The Trouble With Christmas by Amy Andrews is at times dramatic and at times hysterically funny as we follow the story of Suzanne St. Michelle, a reproduction artist who has always lived in the shadow of her famous sculptor mother. She gets away to Credence, CO to find her muse, but what she finds is Joshua Grady, a surly rancher whose extra cabin she rents out for some peace and quiet so she can paint.

When Suzanne decides not to return home to NY for another undecorated, unhappy Christmas, her parents choose to go to Colorado to visit her. In an effort to dissuade them, she concocts a story about how she and "Joshy" are now living together and how he always goes overboard decorating and that they won't like it, her parents shock her by saying they'll come anyway....which creates a problem - how will she get Josh to go along with her lie? Problems and fun ensue and the novel is a surprisingly enjoyable Christmas read! Thank you to the author, Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel for my honest opinion.

The Trouble with Christmas is the first book by Amy Andrews that I have read and I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this story! It is a sweet romance filled with holiday festivities, characters you will love, funny moments, a fake relationship and small town gossip that keeps Grady and Suzanne on their toes. Even though their relationship started out as a way to not have to spend the holidays with her parents, nothing happened the way she planned. The biggest surprise was the feelings that she and Grady had for each other even though they fought those feelings as long as they could. I think it was Suzanne’s quirkiness that warmed Grady’s heart and opened him up to possibilities he never thought he would have again.

THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS highlights the opposites-attract romance between a New York artist and a Colorado rancher. Veteran Joshua Grady has chosen a quiet life on his uncle's Colorado ranch--a quiet life upended by the arrival of professional art forger Suzanne St. Michelle. Shaped by a tragedy that happened at Christmas many years ago, Grady has two rules: no serious relationships and no holiday celebrations. But Suzanne soon causes him to bend both of those rules, and to reconsider whether he is ready to once more trust in love and the magic of Christmas.

The Trouble with Christmas combines a lot of things I love into one book. Christmas? Check. Cowboy? Check. Fake relationship? Check. I was all in for the premise.

Unfortunately, the execution didn’t work for me and I stopped reading at 40%. The first problem was that I couldn’t connect with the heroine - Suzanne. She’s an artist from NYC who goes to Colorado for some downtime and to hopefully find inspiration. Instead of painting landscapes, she only wants to paint Grady - the hot cowboy who is renting her the cottage. She talks a lot about her muse and what her muse wants.

So - here’s where things start to go wrong for me. Suzanne paints a bunch of paintings of Grady - particularly his head on other famous artwork bodies, David, cherubs, etc. When Grady sees this - he is weirded out and asks her not to do this and if he can have them. She says nope - she can paint whatever she wants and they are hers and she won’t sell them for any price. Would we think that was okay if a guy was painting a woman’s face onto other bodies and refusing to stop or give them to her? I think no...because it’s creepy. Same in this case. But okay...was willing to look past that.

Then Suzanne’s mom asks when she’s coming home for Christmas. She says she isn’t - and makes up the reason that she’s dating Grady and wants to stay with him. So her mom says ok - she and her dad will come to CO instead. Suzanne says no - they wouldn’t like it, Grady is super into Christmas and it’s over the top decorated. Her mom still says they will come and admits they are having marriage troubles and this may be their last Christmas all together.

So - Suzanne decides she needs to get Grady to go along with the plan. She does it by blackmailing him that if he does it, she will give him all the paintings and if he doesn’t - she will give them to the diner in town to hang for everyone to see. I don’t know - I guess we are supposed to be okay with that and keep going along for the sake of the story. I tried to push past it.

When her parents arrive - Suzanne implements a plan to fix their marriage by making them spend time alone together and forcing them to kiss under mistletoe. And this felt so Parent Trap, elementary school plan-like - that this is the point where I decided to call it and stop reading this one.

Thank you to Entangled and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

Suzanne St. Michelle is the daughter of well connected parents from NYC. She replicates famous artwork for a pretty penny, but wonders if there is more to life. She wants to explore her creativity and recalibrate her mojo, so on the advice of her erotic novel-writing friend Winona, Suzanne rents a cottage in rural Credence, Colorado.

On moving day she encounters Grady, the rancher nephew of the owner of the cottage. Grady is a veteran soldier who has encountered significant loss in his life, and just wants to be left alone. Suzanne and Grady’s first meeting does not bode well for the future, until Suzanne needs Grady to masquerade as her boyfriend, when Suzanne’s parents plan to come to Credence for Christmas to rekindle their own relationship. Grady reluctantly agrees to help Suzanne, but his price is high. It’s going to cost her a number of the paintings she has done of him that he is far from appreciating, before she skedaddles back to NYC and makes him a laughingstock.

So Suzanne and the reluctant Grady try to uphold their pretence, and unexpectedly they are a good fit. Both want what they haven’t had - Suzanne the traditional Christmas and acceptance of her talents by her mother, and Grady someone to share his life with and a sense of family. Suzanne is infinitely better at recognising what she desires. Grady (apart from the physical) not so much!

This book by Amy Andrews has everything. I like when female characters are go-getters and not depicted as vulnerable-need-to-be-rescued-types and Suzanne is definitely not. She is financially independent, has a career, knows herself and what she wants and needs. She is lippy and opinionated. She and Grady have a lively repartee and there is depth to both characters. There’s the right amount of steam in the right places as well.

A super fun read, but I would not suggest waiting til Christmas to do so, because you will be missing out, if you wait! Although, I love the vision this book gave of the most over the top Christmas imaginable.

Thanks so Amy Andrews, Entangled Publishing, and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.

Due for publication on 24 September 2019.

Review to feature on my Instagram page @aplace_inthesun.

What a great Christmas treat!! Suzanne and Brady were total opposites and yet
the chemistry between them is explosive. The plot is wonderfully original. The characters are very real.
The Christmas decorations are hilarious.
I loved everything about this story and I think you will too.

I loved book one in this series and this one was just as good.
This time the story belongs to rancher and former soldier Joshua Grady and legit art forgery painter Suzanne St . Michelle.
He is a man who suffered great losses at an early age, and never truly recovered. Since his return from the Army, he keeps to himself, isolated in his ranch until his uncle rents the cottage on his ranch to Suzanne. To say he’s upset is putting it mildly, even though sparks fly during their meeting. As well as each being annoyed by the other.
Though Suzanne is trying to find her muse and wanting to get away from her mother’s shadow, when she realizes her parents are close to divorcing, she invites them to the ranch and proceeds to create the tackiest Christmas ever, much to Joshua’s displeasure.
While the plot was engaging, and at times funny, and at others heartbreaking as well as heartwarming, the story was more than the basic plot.
It’s a story about allowing yourself to love someone for however long that love lasts. Sometimes fear keeps up from doing just that , and we miss what could be the best part of life.
The characters were complex and likable and while seemingly opposites, in fact they were perfect for each other.
Another touching story by this talented author.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Entangled. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

If you haven’t read book one, then “Welcome to Credence, you’ll never want to leave!”

The Trouble with Christmas is the second book in Amy Andrews` Credence, Colorado series and what a wonderful, laugh out loud, feel good story it is! While the plot may seem a little cliché; these opposites and the attraction that they cannot deny, is heartfelt, endearing, and at times absolutely hilarious. Emotional moments, fun and sassy banter, and the scorching chemistry between Suzanne and Joshua all add to the overall enjoyment of this festive read. I can happily recommend this book and look forward to more excitement in Credence, Colorado.

I loved The Trouble with Christmas. It has been quite a while since I have read a book so fast, but I just could not get enough! I had a pretty strong feeling I was going to really enjoy this one since it includes some of my favorite things. Grumpy handsome rancher... check, Christmas time... check, hero and heroine who drive each other nuts... check, fake relationship... big fat check. Lucky for me it was even better than I had anticipated. Not to mention I absolutely loved Suzanne. From the very moment she started babbling and saying things even she had no clue why, I knew she was my kind of girl. It definitely made for some really funny moments and had me smiling and laughing out loud through most of the book. Joshua Grady never stood a chance! Ah, but the broody rancher also found a special place in my heart. I like that his backstory adds some depth to the story and makes his decisions to try to keep his distance more sympathetic than upsetting. He still managed to be a fun character despite his past tragedies and I have to admit picturing him all macho and serious in a tacky Christmas sweater still makes me giggle. It's almost like the perfect Hallmark movie except with steamy parts and cursing. Although I did not enjoy the overuse of cursing God's name, I decided not to deduct any stars because of how much I absolutely loved everything else. Just be forewarned if that type of thing bothers you. I also have to say before my review is over that the ending was just perfect! It gave me all the feels. I definitely highly recommend The Trouble with Christmas for the Christmas romance and fake relationship fans out there.

** I received an advanced digital copy thanks to Entangled Publishing via Netgalley. This is my voluntary and honest review.**

This is a great entertaining Christmas, the season of good will and holiday cheer read, it’s a laugh out loud hilarious romance with just the perfect mix of sarcasm and snark. This may be a Christmas tale but i firmly believe it will read over and over and loved at anytime of the year. The characters are loveable and the banter they share flows so naturally throughout their story.
Suzanne has escaped New York and arrived in Credence to try and get her mojo back and get creative with her art work, she rents a cottage on a ranch and that’s where she meets Joshua the owners nephew. Joshua doesn’t understand why she is there and he really doesn’t want to deal with her but from the moment they meet the banter and sarcasm will have you snorting out loud. I love Christmas and I loved this book and I really didn’t want it to end, i found myself crying from laughter and the story captivated from the first page to the last line. This author has fast become one of my must read authors and I’m sure if you one click The Trouble with Christmas you won’t be disappointed. Celebrate the holiday season with this entertaining read.

I get excited every year for Christmas and holiday books. Amy Andrews' The Trouble with Christmas is a great addition to the genre!

There's humor, romance, and a touch of heart ache as both Grady and Suzanne get to know each other better and grow closer. I really enjoyed, too, the descriptions of Suzanne's painting process and how much she could see in one piece of art.

Though this is the second book in the Credence series, it can definitely be read as a standalone.

Grumpy, loner cowboy falls for talkative city girl. This Christmas romance book has a bit of comic relief. I found myself skimming the pages at times. I thought the beginning was very slow and it didn’t really get my interest until maybe chapter 8, then later on I went back to skimming the pages. It’s not my typical Christmas read so maybe that’s why I wasn’t too in to it. The main couple weren’t my fave but I’m intrigued by the secondary characters of Suzanne's friend Winona, an erotic novelist, and Arlo, the towns policeman. The writing was descriptive and the author came up with hilarious over the top Christmas decorations. I’m sure others will enjoy this holiday romance but I found it to be a so-so read for me.
ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR via Netgalley
Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books (September 9, 2019)

The Trouble With Christmas is a fantastic holiday romance by Amy Andrews. Ms. Andrews has provided readers with a well-written book loaded with an outstanding cast of characters. Grady just wanted to work his ranch and be left alone. Suzanne just wanted to paint her own paintings, not copy other's works. Suzanne and Grady's story is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle and holiday shenanigans that will put a smile on your face. I enjoyed reading The Trouble With Christmas and look forward to reading more from Amy Andrews in the future. The Trouble With Christmas is book 2 of the Credence, Colorado Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

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

The Trouble with Christmas by Amy Andrews delivered a fun holiday romance featuring a "fake relationship" between a rancher and an artist looking for a muse. A heartwarming, sexy romance to keep your warm by the fire.

I didn't realize this was part of a series, but worked as a standalone as most of the story was spent on the ranch and focused on "fake relationship' and all the complicated feels it brought about. I laughed, wiped a tear and swooned. My full review will post during the #HoHoHoRAT in November. Link below.

Suzanne St Michelle is a brilliant copyist, she makes a good living in New York creating replicas of priceless paintings for art galleries and private collectors but living in the shadow of her mother, a world renowned sculptor, Suzanne really wants to find her muse. When her BFF suggests she gets away from it all and seeks inspiration in Credence, Colorado she jumps at the chance to commune with nature. Unfortunately her muse appears more interested in the taciturn, and downright rude cowboy rancher living in the cabin next door.

Joshua Grady is a former soldier, his entire family and his childhood sweetheart were killed when he was just 17 years old and since then he hasn't let anyone close, except his aunt and uncle who raised him. He can't stand the chatty New York artist who has moved into his uncle's rental cabin and he's livid when he finds out she's been painting him.

Suzanne has always wanted a traditional Christmas with tinsel and a big tree with lots of ornaments, unfortunately the St Michelle house doesn't do traditional, her mother prefers an art installation approximation of a Christmas tree and absolutely none of the schmaltzy decorations so Suzanne does everything she can to get out of returning to New York for Christmas, including telling her mother that she is involved with Joshua and wants to spend Christmas with him - because he's such a Christmas freak! Before you can say Kris Kringle Joshua's cabin is decked out in the tackiest decorations Suzanne can find and the two of them are wearing matching Christmas jumpers.

I liked this but I didn't love it. Amy Andrews said she found this book a struggle to finish and I think it shows. I don't think I really understood Joshua's motivations properly, he just seemed to be a foil for Suzanne's spiralling fantasies.

Overall, while Amy Andrews is still an auto-request for me this didn't hit my buttons. However, I am chomping at the bit to read the next book in this series, which I hope will feature Suzanne's friend Winona, the erotic novelist, and Arlo the uptight policeman.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Christmas is never too early, no sir.

This book had all the elements I love most in a romance story, and I honestly think they all were executed amazingly. I laughed out loud, and felt frustrated at times with the characters, so I was always entertained!



Tall dark and handsome love interest fake rancher boyfriend
That’s him on the cover, for crying out loud, so of course I had to mention him. Grady gets his own POV chapters so he’s a really important part of the story. He’s got his own grudges against the holidays so when on top of being a major nuisance, Suzanne also comes and makes his cabin something Christmas threw up, well, he’s not too happy.

And this is where all the fun begins. He’s always so ticked and something, and I do appreciate that consistency because it just makes it all the better to see him little by little start letting people in.



Suzanne, the legal art forger Suzie, the artist that paints Grady’s head on a cherub’s body
No, I’m not making this up. Trust me, you’re going to laugh so much throughout this story!

Suzanne’s character was really likeable. You know that due to a lot of internalized shit we tend to judge our female characters harsher than we do male characters. Because either they’re too meek, or too snarky, or bland, or mean. But Suzanne just felt like a real person to me. She was just herself, struggling to find her inspiration, and being the kind of person who gets into a really complicated mess because of one single lie. Ahem, super relatable.



She’s really chatty and such an extrovert, while Grady is withdrawed and would probably be satisfied with never having to step out of his ranch ever again. Between the two, they manage to balance each other out, and I love when that happens in a story.

I’m so happy I got to read this one!

A sad "don't call me Scrooge" DNF. I like Amy Andrews' romances. I like Christmas romances. I like grumpy hero romances. I just didn't like this Amy Andrews Christmas with a grumpy hero romance.

One big reason I had difficulty was that I just couldn't take any more of Suzanne's italicized inner thoughts. Suzanne had paragraphs and paragraphs with randomly italicized thoughts and I just couldn't take it any more. It was really distracting and kind of annoying and totally made me dislike her. Big time.

By the time I DNF'd, it is clear that Grady is a taciturn, people-avoiding rancher (not cowboy, as he corrects Suzanne) with a Painful Past. Suzanne, meanwhile, is a bohemian New York city girl who fled to Colorado to find her muse as she sadly whines that her successful sculptor mother never had any folksy Christmas decorations. Okay. So Suzanne, who hasn't painted anything original in a decade but makes a successful living painting reproductions, discovers Grady's face is the only thing that inspires her to create new art.

Surprise, surprise, Grady is not down for his face splattered on her canvases. Or playing her fake boyfriend when Suzanne's parents venture to Colorado from NYC to spend Christmas with her. And after finding very little chemistry but a lot of forced city girl in country humor and even more italics, I didn't really find much enthusiasm to continue. I'm pretty sure that after some holiday shenanigans, Suzanne will at some point have to confess to her parents It Was A Lie and then Grady will confess to her You Made Me Love Christmas Because I Love You Despite My Tragic Past.

To be fair, it wasn't all about the italics. My expectations may have been too high because I usually find Amy Andrews' romances full of crackling sexual tension and great banter. There wasn't enough of either much less holiday cheer. I'm still a fan of hers (here's hoping for more rugby players, please and thank you) but maybe the holiday romances aren't my thing.

Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for generously providing me an eARC to read and review.

New York artist Suzanne St. Michelle rents a cottage from grumpy rancher Joshua Grady over the Christmas holiday, hoping to find her muse out in the cold winter wilderness of Colorado. The unexpected bonus will be that she gets to celebrate Christmas her way: as over the top as possible. But when her sophisticated (and significantly less holiday-cheer-inspired) parents try to make her come home for Christmas, Suzanne lies and says her landlord is really her boyfriend and wouldn't dream of spending Christmas apart. Her parents decide to come to Colorado, and Suzanne must convince Joshua to play the part of the Christmas-loving, doting boyfriend for a few weeks. But just as Joshua starts to realize he may want to do more than pretend, Suzanne's short-term vacation from her real life comes to an end.

This book was cute, and a few parts literally made me laugh out loud. I think it would make a sweet Hallmark Christmas movie (minus the steamy parts, obviously). But like most Hallmark Christmas movies, while they're enjoyable while they last, they're pretty much a dime a dozen. Nothing exceptionally unique about this book, but Christmas-loving, romance junkies will love it, I'm sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC.

This is my second Amy Andrews ARC. I got this through NetGalley.

The blurb lured me in—hook, line and sinker! I love everything Christmas. I may not be as crazy as Suzy and Joshy pretended to be in the story but yes, I'm a Christmas person. Growing up, as far as I could remember, my Christmases were all perfect—as perfect as an excited kid looking forward to Santa's visits and deliveries. And like they say, Christmas is for the kids and kids at heart. And I am a big kid. I've always been a big kid despite all the adulting I had to do... So yes.

It started slow for me. I don't know why but it did. It picked up when I was about 35% in... Even though it started slow for me, when it started picking up, it sure did pick the heck up. Like all pretend relationships go, you can't wait to know what happens next—the bickering, the tension... there's a build up of anticipation especially when your male protagonist is all sorts of cranky, has walls up to a mature oak tree, and seems to be immune to your heroine.

As I was reading I kept on thinking, boy I wanted to see this on the big screen. I wish someone would turn this into a Hallmark or a Netflix Holiday movie... I mean we're already in September so the Christmas season is already starting.

Who doesn't want to read about holiday cheers and a sexy rancher? It's light and swoon-worthy. It's everything you'd want in a holiday romance. I definitely recommend.


https://benderdreamergirl.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-trouble-with-christmas-by-author.html

Loved this book so much, I was sad when it was over. Grumpy cowboy, check! It's Christmas time, check! A chatty heroine, check!
Suzanne heads to Credence, CO to visit her best friend and experience an over the top Christmas like she's always wanted. When her parents insist on spending the holidays together, she lies and says she's spending Christmas with her rancher/landlord boyfriend who loves the holiday.
Of course, he wants no part in this scheme of hers but they come to an agreement. This means they will be spending more time together, each trying to fight their growing attraction.
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and didn't want it to end. I even found myself tearing up at certain points.
Now, will the hot sheriff get a book of his own?