in each other. You can see how much they loved each other before and it really sets up a great second chance romance.

The small town setting is fantastic. The decorating contest is such a great story element. The friends and family members, even the ones who are gone, help build a wonderful story and the animals in the book are a nice touch.

3.25 stars—THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE is the second instalment in Annie Rains contemporary, adult SOMERSET LAKE sweet romance series-a spin off from the the author’s SWEETWATER SPRINGS series. This is Sheriff Miles Bruno, and midwife/nurse Lucy Hannigan’s story line. THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.


Told from dual third person perspectives (Miles and Lucy) THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE follows the rebuilding romance and relationship between Sheriff Miles Bruno, and midwife/nurse Lucy Hannigan. Ten years earlier, couple Miles and Lucy had their entire future ahead of them but Miles broke Lucy’s heart, and in the interim watched as Lucy lost the people she loved. Fast forward to present day wherein Lucy finds herself in financial trouble following the death of her mother, and the numerous unpaid bills that are due before the end of the year. Meanwhile, Sheriff Miles Bruno is about to be homeless, and his only option is to rent an apartment from the woman he once loved bringing him up close and personal with memories from the past. With the approach of the Christmas holidays, Miles offers to help Lucy set up the Hannigan annual Christmas display, a display that Lucy is hoping to enter in the Somerset Lake holiday contest but all is not well in the small town of Somerset Lake, as a vandal has set their sights on the destruction of holiday cheer. What ensues is the second chance romance and relationship between Lucy and Miles, and the potential fall-out as Lucy is unable to let go of the past, taking her frustrations and anger out on the man she still loves.


The relationship between Lucy and Miles is one of second chances; a rekindling romance between two people torn apart by betrayal, ego, heart break and perception. While Miles reconsiders everything that happened in the past, Lucy is unable to move forward. There are no $ex scenes; the romance is limited.


There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters many of whom refuse to leave well enough alone. The small-town mentality and nosy ‘butinskies’ threaten to destroy a relationship that is already struggling with too many painful reminders.


THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE is a story of love, loss and second chances. The premise is cute and engaging; the characters are animated; the romance is mostly implied.

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Miles and Lucy had a pregnancy scare when they were 18 and prepared to marty. When it was discovered that results were false and her mother convinced him he wasn't worthy of her, Miles ended the relationship.

Flash ahead 10+ years. Lucy is a certified nurse midwife who returned to care for her sick mother inheriting the large house she grew up in. Miles is a deputy sheriff in their town police dept. A series of unfortunate events continue to throw them together and their friendship is renewed. They both realize their feelings have only gotten stronger as they've matured. They rehash their past but neither shares their true feelings.

A fun romance with a bit of small town humor. Great read to start the holiday season!

Although part of a series this book can be read as a standalone story. I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

Lucy Hannigan’s got hands full between handling patients as a nurse practitioner/midwife, and the upkeep on her childhood home, a mansion size Victorian house located in the historical part of town called The Village. In order to help makes ends meet Lucy decided to rent out the garage apartment but doesn’t count on her ex-fiancé applying for tenancy. Miles, her first and only love broke her heart ten years ago and she’s never really gotten over it. Lucy’s not sure having him so close would be a good idea.

Deputy Miles Bruno has never gotten over Lucy either, but he ended things and now he’s pretty sure their awkward friendship is the most he can hope for. However, when Miles finds himself in need of a place to rent and Lucy in need of a renter the two find it impossible to avoid each other.

With unexpected house bills pilling up on Lucy, Miles offers to help win the “Merriest Lawn Contest” for the cash prize and soon they’re spending time over Thanksgiving leftovers, hot cocoa, and Christmas decorating. It’s hard to ignore the attraction that never really went away between them. Neither of them felt that special spark with anyone else, and I was eager for these two to work it out, especially after finding out the reason Miles ended it. Both Lucy and Miles were good people who deserved their HEA!

The Christmas Village was full of things to love: a sweet second chance romance, supportive female friends, a cat rescue, and a French bulldog. All set in a charming small town. What more could you want from a holiday read?!

Annie Rains Somerset series is proving to be just as sweet, charming, and romantic as her Sweetwater Springs books. I love all her books, but there is just something that makes her Christmas books my favorites.

Lucy is dealing with a lot. Her mother passed away she inherited the house, there are still bills to pay, she wants to win the Christmas lights competition, and her ex-fiance, Miles, is her new rental tenant. I really liked Lucy and felt for the struggles she experienced. It was nice seeing her and Miles get their second chance after years apart. They were really sweet together as their relationship developed.

This heartwarming, small-town romance was perfect to get me excited for the Christmas season!

We are back at Somerset Lake and this time we’re on the hill in a big pink house on the ritzy side of town!

Lucy has inherited this house from her mother in along with it plenty of bills. Now she needs to find a way to pay off her mothers debt to keep the home that holds all our memories.

The easiest solution is to rent out the garage apartment, too bad the only one interested is her ex fiancé, Miles. He broke her heart at 18, can he put it back together 10 years later?

This was an excellent second chance romance were the misunderstandings and youth and the dichotomy of the have and the have not‘s is hashed out and our characters the sweet Lucy and kind hearted miles find a way back to the one and only loves!

Author Annie Rains has a magical way of writing that sweeps you in makes you feel like you are in the small town reading the gossip and drinking the tea with the citizens. Just like in her past series the second book in the Somerset Lake series has excellent characters and great descriptive development for the small town that makes you feel like you are there experiencing it with them.

This was delightful heartwarming Christmas tale of love returned!

The Christmas Village by Annie Rains is scheduled to release October 12th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Forever Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheChristmasVillage #AnnieRains #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

This is a feel good, holiday story that can be enjoyed at any time of year. I always enjoy books by Annie Rains and this one did not disappoint.

So this has been my favorite holiday read so far. I loved this book. I felt that it was "Christmasy" without being too over the top. I still felt all warm and fuzzy and in the holiday spirit at the end, but really the book was about Lucy and Miles. This was a beautiful second chance romance story filled with some much heart. It addresses issues of grief and loss especially during the holidays so beautifully. I loved the characters and I felt for them both so much. Miles' past and his efforts to overcome the hand he was dealt made me want to reach through the pages and hug him. His need to own a home tugged at my heart strings. Then there was Lucy who helped others bring such joy to their families while dealing with this major loss to her own. When you realize why Miles and Lucy were pulled apart all those years ago you can't help but root for them to overcome all the obstacles and get back together. I am usually not a fan of second chance romance but this one was so well done and I love every page of it.

I noticed this is the second book in Somerset Lake Series and now I cannot wait to go back and read the first book because I have to know more about this town and these characters. Thank you to Forever Pub and NetGalley for the chance to read this one! I will definitely be recommending this book not only as a holiday read but just as a beautiful romance story.

What a wonderful second chance romance story! I was engaged and delighted in Lucy and Miles relationship from their first encounter. The reasons for their break up were slowly revealed, which brought a richer understanding of their history and a depth to their renewed friendship.
Lucy is such a wonderful young woman, but boy is she stubborn! Dealing with the loss of her mother, she could definitely use the support of her friends, if only she’d share her burdens with them. While she and Miles live in the same small town, they don’t interact often. That is, until Miles needs a place to live and Lucy could use the extra funds that renting her garage apartment will bring her.
Miles is a fixer, so it’s only natural that he wants to help out Lucy, who still owns his heart. So while she’s willing to accept some help, she has a lot going on, and losing faith that it’ll all work out. Miles, meanwhile, both hopes for a another chance with Lucy while also continuing to work towards his own life goals.
I’m always excited to read an Annie Rains book, because I know I’ll get a wonderful, rich story filled with heart and soul. Her characters are interesting and complex…strong women and men who the reader can’t help but fall for. The Christmas Village is yet another example of why she is always a much read author for this romance lover!

This book was full of romance, heartache, facing one's fears, and moving on to second chances in a wonderful, holiday, Christmas story set in the beautiful, small town of Somerset Lake. Poor Lucy's mom died and left her with a bunch of debt and a funeral to pay for. It is now a year later and her goal was to have everything paid off by the New Year. I liked that she ended up renting her garage apartment to her ex-fiance, Miles. They had dated in high school and had been engaged until he called it off. It is now ten years later and they both still have feelings for the other. I enjoyed the small town and even Reva's blog that tended to spread gossip. This story was funny and romantic and a lot of fun to read. I also enjoyed all of the characters that added to the story. It was definitely full of Christmas cheer and a fun Merriest Lawn Contest. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

In this sweet Christmas romance we get the pleasure of following Miles and Lucy on their journey to happiness. This is a second chance for them and I was rooting for them from the beginning. A fine line between love and hate is never more apt than between these two. Whether they can overcome the past to forge a new path remains to be seen.
Miles is about to be homeless, so he asks Lucy if he can move into her garage apartment. The only problem: they were engaged years ago. She needs the money so she agrees. She sets boundaries, but it is harder to adhere to them than she realized. While working together to decorate for Christmas they realize their feelings are still there.
Heartbreak when they were teenagers is hard to move on from. He has some ideas about how his life should go (based off of his childhood) that could keep from moving forward with Lucy. She is realizing things about her mom that she never knew that is messing with her fully moving forward. The connection they had was great and my heart went out to them to find their way. I love the characters and can’t wait to read more.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

The Christmas Village by Annie Rains definitely put me in the holiday spirit and gave me all the Hallmark movie vibes! This second-chance romance hit all the right notes.

Lucy Hannigan is facing the first Christmas since her mother passed away and while she's close to paying off her mother's debts, she's also feeling melancholy due to the season and having to face it without her. She really just wants to fast-forward through the holidays, but that isn't an option and on top of that, she learns there is another outstanding debt she wasn't aware of, which causes more stress. She realizes her best option is to find a way to make some extra cash and to do that, she's going to rent out the garage apartment.

Miles Bruno is a deputy at the Sheriff's office and is Lucy's ex-fiance. He broke Lucy's heart years before, but it's clear he still loves her. When he's forced from his home, he's got a couple of options, move home with his Mom or rent the garage apartment from Lucy. The apartment wins and the two are put back into one another orbit.

They definitely had great chemistry and when they work together to win a lawn decorating contest, the feelings from years ago rose back to the surface along with some new ones. The question is, can they get past the past hurts to make a future together?

I enjoyed this story so much. It got me into the spirit and it's another win for Annie Rains!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy or NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

The Christmas Village is the second in the Somerset Village series, but can easily be read by itself. In her first holiday season without her mom, Lucy isn’t really feeling in the holiday spirit. She had no intention of entering the large pink house her mother left her in the annual lights competition. The pressure of keeping her parent’s winning steak going all while juggling her busy midwife duties and being a landlord to her ex-fiancé were all too much. Miles, her ex-finance, certainly did not expect to find himself as Lucy’s tenant. However, as the hopeless romantic, he will do anything to win her back, even if one part means going all out to win the light competition.

In this second chance romance, you can’t help but fall in love with the characters! There is a little mystery, lots of fun romance and an ideal holiday setting! I devoured this book in just over a day. I just had to know what Mile’s last, big grand gesture to hopefully win Lucy over would be. I definitely plan on going back to pick up the first book of the series and hopefully there will be more of the Somerset Village.

Thank you Net Galley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

On the Cat Scale:
😸😸😸😸