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stacymcc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Great lighthearted romance
smalltownbookmom's review
5.0
I wasn't expecting this grumpy/sunshine, single Dad, dual POV romance to be such a standout Christmas read for me this year but it really, REALLY was!!
Full of small town charm ala Stars Hollow (the town is even called Pine Hollow!), this story sees Ally Gilmore (!) - a big city photographer coming home for Christmas only to end up fighting to save her grandparent's local animal shelter, get homes for the last 12 dogs and try not to fall for Ben West, the town Grinch and single Dad to his dead sister's ten year old daughter.
I couldn't get enough of these characters, the quirky dogs who find their way into the perfect homes or the way Ally and Ben fight their feelings only to learn that love is worth taking a chance on.
This author has written for Hallmark Movies before and I completely understand why. This book was great on audio and reads like the very best feel-good Christmas movie you could ever want to watch during the holidays.
Highly recommended especially for fans of Melanie Jacobson. I can't wait to read more stories in this series and fingers crossed they'll come out on audio soon too!
Steam level: Kissing only
Full of small town charm ala Stars Hollow (the town is even called Pine Hollow!), this story sees Ally Gilmore (!) - a big city photographer coming home for Christmas only to end up fighting to save her grandparent's local animal shelter, get homes for the last 12 dogs and try not to fall for Ben West, the town Grinch and single Dad to his dead sister's ten year old daughter.
I couldn't get enough of these characters, the quirky dogs who find their way into the perfect homes or the way Ally and Ben fight their feelings only to learn that love is worth taking a chance on.
This author has written for Hallmark Movies before and I completely understand why. This book was great on audio and reads like the very best feel-good Christmas movie you could ever want to watch during the holidays.
Highly recommended especially for fans of Melanie Jacobson. I can't wait to read more stories in this series and fingers crossed they'll come out on audio soon too!
Steam level: Kissing only
kimfromheroes's review against another edition
4.0
Small town romance set before and during Christmas + dogs
luverbyrd's review against another edition
4.0
Like a Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movie but in book form. I usually don't like romance books, but this one was super adorable. It's a more modest romance which I also liked, hence it being like a Hallmark movie.
The characters were believable, one wrestles with wanting to control everything in life and the other is trying to figure out life and where she belongs.
I originally picked this up because the premise of trying to save dogs at a shelter and it did not disappoint on the cute animal aspect.
Really cute, fun, and enjoyable Christmasy read.
The characters were believable, one wrestles with wanting to control everything in life and the other is trying to figure out life and where she belongs.
I originally picked this up because the premise of trying to save dogs at a shelter and it did not disappoint on the cute animal aspect.
Really cute, fun, and enjoyable Christmasy read.
moviebuffkt's review against another edition
3.0
Perfect for this time of year, an easy holiday story with all the trappings of a Hallmark movie.
bonniereads777's review against another edition
4.0
Ally has come to Pine Hollow to temporarily help her grandparents run the town dog shelter after her grandmother is injured. Ben is struggling to handle single-parenthood after his sister and her husband died two years ago, and he became guardian of his niece, Astrid. Their worlds collide when Ben casts the tie-breaking vote in the decision to cut funding for the dog shelter. Anger turns to friendship, as they join forces during the Christmas season to try and find funding for the shelter and adopt out the 12 dogs who need homes. But is there something more?
This is such a cute romance, which immediately transports the reader into the Christmas season. That is my top "must have" rule for Christmas novels. The reader must feel as if they are surrounded by Christmas, whatever time of year it might be. Besides Ben, Ally, and Astrid, there are many colorful characters living in this close-knit town. This includes the dogs, who were very much a part of this story, and whose individual personalities are so well described. This is a story about recovering from loss and heartbreak and having the courage to take a second chance. The dogs reinforce the idea of second chances as well, because they are in the shelter waiting for new families to adopt them. I would recommend this for dog lovers, fans of Christmas romance novels, or anyone who appreciates second chances.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
This is such a cute romance, which immediately transports the reader into the Christmas season. That is my top "must have" rule for Christmas novels. The reader must feel as if they are surrounded by Christmas, whatever time of year it might be. Besides Ben, Ally, and Astrid, there are many colorful characters living in this close-knit town. This includes the dogs, who were very much a part of this story, and whose individual personalities are so well described. This is a story about recovering from loss and heartbreak and having the courage to take a second chance. The dogs reinforce the idea of second chances as well, because they are in the shelter waiting for new families to adopt them. I would recommend this for dog lovers, fans of Christmas romance novels, or anyone who appreciates second chances.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
nsilvern's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I picked this up after reading the rest of the Pine Hollow books, so I skimmed it since I knew a lot of the background and plot points that occur here. However, I definitely feel that while the earlier books are better about integrating the town more, the later books are better at developing the romance. I hope that the next Pine Hollow marries those concepts. I missed seeing all of the town get involved more in the “behind the scenes” of the relationship, so this was nice to revisit with book 1, but the romance dragged and I didn’t really root for Ben.
bookishlychar's review against another edition
4.0
If you like a holiday romance in a small town this is the book for you! Pine Hollow is the perfect winter town to bring out the holiday season and feelings. You have Ally, who is back in town, to help her grandparents out with their dog shelter. She is feeling a little lost, not sure where "home" is for her. Then she finds out that a Grinch has taken away the shelter funding and they have to find a home for the dogs there, in the middle of the holiday season. The "Grinch" is none other than Ben West. He has adopted a tough personality while caring for his niece and filling in for his sister and brother-in-law who died two years ago. He does feel terrible about the shelter closing, so he offers a truce to Ally in helping her find homes for all the dogs. What they don't expect is for the truce to lead to feelings for both of them.
This story was adorable and got me in the holiday spirit. I loved the two main characters and I thought Ben's niece, Astrid, was a wonderful addition to the story. I thought it was wonderful how Astrid and Ally connected about the loss of their parents and it seemed to develop a positive relationship apart from Ben and Ally's budding relationship.
Ally was a wonderful character, who seemed to have so much heart. She cared so much about everything in town. I also thought Ben was a character with a heart too, it was just a bit harder to see, as he was so overwhelmed with everything that was going on in his life, and the feeling that he had to do everything.
If you are looking for a cozy holiday read, this is the book for you. It is adorable and such a sweet read!
This story was adorable and got me in the holiday spirit. I loved the two main characters and I thought Ben's niece, Astrid, was a wonderful addition to the story. I thought it was wonderful how Astrid and Ally connected about the loss of their parents and it seemed to develop a positive relationship apart from Ben and Ally's budding relationship.
Ally was a wonderful character, who seemed to have so much heart. She cared so much about everything in town. I also thought Ben was a character with a heart too, it was just a bit harder to see, as he was so overwhelmed with everything that was going on in his life, and the feeling that he had to do everything.
If you are looking for a cozy holiday read, this is the book for you. It is adorable and such a sweet read!
angiew23's review against another edition
4.0
This is your pretty standard Christmas romance, there is a girl and a guy, they have some kind of small town issue, end up falling in love and then there is some kind of happy ending, usually involving some kind of miracle or problem resolution which for one reason or another did not work at the beginning of the story but now makes perfect sense. In this case, Ally has come to her grandparents' home town to help with photography and keeping up with the day to day business of their animal shelter. Ben is the guardian and uncle of 10 year old Astrid who loves dogs and Christmas spirit. He is also in charge of making budget-related decisions at the town hall. When forced to choose between a community centre roof repair and continued funding for the animal shelter the following year, he goes against what Astrid and Ally would clearly choose and ends funding for the shelter, but promises to help the 12 dogs currently awaiting adoption find their forever homes. When Ally finally gives in to the reality of the impending closure, she considers returning back to the city to piece together the life she left behind, but she is torn by her feelings towards Ben.
I'll be honest, I skimmed the majority of the book. It was exactly what it was supposed to be, but unfortunately when it comes to mass market romance books, that usually means predictable and lacking substance. The animal shelter aspect definitely appealed to me because of my past experience working in one, but the descriptions and events were fairly surface level so even that didn't keep my interest. For a Christmas romance, it checks all the boxes, it is a light read, it has some nice themes and decent character development, but nothing that will make you burn the turkey because you just can't put down your book. Thanks to Forever Publishing for the fun Christmas reads!
I'll be honest, I skimmed the majority of the book. It was exactly what it was supposed to be, but unfortunately when it comes to mass market romance books, that usually means predictable and lacking substance. The animal shelter aspect definitely appealed to me because of my past experience working in one, but the descriptions and events were fairly surface level so even that didn't keep my interest. For a Christmas romance, it checks all the boxes, it is a light read, it has some nice themes and decent character development, but nothing that will make you burn the turkey because you just can't put down your book. Thanks to Forever Publishing for the fun Christmas reads!