Sandra Hill

The Christmas bells are chiming across the Outer Banks town of Bell Cove, North Carolina, but there’s one local ‘grinch’ who’s not listening . . . He’s got bad-boy looks and a Bah Humbug attitude, so when the local paper asks the villagers to vote on the “Biggest Local Grinch” as a fund-raising project, Ethan Rutledge isn’t surprised to hear he’s made the ballot. He might own the local Christmas Tree Farm, but the holiday hasn’t been welcome in his home since Wendy Patterson left him heart-broken twelve years ago. But now Wendy’s back, fresh from a tour of duty as a female Navy SEAL. She’s bold, beautiful, and has five Navy buddies trailing after her—as if she needs a bodyguard! And what’s all this about them wanting to start a treasure hunting company right here in Bell Cove’s failing bell factory? Then Wendy learns about how Ethan’s been nurturing the one thing he has to remember her by: a gorgeous Norway Spruce tree. Can the magic of Christmas and the spirit of the town help rekindle the romance between two people who thought they’d left love behind years ago?

A Bell Sound Novel

The Forever Christmas Tree

Nathalie Wong

Sandra Hill's first novel to the series Bell Sound is entitled 'The Forever Christmas Tree'. A contemporary romance novel set in a small town.

Characters

Ethan Rutledge is the owner of a local Christmas farm, widower and single father of a young girl. He is a bit of a grinch which is why someone has nominated him in the competition.

Wendy Patterson is a Navy SEAL and is going back to her hometown for Christmas. She is caring, friendly and smart.

Romance

Once childhood friends then lovers, they broke up in their teens when all Ethan and Wendy thought they would spend their whole lives together. After several years apart, they get one more chance at love.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. Most of the emotions I felt while reading this book were happy and sentimental. The main characters are multi-layered. You get to understand both points of view which I think was critical in this particular book because it is both Ethan and Wendy's second chance at love with one another. Without a doubt, there is still chemistry between them.

The secondary characters were also an interesting read. From Cassie, Ethan's daughter, to Wendy's SEAL teammates and Aunt Mildred. All of them have a great bond and there was never a dull moment.

Whether you are a fan of Sandra Hill or not, I believe readers will enjoy this book. Those who love contemporary romance in which the main characters have a second chance at love then this is for you.

For more of my reviews, please visit my blog at https://ilovereading2016.wordpress.com

Candyce Kirk

I have really come to love Christmas romances the last couple of years, so I was really excited for this one. Wendy is going home to Bell Cove for the first time in twelve years, but is nervous about it. Things happened many years ago with a special someone and she's not sure how to handle that yet, even though she thinks he will be living somewhere else living his happily ever after.

Ethan's life turned out different than planned, but it gave him Cassie, that is something he would never change. His dreams did change though. Instead of becoming a veternarian he ended up taking over his father's company and enjoys it more than expected.

The wonderful thing about The Forever Christmas Tree is that it takes place in a small town that makes you feel right at home. Wendy's aunt has let people stay in their big house and by doing this created a nice community of her own. It's a small town so everyone knows everyone.

I loved the touch with the Grinch contest. That's one of my Christmas favorites. And all for charity right. The whole journey can be followed in the book and I loved all the characters we meet in this town, including Wendy's friends and colleagues.

The Forever Christmas Tree is not only told through Wendy and Ethan, but also her Aunt and even a chapter from Ethan's little girl. I loved that the author did this. It gave me a cozy feeling and it was nice that the romance wasn't the most important part of the book. The factory needed to be saved. Just like the romance, this wasn't the most important part, but we did see it solved.

Don't worry though, there is definitely romance. It's clear that Wendy and Ethan were meant to be and may even still be. I loved reading about their past, but them also dealing with each other again. But can it work out with Wendy leaving after the holidays?

The Forever Christmas Tree is also different in the sense that Wendy was the one who was a soldier and not Ethan. Women can be just as strong and Wendy definitely proves that. This book is filled with a lot of lovable characters who get into your heart and Bell Cove becomes a place you want to live.

I only gave this book four stars, because even though I got all the feelings I need from a Christmas romance, the happily ever after wasn't necessarily the Christmas one I want in a book like this. All in all, a Christmas romance that left me feeling warm and happy. I will definitely read the next books in this series!

b.andherbooks

Wendy left her small North Carolina Outer Banks island home twelve years ago because the love of her young life, her forever love, cheated on her and got another girl pregnant. He ruined their plans and she wanted nothing but to get away.

Now a Navy SEAL, Wendy is finally returning home to visit her beloved Aunt for Christmas. She's coming home with backup, all of her Navy SEAL teammates, and is determined she'll not let Ethan knock her back.

But Ethan is now a widower, and he's still feeling it for Wendy, even though he's made at her for leaving all those years ago and never telling him where she went. Despite his anger, despite marrying and never really loving his now dead wife, Ethan kept nurturing the Christmas tree they planted all the years ago, the tree they were supposed to cut for their first Christmas as a married couple. And when he sees Wendy, battle scarred, but beautiful, he wants her back.

Ah, if only this was the story, if it was that simple. But this book tries to be all things. There's a gigantic cast of secondary slap-stick characters, including at least seven who live with Wendy's aunt, the entire SEAL team, some of whom are thinking of becoming modern day treasure hunters??, obvious set up for further books in the series, and so much more. Plus a Grinch contest, massive amounts of description of the small town, the bell factory, the architexture of the various homes, and so much more. I felt so bogged down in telling and description I had no time to buy Wendy and Ethan's rekindled romance.

I loved Wendy, I loved that she was a Navy SEAL. I hated that there is an apparently completely separate group for "female" Navy SEALs called "WEALs." Why? SEAL is a non-gendered acronym. 

I loathed Ethan. There is never a real explanation besides "Wendy was away for a bit and he was jealous" so he had a drunk one night stand with a girl who ended up pregnant. Um, how long did it take Ethan to confess his error? You don't catch pregnant immediately, so um, no. Ethan never explained his actions to Wendy, and I never felt his anger at Wendy was justified in any way. He's totally free with letting his young daughter know he never loved her mother, whom he married, as much as he loved Wendy. He never really groveled enough for my satisfaction.

So, alas, this was not really for me, despite the great premise and the awesome Wendy.

Thank you for the ARC Avon!

The Forever Christmas Tree A Bell Sound Novel

Reviews