Skip to main content

Member Reviews

All the feel-good vibes of the holiday season enveloped me and pulled me into this wonderful story--Christmas in Chestnut Ridge, by Nancy Naigle is a winner! Her descriptive prose allowed me to hear the bells and choirs, to taste the cookies, and smell the pine. I loved every moment.

The sense of community, along with the friendships add to the cozy warmth of the season. Sheila Aldridge is drawn to the Ridge in support of her best friend, who has a tree to decorate for the Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser. She is a confirmed city dweller with a thriving, busy real-estate company. Though Shelia can't imagine herself living in a small town, she is instantly charmed by the people, their positive outlook on life, and the Christmas traditions celebrated. The heartfelt charm of the season shines through, giving me a warm glow at the happy ending.

Thank you to #NancyNaigleTeam #StMartin'sPress #NetGalley for offering me an advance e-copy to read in consideration of a review, All thoughts and opinions are my own, I am delighted to review this heartfelt holiday romance.
#ChristmasInChestnutRidge #NetGalley #NancyNaigle @nancynaigle

,

Was this review helpful?

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and St. Martin Press.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review

It is a small town Christmas story that will have you feeling good. Story of faith and resilience as a community comes together. It will make you believe in the goodness of people as you are drawn into this feel good story. It is a well crafted holiday read.

Was this review helpful?

I was invited by the publisher to read this book...and I am very glad I did because I did not know I would have needed to read this book! I enjoyed reading about the found family that Sheila finds in this book - it is just so nice to have a character become rounded out in such a wonderful way, to discover something that the character didn't know was needed. And to discover this within such a wonderful setting, a lovely town with equally enchanting characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this! Atmospheric heartwarming with great characters and some depth. Will definitely be recommending for holiday reads!

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

My Thoughts

What I love most is the sense of community that shines as brightly as the twinkle lights that are everywhere for Christmas.

What I also love is how Natalie’s best friend Shelia finds her footing fitting in nicely from day 1 when she comes back to town on her extended visit and joins in on all the activities, including lending a helping hand to a young family in need.

Along the way she also makes new friends and even connects with the town’s fire captain forging a deep bond quickly that neither one expected in such a short timeline.

Filled with the kind of holiday moments that make one feel like participating, people one could see as real, a community whose location has beauty surrounding it and the kind of friendship turned to more I always appreciate as it unfolds.

Once more the mountains of Virginia work their magic, this time it’s during Christmas holidays and in Chestnut Ridge that is quite a sight to behold!
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Was this review helpful?

Sheila is a very successful realtor. She owns her own company and she and her associates make very good money. A missing piece in her successful life is the fact that her best friend, Natalie, moved out of Richmond and now lives in a very small mountain town, Chestnut Ridge.

It is nearing the holiday season and Natalie asks that Sheila come and stay with her until after the new year. She believes that Sheila will fall in love the town and its people just as she has. There is something special about this small town and the kind and loving people who live there.

Sheila considers herself a big city girl and she sees no reason to live in a small town. She only agrees to a visit because she wants Natalie to be happy.

Sheila’s mother suffers from dementia. Her sister is happily married with her own family. Those things make Sheila feel the losses in her life. She has built her life around work and that is basically her entire life.

In Chestnut Ridge, there are so many other things to consider. When a family with young children is burned out of their home, their loss weighs heavily on Sheila. She realizes that she has been quite insulated from some areas of the world. Needs of others, helping your neighbors and responding to people in need are all qualities that the people of Chestnut Ridge live every day.

Sheila develops friendships in the small town. One of the people she meets is the fire chief, Tucker. He is a prime example of the mind set of the people who live in Chestnut Ridge. It is automatic to think of others and do what you can to make lives better for those others.

The book emphasizes the idea that being kind and caring for everyone around you is a gift you give yourself. Every event in town is an illustration of that idea. Help others in need when you get the chance. Because you never know when you may be in need.

Ms Naigle is a master at character creation. Sheila, Natalie, Tucker and everyone in the story is a fully fleshed out human being. People are complete human beings who have strong emotions. And sharing your life with your friends and neighbors makes whatever difficulty you face feel much lighter.

The plot is well done. Events move along and as the story unfolds, the characters are able to go forward in life. There are not any devastating things that happen. Most of the things that happen are illustrations of caring and generosity for our fellow man.

I liked this book. It is an example of why Ms Naigle is such a popular writer. It is an easy read and it is filled with happiness and love.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge picks up where Naigle left off the story of friends Natalie and Sheila from Chestnut Ridge series book 1, And Then There Was You. There is enough backstory built in to avoid feeling redundant, but to allow the reader to pick right up with Christmas in Chestnut Ridge. Sheila is off kilter with the approach of the holiday season; her best friend has moved to a small mountain town several hours away, and her mother has been moved to a memory care facility. When Natalie invites Sheila to join her in Chestnut Ridge, it takes just a little bit of effort to pull her into the joy of the season. But it’s more than wrapping paper and bows when a little bit of flirting with the handsome fire chief becomes more than it was supposed to. The people of the small town work their way into Sheila’s life over the course of her stay, none more than Tucker, and she finds herself genuinely wondering if what she has sought for years is what will truly bring her joy.

Nancy Naigle writes small town charm like nobody’s business, and her books are written for the screen. Reading Christmas in Chestnut Ridge took me right to the cozy mountain town; I cast the movie in my mind as the characters were introduced and their relationships developed. I could smell the pine and taste the hot chocolate, the pecan snowball cookies, the chamomile tea. Naigle’s descriptions, character development, and relationships are on point. She writes complex relationships with authenticity, which allows the reader to relax into the story and simply enjoy. Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is an easy addition to your seasonal reading list… even when you’re only dreaming of the season!

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely love this author and everything she writes. This book....I devoured like all of her others. Thank you so much for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I love every book that Nancy Naigle writes and this one does not disappoint. Another great story filled with love, family, Christmas vibes, sweet romance, emotions and of course a warm, cozy town that you can't help but fall in love with. The story held my attention throughout and gave me all the "feels" a well written story should. Loved it!!!

Was this review helpful?

Another wonderful story from Nancy Naigle! This is book 2 of Chestnut Ridge series. MS. Naigle does a great job of depicting small town life! Everyone helps everyone. Also, everybody knows everybody! I love how the town came together to help a family in need. Couldn't put this book down. I'm excited for llrhe next book in this series!

Was this review helpful?

I throughly enjoyed Nancy Naigle’s latest book Christmas in Chestnut Ridge. Well written Christmas romance. Great plot. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley this is my unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

I love a Christmas Story. This book has such a great story of friendship and love. The beginning of the book took me a little bit to get into, since it was a slower start. However, once I got maybe 30% through the book flew by and i read it so quickly. The story is so sweet and like any good romance you know they'll end up together, but trying to figure out how they are going to make it work was so much fun.
The story has so much more then your standard romance, since it includes so much story surrounding the sense of community in Chestnut Ridge. My new dream in life is to walk through a Christmas Tree Stroll with a cup of hot chocolate, it sounds magical!

Was this review helpful?

Welcome back to Chestnut Ridge - the small mountain town with a cast of quirky characters. Sheila is headed to Chestnut Ridge to spend time with her best friend, who just moved there, and help her try to win a Christmas Tree decorating contest. The town is fun, the concept of the Christmas stroll and the competition that breaks out among contestants makes this one extra fun. Add in an attractive firefighter who could be a love interest for Sheila, and a down-on-their -luck family that the town is working to keep on their feet, and Sheila might consider trading in her fast paced big city life for a slower pace.

Was this review helpful?

I love Nancy Naigle books, this was a sweet Christmas story. I read Christmas books all year and this was really good.

Was this review helpful?

I love this book. Nancy Naigle never fails to delight with her heartwarming books. This is a sequel to another Chestnut Ridge “And then there was you”. I love these characters. It runs full circle on emotions. Must read, recommend. I was given an advanced reader copy of this well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

Was this review helpful?

I love this book. The people and their great big hearts! Sheila visits a friend for Christmas and finds new friends and a new purpose in life. She also finds a very special man!

Was this review helpful?

I wanted a quick easy Christmas read, and Nancy Naigle delivered. She brought the magic and true meaning of the season in this book. At times it was a bit too syrupy and a bit too unbelievable, but I enjoyed it.

Was this review helpful?

Oh Nancy, you did it again! It’s always a pleasure to read one of your books.

Never one to disappoint, Nancy takes us back to Chestnut Ridge Virginia to pay a visit to Ms Orene, Natalie and Randy. This time Sheila decides to pay her best friend, Natalie a visit for the holidays. Sheila gets exposed to all of the holiday magic of the small mountain town. She makes an instant connection with the local fire chief Tucker Donovan. Nancy Naigle did an amazing job with her vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells and feel of the holidays. I felt like I was right there walking the streets with the characters. I actually found myself doing a little research today to see if the little towns over the border of Virginia actually celebrate the holidays like they do in Chestnut Ridge.
Always a pleasure to read one of her books.

Was this review helpful?

You don't expect to like a Christmas book in May, which is when I read this. But you may really like this one. It's a pleasure to meet people you admire or would befriend, negotiating a season of pain and pleasure.

Recommended when you're in a sentimental mood or just want to relax with a good story.

Was this review helpful?

A delightful christmas romance. Sheila is having a heartwarming time in Chestnut Ridge complete with tree farms, hot chocolate and tree trimmings.
When she volunteers to help the firemen, she meets Justin. Things blossom from there.

I will reread this book at the holiday season because it is just that charming.

Was this review helpful?