We Need a Little Christmas

Evergreen Lane Novels #2

Mass Market Paperback, ebook

September 27, 2016

by Sierra Donovan

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Zebra
• ISBN-13: 978-1420141504

The best Christmas present? The unexpected romance that brings two former classmates together for a lesson in holiday magic. . .

With its festive Snowed Inn and year-round Christmas store, the pretty town of Tall Pine knows how to do the holidays right. But this year, Liv Tomblyn's homecoming trip may be bittersweet. Liv's grandmother died soon after Thanksgiving, leaving a lifetime of belongings to sort through. Soon Liv is surrounded by memories, including a retro silver Christmas tree. And there's Liv's old friend Scott Leroux--the one-time class clown who's become the town's go-to handyman.

Scott enjoyed helping Liv's Nammy with little fix-it jobs in recent years, but now he's wondering if the crafty grandma had a much larger project in mind. Everything--from Nammy's mysteriously malfunctioning heater to that silver tree--seems to be conspiring to throw Liv and Scott together. Not that Scott objects. For though Liv insists she'll leave Tall Pine when the holidays are over, he's hoping their holiday kisses might thaw her resolve and make this Christmas truly unforgettable. . .

My thoughts:  WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS is not a Christian Romance, but it does start with a funeral and has a few mentions of a Christian song (Leaning on the Everlasting Arms) and a pastor who makes a mention or two of God. 

Liv is a very take charge individual, organized, and in control. She hates falling apart at her grandma's funeral and is crushed she hasn't taken time to visit her family in four years.  Her sister is pregnant, but feeling insecure and unneeded since Liv is taking charge and bossing her, and her mom is healing from a fall where she broke her ankle.  With the funeral and cleaning out of grandma's house, there's a lot of taking charge to do and organizational skills needed. 

Scott is a handyman and seems to be a daily call for Liv's family  as the house seems to think it needs to keep Liv and Scott thrown together. A new furnace that won't work...when you want it to, but will come on when it's off,  a trap door that closes without warning, and more. 

I like Ms. Donovan's books usually, but this one felt a bit slow and draggy.  The usual sparks are missing, and characters I liked in her previous book act a bit like jerks in this one. 

I did hurt for Liv. Scott seems like a fun type guy but he didn't move beyond that for me. 

If you like Christmas books that are not Christian, then WE NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS might be a good one to consider.   

I bought a copy of this book, but not from amazon. I won't show up as a verified buyer there. I was not obligated to write a review, and all opinions are my own.