Holding Out for Christmas by Janet Dailey
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Romance
Release Date: September 29, 2020

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This was such a sweet story and a great read. I laughed, I cried a little, and found myself smiling through the sweet parts. I fell in love with the characters and loved the development of the relationships.

If you are looking for a quick, sweet love story, this is for you!

I'm so grateful to Janet Dailey, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. This was a delightful Christmas book. You get to meet Conner whose been a bit of a ladies man and Megan who is a teacher. I cant wait to read Janet Dailey next book.

The emotion in this story packs a punch. Conner is primed and ready for a real relationship, unlike Megan, and the shadow of all his “fun times” doesn’t help. Story has depth and the characters are well developed but I think their lives were so full that they didn’t have enough dating/romance time. Even still, it’s an encouraging and charming story that kept me totally engrossed until the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Janet Dailey and Kensington Books for an ARC. This is my personal review in exchange for the ARC.

Holding Out for Christmas is a sweet romantic love story that will put you in a good mood after enjoying it.
Conner is a retired Professional Bull Rider who now own a Christmas Tree farm in Texas with two of his friends.
Megan is a kindergarten teacher in Nashville, and she is an aspiring country singer with the group Badger Hollow Boys.
Megan is spending the holidays in Texas with her family and to play at the annual Cowboy Christmas Ball. And to help her parents with her brother who has Downs Syndrome and her Mom is in a wheelchair. Megan is torn between staying in Nashville to pursue her singing career or moving to Texas to help her family.
Megan and Conner meet when she is on her way to her parents and runs in the ditch on slippery roads. He stops to help her, and sparks fly between the two.
Janet Dailey has written another beautiful story.

Setting Branding Iron Texas
Fun Christmas story, interesting characters.
Conner likeable cowboy in love with a mystery woman.
Megan a.sweet kindergarten teacher who wants to sing.
Good story

I always enjoy This author’s books and Holding Out for Christmas was no exception. Well written with fantastic character dynamics. Romance readers will enjoy this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Very sweet Christmas story. The book is about Conner, a retired Professional Bull Rider. That now runs a Christmas Farm in Texas with his two best friends. Life is getting a little lonely for Connor since one friend moved out and got married and his other friend is engaged and his wedding is weeks away. They love teasing Conner about his crush on a singer from last years Christmas Ball. On the way back to the ranch, with the snow falling down heavily Conner see some tail lights in a ditch. He turns around to see if someone needs help and meets up with Megan, armed with pepper spray. There are several storylines that all interweaves Conner and Megan. Well written and a fast read.

This is a perfect read for fans of TV Christmas movies. I did not enjoy that the hero thinks a woman can't shovel some snow but other than that it was a fun read.

Cute story. Connor starts the story out by having a crush on a girl he doesn't see but once. When she turns up in his town right before Christmas she does not tell him who she is until it's too late. I don't understand someone that has such low self esteem but this girl had it in every way. Her brother seems like a very smart young man and I'm glad he has a chance at getting what everyone needs. The book has more than one happy ending but you'll wonder at times if they are all going to make it.

Holding Out For Christmas
Janet Dailey
September 29, 2020

Megan Carson was on her way home from Nashville, Tennessee driving to Texas to visit her family for Christmas vacation. She’s a kindergarten teacher with a part time job as an aspiring singer in a country group, Badger Hollow Boys. She knew her parents needed help at home as her mom is wheel-chair bound with MS and her brother is 24 years old and has Down’s Syndrome. Her dad teaches at the high school and does his best to get as much as he can done around the house but Megan misses them and also feels ashamed that she hasn’t spent enough time in her hometown of Branding Iron Texas to help her family.
Connor Boone and his partners Travis and Rush own Christmas Tree Ranch. During holidays their tree farm and holiday sleigh rides support them. Rush is the town vet so he puts in as much time as he can. Connor was a superstar rodeo cowboy until he was thrown from a bull and fractured his hip among other injuries. Now after rehab he is doing his best to work through pain when necessary and support his friends who have helped him to recuperate. The night has turned snowy and winds have picked up. In Connor’s trip down the ranch lane to rescue their expensive tree farm sign, he finds Megan in her car which has spun out and become stuck in the ditch. Yes thus begins the romance of the two. At first it seems like a normal vacation romance but as we all know neither love nor life is fair. I was very pleasantly surprised at what a pleasant holiday book Dailey’s story became.
We all have our cross to bear and both Connor and Megan must work through their own personal crises before either can commit. I have read some of Janet Dailey’s books before and always found them very warm and likable. It is often that she includes characters with physical or mental illness. In this, she features Megan’s brother Daniel, who has Down’s Syndrome. He works but wants desperately to learn to drive and own a car; all a phase of growing up and becoming a man. Her mother is learning to get back into life after being diagnosed with a life-ending disease.
Holding Out for Christmas by Janet Dailey will be published on September 29, 2020 by Zebra Books of Kensington Publishing Corporation. I very much appreciate their allowing me to read and review this charming novel prior to publication. It is a special story that is a terrific prequel for the holiday season. Enjoy!

“Holding Out for Christmas” was a nice escape from the realities of life. This sweet romance was easy to read and the characters were very relatable. The perfect feel good story to get you in the holiday spirit.

Love Christmas romance and this book is the perfect example of why. Follow your dreams or follow your heart? Holding Out for Christmas is the third book about 3 men who find love during Christmas time. I enjoy hearing from the mans side of the story as well as the woman’s side. Happy ever after tied up with a big red bow! Thanks to the author her publisher and NetGalley for letting me read an advanced copy of Holding Out for Christmas

Megan had Conner at "I've got pepper spray." He's half in love with a lady that he's never met but giving a relationship with Megan a chance is magical. I fell in love with, Holding Out For Christmas, and the characters too.

What is the book about?

This book is about Megan a schoolteacher and Connor the cowboy that fell for her. Last Christmas Connor fell for this sultry singer that blew his pants off at the Cowboy Christmas Ball but he doesn’t know it’s Meagan the humble schoolteacher from Nashville he is in love with.

What I loved about the book?

I loved that the book was a Christmas time romance and the plot was so sweet and the cute part was that Megan had an alter ego. She thought she wasn’t good enough as Meagan because Meagan was a school teacher. I also liked the fact that her Brother Daniel had Down Syndrome because representation matters in 2020.

My one concern was that the book had puppies in the cover but therere were no puppies

Megan is at a crossroads in her life. She is visiting her family in Texas for the holidays and needs to decide whether to break up with her boyfriend in Nashville and give up her dreams of becoming A professional singer for a teaching job her father has told her is available in Texas.

Conner has spent the past several years dating a plethora of women, but never feeling any desire to commit. However, with his two best friends in committed relationships, he feels like he is the odd ma out and for the first time, believes that he is ready for a serious relationship

However, both Megan and Connor have secrets. Can they both own up to those secrets and trust each other enough to have their own happily ever after?

Conner Branch is an ex-rodeo bullrider who is now a partner in a Christmas Tree Ranch in Branding Iron, TX. This follows some other stories I’ve read about Conner’s partners Travis and Rush in the Ranch but it is not listed as part of a series. Conner was fascinated with Lacy Leatherwood who he saw at the Cowboy Christmas Ball the previous year but he never got to make her acquaintance. He’s hoping to actually meet her this year. A few days prior to the ball he rescues Megan, a cute kindergarten teacher from Nashville, when her car runs off the road in a snowstorm. He is entranced with Megan but still plans to seek out Lacy.

This is a fun story and the characters are likable and interesting. I recommend this to anyone who just wants to read a happy Christmas romance.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

What a wonderful book - truly getting me in the mood for Christmas. I love the characters, they were well developed and kept we interested. Megan took the long road around to find out what was important to her - family! I wasn't happy with the way Megan finally told Conner about her alter ego and would have liked her to have handled it a bit better. Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I really enjoyed it.

Christmas Tree Ranch is run by three friends Conner, Travis, and Rush. Then a blizzard descends on Branding Iron and brings Conner and Megan together. Conner is a former national bull riding champion whose career was cut short and brought him to Branding Iron. He is excited about this year's Cowboy Christmas Ball because of the singer he had seen from the previous year and was hoping to meet Lacy Leatherwood this year. Megan is a teacher who lives in Nashville visiting her family wishing to make it big as a singer. She sees that no one wants to see Megan singing, but the crowds appreciate her songs when she sings as Lacy Leatherwood. When Conner and Megan embark on a new relationship, Megan is hesitant to bring up Lacy thinking Conner will only want Lacy.

Janet Dailey brings us a sweet story of love, family, and friendship. Conner and Megan must figure out what is important. Will Lacy be an obstacle they can overcome or will she drive them apart?

Janet Dailey has brought us a lovely Christmas story with Conner and Megan. I have enjoyed their story and look forward to another adventure. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for this privilege.

"Holding Out for Christmas" by Janet Dailey is a book you can curl up and get lost in.
If you are a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies you will love this book and Hallmark should jump on it for the up coming season. The characters are enjoyable but the book reads like it might be part of a series although it is not listed as such. There is history behind the supporting characters that might also be interesting to explore. This is definitely a feel good book.
Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
# Janet Dailey # Kensington Books # NetGalley

A delightful romantic Christmas cowboy story by the very talented Janet Dailey. I am not one to retell the story like so many reviewers do as I think it ruins the book. You can read the quick synopsis the publisher puts out if you want that. The characters are well developed and I like the fact that Janet includes characters with disabilities and does it superbly well. The setting is described so vividly I can easily picture it in my mind. Another great read you definitely don't want to miss.