Cover Image: The Trouble with Christmas

The Trouble with Christmas

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

The Trouble with Christmas was light, smooth, sexy and adorable read. This small town opposites attract story will make you happy and gives you all the feels. I Loved the Characters and the Background of the story.

If you haven't picked up this book yet then do it now. A Must Read for all Readers.

Was this review helpful?

Cute little grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, fake dating romance. Complete with small town drama and a blizzard that locks them in a cabin together. Quite enjoyable if I do say so myself.

Was this review helpful?

This was an entirely enjoyable holiday rom-com and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author in the future!

Was this review helpful?

What can I say? Who doesn’t love a good Christmas love story with a handsome man? Well written book and an enjoyable read.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher for this copy!

I found this book to be super cute and endearing to me. I even loved the cliches that I found in the book. I still enjoyed them a lot and like how the author incorporated them in the story. I haunt read any of the author's other works before, so i went in sorta blind, but still found myself enjoying the story. I loved the fake relationship trope, it is one of my favorites, and the chemistry between the two main characters was enjoyable. This isn't my typical book that I read but it was still good nonetheless!

Was this review helpful?

As I've learned to expect, a beautifully written and fun read. Andrews writes wonderfully believable stories with flawed but truly good heroes and heroines

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars — I really enjoyed this one, but I also found it a bit long and thus found my mind wandering. Course, when you’re literally trying to read *on* Christmas, sometimes it’s hard to get sucked in, you know?

Suzanne was a bit hard to get to know initially, but I loved her sass and her childlike glee with all things Christmas. And her verbal diarrhea was kinda hilarious at times too. The art stuff was a both confusing and fascinating. I loved learning about the world of legal forgeries, I never even thought of that! But I found the muse stuff kind of above my head. I’m not a creative type, so I honestly find the whole muse thing super weird and hard to imagine. I did feel for her struggle to find herself after so many years, and her niche…especially dealing with her unique mother.

Grady surprised me sometimes. I didn’t think he was going to be a favourite of mine, but he had these moments where he actually let his personality come through and he was kind of amusing himself. It was hard to watch him close himself off, but it was pretty satisfying when the few hits over the head finally got through his thick skull.

They had pretty solid chemistry with one another, even if it was contentious at times. I appreciated that neither one of them wanted the relationship to start with, but couldn’t deny the attraction. The love story part ended up being pretty cute in the end.

I was surprised by the side story with Suzanne’s parents — it dragged on longer than I thought it would, I assumed it would just be a ploy to begin the fake dating. But it was kind of a fun side story looking at what can happen in a marriage.

All in all I definitely enjoyed this one, but I think I would have enjoyed it even more if it had been tightened up in a few places and cut a bit shorter.

Was this review helpful?

This is a sweet and funny book and just what I needed in the middle of such a weird stressful year. I found Suzanne and Grady to be engaging and lovely characters with a lot of personality. Their story was one of passion, tension, and laughter and was a perfect mix of snarky and sweet. Once I got into the story, I flew through it. It was well paced and natural and I found myself not wanting to put it down. The only thing that frustrated me a little was the beginning. The lead up to the real story was a bit awkward and I wish it had matched the ease of the rest of the story a bit better. While I didn’t dislike the idea of the paintings annoying Grady and ultimately leading to the real heart of the story and their Christmas deal, it felt a little odd. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and it was a lovely escape from this year’s insanity.

Was this review helpful?

The Trouble With Christmas is the third book in author Amy Andrews Credence, Colorado series. Suzanne St. Michelle has rented the cottage on Burl Grady’s Credence, Colorado, ranch which is run by his less than friendly nephew Joshua. What Suzanne is seeking is an over the top Christmas celebration with her best friend, Winona, who is in the process of building a lakefront home outside of Credence. What Suzanne actually gets is much, much more.

When Suzanne tells her high brow parents she won’t be home for Christmas her mother surprises her by saying they will come to her. With her mother’s minimalist view of Christmas, Suzanne concocts a wild tale of her Cowboy boyfriend, Joshua, and his over the top view of Christmas trying to dissuade her mother from coming, only to learn her parents’ marriage is in trouble. Now she must come up with ways to convince that loner Cowboy to go along with her and help her to save her parents’ relationship.

Now the story takes off! With passages that are laugh out loud funny to times when the poignancy of the story may bring a tear, this story definitely delivers a Christmas story to remember. With bigger than life characters and a beautiful snow covered setting, I found I couldn’t read fast enough and yet was so sorry to see the story end. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!!

Was this review helpful?

Entertaining read. This is Josh and Suzy finding their way to each other via good intentions, lies and some Christmas spirit. This was no easy trip. Grab this Christmas read. It will light up your TBR list.

Was this review helpful?

UMMM this book was hilarious.

Like, over the top, Hallmark movie whimsy mixed with raunchy Christmas cookies and hilarious inner dialogues, and I loved it. I literally had to put the book down until I got my laughter under control on at least 10 different occasions, and I absolutely enjoyed how bananas the entire story was.

small town? check
enemies to lovers? check
growly one falls for the sunshine one? check
meddling neighbors? check
absurd christmas decorations and tacky sweaters? check
word vomit in awkward silences? check

I am still giggling thinking of some of the nonsense Andrews found a way to throw into this book and I'm so happy I read it. Suzy and Grant were oil and water but it WORKED and it was emotional and funny and I cried, and I just am so pleased.

Grant was grumbly and cranky and stoic and Suzy was a whirlwind of nonsense and noise and color, and the thoughts running through their heads were both hysterical and easily relatable. This book just worked, and I cannot thank Entangled enough for giving me the chance to read it. A+

Was this review helpful?

**I received a copy of The Trouble with Christmas from Entangled Publishing and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions are my own and not solicited in any way.**

The Trouble with Christmas by Amy Andrews is the second book in her Credence, Colorado series. This is Joshua Grady and Suzanne St. Michelle's story. Although Grady was a grumpy set in his way rancher who hates Christmas due to the sad lose of his parents and girlfriend. So to have Suzanne come in like a whirlwind, driving her van "Ethel" and rent his cabin next door makes him want to hide. When she tells her parents they are madly in love and that he decorates for Christmas like the Griswold's will make him want to run for the hills very quickly. What ensues is hilarious and his required payment for acting like he loves her and Christmas will be each of her rather unique portraits of him that have his face but different famous bodies. The one thought I have on this book about the amount of Christmas lights on the house giving the cows the homing beacon to find the barn was the deal breaker for me loving this book.

Besides the story of how the rancher fell in love with the artist I still love the people of Credence with all their different personalities and can't wait to read their stories especially Arlo's. I'm giving the book 4.5 stars and can't wait to read the next book.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.

I LOVED this story, can you say cutest love story I have read in a while. Perfect rom-com with Christmas vibes! I am not the type of person who shows emotions while reading but I was cracking up while devouring this story! The way this book is written pulls you in and makes you feel like you know these characters and relate to them even if they are not similar to you.

Was this review helpful?

I was disappointed with this book which surprised me. I thoroughly enjoyed all the other Am,y Andrews books that I have read...

This one was just so slow and I did not like the heroine, Suzanne. I found her a bit immature, i.e. blames everyone else for her lack of artistic creativity, etc. I liked the hero, Josh, somewhat better but I just didn't feel the relationship between the two. She drags Josh into a fake boyfriend relationship because she can't be honest with her parents by holding paintings that she did of him nude that he didn't agree to as an enticement.

I cannot recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Was this review helpful?

Thank for this book, but I am just not getting into it and I am just not in the mood for it and haven't gone in the mood for it in the past year. The parts I read were nice and fluffy, and the characters OK-ish, but it is just not what I am looking for now. Plus, I wasn't really planning on reading it, but when I got approved for the blog tour there was a link to Netgalley and I thought I would check out if I wanted to read it, instead I got auto-approved for the book and was stuck with it. :(

Can we just give no-stars for books we DNF? That would be nice as I feel guilty about rating it so low.

Was this review helpful?

4 Stars

A sweet story of two people who could not be more different. Suzanne and Grady meet and it’s like oil and water, he doesn’t want her living on his property and she struggles with her attempts at friendship being rejected. What follows is a crazy story full of laughs, friends, family and a set of circumstances that makes both realize what they need and what is missing from their lives. The path to happily ever after isn’t easy or quick for these two, but in the end it sure will be worth it.

Cara - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book. First one by this author, but for sure it will not be the last. Great book to return too at the end of the day.

Was this review helpful?

This is a brilliant, fun, festive romance that is bound to bring a smile to your face whatever the season. It is the second book in the series but is written as a standalone.

Suzanne St Michelle is fed up with the coathanger tree Christmas celebrations her parents have every year and has travelled from New York to Credence, Colorado to celebrate her first over the top Christmas with her best friend. She’s also hoping that escaping her judgemental, renowned artist mother will give her the chance to discover her own muse again.

She certainly hadn’t anticipated her landlord being dour veteran now rancher Joshua Grady, who is definitely not into celebrating Christmas. She develops a really bad case of verbal diarrhoea and seems unable to control just what she says every time they meet. He, however, is considerably more restrained and reticent. When her parents want Suzanne to return home for Christmas she pretends that she can’t leave her boyfriend who has gone all out to help create a glittery, twinkly, over the top Christmas for her. Never did she anticipate her parents coming to join them. Now she needs to convince Joshua to be her fake boyfriend, agree to have his home over the top decorated and for her to move in with him! As attraction between them grows, will they be able to resist temptation? Will Suzanne find her muse? Can Joshua open his heart to love?

This is a lovely festive read with plenty of angst and artistry. It is a story of working together for love and not just for Joshua and Suzanne. The community has some great characters in it and is brought to life in this story. I really look forward to reading more about it in future and catching up on what has happened to the characters in this book.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. Another great amazing, funny love story from Amy Adams. Grady loves his ranch and his solitude but when his uncle rents cabin near him his live turns upside down. Suzanne is everything Grady is not and she blackmails him into playing her fake Christmas lover boyfriend. The one that is not fake between them is a mutual attraction which is harder and harder to resist. Will Grady brake the walls he build is to find out. I really loved the story the characters and all the happenings. Can't wait to see another of the men to bit the dust.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

If there is one thing I love, it's cowboys! If there a second thing I love, it's Christmas! So quite honestly a cowboy Christmas romance is right in my wheelhouse!! I read the first book in the Credence, Colorado series Nothing But Trouble and absolutely loved it! So when I saw a second installment was released this one jumped right to the top of my TBR.

My favorite thing about series is returning back to a community I have already become acquainted with. Though this one is definitely a standalone, I highly recommend reading Nothing But Trouble because it was simply so good! I ended up giving The Trouble with Christmas 3 stars. Once I got into the meat of the story I really enjoyed, however I found the set up for the plot to be a little strange. I wasn't into Suzanne painting Joshua without his consent and how she handled his discovery of the paintings. And I wasn't particularly into the Parent Trap-esque portion of the plot.

However, I was super into the fake relationship between Suzanne St. Michelle and racher Joshua Grady. I am always a sucker for a fake relationship plot! The chemistry and banter Suzanne and Joshua was fantastic. Several times they had me laughing. And when they finally decided to give into each other, it was super steamy. Amy Andrews writes some awesome steamy scenes!!

In the end this was a great read, once I got past the set up of the story. If this one catches your eye, I think it is worth a read!!

Was this review helpful?