Christmas Joy by Nancy Naigle

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Adult Fiction, Contemporary

Pages: 352

Expected publication: October 18th 2016 by St. Martin’s Griffin

Summary: A heartwarming Christmas story about family, friendship and finding love in unexpected places.

Joy Holbrook might be all work and no play, but that changes when her Aunt Ruby takes a fall that lands her in a rehabilitation center before the holidays. Joy takes a leave of absence from her job as a market researcher to run the family farm, even though the timing may hinder her chance at garnering the promotion of her dreams.

Ben Andrews isn’t your average accountant. He also happens to be the handiest man in Crystal Falls. He’s helped his elderly neighbor, Ruby Johnson, decorate for the annual Christmas Home Tour—and win—the last several years. He’s not about to let some drop-in niece break their winning streak.

Ruby seems overly concerned about Joy being able to handle Molly. Under the impression she’s referring Molly the bunny that is one of the menagerie of animals, Joy’s not worried at all until the next morning when a little girl named Molly shows up. For the sake of her aunt, Joy is forced to partner with Ben while Ruby is on the mend to help with preparation for the Christmas tour and, in the process finds her career-focused heart dreaming of a family.

Will the magic of Christmas help her to open her heart and find her everlasting joy?

crownfullrating

A cozy, winter read much like turning on Hallmark to watch a sappy feel good movie.

Joy Holbrook’s life revolves around her work, which is Market Research in Washington, D.C. but when she receives a phone call regarding her Aunt Ruby in Crystal Falls, NC, she doesn’t hesitate to take the five hour drive and abandon work, which until now has taken precedent over everything in her life.

Aunt Ruby is a strong and fiesty lady who refuses help, but given that she lives on a farm and has recently broken her foot it doesn’t seem as if she can. She has a lot of connections in the small town, though and more than enough people to step in.

Initially, it seemed to tread water, there was nothing heartwrenching or warming transpiring. Not until Joy arrives in Crystal Falls did I become invested in the story – especially when we meet Ben who is an accountant at the hospital that happens to be handy in – everything?

Ben is a great guy and not unlike Joy, they both have a past which troubles them in the present, but their chemistry is fantastic and one that I was all for from the start.

Altogether, a cutesy read, but it was fairly forgettable for me. The characters didn’t have enough depth to them, the story was so-so… It was really only worth the 3 stars I gave it.