By: Holly Cassidy
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC of this book!
This was a very cute way to handle the business woman coming to a small town to buy up a building to turn it into something else but falls in love with the small town and the small town man trope. (Phew, that was a mouthful!) How exactly does Bella fall in love with the town and Jesse? Why, a wager of course! What’s at stake? The price of the building. How will they determine who wins? With Christmas games!
I will say, I’ve read this trope quite a bit, and it’s a BIG one for Hallmark Christmas Movies. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it but Cassidy got me hook, line, and sinker. And I think it’s because she took her time with having Jesse and Bella fall for each other (or realize that they’ve fallen for each other).
There are also so many loveable characters in this novel, Jesse’s Grandfather, all the Merryatrics, Bella’s friend etc.. While this we don’t have an in depth exploration on all these characters, they each played their part perfectly.
Really, this should be turned into a Christmas Hallmark Movie.
This book will be released on September 26, 2023. Pre-order it here!
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