With all the glittering decorations, twinkling lights, snow angels, gingerbread men and mistletoe, Christmas is Emmie’s first love.
This year, she can’t wait to share her favorite Christmas traditions with her boyfriend, Grant. She thinks he’s “the one.” So when Grant’s hectic work schedule has him more “Bah Humbug” than “Ho, Ho, Ho,” Emmie creates a holiday-themed scavenger hunt to help him find his Christmas spirit. At the end of the journey, Grant will arrive at the charming town of Christmas Point where she’s planned a romantic weekend filled with holiday activities.
But Emmie’s plan backfires when a mix-up has the wrong guy following her clues! Sam, a best-selling mystery writer, thinks Emmie’s clever Christmas riddles are from his agent, who is trying to help him get over his epic writer’s block.
When he arrives at Christmas Point and finds the stunned Emmie, he immediately feels she’s someone special, but she can’t see beyond the fact that the wrong guy has shown up. Inspired by the small, charming town, Sam decides to stay and convinces Emmie to join him in a little holiday fun while she waits for Grant.
When Grant finally shows up, Emmie is disappointed to discover he’s not enjoying the activities she planned and can’t help wonder if he’s really the one for her. She also can’t get Sam out of her mind and all the great times they had together. With Christmas coming fast, Emmie will need the magic of the season to help steer her in the direction of true love…
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My Review
Emmie loves Christmas more than anything, so naturally she plans to make her first Christmas with boyfriend Grant extra special. She plans an elaborate holiday scavenger hunt that will take him to a small mountain town called Christmas Point, so they can have a romantic holiday weekend together. The catch? The wrong man gets the scavenger hunt clues. Sam is a mystery novelist with writer's block. He thinks the clues are from his agent, and he arrives at Christmas Point for the weekend. Emmie's boyfriend is too busy working to join her, so she becomes friends with Sam and sparks start to fly.
I wanted to read this book from first description because I love Christmas! I love Christmas novels and Christmas movies, and knew I would like this book because of the author's background. Karen Schaler has written a number of Christmas movies for Hallmark, Netflix, and Lifetime.
Finding Christmas reads like the most charming Hallmark Christmas romance imaginable. Emmie starts out a little grumpy because she is on a big Christmas shopping trip and her perfect wreath purchase is blocked by another customer - Sam (we will see him again later). At first I thought Emmie was going to be a shopaholic character, but she really isn't. She works hard managing a nonprofit community center and helping families in need. Christmas is her one special time that she likes to shop - and often for others.
Sam is such a charming character. He is a great sport who is up for anything - from decorating cookies to ice skating. From the start I wanted him to get together with Emmie. I absolutely loved their scenes together.
I especially loved the Christmas scavenger hunt that Sam (mistakenly) went on. Every little stop of the hunt was great fun. The author even has tips on how to plan your own holiday scavenger hunt in the back of the book!
Christmas Point is a charming setting for this story. It is a little town (population 720) dedicated to all things Christmas. Emmie stays at an inn there that is owned by a widow named Ruby. Ruby is a lovely, warm character and her friendship with Emmie adds a lot to the book. I loved all the details of Christmas celebrations in this little town too. I have to add that Ruby even has a sweet Border Collie named Dasher! (I enjoy all books more when they feature a lovable dog or cat.)
I also loved Emmie's passion for all things Christmas. I could just picture her apartment from the book's description:
"Her entire apartment looked like a scene from a Christmas fairy tale. There were hundreds of white twinkle lights hanging overhead, attached to the loft's old wooden ceiling beams. The lights also outlined all the windows. From top to bottom, Emmie's apartment was filled with all kinds of Christmas decorations from vintage to modern, similar to how her office was decorated. Emmie didn't discriminate. She had a snow globe collection, an angel collection, and a snowman collection, as well as several antique nativity sets. ... It was the perfect balance of old and new, and it felt genuine and real" (p. 57).
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and know that other fans of Christmas novels will like it too. Finding Christmas is a perfect holiday read -- just settle in with a cup of cocoa and prepare to get in the holiday spirit!
Author Bio
Karen Schaler is a three-time Emmy Award–winning storyteller, author, screenwriter, journalist, and national TV host. She has written original screenplays for Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime Christmas movies, including the Netflix sensation A Christmas Prince. Karen wrote the Hallmark movie and novel Christmas Camp, and the sequel novella, Christmas Camp Wedding. Traveling to more than sixty-five countries as the creator and host of Travel Therapy TV, Karen is constantly inspired by the diverse people, places, and cultures she encounters. All of Karen’s stories are uplifting, filled with heart and hope.
Find out more about Karen at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins and TLC Book Tours.
2 comments:
I love, love, love Christmas and this sounds absolutely perfect! Thank you for being on this tour! Sara @ TLC Book Tours
Tips to plan a scavenger hunt?? How FUN! This sounds like such a great book. I'm so glad you liked it!
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