Perfect holiday read! Heart break, and a second chance at romance. A must add to your Holiday Book read list!

A very short read, not enough for me to really get invested in the pairing, but probably good enough for anyone wanting a sweet, Christmas (anything is possible) type of story.

An early present to start the holiday season. The Christmas Secret is about coming to terms with mistakes, learning to forgive, being true to the heart and grabbing second chances. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and found a story of sacrifice and hope.

All Lil Reynolds wants for Christmas is a Lanigan-free Christmas. Surely that isn’t too much to ask for. With her ex-fiance, Curtis Lanigan, set to marry on Christmas Eve, the same date a year ago she was to marry him, who could really blame her. So she decides to take matters into her own hands and sets up her own version of a solitaire Christmas getaway at her newly inherited secluded cabin. Problem is Santa Baby seems to have other plans….and so does Mother Nature. Who shows up at her door after a blizzard leaves him stranded right before Christmas? None other than Casey Lanigan, her ex’s brother who she once was in love with before dating Curtis.

***possible spoiler alert*****

I know what you are thinking. But this one really isn’t like that. I am not a fan of romances where the heroine has dated both brothers, either. Technically, Lil and Curtis didn’t get that far. They worked together at the Lanigan nursery when they were both really young. Though extremely attracted to one another, Lil decided she couldn’t take a chance on bad boy Casey after he got arrested twice for drunk, disorderly conduct. After all, she had enough of that drama being the daughter of the town drunk. So things really ended before they even began. Casey left town determined to be a better person, but returned to find Curtis, the safe/sensible, golden boy of their family, had started dating Lil when she came back from grad school.

Within the confines of the cabin and this 66 page novella, Lil and Casey eventually open up and reveal how they truly felt about each other. Since there are no details given regarding their dating, you don’t even know if Curtis and Lil had an intimate relationship.

Things heat up but soon quickly cool down when the snow plow arrives. With the snow and emotions pushed to the side, both return to Cherry Lake. Casey attends his brother’s wedding, but not before a true confessions moment in the limo where Curtis reveals all the facts behind Lil’s break-up. Lil returns to the cabin, and it is up to Casey to decide if he should leave town or try to have a relationship with Lil.

For such a short novella, the author did a good job of providing enough of a backdrop to set the stage for this reunion and second chance at love. You feel the chemistry, angst, past regret, and finally hope these two finally get their own HEA.

Title: The Christmas Secret, Author: Jeannie Watt, Pages: 66, stand-alone, HEA, no cheating, only one steamy scene.

(This review is based on NetGalley ARC generously provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.)

A holiday story at its best.

When Lil Reynolds went to her family cabin in the mountains to avoid being the talk of the town as her former fiancé gets married, she didn't expect to have company. Her would-be brother-in-law Casey Lanigan to turned up at her door. Will her solidary Christmas be ruined now?

Casey had gotten caught in the blizzard and couldn't see to drive any further. He had seen the lights on in Lil's cabin when he passed by on the way to his cabin. So he parked his truck along the road and started walking to Lil's place.

Lil and Casey secretly dated a few years back, but it had ended after Casey's second arrest. Lil knew he would ruin her and she couldn’t let that happen, so she broke up with him. Then she fell in love with Casey’s brother Curtis.

While Lil and Casey are trapped together at the cabin, they are finally able to talk about life and what went wrong in their relationship. Casey was getting the same vibe from Lil that he’d gotten eight years ago, when he’d first figured out she was attracted to him. Their business was far from done. The question was...should they ignore it as she wanted?

This book left me with a good feeling. I didn't know what to think of Casey at first with him being Lil's ex's brother. I wondered how it would work out. But it worked out really good for them both. It was a wonderfully written story.

The Christmas Secret is the sixth story in the multi-authored Secrets of Cherry Lake series and the second one written by Jeannie Watt as well as the second one in the Cherry Lake Christmas books. This was a second chance romance that had the interesting twist of Lil Reynolds being thrown together with the Lanigan brother--Casey--she first fell in love with. She seems to make a habit of walking away from the Lanigan boys, but when she walked away from Casey, it was when he needed her most. She had her reasons, but the whole thing about being in a relationship with the brother of someone you were once involved with seemed somewhat taboo. This was a short but good love story and one that continues a fine collection of stories. Fingers crossed that there'll be more to come after The Christmas Secret. Four stars. ♥

Lil Reynold's life isn't working out quite like it was suppose to. When her ex-fiancee plans to marry on Christmas Eve, the same day they had planned on, it's all just too much. To get away from everything she heads up to the family cabin. With a snowstorm raging outside and a knock on her door she finds herself face to face with the last man on earth she wants to see. Casey Lanigan, brother of the ex and Lil's long ago secret summer love, is now stranded with her in the cabin. Seems like the universe just has it in for her!!

A great story with interesting twists to the story. Definitely one I recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. It was so easy to like and respect both Lil and Casey as characters. The romantic tension between them was interesting and engaging. The way the romance unfolded seemed quite believable. Even the tension between the family members made for a more engaging story. I truly enjoyed this story!

She needed the isolation. She welcomed the peace and quiet. She almost was glad for the snow that kept piling up, the pretty flakes turning into a raging blizzard. This Christmas season Lil didn’t want any reminders of what was to be her wedding day once upon a time, before that dream was crushed. She didn’t need to look very far for the glances full of sympathy and even pity when her former fiance got ready to take his marriage vows to another woman on the date they had once chosen.

Right now the absolute last thing she needed to ruin her time away from everyone was this man on her cabin doorstep. Casey. Brother to the man she was to have married – and the man who she’d lost her heart to as a much younger woman. The man who left without a backward glance. Now they were snowbound in this small cabin, in the middle of a blizzard. No, this holiday season couldn’t get much worse for Lil.

Casey and Lil have a history and with these conditions trapping them together, maybe it’s time to talk about their past. Because both still feel the attraction burning between them and both have questions that need answers. This might be a healing for them both, only time will tell.

The Christmas Secret is a heartbreaking story of love gone wrong and taking a risk on a love that still burns in the hearts years later. Lil and Casey had a lot of talking to do, even more understanding and forgiving. Their attraction is still strong and once the air is cleared with answered questions the path is open for Lil and Casey to plan their own future. An emotional story, this is one that will give you all the highs and lows of being in love. Add this short story to your Christmas reading list. Give yourself a treat this holiday season.

*I received an e-ARC of The Christmas Secret from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

This was a holiday centric small town romance about second chance at love and a very convoluted family connection. In The Christmas Secret we meet Lil Reynolds who is hiding away in her small cabin up in the woods the night before Christmas Eve because she's trying to avoid her ex-fiance's wedding the next day. Its a small town, nearing Christmas and she definitely couldn't take the pitying looks of the people in her small town. But a snowstorm during the night gives her an unexpected present, the blizzard seems to have brought Casey Lanigan to her doorstep. Her first love, the first guy to disappoint her and of course her ex-fiance's best man who also happens to be his brother. Casey is running away from home again. Tis the season to be jolly but he and his dad haven't really been having a great father son bonding in forever. So he's leaving town after the wedding and maybe never coming back. But then a Montana snowstorm brings him to the vicinity of the only women he's ever loved. So what's a guy to do? Why take advantage of this gift and try to win her back. I found this book quite poignant, lots of regrets and lots of things to rehash but it always has that tone of hope permeating all throughout the story. Casey and Lil were great characters, well developed and flawed in the right way. Its a wonderful Christmas about hope and love perfect for the season.

Nice, easy story to get your feet wet if you are not into the full holiday spirit. Wish there was a flash forward for what happens afterwards between the two. This is a wonderful addition to the Secrets of Cherry Lake series as I have read The Secret Son (Secrets of Cherry Lake Book 2) by Joan Kilby and Her Secret Protector (Secrets of Cherry Lake Book 4) by Roxanne Snopek. The downfall is felt the book needed more length to it but that's just me.

When Lil Reynolds decides to get out of town and spend Christmas alone in her mountain cabin to avoid her ex-fiance’s getting married she didn’t expect to have a blizzard hit the mountains. Lil also didn’t expect her other ex-boyfriend Casey Lanigan to come knocking at the door when his truck gets stuck in the snow. Casey also happens to be the brother of the man Lil was going to marry one year before that she had come to the cabin to escape from.

One of my favorite types of romance reads are the rekindling of an old flame. While I completely enjoyed the story of being stuck in the cabin with an old flame that where there were still some feelings left after the years, the one thing I couldn’t help but wonder throughout was why in the world did Lil ever date both brothers to begin with? Had it not been Casey’s brother Lil was hiding from I probably would’ve rated this higher, still a good read though.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely Christmas novel

4 stars

The Christmas Secret was a lovely holiday read.

It was enjoyable from beginning to end. Very well written with likable and relatable characters.

Overall this was a quick and heartwarming holiday read.

Thank you Tule Publishing for the advance copy.

This is a delightful second chance romance set mainly in the mountains near Cherry Lake, Montana.

Lil Reynolds has grown up in Cherry Lake and is well known there as a regular volunteer and supporter of community events. Unfortunately the event happening on christmas eve this year is her ex-fiance is getting married, on the same date they had planned. Now she’s the one that broke their engagement but the sympathetic comments and looks from others are starting to get to her so she's planned on escaping alone to her mountain cabin for the festive season. Well, that’s what she planned!

Casey Lanigan is the older brother of Lil’s ex - and another very secret ex boyfriend of Lil. He’s the ‘bad boy’ of the family, always being criticised by his father, never seemingly able to do anything right but Lil and he worked together well in his family’s firm and were in a developing but secret relationship until he got arrested and she ran. He’s back in town, having made a success of his life, he’s due to be best man at his brother’s wedding but he’s argued with his father one more time and now plans on leaving Cherry Lake again. He’s never forgotten Lil and when he ends up in a blizzard and stuck in the isolated cottage with her, they’re both having to come to terms with their past and to decide what they want for the future - together or apart?

This is a great addition to the Cherry Lake series, a quick read where it is very easy to empathise with the two main characters, especially Casey and the drama in their history, a delightful festive read with a lovely HEA ending.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

One year ago, Lil planned to get married on Christmas Eve. This year, she decides to wait out the holidays at her family's cabin to avoid the hoopla surrounding her former fiancé's Christmas nuptials. When a snow storm hits, she ends up trapped in the cabin with Casey, her ex-fiance's brother.

A very well done holiday romance. The couple had history so their love story made sense.

Lovely second chance Christmas themed story that you can't help falling in love with! The characters and smoothly flowing story will grab your attention from the first page until the last. Definitely recommend!

I enjoyed this book but it didn't keep me interested like i had hoped it would. I would still recommend this book for anyone wanting a Christmas love story

I had been wondering when Lil would get her man after she had been a secondary character in the summer Secrets of Cherry Lake books. In The Christmas Secret by Jeannie Watt, Lil, the kindhearted but shoots-straight-from-the-hip school librarian gets a blast from the past.

The story is constructed that as it progresses much of Lil’s childhood and background is revealed. The same can be true of Casey Lanigan who is the older brother of Lil’s ex-fiance. I really like the way that that work as well as Casey and Lil working through so much past baggage. The kicker for me is when Casey admits to sticking to changing his life for himself. That made this story so much more realistic and probable.

I usually like a true villain in a story but this one work without that unless you count Grandmother Lanigan’s minor role. I couldn’t find it in me to hate Sophia or Curtis. Mostly it is everyday people with major flaws. Even Lil’s father is more pathetic than he is mean. Casey’s father for his part was in the running for the bad guy title but came through in the end. All of this worked for me, again this is how I have found real life to be even on the bad days. The fact that it all comes out at Christmas, helped to add a bit of sparkle in the mist of this soul-searching. I found this to be a page turning read, once I started it. It seems I enjoy reading of blizzards, natural weather and emotional ones.

4.5 Stars The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.

When Lil Reynolds settled herself into her isolated cabin above Cherry Lake to spend Christmas alone with her cat Miss Kitty, the last thing she expected or wanted was to have Casey Lanigan turn up on her doorstep, wet and freezing cold from the blizzard raging outside.
Lil was to have wed Casey's brother Curtis on Christmas Eve a year earlier, but called off the wedding. This doesn't stop her from being upset that on Christmas Eve just a year later Curtis is planning to walk down the aisle with his new fiancée Sophia. She's had it up to her eyeballs with the well meaning pity comments flowing her way hence her retreat to the cabin.
Casey was a bit of a rebel in his teens and got into trouble with the law once or twice and with the bottle on the odd occasion in between. At 21 he left Cherry Lake and straightened himself out, gaining business qualifications and a skill for drilling wells along the way. When his father had a heart attack he returned to help with the family greenhouse business but the conflict between himself and his father was still there. He's now walked out on his father's business and arranged to head down to Chile to sink a well. He just needs his equipment, which is in the family cabin, and he thinks he's got enough time to nip up and get it before acting as best man at his brother's wedding then heading out of town. What Casey didn't count on was getting snowed in by a blizzard that wasn't meant to be anywhere near Cherry Lake, hence his appearance at Lil's door.
Lil and Casey were secretly dating each other back when he was 21 and had both thought they were falling in love. Trouble was Casey got into trouble and Lil, who'd grown up with a father who was a drunk, just couldn't handle it. Now they're stuck together again they have a lot of history to hash over. This is a short Christmas story filled with hope and second chances. Written in Jeannie Watts' trademark sweet style it's perfect to curl up with in front of a blazing fire.

3.5 stars. A couple holed up in a cabin whilst a blizzard blows outside is a bit like catnip to me. And Jeannie Watt delivers this with a short romantic story of second-chance love.

Casey Lanigan attracted trouble and Lil avoided trouble whenever possible."

I have to confess I was a little unsure over Lil going into this. She dated Casey Lanigan whilst they were younger but his wild ways drove them apart and she ended up engaged to his brother, Curtis. With a broken engagement and Curtis marrying someone else on the same date (different year) they were due to marry on, she shuts herself off in her cabin with her cat. Until Casey turns up, stranded in the snow with no way of getting to his family's cabin.

"The tension between us...whatever's causing it, we need to deal with it."
"How do you propose that we do that?"

The author has created a story that delves in to this couple's pasts, and brings some depth to their reignited feelings. Both were endearing and whilst it had more of a HFN feel as a HEA is was an enjoyable way to spend an hour.

While the storm rages, and the blizzard is freezing the scenery, in the cozy cabin old feelings are unearthed, and heating up the air.
Casey and Lil had both hurt each other years ago, when their young ways parted. Lots of water had gone under that bridge, but now, having to face each other again, being stranded in the cabin in a blizzard, things get real, uncomfortable, and hard.
But while they were determined not to dwell in the past and hurt feelings, and while doing Christmas things, like playing cards, cooking and baking, just surviving in the natural disaster outside, also the good, warm, caring, passionate feelings are uncovered, and acted upon.
Nothing is solved permanently, nothing is rushed upon. But a lot of old wounds and hurts are healed, the promises of making an effort, for a better tomorrow and future memories are agreed on. The whole family gets a chance to start fresh, into a different, healthier direction, and love wins all around, in this touching, heartwarming, and genuine Christmas story.
~ Four Spoons

Snowed in during Christmas in a cozy little cabin with a love for the past; Awesome! Lil wants some alone time because her ex is getting married, and the whole town is looking at her with sad looks; even though Lil was the one who broke it off with him. Casey goes up to his family's cabin to retrieve his stuff because he is leaving town because his dad is a jerk, and Casey is tired of it; he is also the brother of Lil's ex, and on his way back into town he gets caught in a storm, but as luck would have it, he is near Lil's cabin, so he takes refuge there. Lil and Casey had a relationship when they were younger, but Casey did some things that negatively affected Lil and his relationship, so there is some awkward tension between them at first, and some hurt feelings. I really enjoyed this! This is a short story, and I think it had good pacing, but I do think it took a bit too long before Lil and Casey began to get over some of their issues; Lil was a bit too bitter for my liking, and I also think the addition of the wedding scenes could have been omitted, but I pretty much loved all the aspects of this story. I love second chance romance during Christmas stories, and add in the stranded in a cabin, and I love it even more! I liked the backstory for Lil and Casey, and I think they were really cute together, and Casey is adorable. A short, sweet romance!

A nice Christmas story, and perfect for getting away from it all this Christmas season. Light, fun and with some great characters, which will let you enjoy the story and its background.

lily was planing to spend her Christmas away from everyone since her ex-fiancée decided to get married on Christmas Eve. she was ready to spend her Christmas alone when Casey, her ex-fiancée's brother gets stuck near her cabin and decided to go to her cabin. Casey and Lily we're seeing each other when she was in college and was working at Casey's dad store. he thought no one knew their relationship but everyone knew except they never mentioned it. Casey was always looking for trouble when he was young and she was afraid he would get her into trouble. sooner or later he was in trouble and she ran away from him. they left each other without proper goodbye. when she graduated from college she came back and she decided to go out with casey's brother. she thought she loved him but she broke it off with him and he let the same way. they were spending couple days until road would clear. they were finally coming to terms with their feelings. but will they have their happy ending. Couple things were not clear and I am not sure I like the fact that Lily was dating both brothers. other than that it was fun read..

Lil is tired of the stares, the pity, and the sentimental looks. She's getting away to her family cabin, even if it means the entire town will think she's wallowing in sadness while her ex-fiance gets married on their old wedding date. She's got all she needs with her cat, Christmas music, food, and peace and quiet. That is, until a blizzard starts in and brings with it Casey Lanigan. Not only was he her first love, but he's also the brother of her ex-fiance. With their story unfinished, Lil and Casey have to work together to be as comfortable as they can stuck in the cabin until help arrives. Their unspoken feelings may just come to light and put them on a new path.

Easily my favorite Christmas story this year. I loved the two main characters, Lil and Casey, I liked their history and their personal background, and I especially liked how they both let their emotions make their decisions. As always, second chance stories tug at my heartstrings. In this case, there's a definite love-triangle type situation, but not one that overpowers the story. Yes, there's a past with Casey's brother that Lil wants to forget, and I kind of wish she'd never dated him, but there's more to it.. The rekindling of their romance is slow, but the feelings are strong and easy to feel through the words. I liked that Lil and Casey both dealt with some personal things that helped lead them to finally dealing with the history they share. I liked their humor and their witty dialogue, plus I really just enjoyed them as a couple. There's Christmas, family drama, and of course, a great love story in this short holiday read

Thank you for sharing this title on NetGalley. NetGalley has become an important tool for helping me find new materials for our library.

a sweet heart-warming Christmas tale that will warm your heart as well as your soul. Jeannie Watt sure knows how to give us the best.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one; usually I like second chance romances but this one just didn't feel right. I would have accepted if Lil Reynolds had had a relationship with anyone but Casey Lanigan’s younger brother and then rekindle her relationship with Casey thanks to a snow storm.

Plus all these issues with Casey and his family, I felt like a little more resolution was needed there.

Even at the end Lil and Casey didn’t really seem to have sparks, the story was entertaining, but again I didn't feel the love, Casey didn’t make me swoon.

Rating 3 out of 5 Read@Book

I liked this book. The Cherry Lake series don't tend to work for me so finding a good one is, well, good. Lil and Casey, neither doing great but neither so down and out that they are on a rescue mission either, just fill in all the missing pieces for each other. Missing pieces that is, because they once completed each other. And then, they didn't.

This is a sweet Christmas second chances story about two people who should never have been apart but who both made mistakes that ended up costing them their relationship. Their young love is sweet and gentle and actually was a treat to read about. Their reunion was unexpected and difficult. Both had to work at forgiving each other and there wasn't any major stumbling block except the trust and forgiveness. With such a strong history between them, this story was more sweet than angsty and a balm more than a wild ride. It's not complicated and though there are characters who aren't the nicest people, this couple seems pretty nice for Cherry Lake. I liked that I could actually enjoy Casey and Lil as characters and not feel like I wanted to bop them upside the head.

A heartwarmingly sweet second-chance romance. Good story and well written.

More secrets in Cherry lake, oh how I love this series. Lil's ex fiance is getting married, on the day that they were supposed to be married so she has decided to hole herself up in the family cabin. Not expecting anyone, but Casey shows up stranded. He is her ex fiance's brother. Whom she had a summer fling with a few years back. They soon find out that they still have feelings for each other, a bit of miscommunication and wild times from years back.

Loved how they reconnected and how boys really do grow up and change. I recommend this book. I received this book from netgalley for an honest review.

"The Christmas Secret" by Jeannie Watt is a story about second chances. This is Lil Reynolds and Casey Lanigan's story.

Lil and Casey had a secret romance years ago, but situations pulled them apart. She never felt the same for anyone else. Lil was engaged to Casey's brother, but she broke off the engagement. Lil's ex fiancé is set to get married on Christmas Eve, which is the same day they were set to marry. She decides to get away and spend the holidays in her family cabin. Things don't go as planned. Lil and Casey end up trapped in her cabin during a blizzard. Do they still have feelings for each other?

This is a quick read. It is a sweet and cute romance.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/Tule Publishing for an honest review.
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Loved this book !! Strong characters such a great story

I enjoyed this holiday romance with characters Lil and Casey. I enjoyed their second chance romance in this short and easy to read Christmas novella.

I already sent in my review for this title. I emailed NetGalley and they said they’re having problems with titles appearing to need feedback when it’s already been sent.