As if the loss of her mother wasn't enough to cope with, Nessa Hunt is now on a road trip with her half sister Ivy. Nessa is looking for answers. Just before her mother died she told Nessa that the man that raised her was not her father. Nessa is floored. Ivy is angry. Why secrets and perhaps lies all of their lives?

Will a trip to Rose Bend lead them to answers that will prove to be satisfying? For starters, they are staying at an inn and the innkeeper's son, Wolfgang Dennison really tugs at Nessa's heartstrings. What is more is that Wolf has a big and happy family, something Nessa and Ivy never experienced. Will Nessa and Wolf be able to cultivate their growing feelings all while Nessa is seeking answers? What is more, will Nessa be able to break through to Ivy as she is clearly having issues?

What a sweet and endearing story. Loss is never easy. Factor in a secret past and a budding romance, hope for a future seems more than doubtful.

Many thanks to HQN Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! I had a chance to listen to it as an audiobook from my library and loved the narrator as well. I will have to go back and read book 1 in this series. This is a heart-felt and a bit meaty romance. Christmas cheer with some depth!

The holidays have never been her thing. But Christmas in Rose Bend has more than one surprise in store…

Grieving ER nurse Nessa Hunt is on a road trip with her sullen teen half-sister, Ivy, and still reeling from her mother’s deathbed confession: Nessa’s dad wasn’t really her dad. Seeking answers, they arrive in Rose Bend to find a small town teeming with the kind of Christmas cheer Nessa usually avoids. But then she meets the innkeeper’s ruggedly sexy son, Wolfgang Dennison.

Wolf’s big, boisterous family is like a picture-perfect holiday card. Nessa has too much weighing on her to feel like she fits—even though the heat between her and Wolf is undeniable. And the merriment bringing an overdue smile to Ivy’s face is almost enough to make Nessa believe in the Christmas spirit. But with all her parental baggage, including lingering questions about her birth father, is there room in Nessa’s life for happy holidays and happily-ever-after?

This is book 2 in the Rose Bend series and can be read as a stand alone. Grieving ER nurse Nessa Hunt is on a road trip with her sullen teen half sister, Ivy, and still reeling from her mother’s deathbed confession: Nessa’s dad wasn’t really her dad. Seeking answers, they arrive in Rose Bend to find a small town teeming with the kind of Christmas cheer Nessa usually avoids. But then she meets the innkeeper’s ruggedly sexy son, Wolfgang Dennison. This is a story of forgiveness and discovering that family is who you love, not necessarily who you are related to. A true Christmas story. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Christmas in Rose Bend, by Naima Simone, book two in her Rose Bend series, a holiday romance with a prickly, grieving heroine and a cinnamon roll hero with a man bun. Nessa is an ER nurse grieving the loss of her mother and the man she thought was her biological father. Now the guardian of her young half-sister, they are spending the holidays in the small town of Rose Bend where they partake in Christmas events and holiday cheer; something Nessa usually tries to avoid. She and Wolf, the son of the innkeeper, find a lot in common as they face their pain on their journey to finding love. Nessa and Wolf are wonderful characters, each having baggage they need to deal with. They were perfect together. They have off the charts sizzling chemistry, a strong magnetic attraction, along with the knowledge and the ability to truly communicate with each other, even when things are difficult. The secondary cast of characters assists in making this story as good as it is, and hopefully getting their own stories. Ivy, Nessa's moody, 12-year-old half-sister, plays an important part in the overall story.

The story not only sizzles with romantic heat, but it also tugs at your heart strings, and reassures you that good things happen to good people. I highly recommend Christmas in Rose Bend to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Nessa Hunt has been grieving for a long time with the recent deaths of her mother and her father figure. When her mother passed away she left Nessa with more questions than answers about the truth of her past, so she goes to a small town in Massachusetts for the holiday season with her half sister to regroup and decide what her next steps are.

For me, this book had a great plot and I loved the moments in the book where the plot was moving forward, but there were some moments where the book didn't work for me. From the beginning, I felt as though both Nessa and Wolf were unnecessarily literally lusting after each other, like from first sight and it was awkward and honestly took away from a great plot. THEN the sex scene(s) that went on for 10% of the book. For me, I am fine with a little love and sexy times, but this part of the book was distracting and went on for what felt like forever and I wanted to get back to the heart of the story. If you are a reader who likes an open door and some sexy times in your book, then you will probably feel very differently from me.

Because of these things, I am not sure if I would read this author again. I was so disappointed because the plot seemed like it was going to be so engaging and I did love the characters, but the lusting and sexy times were so distracting that they took away from the flow of the story.

First and foremost I really enjoy Naima Simone's writing style,, it instantly sucks me into the story and she always seems to create a great setting. I haven't read the first book in this series, but after having picked this one up I definitely want to. The characters are well crafted and I really liked the relationship between Nessa and Wolf. What did detract a bit from the romance and kept it from simply being a cute Christmas romance was the drama created by the relationship issues with Nessa and her sister as well as her search for her birth father. Still, it was a great romance and a wonderful Christmas story that hit the spot!

Favorite Quotes:

And to answer your question, yes, we do take Christmas seriously. Because it’s serious business. Peace on earth and goodwill toward men is not something you half-ass, Nessa Hunt. You use your whole ass.

A dull ache started at the back of Nessa’s head, one that usually coincided with Ivy’s tone. The tone that warned, I’m about to go into a full-out preteen hellish mood that all the berserkers and centurions in Fortnite won’t be able to save you from.

The other woman smiled widely, showing all her teeth, and even if the rest of the group hadn’t reacted as if this woman carried the strain for the next zombie plague, that smile would’ve had Nessa leery. Shark smiles— from people who grinned so huge you could count every tooth in their mouth— could rarely be trusted.

God, only a dinner party with Kanye West and Taylor Swift could possibly have been more awkward.

A couple of years ago, some enterprising soul replaced the ex-mayor’s box of decorations with penis-and-ball-shaped ornaments. Hilarious! We’ve all been secretly waiting for Penisgate to happen again. You can’t make this up, my friend.

She can throw a verbal smackdown that would leave a person crying and sucking his thumb.


My Review:

Shame on me, this prolific storyteller has one-hundred-and-one books listed on Goodreads and this is my first time reading her clever craft. The characters were likable and realistically flawed, yet resilient while struggling with individual issues. The story hit all the feels with the angst well tempered with amusing humor and volcanic and gasp producing sensual steam, although the latter came much later in the tale. The storylines were relatable and easy to follow with generous servings of family drama, wry humor, a supposedly no-strings holiday romance with a short shelf life, and small-town community holiday festivities – and this little berg was really into Christmas. Ms. Simone’s Christmas tale provides a bit of tasty spice and is a higher octane alternative to the more chaste and commercially packaged seasonal eggnog out of the carton Hallmark moments broadcasting nonstop this month.

Nessa and her teenaged sister Ivy arrive in Rose Bend without an ounce of Christmas spirit and plenty of surliness. Nessa was still reeling from both the death of her mother and her deathbed confession eight months earlier when the father she shares with Ivy also passes away, leaving Nessa custody of Ivy and sending them off to spend Christmas in Rose Bend. Neither of the sisters know what they're supposed to find in Rose Bend or what they're meant to do there but the small town folks that live there have no such uncertainties- Rose Bend is the epitome of Christmas and the folks that live there are determined to take Nessa and Ivy into their fold and imbue them with the sense of love and family they dearly need if its the last thing they ever do. While Ivy connects with a group of kids her own age Nessa attempts to avoid any human interaction. Unfortunately for her, Wolf Dennison has other plans and the connection between them is electric and immediate. Nessa, used to being abandoned by all the people she's ever cared about, is intent on keeping things platonic with Wolf while she suffers in silence under a heavy burden she must bear on her own. But some things are too big to be controlled and even Nessa's stubbornness will crack in the face of Wolf and his loving family.

Christmas in Rose Bend perfectly encapsulates everything Christmas. The small town feels and festive holiday celebrations happening throughout this entire story were exactly what I was hoping for when I started this book. This is the second installment in a series which I didn't know when I agreed to participate in the blog tour but decided to stay the course and finish it anyway since I had already agreed to do so. Luckily, I discovered pretty quickly that this story could be read as a standalone. There are hints of the major events that happened in book one and I suspect reading the first book prior to this one would add a level of enjoyment to the reading experience but its not at all necessary.

In time the characters grew on me even if I was a little put off by the unfriendly demeanors of the sisters in the beginning. This part of the story arc was necessary for character growth and I completely understand that. On the flip side I really enjoyed Wolf and his big affectionate family- I also loved that this story was set at the Inn they owned and lived in; it added a layer of warmth and coziness that the book dearly needed in the beginning. I do have to admit that I wish Wolfgang wasn't portrayed quite so perfectly. I enjoy flaws in my characters; it makes them more genuine and believable. Other than that I thought the dynamic between the family, friends and townspeople was well done and I appreciated the fact that a biracial relationship was front and center in this novel- something I wish we could see a lot more of in all genres. Additionally, I'd like to point out that the author did a fantastic job capturing that atmosphere so unique to small towns including all the drama that often comes with it. That simply cannot be helped in a place where everyone knows their neighbor and Nessa gets a taste of that when faced with Wolf's ex-fiancé. Fortunately, the love and kindness often seen in places like this trumps the negative, making it the perfect setting for a holiday romance.

One of the best parts of this story was seeing Nessa and Ivy learn to be more patient and honest with each other and watching their relationship thrive because of it. It was heartwarming to see them both break down their carefully built walls in order to let the magic of the holiday season surround them after so long drowning in grief. This novel also had one of the most satisfying endings I've read in a while. I loved everything about it and had a big ole smile on my face the whole time. I can't really pinpoint exactly what it was about the conclusion of this book that made me so happy but I think a lot of the reason is owed to the fact that so much of this story was weighed down by illness, loss, grief and abandonment that it was a relief when the weight was finally lifted. The other part is most likely because I was a living vicariously through the characters- I can think of nothing better than a small town covered in snow for the Christmas season and being surrounded by friends, family and people who genuinely care about you. Both Nessa and Ivy started this journey feeling like they had no one in the world and came out the other side part of a lovely family. What's not to like about that?

This was a good read for fans of Hallmark holiday movies and small town romances. I really enjoyed the small town atmosphere and all the Christmas happenings in the background. The romance between Wolf and Nessa was somewhat of a slow burn for most of the book, but things definitely heated up towards the end. Based on the cover it seemed like more of a sweet romance, so I was pleasantly surprised when we got a little more. The only downside for me was both mc's inner monologues felt drawn out at times and I found myself skimming. I think I would've enjoyed it more if the books was shorter. Overall, I really loved Rose Bend, Nessa and Ivy's growth in repairing their relationship, and the romance.

If you are looking for a book that not only screams Christmas but will also hit you with all the feels then look no further then this book. Right from the first page we are hit with a town that prides itself on not only looking over the top Christmas but also has daily Christmas activities. The rich setting for this book worked perfectly in balancing out this equally heartbreaking and heartwarming story. Wolf and Nessa are both dealing with some traumatic issues that have caused them to build up walls to protect their hearts and it is more than satisfying when they slowly start to chip away at those walls. There is a lot that happens in this book and it can feel overwhelming at times, especially since some of what is happening can be triggering. There is the death of parents (one from cancer), war time loss of best friend, abandonment, family issues, issues dealing with self worth, etc. It seems like a lot of heavy stuff, and it is, but that’s where the lighter moments between the town, the festivities, and the relationships with other characters come in to lighten everything up. I definitely had tears in my eyes a few times while reading this but I also laughed out loud a few times. If you are looking for the perfect book to give you a romance that you will swoon over combined with a book that will give you the holiday feels then I highly recommend you give this book a chance.

I'd like to think that Naima Simone watched a Hallmark Christmas movie one day and said "hold my hot chocolate" and then went on to shatter the norm with the beautiful and spellbinding story of finding family, healing, and love during the Christmas season. Christmas in Rose Bend is a feel-good romance about a ER Nurse, Nessa, and her little sister as they take a month long vacation to the small town of Rose Bend. Forced to fulfill the dying wish of her estranged father, Nessa leans into her mantra of "get in and get out". However, what her and her mantra weren't banking on was the smoldering carpenter, Wolf, and his loud and loving family to flip her on her head and show her what its like to take a risk and love again. 

I probably did not do this book justice with that synopsis but oh my goodness, this book was everything and more I wanted in a Christmas romance. Nessa and Wolf were dynamic, both caring the weight of such heavy burdens and both being people enough to own up to them and their actions. I loved watching them both peel back the layers of each other as they grew closer and each giving each other the respect to do so at the others pace and time. The communication between them was what chef kisses were made of! I constantly found myself mumbling "this is what a healthy relationship looks like" which brought a whole other level of sexy to the story as a whole. The chemistry between Wolf and Nessa was sizzling form the moment these two met on page and the fire only seemed to burn hotter and bigger with each chapter. 

I absolutely adored the entire cast of characters in the story and how you can see each of them leading their own life with each interaction. The story felt so natural and authentic that I never realized I was reading a story instead of living it first hand with these people. Simone does a spectacular job reeling you in and keeping you with her lyrical storytelling and hooking in-depth characters. The only thing I had an issue with (and this is literally just because I wish there was more) was that the ending felt a bit rushed; I wanted more time to see the resolution between certain characters and wishing for more in terms of Nessa and her father. Again though, this is literally me just wanting more because I absolutely fell in love with these characters. 

If you are looking for a beautifully written and heart warming story this Christmas season--I highly recommend going and grabbing this one! Honestly, Naima Simone knocked this out of the park, and I'm so excited to dive into her backlist and see what else she has written!

Well, now, I'm thinking I need a Wolf Dennison in my life. He's such a great character. Actually, Rose Bend has a lot of great characters, and as expected, Naima Simone gives us an emotional, sexy romance for Christmas. Nessa and Wolf are both broken and they've closed off their hearts to avoid being hurt yet again. Of course, that doesn't work and these two may just be exactly what each other needs to heal. It was a nice change of pace that Nessa comes complete with a sullen teenager rather than a cute, bubbly toddler. Not that I have anything against cute, bubbly toddlers, but Ivy was a break from what seems to be the norm these days. The story is not without angst, but it's also full of Christmas spirit, and Rose Bend sounds like the ideal place for a Christmas miracle.

Disclaimer: I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
As with many of the books I've read this holiday season this was a second in a series.

I was completely captivated by this small town and wished I had read the first book but I pushed forward and am so glad I did.

Nessa and Wolf are a cute couple. To say there was chemistry is putting it mildly. This story was fast past and went from cute possible romance to family drama.

That said I finished the book in a day and was so happy to. I really loved the storyline and the characters. I really felt like I was invested in a Hallmark movie. This story also makes me want to go find the first book and really dive into this small town.

Overall a wonderful read and one O would definitely revisit.

Nessa and her half sister are going to spend the christmas holiday at Rosebend at the request of their late father. Wolf and his family owns the inn that they'll be staying at and with his history the last thing he needs to get into a relationship with Nessa even if for a brief period as they enjoy this holiday season.

This is the type of book that I look for when it comes to holiday books. I'm looking for the holiday activies, and festiveness, heartwarming moments and romance. I loved seeing that attraction between Nessa and Wolf and clearly she's only there for a short while and you never know things can change. Then theres the whole grieving the loss of the father then finding out about family secrets and working hard to uncover what what behind hid. I loved that Wolf was supportive of Nessa and what her and her sister was going through and was willing to help out any way they needed it. I loved how right this town was for Nessa I mean there was a reason she was also taking the holiday because of her little issue at work making her wonder how it would be to go back to her job. I loved the romance and holiday spirit of it all and I really enjoyed this book.

Another winner from Naima - she is quickly becoming a go to author for me - love the combination of a love story and grief and can't wait to go back to Rose Bend.

This is the second book in the Rose Bend series, but I had no trouble following this story or enjoying it. Nessa has a lot of baggage in her life. She was raised by her mother after her father left them. He had another daughter in another relationship and it made Nessa feel that she was lacking. When he dies, she finds out he was not her birth father as well as that she is now the legal guardian of her half-sister, who is a teenager. Nessa and Ivy head to Rose Bend for Christmas after finding some clues that her mother had once vacationed there and there is a possibility that is where she met Nessa's birth father. Ivy is an unhappy, sullen teenager ready to make life miserable for everyone. Shortly after arriving, Nessa runs into, literally, Wolf, the son of the Inn Keepers where she is staying. This is a story with instalove as there is an immediate attraction. Can Nessa and Ivy find common ground? Will Nessa find love? Will she find out more about her "real" father?

I enjoyed this story, but there were a few things that I had issue with. First, there were some steamy scenes that I was not prepared for and did skim over. Second was the instalove. Having said that, I loved Nessa's character. She had been through so much in her life, and even found out that she really wasn't related to Ivy at all, but she took on the responsibility of raising her and trying to become a family. It was wonderful to see how the Dennisons, Wolf's family, took Nessa and Ivy into the fold including them in all the family Christmas activities. This was a fun Christmas romance with family bonds, grieving, love, sex, and Christmas magic.

Review: Christmas in Rose Bend by Naima Simone https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bSR
Publication Date: October 26, 2021
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

This was my first trip to Rose Bend, and happily did not have to read book one to become immersed in the town. (I will be purchasing book one for enjoyment.) I truly enjoyed the town and family members, having that kind of ensemble gives the main characters more depth and made knowing Wolf easier. Nessa was harder. She was visiting from Boston with her little sister and came across as cold and brittle. I’m glad there was enough insight into her character to keep me reading, mainly in regard to the relationship with her sister, Ivy and that resolution. I did find both her and Wolf’s pasts and how they were dealing with it, rather depressing at times, but appreciated how they helped each other heal. I loved the building trust, friendship, and romance in their story. The few steamy scenes were just right. I once again have to mention the town and the numerous Christmas activities that made me smile. I couldn’t stop reading and although the ending happened rather quickly – I was totally satisfied.

*Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Kindle https://amzn.to/2ZJJsp2

The setting for this was pure Christmas magic! The inn was lovely and the town charming. I had a hard time connecting with the main character and because of that, lost steam halfway through the book. The author tackles many hard subjects and unfortunately, it felt a bit overdone. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

A delightful, definitely heated Holiday Romance that is the perfect story to feed your addiction’s.
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This author is on fire with this story. Be prepared when diving into this one! She takes us on an emotional journey with all of the highs and the lows, plus some unexpected surprises too.

Christmas in Rose Bend is loaded with pain points. From the death of parents to shocking family revelations and uncomfortable feelings of not being enough. But Simone also delivers us incredible highs that are so worth the journey through the pain.

I just love the characters in the story so much. Wolf is amazing. He, too, has had many struggles, highs and lows. Along with the burning knowledge that he could be looking at his future as soon as he meets Nessa adds smoldering desire to the story.

The sparks fly throughout this book even with the push and pull issues that they have to overcome. The author has developed these two to match beautifully. The additional characters and situations add a good balance and make the story deeply additive.

Make no mistake, this is a steamy story that is loaded with a blend of tenderness and pitfalls. But it does have a beautiful ending that makes it all worth the journey. This author crafted a remarkable and addictive book that will put it high on your favorite list. Simone brings the heat and intensity we all beg for in a romance!

I don’t know how to feel.
Like with the first book in this series, the covers don’t fit the book. I feel like this book can’t decide what sub genre it falls into and the cover doesn’t help in the least. The covers say sweet small town cheery romance- and its not like this doesn’t fit that bill. It just… starts there and goes further.
There’s sexual language that I don’t expect in a sweet small town romance.
It’s a long novel and also a slow burn, slower than I like and I LOVE a slow burn. No heat until 75% in… by that point I am tired of the back and forth, the push and pull. Then the last 25% is a rush of emotion and rash, quickly made decisions and resolving the external plot with some insta-love thrown in.
Anyway, those are my nits. I hopped right up this morning to finish the last 25% of this book (and skipped the bonus story at the end) so I must not have disliked it too much.
My last beef is probably my fault— I purposely don’t read certain sub genres, and I was too far in before I noticed Wolf was a white man. For that matter, Nessa could have been, too. I honestly can’t recall any specific race in the description. To me, it’s an issue when characters are ambiguous and it’s why I like to read Black romance because there is no doubt that those characters look like me and share many of my lived experiences.
ANYWAY I do not know how to rate this book so I’m going to go with an even 3. It wasn’t terrible, but I have to many irritations to list to give it more than that.