Christmas From the Heart by Sheila Roberts: Review

I’ve been reading a lot of Christmas books this year. It seems like publishers are getting them out a little bit early. But since I love Christmas time, it’s always a pleasure to read and review books early.

Here are my thoughts for a story that’s coming out next week.

Christmas From the Heart by Sheila Roberts
Publisher: MIRA; Original edition (September 24, 2019)
ISBN-13: 978-0778309611

ABOUT:

Sometimes you need to look beyond the big picture to see what really matters

Olivia Berg’s charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families in need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of their biggest donors since way back when Olivia’s grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he’s declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart.

Guy is simply being practical. Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, and when you don’t have money to spare, you don’t have money to share. You’d think even the pushy Olivia Berg could understand that.

With charitable donations dwindling, Olivia’s Christmas budget depends on Hightower’s contribution. She’s focused her whole life on helping this small town, even putting her love life on hold to support her mission.

When Guy’s Maserati breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he’s relieved to be rescued by a pretty young woman who drives him to the nearby town of Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is none other than Olivia Berg. What’s a Scrooge to do? Plug his nose and eat fruitcake and hope she doesn’t learn his true identity before he can get out of town. What could go wrong?

Christmas From the Heart by Sheila Roberts Review

I really enjoyed the premise of the story. Holiday time is the perfect time to give to others and that’s what this book is all about.

However, things didn’t quite go so well for me with the story. I really did not connect well with the female lead, Olivia. She was rude and abrupt and acted as if she was owed something just because she ran a nonprofit. While that is a big part of the story, just the way it came off to me was not pleasing.

I also had a little difficulty actually connecting with the romance. While she was being short and abrupt, he was supposedly finding her cute and adorable. It just didn’t work for me and I really felt no connection between the two of them. Plus, Guy let the lie go on way too long.

The story itself has a lot of potential. It offers a unique solid classic romance that gives us a glimpse of a typical small town in the US which I enjoyed. Many of the supporting characters were nicely developed and added a lot of interest.

Christmas From the Heart is a good story but I really wanted more connection in the character and romance department to seal the deal for me.

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.