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Holiday Harbor #2
Jingle Bell Romance
INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE
Book 2-Holiday Harbor: Where love is just around the bend...
Julia Stanton loves Christmas--almost as much as she loves the home she's made in Holiday Harbor. So when her beloved pastor's prodigal son returns for a brief visit, she hatches a plan to keep Nick McHenry in town. Growing up as an ambassador's daughter, she's charmed countless dignitaries and surely she can get the brooding bachelor to see how much joy there is in a family-filled holiday. Julia never expects to feel the spark of something more for Nick. But it will take more than attraction to turn this handsome scrooge into her hometown hero.
Book 2-Holiday Harbor: Where love is just around the bend...
Julia Stanton loves Christmas--almost as much as she loves the home she's made in Holiday Harbor. So when her beloved pastor's prodigal son returns for a brief visit, she hatches a plan to keep Nick McHenry in town. Growing up as an ambassador's daughter, she's charmed countless dignitaries and surely she can get the brooding bachelor to see how much joy there is in a family-filled holiday. Julia never expects to feel the spark of something more for Nick. But it will take more than attraction to turn this handsome scrooge into her hometown hero.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
17 people are currently reading
444 people want to read
About the author
Mia Ross
40 books110 followersMia Ross loves great stories. She enjoys reading about fascinating people, long-ago times, and exotic places. But only for a little while, because her reality is pretty sweet. Married to her college sweetheart, she's the proud mom of two amazing kids whose schedules keep her hopping. Busy as she is, she can't imagine trading her life for anyone else's--and she has a pretty good imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
November 30, 2017
2.5 stars
Very cheesy and predictable but it definitely had some sweet moments. I liked the theme of forgiveness and it definitely had some Christmas carol vibes.
However, a number of things really detracted for me. First of all, I was turned off by this typo (which appears on the third paragraph of the first page no less!): “set against the gently falling slow, his outfit gave him a dark, dangerous look.” Again, this is the FIRST PAGE! Falling “slow”? Ugh.
The romance was okay, but I didn’t get why anyone would care about the daughter of an ambassador. Nick writes an article about her that attracts 1 million readers - and I just couldn’t see why the readers cared that Julia opened a toy store. It’s not like she’s the daughter of an A-List celebrity or something. Also, Julia’s life seemed dull. There’s no way I would want to read an ongoing week to week story all about her life, so I found it hard to believe that one million readers would want to either.
There’s also a Shakespearean quotation that is attributed to the wrong play and some of the phrasing and word choice was a little odd. And there’s a reference to the sun setting at 5 pm. This time of year, in the northeast, it’s pitch black by 5 pm. The sun isn’t setting - it’s long gone. And singing “the little drummer boy” in a church nativity play for Christmas Eve seemed like a very odd choice. Errors like that really detracted from what was overall a sweet book.
Very cheesy and predictable but it definitely had some sweet moments. I liked the theme of forgiveness and it definitely had some Christmas carol vibes.
However, a number of things really detracted for me. First of all, I was turned off by this typo (which appears on the third paragraph of the first page no less!): “set against the gently falling slow, his outfit gave him a dark, dangerous look.” Again, this is the FIRST PAGE! Falling “slow”? Ugh.
The romance was okay, but I didn’t get why anyone would care about the daughter of an ambassador. Nick writes an article about her that attracts 1 million readers - and I just couldn’t see why the readers cared that Julia opened a toy store. It’s not like she’s the daughter of an A-List celebrity or something. Also, Julia’s life seemed dull. There’s no way I would want to read an ongoing week to week story all about her life, so I found it hard to believe that one million readers would want to either.
There’s also a Shakespearean quotation that is attributed to the wrong play and some of the phrasing and word choice was a little odd. And there’s a reference to the sun setting at 5 pm. This time of year, in the northeast, it’s pitch black by 5 pm. The sun isn’t setting - it’s long gone. And singing “the little drummer boy” in a church nativity play for Christmas Eve seemed like a very odd choice. Errors like that really detracted from what was overall a sweet book.
July 14, 2015
I love Christmas. So it was fun to see Julia work her charms on Nick during the holidays.
November 27, 2018
Kinda cheesy. Didn't really even care to finish.
December 5, 2013
ell you can not get any better than this book as far as romance. I do not know what is happening to me, I was never a fan of romance novels but have now read two and loved them. But this is not about me, it is about Nick and Julia.
Julia had been the daughter of an Embassador so she was never in one place very long growing up. Nick on the other hand stuck in there and wished he was any place but Holiday Harbor.
Julia had always been in the spotlight and wanted a change. So she settled in Holiday Harbor and opened a toy store. She had just been hurt very badly by her ex. So she wanted a nice small town and a new start where no one treated her special because of who her parents are.
Nick is all business. In fact, he was not going to stay in Holiday Harbor, but the whether conditions caused the airlines to cancel flights for a few days and Nick had no choice. They had over five feet of snow!
Nick and Julia were familiar with one and other. Nick, who runs an online news magazine, had heard about Julia. Not to mention Julia had made friends with Nick's sister and their family just by coincidence. Julia knew Nick had a reputation for being a kind of bad boy. Nick is very gruff and he also never comes to see his family. And when you look in his eyes, there is no sparkle.
Nick an Julia met when Nick came to her toy store. She was not impressed by his expensive clothes and shoes. And he felt a chilly vibe coming from her.
The cutest thing happens next. Julia runs a Christmas tree for poor children who's parents may not be able to afford to buy them anything. So the children get to write what they want for Christmas in a snowflake and stick it on the tree. So Nick agreed to pick a name and buy a present. He happens to pick his nieces request which states simply that she wanted Uncle Nick home for Christmas.
Julie love the Holidays so very much. And Nick did not seem to care at all. Nick was only supposed to be back in town for a day.
Nick has not been home for many years because he cannot face what he has been running from his whole life. The fact that he could not forgive himself for thinking he killed his older brother when his brother drowned one day with the two boys and their dad in the boat. And thinking about how mad his dad still is at him. His father is also the local preacher and as a boy, Nick sat through so many homilies of Hell and fire and brimstone, and it seemed to be directed just at Nick. His dad does not really talk to him. Nick believes that God no longer cares about him. Where as Julie prays a lot and goes to church every week.
Running a company takes a lot of time. But because Nick got stuck originally for Thanksgiving, he started to spend time with his niece. She gets him to do everything he does not want to like decorate for Christmas, play the piano, etc. She starts to chip away at that wall that has put up around himself since his brother's death.
Bur Julia is doing a pretty good job of that herself. In fact she prays to God that she can intervene and bring Nick and his dad back together.
Nick decided since there has been a lot of rumor and gossip, that he could write a story on Julia to explain her side of things. In his company Nick does not do the writing anymore. He owns the company so he does not have to. But he misses it and wants everyone to know how Julia grew up and what has happened to her since and why she settled down in his town. But Julie just wants a place to call home. And this town is it.
So as Nick begins the interview, he winds up helping Julia at the store, getting coffee for her, and he cannot seem to say no even when Julia insists he go to his family functions, and even, church.
This story has very likable characters and you become invested in them. Julie is trying to settle down in a new town and forget about all the bad that has happened. Nick is trying terribly to just get a flight out of his boyhood town.
You see it come very slowly but Nick and Julia start to have feelings for each other. The book takes you on a great journey that is neither in your face with to much sappy romance, nor is it too erotic. It is just about perfect pacing of how these two start to develop feelings toward each other.
What do they do? Nick has a hard time expressing himself. And Julie swears she will never let a man hurt her again.
But we see as the story progresses that Julia breaks down Nick's s emotional wall and Nick behaves differently and shows a whole other side of himself.
So do Nick and his father renew their relationship? Does Julia get to stay where she is, and where she feels most is home? Does Nick go back to his big town and his big job leaving his family behind again?
Pick of a copy of this book and find out. I can say honestly the meat of the story if you will is both Nick and Julia start out very stifled and they, through interacting with each other, so form feelings for each other. But it is done so well. You will fall in love with Nick and Julie.
Julia had been the daughter of an Embassador so she was never in one place very long growing up. Nick on the other hand stuck in there and wished he was any place but Holiday Harbor.
Julia had always been in the spotlight and wanted a change. So she settled in Holiday Harbor and opened a toy store. She had just been hurt very badly by her ex. So she wanted a nice small town and a new start where no one treated her special because of who her parents are.
Nick is all business. In fact, he was not going to stay in Holiday Harbor, but the whether conditions caused the airlines to cancel flights for a few days and Nick had no choice. They had over five feet of snow!
Nick and Julia were familiar with one and other. Nick, who runs an online news magazine, had heard about Julia. Not to mention Julia had made friends with Nick's sister and their family just by coincidence. Julia knew Nick had a reputation for being a kind of bad boy. Nick is very gruff and he also never comes to see his family. And when you look in his eyes, there is no sparkle.
Nick an Julia met when Nick came to her toy store. She was not impressed by his expensive clothes and shoes. And he felt a chilly vibe coming from her.
The cutest thing happens next. Julia runs a Christmas tree for poor children who's parents may not be able to afford to buy them anything. So the children get to write what they want for Christmas in a snowflake and stick it on the tree. So Nick agreed to pick a name and buy a present. He happens to pick his nieces request which states simply that she wanted Uncle Nick home for Christmas.
Julie love the Holidays so very much. And Nick did not seem to care at all. Nick was only supposed to be back in town for a day.
Nick has not been home for many years because he cannot face what he has been running from his whole life. The fact that he could not forgive himself for thinking he killed his older brother when his brother drowned one day with the two boys and their dad in the boat. And thinking about how mad his dad still is at him. His father is also the local preacher and as a boy, Nick sat through so many homilies of Hell and fire and brimstone, and it seemed to be directed just at Nick. His dad does not really talk to him. Nick believes that God no longer cares about him. Where as Julie prays a lot and goes to church every week.
Running a company takes a lot of time. But because Nick got stuck originally for Thanksgiving, he started to spend time with his niece. She gets him to do everything he does not want to like decorate for Christmas, play the piano, etc. She starts to chip away at that wall that has put up around himself since his brother's death.
Bur Julia is doing a pretty good job of that herself. In fact she prays to God that she can intervene and bring Nick and his dad back together.
Nick decided since there has been a lot of rumor and gossip, that he could write a story on Julia to explain her side of things. In his company Nick does not do the writing anymore. He owns the company so he does not have to. But he misses it and wants everyone to know how Julia grew up and what has happened to her since and why she settled down in his town. But Julie just wants a place to call home. And this town is it.
So as Nick begins the interview, he winds up helping Julia at the store, getting coffee for her, and he cannot seem to say no even when Julia insists he go to his family functions, and even, church.
This story has very likable characters and you become invested in them. Julie is trying to settle down in a new town and forget about all the bad that has happened. Nick is trying terribly to just get a flight out of his boyhood town.
You see it come very slowly but Nick and Julia start to have feelings for each other. The book takes you on a great journey that is neither in your face with to much sappy romance, nor is it too erotic. It is just about perfect pacing of how these two start to develop feelings toward each other.
What do they do? Nick has a hard time expressing himself. And Julie swears she will never let a man hurt her again.
But we see as the story progresses that Julia breaks down Nick's s emotional wall and Nick behaves differently and shows a whole other side of himself.
So do Nick and his father renew their relationship? Does Julia get to stay where she is, and where she feels most is home? Does Nick go back to his big town and his big job leaving his family behind again?
Pick of a copy of this book and find out. I can say honestly the meat of the story if you will is both Nick and Julia start out very stifled and they, through interacting with each other, so form feelings for each other. But it is done so well. You will fall in love with Nick and Julie.
November 24, 2014
Holiday Harbor is an amazing small town. It's everything people expect from one - close friends and nosy neighbors, a tight knit community that never forgets - whether it was a good thing you did or a bad. Unfortunately for the pastor's long lost son, Nick McHenry, a lot of it is bad. But Julia is new, she wasn't there for his history and she just may be one of the first ones to give him a chance.
The Holiday Harbor series is a clean romance, what many would consider inspirational. The other two books in the series have Christian overtone, but this book was very much a Christian romance. Perhaps it's because the pastor's family is a main role in the story. God was a much larger presence in this book than in the others, and my personal preference is for him to a bit more discreet in these type of books.
I did love seeing Julia Stanton's history of how she ended up in Holiday Harbor. She is such a sweet and intelligent person, it's hard to imagine anyone not loving her from the second they met. Nich was just enough bad boy without being a really "bad boy" to set her personality off just right.
The think I like most about this series is how the story concentrates so much on their relationship. As clean romances we don't get more than a few chaste kisses and some hand holding, so there is a lot going on emotionally. And it's not only between our two main characters, you can see it in everyone around them as well - slight changes in behavior and attitude as the story progresses. It's my favorite thing about this series - watching the entire town grow and change.
The Holiday Harbor series is a clean romance, what many would consider inspirational. The other two books in the series have Christian overtone, but this book was very much a Christian romance. Perhaps it's because the pastor's family is a main role in the story. God was a much larger presence in this book than in the others, and my personal preference is for him to a bit more discreet in these type of books.
I did love seeing Julia Stanton's history of how she ended up in Holiday Harbor. She is such a sweet and intelligent person, it's hard to imagine anyone not loving her from the second they met. Nich was just enough bad boy without being a really "bad boy" to set her personality off just right.
The think I like most about this series is how the story concentrates so much on their relationship. As clean romances we don't get more than a few chaste kisses and some hand holding, so there is a lot going on emotionally. And it's not only between our two main characters, you can see it in everyone around them as well - slight changes in behavior and attitude as the story progresses. It's my favorite thing about this series - watching the entire town grow and change.
June 18, 2015
Nice story. Hero is a hardboiled newspaper man of the new variety--he runs an online magazine that is apparently doing very well. (The million subscribers I find a tad unbelievable, and there is No mention of advertising, which keeps both online and print magazines in the black, but never mind. ) The heroine is a diplomats daughter who lived a glamorous life and now has opened a toy store in a tiny Maine fishing village. And is apparently doing well at it. This also seems really improbable, given what I know about the diplomatic service, the newspaper business (I don't know Any paparazzi who chase diplomats' families around), and small towns, but maybe in Maine they're different. But never mind that. It's mostly irrelevant to the story. The hero is the son of the local pastor and they have been estranged for years. He also hates Christmas. So the heroine decides to make him her project and figure out some way to bring them back together. She offers to let him tell her life story in his magazine as a way to get him to stay in town. Also, they're attracted to each other, but they mostly try to ignore that. For all its improbabilities, it's fairly easy to set them aside and just enjoy the story. It's a nice little story and I enjoyed it.
November 21, 2013
I really wanted to love this book, especially given my love of festive holiday spirit. Sadly, there is very little positive to share about it. It started poorly, began with typos, misattributed a line from Macbeth to Hamlet, and was so contrived I could barely enjoy it. Some scenes felt very rushed, as if they were added as an afterthought. The emotional tension was contrived, and the ending was barely realistic. I love me a good fluffy romance novel, but I've read much better books.
I found elements of the story enjoyable: the main character's toy store sounds like a dream, and I liked her pet macaw with his love of the Bard. The religious aspect of the story is well-done: clearly a priority for the characters, with the black sheep returning to the flock, but not evangelical or disruptive to the plot.
All in all, an okay book for those looking for a fluffy read on a snowy Sunday morning. Otherwise... probably not worth your time.
(Disclaimer: I received this book through GoodReads Giveaway.)
I found elements of the story enjoyable: the main character's toy store sounds like a dream, and I liked her pet macaw with his love of the Bard. The religious aspect of the story is well-done: clearly a priority for the characters, with the black sheep returning to the flock, but not evangelical or disruptive to the plot.
All in all, an okay book for those looking for a fluffy read on a snowy Sunday morning. Otherwise... probably not worth your time.
(Disclaimer: I received this book through GoodReads Giveaway.)
November 29, 2013
I have read many love inspired books, some I loved, some I didn't. Unfortunately, this one was one I didn't. I'm not one to write a bad review and I'm sure that for some, they will love it. It just wasn't one that I enjoyed. I was bored and found myself scanning, which I hate. Finally I just gave up... did not even finish it.
June 17, 2022
The hero of this book is a hard-hitting journalist, editor-in-chief of his own online news magazine, and in order to keep him in his small Maine hometown long enough to convince him to reconcile with his elderly father, the heroine, a reclusive yet famous diplomat's daughter, offers to sit down with him for a multi-part profile. As they're producing the bio, the hero has the heroine check over each segment to make sure he's not writing anything that upsets or offends her (what?) and as they reach the point where he's going to need to talk about how she was bamboozled and impoverished by a scam artist she fell for, she asks how they are planning to "frame what happened with Bernard" and he replies, "It's up to you, but I vote we leave that out." Uh... what? She asks "Don't you want to give your readers the truth?" and he replies in part that "trotting out the sordid details doesn't help anyone, and it would embarrass you." I... uh... don't really consider that good and ethical journalism: when writing a portrait of a public figure, leaving out things which might upset or embarrass said public figure for no reason other than their feelings. Basically, if you're expecting to read a believable journalist character in here, give up those expectations right now.
Other than that this is a small-town inspirational romance doing what small-town inspirational romances do. I don't really understand how a toy store in northern Maine generates this much revenue and I have some quibbles about the snow removal techniques practiced, but it was unremarkable. I will note that this is very much the hero's book - despite the heroine's dramatic backstory, very early on in the book she resolves that she should convince the hero to reconcile with his family and that forms the bulk of her emotional concerns over the course of the book, with her own issues being given very short shrift. There's also some (fairly mild) unexamined sexism going on with the hero thinking things like the heroine is a "refreshing change" from all (all!) the other women he's known because she's not "pushing for commitment he's not ready to give" (they're not even dating). Over all, I was kind of bored but I'm not really a reader of inspirationals so a lot of the emotional beats were just not what I'm looking for in a category romance.
Other than that this is a small-town inspirational romance doing what small-town inspirational romances do. I don't really understand how a toy store in northern Maine generates this much revenue and I have some quibbles about the snow removal techniques practiced, but it was unremarkable. I will note that this is very much the hero's book - despite the heroine's dramatic backstory, very early on in the book she resolves that she should convince the hero to reconcile with his family and that forms the bulk of her emotional concerns over the course of the book, with her own issues being given very short shrift. There's also some (fairly mild) unexamined sexism going on with the hero thinking things like the heroine is a "refreshing change" from all (all!) the other women he's known because she's not "pushing for commitment he's not ready to give" (they're not even dating). Over all, I was kind of bored but I'm not really a reader of inspirationals so a lot of the emotional beats were just not what I'm looking for in a category romance.
January 2, 2018
A New Take on A Christmas Carol
Nick and Julia seem like an unlikely match. I liked how the characters grew through the story. A. good read.
Nick and Julia seem like an unlikely match. I liked how the characters grew through the story. A. good read.
June 14, 2018
This is the 1st book I read by Mia Ross. I'm sorry I stopped reading this story at chapter 2 because it didn't hold my interest.
January 9, 2020
This book is wonderful. It capture's Christmas perfectly.
February 3, 2020
Adorable. Clean. Heartwarming. Truly enjoyed this read.
January 24, 2022
Cute story. I really enjoyed my snow day
August 1, 2022
Enjoyable characters. Quick light read
December 4, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Such a sweet story with a beautiful setting and history. It was a hallmark movie in book form exactly what I wanted this December
Such a sweet story with a beautiful setting and history. It was a hallmark movie in book form exactly what I wanted this December
December 15, 2025
Libby. Fun romance Christmas read
March 6, 2017
I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways. A very nice clean Christian love story about a young woman who meets the black sheep of the family and decides to help him overcome the past and reunite with his father. In the process of this endeavor, the woman and man fall in love.
March 22, 2016
Mixed feelings about this one. Of the many Christmas romances I've read lately this one was less sugary than most. And the writing was solid - except for a few missteps I'll talk about later. This story is loosely inspired by A Christmas Carol, and I thought the author did a pretty good job with the hero's character arc. I also liked Julia. Her thoughts and actions made sense to me, though the description of her did not.
So here are the trouble spots:
Several times the author refers to Julia as the "elusive ambassador's daughter". I think she means the daughter is elusive, not the ambassador. But that part of the story relies on the idea that America is just panting for the details of an ambassador's grown daughter's life. And let's face it, most Americans can't even name one ambassador, let alone care about their family. Somehow telling her story has garnered 1 million readers for an internet magazine, (really?), but there's no clue why. I mean, all she does is run a toy store. It would have been better if the author just made the hero fascinated by her and left it at that.
Also, it's really sad when a book gets professionally published and contains a famous MacBeth quote that is misattributed to Hamlet. "When shall we three meet again..." is the witches. I was enjoying the story till that happened. Anyone can make a mistake - I make them all the time. But it's sad to think no one in the publishing chain caught that one. It's our literary culture, folks. At least look it up to be sure.
So a possible 4 star book is reduced to 2.5, when some wise editorial influence could have improved it. Still, if you don't mind these problems it's a pretty nice Christmas-in-Maine story. Just not as good as it could have been.
So here are the trouble spots:
Several times the author refers to Julia as the "elusive ambassador's daughter". I think she means the daughter is elusive, not the ambassador. But that part of the story relies on the idea that America is just panting for the details of an ambassador's grown daughter's life. And let's face it, most Americans can't even name one ambassador, let alone care about their family. Somehow telling her story has garnered 1 million readers for an internet magazine, (really?), but there's no clue why. I mean, all she does is run a toy store. It would have been better if the author just made the hero fascinated by her and left it at that.
Also, it's really sad when a book gets professionally published and contains a famous MacBeth quote that is misattributed to Hamlet. "When shall we three meet again..." is the witches. I was enjoying the story till that happened. Anyone can make a mistake - I make them all the time. But it's sad to think no one in the publishing chain caught that one. It's our literary culture, folks. At least look it up to be sure.
So a possible 4 star book is reduced to 2.5, when some wise editorial influence could have improved it. Still, if you don't mind these problems it's a pretty nice Christmas-in-Maine story. Just not as good as it could have been.
November 30, 2015
Grab a cup of hot chocolate or hot apple cider and get ready to read this warm and cozy Christmas romance.
If you haven't read the first book in this series, don't worry the book is fine as a stand alone.
Julia Stanton, an ambassadors grown daughter has made Holiday Harbor, Maine her home. Still she feels like an outsider to some of the townspeople. She opens Toyland a store that specializes in unique toys.
Nick McHenry has left his hometown long ago. His heart is shattered and he feels responsible for the death of his teenager brother many years ago. o
Sweet Hannah, Nick's four year old niece has one wish for Christmas and that is for her uncle Nick to come home.
A Christmas plan is put in motion when Julia agrees to be the subject of a special presentation in Nick's online newspaper and he is given the exclusive interviews with Julia. Little does Nick know that Julia is trying to heal Nick's broken heart and heal his shattered relationship with his family, primarily his dad Daniel who is the pastor of the Safe Harbor Church.
Will the prodigal son return and open his heart and return to his faith, can a woman with an international reputation of privilege find peace, love and a new beginning in Holiday Harbor? Christmas is certainly full of surprises in Holiday Harbor!
A wonderful Christmas romance to bring holiday cheer to your heart.
If you haven't read the first book in this series, don't worry the book is fine as a stand alone.
Julia Stanton, an ambassadors grown daughter has made Holiday Harbor, Maine her home. Still she feels like an outsider to some of the townspeople. She opens Toyland a store that specializes in unique toys.
Nick McHenry has left his hometown long ago. His heart is shattered and he feels responsible for the death of his teenager brother many years ago. o
Sweet Hannah, Nick's four year old niece has one wish for Christmas and that is for her uncle Nick to come home.
A Christmas plan is put in motion when Julia agrees to be the subject of a special presentation in Nick's online newspaper and he is given the exclusive interviews with Julia. Little does Nick know that Julia is trying to heal Nick's broken heart and heal his shattered relationship with his family, primarily his dad Daniel who is the pastor of the Safe Harbor Church.
Will the prodigal son return and open his heart and return to his faith, can a woman with an international reputation of privilege find peace, love and a new beginning in Holiday Harbor? Christmas is certainly full of surprises in Holiday Harbor!
A wonderful Christmas romance to bring holiday cheer to your heart.
June 7, 2015
Holiday Harbor
Book 2
This is probably one of those books that would be more enjoyable at Christmas, but it was next on my list to read so...here we are in June, LOL!
Both characters in this story were very likable. Julia Stranton comes from a very rich and well-known political family back East. But she's now ready to make it on her own after some bad luck in her life. She sets up an awesome toy store that draws people in. Nick McHenry is another story. He's lived with guilt and blame over losing his older brother in a freak accident when they were younger. Since then, he's resented his father's sermons and has stayed clear away from Holiday Harbor. But Julia's soft, lovable side brings out the best in him.
The author did an awesome job developing Nick's personality. She made Nick's transformation very believable. I loved his sister and her family who loved him so much. The author just did a great job all-around developing this book. Nick was probably my favorite because he was so realistic with his nose-in-the-air attitude and his scrooge-like attitude.
Book 2
This is probably one of those books that would be more enjoyable at Christmas, but it was next on my list to read so...here we are in June, LOL!
Both characters in this story were very likable. Julia Stranton comes from a very rich and well-known political family back East. But she's now ready to make it on her own after some bad luck in her life. She sets up an awesome toy store that draws people in. Nick McHenry is another story. He's lived with guilt and blame over losing his older brother in a freak accident when they were younger. Since then, he's resented his father's sermons and has stayed clear away from Holiday Harbor. But Julia's soft, lovable side brings out the best in him.
The author did an awesome job developing Nick's personality. She made Nick's transformation very believable. I loved his sister and her family who loved him so much. The author just did a great job all-around developing this book. Nick was probably my favorite because he was so realistic with his nose-in-the-air attitude and his scrooge-like attitude.
November 15, 2013
A truely wonderful story for the christmas season that warms your heart year round.
In the small maine town lives juilia who moved to this town hoping to escape her painful, public past and live to make others happy by openning a toy store.
Juilia was welcomed into town with open arms by the pastors wife and daughter, while the rest of the town is slower to warm up to her due to her public past.
While home for thanksgiving for the first time in 7 years, nick meets juilia at the local coffee shop. Nick is trying to hide from his own past but after meeting juilia he's beginning to see things in a new light.
Can they help each other face their pasts to find a brighter future, with God's help?
In the small maine town lives juilia who moved to this town hoping to escape her painful, public past and live to make others happy by openning a toy store.
Juilia was welcomed into town with open arms by the pastors wife and daughter, while the rest of the town is slower to warm up to her due to her public past.
While home for thanksgiving for the first time in 7 years, nick meets juilia at the local coffee shop. Nick is trying to hide from his own past but after meeting juilia he's beginning to see things in a new light.
Can they help each other face their pasts to find a brighter future, with God's help?
November 12, 2013
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I love romance novels, especially holiday romance novels! That being said, I found the relationship among the characters at the beginning of this book to be a little confusing. It took some reading into the book for me to get into the flow of the story. But as the story evolved, I found myself warming up to it. And I can say that by the end of the book, I had a smile on my face. So even though I initially had reservations about the book at the start, I can say that I definitely enjoyed reading it by the end! This book is a "good read" for anyone who enjoys holiday romance novels!
October 15, 2013
Jingle Bells Romance by Mia Ross is a delightful holiday story that includes a little of Dickens' A Christmas Carol and a bit of The Prodigal Son from the Bible. The romance, as is evolves between Julia and Nick, is not spurred on by immediate attraction, but rather by Julia's desire to help Nick reconcile with his family and with his faith in God. This book 's characters and storyline were deeper and better developed than I expected. It is a sweet holiday read. I receive this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2013
Get your tissues ready...I gave this five stars because it is exactly what the reader expects. It is a beautifully written romantic Christmas story.
It doesn't matter if you believe in the Christmas miracles or not, this story of a young man who has lost himself after a tragic family accident will touch your heart. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a modern day Scrooge from beginning to end. If you are looking for an enjoyable read for the holiday season, I highly recommend.
*I received my copy free as a first reads giveaway on GoodReads*
It doesn't matter if you believe in the Christmas miracles or not, this story of a young man who has lost himself after a tragic family accident will touch your heart. I thoroughly enjoyed this story of a modern day Scrooge from beginning to end. If you are looking for an enjoyable read for the holiday season, I highly recommend.
*I received my copy free as a first reads giveaway on GoodReads*
November 19, 2013
I won this book in a First Reads by Goodreads contest. I had never read this author before and I've never been much of a Christmas book reader, but I really liked this book. I enjoyed it from the start. I liked the characters and I really liked how the author handled the Christian aspect of the book. It fit naturally into the character's lives and helped Nick resolve his problems. It was a sweet story and I look forward to reading more books by Mia Ross.
December 10, 2013
I got a complimentary copy as a first reads giveaway. This was a very cute, sweet (maybe a bit overly sweet) Christmas romance novel. However, there are only two weeks until Christmas so that is exactly what I was looking for. I found myself easily attached to the characters and the story was completely believable. I was a little surprised to find the religious aspect but I felt it was nicely done. A very nice Christmas story.
November 6, 2013
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads giveaway. It was a great quick Christamas read that put me in the spirit. The message of faith was inspirational. Julia was a well rounded character that was easy to like and Nick, even though he had his faults he was a man you could respect. Good read :)
November 9, 2013
A friend won this book from goodreads first reads giveaway and loaned it to me. It was just what I needed. A nice little pick me up on a cold rainy day. Put me into the Christmas spirit and even though it's a story, it restores my... faith in humanity. I may not be the strongest of believers but I can appreciate the heartfelt message it brought out. Good quick read.
December 7, 2013
Julia and Nick's romance is a wonderful Christmas read. I have to admit that I welled up during parts of the book. A take on The Christmas Carol, Mia Ross has lent a contemporary edge to this classic. The characters are finely drawn and the story so engaging, I had to force myself from reading throughout the night.
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