Sometimes love is just around the corner . . .
With her dreams of being a wedding dress designer suddenly over, Arianna Bell isn’t expecting a holly jolly Christmas. Instead, her heart feels about three sizes too small. That is until her high school sweetheart Connor Gallagher returns to town and she finds his mere presence still makes her pulse race. But just when she starts dreaming of kissing … starts dreaming of kissing under the mistletoe, he announces that he will be her opponent in the upcoming mayoral race….
Hot-shot attorney Connor Gallagher has something to prove. He’s tired of playing runner-up to his high-achieving brothers. So when the opportunity to enter the campaign comes up, he takes it. Even if it means running against the only woman he’s ever loved. But with a little help from Harmony Harbor’s local matchmakers and a lot of holiday cheer, Connor and Arianna may just get the happy ever after they both deserve.
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Book seven in the Harmony Harbor series a well written Christmas story, by an Author I have not read before. I want to read more in this series. Arianna Bell and her high school sweetheart attorney Connor Gallagher’s story. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What do you do when your life has been turned upside down? That is a question that goes through Arianna’s head on a daily basis. She is still recovering from the fire that destroyed not only her business but also her livelihood. She is so emotionally broken from the thought of never being able to create again that getting out of bed has become harder and harder to do. Connor watched Arianna die and be brought back, he doesn’t know what he would have done if she hadn’t made it. His feelings for her have never changed and he realizes that he wants her in his life. When Arianna’s grandmother decides to run for mayor and needs her granddaughters help Connor jumps at the chance to insert himself into the mix. Things are looking great and their relationship starts to move forward but Arianna has a deep dark secret that she knows will pull Connor and her apart. Follow along as these two take two steps forward and one step back in a dance called love. This was such an emotional roller coaster of a read it had me laughing, crying, and in the end rooting for love to be conquered. I look forward to seeing what happens next with this wonderful cast of characters
A wonderful take you away romance!
I absolutely love this book.
I won this book in a holiday giveaway by Donn Kaufmann. I remember reading another of Debbie Mason’s Christmas books that took place in Harmony Harbor. This one was every bit as good. This is a second chance love story. It seems that Arianna Bell has lost everything – her home, shop and her ability to create one of a kind wedding gowns. When her building burned down, she severely injured her right arm and hand and has not really attempted to use it. Her old love Connor Gallagher has not stopped loving her. When her grandmother realizes that she is not competent to run for mayor, Connor and she convince Arianna to take her place. Then to her dismay, Connor is convinced to run against her by his family when his uncle has a heart attack. There are secrets that come out and some twists and turns. This was a fun read.
To start out, this was my first book by Debbie Mason. I found this story a delightful Christmas romance, heart-warming Harmony Harbor, with a bit of suspense. Arianna and Colin, teen-age sweethearts, get a second chance at love, but it doesn’t come easily. There are misunderstandings, secrets, and family drama making it difficult for Arianna and Colin to keep their relationship going. I loved every minute of it!
I loved the characters in this book! The story captured me from the very beginning! I haven’t read any in this series but didn’t have any trouble getting into this one but after this plan on reading the whole series. Very heartwarming story. Would highly recommend!
A good read for Christmas!
This is not a “feel-good Christmas romance” as the title would like you to believe. There is a man trying to steal his brother’s wife, corrupt politics, a horrible mother, and lots more. I also felt like I missed half the story. The way this one starts, there is a whole set of events that are just kind of glossed over. The whole first half of the book Connor tries to help Arianna get elected mayor, and then because he wants his family’s praise, he runs against her. He should have stood up for himself and acted like the grown man that he is. His parents had really sucky moments when all they cared about were themselves, and all the stuff that Connor being mayor would do for them. Arianna has problems of her own with her crappy mom, and I HATE when a baby is kept a secret from the father. Unless you’re running from an abusive man, you’ll never convince me of a good reason to do so. Her mom also keeps her grandma away from her since she has power of attorney. There is even a little paranormal thrown in with the ghost of Connor’s great grandma. The ending was sweet, but it wasn’t enough to make this a feel good story in my opinion.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.
The Corner of Holly and Ivy: A feel-good Christmas romance is the last book in the Harmony Harbor Series. This is the story of Connor Gallagher and Arianna Bell. I haven’t yet read the previous books, so for me this was a standalone book.
Arianna wanted to be a wedding dress designer but her store was lost in a fire that also damaged her arm. Trying to stay somewhat isolated to heal her feelings she ends up getting involved in a race to be Mayor since her grandmother can’t run after all. Connor is back in town looking to show that he is more than what they think and works to run for Mayor also when his Uncle drops out. Now it looks to be him running against the only women that has touched his heart but can either give into the feelings that are happening? Well the town matchmakers are on the loose working to get a happy ending here.
Great second chance at love story.
Harmony Harbour #8, Each book of the Harmony Harbour series is a standalone, each focus on a different family member of the Greystone legacy. The only continuing theme throughout the series is that someone is trying to get the Gallaghers to sell Greystone Manor by any means necessary and that the former matriarch of the family Colleen “GG” still haunts the Manor and that all the secrets she kept keep coming out and sometimes for the best.
Arianna and Connor were high school sweethearts but Connor hasn’t quite let go even after all these years he still cares about her. Arianna lost everything in a fire it not only burned down her bridal boutique but also damaged her arm so she may never draw again and designing wedding dress is what she always dreamed of doing now that dream is gone. Arianna’s self isolation comes to an end when her grandmother throws in her hat for the mayoral race against Connor’s uncle.When it comes out that her grandma’s health isn’t well enough Arianna takes her place. Soon she finds herself not in the running with Connor’s uncle but Connor himself and just when the romance between them was starting to rekindle.
Connor’s not going to let the election get in the way of his feelings for Arianna and as the elections spill over into the holidays everyone in town is willing to help the two love birds that they are a perfect match. But not everything is perfect as yet again someone is out to mess things up with the Gallaghers and Greystone Manor but now the fate of Main Street hangs in the balance too. It’s quite the emotional journey for Arianna not only is she dealing with the lost of her dream and maybe the use of her arm but also the health of her Grandmother and the complications that go with that and the fact that Connor has come back into her life and wants to be apart of it confuses her she’s happy and she loves him but she has a secret she’s been hiding for so long and now it’s about to come out.
Overall it was a good read. The election and everything else overshadows the holiday feel of the book, which only comes up toward the end of the book but otherwise I love the characters and I love the town. I can’t wait for more.
This fictional contemporary romance story is about Arianna Bell, a woman who is suffering psychologically and physically from a fire that destroyed her wedding dress design business and left her with physical burns and emotional scars. She’s staying with “Glamma,” her Chanel-suit-wearing grandmother, an outspoken spritely 80 year old who, in her younger years, was a high-demand runway model in Paris. Glamma has decided to run for mayor of their town, Harmony Harbor, Massachusetts, to prevent Daniel Gallagher from becoming mayor. Glamma wants to help the town maintain its small town feel; Daniel Gallagher has plans to develop it its main street into a commercialized area that may attract franchises and other big business but will undoubtedly destroy many of the town’s boutique businesses.
Enter Connor Gallagher, a Boston attorney and the nephew of Daniel. In addition, Daniel and Arianna had a serious relationship many years before, but it ended when Arianna broke it off.
Glamma gets sick and can’t continue with the political race, so she (along with Connor and Connor’s father, a former Massachusetts governor), talk Arianna into becoming a candidate in Glamma’s place. They help her gain the confidence she desperately needs after her accident. A relationship again develops between Connor and Arianna.
Because the Gallaghers are one of the founding families of Harmony Harbor, everyone thought that Daniel would win the mayoral race. But as Arianna regains her confidence and becomes allies with the other small businesses in town, it looks like Daniel might not win after all. Then, Daniel suffers a (supposed) heart attack, and talks Connor into running against Arianna.
Although they are now opponents, Connor and Arianna can’t fight their growing re-attraction for each other. How can they reconcile their different opinions on how the town should be developed? Will they be able to run against each other and still maintain their relationship? Or will their relationship end when one of them eventually wins the vote for mayor?
Does this story have a happy-ever-after ending? I guess you will need to read the story to find out.
The author does a wonderful job of describing the town and how it is decorated for Christmas (some of the story takes place over the holidays.) If you like Hallmark small-town holiday romances, you will like this book.
I’m excited to check out some of Debbie Mason’s other books, which also sound like great reads for the holiday season. (Who can resist titles like “Mistletoe Cottage,” “SugarPlum Way,” and “Snowbound at Christmas” ?
I received this fun romance as an ARC from Netgalley and Forever Publishing/Hachette Book Publishing. Was so happy to be introduced to a new-to-me author, Debbie Mason!
Debbie Mason is one of my favorite authors. I couldn’t wait for her latest, At The Corner of Holly and Ivy to be released. She consistently brings heartwarming stories to life with characters I want to go visit and spend time with. Her towns are complex and there are always people I want to catch up with in each new story. Her conflict is real and stories seem to flow effortlessly. This is no exception. I loved the slow build between Connor and Arianna; they never made a big deal of being together, they just were. This is definitely on my holiday reread list.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Ms. Mason writes the most swoon worthy men. Connor Gallagher is no exception. He is all about family and true love. He thought he had it with Arianna Bell but they were so young. Does he stand the chance of winning her back? Arriana Bell just wants to die. Only her sister Serena, Glamma and Connor want her to stick around. Can the magic of Christmas heal her? I loved the ending.
The Corner of Holly and Ivy by Debbie Mason is the 7th book in the Harmony Harbor series. Even though it is the 7th book in the series it can be read as a standalone. I suggest reading the other books in the series because there are references to the previous books that if you read them first you will not be confused. This book was another winner in my eyes. It is a heart-warming captivating book about second chances. It is a wonderful feel good story that had me hooked right away. I did not want to put it down. I laughed I cried and I can’t wait for the next book to come out.
Outstanding contemporary holiday romance that takes the reader on a journey of young romance, heartbreaks, joy, sorrow, laughter and despair. This is a wonderful second chance romance. At times I laughed out loud with the well developed characters antics and then to tears. To me that is a testament to Ms. Mason’s excellent writing ability. Real life is a combination of all emotions and yes it’s a great book to get ‘away from the real world’. This is the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading by this author but it won’t be the last. All the characters especially Connor and Arianna makes this a fantastic romantic journey even with all the real life obstacles they endure. I highly recommend this stand-alone book that has a HEA. I received a complementary copy of this book via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Mason.
I love Debbie Mason’s books she has away of getting to the heart of the matter no matter what. In this book you will not be disappointed she has away of bring out the laughter, the tears and getting to the heart of everything. I loved how this brought back the Gallagher family. I love Colleen when she appears in the book you know you can expect something fun is going to be said or done. In this book it follows the journey of Connor and Arianna and what happens next in there lives. I loved Helen in this book in a lot of ways she reminded me of Colleen you just never knew what was going to happen next with her. This book will guarantee that you will laugh its a good clean read and they do discuss some tough subjects but it will put you in the perfect Christmas spirit anytime of the year. This book I found hard to put down it seemed to just fly by. I can’t wait to see what is next for this fun town of Harmony Harbor.
In my opinion Debbie Mason is the queen of second chance romances and she does not disappoint with this one! She has a way of creating characters that you want to have as your friends. The writing is exceptional and I just adore all the zany characters of the small town of Harmony Harbor.
Arianna Bell has had one heck of a year. First the business and career she loved is gone and now she has to see the former love of her life Connor Gallagher everywhere she turns. The Harmony Harbor matchmakers are determined to see these two reunited. Throw in a little holiday magic and you have one entertaining story.
Everyone should have this on their holiday must read list. I highly recommend it.
This is the 7th book in Debbie Mason’s Hamony Harbor series. I read this as a stand alone book, but would highly recommend reading the whole series, as there are some references in this book that I feel I might have missed.
With that being said, I still gave this book a 4 because the author still draws you into the books, leaves twists and turns when you least expect it, and leaves you with a range of emotions. ( laughed, cried, worried and felt angry)
Copy received via Netgalley for an honest review
You will need to have read at least some of the Harmony Harbor books before diving into The Corner Of Holly and Ivy, as I feel that you will be confuzzled a bit if you don’t.
I loved going back to Harmony Harbor, getting back to the nitty gritty with the Gallagher family – some good, some not so good.
Ms Mason creates characters that I just want to be friends with. She has created a wonderful world that makes me want to visit. I go from laughter to tears in the space of a few lines.
Arianna and Connor’s story had me running the whole gamut of emotions. I wanted, no I needed them to find their way back to each other.
I hate, hate hated Arianna’s mother, what a spoiled cow she was! I adored her grandmother Helen thought – what a feisty, wonderful old woman she is!
I mostly loved Connor, however there were moments when I wanted to hit him over the head with my kindle lol.
Second chances, Christmas – some of my favourite tropes. It is helping me get right int the spirit of the season.
I can’t wait to see what Ms Mason brings us next.
This book is a delightful Christmas romance, a heart-warming return to Harmony Harbor, with a bit of suspense. Arianna and Colin, teen-age sweethearts, get a second chance at love, but it doesn’t come easily. There are misunderstandings, secrets, and family drama making it difficult. I laughed and I cried, and I loved every minute of it!