This is a fantastic Christmas novella! I was hooked on the story right from the beginning! And, the cover is fabulous!!

I liked Starr right away. She's jobless, single, and she doesn't want her family to be privy to those details. Waylon is hunkalicious! First, he owns a Christmas store, yes! Second, he's all around likable guy!

I liked the love story very much! It was cute and romantic! ( )

Fans of the Hallmark Christmas movies will enjoy You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh as Starr and Waylon fall for each other.

Despite Starr and Waylon already knowing each other, the romance felt a bit rushed for me. We didn’t get very much of how much they knew each other/what they really thought of each other in their younger years. But I see how some of those developmental things had to get cut in a novella as opposed to a book.

I also got a little annoyed both with how Starr kept herself from her family and how her family (specifically her sister) treated her. It was satisfying that they all saw the true character of the person you might classify as the villain in this story. Yes, I know that’s a bit vague but I’m not giving the plot away. That would be like me telling you what your Christmas presents are two days before Christmas!

Overall, this is a quick read centered around faith and family that you can escape into for an hour or two.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Bring Out the Holly!

Starr is returning home to her family in Washington, D.C., for the holidays. She isn't telling them she doesn't have a job.

While there, she must face the wedding of her sister to her former boyfriend. Her ex dropped her as soon as she introduced him to her sister. The two of them went out on their first date on the same day he broke up with Starr. Now they are getting married on Christmas Eve, and her sister expects Starr to be in it!

After Starr gets home, she starts spending time with Waylon, the long-time friend of her brother. Earlier that year, Waylon's mother passed away, and he is running the shop she left him. Starr volunteers to give him some pointers about his store, and since implementing them, his shop is back in the black money-wise.

During their time together, Starr and Waylon discover they want to be more than friends. However, Starr is planning to return to New York City, hopefully, with a new job. A long-distance relationship is not something either one of them wants.

But things might change after Waylon has a chance to sell his mom's business. Would he take a chance on the two of them, and move where Starr lives? Does Starr want to change careers and focus on the one thing she has wanted to do for years?

This book has lots of twists that make the tale exciting, and keep the pages turning. The characters make you really like some and detest others. It is a fun story, made even better since it is set during Christmas, and includes festive things to do in the capital. Faith is important in the character's lives, and adds another dimension to this clean story. This five-star book will appeal to fans of romances, Christmastime stories, or well-written tales.

Thank you, Bethany House, for providing Tickmenot with a book to review. Opinions are my own. ( )

Starr is the baby of the overachieving Lewis family. She has always felt on the outside and not quite good enough. Coming home for Thanksgiving without a job just adds to her feelings of inadequacy. In You Make It Feel Like Christmas, Toni Shiloh sets the stage for personal growth, new perspectives, and reconciliation. It definitely will check all the holiday romance boxes and includes a firm faith foundation and family dynamic insights. I loved the Lewis family, warts and all, and was pleased with how the relationships evolved. Starr and Waylon are the perfect romantic duo — I cheered them on as they faced obstacles and doubts with prayer and consideration for each other. As it was a novella length book, YMIFLC was a quick read for me — perfect for the busy season. The light style, serious Christmas-y vibes, and a sweet story make this one a recommended read.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I purchased this book from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

When Starr Lewis returns home to Washington D.C. for Christmas, she brings along a load of anxiety. Starr is looking for a new job after being released from her previous employment. She also will be serving as an attendant in her sister's wedding, who by the way is engaged to Starr's previous boyfriend. During her stay with her family, Starr becomes reacquainted with her childhood friend Waylon, and sparks begin to fly. The Christmas season is a perfect time for mending disagreements and rediscovering the important things in life.

This is a truly enjoyable and sweet holiday read, as readers follow Starr and Waylon on their journey to romance. The Christian message is very clear, and the novel includes both likeable and unlikable characters who experience growth and renewal! This is the first novel by this author that I have read, but I plan to read others written by her.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )