Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is a beautiful, well-written story by Nancy Naigle. In a community that celebrates Christmas with decorations and actions this sweet heartwarming story has love to be found too. Tucker and Sheila work together to support a family whose home was destroyed in a destructive fire. As they work along side in the community effort a friendship is formed than much more. I like how these characters learned what kind of individual was instead of simply falling in instant love. Helping a family in need shows integrity, compassion and grace.

A wonderful small tight-knit community that enjoys the holidays with an annual Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser along with other endeavors is a place that I would want to live. Sometimes it I difficult to step out of your comfort zone but once Sheila did what a change it brought in her life. I loved the sense of belonging that the town instilled in her. A story that reminds us to put the meaning of Christmas into action.

Put on your favorite Christmas sweater, grab a hot chocolate, and enjoy this book while sitting by your Christmas tree! This is a lovely small town Christmas romance. Sheila comes to Chestnut Ridge to help her best friend compete in a tree-decorating contest, and as soon as she meets the good-looking fire chief the sparks begin to fly! Sheila gets caught up in the spirit of Christmas and the closeness of a small community in this heartwarming Christmas novel.

or me, this is a book on how an out-of-town visitor can experience the best small town Christmas experience. I am not a craft person so paragraphs detailing planning, shopping, crafting, and decorating the winning Christmas tree leave me cold. I also didn't see any strong connection between the two main characters for a long-term romance nor find them as relatable characters. I did like how the people in the community rushed to help a family in need. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I was disappointed because I enjoyed other Chestnut Ridge books by this author.

This was a very sweet holiday romance. Sheila is a very successful real estate agent and business owner who is feeling quite dissatisfied with her life, when her best friend invites her to come spend Christmas with her, in her small town of Chestnut Ridge. She accepts even though she thinks it might be her least interesting Christmas yet. While there she witnesses a tragedy and feels compelled to help out while she is in town. While helping she meets Tucker, the very handsome fire chief. Sheila is enamored with Tucker, but how could a relationship ever work when they live so far away? This book is filled with the magic of the holidays, and Christmas miracles. It is part of a series, but I did not know that and it read just fine as a stand alone. A light holiday romance for those that like slow burn novels.

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is everything I could have wanted and more. It's a cozy, feel good romance set in an idyllic small town, with all the town quirks, traditions, and charm, with great characters.

I found myself smiling throughout the story, the plot, sense of community, MCs and romance so incredibly sweet and heartwarming. It's the perfect cozy Christmas read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy.

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge was my first Nancy Naigle book and it was such an enjoyable read. It's light and sweet with small town charm and has all the Christmas spirit your heart can stand. I adored the Christmas Tree Stroll event in the book. It sounded like so much fun. I can see why her books have been picked up by Hallmark and the like because they have that feel good quality. I loved all the townspeople of Chestnut Ridge, especially Orene and Paul. I would definitely pick up another Naigle book when I'm in the mood for comfort.

A sweet and sentimental holiday season! With the second book in her Chestnut Ridge series, Nancy Naigle brings us a delightful tale of friendship and warmth during the holiday season as Natalie from the first book in the series persuades her best friend Sheila to come for a visit over Christmas. The characters are familiar and endearing and seeing Sheila let herself be submerged into smalltown life is heartwarming. I wanted a little more follow through with Sheila and Tucker, but overall I enjoyed the story and recommend it to anyone that loves a downhome Christmas feel in a sweet holiday romance.

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is full of holiday spirit. It was wonderful to be back in the enchanting town of Chestnut Ridge.

Sheila made the decision to accept her best friend's invitation to come to Chestnut Ridge to help her compete in a tree decorating contest. Not only did she find sparks flying between herself and the fire chief, she found a whole lot more, as she gets swept up by the holiday spirit. She also finds that the residents of Chestnut Ridge help her feel like she fits in in ways she never has before.

This was a slow burn romance, but that made it that much better. This is one of those books that you can curl up under a cozy blanket or by a fire and dive into this wonderful read. It will surely put you in the holiday spirit!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

There is nothing better than a cozy holiday romance as the temperatures start to get colder in the fall and winter months. If you love cozy hallmark-esque romances like I do, you will be sure to enjoy this novel about Sheila, a real estate agent who travels to the cozy town of Chestnut Ridge to vist her friend Natalie during the holiday season. There is a great cast of supporting characters in this novel and of course a swoonworthy man (who of course is a firefighter)

If you love cheesy Hallmark movies as much as I do, you are sure to fall for this book!

Many thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

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After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

How could you not want to spend Christmas in Chestnut Ridge? The small town community atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. The townspeople are close-knit which is very heartwarming and charming. In this Christmas romance, Sheila comes to Chestnut Ridge to help her friend Natalie decorate a tree for the annual tree decorating contest (adorable!) and winds up quickly catching feelings for the local fire chief. The town also pitches in to help a family that gets displaced by a fire and Sheila really feels the small town giving spirit. This is a great read to sit by the fire and start your Christmas holiday mood off right!
Thank you to both NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This was a cozy, gentle read that is perfect for the holidays. It brings warmth and fun memories of a small town during the holiday season.

The only downside to this is that the characters felt one dimensional. I was hoping for a little more depth to the characters. However, I would read this again as it is reminiscent of a hallmark movie.

If you are looking for a sugary sweet, feel-good Christmas story this book is probably for you.

It was a relatively quick read, but for some reason it was hard for me to get into. While it’s not formally listed as part of a series, CHRISTMAS IN CHESTNUT RIDGE does feel as though you are missing out on understanding some of the setting and characters that get introduced in a different book from Nancy.

Also, the writing style was not my cup of tea. It was a lot of telling details instead of showing which made it hard for me to get into. There were a few scenes I enjoyed (like when Tucker and Sheila go to visit her mom), but a lot of them fell flat in my opinion and way too much time in the plot was dedicated to trivial details and not on the character’s individual developments or relationship.

All in all- this book would probably be the right fit for others, it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is exactly the heartwarming holiday escape I was hoping for. Nancy Naigle has crafted a story that not only celebrates the magic of Christmas but also explores themes of community, self-discovery, and the unexpected ways love can take root.

Set in the picturesque town of Chestnut Ridge, Naigle paints a world where tree farms and twinkling lights set the perfect holiday scene. From the moment Sheila is persuaded to join the Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser, I was drawn into the festive charm of the town. The joy of decorating, the sense of community, and the coziness of hot cocoa in hand – it’s all there, making me wish I could step into Chestnut Ridge myself.

What I loved most about this story is how Sheila’s participation in these community events becomes more than just holiday fun. Her decision to help with the tree stroll marks the beginning of a transformative journey for her. Through her involvement, Sheila finds not just a sense of belonging but also a deeper understanding of what truly matters in life. The author beautifully balances this personal growth with the festive backdrop, and I appreciated how Naigle handled Sheila’s evolution with grace and subtlety.

And of course, there’s Tucker. The slow-blooming romance between him and Sheila is written with tenderness and care. Tucker, as the reliable and kind-hearted fire captain, is the perfect partner to show Sheila everything Chestnut Ridge has to offer. Their budding relationship felt organic and sweet, with moments that made me smile. I especially loved the scenes during the Christmas Tree Stroll, where Naigle captures the magic of Christmas lights and community spirit so vividly.

The story takes on a deeper emotional layer with the subplot of the family who lost their home to a fire. Watching the entire town rally around this family, offering support and love in their time of need, really brought out the true spirit of Christmas. It was heartwarming to see how the generosity and kindness of the community played a vital role in the story, reminding us of the importance of coming together during tough times.

In the end, what made Christmas in Chestnut Ridge stand out for me was Sheila’s journey of self-discovery. She learns to combine both parts of her life – her past and her new-found community – in a way that feels authentic and satisfying. It’s a lovely reminder that sometimes, the places and people we least expect can become home.

Final Thoughts:

If you’re looking for a Christmas read filled with warmth, romance, and a sense of community, Christmas in Chestnut Ridge is the perfect holiday companion.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of Christmas In Chestnut Ridge.

Sheila gets a call from her best friend Natalie inviting her to come spend Christmas with her in her small town of Chestnut Ridge. Sheila has just gone through a divorce and instead of being alone she decides to spend a few weeks with her friend who she has missed since she moved away. While there Sheila meets Tucker the fire chief of the town and they instantly hit it off. Sheila is a glorified city girl but the small town starts to grow on her. But can she really leave everything she knows?

I loved this book. It was so heartwarming but not in a cheesy way. The book tackles real life situations and struggles. It was so easy to connect with the characters and what they were dealing with. This is a must read!

Thank you to @netgalley for the ARC.
I enjoy reading Christmas stories, and this one had the possibility of being a nice, cozy read. However, I felt that it was a little too hokey for my taste. The dialogue read like I was watching Gomer Pyle and with all of the descriptions of this quaint town in Virginia, and the fact that no one had ever seen a Tesla, this person never explained how she could charge her car. I know it seems dumb as the story was not about that, but there was so much over explaining and descriptions, you would think that would be explained.
I think that this might be in a series and honestly, I am not interested. The town seems cute, and everyone ended up happy. The end. Blah

Natalie persuades her best friend, Sheila, to come to Chestnut Ridge for the Christmas Tree Stroll fundraiser and put her creative juices to work on a unique theme for their tree, hoping to win the grand prize. Tucker and his fellow firefighters, though, are out to win the coveted prize for their department. In the midst of contest preparations, a local family’s home burns to the ground just weeks before Christmas, and everyone comes together to support the family with donations of time, household items, even gifts for the four young kids.

Nancy Naigle is one of the romance authors whose books don’t make me roll my eyes with every other page, so I was looking forward to reading this book. Yes, much of the plot was predictable, but the characters seemed like people that would be fun to have around, especially at the holidays. While I wasn’t surprised by the feel-good ending of the story, I don’t regret the time I spent with them, and hope to read more about the folks of Chestnut Ridge in another book somewhere down the road. There’s nothing to indicate that this book is part of a series, but some of the characters seem to have been in at least one other Christmas story by this author, so hmmm…

This novel is a standalone sequel to 'And Then There Was You' (June 2023). Sheila is best friends with Natalie, the FMC in the previous book. And when Natalie invites her to come to the small town of Chestnut Ridge for the holidays she agrees. It is only a couple of hours from her home and work in Richmond, VA but it is a new world for her. Everyone knows and cares for each other. When a home burns down the community rallies around the young family. In between town events like the Christmas Tree Stroll and tree decorating competition she meets Tucker. He is the Fire Captain and sparks fly

The story is easy to read and a sweet small town romance. I think I liked it more because I’d read the previous book and was happy to catch up with the previous couple. I like the sense of community but I wasn’t blown away by Tucker and Sheila as a couple. The writing was a little cheesy with him calling her city girl. I think fans of the author will enjoy the story as will those who like clean, Hallmark style romances. (3.5 Stars)

What a wonderful return to Chestnut Ridge. There's just something about a good, heartfelt Christmastime story that brings out the emotions and tears. Chestnut Ridge is a small town with a big heart. Sheila comes to spend time with her friends Natalie and Orena, and to help Natalie's team decorate a tree for the Christmas Tree Stroll. She's expecting to spend a few fun weeks but finds more than what she could have hoped for when she learns the specialness of helping others in need and a romance starts between her and the fire chief, Tucker.

This story is full of community, friendship, love, humor, and Christmas spirit. I loved how Sheila and Tucker enjoyed each other's company while helping others and how it eventually evolved into a relationship.

Who doesn’t love a feel good Christmas story? This is a book that needs to be a hallmark movie because it has all the makings of a small town jolly good Christmas fun time story. I just finished it. It’s cute. It’s a Hallmark movie waiting to happen. Going back to Chestnut springs to see some old friends and meet some new ones made the story of the more lovely. This is a cute slow burn friends to more love story.