The Scrooge of Loon Lake
by Carrie Nichols
Small-Town Sweethearts - Book 4
Publisher: Harlequin Special Edition
Release Date: November 1, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…
…with the grumpiest man in town!
The love of his life left him. The navy discharged him. So former lieutenant Des Gallagher sees no reason to celebrate Christmas—now or ever.
Yet when Natalie Pierce shows up on his doorstep, a bright light enters his gloomy existence. As Des shapes her—and her little son’s—world for the better, she wonders if a scrooge could turn into the perfect Santa…
My thoughts:
Carrie Nichols never fails to touch my heart with her small-town romances and The Scrooge of Loon Lake is no exception. Both Natalie and Des have some serious emotional wounds but how they respond to them is totally different. Des chooses to hide away on his farm, interacting with the residents of Loon Lake as little as possible and ignoring the approaching holiday. Natalie, on the other hand, embodies the spirit of Christmas with her generosity, kindness, and community involvement. Not to mention the delicious plates of cookies she keeps delivering to Des as she tries to gain his cooperation for a charity auction. They may be total opposites but they are oh, so good together!
Nichols writes wonderful banter between Des and Natalie as she gradually, and skillfully, guides them into friendship and love. Natalie's young son is a heart-stealer. Nichols shows great sensitivity - and realism - in creating this young character who has lost his ability to speak following an accident three years earlier that killed his father and left Sam with a traumatic brain injury. I love the relationship that forms between Sam and Des almost as much as the one between Des and Natalie. But I really love the three of them together. I laughed, sighed, and also shed a few tears as I caught up with previous Loon Lake couples while gathering this newly formed family into my heart.
If you're looking for a quick, sweet, holiday romance with well-placed humor, a satisfying depth of emotion, and a tear-inducing happily ever after, give The Scrooge of Loon Lake a try.
good review. That is the one thing i like about HQN stories. It is a wonderful, quick read. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI have never read this author; sounds like a good quick read.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! New author and will add to my list of Christmas books to read.
ReplyDeleteThis one will also make it on my Christmas list. It may not be the same Loon Lake, but there is one near where I grew up in the Adirondacks. There are many good memories of there. Whether or not it is the same locale, this book has all I look for in an enjoyable story.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this review. You have made me realize I would like this author as well as her stories. A child who needs love is a real selling point for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review and the recommendation PJ.
ReplyDelete