A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS by Brenda Novak is a story about hope, forgiveness and humility all rolled up in one holiday book. A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS takes place in Silver Springs a wondrous place for those that need healing. The New Horizons is a school started by Aiyana a couple of decades ago originally for troubled boys but now welcomes girls. Aiyana actually adopted several boys and this is the core of her family. The boys are gathering back home for Aiyana’s upcoming wedding but in true Brenda Novak fashion that is just the tip of the iceberg or action.
Enter a new character to the New Horizon’s ever expanding “family”. Emery Bliss is a talented woman who worked towards a challenging and rewarding career in television. But Emery became the target of cyber net revenge with the release of a viral video. The person who made it public did more than just humiliate Emery. It quickly destroyed her career. The downward spiral was more than Emery could handle on her own. That is how Emery wound up in Silver Springs with Aiyana offering a place of refuse while she regroups.
Dallas Turner returned to Silver Springs for his mother Aiyana’s nuptials. Dallas made a career out of rock climbing. His career takes him all over the globe but Silver Springs will always be home. The attachment is strong and Dallas learned from the best how to be compassionate and caring and when necessary stand up for the underdog. And needless to say Emery is the definition of the underdog right now. There are few if any people in her corner. She feels hounded by the very news industry she coveted. But for some reason Emery is comfortable with Dallas. He doesn’t seem to judge her as others do. Aiyana has certainly done a wonderful job with her boys.
It never fails to amaze me how absolutely vicious people can be and in A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS it is so evident in how eager some are to spread gossip. Silver Springs is a small town and so unfortunately for Emery it looks as if her secret is spreading like wildfire. Emery is learning not to trust anyone and her circle of friends is getting smaller each day. But gossip is petty considering the danger that just may have followed Emery to this wonderful town.
Both Dallas and Emery are fighting their pasts in this holiday story about new beginnings. Neither can hide from their pasts. Dallas has lived his life taking risks. Emery had never had to face challenges as she does now. Both are victims. Joining forces may just be the means to an end. A happy end.
Brenda Novak had a vision. No not one of sugar plums and mistletoe. A vision of finding peace and hopefully a measure of justice. Brenda Novak once again created some very strong characters whose situations bring equal measures of hope and strength. All Brenda Novak stories evolve around unforgettable characters and A CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS brings back several while introduces some welcome new ones.

This is the second book i have read by Brenda Novak. I was excited to get to share on her facebook page that I was reading her book. To be honest I don't have a single complaint about it . I loved it, It had alot of twists and turns and I thought the ending would be predictable but it wasn't. It was better than I thought.. It felt so real. I am grateful that netgalley let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome back to Silver Springs!
Where Emery is currently staying after losing her job, her boyfriend, her reputation and her self respect !
Enter ... Dallas who would prefer solitude instead of all the messy entanglements of a relationship. I cheered and cried for this couple. At times I wanted to yell at them and hug them !
Just when you think you’ve read the best book in this series, the author digs deeper with each book !
This was my favorite Silver Springs book! It was the steamiest and sexiest by far !
We get to catch up with all our favorite neighbors, attend a wedding and celebrate the Christmas season !

Emery takes refuge from her shattered life. In one swoop she lost her career, boyfriend, and self esteem. Reviled, ridiculed, due to a sex tape, Emery hides at New Horizons until Dallas encounters her in his mother's kitchen. He always had a crush on Emery and helps her to regain her confidence. I liked the scenes between Dallas and Emery. The beach bonfire scene was my favorite. Dallas is slow to realize what he is missing, but fiercely protective. I love this series and the characters.

While I do not expect excessive realism in romance novels, particularly Christmas romance novels, for all that I enjoyed this book, I didn't believe it. I read a review I wrote of another of Novak's books and I said the same thing--I like the characters, I liked the setting, I liked the overall story, but I found the climax scene to be completely unbelievable.

Another thing this book shares with others is the theme of forgiveness -- though the main forgiveness necessary in this book was forgiveness of self--not for what he did but for what someone did for him. Dallas needed to accept the sacrifice someone made for him before he could open himself to love and be loved.

While the main problem in the book is caused by Emery's ex's inability to forgive and move on, when it is all said and done Emery shows the difference between forgiving, and being a doormat. Forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean that things go back the way they were--that's not always a good place. She just chooses not to let the hurt rule her life anymore. Dallas also refuses to forgive, and probably for for good reason. Should he have? Probably. How should it have looked if he had? Probably not that much different than the way things turned out.

I liked Dallas, I like Emery and I loved Dallas' family and enjoyed spending the afternoon with them. I thought the whole sex video subplot, from the fact that it was posted in the first place to what happened thereafter and how it was resolved to be very unrealistic.

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley. Grade: B-

I always love diving into the latest novel in the Silver Spring series!!! A California Christmas centers around Emery and Dallas, who on on the outside seem like a very unlikely couple, but in true Brenda Novak fashion she showed me how looks can be deceiving! I enjoy when a romance plays out naturally and organically as opposed to instalove and Brenda Novak does a fantastic job with that in this book. A California Christmas is great combination of sweetness, depth, and heartfelt moments. The best part about the Silver Springs series is that every installment feels like I am catching up with old friends, but in saying that, I really feel every book can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this entire series!

Emerys life has blown up because of a revenge porn video posted by her ex. She has lost her job, been humiliated and is hiding out trying to figure out what to do next. This is book 7 of the Silver Springs series but could be read as a stand alone. It has a good plot and likable characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I have read every one of Brenda Novak’s books and have loved them but I had a hard time with this storyline. I just did not connect to the character and had a hard time with some of her choices especially after what she had been through