Reviewer: Tracy Finding Christmas by Karen Schaler
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date: October 15, 2019
Format: ARC
Source: Edelweiss
Point-of-View: Third
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 374
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
From the writer of the Netflix sensation, A Christmas Prince, and Christmas Camp, the Hallmark movie and novel, comes a heartwarming new Christmas story, Finding Christmas, showing how sometimes the detour in your journey is the path to true love.
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…
Emmie loves Christmas. I mean she loves Christmas. She can’t get enough of ornaments, wreaths, holiday spirit or Christmas trees. This will be her first Christmas with her boyfriend, Grant, so she’s planned a holiday getaway for just the two of them. Grant is a lawyer and with her as director of the community center their both busy and can’t spend much time together. This getaway will give them a chance for uninterrupted togetherness and Emmie can’t wait. She’s planned a scavenger hunt for Grant that includes a huge Christmas theme and will eventually take him to Christmas Point, a town that is all about Christmas. Emmie will be waiting for him there.
Unfortunately through no fault of her own, Grant doesn’t end up getting the first scavenger hunt clue, Sam does. Sam is a mystery writer who lives in the same building as Grant and ends up getting Emmie’s clue. He’s excited because he thinks this is from his agent and is a way to help him start writing again. He’s been unable to write and she told him she was going to send him something to inspire him. Sam also adores Christmas and so is totally into the scavenger hunt.
When he gets to Christmas Point Emmie is shocked when she learns what’s happened. She had all of the activities planned to the minute and now there’s no Grant. Sam decides to tag along on her activities and their friendship grows from there. When Emmie realizes that she’s got feelings for Sam she’s beside herself as she knows she loves Grant. Doesn’t she?
I liked this book because I really liked Sam and Emmie together. Before Emmie and Sam were in Christmas Point together I was wondering why Emmie was with Grant as he seemed like a bit of an ass. And a Scrooge. Not really her type, imho. Emmie was fun and fun-loving, and I could see that in Sam as well. They were much better suited for each other than Emmie and Grant. Grant was a stick in the mud and though we didn’t get to know him well, I didn’t like him.
Overall I thought this was a cute story. I can’t say that I love Christmas as much as Emmie and Sam do, but it was fun to see their joy in the season.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5