4.5 Wine Glass #Review of Christmas In Evergreen by Nancy Naigle

Title: Christmas in Evergreen
Author: Nancy Naigle
Format: Kindle Edition, 189 pages
Published: July 10th 2018 by Hallmark Publishing
ISBN: ASIN B07DLJBDRZ
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Reviewer: Linda
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 Wine Glasses

A snowy small town.

A snow globe that grants wishes.

A love that’s meant to be.

Evergreen, Vermont is about to be in the rearview mirror of Allie Shaw’s vintage red pickup truck. It’s hard to say goodbye to her small town and her veterinarian practice, but she’s moving to Washington D.C., where her big-city-loving boyfriend lives.

Ever since Ryan Bellamy’s wife died, he hardly knows how to celebrate Christmas. He’s decided to take his daughter Zoe to Florida, and Evergreen is just a quick stop on the way to the airport. While they’re there, Zoe partakes in a local tradition, making a Christmas wish on the snow globe at the town diner.

But neither Allie’s nor Ryan’s Christmas goes as planned. They’ve checked their wish lists twice, and they didn’t say anything about meeting someone new…or about a fresh chance at love.

This magical, feel-good romance includes a free Hallmark recipe for Vermont Christmas Card Cookies. 

Linda's Thoughts:
In Northern Vermont – so far north that on clear days you might be able to see the North Pole – lies the magical town of Evergreen….

Nancy Naigle’s Christmas in Evergreen is the perfect embodiment of a fun, contemporary, sweet and clean Christmas romance. It’s just what I needed to read on a hot evening after a stressful day! It was written after the filming of the Hallmark movie with the same name, so fans of the heart-warming big-screen version can revisit the wonderful wish-I-were-there feeling whenever they want. I quickly fell in love with the setting: the cozy, quaint and friendly small town of Evergreen where they follow their own Evergreen Code of Christmas Conduct and its Christmas year-round.

As the story opens, we meet Allie, the small-town’s veterinarian, who is closing her practice to move to Washington, D.C. Her beloved grandfather had always told her that there was a big world out there. She took that to mean that he thought that she needed to leave Evergreen to find where she belongs. Allie doesn’t know anyone in Washington other than Spencer, a long-distance boyfriend who has pressured her to give their relationship a chance – by moving to be near him, leaving her home and family.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ryan Bellamy and his daughter, Zoe, are on their way to Florida to spend Christmas on a cruise. Ryan believes that he and Zoe need to completely change how they have previously celebrated the holiday so the two of them create fresh memories and neither are reminded of the sad loss of his wife and Zoe’s mother last Christmas.

On the way to the airport, the two stop in Evergreen, eat at Chris Kringle Kitchen, the local diner run by Allie’s parents, and meet Allie. A very special snow globe resides in the diner. Before the Bellamys continue on their way, Zoe and Ally each give the snow globe a shake and make a wish. What did they wish for? Does the snow globe possess special powers and, if so, will it contrive to make Zoe’s and Ally’s wishes come true?

I felt completely at home with the colorful chorus of supporting characters in Evergreen, including Ezra, the town’s mayor, who means well in an extremely annoying way; Nick, who bears a strong resemblance to Santa and appears at the most opportune times; and a cow, who is determined to give birth even though she’s not yet due.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as Allie’s truck, which she inherited from her grandpa, was in on the conspiracy to keep Ally and the Bellamys close. It was quite finicky and only cooperated when it served to further the relationship of Ryan and Allie.

Following please find a few of my favorite lines from Christmas in Evergreen:

“My grandpa used to say, ‘the heart knows what it wants even when the head doesn’t.’”
--- 

She tossed. Turned. Tried to count sheep; in her head, she began examining and vaccinating them, which wasn’t helpful when trying to fall back asleep.
--- 

“We’re not resuscitating a snowman, are we?”
“Real funny, Doc.” She gave him a playful sideways glance.
“Good, because I’m pretty sure defibrillators and melted snow are not a good mix.”

Christmas in Evergreen is a charming piece of Christmas enchantment with loads of laugh-out-loud moments. I’ve not seen the movie, but, I certainly need to after reading this book! Nancy’s writing is sublime. I honestly can’t imagine anyone else being chosen to write this book. LOL! I had meant to just read the introduction before bed and ended up inhaling the entire book as I couldn’t put it down. When you add in the snow and all the Christmas preparations from the making of the sugar cookies; to selecting the trees; and the plethora of holiday décor, and this delightful tale fulfilled all my dreams of a classic holiday read. By the way, this book comes with a recipe for some special Christmas cookies.