Vanessa Larkin works for a company who takes over companies and repurposes them into companies their clients own or have just bought. She is one of the best project managers within the company for this. Still, she does not get to go to Paris for the holidays as she hoped and planned, to tackle the company’s big project there, but instead goes to Fraser Hills, NC, home of the USA’s best fruitcake, to close it down the fruitcake factory, so its space can be converted to the sporting goods storage warehouses the company’s client wants. Vanessa has never had a difficult time with her job—until now. Once on site, she begins to get a good look at the fruitcake company, the town that surrounds it, the people who work at the company and the support the town and its residents receive and give to the company. Naturally, the town’s residents are not all that happy with her plans, and being so close to Christmas and the new year does not help. Vanessa works extra hard to look at the project from all angles, trying to figure out a way to satisfy/please both the town and the fruitcake factory as well as her company’s client. Can she do it or will she be overpowered by things greater than she is?

This is a pretty good book. I enjoyed watching Vanessa work through her “problem” to find a solution. I also enjoyed meeting the various town residents who interact with her throughout. I was not so sure about her romance with Mike Marshall, as it just did not seem to “have it” for me, as relationships in other romances normally do. There may have just been too much going on in the book. It was refreshing to see such a strong knowledgeable woman trusted with a good solid job as Vanessa was, and to see her recognize the same strength and abilities in Mike’s daughter. This is a holiday book, but it is not too christmassey, so can really be read any time. It is well worth the effort. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Once again Ms Naigle transports us into her winter wonderland small town ccommunioty with this feel good Christmas story. Vanessa goes in all business with the assignment that will do more than just shake up the town but she ends up being the one who gets shook up. A Heartfelt Christmas Promise will leave you with that warm fuzzy feeling that makes you want to keep coming back for more.

Once again a Christmas book penned by favorite author Nancy Naigle has struck a home run. I loved the storyline because it is reminiscent of what goes on in our small communities frequently. If escapism is what you enjoy from holiday reading then pick up this wonderful book. Any book from Nancy is sure to bring a warmth to your heart and a smile to your face. Grab that cup of coffee while lounging in your comfy pjs and delve in. #AHeartfeltChristmasPromise #NetGalley

A sweet book with a small town, dynamic townsfolk, a strong heroine there to do a job and a little Christmas magic and romance.

A Hallmark movie in book form. There is some emotional parts but the whole things is a satisfying, happy read.

Fans of Nancy Naigle, Christmas movies,holiday books, and sweet small towns will enjoy this.

4.5 stars

Just about every holiday season, I read one of Nancy Naigle’s holiday romances and I have never been disappointed. It’s like reading a Hallmark Movie, you just know without a doubt that you are going to read something sweet, fun, romantic, and full of holiday cheer!

When this book was released in October, I just didn’t have room on my calendar to review it. But this year I did something I never do. I left my December calendar really open so that I could read a bunch of holiday romances!

And this one was at the top of my list to read! I could easily have finished it in a day but then of course life got in the way so it took me a couple of days to read, but I was happy because that meant I got to drag it out a little more and enjoy all the wonderful words inside a little longer!

Summary
Vanessa Larkin was supposed to be spending Christmas in Paris, France on a business trip she hoped to enjoy as a working vacation. Instead, she’s been assigned to Fraser Hills, North Carolina–home of the Best Fruitcake in the USA–to convert her company’s property into warehouse space and shut down Porter’s, the fruitcake factory. Offering retirement packages and selling locals on new job opportunities may not spread holiday cheer, but Vanessa believes she’s helping secure the town’s future.

Mike Marshall’s family founded Porter’s. For decades, the factory served as the lifeblood of the community until his grandfather sold the business to a Chicago corporation. The sale cost the town its independence–and the Marshalls their family ties. A horse farmer, Mike was never involved with his grandfather’s company, but still felt Fraser Hills lost part of its identity. And as a widower raising a teenage daughter, he’s suffered enough losses in one lifetime. News of the factory’s closing means losing another piece of the town’s legacy.

Far from the skyscrapers and rapid pace of the city, Vanessa finds herself enjoying the easygoing rhythms of rural living. With Mike as her guide, she learns to appreciate the simple pleasures found in shared holiday festivities among friends. Fraser Hills is a town she is growing to love–and Mike is someone she is falling in love with. Now all Vanessa needs is a Christmas miracle to give her newfound friends and home a gift they’ll cherish for many New Years to come. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
Of all the Christmas books I have read from Naigle, I have to say this one is my absolute favorite. I think I said that about the last one, but this one was so wonderful! I adore Percheron horses and to have them featured so predominantly in this story just made it for me! I adored the setting and the small town charm of Fraser Hills. It really got me in the mood for Christmas!

While I might not have loved Vanessa at the beginning, I loved watching her transform and come to realize the importance of slowing down and seeing the beauty in life rather than just work was such a great message to readers. I know that having just returned to work in a more professional and management role, as a young mom, it’s hard to find that work/life balance! I tend to run to the extreme and would work all day if I was allowed but I have to force myself to step away and focus on other things and that work will be there—it’s not like I’m the president or queen or something.

So I thought that this was a great message to the mid twenties to late thirties reader demographic and Vanessa would appeal to many readers of this book. WhileI might not have loved her, I could easily see myself in her character and appreciated her as the story went on.

Now let’s get to the real question of the story—-the hero? Mike was wonderful! I loved his charm, honesty, and of course the fact that he loved horses just melted me. I adored him and I think readers will fall in love with him just like I did. I mean, he has Percherons for god sake. How can you not love a man with gorgeous horse?!

If you are a fan of holiday romances and Hallmark movies, this is the book for you. I adored it and I can’t wait to read the next holiday novel from Nancy Naigle. She has a talented hand at Christmas and this book is full of romance, snow, adorable animals, small town charm, and of course SO. MUCH. CHRISTMAS. I loved it!

Book Info and Rating
Paperback, 352 pages

Published September 29th 2020 by St. Martin’s Griffin

ISBN1250312647 (ISBN13: 9781250312648)

Free review copy provided by publisher, St Martin’s Griffin, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Genre: holiday romance, romance

I adore Nancy Naigle books and I really needed this sweet, holiday read! Bring me all the Christmas, puppies, snow and love. This would make a fun buddy read for a BFF or family to put everyone in a festive and fun holiday spirit!

Vanessa thought her next project would be in Paris. Vanessa's boss had other plans. Instead of Paris her next project was to shutdown Porter's fruitcake plant and get it ready for a sporting goods warehouse. Vanessa arrives in Fraser Hills, NC, and realizes this project isnt going to be easy. Porter's is this small close knit towns major employer.

Vanessa's cousin Anna arrives in town to help her celebrate Christmas after her project is completed. Anna and their new friends Buck, Misty, and Mike help Vanessa realizes what is truly important. The saving of the Fruitcake plant and the arrival of the sporting goods can both be good for this town. Can she make it work?

I loved this cozy holiday romance. The cast of characters in this small town at times made me laugh. It is a town that makes you feel like family. The Heartfelt Christmas Promise is the perfect heartwarming holiday story to cozy up on the couch with a cup of cocoa. Thank you @nancynaigle and @katerockbooktours
For including me in this tour.

This is the heartwarming tale of Vanessa, a workaholic who gets sent to a quant small town in North Carolina to restructure a fruitcake factory during the holidays. The hard working people of Frasier Hills are resistant to change and were promised nothing would happen to their beloved factory and store. Can Vannessa impress her boss and keep the people of Frasier Hills happy?

I enjoyed this story so much! This NEEDS to be made into a Hallmark movie! It truly was a heartfelt Christmas novel! The characters were genuine and so well written. The setting was picturesque and perfect for the holidays. The drama was exactly what I needed out of a holiday story and the romance was sweet and affectionate. The added bonus is there are wonderful descriptions of an adorable dog and of beautiful horses that add to the story beautifully. If you are looking for the perfect holiday story, look no further!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Naigle has perfected Christmas movie magic in novel form. The little touches, such as the horses and the puppy, give the story something extra that will keep you reading long after the cocoa has gone cold.

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine.
I absolutely Love Christmas stories! How can you not when there’s a great story, the Feels, puppies, horses, and good men involved? Nancy Naigle writes The Best Christmas stories.

This was a delightful Christmas story. Yes, there is romance, there is some angst, there is the evil company that wants to close the local fruitcake company, but there is more. This would make a perfect Hallmark movie. Vanessa Larkin is sent to Fraser Hills, North Carolina to convert space belonging to Porter's Fruitcake Company into warehouse space for a sporting goods business their company owns. What she finds is that she can do that without closing Porter's. She will need some fancy footwork to convince her boss that the person who recommended closing Porter's did not do his due diligence. Throw in the small town vibe, wonderful characters and Christmas spirit and this is a lovely story full of Christmas Spirit, family, friendship and some Christmas Magic.

I really enjoyed this story. It had a bit more than the normal Christmas romance that I love. Vanessa is intelligent, strong, and independent. She has not returned to her hometown with her tail between her legs, but is in Fraser Hills to do a job, in this case a job that should make everyone happy. I loved the additional storyline of Buck, Mike and Anna and how this family is estranged, yet hopefully able to heal. Throw in some horses and puppies and you have a book that will appeal to many. I was interested to see how and why a company that wants to make money would close a profitable business. So often these businesses are failing, but not his one. The townsfolk were wonderful. There were some fans of Anna and some that disliked her and tried to undermine her efforts. There were smart and capable people living in Fraser Hills and Nancy Naigle highlights them. I liked that there were multi-generational characters involved in the turnaround. Overall, this was a wonderful Christmas story, which, considering Nancy Naigle often pens my favourite Christmas story each year, did not surprise me. Pick this one up if you are looking for some Christmas magic, some Christmas romance and some family and community festivities, you won't be disappointed.

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise by Nancy Naigle was the perfect kick-off Christmas novel for this year. When the story started with the idea of Vanessa spending Christmas in Paris, I was super excited to read about her adventures there, but then everything changed and she ended up in a small town in North Carolina. I think I was as let down as she was with the new locale. But, the story shifted and I fell in love with Fraser Hills (fruitcake capital of the USA), right along with Vanessa. A Heartfelt Christmas Promise could very well be made into a Hallmark movie, it's clean and sweet with a sense of Christmas magic. I could feel the chemistry between Mike and Vanessa and loved her relationship with Misty, Mike's daughter. Buck was another character I really enjoyed. I would highly recommend this Christmas story!

A perfect book to get into the Christmas spirit. Such a sweet story. Glad that I got access to it. Definitely recommend.

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise by Nancy Naigle gave me all of the feels! This novel really captured the true essence of Christmas. If you’re a fan of Hallmark movies, then this is your book. Set in a small picturesque town, with numerous holiday festivities, some family drama, and a little bit of romance; Naigle’s latest checks all of the boxes. You’ll want to get cozy under a fuzzy blanket, with a warm beverage, your Christmas pjs, and curl up with this heartwarming book. I adored all of the characters, the interesting storyline, and the strong focus on family. Oh, and did I mention that there’s fruitcake involved? And a puppy? You don’t want to miss this charming story!

A sweet Christmas romance

It was the worst time to shut down a business, but it’s what Vanessa had to do. She was sent to Fraser Hills, North Carolina to shut down Porter’s Fruitcake factory. When Vanessa gets there, she starts to fall in love with the town and its people, including Mike, who has his own ties to Porter’s. Now, Vanessa has to figure out how to satisfy her boss and remain in favor to her new friends in Frasier Hills.

This story totally swept me away. The descriptions of the town were so detailed, I could easily visualize them. I became attached to the characters as well and couldn’t wait to see how Vanessa would keep everyone happy in the end. This book would make a wonderful holiday movie with its strong family ties and heartfelt storyline.

This book is perfect holiday read I felt like I stepped into a Hallmark Christmas movie and that’s exactly what I needed, especially during this time of being stuck home.
Vanessa Larkin is sent to Fraser Hill North Carolina to a small town by her work just before Thanksgiving, instead of Paris or Leavenworth like she was dreaming about. Her job is to shut down a fruitcake factory named Porter Fruitcake Company which is the small towns main business. With shutting the business down it makes room for a sporting goods company for a warehouse space. She doesn’t get a happy welcome, she’s not the first person her company has sent down to close the company. She’s making it her mission to get in an out quickly. Soon she finds herself falling for the small town. Her cousin Anna comes in to join her for a Christmas visit. She begins to wonder if there’s a way for her to make the small town and her company happy. Anna begins to fall for the small town as soon as she arrives and soon meets someone special. Vanessa is Always putting work first , Fraser Hill begins to opens her eyes to see what she’s missing in her life . This book is filled with the Christmas spirit and will leave a smile on your face! I’m giving this five stars I loved it! Perfect Holliday read!

This was a book outside my usual genres, but I found myself enjoying the story! I admire the author for setting the plot in a small-town setting and introducing characters I fell in love with. Overall, this was a quick holiday read to life a reader’s spirits!

This is a small town Christmas romance and it is very heartwarming. The writing is very descriptive and will capture you from the beginning. It is sure to get you into the spirit of Christmas.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nancy Naigle is fast becoming one of my favorite authors for excellent Christmas reading, and A Heartfelt Christmas Promise really seals the deal. I loved every page, although I’ve got to say, the pup was my favorite!

The Hallmark Movie Queen, herself, has done it again! She has written several books that are Hallmark movies & oh how I love them all! I’m a big fan.

Not only is she in my home state of NC, but she sets this book in the fictional town of Fraser Hills in NC.

Vanessa is our main character with a busy career that leads her to the small mountain town. She had no idea that she’d find a place she didn’t even know she needed to slow down and appreciate the good things. She meets amazing people in the small town and maybe, a love she wasn’t even looking for.
Perhaps the best part for me....is the sweet pup, Scooter, of course! I love when dogs are in books and this little guy really touched my heart! Isn’t he just the cutest on the cover?

Thanks to Nancy, Kate Rock, St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for my copy of this adorable book!

A definitely merry 5 ⭐️ for me, a self-proclaimed, #hallmarkmoviequeen, for my love of all of them!