Really well-written and well-developed book. The characters were interesting and likable as well as also well-developed. The story was riveting, emotional and kept me engaged right up until the end. I gave it 4 stars because by the end there were one or two things that were not resolved, but overall it is a very good read.

A California Christmas by Brenda Novak, book seven in her Silver Springs series, was an enjoyable read. Emery Bliss’ life was quickly turned upside down thanks to her ex, when Ethan posted a sex video of the two of them online. Not only does she lose her dignity, she also loses her job as a TV anchor. Upset and humiliated, Emery heads to her old hometown of Silver Springs, CA to stay with her mom’s friend, Aiyana Turner. While Emery is there she runs into Dallas Turner, one of Aiyana’s adopted sons. who happens to be in town for his mom’s wedding. Dallas climbs mountains for a living because it’s a way for him to escape his past.

While there is instant attraction between Emery and Dallas, the last thing she needs is another man in her life. But of course, the more time Dallas and Emery spend together, the hotter the flames are getting until they both give in to their attraction. Emery is ready to jump into something serious with Dallas, but because of things from his past he cannot commit.
When Emery’s life is threatened, Dallas is even more conflicted than ever for his feeling for her. Dallas is going to have to confront his past before he can ever have something special with Emery and when the past if finally thrown at him, it will take a lot of soul searching for Dallas to figure out that what he really wants the most out of life is Emery.

I really enjoyed A California Christmas by Brenda Novak. I just love this series as well as all of Aiyana’s troubled, adopted sons. It was fun watching them find love. I really liked Emery. She was strong willed and sweet. Despite having so many negative things going on in her life, Emery found the strength to never give up. I adored Dallas, as you couldn’t help but feel for him, because of his past. I just wanted to reach out and give him a hug. Overall they made for a wonderful couple and I really enjoyed their love story. I highly recommend A California Christmas to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Unfortunately this wasn't my favourite title by the author. I had a difficult time connecting with either lead... but I do love the reconnection to familiar faces and the overall series storyline. The author is a talented storyteller and the heroine faced a difficult modern day betrayal with strength and grace. While I state not my favourite, it will work for others, especially if you want to return to Silver Springs and see more of Aiyana (I love her!!!) Overall a mid-range rating for me as it just didn't click as a whole... it was a bit busy and not as polished as I had hoped, but it does include the elements you expect from Silver Springs - lots of steamy romance, healing, and of course, a glowing future. A must if you're invested in the series.

A California Christmas is the 7th book in the Silver Springs series by Brenda Novak. I have read three of them, so felt comfortable with this story and many of the references to previous characters. This was not so much a Christmas story as a book that happens to take place at that time of year. With Emery Bliss licking her wounds and wanting to hide out after a serious betrayal from her ex-boyfriend, she heads to Silver Springs to stay with a friend of her mother's. This begins a series of events that brings Emery and Dallas together. With Dallas at home for his mother's wedding, it puts him and Emery together over and over again. Will they be able to move past the wounds and baggage they carry to realize that they should be together?

Emery and Dallas both have things in their lives that changed their paths. They are both hurt and angry at someone that caused the pain. Dallas has a bit of a saviour complex and wants to help Emery deal with all her problems, but he also has a short fuse and Emery is worried what he might do. This story has a lot of different themes and elements but the biggest is forgiveness, self-forgiveness being one. I enjoyed watching Emery try to get through everything that was happening in her life, including dealing with her parents' divorce and difficulties sorting out their problems. Her grandmother has dementia and her mother is across the country with her pleading for help constantly. You have to be a strong person to be able to get through all that. Dallas has spent his life running away to climb mountains around the world, but he needs to stop and face what is happening in his life and forgive himself. All of that added some angst to the story, but something seemed to be missing for me. I was looking for some Christmas cheer and hope. I did enjoy this story, the characters and watching the characters grow and find what they were looking for, but I wanted more Christmas! If you enjoy stories about second chances, new beginnings, forgiveness, moving on, romance and small town healing, then this is the book for you.

Favorite Quote:

Attitudes are as catchy as the flu.

My Review:

This holiday romance featured multiple storylines which were all equally engaging and well-nuanced with family drama, wedding prep for an older couple, career crossroads, a revenge-porn sex-tape scandal, a new budding relationship that was meant to be a non-romance, and new beginnings. Ms. Novak’s small-town characters were immensely likable, realistically flawed, and held my interest. The story threads were busy and eventful yet relatively easy to follow, even for someone like me who is not familiar with the series or read the previous installments, although now I am feeling the pull to do so as I am quite curious about several of the characters.

The Review

A fantastic holiday-themed romance that can be read all-year-round! Author Brenda Novak writes a brilliant tale that explores themes of sexism in both a professional and social setting, unexpected friendships turned romances, and using the roadblocks and hardships we face to find a better, more true path for ourselves than we ever thought possible.

Character growth is the key to this novel’s allure, as the protagonist's Emery and Dallas are both relatable and do a wonderful job of showcasing their individual personalities as well as the bond they form together. As a Southern California guy myself, I could relate to the overall setting of the story, while longtime readers of the author will appreciate the established series setting that keeps the story both fresh and familiar all at once.

The Verdict

An intriguing, well-written, and evenly-paced romance novel, author Brenda Novak’s “A California Christmas” is a must-read novel this holiday season and beyond. Filled with tension, passion, and hopeful storytelling, this is the romance-inducing story that everyone will enjoy as we close out 2020. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

I always enjoy a book by Brenda Novak, and this was no exception. I don't read a lot of Christmas or holiday reads. so I wasn't as excited about this one as a typical Novak read, but it was still a sweet and entertaining story.

Who doesn’t love getting a second chance in life? Everyone makes a mistake or regret but you keep on going and making your second chance in life. And that’s what Emery and Dallas are looking for, and maybe they can find it together too (wink wink). It’s going to be a slow burn romance since it's a Brenda Novak specialty so expect a lot of gooey moments between Emery and Dallas. Emery needs a place in silence since her ex exploded in her life. And she needs it. She needs to know what she wants in her life and her career. It may shock her but it can also surprise her too. And she finds herself a loyal friend (maybe true love) Dallas. It won’t be easy though. Dallas is facing major issues that you cannot force someone to face. They need to face it in their own time, not too fast or too slow. In a good pace. I truly felt frustrated with Emery at times that I wanted to shake her. Everyone has a pace, no one is the same. Just chill.

This installment of the Silver Springs series just did not work for me.

I liked Dallas as the hero and protector and I felt sorry for Emery's problem, but for her to fall into sex and then a relationship with Dallas so soon did not work for me.

Also, the characters of both Susan and Aiyana do things that are really out of character in this book.

I love the series, but this one did not work for me.

I am beginning to think that romance novels are not really my thing. This book was well written and the theme was cozy and festive. But I just didn't connect with the character unfortunately.

Emery's ex posted a sex tape and now her life is pretty much ruined. Fired from her job she goes back to Silver Springs to figure out what next. Dallas is dealing with the horrors of his past while sticking around for his adoptive mothers wedding. He's in conflict for what's in the future of his career and managed to find a bit of distraction in Emery.

Whew there is just so much to go over with this book that I've never expected. First theres the whole problem of Emery's ex leaking the video and how its impacted her life and while she tries to take back her power and do something about it she's on a mission to get her ex to slip or something to help her case. Then there is Dallas on and off thinking about his past and the unforgiveable thing his father did that landed him in jail but even more the memory of his father even before what happened wasn't all that great. Then theres this other whole thing going on that I wasn't expecting. I loved the romance that was going on between the two, I love that chemistry they had. I loved the sweet moments when things were looking bad seeing how they helped one another. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.

In Brenda Novak's newest novel, a childhood love is revisited and put to the test by the now grown children of this small town. During a personal controversy, faith is restored and friendship tested for a young woman trying to get her life back together. I truly enjoyed this holiday read. It would be great to take on a weekend trip or to read around a fire at night.

I received a free advanced copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
#Netgalley

Emery Bliss is a former television anchor who lost her job after her ex-boyfriend, and co-anchor, posted a sex tape of them online. She goes back to her hometown of Silver Springs to stay with a family friend, Aiyana. Aiyana is planning her Christmas wedding, and all of her adoptive sons are coming home for the holiday. Dallas Turner is one of her sons. He’s a professional mountain climber. Now, someone from Dallas’s troubled past has reached out to him. Emery and Dallas are both planning on having a quiet Christmas in Silver Springs, but the problems in their pasts come back into their lives.

I haven’t read any of the other books in the Silver Springs series, but I’m interested in reading the other books now. There were some other characters in the large adoptive family, who were mentioned briefly. It looks like they’re the focus of the other stories. This story mostly focused on Dallas and Emery, but I didn’t feel lost without reading the other books first.

This story had a great combination of suspense and steamy romance. There were some tense scenes, with Dallas’s dark family history and Emery’s devastating sex tape. The romance between Dallas and Emery started quickly and stayed steam my throughout the story. This story had a great balance of tense moments and romance.

I really enjoyed this holiday romance.

Thank you MIRA for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story was beautifully written and will pull at your heart strings. It's good to go back to Silver Springs.

My heart shattered learning what Dallas went through and witnessed as a child at the hands of someone he should have been able to trust. Its easy to see and understand why he choses to climb moutains sides without gear.
Emery is hiding away trying to figure out how to go about taking down her ex boyfriend for posting a video of them online that she had no clue was being recorded and her former employer for wrongful termination. She is staying in Silver Springs not even leaving the place she sees as her safe space.

Dallas comes home to help his mom (adopted him) get ready for her wedding. Dallas gets Emery to leave the bubble she has been in. They start hanging out more and feelings fet deeper

Emery gets attacted and told to drop the lawsuit. Dallas finds out and will do anything to find out who is behind it.
Emery decides to leave and go spend Christmas with her mom before the set up meeting is to happen ending what is happening between her and Dallas.

What will happen? Will we find out who is behind the attack? Will Dallas just let Emery go and that be the end?

A sweet book where two humans hurt by their past came together to find love and blessed peace with one another. A sex tape released online caused Emery to leave everything and come back home. Dallas too came back for his mother's wedding. Romance ensued

Brenda Novak was an awesome author and all her books helped to put a smile on my face. This too did its job to make me happy. The writing brought out nuances and emotions. The story held my attention.

Overall, a sweet read to escape the realities of life.

A California Christmas by Brenda Novak is a wonderful, romantic festive tale set in Silver Springs, California. Even though I'm extremely late to the party, jumping in at book seven, this was still a fabulous read for me, working just fine as an individual story. TV anchor Emery Bliss has returned home, spending time at New Horizons ranch following an embarrassing and humiliating time in Los Angeles when her ex revenge-posted a revealing tape of her online, resulting in her losing her job she adored. Not looking for romance any time soon, she’s thrown back into contact with Dallas Turner, who's home for the Christmas holidays and his adoptive mother’s wedding...

The story is real, tender, and explores some topics not often seen in a romance. A heavenly story with another chance for love, the plot unearths some wonderful, touching moments between Emery and Dallas and I particularly liked Brenda Novak's portrayal of his supportiveness towards Emery. I welcomed the big moment at the end of the tale, and the epilogue was superb. An immensely compelling and engaging Christmas romance that I really enjoyed, I'm looking forward to reading book eight - When I Found You - as well as the rest of the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Harlequin/MIRA via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

So this is my first book by Brenda Novak. It's the seventh book in the Silver Springs series involving a small town with some complicated residents. And a large family who takes in troubled youth.

Our heroine Emery Bliss, moved to Los Angeles in hopes of being a famous news anchor. All is well until her ex posts a sex tape of her online, which causes her to loose her job and she runs home seeking solace. Since her parents aren't in town due to their impending divorce, she stays with Aiyana, who is the hero's adopted mother.

Dallas, is home helping with his adopted mother's wedding and Looking for ways to cope with his past. An unexpected guest brings up feelings from his childhood.

They are prompted to help with Aiyana's wedding which starts them down a path that nether one was seeking. Both having their own relationship hang-ups, Dallas helps Emery in a slow and tentative process which brings them closer. Did they find something in each other that they didn't know they wanted?

It's romance story filled with real topics that are typically raw and emotional to the public and aren't usually discussed in the way that she writes them. The healing process of each character is what will draw you into this story.

I want to thank Netgalley and the Publisher MIRA.

Let me just say this…Emery + Dallas = va va va voom! This holiday romance has tons of sparks and plenty of substance. Loveable characters, baggage galore, and small-town living give Novak’s story a big thumbs up from me. This book is part of a series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. I now can’t wait to go back to Silver Springs. I hope you enjoy your visit.

Great holiday story! This is number 7 in the series but I think you could read it as a standalone book. I really enjoyed this heartwarming tale. Recommended!

This was the seventh book in the Silver Springs series. I've only read the one from last Christmas (book 6) and this one. The small town of Silver Springs has its share of troubled characters, especially those involved with the New Horizons school specifically for youth with sketchy pasts. Most of the residents, of course, are completely lovable once you get to know them.

Emery Bliss was from the rich school in town, but after high school she moved to LA to be a famous news anchor. It's going well, til revenge porn is posted by her co-anchor, and she comes back home to nurse her emotional wounds and hide from those who want to talk about her fall from grace. Unfortunately, her parents have left town and are focused on their own bitter divorce. Emery stays with Aiyana's house (just off the campus of New Horizons) and ends up meeting one of Aiyana's adopted sons (Dallas Turner, now an adult) who is just home for the holidays, and to help with Aiyana's wedding. I think we can see where this is going, right? ;)

Dallas wants to save those who have suffered injustice, mostly in private tribute to his inability to save his own sister. But he'll need to learn this before he can work through his own commitment issues and really move on with his life.

There's a lot of trouble in the world, but in Silver Springs we know there will be a happy ending within a few hundred pages, right? I'd give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for readers who like contemporary romance stories.