#1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels gifts readers with a special holiday novel that encapsulates the best of the holiday season: a heartwarming homecoming, a bucolic setting, the remembrance of loved ones past and present, and the discovery of a future that, like the perfect gift, is as satisfying as it is surprising. Joy Preston misses her beloved late grandmother dearly. But when she learns the terms of Nana’s will, she’s shocked—and more than a little irked. Joy moved to Colorado years ago and is now CEO of a successful nail polish company. Her life is in Denver. How can Nana have expected her to give that up, even temporarily, to take over a bed and breakfast in North Carolina for six months? Still, there’s no denying Heart and Soul’s charm, especially at holiday time . . . The B&B is always elaborately decorated for the season, with themed guest rooms and dazzling lawn displays created for the annual Parade of Homes competition. The entire town takes part in the festivities, and soon, Joy is too, letting her reservations melt away. Yet there’s another reason for Heart and Soul’s popularity . . . Rumor has it that, during the holidays, guests can be reunited with the spirit of a loved one who’s passed on. Joy is skeptical, yet she feels her Nana’s influence all around her—perhaps even indulging in a little matchmaking between Joy and a handsome estate attorney who just might inspire a magical new beginning . . . Praise for Holly and Ivy “Bestselling Michaels’ bittersweet Christmas story offers the promise of a better tomorrow.” —Booklist “The storyline is an emotional rollercoaster, so keep a tissue box nearby . . . A great read.”—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
Reviews with the most likes.
I tried so hard to like this story but it fell so flat and I absolutely detested the whiny main character. I give this book 2 stars.
We find Joy who is running her own successful nail polish business thrown back to her home town of Spruce City after the sudden and unexpected death of her Nana. Her Nana runs the Hart and Soul B&B one of five in this small town and now Joy is thrust into the owner and manager of said B&B. She arrives right before Thanksgiving and is reunited with her mother and the every present and nosy Izzy who runs the B&B with Nana.
As is usual with this type of story Joy decides to make major changes in her life after meeting Will Drake the lawyer for Nana's estate. I really really tried to get over the bratty behavior of Joy but I just could not. I know her character meant well but all the fussing and whining about how she now has to run another successful company was just too much. The story was predictable and really lacked substance.
I truly would have given this book one star but I love Christmas and the idea of a small town so I gave one extra star for setting.
