USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts takes readers to the charming, snowbound town of Pine River in this irresistible holiday romance.Sometimes you need to look beyond the big picture to see what really mattersOlivia Berg’s charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families in need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower … but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of their biggest donors since way back when Olivia’s grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he’s declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart.
Guy is simply being practical. Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, and when you don’t have money to spare, you don’t have money to share. You’d think even the pushy Olivia Berg could understand that.
With charitable donations dwindling, Olivia’s Christmas budget depends on Hightower’s contribution. She’s focused her whole life on helping this small town, even putting her love life on hold to support her mission.
When Guy’s Maserati breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he’s relieved to be rescued by a pretty young woman who drives him to the nearby town of Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is none other than Olivia Berg. What’s a Scrooge to do? Plug his nose and eat fruitcake and hope she doesn’t learn his true identity before he can get out of town. What could go wrong?
more
It can’t be Christmas without a Sheila Roberts book! Buy 2 copies–one for yourself, one to give as a gift. Sheila Roberts
Enjoyed this sweet Christmas story , felt like a updated , modern day scrooge , great characters , wonderful message!
Christmas from the Heart by Sheila Roberts is a pleasing Christmas story that will leave you with a happy feeling. Christmas from the Heart is a story with realistic character and a sweet small town. Olivia is a warm character who misses her recently deceased mother. She has taken over running the non-profit her mother started, and it is her sole focus. Olivia is thoughtful, caring, a hard worker, generous and persistent which are all traits needed in her line of work. She loves her father and is worried about him since he has retreated from life since the death of his wife. Guy Hightower is a hardworking man who is smart and caring. He is trying to save Hightower Enterprises, but he keeps butting up against his older brother’s. Christmas from the Heart has Sheila Roberts engaging writing which drew me right in. I like the humor sprinkled throughout the story and the lovely town of Pine River. I wish I lived in such a warm, helpful community. I like how they help each other out. There was more going on in Christmas from the Heart, but you will have to find out the rest for yourself. I enjoyed reading Sheila Roberts latest Christmas story and look forward to her next book. Christmas from the Heart is a charming Christmas tale with a caring community, a needy non-profit, tempting treats, a benign beau, frightful fruitcake and happy holiday happenings.
This book is such a sweet story. Olivia’s dedication to her Christmas non-profit is admirable, and you cannot help but to root for her. While Guy doesn’t appear to be an awful human, there’s a part of me that was irritated with him throughout the book because he is rich enough to donate to this wonderful charity. I read this book in the summertime, and it really brought me the same warm fuzzy feelings that Christmastime does. It’s a nice break from the thrillers and intense books I normally read.
If you are looking for a book that reads exactly like a Hallmark movie then Christmas from the Heart by Sheila Roberts is the book for you! It is short at under 300 pages, and the audio is less than 7.5 hours, so it makes for a very quick read. Olivia was a great character and I found both her and Guy incredibly endearing. Even when Guy is being a scrooge, I liked him, and I loved how things came together in the end. The book is like a Hallmark movie in the way the story is told, the character’s interactions, and the way you have to wait until the very end for things to really come together. I love this type of story and couldn’t have been happier with this novel.
I listened to the audiobook which is narrated by Teri Schnaubelt and I thought she did such a great job. I loved her voice and thought she was the perfect narrator for this story. It was a tiny bit emotional but nothing too crazy, and it really is a quintessential small-town romance. The characters felt realistic and Christmas from the Heart was the perfect December read even though it’s not fully focused on Christmas. I thought the end was satisfying, and if you are looking for a light, cozy romance I highly recommend it. If you are looking for that happy ending Christmas from the Heart has you covered on that too!
When I saw this cover I absolutely had to have it and just KNEW it was going to be a perfect holiday read. Not exactly…
I absolutely love the setting for this one as I’m a sucker for small town anything lol. However, Olivia rubbed me the wrong way from the very beginning. She runs a non-profit (Christmas From the Heart) that helps the local community. LOVE that!
When Hightower Enterprises backs out on donating this year she becomes this pushy and obnoxious person. I mean I understand the need for contributions and feeling a blow like that right before Christmas would have been hard BUT the way she handled it was off-putting.
The writing is good and when you’re reading about the local community coming together to help one another all the holiday feels are there. I also loved the Scrooge-like references and how at the end a life lesson was learned and change instituted…again all the holiday feels present.
I really wish I enjoyed this one more but I just couldn’t connect with the main character and that lost a bit overall for me.
Christmas from the Heart is a sweet, feel-good holiday-themed romance set in an idyllic small town with an absolutely adorable ending. The premise is promising–an enemies-to-lovers romance set at Christmas? Yes, please! And the story got off to a great start with the two leads, Guy and Livi’s increasingly snarky email exchange. I might have snort-laughed at that point, at least a little.
So…great start, sweet ending. The middle, though, tended toward the problematic at times. I didn’t blame Guy at first for not admitting who he was to Livi–their last electronic exchange was pretty toxic, and she definitely wouldn’t have been even half as welcoming as she was if he had. But he let the deception go way too long, all the while engaging in some pretty heavy-duty internal self-flagellation as he did. I mean, yes, he had been rude in their initial exchanges, but she had given as good as she’d got. And absolutely, losing a major donor so late in the year is very frustrating for a nonprofit, but her sense of entitlement as the year went on and the way she continued to badmouth Guy, even to people she didn’t really know that well (AKA Guy himself) was a bit much.
And he really did do everything he could to make things up to her while he was staying in Pine River–it was actually pretty sweet. He was an amazingly good sport about helping out with all the charity’s events, and donated a ton of his own personal money while he was there. Yet when his duplicity was revealed, all of his detractors (Livi included) claimed he was just doing it all to get into her pants. Really? Never once did he push for more than a few kisses. Maybe their definition of that phrase is different than mine?
I just couldn’t help but feel he was really getting the short end of the stick, though. But the ending was very sweet, once Livi got her head out of her butt and realized that Guy wasn’t the only one at fault in their situation. It took him coming back with a bit of a grovel, but still.
So–small town setting? Fun to read. Holiday feeling? Abundant. Romance? Sweet but somewhat problematic.
Rating: 3 stars / C+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
A story filled with holiday cheer, another great read by Sheila Roberts, enjoyed reading this book very much, didn’t want to put it down to see how it would end
This is sweet small town Christmas romance. Olivia is trying to keep her family charity from going under. She reaches out to Hightower Enterprises to help out again this year. They have decided to go in a different charity direct this year. This has a lot of references to A Christmas Carol in it and it can seems like it’s a little like that book. Olivia and Guy see each other in a different light once they meet. Eventually a secret comes out and ruins the chance they have together. Like any romance everything works out in the end. This was cute, sweet and fun book to read.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
Christmas From the Heart
By: Sheila Roberts
*REVIEW* .5
Christmas From the Heart is a charming story. Olivia runs a charity for the poor, but the loss of her biggest donor is a blow. Guy owns the company that normally makes the big donation to Olivia’s charity. His company is in trouble, thus no money to give, but no one knows about it. Circumstances bring Olivia and Guy together, and a relationship develops. What happens when they realize the connection between them? It’s a sweet holiday story with the message of giving not receiving. Olivia is a bit entitled, but otherwise, she’s a good heroine. Guy is a typical hallmark movie hero. I enjoyed most of the story, but it’s predictable. It’s a solid feel good warm hearted story that is easy to read without stressing your mind.
This beautifully writtten Christmas story melted my heart!! Just in time for the holidays this book made it feel just like Christmas!I received this Arc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review and appriciate the request sent on Netgalley! This heartwaring read i would recommend to any Hallmark lover! A perfectly written holiday romance that had all the cozy romane feels I love!! A must read book! Loved it!
I enjoyed the premise of the story; Holiday time is the perfect time to give to others and that’s what this book is all about. Christmas from the Heart is the name of this novel but also the name of the organization that Livi runs as a non-profit to bring joy and love to families at Christmas. The only trouble is that this year it has been very difficult raising the money to make this possible. To top it off, Hightower corporation has refused to give a donation, and they have been the main contributors since her grandmother’s time. Livi herself lives on a shoe string; she lives at home with her Dad and scrimps by with very little. Guy on the other hand – the CFO of Hightower has his own swanky apartment and lives rather well. He is rather cautious though of women who have their eye on his money, which that leaves him a bit cynical; including Livi, the do-gooder. To be fair he is hardworking and the Hightower business is struggling despite all the long hours he works. Sometimes you need to look beyond the big picture to see what really matters.
Ms. Roberts wrote a feel good, spread good spirit, charming Christmas story in Christmas from the Heart; a nice hallmark movie in book form. This story was a bit bland for me but I thought the message was nice. I thought it was a little repetitive in the beginning. Livi was unable to get over the fact that she lost her largest donor and Guy struggled to get over his guilt about it. After it was repeated a few times, I had to skim through certain sections. Also, Livi also made me mad in the way she led on Morris even though she didn’t really have feelings for him!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Christmas is about the giving, not the receiving (unless you’re on the receiving end of a charitable donation)
Olivia Berg lives in a small town in Washington state. She runs the Christmas from the Heart non-profit with almost all the money going out to the needy in her community and other small towns in the area.
Christmas from the Heart has always gotten their biggest donation from Hightower Enterprises since her great-grandmother’s time – until this year. Guy Hightower is the new CFO for Hightower Enterprises and he’s made cuts to the budget this year.
The story was okay but I wasn’t particularly fond of Olivia (she felt the money from Hightower Enterprises was somehow due to her and her attitude when she didn’t get it was childish) and Guy Hightower, a rather privileged Grinch (at least at first).
Parts were good, parts were not – it was a mixed bag for sure.
I received this book from MIRA Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
What happens when a well-to-do businessman who has put the breaks on one of his annual charity contributions gets stranded in a town with the charity organizer he stiffed? That’s the premise of this clever holiday story that is as sweet as the candy canes she’s stuffing into Pine River’s charity stockings. This is another great story by one of my favorite authors, and one you shouldn’t miss if you love Christmas.
Oh wow…this book brings all the feelings, it’s warm, sweet and full of love and so perfect for holiday read.
It has all the drama that keeps me turning page after page, it’s like those holiday’s drama TV shows,
It has complex story, there’s enemies to lovers, there’s insta-love, there’s frustrations, so many lies and love, yup those are the things that makes this book unputdownable. A bit predictable but still enjoyed it and love it nonetheless.
So many amazing characters too, although I wanted to slap them most of the time, sometimes they’re just super frustrating, but still love them all though.
If you need a holiday read, this book is perfect for you.
This was such a sweet Christmas story, I’m so glad I read it! Livi runs the charity, Christmas from the Heart, a non-profit that’s been run by the women in her family for decades. This year though, her biggest corporate sponsors backed out, leaving the charity facing a huge deficit. When she personally reached out to the new CFO of the company, she was turned down and called a leech. Guy Hightower, the new CFO didn’t react nicely to the many emails from the head of the charity, but he was stressed. His family’s company wasn’t performing up to the standards set by his father and grandfather and he needed to figure out what to do about it. His ideas were being downplayed by his brothers, and now this strange woman is harassing him for money for her charity. He’d had to cut the budget, and her charity was one of the ones being cut.
A couple of days before Christmas has Guy on the road from his Aunt’s to his mother’s when a belt breaks on his Maserati. He’s picked up while walking into the nearest town by none other than Livi. Once she introduces herself, the guilt creeps back in and Guy decides that he’s going to lie about his name to keep the peace. Things go from bad to worse when he finds out that not only is he going to be stranded in her town, but he’s going to have to stay with her and her father after finding out the only hotel in town has no vacancies.
This is such a sweet book! I fell in love with the characters, the setting and the story. I whipped right through because I wanted to get to the happy ever after that these two deserved. This is my first book by Ms. Roberts, but it definitely won’t be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. If you’re looking for a feel good Christmas romance, I highly recommend Christmas from the Heart.
*I received and ARC of this title from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Olivia Berg’s life revolves around running her charity, Christmas from the Heart, which assists struggling families in the small town of Pine River, Washington. Christmas from the Heart was started by Livi’s grandmother and run by the women in the family. Livi’s mother ran the charity until her recent death. Now the task falls to Livi and she takes the responsibility very seriously.
When the CFO of Hightower Enterprises, Guy Hightower, informs Livi that they will not be giving their usual donation this year, Livi is crushed. Hightower has always been one of their most generous supporters. It looks like Christmas from the Heart will not be able to help as many families this year.
Guy has been thrust into the job of CFO by the death of his father. The company is struggling and he has a difficult job ahead to pull everything together. He declined to donate to Livi’s charity because he had no choice and guilt sets in immediately. He is not a bad person, but you couldn’t convince Livi of that.
When Guy is on his way to his mother’s house for Christmas, his car breaks down in Pine River. As luck would have it, Livi is the first person to come by. She offers guy a ride into town to her friend’s auto repair shop. Livi shares information about Christmas from the Heart on the way back to town. She gives him her name and asks his. Thus, Joe Ford was created. Guy was not about to tell her his real name.
This book has small town charm, wonderful characters and a charming story line. It really got me into the Christmas spirit. I really enjoyed Sheila Roberts’ newest Christmas book and recommend it to anyone who loves Christmas spirit and warmth wrapped up in a great book.
I received an ARC of Christmas from the Heart from Netgalley and the author in exchange for my honest review. These are my honest thoughts about this book.
3.25 stars-CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, holiday romance story line focusing on CFO of Hightower Enterprises Guy Hightower, and Olivia Berg, manager of the charity Christmas From the Heart.
Told from three third person perspectives (Olivia, Guy and Morris) CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEART follows Olivia Berg’s battle to procure and maintain donors for her struggling charity Christmas From the Heart. When Hightower Enterprises, their oldest and most prolific donor, pulls out of the charity drive, Olivia becomes aggressive in an effort to ‘guilt’ Guy Hightower into donating to her organization. Months will past, as the holidays approach, and Olivia continues to vent about Hightower’s non-participation in the holiday event. Several days before Christmas, Olivia will ‘rescue’ a stranger from the side of the road, a stranger with whom Olivia will begin to fall in love. Enter Guy Hightower aka Joe Ford. What ensues is the building friendship between Olivia and Guy, and the fall-out when Joe Ford’s true identity is revealed.
Guy Hightower had no desire to spend his Christmas holidays in Pine River, Washington, but a detour on his way home to visit family, resulted in Guy’s car needing repairs, and our hero, face to face with a woman he has battled, online, for months. Olivia Berg continues to struggle to gather money for the Christmas charity but when a seemingly well-to –do stranger lands in Pine River for the holidays, Olivia pulls out all the proverbial stops, in an effort to wine and dine for friendship and money. Meanwhile, our heroine, continues to wait for the ‘one’ believing ‘Joe Ford’ is the one to give her, her own, happily ever after.
The relationship between Olivia and Guy is an enemies to friends to something more but Olivia has no idea that the handsome stranger is the man she has ‘hated’ for close to a year. Ever persistent, Olivia battles between head and heart with her attraction to a man who is only in town for a short while, an attraction that is complicated by the affections of her home-town friendship with another man who is willing to give Olivia everything and more. There are no $ex scenes; the romance is almost non-existent; the hero keeps his distance knowing he has lied about his identity, and herein lies the problem-I didn’t feel the attraction between our leading couple. There is no romance, no love, no physical contact therefore the palpable sexual energy is missing.
The secondary and supporting characters include Guy Hightower’s Pine River rival, Morris, a man who has loved Olivia Berg for most of his life. Morris isn’t willing to sit back and let ‘Joe Ford’ take the woman he loves but Olivia struggles with her attraction to ‘Joe’ and the sure thing back home.
CHRISTMAS FOR THE HEART is a charming story; a sweet look at small town life s.
Well, it’s that time of year again. Christmas romances are on the loose.
I love Olivia’s tenacity. She needs something…she goes and gets it. But, she goes and gets it to help others. Olivia is in charge of a non profit organization which helps people in need. She has lost one of her major contributors (all Guy’s fault!) and she is struggling to meet all the demands. Olivia has a huge heart. She is really an admirable character.
Guy starts out as someone you kind of despise. But as the story unfolds, he grows into someone the reader loves. AND you cannot wait for Olivia and Guy to realize they need each other.
This is your typical romance. Olivia and Guy start out hating each other. But then circumstances draw them together and sparks fly. What makes this story different is how sweet, kind and true all the characters are. It is a wonderful Christmas story. It made a great palate cleanser.
Christmas from the Heart was an okay small-town romance, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential. It does have its moments of levity, and there were some sweet scenes between the characters as well. In fact, I could easily see this one playing out in a made for TV movie on the Hallmark channel. That said, the story is more drawn out than I felt entirely necessary, and I ended up skimming part of it, especially when the story started to lag. Some of my disappointment can be attributed to my feelings about Olivia. Try as I might, I just couldn’t warm up to her. She was irritating and came across with one of those ‘all about me’ attitudes.’ I understand that she was trying to build funds for her nonprofit, so it was really all about the people she could help, but her attitude left something to be desired. The nonprofit was important to her as well as the people depending on it, but she was just plain rude when she didn’t get what she expected. In my experience, you don’t ‘expect’ a donation, you ask for one and hope for a good return. You certainly don’t school those who donate even if it’s way less than you think it should be. I assume the back and forth between Olivia and Guy was meant to be witty banter, which is usually something I like, but Olivia’s snark just left a bad taste in my mouth. Surprisingly, I did like Guy even if he was a little self-absorbed. Then we come to the conclusion of this romance, which should be the big work it all out, exchange I Love Yous, and fall into the big kiss. The problem is that after all that buildup and the lengthy storyline, the conclusion felt a lot rushed. The secondary characters and their interactions with Guy are what saved this one for me. The ladies at the fruitcake competition, Morris and his jealousy, even Olivia’s dad. These secondary characters stole the show. There quirky and fun, and I loved reading about them. In the end, the romance just didn’t work for me. It’s hard to get behind a romance when you don’t like one of the characters involved. I did like the other parts of the story, and Roberts does a good job with the small-town feel, so I ended up somewhere in the middle.