Review – Season of Joy by Annie Rains

Hi everyone! I hope each of you is well and appreciating the beauty of the holiday season. If you’re looking for a sweet romance set at Christmas about finding love after loss, look no further. Annie Rains brings us a book that captures the Christmas spirit perfectly.

Single father Granger Fields lives and works on his family’s Merry Mountain tree farm with his two young daughters. His parents live in a separate home on the property and have helped provide child care to his children in addition to an after school nanny who has suddenly retired. Granger’s wife left the family seven years ago and he’s learned to move on with his life. That is, until his sudden need for after school care.

Joy Benson is a struggling artist with a dream to open her own shop. She enjoys teaching classes in the community, and has made a living selling some of her art work. When Granger approaches her about providing after school care for his daughters, she declines noting that she is no longer a nanny and only wishes to pursue her art. After some reconsideration and an examination of her current financial status, she creatively suggests that she could provide private art classes to the girls after school. She wouldn’t mind seeing Granger more often, and could use the money to help lease a shop she has her eye on in town which would be perfect for her art classes and studio.

Although both Granger and Joy have been hurt by their previous relationships, over time the friendship blossoms into romance and the two learn to trust again. But it wouldn’t be a romance novel without some turmoil. In this case, it’s Granger’s estranged wife who suddenly returns unannounced. Will this change everything between Granger and Joy?

I enjoyed this cozy Christmas story. It is full of good will, a caring community with likeable characters, and family love. The story was easy to read and engaging. I appreciated the level of character development of the protagonists, and loved the resilience of the characters despite obstacles that needed to be overcome. This is the perfect holiday book to read curled up with a blanket or next to a fire with a cup of hot chocolate or cider.

Thanks to Forever/Grand Central Publishing for this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

My rating: ? ? ? ?/5.