Christmas on Peach Tree Lane

by Jules Bennett

Event planner Violet Calhoun lives to deck the halls, and her quaint Southern hometown’s fiftieth annual Tinsel Tour will be the event of the season. With a magazine crew on hand to document Peach Grove’s transformation into a winter wonderland, this year’s festivities have got to be the holly-est, jolliest yet. She does not have the time to deal with a Grinch—even a gorgeous one like Brady Jackson.

Divorce attorney Brady has plans to divest himself of his family’s ancestral mansion and be back at his Atlanta firm by New Year’s. Hanging so much as a wreath on the door is not a part of that plan. Nor is dealing with an annoying—though undeniably adorable—elf.

But Violet is all about making holiday magic happen. As they work together to stage Brady’s historic house, the town grump reveals he’s more sexy than Scrooge. And after some mind-blowing kisses, what starts as a Christmas flirtation starts to feel more like a year-round affair…

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Holiday Romance, Harlequin, Rom Com, Contemporary

257 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 30, 2020

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author Jules Bennett has written for multiple publishing houses and currently has books with Harlequin and Kensington.

She loves to chat with readers through Twitter or her Fan Page on Facebook. You can also contact her through her website as well as stay up to date on her latest releases, book events, and awards. julesbennett.com

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Christmas romance. I have to say this is a slow moving romance book. I did enjoyed this book. The characters where fun and developed. I really loved Violet who loves everything Christmas. This book has so much about Christmas. If you are looking for a Christmas romance book then this is for you. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Carina Press) or author (Jules Bennett) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Christmas romance. I have to say this is a slow moving romance book. I did enjoyed this book. The characters where fun and developed. I really loved Violet who loves everything Christmas. This book has so much about Christmas. If you are looking for a Christmas romance book then this is for you. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Carina Press) or author (Jules Bennett) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. (*)

[Renae]

Stopped reading at 7%.

The hero owns a "plantation house" in rural Georgia, and the heroine is decorating it for an interior design magazine's Christmas photo shoot.

Life is short, and reading about white people who own plantation houses, and who refer to them as such without examining the loaded concept, is not on my radar. Pass.

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[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Harlequin for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

If you want to get into the holiday spirit, this is a fantastic romance to pick up! Violet is like a Christmas elf on crack and I loved it! It is a little slow to start but once it got going, it flowed easily and had me turning the pages. It’s a super cute hallmark movie type of romance. Highly recommend!

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

At first, I wasn’t really sure how I would've accepted Violet… she seemed to be a little too much, you know? I think I will be acting like Brady at first, not understanding this woman who seems to be loving anything Christmas! She seems to be working like a steamroller, and she doesn’t seem to have a ‘low’ point.

Brady, on the other hand, is more reserved. Coming home to Peach Grove after a break down, and having been a city boy for years, Brady isn’t ready for Violet who is determined to make Brady let her use his grandfather’s house for her historic Tinsel Tour. But Violet also gives Brady warmth and relationship, one that he doesn’t realize he needs so much.

So yes, after a while, I started to appreciate Violet. She LOVES her job, she is competent at it, and she doesn’t let challenges stops her. But I loved how the author also showed Violet needing time to decompress after everything; it felt natural and right. She’s just human after all. She’s wonderful.

And I enjoyed Brady’s journey to realizing love and companionship – including in a form of a puppy that the author added midway through the book. Yes, author, I see what you did there, because animals in romance is just a cherry on top of delicious ice cream *lol*

I am definitely will be there for the next book. I think Robin (Violet’s florist friend) and Bryce (a photographer for a magazine that features Violet and her friends) might have SPARKS that happened behind the scene in this book. I wonder if they’re going to be the next couple




A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls



The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute, sweet, Christmassy cover. And speaking of that holiday, Violet has soooo much Christmas spirit! Like she's a holly jolly elf mixed with an energizer bunny and a savvy business woman who won't take no for an answer. Poor Brady never stood a chance. Not that he seemed to mind, because these two fell hard and fast.

Brady is one of those guys who only works all the time, doesn't have time for dating or small towns or pets. A couple weeks in Peach Tree Lane is all he really needed though. This has all the classic feel good holiday romance vibes goin. Not super angsty, kinda cute and sweet and a bit funny. I really enjoyed it.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful Christmas romance that gave me all kinds of festive feels.

I devoured it in one sitting and I highly recommend it this holiday season!

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 Hello Book Friends! I am so happy to be part of another HARLEQUIN Bookstagram tour. CHRISTMAS ON PEACH TREE LANE by Jules Bennett was a super uplifting book, a merry and bright Christmas romance novel. It has a fantastic cast of characters that you will fall in love with. Violet and Brady’s relationship starts shaky but builds to a wonderful romance with hot, hot, hot moments. I enjoyed this fantabulous novel and recommend it.

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[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is a really sweet, slow burn romance - although when I think about it, it was really just over the run up to Christmas, but we get to join in all the event planning for the big Holiday events. I loved it!!

Violet and her girlfriends made a conscious decision to stay in their home town after college and set up businesses which will hopefully bring back life to the place. Violet has a Christmas shop, and has been co-organising the Tour of the decorated houses for the last few years with William Jackson. Sadly he has died, and now she is doing it alone, and worried about whether she will be able to include his house in the tour.

Brady Jackson has been told to take a couple of months off work, as he lost his cool with an opposing attorney in a public place. He lives to work, so this is pretty awful news ... he decides he better go to the house he inherited from his grandfather, and get it ready for sale.

Yep, Violet now has to persuade the very negative Brady to let the house be included in the tour. He is completely confused by her vitality and her straightforward attitude. He has been all about work so long, that he is lost without the structure, and he cannot envisage how she can enjoy her job so much. I love how he slowly wakes up to what is important and that he is self aware enough to understand that it is Violet that opens his eyes. Whether this will be enough is another question entirely.

I love how Violet gets under his skin, but also the fun scenes with her friends, and her Mum who is about to remarry. There is lots going on, but I really felt part of the team and enjoyed it all.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
Lovely, heartwarming story, with delightful characters.
“Christmas on Peach Tree Lane”, by Jules Bennett (Harlequin – Carina Press), starts out as an “opposites-attract” romance but it’s a story about so much more as the hero’s poignant loneliness gives in to the heroine’s jest for life.
Both main characters are complex and multi-layered, and I loved how the author wrote their love story.
Brady is an amazing hero with a very alluring “wounded vibe”: he’s rigid, grumpy and seems humorless, and totally clueless about anything fun, yet the way he supports Violet, the honesty and openness he gradually shows about himself and his feelings make him so charming and endearing.
Violet is a great heroine, so full of life and passion, generous, sensitive, and a bit crazy, too.
The secondary characters are also compelling and the small town atmosphere is appealing. I was so curious about the antagonism, almost hostility, between two people I suspect will be a future romantic couple and I loved the older couple romance.
The process through which both protagonists become aware of their feelings for each other and the way Brady changes from a very serious man to one so apt to love is written very smoothly, in a believable and realistic way. The author infused humor to the narrative, making it a very entertaining read.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rtc

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hits the spot if you're looking for a Hallmark Christmas movie sort of feel. It's the sort of story that takes place in a small town where local niche businesses are super successful, there is always some sort of festival in the works, and everyone knows (and basically loves) everyone else. Idyllic. Christmas oozes off the pages because Violet, the heroine of this story, is a lover of all things Christmas. She runs into a snag as she is planning the local Christmas homes tour when she encounters Brady, the hero of our story, who is in town to prepare his grandfather's house to be sold. Brady is a workaholic divorce lawyer who has no interest in local traditions, despite his grandfather's role as a founder of some of those traditions. But Brady's holiday grinchiness is no match for Violet's eternal holiday optimism. She breaks his walls down, and we discover that Brady is actually a lovely human being. But he lives/works in Atlanta, and Violet lives/works on Peach Tree Lane. This isn't going to work, But it follows the tradition we've come to expect in holiday romances so ... they'll find a way.

As for the actual execution of this fairly conventional holiday romance ... I actually enjoyed it for the most part, but the romantic start was a bit jarring to me. Brady wanted nothing to do with Violet, although he does notice that she's pretty. But out of nowhere he suddenly ends up kissing her. Why? Well, I didn't think that the lead up to the kiss felt natural. It didn't exactly flow. But other than that, I did like Brady and Violet as a couple. There wasn't a huge blowup thrown into the story to add drama, so that's a bonus. It was just a nice, predictable holiday romance that hit the spot for me. Four stars. I really liked it.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet has always embraced the magic of the holiday season so she is ready to undertake her biggest challenge yet and that is to ensure that the town is more festive than ever before. It is important as not only does her business need the positive publicity that it will generate but the town as well. It does not bode well for the situation that she requires the help of Brady, but she is determined to win him over.

Brady is a lawyer whose life is all work and no play. When circumstances force him to take some time away from his career, he heads to Peace Grove to arrange to sell his deceased Uncle’s house. What he wasn’t expecting was a whirlwind named Violet who not only has him participating in activities he never thought he would, but she has him questioning the choices he has made in life.

This is a heartwarming and romantic story between two people who couldn’t be more different who realize what is truly important in life and love.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun look at Christmas in a small southern town. It was the perfect start to the Christmas season. It felt like a warm hug full of characters that you want to be friends with. The addition of the dog was the icing on the cake and made me so happy to continue reading the story.

I felt more could've been done for the character development of Violet and Brady.. I enjoyed their relationship but kept wanting a little bit more or for it to go a bit deeper. I kept wanting Brady to dive a bit more into his feelings about his grandfather's death and why he hadn't come to visit the last few years.

Overall I'd recommend this for a fun Christmas read.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet loves all things Christmas. She has a Christmas shop in town and also is in charge of the Tinsel Tours. This year is the 50th Anniversary. William and his wife started the tours, now they both have passed and his grandson Brady owns the house.

Brady is a divorce attorney in Atlanta and has come go town to clean out the house and sell it.

Loved the book. Its a cute story about the most magical time of the year.

[Jill Wymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's like a Hallmark movie in a book.
If you love Hallmark Christmas movies you need to read Christmas on Peach Tree Lane. It's fun, cute, and full of all the happy feels. You won't be disappointed.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet small-town holiday story with a bit of heat and a whole bunch of Christmas spirit. With the death of the town's leading citizen, William Jackson, Violet is wholly in charge of planning this year's Tinsel Tour. Violet is determined that the fiftieth-anniversary tour will be the best ever, especially since a magazine crew is documenting every step. She needs the Jackson mansion because of its importance to the tour. She doesn't need gorgeous but Grinchy Brady Jackson getting in her way.

Attorney Brady arrived in Peach Grove on a forced vacation after a public blow-up with another attorney. A workaholic with no idea what to do with his days, Brady intends to clear out the house and put it up for sale as quickly as he can. He doesn't expect a steamroller disguised as an elf to upend his plans.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Brady and Violet. Brady arrived in town exhausted, dejected, and riddled with guilt over not visiting his grandfather as often as he should have. Keeping the old homeplace makes no sense with his busy life in the city but facing the memories steeped in every room increases the guilt and pain. Violet's appearance in all her antler-wearing Christmas perkiness rubbed him the wrong way, and he flat-out refused her plans for the house. I loved his confusion as she rolls right past his objections, and within a couple of days, finds himself agreeing not just to her plans but also to helping her.

Over the next several weeks, Brady and Violet work together to stage his house for the tour. I loved seeing Violet's capacity for fun rub off on Brady. He has been so focused on work for so long that he's forgotten what it is like to enjoy life. I loved seeing Violet bring out that side of him with the help of an adorable puppy and reminders of small-town life. With the amount of time they spend together, it's no wonder that the sparks of attraction between them grow stronger and deepen into something more. Though both of them realize that Brady will return to the city by the New Year, it doesn't stop them from taking advantage of every moment they have together. There were so many fantastic scenes of them together, from stargazing to reading his grandparents' letters, from teasing to kisses, that it was easy to see Brady undergo something of a transformation. Though he's still focused on his return to Atlanta, it's also apparent that Violet and the rest of the town have gotten under his skin. I ached for Violet when he left, her pride keeping her from telling him how she felt. However, Christmas magic being what it is, I loved the ending. Brady's big moment was romantic, emotional, and beautiful.

The secondary characters were fantastic. Violet's best friends, Robin and Simone, were an excellent blend of support and common sense. I loved how the three of them were so determined to breathe life back into their town, though Violet seems to be the engine driving that train. It was fun to see them rein Violet in when she would fade out or get carried away. I would love to see them get their own stories. I also liked Violet's mom. They have an excellent relationship, and the additional activities of planning Lori's wedding added to Violet's life at a dead run vibe. I also loved Brady's kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Brady, who had several sweet scenes with him.

[Just Love books · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Keep your holiday diet balanced... a cookie in each hand."

Violet loves everything and all Christmas, she loves it so much her shop is dedicated to spreading the festive cheer. She love Christmas so much that with the passing of her friend and mentor William Jackson, Violet finds herself heading up the Tinsel Tour. This year is extra special not only is it the fifteenth anniversary of the tour but a major magazine is coming to town to do a piece on Violet and her friends and how Peach Grove gets into the Christmas spirit. The only thing standing in her way of a perfect Tinsel Tour is one grinch who wants to sell the final house.

••

"Violet laughed and Brady stilled. That soft noise seemed to envelop him, wrapping him in a warmth he hadn’t experienced for a long time. Every minute he spent with her he found himself drawn more and more into her web."

Brady has been put on a time out, after having a blow up at this law firm, he finds himself back in Peach Grove to decompress and pack up his late grandfather's house. The very last thing Brady expected was to be ambushed by a reindeer headband wearing Christmas loving Violet. As much as Brady tries to push Violet away she and the town locals seem to wiggle their way under Bradys skin so much so that he begins to wonder if he really wants to leave the Christmas loving town and all their locals.

••

“Instead of spending all my time alone with my memories and my remorse, I was steamrolled by Santa’s elf and I didn’t have time to think of much else.”

Hello Christmas spirit! This book was the perfect read to put me right into the festive mood, I absolutely loved Violet and her over the top love for Christmas. This cute little town was just that super cute! I loved their traditions, like hello who doesnt want to join a chocolate walk?

••

"Brady smiled... something he’d been doing quite a bit around her. He hadn’t realized just how stressed and overworked he’d been until Violet. She was refreshing and now she was taking him for a walk. He had no clue where they were going, but there was something old-school romantic about a bright moon and a starry evening and heading down his tree-lined drive toward the road."

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Brady and Violet and the way that she slowly wormed her way under his grinch like exterior. It was so easy to follow these two as their snarked their way to love. Also how cute was Luna! This little pup not only melted Bradys heart but mine as well.

••

This is definitely a top 5 of my favorite Christmas romance novels, I would highly recommend reading this cute small town romance, trust me you need this story!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved Jules Bennett's books so when I saw she had a Christmas romance out, I definitely had to get it. There is just something about her writing that makes you feel such a part of the story you are reading. Such great writing and leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy. I am a sucker for a good Christmas romance anyway so this was right up my alley!

Violet and her high school friends made a vow to stay in their home town and open up the businesses they wanted to open to help bring back some life into the town. Violet got into helping with the Christmas tour of homes and has been on the committee for several years. William Jackson was the one who helped Violet get the homes decorated and ready for the tour each year, but with his passing, Violet is not sure if she is going to be able to count on William's home on the tour or not.

Brady Jackson, has been told to take some time off from work because he lost his temper and that is not acceptable in his line of work. Brady is not happy about being told to take a break because he is a workaholic and doesn't like to be away from his office. Brady knows that he needs to tend to his grandfather's house that he was left, but is just not ready to do that. He has been putting it off and avoiding it.

When Brady gets to his grandfather's house, he never dreamed of meeting someone that would spark his interest because women have been on the back burner since he has been so busy. Violet hits Brady almost the minute he gets into town and asks if she can count on him to let her put his grandfather's house on the Christmas holiday home tour? Brady is a scrooge and doesn't want to have anything to do with Christmas. Violet is very persuasive though and tells Brady she will do everything if she can just use the house.

The chemistry between Brady and Violet is one that is unmatched. Both of the single people were not even thinking about meeting someone and just sort of fell into each other's arms when they least expected it. I love how Jules Bennett can write such a great romance and make you feel such a part of Violet and Brady's relationship. Such a great read and one that you will want to cuddle up to a fire with this Christmas!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

[Kathleen]

If there is anyone who can sell Christmas to anyone else it is Violet Calhoun. She loves the season and it determined that the Christmas House tour called The Tinsel Tour will have the house that stared it all. That is until Brady Jackson decides to put an end to it. He was left the plantation house by his grandfather; it had been in the family for generations and Brady was the last of his family. He was a workaholic divorce lawyer and he was just here to get the house on the market after he after he goes through the family heirlooms and takes what he wants back to his home in Atlanta.

Well Violet has to put on her super Christmas powers and turn this Grinch into Santa Clause and Violet will stop at nothing to get him to agree. What she did not count on was falling in love with him and as their relationship grows, try to keep her heart safe... But you know the old saying “What the Heart wants, it wants” and there is nothing you can do to stop it. In the meantime, Violet has to get ready for the tour, give access to a reporter and photographer for The Tinsel Tour, run her Christmas shop and oh as if that is not enough, her mom wants to get married on Christmas Eve and wants Violet to organize it. How do you say no to your mom... Does she really have time to fall in love... Does Brady feel the same or is this just a Christmas fling until he leaves to go back to Atlanta. Brady does not want anything to do with Christmas, but the more he is around Violet, not only is the season starting to grown on him, but so is Violet. Can he really leave after the holidays...?

I loved Violet and Brady as adversaries turned lovers and how the more, he came in contact with her, Brady was learning to love Christmas and the growing attraction to Violet. Jules always does such a wonderful job with her Hero and Heroines and in this book she does just that. She also gives two best friends who see Violet and each other through the crazy days of the holidays. You gotta have your besties to help you when you are falling in love. I loved Robin and Simone and Violets mom too. This book is a must read for the holiday season.

Thank you, Jules Bennett, for allowing me to read this wonderful book and give you my review.

[Katie | niftyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦.” - 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘯⁣
⁣
I knew I was in for a delightful treat when CHRISTMAS ON PEACH TREE LANE by Jules Bennett opened with that quote by Violet Calhoun. I immediately fell in love with her character within a few pages due to her fiery wit and love for all things Christmas. Then Brady Jackson was introduced - oh boy! Or should I say man? 😍 I loved their chemistry. Jules Bennet sure knows how to write a fun opposites-attract romance that teeters on the edge of enemies to lovers and I absolutely loved the whole holiday theme throughout the book! I’m so thankful I was gifted this book by @HarlequinBooks and @HarlequinPublicityTeam because it was the best holiday read! This was my very first adult Christmas book and it didn’t let me down. I actually read it in one night because I enjoyed it so much!! 🎄🥰⁣
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Let me give you a brief summary: 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘳, 𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘈 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝟻𝟶𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳. 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘺, 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘵𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳’𝘴. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘥-𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳-𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳...⁣
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I’m so happy this was my first holiday read. It truly set the bar high for the rest of holiday read stack! I love everything about the town of Peach Grove and Violet’s enthusiasm for the holiday’s. Plus, Brady and her had an amazing will they? / won’t they? relationship that had me on waiting to find out what happens with them! I think that is why I read it in a night because I just couldn’t put it down. 🥰 CHRISTMAS ON PEACH TREE LANE is a literal holiday movie in a book - it’s happiness in your hands! 🎄❤️✨⁣
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“𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦.” - 𝘝𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘯 ⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5⁣
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CHRISTMAS ON PEACH TREE LANE by @jules_bennett is on sale now. Head to the author’s Instagram page to purchase!

[Kaley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Books Etc.

Ah, holiday romances. Sweet and festive with a guaranteed Happily Ever After complete with a Christmas tree or five. That's what Christmas on Peach Tree Lane gives readers (seriously, it had way more than five decked out Christmas trees). Jules Bennett has written a holiday story worthy of the Hallmark treatment and readers will be pleased with a romance that leaves them smiling.

I know I'm not alone in loving the "big city worker coming to a small town and finds the meaning of life and Christmas" stories. As long as they're interesting, I don't care that they follow the same formula. In this story, Brady is the one who leaves the city (under duress, I may add) and Violet shows him that small towns have their own charm and can offer just as much as a big city can.

Bennett does a good job of making the reader understand that Brady isn't really a jerk. He's hurting and grieving after the loss of his grandfather and doesn't know how to make sense of these feelings. Luckily, Violet understands that too. I think if he had come across as super rude, instead of just a bit grumpy, I would have had a harder time rooting for him and Violet to get together. (And root for them, I did.) I do wish that Bennett hadn't had Brady and Violet's friend, Simone, go on a couple of dates a few years prior. I don't think it was necessary and just added weird tension that wasn't needed for the story.

I definitely appreciated how committed Violet was to her job and how Bennett made it clear that Violet is so busy and always working because she genuinely loves it. That's a stark contrast to Brady who works all the time because he can and feels he has to. Sure, he's a great lawyer but that doesn't necessarily mean he's loving what he does. Work will look different to a lot of people and this story showed that nicely.

When I pick up a holiday romance I want a Happily Ever After with a sprinkling of festive cheer. Christmas on Peach Tree Lane delivers, though it's definitely a Christmas book you can read well before Christmas arrives as the big day doesn't actually feature in the novel. I think Jules Bennett has set us up for a new small town series and I'm happy she decided to start it off with a story that showcased the town and the magic of Christmas.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Harlequin, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violet Calhoun is an event planner who loves Christmas. For the past few years she has worked on the Tinsel Tour with William Jackson who, along with his wife, began the tradition of the Tinsel Tour in Peach Grove, Georgia. With William Jackson's passing the event planning has passed on to Violet. Violet's two best friends, Robin and Simone are her trusty, very competent helpers. The question this year for the 50th anniversary of the Tinsel Tour is whether or not the Jackson mansion will be on the tour. William Jackson's grandson Brady, an Atlanta divorce attorney who inherited the house, shows up at the family home after being told by the partners in his firm to rest up, relax and get his act together after a blowup in court. He doesn't know what he will do for two months, but Violet has plans to keep him busy as long as he agrees to put the house on the tour. When Violet first asks Brady to include the Jackson house on the tour Brady goes very grinch-like and refuses. Violet will not let that answer stand.

Christmas on Peach Tree Lane by Jules Bennett is a very festive, fun, small town Christmas read. It is filled with Christmas spirit and lots of pleasant characters. Violet and Brady initially are a very unlikely couple but Violet's sweet, quirky personality grows on Brady. I really liked reading about this couple falling in love. Add in finding an abandoned puppy and this turns out to be the perfect recipe for a charming Christmas romance.

[Lindsay pinkcowlandreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

When our Ginch-y hero, Brady is sent packing from his work due to a stress fuelled freak out, the only place left for him to go is back to the old familial home. He plans to make good use of his enforced vacation and put the place up for sale and sort through old family memories before he goes back to he city after the holidays…

Violet, the towns self proclaimed Christmas guiro has other plans for Brady and his gorgeous family home… she needs it to be the annual grand finale in the towns Tinsel Tour… She squeezes into his life and with every deception she puts up she seems to be making his heart a size bigger!

I loved this grumpy/ sunshine pairing and all of the holiday hijinks these two get into while playing house together. I can imagine this story becoming a yearly read!

As always, Carina Press delivers the holiday happily ever after with all the trimmings! A delightful read that I totally recommend!

Christmas on Peach Tree Lane by Jules Bennett was released November 30th, 2020.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin and the Harlequin Publicity Team. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


#ChristmasonPeachTreeLane #JulesBennett #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads #Sponsored #HarlequinPublicityTeam #HarlequinBooks #CarinaPress #ContemporaryRomance #HolidayRomance #ChristmasRomance #HolidayReads

[Stella Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas on Peach Tree Lane!

Christmas on Peach Tree Lane by Jules Bennett is a story about finding the purpose in life and fulfilling dreams.

Violet is all about Christmas and she has decided that this year, on the 50th anniversary of the town’s Christmas festival and Tinsel Tour of town family homes. Topping off the tour, is the home of the tour’s founder, who unfortunately passed away before he and Violet could plan this year’s important tour. Now Violet has to convince his grandson Brady, to allow her to decorate the house before he sells it.

Brady has been forced to take some time off from his career. He was stressed and blew up on a client and with that, he was worried that he was no longer in the running to make partner. However, he is a good lawyer and he needs to sort out his life before returning to his career! But now he’s stuck in his grandfather’s town with no future and a woman bugging him to allow her free reign to decorate his grandfather’s house for Christmas!

When Brady finally accepts Violet won’t back down, he discovers what his grandfather loved about the community of Peach Grove, and what’s the importance of finding your priorities in love and life.

A fun story with all the Christmas feels!

I received an ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queen of Christmas and yes-aholic Violet Calhoun (actual job title: Event planner) is determined to show her hometown at its best for the 50th anniversary of its annual Tinsel Tour. (She's quirky, generous, and indefatigable, which is why I cast Reese Witherspoon in this role as I read.) By her side throughout are her BFFs Simone and Robin and fellow small business owners, and her supportive mother. A hitch in Violet's well-managed holiday plans is the intended sale of the Tinsel Tour founder's house by his grandson, Brady Jackson, an Atlanta-based divorce attorney. Violet and Brady become closer over a well-paced series of community events and one-on-one quality time getting the house ready for the tour. However, despite their chemistry and attraction, they face the fact that Brady has big city dreams and Violet is firmly planted in Peach Grove. They're not quite in-sync with what they want from life. Is their new love worth major compromise? I enjoyed finding out.

Each chapter opens with a Violet quote, like "I'm Dreaming of a Wine Christmas", conveying not only the spirit of the season, but perfectly illuminates her character. They're nice touches, like adding decorations to a tree. Family, friendship, and small town roots are essential to this character-driven, pleasant Hallmark-esque holiday romance. I do have one quibble with the story and that is the fact that despite how many times readers hear about the Jackson family's 200 year-old plantation house and Violet's fantasy of living there and how family, history are important, we never get even a sentence talking about/acknowledging the history of slavery associated with it and the family. Overall, though, Jules' Bennett's Christmas romance is full of charm and heart that make for a satisfying HEA.

[Julie Eichelberger-Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christmas on Peach Tree Lane is a fun, cute holiday story of the Grinch meets the Christmas spirit. Violet Calhoun is an event planner who lives and breathes the holiday spirit and is planning the 50th annual Tinsel Tour of homes which includes the home that Brady inherited from his grandfather. Brady is feeling guilty for not spending more time with his grandfather prior to his passing and now just wants to sell the family estate and go back to Atlanta. Violet, with her quirky wardrobe and upbeat attitude, convinces Brady to allow the tour in remembrance of his grandparents who started the tradition. As the two spend time together planning and decorating, the sparks begin to fly and their attraction grows but it is bittersweet with the knowledge that Brady will be returning home after the holidays. Factor in the magic of the season and a cute rescue puppy to change the dynamics of what is truly important in life. This is a wonderfully written, holiday hopeful, love story that will warm the heart and bring a few laughs.

I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher but all thoughts and feelings are my own.

[Carma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun look at Christmas in a small southern town, perfect reason to get started on the decorating. Christmas on Peach Tree Lane, by Jules Bennett is set as an opposites-attract romance but that isn’t quite totally accurate. The hero and heroine are pretty much polar opposites in life on paper, but are they really that different? The main characters have many layers, and I enjoy how their love story develops.

Brady comes across as very wounded, grumpy, humorless, and not about anything fun, but where Violet is concerned, he is the total opposite and sees how he could start living his life.

Violet is full of life, generous, passionate about many things, and possibly a tad loopy. I honestly felt a little more could've been done for the character development of Violet and Brady. I really enjoyed their relationship but found myself wanting it to go a bit deeper. Like touching on the subject of why Brady hadn't come to visit the last few years, was it only due his feelings about his grandfather's death. Overall it is another great read by the author that jump started my Christmas season giddiness.

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you don't mind your heroines hyper-perky, this is going to be an okay book. Violet Calhoun is an event planner (with some sort of store front?) who is coordinating the fiftieth anniversary of the Tinsel Tour in her tiny town. With a photographer and journalist from Southern Homes. While planning her mother's wedding. What could possibly go wrong? Maybe the gentleman who owns the crown jewel of the tour (a plantation... with nary a discussion of the problems with plantation owning; just Violet being all moony over the big rooms) passes away in the summer. And his super-hot workaholic grandson won't respond to Violet's many, many, many, many attempts to get a hold of him.
But it's okay. Brady is super annoyed by her until he notices that she's awfully cute. And she just wears him down. Not okay for a hero, not okay for a heroine. Seriously.
There wasn't even any competency-porn because we didn't even get to see Violet decorating for the tour or even planning the wedding (other than a dress shopping trip that gets interrupted.) I finished the book because I was so close to being done and I really liked Violet's friendships.