Jaded Army medic Ryan Malone never expected his next mission would bring him back from Afghanistan to tiny Wishful, Mississippi. His great uncle’s health is failing and the cantankerous old coot has pushed everyone in the family away. Ryan is their last resort to get Uncle Percy to move into assisted living before he breaks a hip—or something worse. He’s looking to get in, get it done, and get … back out. That definitely doesn’t include taking time out for a sweet-faced waitress with a heart bigger than the Atlantic.
Interior designer Hannah Wheeler is a long way from the high-powered clients of her old Atlanta firm. Despite the fact that she’s currently spending her days waiting tables, she’s discovered she really enjoys the small-town life she found with her sister. This Christmas season, she’s finally ready to introduce Wishful to her true capabilities by using her skills to spread some holiday spirit. But with Ryan and Percy, she’s definitely got her work cut out for her.
Will Hannah’s evergreen cheer thaw their frosty hearts and remind these two that the most important part of the holidays is family?
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This is a wonderful story for Christmas. I loved how upbeat Hannah is even though she has a couple of things she is struggling with. Her decorating skills sounded so wonderful. I loved how Rylan softened up some after meeting Hannah. I am sure it is hard to look on the bright side of life after being so entrenched in the fighting going on in Afghanistan. He has such a good heart to ask for time off to check on his Uncle Percy who is not blood. He and Percy have a tendency to spar a lot, but with lots of love. I loved watching Hannah and Ryan fall in love. I strongly encourage you to read the book. I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book.
Hannah is living an outwardly happy life hiding in Wishful. After an accident leaves her scared. She tries to live each day with a smile. Ryan is a jaded military man with issues. Showing up in Wishful to check on his elderly friend isn’t as easy as he thinks. Get in and get out is not how his plan goes. When the two meet they can’t seem to stay away from each other. Christmas and a meddling casserole patrole make for a happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another wonderful story taking place in Wishful. These stories have people caring for each other. Hannah Wheeler is a waitress and does decorating. She is helping the town decorate for Christmas.She meets Ryan Malone as he was walking by the diner and thought him homeless. She asked him in and bought him food. When he left he left a big tip. Come to find out he was a sergeant in the special forces in the Army. He was in town to help his Uncle . I loved the story and that it is a series. I recommend reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another great story from Kait Nolan. Great storyline, relatable characters, helping others, and a touch of romance. Best of all, helping a grieving man move on and start enjoying life again. I always look forward to seeing what Kait Nolan writes next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ARC for honest review with no compensation received from BookSprout
Ryan a Delta Force medic on leave for Christmas, comes to Wishful after a call from his mother to check on his stubborn Uncle Percy who has become a homebody after the death of his wife a few years prior. Fresh off the plane he borrows his buddy’s truck to head to Wishful and breaks down outside of town, walks to town and goes to the diner and meets Hannah a waitress who thinks he is a homeless person. She waits on him and tries to spread holiday cheer but he doesn’t really respond…
Hannah a big city interior designer, now a waitress in Wishful recovering from a horrible accident and with her never ending optimism for spreading holiday cheer and the hopes of starting her own interior design business. With the help of a Secret Santa she ends up at Uncle Percy’s to use her skills to decorate his house and who answers the door but Ryan!
The magic of Wishful brings these two together in an unusual way and maybe they can help each other to overcome the fears they both are hiding deep inside.
Christmas is a time of hope & joy….Hannah is overflowing with joy and just so happens to be the perfect person to bring hope into Ryan AND Percy’s lives. I loved reading this book. I could just imagine being right there as the story played out. Kait Nolan writes in such a way that you feel like you are a part of her story.
Whether you are spending the holidays alone, or surrounded by friends & family – this book gives you hope to pull you through the season! Hopefully it helps give you the courage to reach out to others because you never know what could be in store for you. Just like Percy, Ryan, and even Hannah all did.
I received an ARC of this book and have chosen to review it in support of the book & author.
A Lot Like Christmas is the eleventh book in the Wishful Romance series, but can read completely as a stand alone. Hannah is an interior designer turned waitress with her heart full of Christmas magic and friendly cheer. When she sees a stranger outside who looks down on his luck, she takes him in the diner and buys him food. As she spreads the Christmas spirit through her interior designing, she runs into him again while helping his uncle. Ryan is home on leave from the military, trying to help his uncle out, and completely surprised by his feelings towards Hannah. What starts as a Christmas flirtation takes a turn for so much more, but when his time is up in Wishful, what will happen to them next?
This book is so wonderful and warm and really fills you up with the Christmas spirit! I absolutely loved Hannah, with her positive outlook, not being afraid to open her heart towards others, and putting others’ needs above her own. I really felt like I could relate to her and wish some of her positivity was in my real daily life, haha. Ryan was a soldier through and through, one to compartmentalize his emotions and thoughts, and one to keep working to push through his concerns. I loved that Hannah crashed down his walls and that he was really able to think about what his life could truly look like! I loved them together, because while she could life him up, he could be her steady rock when needed. They were a beautiful balance. I loved some of the side drama in this book and of course, the Casserole Patrol! I have loved this series, look forward to each new one, and can’t wait for more in Wishful!
Kait’s insightful treatment in building her characters coupled with her southern charm, along with her masterful wit has produced another Wishful masterpiece!
Sergeant Ryan Malone (Special Ops medic) has been sent by his family to see if uncle Percy is ready for the nursing home, while Hannah Wheeler has been dispatched by the meddling Casserole Patrol to decorate his house with some Christmas cheer, creating interesting motivations and conflicting methods as each bring their unique skills to help Percy.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kait Nolan never disappoints. A Lot Like Christmas was a touching tribute to the power of the holiday spirit and kindness to thaw 2 hearts numbed by war and grief. And a bit of sizzle helps to melt one of those hearts as well. I really liked these characters and love that secondary characters look to have a second chance at romance as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Lot Like Christmas
It’t a fun Christmas time love story. I love the wishful series and this is wonderful installment that doesn’t disappoint. I loved Percy and the casserole patrol. I really enjoyed Hannah and Ryan love story and how it unfolds.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Lot Like Christmas by Kait Nolan is a beautifully written story of the romance between Ryan Malone and Hannah Wheeler. Ryan looks homeless when Hannah sees him outside the diner on a cold winter night and brings him in and pays for a coffee and soup. Ryan, a Army medic, whose borrowed truck breaks down outside of the town of Wishful is in town to check on his Uncle and access him whether he is ok to live alone. When they meet again Hannah is decorating his Uncle’s home for Christmas as a gift from one of his late wife Uncle’s friends. A Lot Like Christmas is romantic and full of unique characters in the wonderful town of Wishful. It is beautiful story of finding love and the Christmas spirit, and one you will thoroughly enjoy reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a very good book about Christmas cheer and romance. I had a hard time putting the book down. It made me cry but still was an awesome book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first holiday story I’ve read this season, and now it’ll be the yardstick to compare all the others to, and it has set the bar high! I love any visit to Wishful, but I really enjoyed getting to know these new residents Hannah and Ryan.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kait not only gives us a new story about Ryan and Hannah, she also provides all your favorite characters from Wishful at Christmas time!. Ryan on family leave as a medic from the service is in town to check up on his adopted uncle Percy. Hannah is waiting tables at the diner ( go Omar) while recovering from her own past issues. At first Hannah thinks he’s a homeless yet and she’s always had a soft spot for vets. He finds Hannah decorating the diners Xmas tree with what else? Silverware! It’s a great read when an secret admirer hires Hannah to decorate Percy’s house, she and Ryan work together to bring the house back to glorious Christmas pasts. As they work together, will they find what each of them is looking for? I really enjoyed being back in Wishful for the holidays.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
And yet again, I want to move to Wishful!! Ryan and Hannah will take you in and make you want to be a part of this wonderful town!!! Another 5 star review for Ms. Nolan!!!
Best quote A Lot Like Christmas:
“And that wouldn’t have been your fault either, because even here, outside a warzone, tragedies just happen. There’s only one of you, and you can’t carry everyone on your shoulders, no matter how impressive they are. No matter how much you believe you can control everything, you can’t.”
My opinion:
Hannah starts to make beautiful creations for the local stores, custom made. I would have liked to see the creations Hannah made. They have been so nicely described and I”m curious to see the results.
Kait Nolan did a perfect job in A Lot Like Christmas to develop the characters. They speak immediately to the mind. I could see how they are moving, standing, reacting in every situation. And I really love that, because this way the story gets more real for me. Like I’m in Wishful and participating in every scene.
8,5 stars: Ryan says this to Hannah: “Hopeful. I figure the world needs more people like you in it.” And I think that is what A Lot Like Christmas is all about. It’s a hopeful book that brings warmth to your heart and soul. It brings you hope.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A quick read to get you in the holiday spirit. Hannah the optimist crosses paths with Ryan the skeptic. Loved the chemistry between them. There was just enough heat, sweetness & laughter throughout the book to make this a fun read.
This Wishful novella is such a sweet easy read..Hannah, a big city interior designer turned small town waitress is ready to get back a little of what she lost 14 months ago by offering her decorating services for free to Wishful store owners and residents. Using her talents (silverware?) And her never-ending optimism, she hopes to spread some holiday cheer and maybe even start her own design business. When she’s hired by a secret Santa to decorate a widow’s house, she runs into Ryan again. Their instant attraction doesn’t go unnoticed. Jaded Army medic Ryan is home on leave to care for his stubborn uncle Percy, not find a girlfriend, but Percy has other ideas. As Hannah transforms Percy’s house into a celebration of Christmas, both Percy and Ryan also find they have changed too, all because of Hannah.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kait Nolan does it again! I always enjoy returning to Wishful, getting to know her newest characters while checking in on those we’ve met before and come to love and this story is no different. As always, the “Casserole Patrol” shows up bringing a chuckle as they tend to do. No worries, if this is your first or many of Wishful tales as they can all be read as stand-alones. Army Medic Ryan takes leave from his military duty and has his hands full checking up on his “Uncle Percy” who is getting up there in age without insulting Percy’s pride and dignity but still needing to determine whether Percy can maintain his independence. Meanwhile, Interior Decorator Hannah is new to Wishful and decides to decorate storefronts and homes in preparation for the holidays as a way to showcase her design talents and spread Christmas cheer. Hannah gets tasked to decorate Percy’s home since Christmas just hasn’t been the same since Percy’s wife died. With more time on his hands than he is used to, Ryan jumps in with both feet to help Hannah decorate while Ryan elicits Hannah’s help in assessing Percy’s health and fortitude. While Percy’s struggles are more apparent as a lonely widow, Ryan and Hannah both have baggage they are carrying around that comes to clash with one another and all three are more stubborn than the next which creates some challenging pitfalls. Don’t want to say more so as to avoid spoilers but oh so loved the character development which is always a strength of Kait Nolan’s. Definitely a must read!!!
— I received an advance complimentary copy of this book and am delighted to offer this review.
Every story in this series is fun and makes me happy. Hannah and Ryan’s story is no different. Hannah has overcome a lot in her life but has a very positive outlook. She likes to take care of others and notices things people need without being asked. This is how she meets Ryan. She mistook him for a homeless vet and reached out. This is a lesson we should all learn. Ryan is visiting Wishful while trying to take care of an extended family member. The two are perfect for each other! The story made me laugh and cry. It was a great story. I’m already ready to go back to Wishful!