It Started With Christmas: A gorgeous and heartwarming Christmas romance

Jenny Hale

Oct 2018 · Bookouture

About this ebook

A beautiful, feel-good Christmas story. You’ll laugh, cry, and fall in love with this wonderfully warm and MAGICAL festive romance…
Holly McAdams loves spending the Christmas holidays at her family’s cozy cabin, with its little red door and twinkling lights, tucked in the snowy hills outside Nashville. But this year will be different. Someone unexpected is joining them…

After Holly and her beloved Nana struggle through a snow storm to reach the cabin, they discover gorgeous and wealthy Joseph Barnes, who has been renting the cabin for the last few weeks, is now snowed in. And it looks like he’ll be staying for the holidays.

Determined to make the best of the surprise situation, Holly tries to bring everyone together by baking delicious treats and decorating the cabin with plenty of festive sparkle. She finds herself growing close to handsome Joseph, who is unlike anyone she’s ever met before, even if Nana isn’t so keen on the dashing stranger with the mysterious past.

But charming and irresistible musician Rhett Burton is also back in town. Thrown into close proximity with the person who used to be her best friend and the man who broke her heart, Holly realizes it’s time to face her feelings and figure out what she really wants from her life. But to complicate things, both Joseph and Rhett have secrets to reveal…

Will Holly be able to find herself and the love she’s always dreamed of this Christmas?

Discover the joy of Christmas in this gorgeous novel, celebrating the importance of friendship, the magic of love, and finding happiness by being true to yourself. 

What readers are saying about Jenny Hale:

‘Wow, I have literally fallen in love with this book, a truly wonderful heartfelt read from start to finish. It was so much more than a romance story, had lots going on and I was pretty much glued to the pages throughout and couldn't turn the pages quick enough. I loved the Christmas cosy feel to it and the bakery and family history behind it was wonderful to read and discover. It really was the perfect read, and I didn't want it to end.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘OMG, there are just so, so many things I loved about this book… I can’t actually recall reading a book with so many loveable characters… a mesmerizing story about what really matters in life – family. With Christmas coming soon, I think it’s the PERFECT time to read it.’ This Chick Reads

‘So magical, so heart-warming, and so full of love. Do you think Jenny Hale's fictional characters would mind if I gate-crashed their Christmas? Beautifully written … We'll Always Have Christmas is THE festive treat to read this year.’ The Writing Garnet, 5 stars

‘This book has brought me so much joy that I can hardly contain myself! This is my first EVER Jenny Hale novel and it will NOT be my last! I loved every minute of it… I couldn't put it down for a moment. The perfect companion to snuggle up with by the fireplace with some hot chocolate or wine.’ Pretty Little Book Reviews, 5 stars

‘No one does feel-good reading full of heartwarming beautiful romance and warm and magical Christmas' better than our very own Mrs. Claus, Jenny Hale.’ The Book Geek Wears Pyjamas, 5 stars

‘Easily the best Christmas book I have read so far this year, and has me really feeling the spirit of Christmas throughout.’ Rachel’s Random Reads, 5 stars

‘Jenny Hale and Christmas, the perfect combination! I absolutely adore the Christmas vibes in this story… It’s heartwarming, warm, cozy and just MAGICAL!!!’ Simona’s Corner of Dreams, 5 stars

Ratings and reviews

Holly has spent the time since her grandfather’s death looking out for her grandmother. Nana is still grieving from her husband’s death, and looking for a way to make her smile, Holly thinks it’s the perfect time to head to the cabin north of Nashville for the holiday. While the cabin has been rented out since she redecorated, her grandmother had cleared the reservations, and the cabin is empty: Holly is hoping to recapture some of the magic from the family Christmases of past and off they go. Being worried for her grandmother and being at a bit of loose ends herself, Holly has hopes that a change of scene and place will help her find a new direction for her life, one where waitressing isn’t the be and end all. She planned to go to school for interior design but her grandfather’s death threw all of those plans into chaos, and she’s mired in self-doubt and questions. With the storm, added complications in the form of Joseph, the most recent guest stuck in the cabin with the weather, and his own wedding coming soon, the connection between he and Holly is instant: and something her grandmother doesn’t seem happy with. It’s difficult being in the place where her grandfather’s memory is so present, and with the return of her best friend from his career in music on the road after leaving without a word, and his belief that he’s in love with Holly and they are meant to be together adds yet another complication. Constantly revisiting memories of her grandfather, torn between her feelings for Joseph and the shock at being asked to finalize the wedding plans, and helping Joseph find his own family connections, the story has plenty of sidetracks into emotionally fraught and tearful, all with a touch of joy and happiness attached. When push comes to shove, and a box of presents left by her grandfather all bring tears and smiles to everyone, and the holiday arrives with choices for Holly to make for her future, an opportunity from her best friend turned singer Rhett becomes the chance she needs to move forward and find what she wants, without expectations, without influence and without worry. A story about being grounded in your past, reaching for your future, and finding out what is most important in this life. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Where to begin...lets just say that this book was freaking amazing! Jenny Hale spun a story that had me laughing and crying...I highly recommend! Holly, who takes care of her Nana since her Poppa died, remembers the Christmases they spent at the cabin just outside of Nashville and Holly wants to spend this Christmas there to try and get the magic back that they shared in the past. Although the cabin gets rented out, to make extra money, they believe that it is empty now...but it's not. Because of a huge snowstorm none of them can leave so they make the best of it. This is a down home feel good story of love, happiness, friendships (new and old) and discovering what you acutally want to do with your life. Will Holly find love? You'll have to find out by reading the book.