Sometimes I just want an escapist read and what fits that definition more than a holiday romance? I thank TLC Book Tours for sending me a copy of Christmas Ever After by Karen Schaler at no charge for my honest review.
About Christmas Ever After:
While promoting her next novel, a Christmas love story, author Riley Reynolds is caught off guard when she’s asked during a live national television interview how she can write about romance when she still hasn’t found “the one” herself. Scrambling for an answer, she quickly answers that she has had great love in her past and that love inspired her novels. Little does she know that this one offhanded remark will turn her world upside down. Three of her ex-boyfriends see the interview, and each, believing she’s talking about him, shows up for her Christmas Camp book event at the Christmas Lake Lodge, determined to rewrite his happily-ever-after with her! Over the festive weekend, Riley’s old boyfriends compete to win her heart, pulling out all the stops while planning the most romantic holiday dates on the planet. Despite herself, Riley starts falling for each guy— again—but for different reasons. As Riley revisits each relationship and discovers more about herself, she embraces the magic of the season and finally finds true love and her own Christmas ever after… Bonus Content: delicious original family recipes and fun holiday crafts and activities.
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The author is donating percentage of each book sold to help support libraries and independent bookstores
About the Author:
KAREN SCHALER is a three-time Emmy Award-winning storyteller, screenwriter, author, journalist, and national TV host. She has written original holiday movies for Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime, including the Netflix sensation A Christmas Prince, Hallmark’s Christmas Camp, and three books, Christmas Camp, Christmas Camp Wedding, and Finding Christmas, earning her the nickname “Christmas Karen” in the press. Karen has also created a real-life Christmas Camp experience for grown-ups, held around the world, where she carefully curates and hosts magical holiday activities from her movies and books. For Karen’s novel Finding Christmas she also wrote the movie. Traveling to more than sixty-five countries, Karen is the creator and host of Travel Therapy TV. All of Karen’s stories are uplifting and filled with heart and hope. For special book deals, giveaways, behind the scenes sneak peeks and much more be sure to sign up for Karen’s newsletter at karenschaler.com
My Opinion of Christmas Ever After:
Riley Reynolds is a romance novelist with a loyal following. Her last book though, wasn’t as popular as her previous ones and her new publicist thinks the answer is a Christmas romance. The only problem – Riley doesn’t do Santa. She hasn’t shared this though as it’s because of painful memories. To help her get in the spirit a Christmas Camp is arranged at a lodge in the Rocky Mountains for a select group of her fans.
But Riley is panicking because she has no holiday memories to share, no family traditions to bring to the weekend. Fortunately the owner of the lodge is full of seasonal spirit and helps. In addition to her readers coming to the Camp some of her old boyfriend get wind of it and that makes for some entertaining and fun times.
This novel is a delightful distraction from the everyday. It’s full of perfect snowfalls, beautiful people and ugly Christmas sweaters. It’s a Hallmark movie in book form and that should not surprise as the author has written holiday movies for Hallmark, Netflix and Lifetime.
I found it to be an uncomplicated, wonderful way to spend an afternoon which was just what I needed after processing way too many pounds of tomatoes to count. It is wonderfully escapist reading.
There are two recipes in the back – one for cookies, one for buns and several for crafts.
Rating:
4