A heartwarming Christmas story filled with the magic and miracles of the holiday season by USA Today Bestselling author, Nancy Naigle. Growing up, Liz Westmoreland dreamed of taking over her grandparents inn located in the small mountain town of Antler Creek only for it to be sold before she ever got the chance. While browsing the internet, she stumbles upon a listing for what looks to be the … what looks to be the picturesque inn and it’s set to go to auction. Liz places a bid, and by a miracle, wins the auction. But when she gets there she finds the property in significant disrepair.
When Matt Hardy narrowly lost the inn and property that butted his land, he just hoped it wasn’t another city slicker coming to make matters worse after the previous owners gutted the place for an art gallery. But the minute he recognized the sweet, freckle-faced girl from his childhood and heard her plans to reopen the inn, he jumps at the chance to help his childhood crush restore a place where he made so many fond memories.
While working on repairs, Liz and Matt discover her grandmother’s collection of angels in one of the cabins. When the angels start mysteriously showing up all over the inn, she begins to look at them as reassurance–that restoring the inn is what she’s meant to do. But when an accident leaves Liz feeling like she made a mistake, will Matt–and the residents of Antler Creek–be able to show Liz that she’s found a home? And possibly true love as well?
more
No better way to start your holiday season than by reading Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle. Liz Westmoreland has always dreamed of one day running her grandparents inn, known as Angel’s Rest. After the completion of her most recent project Liz decides to take some time for herself. While cruising the internet for inns for sale she learns that her grandparents place is up for auction. With little thought Liz decides to go for it. Surprising even herself when she wins. Upon arrival in Antler Creek Liz learns that the place is very run down and in much needed repair. Matt Hardy has always had a soft spot for Angels Rest and the granddaughter of the owners. He is very disappointed when he is unsuccessful in his quest to purchase the place during the auction. He is very excited to learn that Liz is the new owner and has the opportunity to fulfill his childhood, a lifetime of love with Liz. When Liz experiences some second thoughts will Matt and the whole town be able to convince that she is very much on the right path? The Christmas spirit is abundant in this sweet loving story. Will Matt and Liz find their HEA? Read Christmas Angels to get the answer. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, 4 stars****
This is a delightful Christmas story. Set in a small town, Liz and Matt are both following their dreams when their paths intersect. What happens then is a magical story of love, friendship, family, and making those dreams come true. This is a heartwarming read, perfect for getting into the Christmas spirit.
4 star review of Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle
What’s not to love? It’s the most magical time of the year and also happens to be my most favourite holiday. I love any story that is centred around Christmas; it’s a time for family and friends to get together and celebrate life.
When I read the blurb I was intrigued and I couldn’t wait to read about Antler Creek and her grandparents inn that Liz Westmoreland manages to purchase at auction.
Returning to the place that holds so many memories, Liz is shocked at how rundown and in need of repairs the inn requires. Matt Hardy was narrowly pipped in the bidding for the inn that bordered his property but when he finds out that his childhood crush Liz is the one you purchased the inn, he offers to help her bring it back to life.
As they work together, feelings and romance blossom. Could Liz finally have found an everlasting love with Matt? Can Matt and the people of Antler Creek prove to Liz that she has finally found a place to call home?
This was a fun, quick read and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked Nancy Nagle’s style of writing and felt as though I was a part of the magic of . A festive and sweet story that will get you in the mood for the holiday season and was heartwarming.
Antler Creek sounds like a beautiful place and I found this story to be full of hope, love and family; of strength and determination and all in all a heart warming read.
I received a copy of this book through the publisher via Netgalley.
“Christmas Angels” – Nancy Naigle
A sweet clean contemporary story. I received an ARC of this story from the publisher vie NetGalley. I truly enjoyed my time in this story. As Liz and Matt worked to bring their dreams to reality and the lumps and bumps along the way. I do hope you enjoy this story as much as I did. Happy Reading!!
I was fortunate to win an ARC of this book. I loved it! It’s a heartwarming story set in a delightful small town. It’s about following your dreams and finding love as a bonus. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end! Watch for it in October, you don’t want to miss this uplifting story.
Christmas Angels is the first book I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. Even though it’s not my usual genre I fell in love with this book! Liz Westmoreland has a highly successful career as a project manager in North Carolina. She once had dreams of taking over her grandparents inn in a beautiful small town called Angels Creek where she happily spent a lot of her childhood years. After her grandparents passed away and the inn was sold she gave up those dreams. Until one day she found the inn on an auction site and sight unseen, she placed the winning bid. Taking a leave of absence from her job she drives up to Angels Creek only to find the inn in disrepair and all but gutted. Her grandparents were highly regarded in the village and many residents remember Liz from when she was a child. With the help of a local contractor the renovations begin and her dream is coming true. When a freak accident leaves her with a broken foot she takes that as a sign and starts to question her decision of bringing the inn back to life. When the whole village lends a hand to help she realizes this is where she belongs. It’s a story of hope, dreams, family and traditions. The writing is wonderful and very descriptive. It makes me want to live in the small town of Angels Creek. A heartwarming story you will definitely enjoy. I highly recommend this book!
Liz always dreamed that she would take over her grandparents Inn, but it never happened. As adult she is still dreaming about opening an Inn similar to what her grandparents had. While browsing the auction site on internet she finds something that looks like her grandparents Inn. She takes off her from her work and drives to see the Inn, she now owns.
Matt, always loved Angels Creek and hopes that one day he can live here full time.
Liz hired Matt to do all work on the Inn, she never mixed business with pleasure, so Matt is off for her, but will she be able to stay away from him, everything he does, it proves that he is the one for her.
Sweet and wonderful story, I enjoyed a lot.
Nancy Naigle’s Christmas Angels is a contemporary story set in the North Carolina mountains. When Liz Westmoreland stumbles upon a website auctioning off her grandparent’s old inn she decides to bid on it site unseen. And to her surprise, she has the highest bid. Liz takes a leave of absence from her job and goes to Angel’s Rest where the property is located. She is shocked at the condition of the property and can just imagine her friends telling her “I told you so.” After the initial shock wears off she gets an estimate of the cost to renovate the inn. A contractor and neighbor Matt Hardy, who also bid on the property works with Liz and together they work to make the Inn livable. This is a feel-good book where dreams do come true. I recommend it to those who like contemporary fiction. chick lit and Christmas stories.
3.5 Stars
The premise of this book had me eager to read it. Even if it isn’t Christmas yet, I enjoy the feeling that I usually come away with in these holiday romances. Unfortunately, this one felt a bit boring. For me, the book as well as the pace did not pick up until the last chapters. The author’s writing was easy to read but the pace of the story dragged. Thankfully those last chapters picked up and I lost my frustration.
Let me explain. The story itself had a lot of potential to be a five-star read for me. However, no matter how open-minded I was, I did not like Liz, the heroine. Matt on the other hand was the hero of my dreams. And I do mean that literally. I love strong, intelligent, handsome heroes who are also a selfless and caring gentleman; who will always put helping a neighbor before his own needs. That was Matt Hardy. He is a hero I won’t forget for a very long time, if ever.
Liz grew up visiting her grandparents at Angel’s Rest. A scenic inn in the mountains. All of her favorite childhood memories were made at Angel’s Rest. I won’t go into details but I’ll tell you her grandparents no longer owned the inn. So, when Liz comes across an online auction and sees that very same inn up for sale, she jumps at it. Blindly. Liz did not have enough time to see the property before bidding and buying but she didn’t care. She was compelled by her love for the place to own it and return it to what it once was. But when she sees the inn for the first time in well over a decade, Liz is heartbroken.
It’s a total disaster. But with the help of Matt and the town, Liz works to return the inn to its former glory. I don’t want to give a lot of details away about the townsfolk because in my opinion, they were the heart of the story, along with Matt, of course. Matt had a crush on Liz when they were kids. Not only did she not know that, she did not remember Matt which I though was unbelievable. She claimed to have spent so much time at the inn she should have remembered him; Matt lived there and the town was small; everyone knew each other. In addition to Liz not remembering Matt, throughout most of the book she showed no interest in Matt other than friendship. And that was what frustrated me the most. These are just my thoughts, but I felt no chemistry between Matt and Liz.
Now, after all that, after turning the last page, I was happier. Liz and Matt do have their happily-ever-after. So, while I was disappointed with certain aspects of this book (Liz), there were more aspects that saved it for me, especially the small-town feel. That and the townsfolk were perfect. That said, I do want to read more from this author because while I didn’t absolutely love this book, there was that potential if only the heroine was more likable. As I said earlier in my review, the author is talented with weaving her words into a heartwarming story. I’d like to give her another try.
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Who doesn’t love “warm and fuzzy”?
Nancy Naigle always gives us a happy holiday story that you cannot put down! This was exactly that!
Liz has always loved “Angel Rest” and now she is the proud site unseen owner of this estate!
Can she fulfill her dream and restore this once happy land? Her Pop always told her: “Things happen when they are supposed to.”
The family, friends, magic and love that comes from this enchanting town are perfect.
This is a wonderful book to read anytime you need a “lift”!
You will need a nice hot cup of cocoa while devouring this novel!
Nancy does such a fantastic job of bringing out the Christmas spirit in the most romantic way. I feel like I just watched my own hallmark movie in my mind while reading this treasure. I have a feeling this will be one of my favorites this upcoming holiday season! I truly loved getting to know Matt and Liz and all the the special people of Antler Creek! It was a truly heartwarming story.
This was my first book read from this Author, it was so refreshing and I loved the small town feeling of this holiday book. It made me feel like I was in the small town enjoying all the holiday festivities. Liz dreamed of taking over her grandparent’s inn and with hard work and determination she saw her dream come true. Her journey was not at all easy; she met some hardships along the way. And she did find what she least expected to fall in love. The angels that would start to mysteriously show up all over the inn was what Liz needed to see her dream come true.
I would recommend this holiday read.
Liz Westmoreland manages projects for a major consulting firm and she does it quite successfully. Her dream, however, has always been to manage an inn or lodge or B&B like her grandparents did – Angels Rest located in the small mountain town of Angel Creek. She regularly checks real estate sites, looking for her dream home. When she stumbles across her grandparent’s inn up for auction, she bids on it and, much to her surprise and joy, wins. Now her most complex project to manage begins.
Matt Hardy also bid on the inn. Located adjacent to his own property, it holds many fond memories of outdoor activities and the lovely granddaughter of the owners. His fear and that of the community that the new owner will tear the inn down to build a modern monstrosity are relieved when they realize who bought the property. Matt’s affection for the property and the new owner result in a wonderful story of renovation and reconnection.
Nancy Naigle writes the best Christmas stories ever. Sweet without being cloying. Yes, they’re Hallmark movie quality, but I love Hallmark movies. (She actually mentions Hallmark movies several times in the book, so she knows her audience.) Small town life sometimes gets a bad reputation – gossipy, petty – but Angel Creek has the love and caring that we all hope to find in our hometown.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. The opinion above is based on my reading the book twice, I enjoyed it so much.
I can’t wait to see this book made into a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie! Nancy Naigle has settled in Antler Creek, a small town in the mountains of North Carolina, during the Thanksgiving-Christmas holiday season. Liz Westmoreland, a professional living in Charlotte, has a sentimental connection to the town where she had visited her grandparents on summer and Christmas vacations at their inn, Angels Rest. Her deep attachment to the inn was evidenced by her planning and saving with the hope of someday purchasing it and restoring it to its former condition. Matt Hardy, an architect who owns the neighboring land, also wants to save the inn due to his happy memories of the activities in which he had participated and the young girl he had loved. Providence intervenes , and Liz buys Angels Rest, Matt becomes her architect/general contractor and more.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this book. As a former Charlotte inhabitant and a girl born surrounded by mountains, I felt a kinship to Liz and understand why she would relinquish her present to try to recapture bygone days. But I became frustrated with her when, as much as she believed in what she was doing, she began wavering when she viewed a broken ankle as a bad omen. She had invested too much to think of giving up so quickly. And this worried the friends she had made, because they were depending on Angels Rest to revive their town.
Thank goodness Matt and the people of Antler Creek came to the rescue and showed her that she had the support of the whole town to fulfill her dreams. Christmas angels were more than statues, ornaments, and nightlights.
I had only one question. Liz’s divorce was alluded to twice, but, if it had impacted her attitude toward Matt, it was never explained. Maybe her ex was an employee where she worked? Maybe he had a beard? We’ll never know.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Christmas Angels is a lovely holiday story. I can picture this a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie and I love Hallmark Christmas movies! This is a well written book with wonderful characters. This story covers lots of Christmas musts for me including hope, love, a caring community, a bit of angel magic, and of course snow. I liked the message to trust your dream. A wonderful Christmas book to snuggle down and read.
Have you ever had a dream of owning your grandparents Inn based on your childhood memories? Well, Liz has and it has finally come true. Or has it?!
Liz has so many wonderful memories of her visits to Antler Creek, North Carolina. Matt remembers her from when they were kids.
A heartwarming Christmas story by author Nancy Naigle with romance, community, holiday spirit or should I say Angels.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – St. Martin’s Griffin for the opportunity to read this book.
A delightful story that I enjoyed very much! It was very fast book and kept me turning the pages. This will certainly put in the Christmas holiday mood! Loved the book! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is destined to be a Hallmark Christmas Classic, I can see it now! I love it because it’s set in NC – which is where I live, and Boone is mentioned a time or two – as well as Appalachian State – which is my Alma matter! But, most importantly, the story involves such sweet and wholesome characters that are out to make the world a better place for themselves and the people of Antler Creek.
I hope you enjoy this sweet Christmas story about Angels and memories from the past!
Matt remembers Liz from when they were children. She used to visit her grandparents in Antler Creek, North Carolina. He had a crush on her then and truth be told, he carried that crush up to the present time.
Liz’s favorite childhood memories are of the time she spent in Antler Creek with Pop and Gram. She could not believe it when her grandparents sold their lodge, Angels Rest, and decided to travel by camper to see the world. She thought the best place in the world was exactly where they were living!
Since then, she always dreamed of owning and running an inn like her grandparents and when she stumbled across an ad for the lodge her grandparents used to own, the day before the auction, she put in a bid, sight unseen, the next morning!
Well, that makes for an interesting story , right? Making a huge decision based totally on your heart can turn out wonderful or a disaster. This being a romance story, we are assured that Liz’s dream will not be a nightmare. In Matt, she finds the best person to help her repair the lodge and also win her heart in the process.
I loved this book. Nancy Naigle writes heartwarming stories that enfold me and I never want them to end. She creates wonderful characters of all ages that I will not soon forget. This story also has an adorable huge puppy, Elvis, that is 6 months old and weighs over 90 pounds. He definitely brought some smiles while I was reading. The author’s scenery description puts me in the snowy town of Antler Creek and I want to wrap myself in a warm blanket from the chill, even though I am reading this book in July!
Several of Nancy Naigle’s books were made into Hallmark movies and I hope this story will also come to life on the screen.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the pleasure of reading this ARC. This review is my own opinion, not influence by receiving the ARC. I love to read Nancy Naigle’s Christmas stories any time of the year and eagerly wait for the next one.
Dreams do come true! Liz’s one dream was to be able to take over her grandparents’ property, but when they sold it Liz felt her heart being torn out. Years later, as a successful businesswoman, Liz sees her grandparents’ inn up for auction. Placing a bid, Liz is surprised at her success, but having won the bid, she had no back door out of her decision. Discovering the state of the property is a shock, but she finds that she has the whole town of Angel Creek behind her. Accepting Matt’s proposal to manage the restoration of the inn comes with complications as Liz has rules about dating the people she works with. However, Matt knows that she is the one for him and will do what it takes to win her over. The novel is well written, sweet and clean with a budding romance, as Liz and Matt work through the difficulties facing them. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.