Christmas in Smithville by Kirsten Fullmer

Gloria is back home.  She's taking care of her grandfather and trying to fit into a community where the women don't like her.  She'd worn revealing clothing and dated most of their husbands in the past and they think she's back and intends to carry on the same way.  It was before they married but it doesn't mean she's not as bad as they thought she was.  She tries to ignore them but it's not easy.  It's a good thing she has a few friends she can lean on.

BooksGoSocial and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It has been published and you can grab a copy now.

Ned is the deputy sheriff now and when he goes to the meeting on the pageant they are having, he finds Gloria crying on the porch.  He tries to talk to her but she won't talk.  He goes on in and asks the woman who owns the house to check on her.  He's stunned by how pretty she is and wonders if she might consent to date a stuttering deputy sheriff.  He rebukes himself and gets involved in the pageant planning.

It isn't long until others notice the attraction between them.  Since this is a small town, you know that everyone will jump in to help the romance along.

This is pleasant Christmas read as two people dance around each other.  She's going to stay away from men to make the women in town feel better.  He's not good at small talk.  But they do develop a friendship.  She has a secret admirer she can't wait to meet, too.  Maybe a new romance might not be a bad thing.

When she helps her worst female enemy during a health crisis and stays to take care of her children, things begin to turn around a bit.  It gets even better when she finds out Ned's secret.

Have a great Christmas colored with a little romance!