I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed getting to know Cara and Javi. I loved there building relationship.

Most of the way through the book you're thinking are they going to get together aren't they. Then there's the curve ball that I didn't expect near the end of the book.

Cara in the beginning seems quite uptight on the outside and when you first meet Javi he seems uptight too but as they get to know each other they both begin to come out of there shell a bit.

The too-Ing and fro-Ing between the pair gets a little frustrating at times but that shows how good the writing is to evoke this emotion. I smiled and laughed so many times throughout the book.

I really liked Javi's reaction to Carla's health condition, as if it was something he didn't expect but didn't change how he felt about her or who she was.

I don’t know what to say about this book. Not really a Christmas story, slightly bizarre at times, but by the end of it I’d bought into the characters more and enjoyed it.

A Christmas story about writing and performing that perfect Christmas song and the relationships it effects. Javi's career is on a downward slope and Cara's is stalled. Their agents get together and propose they record a Christmas single. Javi is a bit of a playboy, Cara is rather shy and does not want any kind of relationship. Well, when you are forced to spend that much time together, some feelings are bound to occur. Both Cara and Javi have had things happen in their past that have brought them to this point. Javi has a daughter that he doesn't really know or spend time with, but his ex-wife needs him to take her for awhile when she goes for an acting job. This forces them to get to know more about each other and Javi decides he rather likes be a father. When Cara and Javi open up to one another, they start to have romantic feelings, but will it work. From Columbia to Miami to London we see all sorts of Christmas traditions and the culture and lifestyle they have grown up in and presently live with. I found that part of the story interesting along with all the promotion and production for their song. There are barriers and roadblocks along the way that they will have to get over if they are to have a real relationship and I enjoyed seeing how they dealt with things. I really liked the main characters in this story. Cara's father was not my favourite, but he does come around at the end. If you enjoy Christmas stories, stories about musicians or just something a bit different this year, then pick this one up, it is an enjoyable story.

I struggled to get into My Christmas Number One by Leonie Mack as I could not get to grips with the narrative. There was a constant referral throughout to music terms that didn’t hold my interest so I gave up on it.

this book was so cute and precious. i'm so glad i got to read it. i love reading beautiful chick lit books. don't let that deter you. pick this one up!

A heartwarming and sizzling romance about two musicians and their unexpected (and unwanted) collaboration on a new Christmas song. The ironic part is both of them struggle with the Christmas season as they are haunted by the past. Cara and Javi are complete opposites, but each of them have something to learn and take away from this collaboration. A beautiful Christmas romance about nostalgia, moving on from the past, and dreaming about the future. I loved the complexities of their stories, their pasts, and their faults. It is just what I want in a light holiday read that still keeps me hooked. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

Cara and Javi meet when they are put together by their record contract to make a song together. Niehter is what the other expected. They don't get off to the best of starts, but as they spend more time together they start to get to know each other and unconver each others secrets. 

Do they have a chance together when they live completely different lives?

A great festive read.

Wonderful heartwarming story. Good strong characters and a nice storyline. Lovely easy reading, great for getting into the Christmas spirit.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It helped to imagine younger versions of Emily Blunt and Benjamin Bratt (with the Columbian accent he used on Modern Family) as Cara and Javi respectively. 

I did enjoy the deep dive into music composition and styles and really wanted a soundtrack to play while reading. I especially loved learning about the Dia de las Velitas celebrations. I went down a rabbit hole looking at images on the internet after that section. So beautiful! 

While it took me a while to warm up to these characters, I guess that's similar to how they take almost half the book to understand each other. I liked the contrasts between Cara and Javi. I especially liked how Cara dealt with her anxieties but she didn't let it be an excuse. She was really strong, determined, and self-aware. That doesn't happen with a lot of female main characters in Christmas rom coms. She was doing ok in life but meeting Javi moved her out of her carefully constructed comfort zone and helped her expand her career, her confidence, and her memories of the past. 

The writing is just wonderful. Most especially, the descriptions of all the different locations (London, Miami, Barranquilla, Tayrona National Park...), The author really puts you in the location with her characters. 

Highly recommend for a romantic Christmas read that has more depth and substance than the typical sugar cookie versions. 

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.*

From the first chapter, I was genuinely hooked on this book.  The warmth in the writing is so evident in every sentence - the author clearly loved the plot of this book and it shows.  It is just utterly gorgeous writing.

I was immediately swept away with the characters,  I was invested, I really wanted to discover their back stories - they weren't dragged out.  The book was beautifully paced in a way that made perfect sense. There was no rushing - it wasn't needed.

The characters - ADORED. all of them, even Cara's Dad!  Their personalities made sense to their back stories and their lives, their cultures, their traditions.

Honestly, I could rave about this book all day! Utter Christmas perfection!

I had been prepared for Leonie Mack’s debut romance My Christmas Number One to be a ‘Hallmark-esque’ holiday romance complete with Christmas tree-lighting, cookie-baking, and enough snow to cool me down during California’s heatwave. Surprisingly, the fresh plot is largely unpredictable and largely set in tropical locations. I quickly realized that this poignant, interracial love story between a Colombian superstar and a British amputee pop singer was the slow-burn romance that I did not know I WANTED.


FULL REVIEW published on All About Romance - https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/my-christmas-number-one-by-leonie-mack/

This story has a very strong and engaging start with is brilliant as it really gives the reader something they can sink their teeth into. It is also very intriguing hinting at character pasts which the reader will just eat up. Something else the reader will love is watching the relationship between the characters grow and develop as the story builds. 
It is also very interesting to see this different side to the music industry, as well as the places this story takes you. It is clear from reading about the different places/ music industry that the Author has done their research well. 
Overall this is the perfect Christmas story, with the added bonus that you can enjoy this all year round. It is the perfect story to read while sipping your choice hot drink, under a blanket in a comfy spot. The characters are designed to make the reader fall in love with them, and the song written within the story makes this reader want to go listen to it.

Wow this was so much more than what I was perhaps anticipating - on top of their being Christmas, Christmas music and well I was anticipating romance, there was also a travel element to it that I adored, and some incredibly powerful moments with both main characters. 

Cara is an inspiration, something tragic happened to her 10 years ago, and although it still has big effects on her life, she is so much more than that, she is a rock star and is no longer a fan of Christmas - but has been asked to collaborate with Javi on a Christmas single. 

Javi, just wow, he is one smooth mover, I'd happily join him in any dance club for his hip action alone!!  Except when it comes to Cara all his normal moves seem to desert him. 

And the single they are working on, Nostalgia is beautiful, I could sort of imagine the blending of styles, as I do love a Latin beat, and as some of the lyrics are explained in more details it is a really meaningful song for Javi. 

I would love to tell you more about the travel element, the Javi family element, all of the things Cara is dealing with - but given I went into this book blind, almost solely based on the cover well, I think that is the best way to approach this one. 

I wouldn't want to spoil any elements of a book that I would already love to see as a movie, in fact really do think would make a fabulous film - possibly a fab Hallmark Christmas movie, or anyone else, as it has all the makings of a gripping plot, challenges to overcome and some top notch chemistry even if it is being denied. 

I can't believe this is Leonie Mack's debut, as if that is a debut then wow as to my eyes this is an author to watch out for.  

And due to the aforementioned travel elements and different Christmases discussed I'd say its safe to read early into the run up to the festive season, as its certainly Christmassy but in a slightly different way!

If it's not clear, then I love, love, loved this book!

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A quite unusual, heartwarming and poignant Christmas story that kept me hooked, made me smile and moved.
The plot is gripping and I loved how the author deals with topic like grief and PTSD.
The characters are well written and I rooted for them.
The author is a good storyteller and I loved how the plot flows.
It was an excellent read, strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

My Christmas Number One tells the story of two opposites who are pushed together by their record company to collaborate on a Christmas single. At first, they seem totally different personalities but as the story unfolds, you start to notice a few similarities. You are taken to Miami, Mexico and Colombia for a large portion of the story and this gives the festive read a distinctive air. In these two characters, you certainly have a clash of cultures, both musically and environmentally.
Through both characters, Leonie has explored aspects of PTSD, disability, living with anxiety and also guilt and grief after loss. There is more to the book than a light-hearted festive read. Cara in particular shows that she has the resilience to overcome lifechanging difficulties. Family is also important, but as you discover, not all family members are easy to live with! Nevertheless, they added to the story and were always sympathetic. If you are looking for a Christmas story with a difference, you won't be disappointed!

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book

I really enjoyed this unique festive story and I definitely love an opposites attract romance! I did not expect the story to be emotional and you really get attached to the characters. It was a great read! 

I also loved reading about the different cultures and the Christmas setting was perfect. 

What I liked 
* Unique
* Emotional
* Festive

Lovely book. I really relished the Columbine parts, it sounds such a l lovely place with such interesting Christmas traditions.

Our character is damaged mentally and physically and through sheer hard work and determination she is determined to shine through and succeed.... she doesn’t need a man, especially a man with his own
Issues. 

This was a real heart warming story and I really enjoyed it.

This arc copy was provided in exchange for an honest and impartial review by netgalley,

what a wonderful magical debut. I loved how the author incorporated two different cultures, which is something you don't read very often when it comes to Christmas books. I enjoyed the characters and thought it was well written and the plot was well paced. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Such an excellent festive read.

My Christmas Number One is the debut novel from author Leonie Mack.  In this original story, two people dealing with tragedy, loss, and heartache are connected by a beautiful Christmas song written by Colombian super star Javi Felix. When rising British pop singer/songwriter Cara Poignton is asked to collaborate in the recording and video with Javi, she takes the job at the urging of her agent, Freddie. Upon meeting, Cara and Javi don’t exactly hit it off.  He is too arrogant and macho.  She is too quiet and reserved. But when they sing together it is magic! 

Their contract includes recording in London, performing in Miami,  Cancun, and a few cities in his native Colombia.  In Miami, where Javi spends most of his time, Javi’s ex-wife Susana brings his 12 year old daughter to stay with him while she must be away for work. Javi has been a rather absentee father but has decided it is time to grow up and be responsible for his spirited daughter.  The three of them, Cara, Javi, and Bea, embark on the rest of the tour, sharing experiences first in Mexico, then in Javi’s hometown in Columbia where his parents and brothers welcome them warmly. Cara’s dad, Judge Gordon Poignton, joins the group unexpectedly as they begin the Christmas season, a time of year that is so difficult for Cara and her father as an accident had robbed them both of her mother and brother ten years ago.  Cara, who was also a victim of the accident, has losses and scars of her own from this event.

This is a beautiful story of how very different people, each hurting in their own way, can be brought together in a phenomenal way.  Music is a universal language and lyrics can touch hearts in a myriad of ways, each person hearing the words based on their own experiences.  I very much enjoyed this lovely book and do recommend it.

With music, travel, healing and love this is a fantastic contemporary romance. Cara is a professional musician who is required by her record company to feature on a record being made by Javia. Christmas is a time of sad memories and associations for Cara, and the festival has dire connotations for her and her father. When Cara listens to a demo of the song, she records two responses – one sticking to the original and the other putting her own twist to it. Neither plan to spend more time together but making the promotional video and television interviews bring these very opposite performers together and the dynamics between them prove magnetic. However, he’s a Columbian living in Miami and has a reputation for being into fun, not responsible, even though he’s the father of a twelve year old daughter. Can Christmas, travel and love help these two heal and find love together?

This is a story where traumatic events from the past have repercussions in the present for both main characters and their families. The story deals with some associated issues, including mental health, in a sensitive and sympathetic manner. It is a heartwarming story, an amazing adventure and great read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The places and events visited are brought to life in the story and I particularly enjoyed learning about the special one they attended in Javi’s home town. There are fun times with dancing and singing, family dramas and romance in this delightful story.

Thank you to the publishers for the copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.