I really enjoyed this Christmas story. It was full of festive cheer, romance, new friendships and a touch of sadness. The perfect Christmas recipe!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Sydney is blindsided months earlier when her husband leaves her in a note. Determined to make herself and her daughter a priority, she leaves Atlanta and moves to the home her grandparents left her. She has a job that will start just after the holidays and all she wants is to make a better life for her daughter, Rayanne. And to get past the heartache caused by her divorce.

Finding The Book Bea again, the small town bookstore she spent many of hours in during her youth, gives her a sense of home that she'd been looking for. Making a friend with Ms. Bea and landing a part-time job makes Sydney think that this was the right move for them, whether Rayanne sees it now or not.

As Sydney gets to know old friends again and make new ones, she's finally finding her groove. Her friendship with Mac grows as does the friendship between their children. When tragedy strikes, Mac is there to help her hold on and to create new traditions that will sustain them for years to come.

The author did the characters a great service by giving them time to get to know each other, their likes and dislikes, before having Sydney and Mac really discuss their feelings about each other. It was a natural progression from friends to more. Seeing the dynamics between their children made this book even more special.

This book was like a Hallmark movie. Christmas in a small town with a heroine in need of a change in life, a hero who needs an opportunity to make good, a book store, and a Christmas wish, all the right ingredients for a sweet and clean Christmas story. I enjoyed it.

I really enjoyed "Hope at Christmas". The story is about a woman waiting for her divorce to be finalized who, with her young daughter moves back to her grandmother's home in a small town where she spent childhood vacations. She's trying to pick up the pieces of her life and get her confidence back after being blindsided by her former husband's serial infidelity. She goes to work in the town bookstore and her relationship with the owner and the town's very tall history teacher make up the story. It's very heartwarming and sweet -- just like you'd like your own Christmas to be!

I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review of it. Sydney was happily married for over ten years, or so she thought. Her husband had been cheating on her and it seems like everyone knew but her. She moved herself and reluctant daughter back to where she grew up into her grandparents house that she inherited. She finds the old book store and meets an awesome guy. Awesome story of love and family!

Did not request, not interested.

The healing that the Book Bea and the residents of Hopewell provide to Sydney and her daughter was very special. Kevin was a great man, and just what she needed in her life. Great holiday read.

I loved this book! It was an honest to goodness Christmas romance, not a romance with an "oh, it happens to be Christmas" at the end. The romance was there and it was good. There was even an old town bookstore in this book (think You've Got Mail). I so want to visit that bookstore!
The relationships in the book were complicated by recent divorce, old divorce, single parenthood and some lack of trust. Ms. Naigle did an excellent job of balancing everything and coming out with a great story. Her characters are superb, the conflict real, but she threw in some flight of fancy (what could be better than a sexy guy who plays Santa so well that he knows the names of all the kids before they approach him?). There was upset and anger in a father failing his daughter and the upheaval the divorce put that ten year old girl through. The love sprinkled throughout the book and the HEA leaves you as satisfied when you close the book as reading the words "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!".
I was given this book via Netgalley and these opinions are my own.

Sydney Ragsdale and her daughter, RayAnne need a place to heal and start over after her husband and RayAnne’s father decided to leave them for a younger woman. They move into the old farmhouse that Sydney inherited from her grandparents in the small town of Hopewell, North Carolina. Sydney spent many happy summers there with her grandparents when she was growing up. She hopes that living there will heal her heart and help her and RayAnne to find happiness again.

Sydney has a job that will start after the holidays, but she is dreading being alone during the holidays while RayAnne is gone on a ski trip with her father. After dropping her daughter off for her first day in her new school, she drives downtown and finds that The Book Bea is still open. She spent a lot of happy hours at that bookstore when she was a child. She is pleasantly surprised to find that the elderly lady who had been such a good friend to all the children in town was still the owner and still working there. They strike up a conversation and Miss Bea asks her if she would like to work for her during the holidays. Sydney happily accepts the job and becomes an invaluable assistant to Miss Bea.

Kevin MacAlea aka Mac is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. He is a single father raising his young son alone after his ex-wife left him and their son to “find herself”.

Sydney and Mac and RayAnne and Seth, Mac’s son, are becoming close friends when Jon once again breaks a promise to RayAnne causing her to run away, rocking Sydney’s world and threatening her budding relationship with Mac.

Ms. Naigle has written a wonderful, engaging Christmas story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by this author. I highly recommend Hope at Christmas.

This is an easygoing Christmas read. Sydney Ragsdale has gone through a recent divorce and has moved, with her daughter Ray Anne, from Atlanta to tiny Hopewell, NC. In Hopewell, Sydney finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she loved when she spent summers there with her grandparents. Sydney also finds a good friend and mentor in the store’s owner, an elderly Bea, who has owned and run the store forever. Ray Anne is initially upset about the move, preferring to stay in Atlanta with her friends and father, but, soon the small town grows on her and her mother, as both come to love it and the townsfolk. Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, teaches history at the local high school and coaches baseball. Mac and his son, Seth, have been on their own since Mac’s wife left them years before. Mac loves the magic of the Christmas season, and spreads cheer around everywhere he goes. When Sydney meets Mac, the last thing on her mind is a relationship after the divorce. However, it seems as if Mac and his son, especially Mac, are determined to become part of Sydney and Ray Anne’s life. The story follows this pair and their children through the Christmas season, where the season’s spirit grabs them and pull them towards a predictable but sweet romantic end.

This is a sweet Christmas romance. One thing I did miss was the intense attraction between Mac and Sydney that I normally feel in other romances. Yes, there was some chemistry, but not nearly enough. The book also focused on the romance, but it also focused heavily, at the same time, on the events that brought the couple together as well as the small town and its holiday traditions. I think the latter was the high point of the story for me, as it was nice to see a town where people pulled together and had lots of nice holiday traditions. It made me miss any small town living I have had in my life. Again, this is a nice, cozy holiday romance, though a predicable one. A good book to curl up with on a winter afternoon or weekend. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Kleenex is a must while reading this beautiful story. I must admit at first I thought it was too drawn out but I was wrong. This book needed to take its time to tell all the stories going on it. The story of Sydney & Mac was simple & sweet. Christmas almost upon them a visit to Santa turns two families lives around. Mac & his son Seth, as well as Sydney & her daughter Ray Anne embark on a friendship that brings them joy & hope at Christmas. Old & new traditions abound. We also see the friendship with Miss Bea the bookstore owner & Sydney grow. What started out as a helping hand in the form of a part time job for Sydney turns into a love so great between the two women. With comforting hugs & words of wisdom from a grandmotherly Miss Bea, Sydney grows as a person & mother finding her place in the little town they now call home. The emotions are sweet & heartfelt in this Christmas story & it calls to the memories of Christmas past with loved ones now gone. This emotional at times story was written with such heart & passion, I'm so glad I got to read it. Definitely recommend this book.

Hope at Christmas is one of those stories that I believe would be good in any season it was set in – yet it’s a bit more poignant, a touch more heart warming with the magic of Christmas as, in a way, one of the characters in this romance.

Both Sydney and Mac are adults with one child each. Both know the disappointment of their partner not being who they thought they’d be for a lifetime. Yet, Mac has had a bit more time to adjust to his son’s mother leaving them. Sydney and Ray Anne are in the early stages of that grief and incomprehension that comes when your man cheats on you, and your father cannot, or rather will not keep his promises to his daughter. Sydney is trying to restart their lives in the one place her soon to be ex cannot touch, the inherited farmhouse that her grandparents left to her. A place that holds good memories, a chance to catch her breath and hopefully begin a new chapter of life with her daughter, a new home, and a new job starting soon. Sydney is drawn to the local bookstore, The Book Bea, within its walls she finds the missing magic from her life. So when a part time job is offered, she’s more than happy to spend it here.

It’s easy to get caught up in Hope at Christmas. A romance that offers a slice of real life for so many people, it’s a slow burn romance that develops at its own pace. Sure there is angst, kid rebellion, a close call as well as an ex that deserves every bad thing that comes his way. Yet there is also a feeling of more to come, that Sydney, Mac, Ray Anne and Seth are starting a journey that will grow stronger and better over time. Full of interesting secondary characters, an inviting small town and a chance at happiness for two people who didn’t expect to find that again. It’s one of those stories that will make your heart smile. And that’s why I read Romance.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This is a perfect pick for the busy holiday season. It's well written and highlights Christian prayer but is in no way preachy. Sydney and her young daughter RayAnne head for North Carolina as her divorce is almost final but her almost ex is still trying to run her life. She seeks peace and quiet in her grandparents old farm house where she spent all her childhood summers. It is her only asset in her name and gives her a sense of independence. She lands a job at the BookBee and the town welcomes them with open arms. Christmas figures into this book from page 1 and is a light effortless read.

Very sweet,heart-warming holiday romance! I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to check out more by this author.

Take some time out from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season with Hope at Christmas, a moving and uplifting tale that is a must-read for fans of Debbie Macomber and Robyn Carr.

After leaving her controlling domineering ex-husband, Sydney Ragsdale was looking for a fresh start and for the chance to begin again away from the crippling anxiety and self-doubt that had almost destroyed her entire self-confidence and belief in herself. Moving back to North Carolina and to Hopewell is just what she needs in order to recuperate from her traumatic divorce and to finally let go of the past. When she takes up a job at a local bookstore and moves back into her grandparents’ home, Sydney thinks that life couldn’t possibly get any better for her – until she meets Kevin MacAlea and begins to develop feelings for the high school teacher…

Single dad Kevin loves Christmas and the enchantment and magic of the season. Unbeknownst to everyone else in town, Kevin has spent the past twelve years dressing up as Santa Claus and he loves nothing more than seeing a great big smile on young children’s faces as they get swept away by the tradition and joy of the festive season. This Christmas looks set to be even more special as Kevin has developed feelings for single mom Sydney who has come to Hopewell with her daughter and unearthed feelings deep within him which he had long buried!

But when their burgeoning relationship is suddenly threatened, w

A sweet, heartwarming Christmas romance. Life isn't easy for new single mom Sydney, but returning to the place where she spent her summers is the beginning of a brighter future for her and her young daughter. Shedding the control of her ex-husband she finds new confidence to face the future.

After a bad divorce, Sydney Ragsdale and her daughter move to the house her grandmother left her. While she struggles to be out from under her ex’s control, she’s also dealing with her daughter’s attitude towards the situation. Kevin MacAlea is a single dad who is a history teacher at the local high school. He also secretly plays Santa Claus every year.
This is one of those stories that really pulls at the heartstrings. The characters are very well drawn. Their stories really pull you in and having you rooting for them to find their happy ending. This story very much reminded me of the stories I binge watch during the holiday season. I highly recommend.

After Sidney's marriage fails she decides to move into her Grandparents house she inherited in Hopewell. Hoping her daughter falls in love with this town. Together they do more than fit into this town. Together they bond over Christmas and through the struggles and non struggles they seem to be just fine with the help of some new friends. They also learn to put the past behind them and look froward to what comes their way.

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

While Christmas can be a special time of faith, love and happiness, for others it can be a reminder of loss, hurt and pain. It can remind us of loved ones who have passed, relationships and marriages that have failed and may even darken depression.

In this story, Sydney is just recovering from her ex-husband’s unfaithfulness and their divorce. While he is off building a new life with his new wife, she is trying to pick up the pieces and help not only her daughter heal but herself as well. No easy task right? She does this with such grace and strength, I am actually quite proud of her. You do see her struggle at times but she is one amazing woman who tries to hold it together not only for herself but her daughter as well.

In this moment walks in Mac, the town’s Santa (but that is under cover!) and most eligible bachelor who also comes with a child package. His wife left him and their son when he was quite little and he has had to pick up the pieces and be both Mom and Dad. He does an amazing job at this and you can see the love and hope he has for the future. He falls for Sydney and wants to take that leap of faith with her but can understand and respect how hurt she still is. He has such a kind and good soul.

This was a beautiful story of hope, learning to trust again, recovering from a painful situation and moving into the future. All of this can be difficult but when you find a person who helps you want to be better, appreciates you for you and wants you to continue to grow is an important thing. I couldn’t put this book down!

A must read for this holiday season. A heart felt story of starting over and finding love when least expected. Sydney, recently divorced, moves with her daughter to Hopewell, NC to start a new life for them. Sydney use to come here as a child in the summer to visit her grandparents. She soon begins to work at the Book Bea, one of her favorite memories of her childhood. She soon finds magic in the Christmas season of this small town, especially after meeting Kevin and his son Seth.

Yes, you can Believe in the magic of Christmas with this wonderful story. I highly recommend this book!