As the story starts, Sophia DeBussi is being questioned by the police because her abusive husband has disappeared into thin air. Turns out Sophia’s husband is an investment consultant suspected of 60 million dollars’ worth of fraud which will land him in prison for life. She lives in a small town and her husband conned half the townspeople who are now holding her accountable for his actions and expect her to pay up. In the mix is Sophia’s old flame Ted, as well as a few of their friends from high school. The story revolves around Sophia trying to pick up the pieces now that her husband is gone. She also has a 13-year-old daughter.

This is a story about redemption and second chances. Sophia was a popular, mean girl in high school and is now a recovering alcoholic. I felt bad for her. Themes of depression, alcoholism and bullying are in the storyline. I feel like the author wrote her depression well as Sophia takes her husband’s disappearance really hard. She wonders how she’ll support herself and her daughter.

This is slow burn, second chance romance as Ted and Sophia were involved about a decade ago and he never got over her.

Take Me Home for Christmas is Book #5 in the Whiskey Creek Series but I was fine not having read any of the previous books. Author Brenda Novak fills you in on what you need to know and takes the story from there. I was happy with the ending and it all wrapped up well. Christmas is towards the end of the book by the way, so it is there just not throughout and certainly not a central part of the storyline. The story ends on Christmas day.

Sophia thought she married the man of her dreams but he turned into a nightmare. When her husband turns up missing she finds he had several secrets he kept from her, including the fact that she is now broke. Going home is the only option and her behavior when she was younger is not forgotten by everyone in town. Now she is working as a housekeeper for Ted Dixon who she burnt along the way. Will Ted be willing to let the past stay in the past even though his feelings for her are renewed?

This was good but I had a hard time warming up to Sophia. I liked the story but did not flow as fluidly as other Brenda Novak's books for me. I vacillated between a 3.5-4 star rating. Great series.

This is actually one of my all-time favorite Christmas Brenda Novak books! I've always loved her writing style but these characters had me rooting for them right away. I loved reading this book and honestly, it will be a re-read every yearbook for me.