Travel to snow-covered Wood Creek for a heartwarming Christmas where wishes can come true …Chocolatier Emma Miller has a new business selling bonbons to the residents of the quaint town of Wood Creek. When a tiny visitor stops by her shop with an interesting request, Emma is intrigued. The young girl needs chocolates that will help her widowed dad fall in love, preferably with her teacher. What … her teacher. What Emma didn’t count on was Casey’s ever so charming and handsome dad, Grant, stepping into her life. She has to remind herself to be cautious because the one thing she learned in foster care is that people always leave.
Pilot Grant Galloway is touched by his daughter’s gift and is curious about the person who made the world-class chocolates. But when he steps into Emma’s shop full of delicious smells and tasty morsels, he forgets to breathe. And it has nothing to do with his favorite dessert. She’s pretty and kind, and when she has to deal with a difficult client, his protective instincts kick into high gear. But he risked his heart once. When his wife died, it left him broken. He’s just now beginning to pick up the pieces, and he and his daughter will be leaving town once the holidays are over.
Thanks to some Christmas wishes, though, these two might discover that their carefully laid plans are about to change.
Each book in the Little Shops on Heart Street series is STANDALONE:
* A Family by Christmas
* A Valentine Proposal
* A Royal Second Chance Summer
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Don’t look at that rating as saying I didn’t like this book. I did, but it was just OK. It’s a super sweet Christmas story. The main female character is a chocolatier! It doesn’t get much sweet than that. And, the story itself is just as sweet as her bonbons. Both Grant and Emma have suffered great losses. Emma when her parents died when she was a little girl. Grant’s loss is much more recent, a year ago his wife suddenly died of a heart attack leaving him to raise their young daughter alone. Grant left his job as a pilot and headed home to temporarily live with his parents where he’d have help with Casey. But, now he’s got a big decision to make. I just didn’t really feel there was a true connection/chemistry between Grant and Emma. The story wasn’t hard for me to put aside to do something else and while I still managed to read it within a day, it took me all day. This is easily an afternoon read if you can get into the story.
Absolutely beautiful story and loved the characters
It was an easy read, no angst. Sweet story
Emma. a choclitier, is approached by Casey, a young girl to make some chocolates for her widowed father, to make him fall in love with her teacher. Emma, and Casey became close. Grant, Casey’s father, falls for Emma. It looks like Casey might get her wish.
Cute and well-written!
When chocolatier, Emma, discovered a little girl in her new chocolate shop, she had no idea how her life would be turned upside down! It showed Emma’s kind heart well, the way she responded to Casey’s request and generously gave her chocolate worth far more than Casey had to spend. Her kindness toward Casey shone brightly throughout the story.
And then there was Grant. Recently widowed, he was determined to do what was best for his daughter, even if it meant limited job opportunities so he would not have to travel overnight as a pilot. His gentle ways and his protective nature greatly appealed to me. When he saw the way some of Emma’s customers treated her, his response was great!
The combination of a small town, a single dad, and a woman who had spent most of her life feeling like an outsider made for a perfect, quick Christmassy read. This is my first book by Viv Royce. I’m looking forward to reading more stories from her in the future.
Read my review of A Family by Christmas by Viv Royce at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
A really sweet and moving story, just what you could expect on the Hallmark channel. The town of Wood Creek sounds idyllic.
A cute little story.
A Family by Christmas is a sweet, holiday romance. Emma, Grant, and Casey are all likable characters, and it’s easy to root for them to find their HEA together in time for the holiday. The setup was adorable–little Casey, looking for a way to make her father happy again, somehow decides that “magic chocolates” are the way to go and goes to Emma’s shop in search of some. Emma gives her way more than Casey’s few cents could have afforded, Grant loves them and decides to meet the chocolatier, and a romance novel reminiscent of a Hallmark holiday movie ensues.
Most of the romance is in Emma and Grant’s heads until the very last chapter–there’s plenty of loaded looks, but nothing actually happens until literally the last minute. They both spend an inordinate amount of time in their own heads, agonizing over their feelings rather than talking to each other, which was a bit frustrating at times. I would have liked to have seen more page time devoted to them working things out as a couple, rather than waiting until the end to kiss and make everything magically better. (view spoiler)
Interesting start to a new series–the next book (Cleo’s, the bookstore manager and Emma’s friend) sounds promising–I’ll be keeping an eye out for it. Because, books. 🙂
Rating: 3 stars / C+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
4.5 Stars for A Family Christmas
Christmas is my favourite time of year and let’s be honest what’s not to love about a book that’s set in the magical season and spending time with loved ones, family and friends.
Emma grew up in the foster care system and she struggles to trust people because she is terrified the moment she gets to close they will disappear from her life. Grant is finally coming to grips with the loss of his wife and his life is centred around his little girl Casey.
This book touched me on so many levels, I cried, I smiled and I held my breath a lot and what can I say about Casey telling Emma she needs chocolates so her dad would fall in love and smile again apart from it broke my heart but every tear I shed was worth it because this is a beautifully written love story that’s not just about the adults it’s about building a family unit.
I loved this book and I need to read more from this very talented author.
I enjoyed “A Family by Christmas” by Viv Royce. It was a short, sweet read featuring a clean (kissing only) romance between likeable, well-developed main characters, Emma and Grant. This story will likely appeal to fans of Debbie Macomber’s books as it seemed to me to have something of a similar feel.
I really liked that Grant and Emma took the time to become friends before their relationship turned into something more. I also appreciated how Grant doted on his adorable young daughter, Casey. His parents and sister were great secondary characters, and Grant was very lucky to have such a wonderful support system to help him care for Casey. It was lovely how the entire family welcomed Emma into the fold even before she and Grant became a couple.
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Amusing, sweet, and delightfully festive!
A Family by Christmas is a cosy, heartwarming, holiday read set in the quaint town of Wood Creek that takes us into the lives of two main characters. Emma, a young, hardworking woman struggling to start a new business and make a new home for herself, and Grant, a grieving, single father whose main focus is raising his daughter and resuming his career.
The prose is atmospheric and light. The characters are lonely, friendly, and thoughtful. And the plot is an engaging tale full of tender moments, friendship, family, community, self-discovery, merry preparations, and of course a touch of romance!
Overall, A Family by Christmas is a clean, fun, uplifting, wintery treat that will have you believing in the magic of Christmas and daydreaming of snowflakes, decorated trees, twinkling lights, and scrumptious chocolatey treats.
A sweet holiday read about a former foster child trying to find a place to call home. Emma has opened up a bonbon shop in a small town & is hoping to set her roots & establish herself. A young girl named Casey comes into her shop looking for help making her father happy again. As Emma is drawn closer into the family, she begins to fall in love.
Grant Galloway moved back home to give his daughter some stability after his wife died. Helping run his family’s Christmas tree farm isn’t what he plans on doing for long. He was a pilot & really wants to get back in a plane. He didn’t plan on falling in love either, until he met Emma.
I really enjoyed this story. It’s perfect for the Christmas season. The gradual build up from friendship to romance. Emma looking for family & connections. The young girl wanting her father to be “happy” again. The family hoping he stays this time. A connection was built from the time Casey made her request to Emma & it kept me involved to the end.
‘Tis the season…for sweet Christmas romances! Yes, I’m one of those people that love sweet Christmas themed stories. I mostly love them this time of year, but if I’m being honest, I could read them all year long and never get tired of them! So I guess that’s your warning if you hate holiday books that would play out wonderfully on the Hallmark movie channel. You’ll be seeing a few more reviews from me on these types of books.
Emma is a product of the foster care system. Her story was better than most foster kids have, but she’s still all alone in the world. But she’s got her little shop on Heart Street that she’s been dreaming of for what seems like forever. And now, she’s been given a mission by an adorable angel named Casey. Casey only wants to make her Daddy happy again. Grant (Casey’s dad) felt like his world was ripped out from under him when his wife died, so he brought Casey home to his parents’ house and they’ve been working on rebuilding their relationship and their lives as a unit of two instead of three. Will Casey’s plan work or does Grant have one of his own that will take them far away from Emma…for good?
NICUnurse’s Rating: I liked this story because it has all the great holiday-themed elements that I love. A quaint small town, nice people who support each other (most of them, anyway), and a sweet love story. And characters that are growing, learning, and accepting. I felt it might have been a little heavy on the internal dialogue versus the actual interaction by the main characters, but as this is the first time I’ve read this author’s work, it might just be how she writes. I would love to have seen Emma and Grant talk more about their budding relationship than having it mostly in their heads, though. All in all, I liked the story and would give her books another shot for sure.
I give A Family by Christmas by Viv Royce 3.75 stars.
This was a sweet and often emotional story that would be a good Christmas read. It would of course be good at other times as well.
Emma, Grant and his daughter Casey are good main characters. Grant’s family is a tight one but they are also in their kind ways trying to tie Grant down to their town. I could understand it though because they loved him and wanted to have him and Casey remain closer to them. They also didn’t really understand his need to fly. Something that his mother worried was way too dangerous. Grant was trying to untie the strings to his family and Emma was the opposite. She was looking for a permanent place of her own. A place she could put down roots and make more friends.
There is a H.E.A. but it almost felt anti-climactic after all the struggles. Although I’m glad it came to that conclusion, I just wasn’t feeling it either. The ending just kind of felt like a rush to the end
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5/5 stars
Clean, short and sweet story. It was an ok read for me. I like my books with a little heat so that was a bit of a letdown for me. The story was good. It was like a Hallmark movie in print form. If that is what you like, then this will be the perfect book for you. It just wasn’t for me.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
If you are looking for a sweet holiday romance then this book is for you. Grant Galloway’s wife died and he is trying to raise his daughter, Casey, with help from his mother and father. While helping at his parents’ tree farm, he continues to look for a job as a pilot, but it’s difficult as he needs to be available for Casey. Casey visited Emma Miller’s chocolate shop to buy bonbons for her father to make him happy. Grant enjoys the candy and decides to stop by Emma’s shop to tell her how wonderful they were. He helps Emma and slowly involves her in his and Casey’s life. When he is offered a job that could take him away from Wood Creek, will he be able to leave Emma? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
2.5
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Little Shops on Heart
Standalone
HEA
I had a hard time staying interested in this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
A very sweet and endearing story. Casey decides she needs a Christmas miracle for her widowed father. She enlists the help of local chocolatier Emma. Emma is an orphan and and has a soft spot fo the little girl without a mother and decides to help her. Grant goes to see her and asks her help in showing Casey how to make friends. As the three spend time together around Grant’s family he comes to realize that Emma would be a great addition. This is a quick and sweet story that will help you believe in Christmas miracles.
Hallmark Movie Novel.
The descriptions of the chocolate bonbons made my mouth water and seven year old Casey was adorable but overall I felt this story was a bit of a damp squib. Whilst the story is sweet Grant and Emma come across as mere acquaintances; they meet because Emma made chocolates as a gift for him from his daughter and have maybe three or four meetings (not dates) over the period of a couple of weeks. I didn’t feel any connection between them, no emotion or romance but suddenly Grant is giving up his dreams for Emma. The story just didn’t have enough content for me and I was left feeling let down.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you are looking for a clean, sweet, Christmas story with a child as one of the characters , this one is the one for you.
Wood Creek is the new home of chocolatier Emma Miller. A place filled with new beginnings and a new business for a woman whose years in the foster system made her feel not truly loved or wanted. But she has a great deal of hope in her new life.
Grant Galloway and his daughter Casey moved back home after his wife died. He still wants to go back into flying planes and the town is just a temporary stop.
But that doesn’t stop Casey from wanting her Dad to find happiness and maybe Emma’s chocolates is what he needs. Little did any of them know, that their lives had the potential of changing forever. Maybe what they thought they wanted is not what they really want and the holiday season is full of hope and miracles.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Entangled Publishing . The opinions expressed are solely my own.