Valerie Wilmington, a composed and determined school principal, finds her world turned upside down when her ten-year-old daughter, Hailee—whom she had entrusted to her mother to raise—unexpectedly returns to her life. As Valerie tries to reconnect with Hailee, she crosses paths with Wade Griffin, a kind-hearted contractor and single dad working on her school's renovations. Their children strike up a quick friendship, and soon the holiday season sets the stage for a budding romance between Valerie and Wade. But Valerie’s long-held secret about Hailee’s parentage threatens to unravel the happiness they’re beginning to build.

Gabrielle Meyer weaves a heartfelt holiday tale full of themes like forgiveness, family, and starting over. The festive atmosphere adds charm, and the characters are relatable, even if some of the storylines feel a touch predictable. The romance is sweet, and Valerie’s emotional journey is compelling, though the resolution ties up a little too neatly for my tastes. That said, the story delivers enough warmth and heart to make it an enjoyable and cozy Christmas read.

I’m giving Her Christmas Secret a festive 3.5 out of 5 stars! While it leans on familiar holiday romance tropes, it’s a story that captures the magic of the season and reminds us of the importance of second chances. If you’re looking for a lighthearted, feel-good book to pair with a blanket and some hot cocoa, this one is a delightful addition to your holiday TBR.

This book is a great read. It is full of emotions and you can feel every one of them. It's a clean romance that holds your attention from the first page until the last. I loved everything about this book!
I received a complimentary copy from Harlequin - Romance | Love Inspired via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A sweet Christmas read in which a mother gets a second chance to be a mom to her daughters that she had been forced to give up to her mother to raise. This one was a tearjerked but still good.

This sounded like an intriguing plot when I first heard what the book was about. But once I began reading it, I questioned whether it was a good fit for me because I was feeling so worried and uncomfortable about the lies of the past, the withheld truths of the present, and frustration with Valerie’s mom. However, I have really loved the books that I have read by this author, so I decided I needed to trust that she would get me through this in a way that I would enjoy. And she did!

This story was truly packed with emotion and heart. Yes, there were truths that Valerie withheld from Wade and everyone else as the book progressed. And, of course, as the reader I knew it was all going to come crashing down at some point. And it did. But, I was very impressed with the way every character grew emotionally as this story progressed. And then when things did happen, they owned up to what they had done wrong. I really enjoyed the way the author wrapped things up, too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are my own.

The bok follows Valerie whose life is going according to plan until her secret comes out. What does it take to be a good mom. I loved how the book tackles guilt ,motherhood and also found love. Quite well written and the characters were lovable.

This is a wonderful book! It is just right for the season but can be enjoyed any time of the year! Valerie is a highly organized, dependable school principal who has a secret. Wade is a contractor, who has a young daughter at that same school. Valerie's mother unexpectedly drops off Valerie's secret daughter, who becomes fast friends with Wade's daughter. Wade and Valerie work together, but can they allow the relationship to become more, especially in light of secrets being revealed? Will Valerie's daughter adjust to her new mother and living situation?
I very much enjoyed this book and appreciate the publishers in allowing me to read it!

Everything is finally where it should be when it comes to principal Valerie Wilmington and now her world's about to be shaken up by her mother dropping off a child she had 10 years ago. Now she has to learn what it is to be a single mother but also learning to connect with her daughter that she passed off as her sister for so long. On top of that she's dealing with some construction issues when it comes to her school Wade Griffin is there to help and their children become best friends. As they work together and their children hang out there is an undeniable connection between the two.

I will say this book was a breath of fresh air when it comes to a romance that isn't steamy I just loved watching the connection between the two and kept hoping for the best the more I got to know the two. Valerie was trying to get past a mistake she made in the past and it was coming to bite her in the butt and while she wanted to let people know while her daughter was there an intern kind of impacted her relationship at least. Like the more you get to know the two and seeing how they got together it was clear this was going to be an issue so I was curious when the Secrets would come out and how much of an impact it would make. I love that they had such a detailed backstory that it was easy to connect to them and really want the best for them so you really can't help but want to root for the two. As for the Christmas spirit there was a little bit of it so if you're not like bam Christmas in your face this is a good book takes place during Christmas but it isn't over the top it does have for like a little Nativity scene but not much else. So this would be a good time to check out this book overall I really enjoyed it.

Having enjoyed several books from Gabrielle Meyer, I was happy to see this new release. This Christmas time story did not disappoint. The characters and their reactions and emotions regarding unforeseen circumstances seemed to be spot-on to me. The author has captured well how one might react when the past comes to the present. I loved the friendship between the daughters of the two main characters and their matchmaking attempts. Her Christmas Secret is a captivating story of family, friendships and faith. Readers who enjoy contemporary romance will want to put this on their to be read list. I read a complimentary copy of the book through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.

I’ve read Gabrielle Meyers’ Timeless series and loved them, so I was excited to read this! It started out a little stilted, and I felt like this had to be a completely different author, the writing felt so different from the Timeless series. But the story picked up and the writing got smoother, and I enjoyed the story! I would recommend as a cozy, easy Christmas read!

Her Christmas Secret was incredibly delightful. Their love story, coupled with the children, was a joy to read. It was a quick whirlwind romance but at the same time it felt right. Gabrielle Meyer always does an amazing job with everything she publishes & this was no exception!

Sweet but quick holiday story all about love, family, and second chances. This one was a little too instalove for my taste. I would have enjoyed more character development and build up first. Thank you Gabrielle Meyer, NetGalley, and Harlequin - Romance publishing for this advanced reader copy. Publication Date: September 24, 2024.

Gabrielle is amazing at setting up a conflict-ridden premise, and she doesn’t disappoint in Her Christmas Secret. This story intrigued me from the start, making me feel sorry for Valerie as well as curious about her past. The relationship between Valerie and Hailee is strained from the start and the author does a great job showing the progression of trust between the two. But of course, this was truly a romance between Valerie and Wade. There was a great push pull between them for the entire book. Loved the read! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a clean romance about Valerie Wilmington, who got pregnant in HS . She chose to have her mother raise the girl as her own so she could pursue her dreams.
Nowadays, Valerie is a principal at a Christian school.
When her mother surprises Valerie when she drops 10 year old Hailey at Valerie’s door so she can move away with her new husband, both Valerie and Hailey find themselves navigating a bumpy ride. Add to the mix Wade Griffin, a single dad with two adorable kids, and we know the ride will be complicated, as well as enlightening and new for everyone.
When a future might be in their cards, lies of omission might end the blooming relationship . Will they recover from the lies or will each give love a chance?
This was an entertaining as well as thought provoking story. What would one do if faced with an unexpected teen pregnancy? How would it affect the biological mother and the child if she left the child for someone else to raise?
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Harleqiun. The opinions expressed are solely my ow.n.

Valerie, the principal of a Christian school in need of repairs, meets Wade, the man hired to fix it. At the same time, Valerie takes in Hailee, the daughter she had at 18 but was raised as her sister, now sent to live with her. Valerie and Wade, a single father, grow closer, but Valerie fears her secret about Hailee could jeopardize their blossoming relationship. The story, set in a Christian community with wholesome themes, develops into a heartwarming Christmas romance filled with endearing characters, family bonds, and gentle faith elements, capturing the charm typical of a Love Inspired book.

It felt refreshing to read a Christmas book in August and Gabrielle Meyer did not disappoint. A heartwarming story complete with kids and dogs, it was engaging from page one. Will Valerie’s secret destroy any type of relationship she plans on having with Wade? I enjoyed how the book focused on family and faith. Definitely a must read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Harlequin Love Inspired. It is scheduled to be released September 24, 2024. All words are my own.

First Impressions

When Valerie Wilmington gets a curveball thrown into her perfectly organized life, it has her completely frazzled. Because of that, Wade Griffin's first impression of her isn't the most positive. However, Valerie's first impression of Wade isn't the best either. As their families spend time together, new impressions and feelings replace the initial ones, creating a whole new dynamic in their relationship. All is good and well until another curveball gets thrown in. And that one will take every effort to turn things around. 

Valerie and Wade's story is lovely which was further enhance by sweet touch that the children added to it. The characters, storyline, and end result are all believable, which adds so much to the story. It is definitely well worth the read.

I was able to read this book through NetGalley. Gabrielle Meyer’s new book Her Christmas Secret is set in a small Minnesota town along the Mississippi River. Valerie is the principal of the small Christian school. She lives with her dog Annabelle in a Victorian house. She has a secret that is about to come out. Wade is a contractor whose company is hired to repair the kindergarten classroom. He is a single dad with two kids who attend the school. Valerie and Wade draw closer has Christmas comes. Will Valerie’s harm this new friendship? This book was a great read. I love Gabrielle’s stories about small town life. I encourage you to buy this book.

Her Christmas Secret by Gabrielle Meyer is a sweet tale of love during Christmas time. Valerie is thrust into raising Hailey, the daughter she gave up to her mother to raise ten years prior, and her well-ordered life is now full of chaos and major adjustments. Wade, a single dad contractor, is set to start a repair at Valerie’s school. Wade’s children, Issy and Brayden, become fast friends with Hailey and Valerie’s dog, Annabelle. The two families grow closer and closer together, but Valerie and Hailey have a secret. So many times in life, secrets are troubling to relationships, but the key to any relationship is communication. I appreciate the author using real-to-life characters in real-to-life situations. Some big upsets come just when the reader feels like happily ever after is coming in the next page, and I appreciate how the author carries out the following events in a natural way without rushing or forcing resolutions. Grab a cozy blanket and curl up for a delightful, warm Christmas book.

I requested a copy of this book for review. The thoughts expressed here are wholly my own.

I really enjoyed this story. I liked that the plot was different than most. Valerie's secret was one that was unusual and would be hard to guess.
And Wade was such an unlikely match but the perfect one for Valerie. There were so many sweet moments with them and their children all together. It was such a positive, heart warming story. I'm so glad I read it!

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

After thoroughly enjoying Gabrielle Meyer's Timeless series I leapt at the chance to read an ARC of her upcoming Christmas book from Harlequin Inspired Romance and ended up enjoying this very different book. It is hard to tell they are written by the same author, however don't let that keep you from reading this one. Meyer is a great storyteller and this shows how versatile her writing skills are!

The book starts off with some cringy moments but definitely gets better later on. Valerie, who had a daughter at 18 but let her mother raise the child as she went on to get a college degree and an excellent job. Valerie's mom decides she wants to get married and move across the country to a retirement community that doesn't allow children so she drops Hailee off to live with Valerie, her biological mother. The two have barely had any contact with each other and were raised to the outside world as sisters.

As this is happening, Valerie meets single father Wade but Hailee asks Valerie to keep the secret that she's her daughter and for them to refer to each other as sisters. Wade knows there is more behind their story, however he feels they will talk when ready. These characters have good back stories, chemistry and the kids and dog in the story add to the heartwarming Christmas story.

This is a story set in a Christian school and they all attend church. As with other Love Inspired books, this is clean romance with no more than kissing involved and it is a sweet story. I really enjoyed this different book by Meyer and this is inspiring me to pick up some of her other books.

Thank you to Harlequin romance and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.