Thank you to NetGalley, Ballentine, and Debbie Macomber for the ARC to read. I always enjoy this author’s books. They are always a light hearted and fast read. This was no exception, it was a wonderful holiday read. At this time, especially,  it makes us take a step back and see all the things we are missing, What our priorities are and how we can change them if we have to. Great read, highly recommend.

I have always enjoyed Debbie Macomber's Christmas books, and Jingle All the Way does not disappoint. 
Everly ( Daisy ) Lancaster is overworked and stressed from her Job. After making  a big mistake, her boss suggests taking the month of December off. Her assistant books her on a relaxing vacation to a beautiful resort., or so she thinks.... When she arrives, it is not at all what she expects. This resort hosts  a guided tour down the Amazon River! There she meets Asher Adams the tour guide and he tells her she will have a fun and memorable trip. After a few snakes, piranhas and an unnerving moment with some locals, Asher saves the day. Daisy and Asher spend some time together,  but all things must come to an end. Daisy has to return home for Christmas and leave Asher there.  Did sparks fly during their time together or was it just a vacation fling? Will they reconnect over the Christmas holiday?  Pick up this book if you are looking for a quick, light Christmas novel!

The title may lead the reader to think this is a holiday read, but it really is not. The story takes place during December, but that and a short scene, with people singing carols, is all there is that relates to Christmas. Daisy (Everly) Lancaster is a self-made company CEO, who spends every waking moment on or in the company and is, in short, a stressed-out work-a-holic. Her partner convinces her to take a cruise during December to unwind. Daisy agrees and is looking forward to a luxury cruise, where she can lay back, soak up the sun and visit foreign ports, all in the lap of luxury. Her partner’s sneaky niece, however, schedules Daisy for a cruise on the Amazon, where everyone is on board to see nature’s sights in the rainforest, with few amenities.  Daisy immediately wants off, but the ship captain informs her she cannot get off, but must instead stay for the cruise duration. Naturally, Daisy is not happy, but settles in as best as she can. Gradually, she becomes friends with the elderly couples, who are also on the cruise and the cruise adventure guide, Asher. Seeing that Daisy lacks many of the outdoor skills others on the cruise do, Asher sets out to help her along, hoping the cruise will at least be tolerable, with some good memories. As the cruise goes along and Asher spends more and more time with Daisy, both realize this is moving in a direction neither wants nor is happy about. After all, they come from very different worlds, to which they will return after the cruise. However, we do not always control our lives as much as we wish we did, and neither do this couple.

This is a good romance. There is a lot of fascinating information provided about the Amazon and the rain forest the cruise travels through. I enjoyed watching Daisy (who has changed her name to Everly for business purposes) and Asher as they went through the trip, each becoming more and more attracted to the other daily. I liked the realism they displayed. I could easily see Daisy as the CEO of a company, as I could easily see Asher as the well-versed, lover of the environment and adventure he so fondly spoke about all the time.  The other passengers, though they played smaller roles, likewise fit the setting well. The setting, cruising along the Amazon through the rain forest, only enhanced an enjoyable read.  No, this was not the usual Christmassy, holiday read, as so many of the other Christmas books the author and others have penned. Nevertheless, it was interesting and definitely made for a good, different holiday read. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I have mixed opinions on this book. Overall I would give 3-1/2 stars if I could. This is a story about a work-focused young woman who is forced on a vacation booked by someone else and ends up on a cruise in the Amazon. In her journey, she has mishaps but also a lot of self-discovery and examination of what is really important in life. This self-discovery is what I really enjoyed about the story. What I didn't like was the changing of names of the main character. Early in the story, she is Everly then all of a sudden she is being referred to as Daisy. This went back and forth during the story. Eventually there was an explanation and then it all made sense but until then, the name changing led to less enjoyment in the overall story. Despite this, I would recommend this story to someone looking for an enjoyable quick read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily

Due to cataract surgery I have not been able to finish this book. - What I did read I found enjoyable and hope to finish this in the new year once my new glasses for reading come in.  The plot line seemed fun and the characters were interesting.

There are a couple of signs that a book is really good… First, I react out loud to big moments. Second, I start retelling the story to my partner and giving him daily updates on the characters until I finish the book. I did both of these with this book! :)

What I loved: I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and related to the overworked executive who could really use a vacation. I also really appreciated that the main character, Everly, was represented as such a strong, independent woman. #girlpower

Overall, loved it and would totally recommend it to anyone looking for some light, happy reading!

**SPOILER ALERT — general talk of ending below**

What was just ok (I still loved the book, so these things weren’t bad just ok): Based on the title I thought it would be more “Christmas-y”, but I think that’s just my own expectation although the title doesn’t feel related to the story after reading it. Also, I was so shocked by the rapid ending! One second the characters are saying goodbye and they’ll see each other soon, then I turn the page and it says “Three Years Later”… Whaaaaat?! That was so fast, I would have enjoyed a little bit more of the in-between. But, again, that’s my expectation and it may not have made sense or actually worked for the book.

She can write a phone book and I would totally enjoy it. Christmas stories are always good!  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

Here’s a little confession – I have never read a Debbie Macomber before now and really the only reason I grabbed a copy of this one was because . . . . Well, you see, Joe Goldberg becomes obsessed with Macomber’s fictional small town in You Love Me and since I am obsessed with Joe it all came full circle.

Now that I’ve finished????  I guess murdering our significant others isn’t the only thing Joe and I don’t have in common because this was just turrrrrrrrrible. The premise here is that Everly gets put on a month long sabbatical without much explanation provided aside from the fact that her assistant is a complete F-up who just so happens to be related to Everly's business partner and for some reason she doesn’t have any authority with regards to firing her. As a last hurrah to prove she is completely incompetent, said assistant books a two week cruise in South America that ends up being some sort of nature trip via boat down the Amazon. I was hoping to maybe get just a teensie taste of the vibes I got when watching The African Queen back in the middle-ages, but instead I was fast-forwarded through the first week of Everly's trip courtesy of a real convenient mosquito bite that took our leading lady out of commission and then things just went completely off the rails with potential cannibal Amazonians and instalove and other shenanigans.

Maybe her other stuff is better????? .

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

This story was a fun Christmas read! I didn't know that it was also going to become one of my favorites. This was my first Debbie Macomber novel and it will not be my last. Such a cute read.

Very cute Christmas book. A lot of things are left open ended. I hate his it jumps from one thing to three years later. With nothing about the in between. That made me dislike the book a bit. But overall good book.

I’ve enjoyed all of Debbie Macomber’s books and Jingle All the Way was no exception at all. I loved the characters and I thought they had great chemistry. I loved the aspect of the mistaken cruise and I liked how the main character wasn’t whiny and complain a lot when she found out it wasn’t a luxury cruise. I also loved how in this novel, the main character has very bad luck on the cruise but doesn’t sit in her room and sulk about it. She takes it all in stride and keeps going and having fun even when she gets lost in the forest and kidnapped by a local tribe or falls into piranha infested waters. Another thing I loved about this book was the familial relationships involved. After the cruise is over, Everly goes back to her hometown and stays with her family for the holidays and you really get an insight into her relationships with her siblings and parents. A lot of times in romance novels it rarely focuses on the family of the couple but Debbie Macomber does a great job blending romance and family life together. The only reason this book isn’t getting a full five stars is because as soon as Asher apologized for blowing it off with Everly, she immediately forgave him and took him back. I think I would’ve given it a full five stars if she wouldn’t have taken him back so quickly each time he told her their relationship would never work. Overall I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a lighthearted and witty holiday romance that will have you rooting for the main characters and wanting to curl up with some hot chocolate and a cozy blanket!

Never once would I imagine the Amazon being connected to Christmas...but after this book, I don't think I'll ever NOT make the connection. 

Everly Lancaster sounds a lot like many of us. Overworked, exhausted, and always on the go she never gives herself a break.  Now in a successful and secure job, she has to deal with an annoying and mistake prone assistant- who's also related to her CEO.

After one mistake goes too far, it's suggested that Everly take the month of December off. While at first it seems like too much- that month off changes Everly's life for good. 

Poisonous snakes, piranhas, and Grandma's Christmas Fudge round out the endearing cast of characters and plot in Debbie Macomber's newest holiday read. Pick up a copy for the holidays, you won't regret it!

This was such a fun and easy read. The storyline was creative and so different from a typical romance novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy.

I always know I’m in good hands with a Macomber book, so I was super excited to pick up her latest holiday read. This one was quick and short and only took me a couple of sittings to read (and also paired really well cozied up with a chunky blanket and hot cocoa). While overall not as full of Christmas charm as I’d have liked and the storyline feeling off at times and being abrupt in places, I still found this to be a cute and lovely read! The way Everly and Asher met and their relationship overall was a fun journey to come alongside, and I couldn’t help but cheer them on as they faced challenges of work-life balance and just what you’re willing to give up for love. It felt genuine and realistic and that’s something I don’t feel I always get in Christmas romances, so that was a huge win. I also appreciated how this book went beyond the stereotypical small town love story that’s so common in holiday stories, what with the Amazon expedition “cruise” being a key component and all. It felt fresh and I just really wished a bit more Christmas-y goodness could’ve been incorporated somehow. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Jingle All the Way to be at the tippy top of your holiday-reads stack, but it was definitely a fun, lighthearted story that I think would be worth squeezing in if you can!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the gifted copy.

This book might be in a warm setting, but gives you a cozy Christmas feeling. This is a good holiday story and if you are a fan of her stories then you will enjoy this one too. If you want a "heartfelt Christmas" story then this is a good choice for you. This story features Everly Lancaster who is taking a December vacation from the job that has become her life. She will be visiting her family for the holidays after what she thinks will be a wonderful vacation. It might not be the vacation she is hoping though. It also might be turn out to be a a time when a new chapter in her life to begin. What will she decide to pursue this Holiday season? Will it change her life? Join her on her unexpected holiday to find out what she does to celebrate the holidays and experience an unforgettable vacation. It is well written and a steps out of a traditional holiday story if you are looking for that type of read this season.

This is a solid  4 1/2 stars. 

Daisy seems so similar to so many high strung business women in books at the beginning, it was so nice to see the direction that the character went in. While this is definitely a Christmas romance, this is such a character discovery. 

What we see in “Everly” in the beginning and Daisy in the end is such an amazing look into who she really is and wants to be, how she prioritizes life and family, and while there is an precipitating incident, it’s not something crazy like amnesia or a near death experience, it’s a vacation.

I may have give. It a full 5 if either the assistant had been fed to a piranha (kidding, maybe), or if Asher was a little different. He actually annoyed me at times. I just wanted someone to smack him.

Debbie Macomber writes some of the best Christmas books especially any involving angels yet Jingle All the Way fell a little bit flat for me. The story is a good one and you get a woman finding the true meaning of the holidays and family, and a nice ending- so in that way it is a classic Christmas story. However the first half of the book made me so confused and questioning what this book is actually about. It was interested for sure, but it just felt like two books mashed together.

Jingle All the Way is another great Macomber book! It's a sweet holiday story that had some adventure and humor. It was a quick read that had romance, a bit of family drama and decisions to be made, I loved the epilogue that showed a glimpse into the characters future.

I loved this book!! Cute story!! Gave me Christmas vibs!! I love this author's books!! I'm glad her boss gave her a month off!!

Couldn't resist one. Look at that pup on the cover! Plus a romance that starts on an Amazon cruise? Okay. No choice but to read this. 

The story follows Everly/Daisy. She was always the odd man out amongst her large family. She now runs a huge company in Chicago where she has made work her life. She barely has time for friends, family, or even a moment to take a vacation. On the urging of her co-owner, she decides to give her terrible assistant one more chance and lets her book her a couple week vacation. Well....turns out she is about to face the wilds of the Amazon with no Wifi and a being lead by a charming naturalist Asher Adams. 

This would make the cutest Hallmark movie ever. LOL

Poor Everly. I would be mad because her assistant sucks and her co-owner sucks and now she is stuck in Brazil on a "cruise" with no wifi and your showers are limited. Boo! I am with Everly...I am a modern woman...I need modern things thankssss especially for a 2 week trip!!!! A few days...okay, 2 weeks? Girl no. Give me a pool and a shower and TV. 

BUT Asher is a hunk and it might be worth it ;) He is charming and oh-so sweet especially when Everly was sick. Bless his hunky heart. 

I loved the adventure Everly was forced to take and I'm glad she had fun even though she is not meant for the wilds. She is klutzy and her luck sucks. I can relate to her for sure on all of that. 

I am also glad that this was not 100% all about romance. Sure that was 90%, but we did get to see Everly find herself and reconnect with her big ol' lovable family. That was very sweet. 

Ooooo and that ending/epilogue was good. Very sweet. I didn't really expect that at all. 

My only issue....the puppy. There is no puppy in this D: !!!!! WAH? Teased me for sure with that. 

Oh and another issue I had was how quickly these two fell for each other. Yes, yes, insta-love. It bothered me at first...but it wasn't an easy love for sure so it balanced out in the end. So I was able to look past this little issue I had. 

Overall, this was a very sweet romance and a very sweet Xmas book that you can cuddle up with next to a fire. Yesss I am using the word "sweet" a lot in this review, but it is the perfect word for this novel. I'll give this 4 stars.