I enjoyed this book by Lacey Baker; it had all the necessary aspects of a good Christmas romance story. I also enjoyed that it was a clean romance; nothing crazy happened between the two main characters, and it even referenced having faith quite frequently. Overall, for me, it was a pleasant and easy book to read.

Ella Wilson's life is about to change in many ways, but the biggest one is that she is out of a job. With the closing of a gallery she has been working at for years, Ella decides to return home to her aunt Addies during the Christmas season. A season that she has dreaded since the passing of her mother when she was younger. Convinced she has a jinx when wishing on things, especially around the holiday season, Ella is just hoping she'll have a new job by the first of the year. Coming back home has more than just a new job in store for her. Ella runs into an old classmate who she just so happens to have always had a crush on when their coffee orders get switched in the local coffee shop.

Seth, who lost his wife a year ago, is trying to continue a passion of hers by helping with the annual Christmas tree auction at the church. He has also always had a crush on Ella, but let it die down when she moved away after high school. They'll be thrown together to make this year's Christmas tree auction a success. Love just might start brewing again for the both of them, and Ella might finally find joy in the Christmas season once again. As Ella finds her way back to her faith in God and away from the feeling of not getting what she wishes for, she'll discover what she truly wants for herself in this life.

Thank you so much to Lacey Baker, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A feel-good, heartwarming, dual POV, small-town holiday romance between Ella and Seth, two former high school classmates with a complicated past. Finding herself between jobs and no longer engaged, Ella returns home and finds herself roped into organizing the Christmas tree auction.

Perfect for fans of Hallmark Holiday movies and authors like Belle Calhoune. Nothing super standout but still a fun read and good on audio. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!

I love the cover of this book! I was hoping for a sweet, cheerful holiday story that would keep me engaged on every page since I'd never read this author before. It didn't turn out that way. While it's a sweet holiday story, the characters were not relatable to me. The story dragged many times and was quite slow in many spots. I struggled to continue reading it many times and had to lay it down at times before continuing to read it later. I didn't connect with any of the characters really. I found Seth's family pushy and constantly in his business when he should have been able to make his own decisions! He's a grown man and a widower! Ella was always saying she didn't believe in Christmas yet joining in the holiday activities in her hometown. She'd lost her mother years ago but seemed to hold on to that grief too hard and won't move on. The book wasn't horrible but it just didn't hold my attention throughout.

This story begins with a memory. A memory of a Christmas long ago, when Lacy was just a child, and still believed that wishing on the star on top of their tree would make her dreams come true.

The memory brings back the reality of what followed, a dream that haunted her every year in the years since then. The year her mother died.

This year, however, is different as her fiancé is no longer in her life, and her job as an art curator is over. With nowhere else to go, and no real reason at the moment for her to stay, she heads to the home she grew up in to spend some time with her Aunt Addie, it’s been ten years since had been back there.

When she arrives, it’s time to make up for lost time and her aunt wants to know what she’s been up to, how things are going at her job, and when she responds with a simple “Fine,” her aunt quickly responds with a “...you know better than to sit at my table and lie to me.’ She apologizes, then tells her that she lost her job.

Returning to the town you grew up in can be nostalgic in a good way, but when there are memories you’d rather forget, it can be hard to look at the place and the people who still live there the same way. Her memories of living there, at least of some things that happened and some people, are not happy ones. They’re more…complicated.

When she runs into the man who used to be the boy she had a crush on when she was younger, she finds out that he has somewhat recently lost his wife, and they spend a little time together catching up on each other’s lives. The town’s annual auction needs a little bit of a boost, as they need to raise money for some renovations, and more. Lacy offers him some ideas, and he is quick to accept her help.

A simple and sweet story, without being overly sweet, as two people who are recovering from the losses in their lives begin to bond as they work together to help the town.

Pub Date: 10 Oct 2023

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Thomas Nelson–FICTION, Thomas Nelson

Holy Hallmark movie! This book was so sweet! The absolute perfect read for December and the Christmas season!

Ella, after losing her job just before Christmas, goes home to be with her Aunt for the weeks leading up to the holiday. After years of not loving Christmas because of the trauma surrounding the season, with the help of her childhood crush, Seth, falls back in love with the traditions and spirit of the holiday.

This book has all of the hallmark, small-town, childhood friends to lovers, grief and loss vibes that we all love. It was beautifully written and was truly an enjoyable book. I wish I could have waited until December to read it!

All of the fun characters, even just the side ones, truly made this story. I felt like I lived there in the small town of Bellepoint, PA and knew all of it’s neighbors. I told my husband after finishing this one that we have GOT to find a fun small town like this and move. So sweet and uplifting!!

I am loving closed door romance more and more as I read the talent in this genre. If you’re looking for a Christian, closed door (simple kissing only), clean romance for the holiday season, this is it.

I had no idea going into this one that it was a faith based story, but I absolutely loved the focus on the “reason for the season” and the sweet small town church vibes it gave. I can’t recommend this one enough!

Thanks so much Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley.

Get ready for a cozy holiday Hallmark movie like novel.

Ella is home for the holidays for the first time in over a decade. She runs into Seth and they must put the past behind them to work forward.

I thought it was a cute and sweet novel. The writing style didn't hook me immediately, but I thought it was an overall good read perfect for the holidays.

After her mother's death, Ellas was raised by her aunt. She left for college and hasn't returned in ten yers. Now, her aunt encouraged her to come back. As she no longer has the excuse of work not to go, Ella finds herself back in the small town where she partly grew up.

This book gave me all the Hallmark vibes (which I totally love). But the writing style didn't resonate with me. First I thought it's because it's written in third person perspective, but there's something else I just can't put my finger on.

This story is wholehearted, with relatable characters and I really like how the focus was on family within the relationship

Snow Place Like Home is my first read by Lacey Baker and y’all I devoured it!
This cover immediately caught my attention. But what was inside stole the show .
I thought this was a very sweet, clean romance that gave me all the heartwarming feels.
I had such fun with this one.
Ella and Seth are a delight, it was great watching these two slowly letting those old emotions fire back up again. I love a transforming romance, and it was a great journey!
The setting was phenomenal. Being in the sleepy town of Bellepoint, Pennsylvania was enchanting.
A fun, enjoyable second chance, small-town holiday romance!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

If you're in need of a feel-good, heartwarming, Hallmark vibe Christmas read, look no further.

Ella returns home after a decade of being away and finds herself working on a a charity tree auction with Seth, her high school crush - the one she had secretly adored. Seth finds himself falling for Ella, his secret high school crush. Both grown adults now, working towards a common goal for a good cause. Ella hasn't had a warm feeling towards Christmas for years and Seth is determined to show her the wonder in the season.

Lacey Baker does an amazing job of weaving the magic of the season into the stories of fantastic characters centered with community, family and faith.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and Lacey Baker for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Snow Place like Home by Lacey Baker
Holiday Christian romance. Closed door, clean.
Ella Wilson used to love the Christmas holiday season. But that was before returning home to the small community she grew up in. She needs to find a job. A life. A purpose. But she’s not feeling much hope.
Seth Hamil is a widower, an art teacher and a volunteer at his community church. Having Ella back in town reminds him of his youth and his heartbreak. But he still has faith in the season of love and the holiday is perfect time to remind Ella that there can be happiness in her life.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook. The audiobook is narrated by Trei Taylor who did a wonderful performance clearly acting emotions and character voice variations.
As Ella and Seth work together on the auction and getting the needed Christmas trees, you can hear their attraction, frustration, and longing in their voices.
The narrator has a very slight lisp. After the few minutes it blends and is barely noticeable. I found the best speed for this narration for me was 1.5.

Christmas warmth and joy. Spiritual happiness is apparent and included.
I enjoyed reading Ella and Seth’s reconnecting and their start down a path of love and joy.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio.

Ella travels to her home time for the first time in years and meets widow Seth. The two grow closer as they learn to let people in again in their lives.

This book was a miss for me. It was very much a Hallmark Christmas movie, which I'm sure there is an audience out there for. For me, it was a bit too slow. I wanted Ella and Seth to come together sooner and really build up some angst.

But, this book will definitely find it's audience in anyone looking for a cute holiday cozy romance.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy. My reviews are always honest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Snow Place Like Home gave me the initial vibes of a Hallmark movie. I found the beginning to be a cozy read with the details of the Christmas holiday. This story involves grief, and I found it to be expressed in a beautiful way. However, I found it to be very repetitive and predictable. It was hard to keep my attention for this read.

However, there were cute aspects, and I believe that some will certainly enjoy this read.

Sadly this was not for me! I am not one to rate so low but this book has alot of church, Jesus, etc & that is not for me. Also, there is alot of grief and sadness - not a cozy holiday read.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Snow Place Like Home
Lacey Baker
Oct. 10, 2023
Thomas Nelson
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It will soon be released!
This is a cozy and heartfelt Christmas romance that was enjoyable, but didn’t quite reach my expectations. The slow pace kept me from becoming fully engaged with the characters.
I would recommend this to readers who want a clean romance. Beautiful cover!
3 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Snow Place Like Home
Author: Lacey Baker
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2023

Snow Place Like Home is a cozy, yummy, and charming Christmas story, and it feels like a Hallmark movie. There is a reason for that: the author has written some shows for Hallmark. So, you know, when you read a book like this, you get to read a sweet story with a kiss (most of the time) at the end to seal the deal. Ella Wilson has not celebrated Christmas since her Mom died, her fiancée dumped her, and her company closed, leaving her jobless. So, Ella takes a long overdue vacation home to the small town where her Aunt raised her. It’s not long before she volunteers to help her family church with an auction to raise funds, and her co-organizer is her childhood crush, Seth, who is now a young widower. You can guess the rest. I enjoyed the dialogue and the descriptive setting, which brought the chemistry of the two young loves together. Maybe we will see this as a Hallmark movie in the future. #Christmas #Wish #romance #ChildhoodCrush #art #religion #TheReasonForTheSeason #SecondChances #Future #Love #SnowPlaceLikeHome @laceybakerbooks @thomasnelson @netgalley
🎄

I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Thomas Nelson, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: October 10, 2023.
🎄

#book #books #bookaddict #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer

I loved this book’s cover! There’s nothing more romantic than walking down a snowy path with snow softly falling!
I was hoping for a nice romantic book but this one fell kinda short. I think others will like it this book but I unfortunately didn’t
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like some others, I was attracted to the book for its Hallmark movie-type vibe. It didn’t quite live up to expectations but it was a nice story.

At the outset we meet Ella as a girl decorating the Christmas tree with her mother and making a special wish on the star at the top of the tree. Although Ella wished for a pony – her dream did not come true and post-Christmas, instead, Ella’s worst nightmare occurs. Her mother passes away. She is lovingly raised by her aunt Addie – but of course, her grief over the loss of her mother never quite dissipates.

The book moves on to Ella in adulthood. She is happy, engaged and a has a job she loves as a curator at a Philadelphia art gallery. Unexpectedly, just before Christmas, the gallery is closing and her fiancé has announced he is taking a new job in another country. Suddenly the “Christmas jinx” seemed upon her again. Ella hasn’t liked Christmas since her mother passed, viewing it as “another month to get through.”

When Aunt Addie called this time inviting her to come home for Christmas, reluctantly, Ella agreed to come home after 10 years of not visiting because it’s too painful. The emotional pull she feels once she returns is a little overwhelming, but there is much to embrace about coming home. Coping with grief is a big theme in this book, both for Ella as well as Seth.

Seth was Ella’s high school crush and remained in the home town. He was also a widower, having lost his wife to complications from lupus the previous year. When Ella and Aunt Addie attend the church meeting on the tree auction that evening – Ella and Seth reconnect, and disagree.

Seth was focused on continuing prior traditions that his wife Rhonda started with the first tree auction. Ella has fresh ideas to raise additional money that don’t mesh with Seth’s tradition. Seth is too mired in his quest to honor Rhonda’s memory that he isn’t open to the possibilities of other opportunities.

Ultimately they work things out. I found the book a bit predictable but sweet. It’s focused on Christmas traditions, finding a way through grief, being willing to consider new beginnings, and service to your community. While some reviews mention the high degree of scripture in the book, I didn’t find this to be the case and perhaps it wouldn’t have bothered me much had I even noticed it. I did find the pace of the book to be a little slow and I didn’t identify with Ella or Seth as characters. Aunt Addie was a typical auntie character.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy little Christmas novels and would identify with and embrace the struggles of the characters – grief, loss, and coming to turns with starting over.

Christmastime. Small-town romance. There’s a dog. I wanted to love this book. I really did. The cover was beautiful and the title was cute. I love Hallmark movies! But this book was a huge miss for me! Ella is still grieving the loss of her mother, but thinks she is cursed because bad things happen to her around Christmas. The most recent curse is her losing her curator job at an art gallery right before Christmas. Ella travels back to her small hometown to visit her aunt who raised her and in walks handsome, eligible widow, Seth (with a doodle). The two are thrown together to plan a Christmas tree charity for the church. I wanted to quit reading several times because the book was so repetitive. Ella’s grieving and “Christmas Curse” is constantly mentioned. As well as Seth’s grieving the loss of his wife. I also didn’t care for the author’s overly descriptive writing. Like every outfit Ella put on. It was weird and didn’t add anything to the storyline. (Like why would Ella wear a suit to drive hours back home to see her aunt?).

Thanks to the publisher and net galley for the ebook. I received a complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I did it like this book, nothing new or exciting to keep me entertained if you just a mindless read with all the cliches maybe you’ll like it jut i didn’t

This was a sweet little story. Very hallmark esque which can be a nice treat. I found this one a little slower paced than I preferred but it was okay. Kind of a take it or leave it for me.