I received an Advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley. Merry and Bright was a wonderfully written sweet holiday story with some interesting moments, made sweeter with a happy ending. My favorite characters were Merry and her brother Patrick. Their family relationship was wonderful. I would very much like to read more about Merry and Mr. Bright.

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber is about Mery who works for Jayson Bright, a man who is not so jovial about the holidays. Merry’s mother and brother decide they are going to surprise Merry by signing her up for an online dating site. This surprise sends Merry on an adventurous search for romance where she learns not to judge a book by its cover.

Jayson Bright on the other hand, gets a surprise when his cousin is getting married. This news sets Jayson on a course of self-discovery and a journey to find if there is someone out there for him as well. These two very different characters are on their respective romantic adventures that lead them to discover more than romance.

This story is very sweet and a fun holiday read! If you want a feel-good type of read, I would suggest picking this book up.

Love anything Macomber writes. This was no different. Nice holiday read for a cold winter day. Grab a blanket, cup of tea and enjoy this beautifully written book.

Such a sweet, sweet, and more sweet Christmas story. This was the December book selection for my book club and just about everyone agreed that the book was perfect for a holiday read. Merry Knight is the main character of the story. Her mother and brother set her up on a dating website for her birthday using a photo of their dog as her profile photograph. Due to her not having a real photo of herself and the messed up spelling of her name, chaos ensues and the story is basically her realizing the huge debacle she has gotten herself into and how she gets herself out of the situation.

There's nothing like a good Debbie Macomber holiday romance to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside and get into the holiday spirit, and that is exactly what happened when I read this book. Typical Debbie--this book is set in the Pacific Northwest and involves characters that are both intriguing and different from what you see in a lot of other romance books. I respect that and it keeps me coming back for more of her work.

Love the way the title of this book is explained by the story :) This was sweet, but not sickeningly so. The characters have hurdles to overcome and they have to stumble along the path before they find the direction they are supposed to be heading. I liked the way she handled the whole thing, making it believable and yet a bit magical at the same time.

I loved Merry from the first few pages and it was easy for me to fall into the story and forget everything else for a while. I read this in one sitting, smiling and chuckling most of the way through and shedding a few tears at the end. All things a good romance story should do for you, in my opinion.

If you love holiday stories where everything works out in the end, this would be a great one to choose.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

It's too sweet and too cutesy.
And the play on the names Merry and Bright...? Eye roll.

Add in the annoying meddling mother and the boring plain Jane paragon of virtue Merry and I would rather watch paint dry than finish this book.

This is probably the lowest I've ever rated a Debbie Macomber (and it's not even that low) so I hope it doesn't discourage you from picking this one up or any of her other Christmas reads. This one just didn't hit the right notes for me but I've certainly given 5-stars to her other books, including Twelve Days of Christmas.

Merry Knight is overworked this holiday season. She's working overtime for her boss on a project with a tight deadline and at home, she feels resentful she can't spend time more with her family, including her lovable brother. Her mom sees it too and figures Merry leaves absolutely no time for herself so her mom and brother create an online dating profile, hoping to give her love life a little boost.

In enters Jayson Bright - the uptight "boss" whose cousin also encourages him to create an online dating profile since he found love on the Mix&Mingle site. Soon, Merry and Jayson find themselves more and more intrigued with the stranger they're talking to on the other end. But of course, in real life, it's a completely different story. Merry can barely stand Jayson, who doesn't believe in the spirit of Christmas and comes off callous and mean.

The plot is very similar to You've Got Mail which is probably why this story felt a little flat and predictable for me. I did read it in one, swift sitting and I do like how Macomber vividly describes the details of a festive and brightly-adorned Seattle. Either way, Debbie Macomber is the queen of the holiday romance and I'm already looking forward to next year's book.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays this year and if you like a cozy (and clean) feel-good holiday romance, please don't hesitate to pick this one up! Happy reading!

Merry and Bright is a lighthearted romance sure to get you in the Christmas mood. Merry and Jayson are such a sweet couple and this story is exactly why I pick up Debbie Macomber's books. You are sure to come away with that warm fuzzy romance feeling.

Debbie Macomber is my go to author for holiday themed books. This one was truly delightful. A bit predictable, but I did not read it for plot twist or suspense. Instead I was looking for something that reflects the spirit of this time of year. This story did not disappoint!

My thanks to Ballantine Books for providing this ARC via Netgalley

3.5 stars
Merry and Bright is a cute story, in which online dating is taken to another level entirely.

Truly the perfect holiday love story, I really enjoyed this story of Merry and Jayson. Two souls who are both overworked and lonely. Who decide to try online dating and find that their very different worlds aren't important when they have such a easy rapport while chatting almost daily. Their banter is light and easy and very heartwarming. I love that the author continues to give us characters who are mature and for the most part, know what they want. There is no heavy drama when reading a Debbie Macomber book, just misunderstandings that you could see happening in daily life.

The mild twist made for some very hurt feelings and I was both heartbroken and sad that Merry and Jayson may never meet and get their happy. But, of course, the author wouldn't let that happen and what we are left with is a beautifully-written tale of finding love when you least expect it.

Clearly one to read while curled up by the fire this holiday season, Merry and Bright was just that and so much more.

A solid 5 stars!

Merry and Bright was a sweet easy read. Right off the bat it reminded me of the movie You've Got Mail. Debbie Macomber never disappoints; especially when it comes to her Christmas books. This was the perfect read for this busy time of year!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Reviews shared on Goodreads, Amazon, V's Reads and B & N: https://vsreads.com/2017/11/24/cephalopod-coffeehouse-november-2017-keeping-it-merry-and-bright-a-review/

Merry Knight is a temp helping to run the data analysis corps at a consultation company. She's 24 and lives at home with her parents because her mother has MS, her brother Patrick has Down's Syndrome, and her father travels to work. Plus, it helps Merry save all her money for college tuition; she's hoping to return to school in the new year when her contract expires.

The job is grueling, though, and she's excited to be shot of it. And Merry won't miss the mini-aggravations, like the mandatory overtime, the misspelled nameplate proclaiming her "Mary Knight" HR wont' fix, or her petty rule-enforcing boss, Jayson Bright. The man won't even let them decorate for the holidays, and he's got the employee manual memorized. Merry can't wait for some time to herself, but her mom and Patrick have some plans of their own: signing her up for an online matching service--under a pseudonym, and with the picture of the family dog as her avatar. That way only people who are nice and not attracted to Merry's young face will try to set up dates...Merry's a bit mortified, but she does make a connection with one user, Jay.

Jayson Bright has been working hard for the past several years at his uncle's consulting firm. A man his age, 28, doesn't make VP without a lot of sweat equity, and getting all the necessary data processed for his big report is the lynch pin of all his current work. If that means he needs to be a little forceful with the gals down in data services...well, can't make a cake without breaking eggs. Still, he's been lonely and his best pal just announced he's getting married. To a woman he met on a dating app. Jayson's checked it out, and doesn't really find a gal he's looking for: one who'd like him for himself, not his bank account. But, he's intrigued by a profile picture of a golden retriever, and he strikes up a conversation.

Soon, "Jay" and Merry are chatting on most evenings, learning all about one another. Jay consoles Merry when she's frustrated with her boss's pushiness. Merry helps talk Jay through reconnecting with his father. Their rapport grows until they are ready to meet in person, and that's when Merry stands Jayson Bright up...because she recognizes him and knows it's a conflict of interest, plus, she's sure he's been playing at being nice online--he's downright heartless as a boss, in her opinion. Jay's mad that she stood him up, and that she has met and disliked him in person already. Their online connection was too good to let go, however, and Jay promises to win Merry back. She is unconvinced, but knowing that Mr. Bright is truly her Jay, well, she begins to notice that he's doing nicer things around the office, and his small acts of kindness begin to accumulate. It's confusing, but also endearing, and Merry's willing to give Jay another chance.

For his part, Jayson's taking more notice of Mary Knight, and how selfless she is. How hard she's worked for the company. He knew she was a temp, and he's prompted to make her an offer to stay on full-time. One she refuses to his dismay; he was liking how they worked well together. Okay, so the romance is mostly misconnection, but it's fun in that semi-awkward way as we know these two don't want each other, until they really get to know one another. It's wholly clean, with just a few kisses in the HEA. The big Christmas reveal was fun, and the book is whimsical and enjoyable. I really enjoyed how both Patrick and Merry's mother were portrayed as real people, not disabilities. They have unique personalities and really help Merry find her way to love.

I used to read Debbie Macomber's books as soon as they were released, but it's been a while since I picked up one of her stories. In typical Debbie Macomber style, Merry and Bright was a quick, sweet holiday read. While the storyline was quite predictable, I enjoyed the journey.

Don’t miss this holiday book!
Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber was a terrific book for the holiday season. It was well written and enjoyable. The story moved at a great pace and it was a very entertaining page turner. Debbie is a fantastic writer and her stories are always very enjoyable. If you like holiday-themed stories then this is the book for you. I highly recommend it and loved it. The theme is that people are not always how we first perceive them. Sometimes personalities are buried or walled up and you have to break down barriers to get to the real person. Merry and Mr. Bright go on a journey that leads them to their happily ever after.

This is a sweet Christmas love story with echos of the movie You've Got Mail, though it is it's own story. It is character driven, not lust driven, and if it were a movie it would be rated PG at most. I love the wordplay with the title!

I Love all of Debbie Macomber books. I’ve been reading them for a few years and this one is no exception to her ability to pull you into the characters. I would recommend this book to family and friends.

Cliched and predictable, but still a satisfying book of hope and love to read during the holiday season. Heaven knows, we can use some good news.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33931111-merry-and-bright

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Merry Knight has been working in a temp job to save up money for her final year of college. Between the mandatory overtime at her job and pitching in around the house with her family, including a mom with MS and brother with Down's syndrome, Merry hasn't had time to think about dating. Merry's mom and brother decide to surprise her with a 6 month subscription to the dating site Mix & Mingle. Merry is skeptical but soon finds chatting with Jay on the site is the highlight of her day. Merry soon discovers that Jay is someone she knows – and clashes with – at work and isn't sure what to do.

This was a sweet, quick Christmas read. Fans of You've Got Mail will love this story. The plot was predictable, but that was because it is the feel good story line that people enjoy. It was the perfect thing to read while sitting in the glow of our Christmas tree!

You’ve got mail…

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber is the first book I’ve ever read by this author, but I don’t plan on it being the last! The cover is a charming Christmas scene and drew me in right away. The story brought back wonderful memories from two favorite movies: You’ve Got Mail and The Sound of Music. Indeed, the story is a sweet, light, festive romance that just screams Hallmark, and, since I enjoy holiday reads year-around, and she has many, I definitely plan to check out more of her stories in the next few months. This is the story of Merry Knight and Jayson Bright. LOL! Even the play on names makes me smile…

As the story opens, Merry is working as a temp at a consulting firm, but she might as well be a full time employee with the insane hours she’s putting in. To make things even more stressful at work, she can’t stand her boss, Jayson Bright. After pairing the demands of her job and her family and with readying for the upcoming Christmas season, her own social life is the farthest from her thoughts. But, her special-needs brother and her mother conspiring together as an early Christmas present for Merry, decide to sign her up with an online dating site using a picture of a dog. Merry doesn’t have the heart to be mad at them since they only want her to be happy. Lo and behold, through the listing, she strikes up a friendship with a mystery man who seems perfect for her.

Jayson becomes aware of the same dating site through his friend, who is now a very happy customer and planning his wedding. Jayson’s dubious, but he decides to take a chance and signs up for an account with the service. He immediately sees a listing with a dog picture that reminds him of a beloved dog he had and messages her. They hit it off immediately, chatting every night. But, when they make plans to meet, a huge obstacle to any future plans becomes very apparent to one of them.

The primary characters are both likeable and genuine. Merry loves Christmas as Christmas holds many fond memories for her. Jayson doesn’t care for Christmas as it’s never been a happy time for him growing up. She loves nothing more than to spread Christmas cheer while he is very serious and finds Christmas to be distracting and non-productive. She’s very family-oriented and he’s not. Can these two get past their original impressions and their differences? Is there any hope for an HEA for a Christmas elf and a Scrooge?

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Merry and Bright:

“Christmas is a condition of the heart.”
---

“I kissed her.”
His words were met with silence and then, “How was it?”
“On a scale of one to ten, it was about a hundred.”
---

“I’ve always loved catching snow on my eyelashes.”

This is an emotional sweet and clean holiday romance with a slew of laugh-out-loud moments. Family relationships figure strongly in the story. It’s kind of predictable, but I still enjoyed every minute of it. If you enjoy lovely Christmas tales set against a snowy wonderland that will most assuredly pull at your heart strings while leaving you snuggled in warm fuzzies, I’d highly recommend that you check out Merry and Bright.