The Christmas Village

Fun Christmas read! Lucy and Miles will take hold of your heart and you'll be cheering them on, through every up and down of their relationship. In the end, you will have shed a few happy tears and be able to chalk this one up as another wonderful book by Annie Rains.
Disclaimer - I received this book as an ARC, however my opinion is all my own. I have not been compensated in any way.

Oh my goodness Annie Raines! I loved the love story between Miles and Lucy. After many years of being apart, they finally found each other…again. What a sweet Christmas story. Thank you!!! I highly recommend this read.

My favorite type of romance book is a second chance love story, and this book did not disappoint! Lucy is a midwife who is struggling with handling the holidays for the first time since her mother has passed away. Miles is a police officer who is overly concerned with needing to hit certain milestones in life, before he feels like he can find love. These two used to date, and a weird incident brings them together for the first time ten years after they broke their engagement. Both characters have a lot to work through as they see if they still have feelings for each other, and if this time they can make it last forever. This was just the feel good story I needed in my life right now. Sweetwater Springs is such a great town, and I loved getting to catch up with characters from past books, and trying to guess which character might get their own happily ever after next! Another great story from Annie Rains! I received an ARC from netgalley, and this is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Lucy's character was well thought out and personable. Miles was amazing, a man most women hope to meet and have fall in love with them. The interactions in the Book Club was warm and friendly. I'm not quite sure I understood why Lucy broke up with Miles toward the end of the book, except to add angst to the story. Overall this is a book I will be recommending to my romance loving friends.

Wow there comes a time that you have to realize that second chances are the best for everyone. Lucy gets a second chance...with what you say? Well I'm not going to give the story away but it's in the romance department.
Lucy has inherited her mother's dog, the home she grew up in and she even inherited her mother's debt....which is about to break the camel's back so to speak. If it isn't one thing it's another...I feel so bad for Lucy. But someone from her past asks if he could rent the apartment above the garage and well Lucy thinks why not she could earn some extra income from the rent...but there is a catch...he's her ex-fiance.
Somerset Lake is a special place with great characters. Heartwarming and beautifully written. I fell in love with the fictional place in Annie Rains first book, The Summer Cottage, and I think readers will fall in love with the town as well...
I really enjoyed The Christmas Village and I highly recommend. I hope there will be a third book to the series I'm not ready to leave Somerset Lake yet...

I would like to thank NetGalley and Forever Publishers for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy for my honest opinion.

Is there such a thing as a meet cute in a second chance romance where the two characters have managed to remain friendly for a decade? Whatever we call it, the opening scene in which Miles responds to Lucy's emergency call about a burglar was amazing. I really enjoyed seeing their interactions throughout the book.

I loved the autumnal vibes that began the book and the amazing description of Thanksgiving in a community that cares for each other. Even more, I appreciated the decorations for Christmas. Lucy lives on Christmas Lane in The Village. They host an annual Merriest Lawn Contest. The book feels so festive for the entire holiday season.

This is the second book in Annie Rains' Somerset Lake series, but it works just as well as a stand alone.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

TW: loss of a parent (before book begins), grief