Title: A California Christmas
Author: Brenda Novak
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Up-and-coming TV anchor Emery Bliss can’t imagine anything more humiliating than the sex tape her ex revenge-posted online. That is, until it causes her to lose her job on top of her self-esteem. Seeking solace—and anonymity—in Silver Springs, Emery isn’t looking to get involved with another man anytime soon. But when she’s thrown back into contact with Dallas Turner, she sees something that his many detractors have missed.

Being home for the holidays and his adoptive mother’s wedding isn’t where mountain climber Dallas feels most comfortable. Thanks to his troubled childhood, he’d rather be on a rock face alone than trying to connect with people. Emery, however, makes him want to overcome his past…somehow.

Both Emery and Dallas had been planning on a quiet, solitary Christmas, but the sparks between them are lighting a fire strong enough to last—possibly forever.

I thought this was well-written and I enjoyed the small-town setting, but I did have some issues with the characters. Both Emery and Dallas came across as childish and petty. Emery was the victim of something awful, but her texts were manipulative and dishonest, and I didn’t care for that. Dallas…had some issues—understandable ones—but he showed zero growth during the course of this novel. None.

Again, this was well-written and I enjoyed the read, but I found the characters mostly-unlikable.

Brenda Novak is a bestselling author. A California Christmas is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 10/30.)

Obviously, Brenda Novak is a great writer and she's back with a good, festive story.

While I really liked A California Christmas, I felt it had some issues.  First of all, Dallas was a little overbearing. He kept taking over situations, when asked to or not. On the other hand, maybe someone needed to bc Emery decided it was a good idea to meet a random guy from the internet at a bar, alone, at night....

There was also mention of a climbing friend who didn't answer his phone, but that friend never comes up again.  I as sure that friend would have suffered an accident making Dallas realize the seriousness of his climbing profession, and ultimately what is important to him, but nope.  That friend just disappears, so I'm not really sure why the scene was in the book.  maybe an editing mistake?

Otherwise, there was tons of suspense and I felt the heat from this couple.  Tons of sexual tension and some nice sexy time scenes.  I like that they continued to be honest with each other, and can we give a shout out to Brenda Novak for writing some realistic sex scenes??? The scene where Dallas admits that he almost came before Emery and that it was a struggle for him.  That he almost didn't make it and had to try really hard was awesome. so true.

Emery Bliss is a Los Angeles television news anchor with a promising career ahead of her. It all changed in an instant when a disgruntled ex-boyfriend uploads a sex video he secretly taped and ruins her professionally and personally. She returns to Silver Springs where she grew up, in retreat and hiding out at Aiyana Turner’s home who graciously offered her help. Christmas is fast approaching and all of Aiyana’s sons will be home for the holidays, the first time she’ll have them in the same town in years. That includes Dallas, a professional mountain climber, who had a crush on Emery back in high school but is a confirmed bachelor because of the demands of his career. However, his decision to help Emery regain her confidence and footing is threatening that choice. 

What happened to Emery is called revenge porn (or nonconsensual pornography) and there are laws against that in many states, including California. I appreciated the educational aspect included in this story as so many women are victims of this kind of assault and may be unaware that there is recourse. Dallas focused on Emery standing up for herself, going above and beyond in doing so. He didn’t try to have all the answers, just being that rock when she needed one and getting her to reach out for legal assistance. That aspect of the story was fascinating and was the foundation for their developing relationship. It was a slow burn and needed to be, which suited my sensibilities. 

I don’t know what it is about this series but I’m forever hooked and drawn into the stories. Watching Emery stand up for herself and recognizing Dallas’s merits was empowering. There were other issues going on involving Dallas’s biological father, Emery’s parents and her former job. I liked how it all connected with both characters’ growth and enlightenment. There’s also a nice surprise related to Aiyana that was an added bonus. This was a wonderful story for the beginning of my holiday season. Even though there are many uneasy moments, the strength and resilience of this family seems to always override the conflicts. I switched to the audio format after the first book and am still enjoying the narrator. She’s a good storyteller and delivers a strong performance.

Thank you to Harper Collins for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

I walked into this book knowing two things: it was part of a series I hadn't read (this is book 7!) and that it was probably going to be similar to a Hallmark movie...and I was fine with both of these! I like reading romantic fluff - it's a great way to break up more dramatic reads and they are a guaranteed happy ending. And that's exactly what California Christmas ended up being. 

Cute, Fluffy Story
When you pick up a pick with "Christmas" in the title, you should definitely know that you're goingt o be getting a sweet, fluffy romance that takes place during the Christmas season. And I love it! I love Hallmark and Lifetime holiday movies and I've really enjoyed books in this genre. Who doesn't love a guaranteed happy ending? I've read books like this in the past and always enjoy having a little holiday romance to dive into (even if I'm reading this a few months early). We know Emery and Dallas are going to end up together, so what's going to happen along the way to stump their romance before this can happen? The fun is in finding out!
​
Not Enough Character Depth 
A lot of this book felt very surface, especially when it came to character personality and decisions. I always have a hard time explaining what was missing when I read a book, but character depth was a big one here. We barely get to know Emery and Dallas before their story is done. I would've loved a flashback of them in high school, since the story begins with Dallas remembering where he knows Emery from. Maybe a little more time spent building each of their personalities would've helped - Emery and Dallas are very basic characters, which is weird because Dallas has such an intense history and Emery is going through so much public shaming. But I never felt like we really got to know either of them...

Interesting Career Choices
Ok, this might be really random to a lot of people, but I really like the career choices for these characters! My husband loves bouldering and we've probably watched Free Solo and Dawn Wall at least 6 times each, so I thought it was fun that Dallas is a free solo climber. Likewise, Emery's career choice as a news anchor was really important for her storyline and obviously reminiscent of other sex scandals where the woman is shamed while the man is applauded. I would've really liked to see more from this aspect of their lives though - we don't really see Emery actually ever deal with his bosses. What happens with the lawsuit? Do they ever apologize? What about her ex? It felt very forgotten by the end of the book.

Overall, this was a cute story but it was missing any real depth, even taking into account that this is a "holiday" book. I definitely would've like to learn more about these characters so that I would feel more connected to them. I'd recommend this to anyone who has read the rest of the series (I'm interested to know what the first 7 books are like!) or to people who like an easy holiday romance to enjoy.

A perfect story for the holiday season. Strong characters and a romance that's both sexy and sweet. There's just the right dose of suspense. I couldn't put it down. Emery is one of my favorite characters in this series. Dallas grows so much throughout the story you can't help but root for him. Reading a Brenda Novak book is like visiting old friends. This one is a heartwarming journey of hope and triumph. I can't wait for the next one!

I am loving Harlequin's Christmas books this year! This was a great addition to their lineup. I loved the storyline and adored both Emery and Dallas. If you are looking for a feel-good holiday romance, look no further!

Free solo climber Dallas Turner has a messy past. He climbs to escape, to free his mind. Going home to New Horizons ranch for his adoptive mom’s wedding (and Christmas) the last person he expects to see is Emery Bliss, his high school crush. Emery was Little Miss Perfect back then and she’s gone on to a successful career as a TV anchor… until her spurned co-host posted a sex tape and Emery was the one who got fired for it. She’s hiding out at New Horizons, trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces.

There were some really odd things about this book that just made it fall a bit flat for me. Emery not getting to be there at the final confrontation to catch her tormentor, with Dallas teaming up with her ex instead? Some dude called Brian who Dallas talked to only on the phone being the one to give him the Words of Wisdom he needed, rather than his loving mom Aiyana? Then there was a weird Chekov’s Gun which never went off, when Dallas called another free climber he’d been coaching to check on him and the guy didn’t answer his phone and never called back… I really thought that one was going to be either, they guy had suffered a serious fall and Dallas would feel guilt, or the guy would call back and rave about Dallas’s coaching abilities, making him think more seriously about his possible purchase of a gym. Instead, it was raised, dropped and never mentioned again, meaning it breaks one of the cardinal rules of writing… if a scene doesn’t advance the plot, it doesn’t belong in the book.

Dallas as a character reads a bit like the author watched Free Solo and developed a massive crush on Alex Honnold (namechecked several times in this book) and decided to write a hero heavily based on him, but with added Tragic Backstory. I was honestly horrified when Aiyana made the decision not to tell Dallas that his real father, the man who murdered his mother and sister, was out of jail and looking for him because she didn’t want it to ruin HER wedding… and surely, parole boards talk to victims before deciding whether to let violent criminals like that go? Or advise them that they ARE going to be released? It just felt like there was too much going on. Like the revenge porn plot against Emery wasn’t enough for the story, so Dallas just HAD to have major stuff going on too? Oh and Emery’s parents are undergoing a messy divorce and her grandmother has dementia… it got to feel like misery p*rn at one point and it really detracted from the romance, because it’s hard to believe in a happily ever after when all that stuff is going on and not all of it gets resolved at the end.

I’ve enjoyed some of Brenda Novak’s books before but this had too much suspense plot and other stuff going on at the expense of actually developing a romance between the two leads. It’s not terrible, but it really missed the mark as far as I was concerned. Three stars.

Overcoming lost especially when young is challenging. Dallas lost his mother and sister in one day after his father shot them both.  Twenty plus years later he is one of the eight boys that Aiyana has raised as one of her own. In this return to Silver Springs we catch up again with Aiyana in this storyline she's finally getting married to Cal(met both characters in previous Silver Spring novels) and all of her boys have or about to return home. Dallas is surprised to see Emery in his mother's kitchen since he had a crush on her when they were teenagers. He finds out her ex-boyfriend did revenge porn on her and now she's out of her job and feeling desolated and is camping out at Aiyana house till after Christmas. At first Dallas and Emery are friendly with each other where he decides to help her get back to what she loves most her anchor job. They eventually become loves both have convince themselves this affair will only be for the holidays but of course during their time together they both realize this is more than seasonal love affair. Love seeing Aiyana finally getting married and enjoyed seeing glimpses of previous characters we have met.  Ms. Novak is able to blend realistic tragedy  where the hero/heroine overcome to find love with one another. Review on goodreads and amazon.

Good book that takes place at the New Horizons ranch in Silver Springs. Aiyanna started the ranch many years before to help at-risk young men. Some of those boys she adopted, and they have grown into fine adults. Aiyanna is about to marry her long-time love, and her adoptive sons have returned to Silver Springs for the celebration. One of those men is Dallas Turner.

Dallas witnessed his father murder his mother and sister when he was a boy. After years in the foster system, he ended up at New Horizons. Even after all these years, Dallas bears a tremendous amount of guilt, feeling that he should have saved them. He prefers to spend his time on his solo mountain climbing career, where he can hide from his memories, than around people he has to talk to. The last person he expects to encounter when he comes home for his mother's wedding is his high school crush, Emery.

Emery left Silver Springs after college and moved to LA, where she became a television news anchor. Her career was going well until her secret relationship with her co-anchor ended. When she wouldn't get back with him, Ethan posted a revenge-porn video on the internet, causing an end to her career and a hit to her self-esteem. Sinking under the weight of despair and depression, Emery ends up at New Horizons, staying with her mom's friend, Aiyanna. Silver Springs is the perfect place for her to lick her wounds and decide what to do about her future. The last thing she wants is to get involved with another man.

I liked the development of the relationship between Emery and Dallas. His protective instincts are aroused when he hears what happened to Emery. I loved that he immediately believed her story and that he wanted to do something about it. It was sweet to see how Dallas made a point of helping Emery overcome her embarrassment and fear of appearing in public. Though there were sparks between them from the first, they tried to stick to being friends. Neither felt they were in a place for more than that. Emery questions her judgment when it comes to men after being so wrong about Ethan. Dallas is too haunted by his past to believe that he can give Emery the stability she needs. I loved the support Dallas gave Emery as she made decisions about her future. There were some fun scenes where that support was a bit more involved than I expected. The more time they spent together, the stronger their attraction grew until they couldn't help but give in to it. As they grew closer, I liked seeing Emery chip away at Dallas's walls and help him work through his guilt, but there are still obstacles that face them. An unexpected visitor from his past brought back his pain but also helped him confront it. I liked the effect it had on him and his hopes for a future with Emery. I liked his big moment at the end, and the epilogue was terrific.

A heartwarming and highly enjoyable Christmas story that made me smile and root for the characters.
I loved the well thought characters, the tightly knitted plot and how the author deals with issues like revenge porn.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This series is such a feel-good series, and I mostly enjoyed my trip back to Silver Springs in A California Christmas. 

Emery was in hiding at Aiyana's New Horizons after her ex boyfriend and former news anchor colleague leaked a sex tape of her. Not only did she feel incredibly exposed (I mean - who wouldn't?), but she also lost her job, and had a lot to deal with personally with her parents' divorce on top of everything else.

Dallas is one of Aiyana's adopted sons, and he's one that hasn't been present very much in the prior books in the series.

I have to admit, my favorite part of this novel was the fact that Aiyana and Cal were <i>finally</i> getting married! It's been a long time coming, and I sort of wish this story would have been all about them. Aiyana's backstory hasn't really been explored much, and she's the pillar of not only New Horizons, but also of both her community and her family.

Parts of the story felt a little hastily thrown together, Emery got a job with Susan at her bakery - and somehow, Susan is now little Mrs. forgive and forget, after being so filled with hate for most of her life. There was also the fact that Aiyana thought Dallas' biological father had changed, thus she gave him the means to get in touch with Dallas against Dallas' wishes. Not only that, but she paid him off to keep him away until after Christmas, and that didn't seem to be like her at all.

While I overall enjoyed the chemistry between Emery and Dallas, I wish the story would have concentrated fully on one couple.

Initial Thoughts: Is it ever too early to start reading holiday novels?

As someone that's worked retail in my years growing up, I can't stand when stores get decked out for Christmas before Halloween and Thanksgiving have even happened yet. Thank goodness for stores like Nordstrom that believe in celebrating one holiday at a time. However, on a personal reading standpoint, give me a good holiday book any day of the year. There's a reason we're all so obsessed with the Hallmark Channel, right?! Also loved that this book is based in California!

Review Notes:

'A California Christmas' touches on some very serious topics; revenge-porn, murder, betrayal, crime, yet overwhelmingly it's a heart-warming novel filled with lots of family drama and important themes in life that hold people back from accepting the love they deserve.

I thought the topic of someone being aware of a demeaning video but having the decency and respect to not watch it was an interesting view on honor. It reminded me of the occasional times I've heard of nude photos of celebrities being leaked; I would hear about them, but I wouldn’t google to see them. My thought process was it's not meant for me, it's not for my eyes to see, and it’s not my business. What two consenting adults choose to do with one another in love should always be treated with respect and care, never revenge and dishonor.

This book was filled with topics of trust and fear; the fear instilled from past tragedies that prevent one from wanting to open their hearts to love. Finding love is wonderful but for people that have been hurt in the past, it can be difficult to be vulnerable and trusting.

'A California Christmas' is a wonderful women’s fiction/romance novel and I would highly recommend it. It touches on serious topics, but not in a graphic horrific way, more on the emotional side of things. The Christmas level was lower than I expected but it does include a wedding!

In a Nutshell: A heart-warming novel filled with lots of family drama and important themes in life and love.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

This book started out as a romance, so I wasn’t expecting much. But I should have known better – after all, it is a Brenda Novak story. When I realized there was a mystery involved in the story, my interest was piqued. I was much more interested in the mystery than the romance.

The story was inspiring as Emery and Dallas both had tragic things happen in their lives, but they navigate their way through it and come out better in the end. I loved Cal, Aiyana, and all the troubled boys Aiyana adopted.

I was not aware that the book was part of a series. But I did not feel I missed anything by not reading the earlier books. Overall, I really enjoyed this story.

Emery Bliss is a TV anchor whose controversial video has been posted online because she broke up with her fellow anchor. The revenge tape has become viral, which led to her losing her job. She goes undercover in Silver Springs to lick her wounds. While she is there, hoping that the scandal will die down, she reconnects with Dallas Turner.

Dallas Turner is home for Christmas and his adoptive mother, Aiyana's wedding. He had a tough childhood and for him. mountain climbing is the release he craves. He loves the solitude but that all changes when he links up with Emery. He finds himself intrigued with his mother's houseguest and finds himself in the role of her knight in shining armor. However, he might be the one who needs rescuing--from his past.

The fire and electricity between Emery and Dallas was one charged with attraction. Each finds peace and a spark with the other that they didn't know was missing from their lives. 

I have read some of the other books in the Brenda Novak's Silver Springs series and it was good to read this continuation. The heat between the characters was above a 10 on the scale. I do wonder about some of Emery's encounters with Dallas - would she have been so open when she was in the midst of a scandal but other than that, I enjoyed watching as they conquered their personal demons. Dallas was a strong character who had to realize the real strength comes from opening himself to love and forgiveness.

The supporting characters were well written - providing some great insight that can serve as takeaways. Such as:
"Being nice is wonderful, but allowing someone to push you around isn't. Sometimes when people step over the line, you have to let them know you won't put up with it."
"Sometimes when people take responsibility for the things they've done--no matter how terrible--it can heal old wounds."
"You don't have to be perfect to be perfect for someone." What a great line and truth!

Overall, another good read from Brenda Novak and I look forward to reading more. Thank you #Netgalley for this book.

I loved this holiday romance. I'm a fan of the Silver Springs series by Brenda Novak anyway, but this installment was a delight. 

Emery Bliss flees her home after her boyfriend, who happens to be her co-worker, publishes a sex video she had no idea he'd filmed. She's lost her job, her dignity, and her boyfriend in a matter of days. She's staying at Silver Springs for now with her mom's friend Aiyana. She never expects Dallas Turner to come home.

Dallas is back in town in preparation for his mom's wedding. Aiyana's wedding is a long-time coming, and he plans to be there for every minute of the preparations and big event. When he finds Emery in his mom's home, he's stunned. He's had a crush on her for years. When he learns why she's there, he wants to do everything possible to help her get justice for the way she was treated.

It isn't long before sparks are flying. Emery doesn't want any part of a new relationship, but Dallas is really hard to ignore. Dallas also isn't one to stay in one place for too long, so he's going to break her heart if she's not careful.

Brenda Novak does such an exceptional job at building up romantic tension and creating characters you want to spend time with. I loved seeing Emery come out of her shell. I also enjoyed seeing Dallas's protective nature coming into play. 

Every page of this romance left me hooked. By the time it was done, I was satisfied and eager to reach the next Silver Springs romance.

A California Christmas by Brenda Novak
Silver Springs #7

Coming into this series on book seven was not a problem. I wasn’t sure who everyone was, but it didn’t matter in the telling of the story of Emery and Dallas. I settled in easily and enjoyed it thoroughly! 

Emery Bliss has had a horrible situation descend on her…revenge porn on the internet that won’t go away has cost her not only public scrutiny and castigation on the internet but also has seen her fired from the job she loved as a news anchor. Tail tucked between her legs she ran to hide in Silver Springs with a friend of her mother’s. In addition to the chaos in her personal life why not throw in parents in the midst of an acrimonious divorce and a grandmother facing senility and she is a wee bit beyond woebegone. 

So, who does she meet in the first few pages of the book? Dallas Turner, home for the holidays to help his mother get ready for her wedding. His mother and brothers, all adopted sons of Aiyana, are intriguing characters I wish I had met in book one and followed through the series BUT…perhaps in the future I will catch up with them. Anyway, the story was delicious and delightful and filled with ups and downs and problems to sort out and solve. Love wasn’t a given but it was definitely hoped for. 

What I liked: 
* Emery: a professional woman on her way up, battered on the internet, struggling to cope, in need of a good friend and a safe place to stay. I liked her. 
* Dallas: a professional mountain climber, carrying a heavy load from childhood, a good friend-brother-son-man, he has a lot to give, needs to learn to open up and to move forward. I liked him.
* Aiyana: a strong woman with a backstory that no doubt was told in the past…intriguing woman and wonderful mother to young men that cold have been lost without her. 
* The way the person who posted the intimate tape online was exposed and made accountable
* The way that Emery and Dallas slowly came together
* The brothers 
* Cal, Aiyana’s fiancé
* The woman who hired Emery for a short time
* That the perpetrator of the revenge porn post was eventually dealt with

What I did not like: 
* The double standard related to tape that went online
* The person that put the video up online
* Knowing that this sort of thing happens in real life

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Definitely

Thank you to Harper Collins - Harlequin-Mira for the ARC – This is my honest review. 

5 Stars

This is an interesting story that takes place around Christmas time (it's actually Christmas for just about 5% of the book). There's some romance, some vengeance, and some family time. Emery's life is changed after her boyfriend and cohost decides to release a sex video after they broke up. She tries to escape to Silver Springs, where she stays with a family friend. There she spends time with their family, and rediscover what is really important in life. I was not a huge fan of the main characters (Dallas is a weird guy, Emery is not relatable), but the story is interesting and has a bit of suspense to it.

Great book! I would give it 4 and a half stars if I could!  Emery and Dallas are great characters that have a back story that adds to this novel.  This is part of a series that I will add to my to-read list now, but this novel stands on its own.  
I received an advance e-copy of this book from the Girl Book Club Blogger program in exchange for an honest review. When that detailed review is posted I will add the link to this review.

4.5 stars

Another lovely holiday tale from Brenda Novak. Silver Springs is such a wonderful place for the holiday. It’s full of acceptance and hope and love, even if it doesn’t always feel that way for the characters.

Nobody judges Dallas’ past more harshly than Dallas himself. He has risen above his upbringing and has become a very confident person when it comes to his adult life and his passion of climbing. Yet, bring him back home to Silver Springs, where he ended up as a child after a traumatic childhood event and hopping from foster home to foster home, and he reverts back to that child who is unsure of his worth. He would never admit those feelings, but those who love him see them clearly.

Emery was also quite a confident person, until a vindictive ex stripped away any sense of security she ever had. Not only has her romantic and professional life started falling apart, so has her personal life. Her dad has unexpectedly left her mom and is being unreasonable, leaving her with a lot of pressure and stress since she’s a loving and concerned daughter.

Put Emery and Dallas together and they are so good for one another. Dallas helps Emery find her confidence and remember who she is on the inside. Emery gives Dallas a place to feel safe to express emotions he never even lets his adopted mom, Aiyana, see. But they’re both so concerned about making sure the other finds their happiness, they forget about finding their own.

This is a very emotional story, especially when it comes to Dallas and his past. His story made me weep while Emery’s story made me furious. Not at her, but at all those around her.  Her boss, her ex, her dad, her “fans”.

As much as I adored this story and this couple, I think my favorite parts had to do with Dallas and his brothers. They didn’t let him hide from his own feelings. They are all so supportive, as nobody can quite understand what they’ve all been through the way they can understand each other. I cannot wait for the younger boys to grow up and get their HEAs, and I really hope to see Seth get another HEA.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

It was nice being back in Silver Springs. This book is all about second chances for both Dallas and Emery. Aiyana is of course fiercely protective of her family and during this book and time Dallas more than anyone. Emery needs to get over a terrible humiliation so she decides to spend time hiding out at Aiyana's house. The friendship between Dallas and Emery moves into something more but it takes a chance encounter for Dallas to actually embrace what he is feeling. We get a wedding and all the Christmas feels with this book. You can read this book as a stand alone or part of the series both ways will be equally enjoyable. So get in the Christmas spirit and open this book up.

*I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily giving my honest opinion*