Christmas at Seashell Cottage by Donna Alward

 It's Christmas in Jewell Cove, and local doctor Charlie Yang finds her quiet, steady life disrupted by both an abandoned baby in the nativity manger and a real-life mystery man. Sure, she's always wanted a family of her own, but she didn't imagine it coming from a baby that wasn't hers and a man who was more interested in living day by day than making long-term plans...

Ex-SEAL Dave Ricker hadn't planned on making Jewell Cove his forever home, but the talented and　tender-hearted Charlie has him reconsidering his position on settling down. Can a beautiful woman, adorable baby, and a small town full of holiday spirit change his mind for good?

This is a quintessential Christmas romance.  The setting is an idyllic Maine coastal town complete with tree-lighting ceremony and nativity scene.  Dave and Charlene are two people who are looking for love but afraid to commit. I fell in love with both characters and was pulling for them the entire time and it was wonderful when they finally come together but I still wanted more. 

Given the nature of holiday romances they are shorter and are usually teasers to full-length stories in a series.  I am desperately hoping Dave and Charlene get a full-length novel so we can see their relationship fully flesh out and learn what happens to baby Daniel.  This was just such a wonderfully sweet story that I don’t want to let the characters go with so many questions left unanswered. 

***************Minor Spoiler Alert****************

The main reason I am unable to give this story 5 stars is because the plot line with Daniel is left unresolved.  As a mother I just feel unsettled knowing his permanent home situation is not taken care of.  Otherwise it is a great story and I hope we can see more of these characters in the future.

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