Is a magical small town the perfect place for a Christmas romance?Garland Tate has a name that reminds her every day she lives in the Christmas-obsessed town of Thorpes. The holidays mean family time, and since her mother’s terminal illness, that’s something she wants to avoid.The adopted heir of a wealthy Victorian-age family, Pete Darling anonymously distributes the family money to remaining … family money to remaining relatives in need. He’s delighted to find the holiday spirit alive and well in magical, festive Thorpes, but he never expects the sassy, independent woman at the Lava Java will distract him from his duties and give him a reason to reveal his secrets.
As snow falls and hearts melt in the charming town of Thorpes, it may take a little extra magic and meddling to help Garland and Pete believe that a Christmas romance can last forever.
More holiday books by Danielle Thorne
Henry’s Holiday Charade
Brushstrokes and Blessings
Valentine Gold
Death Cheater
Cheated
Historical Romances
A Pirate at Pembroke
Proper Attire
The Privateer of San Madrid
Josette
Clean and Wholesome Romances for Today
Turtle Soup
By Heart and Compass
more
I enjoyed reading about Garland and Peter in the small town of Thorpe. Garland is working and going to school full time while Peter is an airport mechanic with some secrets. I love how the Peter Pan story is incorporated into the story line and I enjoy Christmas stories.
Garland lives in Thorpes, a town obsessed with Christmas. Her name, as well as all her sibling’s names, are Christmas based so she is reminded every single day about the holiday. Since her mother’s death, she doesn’t want to be reminded of Christmas or family. She just wants to get her degree and get out of this small town and start her own business. She works at the Lava Java in town and has since high school. She wants more.
In walks Peter Darling. He is handsome and kind and completely smitten with Garland. In fact, he knows her name before she tells him. She is suspicious of him. Is he a stalker? Does he have nefarious intentions? She needs to keep an eye on him. The more she gets to know him, the more she likes him but there is a big secret that Peter doesn’t want Garland to know. If she finds out, it would be the end of so many things. Can he keep it from her and still get the girl that he is beginning to fall in love with? Will this secret be the one thing that destroys all he really wants?
This was a sweet, cute, Christmas romance with a little bit of Peter Pan and the Darlings thrown in. I didn’t catch the connection until towards the end of the story. It was a fairly quick read with some great secondary characters in the book, as well. Lots of good feels with this one.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Everyone loves a fairy tale.
Garland is torn between two desires. One is to finish school and leave town to begin a new chapter in her life. The other is to stay and help in the coffee shop where she works. Her biggest conflict, however, is dealing with her bitterness toward her family. Yet, when a mysterious man shows up one day in the coffee shop with a love for all things sugar, he shows her how forgiveness is a possibility.
Pete Darling just wants to help the family. But, when he visits Garland, her refusal to accept help intrigues him. And, as he observes her more, Garland herself intrigues him. However, he has to be careful if he wants to continue in his role for the family – but does that really matter when his heart gets involved?
What follows is a fantastic twist on a classic fairy tale. You’ll see Christmas in a whole new way.
Romance – PG / kissing
Language – PG / clean
My rating – 5 stars