A lot to like here: likeable main characters, a special little boy and his hummingbird and phenomenal talent, good dialogue, good storyline, good ending. Some elements of Christmas here but not a lot. One big issue though: perhaps I am a bit too sensitive but I am not sure I would let a relative stranger spend so much time alone with my child. It's a good thing Ethan is such a great guy!

Squeaky clean romance and language, as expected from Davis Bunn, which is a big plus for me.

All in all, not a bad book though I was less immersed in it.

3 and a half stars for me.

A fire sweeping thru Miramar Bay, when policewoman Ryan knocked on Ethan door. Within minutes his home was gone. Later they were united for a cause an animal rescue operation. Their lives were like a hummingbird, independent. and loyal. They both have baggage, yet always ready to help other.
A delightful family, heartwarming story that will delight readers. Given. ARC by Net Galley and Kensington
for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

This is a beautiful, uplifting story that can be read at Christmas time or anytime.
It has a warm, family, friendship feel that you will not want to miss!
My favorite character of all time is the famous soul named Trevor! Truly brings the story and characters together to open up the plot.
Well done !

Thank you to #Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC and allowing me to review this wonderful book.

Ethan is a beautiful and broken human being. I love the glimpses into his heart the story slowly reveals. The phrase Ethan's friends use is 'tiene muchos trasfondos' - many hidden depths - also means you're carrying baggage.

I especially adore the small town Christmas Hallmark movie vibe I get from this main character. The miniatures artist and the police officer. And the connection to nostalgic Christmas books and films was definitely perfect!

"The fires define the season." Well, it's Christmas in Miramar, California, after all. And as the plot builds to a crescendo, it's clear that the baggage of both Ethan and love interest Ryan are not the biggest fires faced in this story.

And the hummingbird? Did you know hummingbirds are only native to North America? And that they're incredibly vulnerable to smoke, due to their tiny, fragile lungs? And that they're territorial, fiercely independent birds? The perfect symbol for Ethan (and Ryan).

"Ethan considered California Christmases to be rainbow events - explosive colors fashioned from the locals' various heritages. Even this year, when wildfires streaked the sky with dark ribbons and everyone worried about the future of their town."

"He felt as if he'd never noticed Christmas lights before. The air still tasted of old smoke, but for once he did not mind. Hummingbird feeders were strung on lampposts, doorframes, shop signs. Little flashes of life, scarcely larger than ornaments on a Christmas tree, darted in and away."

The imagery in this lovely book will take your breath away.

With Christmas in the title I really expected more of a Christmas story. What I got was a story about someone doing so much for others. It’s a nice feel good book
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

The Characters Hummingbird by Davis Bunn was a fantastic read. I enjoyed the lovely story. Five stars!

Having personally lived through multiple fire seasons in Southern California, including evacuations and the loss of a close friend’s home, I appreciated the author’s ability to capture the physical, emotional, mental and even spiritual costs of these devastating wildfires. This story is so much more than the impact of these fires – it touches on love, loss, loneliness, renewal, family, and community with a touch of suspense.

The setting is Miramar Bay, a historical, coastal town in central California. Ryan Eames, a police officer, is single-handedly raising her son, Liam, whose quiet, introspective manner is not appreciated by his classmates. She meets Ethan Lange, a banker and part-time artist, when a wildfire requires immediate evacuation of his neighborhood. He subsequently loses his home and all his possessions. Gradually a personal and professional relationship develops which means each must confront their emotional barriers to love and establishing a bond as a family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this heart-warming book and was engaged from the first page to the last. While I found Ryan and Ethan both likeable and relatable, the stars of the book were Liam and his relationship with Trevor, a rescued hummingbird. Additionally, the author pays homage to the dedication and bravery of the police and fire personnel who battle these blazes, often at great personal expense. Overall, this is a read well worth the investment of time and energy.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

What a delightful read! Ethan is a divorced man with a good, though broken, heart who works as a banker when he isn't building models for Hollywood. Ryan is a police officer and a single mom of a special boy seemingly on the autism spectrum, though this is never specified. A fire that destroys Ethan's home and is blazing through the area throws them together.

This story is much more than romantic suspense. Ethan, Ryan, and her son face real problems of loss and heartache. Ethan and the son build a real relationship. Ethan is a lot like the boy, understands him, and genuinely cares for him.

The author excels at conveying emotion - heartbreak, fear, the overflow of love. He squeezes your heart and doesn't let go.

Family friendly with a few scenes of danger.

Highly recommend.

This is a warm and cozy read…a quick read with likable characters. Although the story is somewhat simplistic, reading deeper the meaning comes forward… family and friends…love and romance…children…birds…themes and motifs running through this novel written by a talented author. This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and learning more about the birds. Fun read.

I thought Davis Bunn's The Christmas Hummingbird was a fabulous book. I enjoyed every single page. Five plus stars.

This book is magical! I loved it!!! It sucked me in right away, and I stayed up reading until I was finished. I think it is going to claim the spot of my all time favorite Davis Bunn book, as well as my favorite Miramar Bay book.

It’s not all hummingbirds and elves, rescued goats, horses, cats and dogs. There’s also firestorms sweeping too close to town, greedy thieves taking advantage of the fire to steal valuables from vacation homes.

There are characters with broken hearts, afraid to love again. There are artists learning to share their art. Hard-working police and fire personnel serving the community.

I’m going to be gifting this to a lot of people for Christmas presents!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#Christmas Hummingbird #NetGalley