The Christmas Village

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Title: The Christmas Village
Author: Annie Rains
Publication: 10/12/2021
Genre: Romance
My rating: 5 stars

In short: Lucy & Miles are giving love a second chance while competing for the annual Christmas decoration contest.

Series background: Book 2 of the Somerset Lake series. Each book focuses on a different couple and can be read as a stand alone.

Synopsis from the Publisher: Lucy Hannigan has inherited her mother's bulldog, Bella, and her childhood home, the only pink house on Gingerbread Lane. With the holidays coming up, the pressure is on to decorate the house for the annual lights competition and maintain her parent's winning streak. But Lucy already has her hands full as a midwife and a new landlord-to her ex-fiance.

When Miles Bruno is suddenly asked to move out of his rental home, he's grateful to Lucy for taking him on as a tenant. But their broken-off engagement doesn't make it easy to live next door. Sparks still fly between them, and he'd give anything to get back in Lucy's good graces. But to do that will take much more than just tree trimming and house decorating and contest winning. Will one wildly grand romantic gesture on Christmas Eve finally soften her heart? 

My thoughts: Lucy is grieving the loss of her mother while trying to handle the mounting bills she left behind. One solution to make extra money is to rent the apartment above her garage out, she just never thought it would be to Miles, the love of her life who she's never gotten over. Miles has never left Somerset Lake and is now a town deputy. He's been asked to vacate the house he's been renting for 7 years and needs a quick solution until he can find a new place to live. While living in close proximity their attraction to each other is undeniable. They are better together but can they move beyond their past hurts? 

I loved this book, this is such a great series so far! Annie Rains has created an idyllic small town of Somerset Lake and with each book we get to know the town and their residents better. The main characters in this book, Lucy and Miles, both had great chemistry and growth throughout the book. I love watching their relationship heal and develop. They also both have a great group of friends, which we originally saw in the first book. It's fun getting little updates on them all. 

The setting of this book takes place over the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving and ending at New Years. The traditions from invites to Mile's mothers house to The Villages Christmas decoration contest were a great aspect for this romance to be set against. And Lucy? I never share my chocolate either. 




























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