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One Enchanted Noel

Secrets, Sparks and Second Chances…a Heartwarming Holiday Romance

Seb Pierce isn’t exactly a cowboy, but after fifteen years on a ranch in Texas, he might as well be. And he’d do just about anything to keep the rancher who took him in so many years ago from losing his land…including returning to the wealthy roots he’s long since abandoned. Seb agrees to work for his stern grandfather for one year in return for an early draw on his inheritance. But he never expected the agreement to land him in a quirky small town in Iowa at Christmas-time, renovating a dilapidated theater…and running into a woman he never thought he’d see again. She might not remember him, but he remembers her.

After too many years away from her hometown—and too many failures to count—Leigh Renwycke is finally back in Maple Valley and living the stable life she used to wish for. If only she could shake the old restlessness that used to get her into trouble. When Seb Pierce waltzes into her world and begs for her help planning the theater’s holiday reopening, it could be the solution to her discontent. If she pulls it off, it might be enough to jump-start a new career and to prove once and for all that the new-and-improved Leigh is here to stay.

But between old secrets and new sparks, restoring a town treasure in time for Christmas may not be as easy as it seems…especially once Leigh learns the truth about Seb.

My Review of One Enchanted Noel

Melissa Tagg takes us back to the charming town of Maple Valley in One Enchanted Noel. I adore Maple Valley and the books that Melissa Tagg has written about this place. As much as I love the setting, it’s the characters who give these books their heart. This is the third Christmas novella about the Renwycke siblings. The first book, One Enchanted Christmas, is Drew’s story, and the second book, One Enchanted Eve is Colin’s. One Enchanted Noel is Leigh’s story.

I think Leigh’s story is my favorite of these novellas. Her “meet cute” is the best. It happens when Leigh hears the sound of glass breaking at the old, closed theater in town, so thinking it’s a burglar, she calls the police dispatch…and the story begins. I just adored everything about this book. I love that the story involves an old theater renovation. How cool would it be to watch old movies in a restored theater?

The focus of One Enchanted Noel is finding the ability to forgive yourself for past mistakes. Leigh has such a hard time doing that because she thinks that everyone looks at her as though she’s one trip up away from becoming an addict again, and that is somewhat true. So when Seb comes to town Leigh thinks she’s finally got someone to see her without seeing her past. She finds new purpose in planning the theater’s opening event. Then things come crashing down when her daughter remembers something from their old life that changes the developing relationship between Leigh and Seb.

I love the fact that Melissa Tagg’s characters are flawed. We all are. There is always something relatable about her characters. They are flawed yet forgiven and loved by their family and by God. These books are inspirational romances without being preachy. No one is perfect and that’s the point. We can’t be perfect no matter how hard we try. We just need to accept forgiveness.

Again I find myself wishing that I could just jump into this book and live in Maple Valley. I want my own story! I highly recommend this book, this series, this author. You’ll love them all.

Melissa Tagg

Melissa Tagg is the award-winning author of the popular Walker Family series, the Where Love Begins series and the Enchanted Christmas Collection. (By the way, I love her Christmas collection! Check out my review of one of the books in the series here.) She’s a former reporter, current nonprofit grant writer and total Iowa girl.

Melissa’s recent releases include a 2018 ACFW Carol Award Winner (One Enchanted Noel), an RT Book Reviews TOP PICK (All This Time) and a Publishers Weekly Spring Top Ten Pick (Like Never Before).

Melissa has taught at multiple national writing conferences, as well as workshops and women’s retreats. When she’s not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever–not that she’s biased–watching old movies, and daydreaming about her next book. Melissa loves connecting with readers at www.melissatagg.com and on Facebook and Instagram.