Christmas in Bethel had me hooked with the prologue. It is a book that completely surprised me. I thought I knew where the story was going, but what actually happened caught me off guard. I didn’t see it coming at all, and that made the story even more memorable.

From the beginning, I felt deeply connected to the characters. The short chapters were a delightful touch, making the story flow effortlessly.

What touched me the most was the theme of brokenness and healing. Two people, each with their own scars, find each other and, through love, begin to heal. It’s a beautiful reminder that love isn’t always what we imagine—it’s something we are willing to give. So it goes!

Leigh meets her favorite author in a coffee shop. Unknown to her, since he uses a pen name for his writing. So begins an adventure of a lifetime. So begins a whirlwind of love, joy, and regret. Great story! Richard Paul Evans writing make you feel as if you are a part of the story.

I love Richard Paul Evans Christmas stories and this one did not disappoint. We follow Leigh Beth Stilton, who had a very hard life. She got to the point where she thought she had nothing to live for. She picks up a copy of author JD Harper's new book and it saved and changed her life. Flashforward and Leigh's life is better and she wants to meet the author that changed the trajectory of her life. What she finds first is a chance meeting with another Lee at a local coffee shop. They have a pleasant conversations before she leaves to go to the book signing. She is in for a surprise that will forever change her life. She discovers that she and the author have a lot in common. Could there be a romance brewing? Will she find a happily ever after? In true Evans fashion there are some twist and turns and surprising revelations that you maybe or maybe not see coming.

If you are a fan of Richard Paul Evans, then Christmas in Bethel is for you.

Leigh Beth Stilton has had a difficult life. On one Christmas eve she decides to give it all up. But she comes across a book, Bethel, that changes everything for her.

Beth meets a man in the coffee shop on her way to the book signing of J. D. Harper, the author of Bethel. The two connect, and before she knows it, she realizes the man is actually J. D. She is swept up in a world of dinners, travel and the attention she craves. But when she discovers his secret, will she be able to trust her heart again?

This story is classic Richard Paul Evans. He takes us on a journey that is heartwarming, an easy read about love and redemption. The perfect Christmas story.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Christmas in Bethel
by Richard Paul Evans
Pub Date Nov. 26, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From Richard Paul Evans, the New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Promise and The Christmas Box— “the most popular holiday tale since Tiny Tim” (Newsweek)—a new novel celebrating the life-changing power of the holiday spirit.
When I saw Evans was releasing another Christmas novel, I could not wait to request it!
I loved the premise of this novel. A young lady who has very few fond memories of Christmas is not eager for the season. She meets someone in a cafe who changes her mind about the season.
5 stars

The Christmas season would not be complete without a Richard Paul Evans Christmas Story. As a young single woman, Beth is struggling to overcome her different past. When she reads that her favourite author, whose words have helped her find the strength to move forward, is having a book signing near her, she knows she can't miss the opportunity to meet him in person. As much as his books have helped changer her life, meeting him takes things to a whole new level.

This new book has everything you could want in a Christmas Story. Love and hurt, strength and weakness, self doubt and self protection, second chances and redemption. It is an easy, touching, fast read you can't put down. If you are like me and are always on the lookout for a new heartwarming Christmas story, this one will fit the bill.