Della Rose desperately needs a Christmas miracle to make it back home in time for her sons’ holiday concert. It’s just that the single mom never imagined Santa would arrive in the form of her plane’s seatmate, the grumpy, gorgeous Roman Everson. With flights delayed, Della’s out of options. She needs Roman to drive her back to Somerset Lake, even if his un-jolly mood threatens to drain her Christmas cheer.
The season may have Roman feeling grinch-like, but he needs a favor, too, so he makes a deal with Della. In exchange for a ride home, she’ll pose as Roman’s adoring girlfriend in front of his family. As the pair set off on a journey though the North Carolina mountains with a rescue dog named Jingle, they soon learn they have more in common than either would have imagined possible. Could it be true that opposites attract? And will the chance of a happily-ever-after make this the most wonderful time of year after all?
A Forever Home is a heartwarming holiday romance novella that intertwines themes of love, family, second chances, and the magic of Christmas. The novella is book 2.5 of the Somerset Lake series and contains references to characters in other books. Set in the picturesque backdrop of Somerset Lake, this story follows single mother Della Rose, who is determined to make it back home in time for her sons’ holiday concert, but connecting flight delays threaten her plans. On the plane, she meets seatmate Roman Eversom. Despite his grinch-like demeanor, she finds him intriguing and attractive. When Roman learns of her travel issues, he offers her a ride—on one condition: she must pretend to be his girlfriend for a family gathering. As they travel through the North Carolina mountains with a rescue dog they find along the way, they discover they have more in common than they initially thought. The narrative features several popular tropes, including grumpy versus sunshine, fake dating, second chances, and forced proximity.
At just under 70 pages, this is a very sweet and short holiday read with very likable characters—the addition of a rescue dog that Della and Roman name “Jingle Bell makes the story even more lovable. Despite the story’s short length, Della and Roman are both well-developed characters with emotional depth. Della’s ex-husband left her for a younger woman, and she is now ready to move on while focusing on her children. Roman suffers from long-term guilt, stemming from an accident that left his brother paralyzed—his father also blames him, and their relationship is strained. Della and Roman share some heartfelt dialogue that helps Roman process his guilt, leading to some healing later in the story. With their witty banter and heartfelt moments, Della and Roman discover that love can sometimes come in the most unexpected ways. By the end, readers only see the onset of a potential relationship. It would be wonderful to see these characters again in a full-length future novel to further expand their relationship—as they’re almost middle-aged with children in the mix, the storyline could be very multi-layered and fresh!
Narrators Abigail Reno and Justin Price deliver wonderfully contrasting performances that perfectly capture the two protagonists and their grumpy/sunshine dynamic. Both narrators pace the narrative very well and effectively bring out the emotional depth of the characters during the dialogue and inner monologue sequences. The narration is very pleasing to listen to and feels like it’s over far too quickly—it will leave readers wanting a more expanded story for these characters!
In summary, A Forever Home is a charming novella that nicely blends romance, family, and the intrigue of unexpected connections. This novella is a wonderful addition to the Somerset Lake series and further showcases Rains’ ability to weave compelling and heartwarming tales—even in a shorter format! This novella is a perfect choice for readers looking for an uplifting small-town (holiday) romance or a heartwarming story that can be devoured in a single sitting!
