Fall in love with this heartfelt holiday romance between a down-on-his-luck Christmas tree farmer and a woman with plans to bring the merriment back to their town. Tis the season for love For single father Granger Fields, Christmas is his busiest and most profitable time of the year. But when a fire devastates the Merry Mountain Tree Farm, he fears the season won’t be holly or jolly unless he … Tree Farm, he fears the season won’t be holly or jolly unless he can convince free spirit Joy Benson to care for his two rambunctious daughters. Yet while Granger wants to focus on saving his business, Joy seems determined to shake up his family’s Christmas with her festive ideas and merry making.
Joy is counting down the days until she can open her own art gallery. Babysitting Abby and Willow will help her reach her goal, and when inspiration strikes, Joy convinces Granger that her craft classes can bring even more holiday cheer to the farm. As crowds return and Joy’s creative side flourishes, life with Granger and his girls begins to feel like home. But with Christmas coming nearer, can Joy convince Granger to open his heart again? Or will their newfound happiness be as fleeting as the newly fallen snow?
Season of Joy by Annie Rains
A Realistic Christmas Romance, full of Family Traditions sprinkled with a Child’s Wishes.
I do love the small town of Sweetwater Springs and all it’s residents. This journey encompasses the magic of Christmas and the realities of life, meshing them together to make believers out of us all. Joy, a single artist, and Granger, father of two precious girls, find solutions for the both of them together, find time to fall in love, and face their pasts.
They get waylaid several times, but true love is worth fighting for. Of course it wouldn’t be Christmas without some very adorable fur babies and many more surprises!
A sweet clean read to put you in a festive mood, maybe, even making Christmas trees and homemade apple cider, then relaxing to enjoy more Christmas journeys.
The Christmas Wish Novella by Melinda Curtis
A dash of holiday spirit tribute to Ebenezer Scrooge, when Everett (said Scrooge) gets caught up with Rosalie, and her all knowing St. Bernard, Remi. Such opposites attracting, there was bound to be sparks flying.
I gave this book 3 stars mainly because it reminded me of a Hallmark Christmas movie. While I can handle the tame hand holding and longing glances in those movies, I like a little more action in my romance novels. The MCs were cute together, and I liked their relationship for the most part. I liked the tree farm and the holidays as the back drop for the story. The girls were cute secondary characters, and I thought they added to the story. All in all, not my favorite, but I would read this author again.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
If you are looking for a book set during Christmas with all fun and festivities along with a chance at love after a heartbreak then Season of Joy by Annie Rains is for you. This is the sixth book in the Sweetwater Springs series but can be read as a standalone.
Granger is a Christmas tree farmer and single dad to daughters Abby and Willow (9 and 7 years old respectively). Joy Benson is Abby and Willow’s art teacher who dreams to own her art gallery in the town. Christmas is the busiest and most profitable time of the year but this year the farm is struggling financially because of the fire that did some serious damage to the farm. With the kids’ nanny retiring without any notice, Joy steps up to take care of his daughters and also helps him in organizing Christmas tree workshops on the farm to retain some customers.
At first, Granger and Joy are both careful not to let on their feelings for each other because they don’t want to face another heartbreak. But the heart wants what it wants and they give themselves a second chance at love and relationship.
With a lot of artsy projects for kids and elders, Christmas festivities, amazing characters, and a small-town vibe this is an amazing book for holidays.
A tender-hearted holiday romance! Season of Joy is a story filled with love, family and second chances. A charming tale to get you in the Christmas spirit. Between a cat playing bodyguard for Joy, a meddling aunt, and handmade crafts, this book will fill your heart with so much joy. I wanted to immediately go chop down a Christmas tree and make cookies after reading this! I participated in a read-along and loved the discussions we had throughout the book. Willow stole my heart in every scene, so be prepared for all the feels.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Seasons of Joy by Annie Rains is fun Christmas romance perfect for the season. Joy Benson is an artist whose dream it is to open her own art gallery. She has managed to make a living through selling her work on Etsy and teaching art lessons but she has more ambitious long term goals. Granger is a single father with a Christmas tree farm struggling to recover financially from a fire that destroyed a lot of tree stock. Granger loses his nanny during that pivotal Christmas season and asks Joy to step in as a replacement nanny, or rather art teacher. And so begins our romance.
With Christmas trees, crafty art projects, small town atmosphere, and great cast of characters, Seasons of Joy is a fun holiday read. I loved the setting of the Christmas tree farm and the various activities they had going on there. Granger’s two daughters are adorable as well.
If you are fan of small town Christmas romance this would be a great pick. If you are fan of steam, this title is definitely a fade into black romance.
What a sweet, romantic, family-filled story. Joy and Granger couldn’t have fallen in love at a better time. I love that Granger was such an amazing dad and put his daughters first. Joy’s name fit her perfectly. I loved everything about this story, it definitely put me in the Christmas spirit!!!
Visiting Sweetwater Springs is like coming home. The residents of the small town are like family.
Season of Joy is Book 6 in the Sweetwater Springs series. It can be read as a standalone, but I’m sure you will love the people of Sweetwater Springs and you will want to read the other books in the series.
What could be better than a small town romance?…A small town romance that takes place during the Christmas season. Season of Joy was a joy to read.
Granger is a single dad of two beautiful little girls who are missing their mother. Joy teaches art classes to children at the public library. Granger’s little girls are two of her students. She is an aspiring artist who has promised herself that she won’t take any job that isn’t related to art, so when Granger approaches her about becoming the girls’ nanny, she is adamant that she won’t take a job that is not in the art field. She can’t resist the little girls’ sad faces and agrees to take the job temporarily…just until after Christmas, but she won’t be a nanny…She will teach them arts and crafts every day. She finds that she loves spending time with the girls…and their dad isn’t so bad either.
Annie Rains has an amazing talent for creating characters and storylines that capture the reader’s heart. This one is no exception.
I received an ARC of Season of Joy from the author and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Simply Magical!
Annie Rains makes you believe in the magic of Christmas! Sweetwater Springs is a readers paradise. These characters have so much depth and heart. They are so captivating and the story so very heartwarming.
This story is an absolute readers bliss! You will absolutely lose your heart between the pages of Season of Joy. This story is filled with so much warmth and charm. Annie Rains is a truly special story teller, she gives her story’s a soul.
This is absolutely one of my most favorite series ever. I always find it so hard turning that last page, I am always left wanting more. I can’t wait for the next is series and visiting my favorite town again.
Heartwarming and emotional holiday adventure filled with interesting and engaging charters, witty banter, heart racing twists and exciting passion. Really enjoyed this highly entertaining and fun to read journey. Great reading.
Season of Joy is the Annie Rains I was looking for. Sweet with lots of heart, Granger and Joy were the perfect holiday escape. I found this perfect for a cozy afternoon by the fire with a nice mug of hot spiced wine.
Big-hearted, spirited, and jolly!
Season of Joy is a cosy, heartwarming, enchanting read set in the quaint town of Sweetwater Springs that takes us into the lives of two main characters. Joy Benson, a young art teacher determined to open her own art studio and prove once and for all that art can be a worthy career, and Granger Fields, a single father of two whose main focus is raising his two daughters and making sure his family’s tree farm is profitable after a recent fire has decimated their inventory.
The prose is amusing and light. The characters are hardworking, wary, and thoughtful. And the plot is a delightful blend of tender moments, friendship, family, community, self-discovery, merry preparations, and of course a touch of romance!
Overall, Season of Joy is a festive, atmospheric, uplifting treat that will have you believing in the magic of Christmas and looking forward to sleigh rides, decorated trees, twinkling lights, holiday crafts, and steaming mugs of apple cider.
Heartwarming, romantic and charming best describe the feel of Annie Rains’ new novel Season of Joy.
Annie Rains writes a poignant story for single dad Granger Fields and artist Joy Benson. Both Granger and Joy have been deeply disappointed in love and are at a crossroads professionally.
A fire has devastated Merry Mountain farm, the Field’s family business. Granger needs to think out of the box to save his family business during the holiday season. Joy longs to open an art studio in Sweetwater Springs. She’s found the perfect space but needs to come up with a down payment quickly. Granger convinces Joy to watch his daughters— and Joy encourages Granger to add a bit of Christmas magic back to Merry Mountain Farm.
Annie Rains creates memorable characters. I admired Joy’s kindness towards others, her love for children and her passion for her art. Granger‘s family situation tugged at my heartstrings. He was a single dad who struggled with providing the best for his daughters while balancing running his family business.
Granger and Joy’s slow burn love story unfolds perfectly during the holiday season. Their love story is engaging and drew me into the story. The author does a fabulous job adding in the right amount of emotion, angst and conflict to the storyline. The characters are memorable and each one adds an important piece to the plot. I loved Aunt Darby, Granger’s daughters Willow and Abby and loved touching base with my favorite Sweetwater Springs characters; Jack, Luke and Emma!
I highly recommend Season of Joy! It is fabulous romance filled with small town charm and set during the season of love, hope and miracles.
This is one of those books you curl up under the tree and soak in the holiday spirit with. Joy is an artist who has dreams of opening her own gallery but is still working on the funding. Granger is a single dad and owner of a Christmas tree farm that has a challenging season ahead due to a loss of trees. The two come together when Granger winds up short a nanny for his two little girls and Joy is able to help.
Annie Rains writes a sweet, warm holiday story. The characters are just so good and likable. The setting of a Christmas tree farm is perfect. There are many heartwarming moments that make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a Hallmark movie. If anything, it was slightly on the too-sweet side for me but I would say if you enjoy a good, clean, Hallmark-style holiday romance then this book is for you.
Annie Rains is a great writer and this book does not disappoint. This book is one in a series but works very well as a standalone. I’m looking forward to more from this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.
What a great Christmas story. Joy and Granger both have trust issues, with good reason. Can they work through their individual issues and find love again? I love all the art things that Joy does and would love to take classes from her. I also love Christmas and how much fun would it be to live on a Christmas Tree Farm? I think you will enjoy following the lives of Granger, Abby, Willow, Joy, Aunt Darby, Tinsel and Chelsea. I can’t wait for my next visit to Sweetwater Springs.
Another wonderful story is also included. This time we are traveling to Sunshine, Colorado. We are seeing what the Sunshine Valley Widows Club is up to. They do love to do some matchmaking. We get to know Rosalie, Remy, Everett and Tinkerbell. Settle in and enjoy their story. This story is written by Melinda Curtis. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
I absolutely loved returning to Sweetwater Springs to read Granger and Joy’s story. In the previous book in the series “Sunshine on Silver Lake” we learned a lot about Granger so I was eager to read his story, and it did not disappoint. Granger and Joy were both wonderful characters that were well developed, and I loved getting to see them get their Happily Ever Afters in this book. I loved the setting of the Christmas Tree Farm for this Christmas book, reading about it I was able to imagine I was there celebrating the holiday season with them. This book was exactly the escape I needed right now. Another great book from Annie Rains, and I can’t wait to visit Sweetwater Springs again when the next book in the series comes out! This is my honest review of an ARC I received from Netgalley.
Another wonderful story from Annie Rains, set in Sweetwater Springs, one of my favorite fictional small towns. The pairing of Granger and Joy was especially timely for this Christmas story, since Granger owns and operates Merry Mountain Tree Farm with his patents. After a fire destroyed almost half his trees, he’s going to need a miracle…or some great ideas from Joy, a local artist, to keep business profitable this year.
The fact that Granger is also the good-looking and kind single dad to two of Joy’s favorite art students helps push this couple together. And individual hardships give them even more in common, sad as that is. But those hard times and a bit too much pride and not enough communication threaten this budding romance, as well as people in Granger’s present and past.
I’ll admit, there was one character I wasn’t very pleased with, because of a certain action taken by them. Vague, I know, but this is a spoiler free zone! But that’s real life. You’re not going to like every person you read about, or come in contact with. So while the story is fictional, this reader’s feelings definitely reflect how the may feel in a real world situation.
I got everything I expected and more from Season of Joy, as I do will all Ms. Rains books. Wonderful characters, real and often poignant issues, lots of fun and a touch of magic, especially with her holiday titles. I look forward to visiting Sweetwater Springs again…possibly to see veterinarian Chase with a possible love interest?! You never know what the author has up her sleeve.
My thanks to Netgalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the advance copy. All opinions are my own and freely given
Once again I am in awe of how much feel good emotions I get after reading a book by this wonderful author. Joy and Granger are two people who truly deserve a happy ending and I am so happy that they get one. It’s so easy to fall in love Willow and Abby because they are the most darling children. I have to admit that I cried a lot towards the end of the book because of all the emotions you couldn’t help but feel. This was such a great addition to this fantastic series and I can’t wait to read what comes next!
Single dad + struggling artist + small town + holiday season = amazing.
Annie Rains has given us a holiday gift of small town romance with an engaging plot, authentic characters you can’t help rooting for, a charming setting, and two adorable little girls you want to hug to bits. What a lovely, heart-warming story!
If you like small town romance, don’t miss this one.
We all know that there is nothing I like better than small-town romance. Add Christmas into the mix and I’m one happy camper.
I’ve been loving Sweetwater Springs and all those who live here. I’ve been waiting for Granger’s story and couldn’t wait for it. I will admit single dads with young kids is a turn on for me. I just love them.
Granger is a single dad with two young girls. I love the way he handles them. He’s so sweet with his girls and you see how much they love him. I felt sorry for the two little girls through what with their mom leaving when they were young and having nothing to do with them.
I also really liked Joy. I loved how she is with Granger’s daughters. She is very good with them. You won’t be able to not feel bad for her when you learn about her relationship with her parents. They aren’t as close as it seems Joy needed.
Both of them have their own issues that seem to be a good reason why they shouldn’t be together. I liked how they worked them out and decided to try and be together. They really worked it was them that didn’t see it.
This is a wonderful story that will bring you such great holiday cheer. You will find yourself smiling often as you read it. Season of Joy is the perfect story to read curled up on your couch with the lights of the Christmas tree shining bright.
3.75 stars–SEASON OF JOY is the sixth instalment in Annie Rains contemporary, adult SWEETWATER SPRINGS romance series focusing on the people of Sweetwater Springs. This is thirty-one year old, tree farmer and single father Granger Fields, and thirty year old, artist Joy Benson’s story line. SEASON OF JOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Joy and Granger) SEASON OF JOY follows the building romance and relationship between thirty-one year old, Christmas tree farmer and single father Granger Fields, and thirty year old, artist Joy Benson. The Merry Mountain Tree Farm is struggling in the wake of a devastating fire and a low inventory for the upcoming holiday season. When his nanny suddenly quits, Granger Fields is desperate enough that he asks his friend, and art teacher Joy Benson to help until the end of the holidays but Joy doesn’t want to be a nanny-been there ,done that-she wants to get her own business off the ground. Offering to help until after Christmas, Joy finds herself falling for the father of her two new charges, a man who finds himself falling for our story line heroine. What ensues is the building romance between Granger and Joy, and the potential fall-out as Granger’s past comes looking for a second chance.
Joy Benson has loved and lost, and losing meant more than anyone could have imagined. Trusting again was difficult in the wake of her fiancé’s betrayal but falling for Granger and his daughters was easy and fun. Granger Fields also has issues of trust -as a single father whose wife and mother of his children was no longer in the picture, Granger knew his daughters would always come first, and entrusting their care to Joy meant trusting his heart for the foreseeable future.
The relationship between Joy and Granger begins as friendship but struggles with demons from the past. Joy and Granger have both been burned by previous relationships, and in this, the pain is still real, and the anger simmers at the surface. The romance is passionate-there are no $ex scenes.
Several of the previous story line characters play secondary and supporting roles including fudge shop owner Dewanda. We are introduced to Joy’s parents Drs Benson; Joy’s Aunt Darby and her boyfriend Ray, and Joy’s ex-fiance Dan, as well as Granger’s parent Gene and Debbie, his daughter’s Willow and Abby, and his ex-wife Erin.
SEASON OF JOY is a sweet story line, perfect for the holidays. Although Granger often is quick to judge, Joy is a passionate woman who wears her heart on her sleeve. The premise is charming; the romance is wistful; the characters are colorful and spirited.