Sydney is in the process of getting divorced and moved out to Hopewell in a house her grand parents left her so she can settle things with her and her daughter. The Book Bea has always been a source of comfort and she needs all the comfort that she can get right now especially during the holidays where her daughter will be spending this christmas with her father.

I was going to write more in that summery but wasn't sure how to do so without spoiling the book so I'll leave it at that. You know what I really enjoyed this book. There was never a moment where I felt like it was dragged or something felt unnecessary to progress the story. This was plain and simple a good clean holiday romance. I liked that it as a subtle romance where things were kinda slow and sweet. I liked seeing how Sydney and Mac where. There was enough of everything to make this book really enjoyable, it was sweet and heartwarming and recommend you lovely readers to check it out.

Hope at Christmas is about fresh starts, getting past hurts, and new love, and it's all set around a book Shop! Which, in my opinion, is where romances should always be set. Lol

But getting back to the story; Sydney Ragsdale and her daughter Ray Anne had moved to Hopewell, NC, to live in the house she inherited from her grandparents. And to fill in the days while her daughter is at school, and before she stars her new job. She helps out at The Book Bea, which is the local book store, and her childhood safe place. But now, the store and the town become more than Sydney and Ray Anne ever dream!

I loved this book, it's a totally a feel good book, with a modern, after divorce twist. The characters are enjoyable, and the plot, heartwarming. If you like clean small town romances, this is the book for You!

I give Hope at Christmas 4 stars!

This book is a slow burning romance. There are so many sweet parts to this book, Mac is like the perfect guy! Mac is just an all around wonderful guy, so thoughtful, kind hearted and all around great father and friend. Bea is such a great character in this book, she sees all the good in people and her heart for the broken-hearted. Sydney is a great leading female character, strong and yet broken and vulnerable. I can totally see this book being made into a Hallmark Christmas movie. Just an overall good story.

when sydney ragsdale finds herself moving to her grandparent's vacation home in hope at christmas in order to get away from atlanta and the memories of her life before divorce she isn't holding out high expectations for her new life. but when she reconnects with the owner of the bookstore she adored visiting every summer, she finds herself feeling stronger and better about her new life in hopewell.

she's still adjusting to being a single mom. and her daughter is suffering quite a bit of emotional distress caused by her father and his utter selfishness. for both sydney and rayanne christmas at hopewell will be a challenge. except that with the best santa claus for miles and a town enthusiastic about the spirit of the season it is hard from either of them to stay down in the dumps for long.

more women's fiction than straight out romance, there is still a sweet romance with the aforementioned santa claus, also known as coach mac. a single dad who loves christmas with his whole heart. watching sydney come into her own and embrace her new life makes for an uplifting story with a happy ending.

Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle is a sweet story about Kevin MacAlea 'Mac' and
Sydney Ragsdale.
Sydney is trying to start a new life for her and her daughter after her divorce. Sydney moves to NC to be further away from her ex husband. There she meets Mac who also has a little boy and whose wife up and left them. Sydney is trying to find herself again after all her ex husband has put her through. Mac too is dealing with his past feelings but the two of them slowly come together.
This was such a sweet story of hope and love. It is one that you will not want to put down for sure.
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Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle is a wonderful Christmas story about learning to trust, friendship, following your heart and learning to fly. What a wonderful story just in time to kick off the holiday season. This is the story of Mac and Sydney.

Sydney Ragsdale is trying to get her life back together after a divorce from a man that all her friends knew was cheating on her. Needing to get away, she and her 10 year old daughter RayAnne move to Hopewell, NC and into the home that she loved so much as a child, the home of here grandparents. Waiting until January to start a new job, feeling at loose ends, she walks into the one place that made her happy, the place that holds so many wonderful memories for her, The Book Bea, and right into the wonderful old lady that she remembers from her youth. When Bea offers her a job for the holidays, Sydney jumps at the chance. The longer that she is in Hopewell, the more people that she meets, she begins to feel like she has finally come home. And that includes the handsome and helpful Kevin MacAlea.

Kevin MacAlea is a high school history teacher, raising his 12 year old son Seth on his own after his ex wife left them on Christmas Day. Trying to be all things to his son, Mac will do anything to make their lives as happy as possible. With the Christmas season approaching, Mac does what he has done for the last 13 years, he dresses up as Santa and listens to the dreams and wishes of the hopeful children in Hopewell. When little RayAnne shows up asking Santa to do something special to make her mom happy again, Mac begins to wonder if he might be able to work a little magic.

As Sydney and Mac spend time together, as friends of course, with the kids trying to make up for the fact that RayAnne's father cancelled her visit with him, the more that Sydney and Mac realize that they share a lot in common. But Mac is hiding the fact that he is Santa from his son and from Sydney. When RayAnne is hurt and Sydney jumps to conclusions about how it happened, it will take a Christmas Miracle to get these two loney hearts back on the right path.

All I can really say about this amazing book is WOW! I mean, Bea is the true town matchmaker, and she has her sites set on Sydney and Mac. But she is also a confidant, she is a friend, she is a surrogate grandmother. She is exactly what Sydney needs when she feels like her life is falling apart. I love that Mac was patience with Sydney, giving her time and space to come around, taking it one day at a time, never pushing for more than either of them were willing to give.

This book shows the true meaning of Christmas, friends helping friends, finding your place in the world, and allowing hope to rise above it all.

Reading this was like a Hallmark movie in book form! I really enjoyed it. The story was refreshing and nice for a good holiday read. I like reading books that make me feel happy and good through them. This book was that way for me. I like that true happiness can be found after going through unexpected and hard circumstances. I got a kindle copy through netgally and this is my review! :D

Title: Hope at Christmas
Author: Nancy Naigle
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Hope at Christmas" by Nancy Naigle

My Thoughts....

This was quite a good holiday story that involved two divorced parents and their children. I liked how this author brings Sydney Ragsdale and Kevin [Mac] Alea together in this wonderful Christmas magical read that is fulled with 'love and hopefulness.'

We find from the story that after an very unexpected divorce Sydney moves from Atlanta to Hopewell, North Carolina with her daughter where her grandparents had left her their farm house to get away from it all ... a controlling ex and some ex friends. Hopefully Sydney plan to start a new live there in Hopewell.

As you read through this well written story one will find the characters so very relatable as well as realistic giving you a good senseable read. Will these two people [Sydney & Mac] be able to get just what they needed as they find there way around Hopewell N.C? This author brings out a interesting point of what can happen when there is a divorce ex and who is left hurt and abandon when a marriage is dissolved...the child. In this case the children were Ray Anne & Seth. Be ready for a lots of action, surprises, drama, trust issues, fun, hope, love, sadness and even laughter, and Christmas cheer as the story continues to the end. What will happen when Sydney starts working for Bea over the holidays?What was so special about this book store? Who will she met? What was it about Mac. divorced, who was teacher at the local HS, baseball coach and during the holidays would dress up as Santa in that interested Sydney? Will their be sparks between Sydney and Mac as they go some some series of non-dates? Will these two lost souls who had been wounded be able to find healing? Will Sydney be able to trust again after that ordeal with her ex? To get all of these questions answered you will have to pick up "Hope at Christmas" and see how this author will bring it all out for you.

By the end the reader will get a good heart-warming holiday story of ' love, hope and second chances' and YES, a ending with a wonderful HEA.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.

Hope At Christmas is a sweet holiday romance in a small town. The heroine, Sydney Ragsdale, is soon to be divorced and has moved from Atlanta to escape the hold her somewhat controlling soon to be ex-husband has on her and because her grandparents left their farmhouse and she has nowhere else for her and her daughter to live. The hero, Kevin “Mac” MacAlee, is the high school baseball coach and history teacher at the high school whose wife abandoned him and their child, Seth, years ago. They both have 10 year old children.

Sydney had a lot of self doubt after her husband cheated on her for two years prior to asking to be out of the relationship. Her daughter was against the move and wanted to stay with her dad, but her dad’s new girlfriend wasn’t totally on board with that so Sydney and RayAnne have moved to the small town where Sydney used to spend summers with her grandparents.

I liked both the main characters and honestly, the fact this was a clean romance didn’t bother me at all, it worked for this couple and their relationship. What I did have issues with and I do realize this was an Advance Review Copy (ARC) was there were so many issues with the timeline in this story which distracted greatly from the story.

I did feel like there was a bit of manufactured drama that wasn’t necessary and the ending was a bit too fairytale easy, but it mostly worked for a light holiday read.

For me, the real star of this book was the town, the community, and the holiday traditions they’ve carried on for many years.

Hope At Christmas is a pleasant holiday romance that was easy to read and enjoyable.

A charming, sweet read with joy, laughter, friendship, books and love.
Festive and perfect for a little Christmas romance
A lovely Christmas read.

This is the story for every woman who just wanted to get her self back. I feel like Sydney's best present is her own self

Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle is a lovely romance but also a story of rebuilding after your dreams have been shattered by broken promises and manipulative people. Sydney Ragsdale and her daughter are in great need of a change so moving to Hopewell, NC is exactly what they do. Here they find a community of fine people, who give support, friendship and love. This is an enjoyable read even as the characters face some difficult times. I found myself rooting for the good guys and booing the not so good ones.

This is not an individual but a family rebuilding times two as two single parents navigate the world of preteens, a perilous adventure without the added conflicts that divorce can bring. The Book Bea is a haven of harmony that gave the community setting a great sense of place in the story. The characters were also authentic with real life issues that many face each day. By the conclusion, Hope at Christmas served to inspire us all to have hope at Christmas and all year-long.

This is my first book of this author and I am glad I gave it a try! Sidney's journey is poignant, current and very interesting to follow!

N/A This book was downloaded to my shelf in error. I have not read or reviewed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for a copy of this delightful book. A romance intertwining strands of tales of past loset love, the main story, a great present tale which was filled with heartwarming characters, both adult and children, and developing romance. A definite for the pre Christmas reading list.

This is a Christmas story set in a small town. The book is slower paced, with the author taking time to introduce the hero and heroine and their worlds before they are brought together. Sydney is looking for a fresh start and has moved back to her childhood home. Mac is a single dad who is doing his best to fill the gap left behind by his son”s mother. The hero and heroine have to work through challenges as they start a relationship.

Those who like sweet, Christmas romances with a slower pace will likely enjoy this book.

Hope at Christmas is the new release from author Nancy Naigle. This is truly a heartwarming and delightful read. The title is perfect for this holiday romance, because hope is vital to this story and the characters.

Sydney Ragsdale and her ten-year-old daughter RayAnne are starting over. After learning about her husband Jon's affair, she knew she needed a fresh start. Her grandparents left their old farmhouse to her after they passed away. This is a house that Sydney always loved and she has many wonderful memories of her time spent there. Without looking back, she packs up their belongings and makes the move from Atlanta to the old farmhouse in Hopewell, North Carolina. Sydney is excited about the move, and thinks of it as a new adventure. However, RayAnne doesn't share in her mother's excitement, and is resentful for being taken out of school and away from her friends.

Kevin MacAlea (Mac) is a history teacher at the high school, and he is a single parent to his twelve-year-old son, Seth. Mac loves the Christmas holiday season, and secretly plays the role of Santa every Christmas. Seth does not share his dad's enthusiasm about Christmas, because for him, it only brings back the memories of his mom leaving them on Christmas Eve.

Bea Marion owns the bookstore located in an old mansion on Main Street called The Book Bea. The store was a wedding gift from her husband, and the store is just as important to Bea as it is to the town. Bea knows everyone in Hopewell, and is known for her loving ways and motherly advice. She offers Sydney a part-time position working at the book store during the holiday season, and Sydney quickly accepts. Even though Sydney already has a job at Peabody's, there is just something special about the bookstore...and it makes her feel at home.

The story that unfolds is a magical one that is filled with the spirit of Christmas. Sydney and Mac have both been burned in the romance department, and neither are looking for love. However, love comes when we least expect it, and their journey to finding true love is an absolute joy to follow.

Nacy Naigle writes from the heart...giving amazing insight into each character through her amazing attention to detail. Her vivid writing style will immerse you into the story so perfectly that you will feel as if you know each and every character. I love how many of the characters are introduced into the storyline as they shop at The Book Bea. As with the main characters, Bea is a character that you quickly fall in love with. She is a character that is not only genuine, but one that is fully invested in the welfare of the residents in town. Bea is the voice of reason...one that is always willing to listen and help out whenever she can.

Overall, this is simply one of the best Christmas romance novels I have read. It is a story about family, romance, friendship, and love. It depicts a positive message about moving forward despite what obstacles are thrown in the way....and finding the strength and perseverance to survive and adapt. Second chances always come around, if you just know where to look, and find a way to find hope. Nancy Naigle is an amazing storyteller, always perfectly balancing a positive message within a wonderfully written story.

I would like to thank St Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

Hope at Christmas is a lovely book written by author Nancy Naigle. Wonderful characters and a truly heartwarming story. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance copy.

Divorce. A daughter who was not accepting parental divorce. An old house, in need of repair, in a small town. The first Christmas she would spend away from her daughter. A financial situation that was shorter than the previous one. A broken heart...

Sydney Ragsdale's year was not ending in the best way. But she was grateful to have a roof over her head and to be back in Hopewell, the city where she vacationed at her grandparents' house. There she had precious memories.
But she knew that everything was new. She needed to work, she needed to improve her self-esteem, and more importantly, she had a daughter who still dreamed of seeing her parents together.
While waiting for the day to start on her new job, after spending years away from the job market,(as a housewife, mother and wife), Sydney gets a temporary job at The Book Bea Bookstore. The same bookstore she went with her grandmother when she was a child.
Mrs. Bea Marron, the owner, was already very old and did not have the same energy of years ago, when she dressed the store preparing for Christmas Season. Sydney is delighted to be able to help. That would keep her busy when she would have to spend Christmas without RayAnne, who would be with her father, Jon.

RayAnne was struggling to adjust to her new life. New school, without her friends, without her father and with a new financial reality that her mother could not afford. They both had to give up a lot to be happy there.

One thing could unite them: the bookstore.

When RayAnne receives bad news from her father, and her world collapses, Sydney needs to be strong to help her daughter. And she receives unexpected help. Seth, the son of History teacher Kevin McAlee-Mac-becomes RayAnne's new friend and helps her cope with the cold winter days.

At the same time, Mac, who years before had been abandoned by his wife, Seth's mother, feels a connection with Sydney when he sees her lost and frustrated with her daughter's reaction.

The two families spend several moments together, which solidifies the friendship and some more feelings that begin to surface.
However, a new twist takes place and soon Sydney will have to choose between her daughter's greatest happiness or what was best for both of them in the long run.

A Christmas story about second chances, beginnings, family, fidelity, choices and departures.
5 stars

This is a lovely story about Sydney Ragsdale and her young ten-year old daughter starting over again in a small town. Sydney is running away to lick her wounds after finding out that her husband has been cheating on her for years. She and her daughter RayAnne head to Hopewell, North Carolina to live in the house that her grandparents left her.

She has a few marketable skills but, like many women, was out of the workplace for years raising her daughter. She has the promise of a job and a roof over her head but has to deal with attitude from RayAnne who didn’t want to leave Atlanta or her dad. RayAnne doesn’t quite get that it was her father who walked out on the family.

Sydney looks for and finds a new foothold in the town by way of a temporary job at the local bookstore. She also finds many friends, including the town’s most eligible bachelor, Mac, who has a young son of his own. While the book has the beginning of a romance, it does not include any sexual references at all. I found that very appealing in a Christmas story. While the book is not Christian per se, there is a focus on both faith and Christmas, with prayers and references.

The plot of the story flowed well and the characters were believable. There were parts of the story that made me laugh and there were parts where I was wiping tears from my eyes.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.