"Christmas in Evergreen: Bells are Ringing" continues the story of friends and romance, set in the small town of Evergreen. The story is a sweet tale set at Christmas time, featuring the magical snow globe that mysteriously helps people find their dearest wishes and dreams. Readers who are familiar with this Hallmark storyline will recognize characters from earlier novels set in Evergreen. The number of characters introduced in this story can be overwhelming to readers who have not read the others in the series. The story contains a lot of detail to help the reader visualize all the scenes, and sometimes it seems like too much detail, almost like reading the stage set directions and prompts. However, this story is still worth a read for a happy Christmas feeling.

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

"Bells are Ringing (Christmas In Evergreen #4), by Lacey Baker, is the book version of the Hallmark movie of the same name. Evergreen, Vermont is a quaint little close-knit community where Christmas is not just a holiday, it's a way of life. The residents work together to keep the town the popular tourist attraction that it is, and a magical "make a wish" snow globe interweaves the lives of visitors and townsfolk alike. Hannah Turner, who had lived in Evergreen all her life, was very much a part of the every day goings-on in the town. In addition to working at the local inn, heading up the choir, and volunteering for the storytelling project at the new Evergreen Christmas Museum, she pretty much said "yes" whenever someone asked for her help. She was also preparing for the wedding of her brother Thomas to the town's beloved mayor, Michelle. All of this activity left little time for a personal life. A year ago, Hannah had wished on the snow globe for someone to love, and much to her surprise, her longtime friendship with Elliot Lee had blossomed into a romance. Elliot had purchased the Tinker Shop once owned by Hannah's parents, and the time he and Hannah spent together in the shop had brought them closer together. However, Hannah was so busy coming and going, the two of them had not found the right moment for a serious talk about the future. Elliot had plans and dreams that might not please Hannah, but he needed to find a way to broach the subject. This holiday season was growing more and more complicated, with a snowstorm that could postpone the wedding for Thomas and Michelle, and a threat that may close plans for the Christmas Museum. Will a much-needed Christmas miracle cone through just in time to set all things to right and make way for much happiness ahead? A journey back to Evergreen and a visit with the townsfolk is the perfect way to let the spirit of Christmas fill your own holiday.

Book Copy Gratis Hallmark Publishing ( )

This was a lovely visit back to the town of Evergreen, Vermont. The main characters in this story are Hannah and Elliot, childhood friends whose romance began during the previous book (Christmas in Evergreen:Tidings of Joy). Working together fixing the town's magic snow-globe made them look at each other as more than friends. A year later, we see where their relationship stands. A secondary plot involves the wedding preparations for Hannah's brother, Thomas, and Michelle, the mayor.

I liked Hannah, but she really needed to learn how to use the word "no." Born and raised in Evergreen, the town plays a considerable part in her identity. Her life is jam-packed with activities, from her job at the inn to leading the choir to jumping in when anyone in town needs help, so she doesn't have a spare minute in her day, even for Elliot. However, there are times when she feels that she's looking for something that is truly hers. She believes she's found it when the town starts a Christmas museum in the old hat factory until one of the building's owners threatens to shut it down.

Elliot moved to Evergreen with his mother when he was ten years old after his parents' divorce. He and Hannah became best friends immediately, and their friendship grew stronger over the years. Elliot worked for her father in his repair shop as a teen and bought it from Hannah and Thomas after their parents' deaths. The shop remains a town institution and does even better under Elliot's management, but he finds himself wishing for more. His goal of expanding the business joins with his dreams of a future with Hannah, but what will she think of it?

Hannah and Elliot have been dating for a year, but there isn't much forward movement in their relationship. Not much of a surprise, considering Hannah is constantly going from one commitment to the next. Nearly every time we see them together, Hannah breezes through on her way to somewhere else, and Elliot just smiles and waves her on. I got the occasional vibe of resentment from him that she has no time for him, but he never says anything to her about it.

We soon find out that Elliot plans to open a new store in the city, taking Hannah and moving there. He misses the city life he remembers from his childhood and wants to make his mark with something that's all his. Unfortunately, Elliot avoided talking to Hannah about any of it, sensing that it would be a hard sell. Meanwhile, Hannah goes on about her days believing that everything is hunky-dory between her and Elliot. It comes as quite a shock when she hears of his plans from someone else. They both frustrated me because they STILL didn't talk about it for the longest time. Hannah wonders if Elliot truly knows her or loves her if he thinks she'd be happy away from Evergreen. I ached for them both when they finally confronted the issue and realized their dreams lay in different directions. I wasn't sure how they would find their way back to each other. However, the magic of Evergreen at Christmas comes through and opens their eyes to what is essential. I admit I saw Elliot's solution to the new store coming fairly early in the book.

The biggest thing I noticed about Hannah and Elliot's relationship was that I never felt any "zing" between them. If they kissed at all, it made no impression on me. Other "clean" romances I have read have at least made me feel that the couple had some desire for each other.

I did enjoy being back in Evergreen during the Christmas season. I loved catching up with characters from previous books. In this book, Michelle is deep in planning her upcoming wedding to Thomas while still handling her mayoral duties. The actual event begins to look questionable when Thomas's return to town is delayed by bad weather. I ached for both as the delays kept piling up. I loved that Michelle and Thomas faced their possible disappointment by remembering that their love was more important than the event. Michelle also faces some family tensions when her dad shows up with a girlfriend. I'd love to visit the Kringle Kitchen for some eggnog waffles, though I think I'd stay away from the peppermint mocha eggnog. I smiled at seeing the teenager David enjoying his job there and his obvious culinary bent.

I loved the idea of the Christmas museum and using a previously abandoned building for it. I enjoyed Hannah's many ideas for displays and how she involved the entire town. I ached for her when Mr. Cooper showed up and pitched a fit about how the old factory was used. Nothing she did made a difference to his attitude. Saving the museum looked like an impossible dream. At the end, the matter was tied up in a nice neat bow, and Evergreen had another feather in its Christmas hat.

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