Book picks similar to
A Nutcracker Christmas by Laurie Winter


sweet
blog-reviewed
contemporary
contemporary-romance

A Summer Sentence


Carolynn Carey - 2005
    From the moment they meet, something sparkles in each of them.Unfortunately, Daniel's roots are firmly entrenched in rural McCray County and the last thing he needs is to feel an overwhelming attraction for a city girl who's just passing through. But for some reason, every time they meet the attraction grows.Much to Megan's surprise, she revels in the joys of small town society, but she can't forget her vow to become an inner city teacher. She wants to teach the underprivileged. However, the more she learns about McCray County and Daniel, the more she believes her future lies there.Can the rural sheriff and the city socialite learn to accept love even when their dreams keep pushing them apart?

In Love by Christmas


Alexa Verde - 2018
    Let a book trip to Rios Azules, a small town in south Texas with quirky residents and caring community, bring you joy and put a smile on your face! Join three unlikely couples as they let God work miracles in their lives and find love, hope, and future together. Book 1 Season of Miracles  New Beginning or New Heartache?Nurse Lana Smith gives herself a gift for Christmas, a fresh start in a small town. After escaping a dead-end relationship with a celebrity, she avoids her patient's grandson, a pro football player. When Arturo gradually thaws her frozen heart, can her Christmas wish for family and affection come true?Football is Arturo De La Vega's life, but he returns to his hometown to help his ailing grandfather. Lana challenges Arturo to reach for stars of faith and love. Is Arturo's quest for glory worth crushing Lana's dreams and sacrificing his heart's true desire?Book 2 Season of JoySecond Chance or Second Heartbreak?Single dad Dylan McGregor wants to give his two sons the best life possible in the small town where he'd grown up. When his youngest son writes a letter to God asking for a Mom for Christmas, Dylan reluctantly starts dating again. His lifelong friend, Joy Avila, agrees to help him find the right woman. Then Dylan begins to see Joy in a new light and believes she's the right woman for him and his family.Overweight and teased in school, Joy never hoped her first crush, Dylan McGregor, would return her feelings. Confident and successful now, she's found her passion in writing about international travels. The trip of a lifetime awaits her after the holidays. Instead, will she find her dreams right there in Rios Azules?Book 3 Season of HopeKelly Young wants to heal after losing her husband and to raise her little girl the best she can in her hometown. But her new neighbor, former wide receiver Brandon Carmichael, seems to intend to demolish his fixer-upper and her hopes for peace and quiet. When he helps her to repair her home, keeps her flower shop business afloat, and makes her hope and love again, could it be that Brandon is exactly what she needs?After a forced retirement, Brandon Carmichael is angry and lost, one step away from the familiar path of self-destruction. Moving to a small town at his friend's suggestion, Brandon surprises himself by getting involved in its community and starting to fall for his pretty neighbor, single mom Kelly Young. But when his past collides with his present, can he forgive, love, and live fully again?These books were previously published as solos.

Their Christmas Miracle


Misty Shae - 2017
    He never thought he’d find love again after the death of his wife and son. Natalie Porter and her son, Tommy are traveling to Chicago so that she can give birth to a child that she can’t keep. When Tommy goes missing on the train, Natalie and Ken cross paths in the search to find her son, but end up finding so much more in each other. When Natalie is forced to get off the train after going in labor, Kenneth decides to go with her, offering her a whole new life if she’ll only let him. Will Natalie accept his offer to be her husband and adopt the baby she so desperately wants to keep? Could the love that bloomed between them in such a short amount of time, be real?

A Christmas Wedding at the Castle (Life on the Moors, #5)


Eliza J. Scott - 2020
    If they’d gone on to say they’d be planning to have their wedding at the imposing Danskelfe Castle, she’d have laughed even louder!But it would seem fate had plans for her…Since moving to the pretty moorland village of Lytell Stangdale Livvie is happier than she’s ever been. She’s living with Zander and she’s working at her dream job as a wedding dress designer at Romantique with her friends, Kitty and Violet. It’s fair to say, she’s enjoying immersing herself in village life, from romantic walks in the countryside, to meeting friends at the quaint Sunne Inne. And she can’t think of anything better than rounding off the day cosying up with Zander.Life is sweet.Her blossoming friendship with Freda Easton, the endearing but reclusive elderly lady who lives down the lane, has taken everyone by surprise. But Freda has a secret and, in a turn of events no one could predict, she finds herself grateful for Livvie’s fierce loyalty, cementing their friendship further.Just when things seem to be running smoothly, a face from the past arrives on the doorstep casting a shadow over Livvie’s wedding plans. Adding to the drama, an icy blast of Arctic air brings heavy snowfall to the village, covering the moors in a thick blanket of snow.Is their love strong enough to withstand the challenges thrown at them? Will they get their magical Christmas wedding?Join Livvie and Zander – and all the usual characters – for a sparkling Christmas full of love and laughter in Lytell Stangdale.

The Carpenter's Daughter


Jennifer Rodewald - 2016
    Abandoned by her mother as a baby, she's lived 21 years content to drive nails at her dad's side. Following her father into the world of construction was a natural path, and she took it without a second thought, but a harsh comment about her "butch" appearance sends her on a search for identity. Enter handsome and easy-going Jesse Chapman, the roofer she meets on her first foray into volunteer work for Homes For Hope. In every way, the quirky man is her opposite-confident, a people kind of guy, and most importantly, happy. His likable qualities continue to draw her in-and for some reason he keeps coming back to her. But they can't be more than friends; he's made that crystal clear. Except for a handful of times... and the confusion is driving her crazy. Sarah's quest for self-definition becomes more tangled than she ever imagined, and she discovers that the journey will take her deeper than clothes and makeup. Filling the void in her heart becomes an obsession she cannot escape. How far is she willing to go to discover who she really is?

The Sparks Brothers Romance Collection


Liwen Y. Ho - 2020
    Five full-length novels in one wonderful collection. Why reviewers love the Spark brothers:“These Spark brothers sure do set a girl's heart on fire.”“I absolutely LOVE this series. This is an awesome family of five brothers all who have a strong faith.”“I know I enjoy books when they feel real and after this series, I wish the Spark brothers were real. Thank you, Liwen Y. Ho, for writing stories to remind me that God wastes nothing and is always at work. Now please excuse me while I go reread the series.”A Single Spark (Book One): A pop singer running from his past. A deejay who's given up on men. Will the sparks igniting between them end up in flames or romance?A Sudden Spark (Book Two): A writer too shy to speak to women. A single mom who’s sworn off men. Will a marriage of convenience end their friendship or spark a lasting romance? The Sweetest Spark (Book Three): A fun-loving ice cream shop owner looking for more than a fling. A straight-laced food critic too scared for love. Will an accident be the spark that drives them apart for good or gives them their sweetest taste of romance yet?At First Spark (Book Four): A tender-hearted firefighter who’s been burned by love. An optimistic bookstore owner determined to heal his heart. Will the spark that drew them to each other be enough to keep their love burning or will their short-lived romance go down in flames?An Extra Spark (Book Five): An actor pressured to risk everything for his job. An actress struggling to fit into the Hollywood scene. Will the hazards of show business spark new insecurities or strengthen their bond of trust?Grab your copy and fall in love with the Spark brothers today!

Smooches


Susan Renee - 2021
    You know, the kind that are made with pictures ripped from magazines with special notes about your life goals or biggest wishes. (Mine of course, is covered in glitter!) As a single mom, it’s hard to put my dreams and goals first, but I made my list. 1. Finally finish my degree 2. Learn how to cook new recipes. 3. Travel outside of Washington state. 4. Buy myself something that makes me feel desirable. 5. Find real, honest-to-goodness-rip-your-heart-out-and-hand-it-to-someone-love. The realist in me knows that last one is a bit far-fetched, but when an old college friend shows up in my driveway offering me something I can’t refuse, my mind starts wondering if maybe that last goal could be attainable after all.He’s kind, compassionate, strong, helpful, and attractive. All positive attributes of a great man. There’s just one problem. He’s my Ex’s best friend.

Lawfully Blessed (Christmas Lawkeeper Romance)


Evangeline Kelly - 2018
    She’s a lonely widow with a son. Will their relationship move beyond friendship this Christmas season? After graduation, Melody Clarke said goodbye to her high school crush, Grant Brooks, believing she would never see him again. She was moving to the east coast for college, and he planned to remain in Hillcrest, California, to pursue his dream of becoming a police officer. Ten years later, Melody returned to Hillcrest to raise her son after her husband died. She didn’t count on seeing Grant again, thinking he’d probably moved out of town by now. When Grant pulled Melody over for a safety violation, he asked her to join him for coffee. Melody had always kept them firmly in the friendzone, but after being reacquainted again, she was ready to reconsider. Meanwhile, a thief was loose in their hometown, and when Melody’s home was broken into, Grant determined to bring the thief to justice. No one stole presents from children and got away with it as long as Grant Brooks was around. If catching a thief was difficult, convincing Melody that they were destined to be more than friends might be even harder. Or maybe it wasn’t so hard after all.

THE PATTELS 2: LORENZO & CEECEE (Conclusion)


S.K. Hardy - 2020
    

A Summer Nanny in Fairbanks & The River Home


Renee Hart - 2017
     Third-grade teacher, Mandy Hastings, is almost certain that her boyfriend is about ready to pop the question. When he drops a bomb instead, Mandy wants to get as far away from her disappointment as possible. On a whim, she applies for a summer job as a nanny. Darren is raising his daughter Katie alone, except for the help of his housekeeper who has a family emergency in another state. Since Darren's job on the North Slope keeps him away from home for days at a time, there's no other solution except to send Katie to the lower 48 for the summer. Katie desperately wants to stay in Fairbanks with her father, so she takes matters into her own hands. She can only hope that the new nanny will meet with her father's approval. Also included is a new sequel to this story, The River Home, and an excerpt of Homer: End Of The Road, book three in the Alaska Adventure Romance series. These are clean contemporary romance adventure stories with HEA endings and no cliffhanger.

Irresistible in Idaho (At the Altar #15.5)


Keira K. Barton - 2018
    After meeting Dr. Lachele, Taryn decides to turn over her search for a husband to the capable matchmaker. The day of the wedding, Taryn sneaks a peek of her groom and sees something that brings her painful past to the front of her mind. Army soldier Andrew Dawson is used to being the hero, but he never expected that his mom would end up with something he can’t save her from—breast cancer. He chooses to move back to Grace Lake, Idaho—the town he’s been running away from for the past eight years—to care for her. He soon realizes there will be no time to date—if there was anyone to date—and he isn’t confident in his ability to care for his mom alone. At the recommendation of his Aunt Eileen, he decides to give Dr. Lachele Simpson’s Matchrimony service a try. Can he trust that Dr. Lachele has picked the right woman for him? Or will he regret his choice to meet his wife at the altar? www.keirakbarton.com

The Snow Globe


Sheila Roberts - 2010
    "There's a story behind that snow globe," the antique dealer tells her. The original owner, he explains, was a German toymaker who lost his wife and son right before Christmas. When the grieving widower received the handcrafted snow globe as a Christmas gift, he saw the image of a beautiful woman beneath the glass—a woman who would come into his life, mend his broken heart and bring him back to the world of the living. For years, the snow globe has passed from generation to generation, somehow always landing in the hands of a person in special need of a Christmas miracle.Kiley could use a miracle herself. This year, all she wants for Christmas is someone to love. A hopeful shake leads her on an adventure that makes a believer out of her. When Kylie shares the story of the snow globe with her best friends—two women with problems of their own—they don't believe it. But they're about to discover that at Christmastime, sometimes the impossible becomes possible and miracles really do come true.

Sleigh Bells Ring


Jessica James - 2020
    This clean, wholesome romance will take you back to bygone days when holiday traditions were deeply rooted institutions, and when love could heal all wounds. Returning to her family’s Montana ranch after a ten-year absence, Jordyn Dunaway pitches in to help her Mother create the special holiday magic for which the family ranch is renowned. But when she discovers that her best friend growing up—the man she has never forgotten—is employed as a ranch hand, the holiday season turns into something she never imagined.Chad Devlin was falling into a deep abyss after leaving the military as a result of a traumatic brain injury. When his old employer invited him back as a ranch hand he found himself recovering both physically and mentally...that is until he was blindsided by the return of the ranch owner’s daughter after a ten-year absence.The rocky relationship of the former best friends takes a back seat as the future of the family-owned ranch becomes threatened. If Jordyn and Chad don’t put their painful pasts behind them, they might lose the ranch they both call home. Can misunderstandings, mistrust, and lost years be forgotten when the magic of Christmas is in the air?Find out with the help of beautiful vistas, Western hospitality, and the magical meaning of a special sleigh bell that ties both Jordyn and Chad to the past—and the future.If you love Debbie Macomber, Shanna Hatfield, RaeAnne Thayne, Susan Mallery, or Sheila Roberts, you’ll love Sleigh Bells Ring by award-winning Jessica James.

A Christmas Home


Marta Perry - 2019
    Her new job with neighbor Noah Raber's furniture business seems promising—until she and the woodworker clash over everything from the best way to reach new costumers to how to raise his mischievous six-year-old twin boys.Though Sarah longs for a home of her own, she fights the appeal of this ready-made family, resolved to maintain a professional distance. But when she and Noah both agree to help with the school's annual Christmas program, Sarah finds her heart touched by the motherless boys and Noah's quiet strength. Thrown together at work and at the school, their feelings continue to grow, and Sarah struggles to keep Noah at arms' length. Loving Noah may seem impossible, but with faith, love, and a little help from their close-knit community, there may yet be a Christmas home for them both.

What Happens in the Alps...


T.A. Williams - 2016
    So she’s hoping that moving to the beautiful village of Santorso in the Italian Alps will finally put her life back on track!…ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!She might be going into business with her oldest friend – notorious lady-charmer Matt Brown – but men are definitely out of the question for Annie! That is, until she bumps into tall, dark and delicious Alessandro Lago on the ski slopes…and spontaneously says ‘Yes’ to a date!It must be the crisp, mountain air but suddenly, anything seems possible. The only trouble is, chivalrous Matt is looking more gorgeous than ever…