Another cute and predictable holiday romance! I'm a sucker for a feel good holiday romance, good story with likeable characters.

I love books set during Christmas and this definitely gave me all the vibes. A very sweet and cozy story to read during holidays. If you are in mood for a book to curl up with you should definitely go for this one. The characters are well casted with a good plot to keep you hooked

Julie Hamerlee is a new to me author and I really enjoyed Write Before Christmas. I loved that both the characters were mid 40’s and in different places in their lives, but their chemistry kept pulling them towards one another. While set around Christmas, it wasn’t in your face so I feel people who don’t celebrate would enjoy this book as well. On the sweeter side of romance with the sex taking place off the page, the anticipation between them was enough to keep me fully engrossed in their relationship.

Matt is a pretty famous writer mainly because his fantasy series has been made into a television show and he is struggling to finish the last book. He’s had a recent bit of notoriety when he had a few too many drinks at a Comic Con convention and pretty much trashed the TV show and the people involved with it. At the advice of his assistant, he’s rented a house in a small Midwest town to hide out and write and where he will host a watch party for the production team and cast of The Saga for the second season opener.

Dani is newly divorced and hasn’t held a job for the last 20 years while she took care of her family and household, she and her daughter have had to move back in with her parents until she finds a job and gets on her feet since her ex-husband pretty much ruined them financially.  She has no idea what she wants to do with her life, but with the help of her sister in law she realizes that cooking and baking are what she loves most of all. When a woman in her sister in law’s yoga class offers her a job cooking and cleaning for an author on a deadline she isn’t sure if it’s what she wants, but takes it so she can start building her resume and as her sister in law calls it “her brand.”

Matt is very much the typical writer where he knows he has a deadline but he’s feeling uninspired but one night while out for a run he meets a woman walking a dog that inspires him, just a few days later he realizes that his assistant has hired her to be his cook and housekeeper. They know they must be hands off which only increases the intensity of their attraction. I loved the moments between Matt and Dani, their quiet, thoughtful, intelligent conversations and their playful demeanor. My one issue with these two is that they both were so social media opposed acting like it was something not for their generation, in all honesty they were acting like my 83 year old mother and considering I’m 15 years older than these characters it bugged me that they were acting like they were “too old” for it.

This was a smartly written, enjoyable and highly entertaining holiday story and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Write Before Christmas was such a cute read! I love both of our main characters' stories. We follow Matt, aka M.C. Bradford, who is a famous author. He is on a tight deadline to write the final book in his fantasy series turned hit tv series. He and his assistant go to her hometown to give him the environment to finish the book. One night while Matt is out for a run to clear his head he is attacked (with kisses) by a dog. The dog belongs to our other MC, Dani, and her daughter. Even though the whole world seems to know who Matt is due to an unfortunate video where he shares his true opinions on the tv series. But, Dani has no clue who he is. They hit it off right away, but Matt has a book to write with a deadline fastly approaching. He doesn't have time for distractions. This proves hard when Dani is hired by his assistant to be his cook. 

This book was so good and I enjoyed it so much. The characters were all so likable. The issues were the characters were actual real-world issues that could happen, but made them that much more believable and enjoyable. 

I highly recommend this book any time of the year, but especially as a fun holiday read!

This was a cute little romcom that I enjoyed reading during the holidays.  It was a little predictible, but that didn't spoil my enjoyment. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope. I loved that this book featured some real grown ups and not young angsty teens or twenty-somethings. Very satisfying to see this!!

I haven't read anything by this author before but that will definitely change as I really enjoyed the setup and romance in this fun Christmas themed romance! It's the type of story that would feature in a Hallmark Holiday special and would definitely be one I'd watch. 

When fantasy author Matt finds himself suffering from writer's block, his assistant helps him find a small town rental home where he can hide out and try to finish his story. Time is of the essence, even more so than would normally be the case with a publishing deadline because his story has been made into a TV series The Saga and they're waiting on him to continue the plot. The second season is about to premiere and the show has already caught up with his books. The producers need the rest of the story to start pre-production on Season 3 and he has exactly 19 days to finish the script. There's already been an unfortunate incident that caused some tongue wagging when an interview at comic-con had gone awry and the heat is on for Matt to get things done and repair his relationship with the TV show executives. 

Out jogging to mull over story plot ideas, Matt runs into a woman walking her dog, named after Ralph Wiggums, a character from the Simpsons. The woman laughingly confesses that her daughter named the dog, and that she's not a TV watcher, a boon for Matt as it's unlikely then that she'd recognize him. It's a meeting that lingers in Matt's mind after she's gone. 

Dani is recently divorced and she's reluctantly had to move back in with her parents who have recently relocated in retirement to a resort vacation community with her 19 year old daughter Kelsie in tow. She's just had to relay the bad news to her daughter that until she can get a job, Kelsie won't be able to move in with a friend in an apartment and will have to commute from her grandparents while going to the local college. 

Having not had a job since Kelsie was born, Dani doesn't have many marketable skills but she can cook. And housekeeping, while not a career aspiration, is definitely something with which she has experience. While attending one of her sister Una's yoga classes, she meets one of Una's other clients, Jane, an assistant to an author. When Jane mentions that she's looking for a cook and housekeeper for her boss who has strict instructions not to be bothered while he's working, Dani is reluctant, but ends up taking the job (especially when she learns from Jane that the last person she hired was caught trying on the author's clothes in an invasion of privacy – eww!). She's got no interest in the author himself, just a job for the pay and decides it will be better than nothing to put on a resume. 

Naturally, Dani soon discovers that the person she is working for is none other than Matt, the man she ran into with her dog. And Matt, though initially suspicious at the coincidence comes to believe that Dani really has no idea who he is or about his TV show (though Kelsie is not so ignorant).  The friendship they develop soon turns into something more. But Matt's time is running out – both to turn in his script and in the small town. Will they get the happy ending they deserve or will it be cut short?

I love seeing an older couple with life's many experiences under their belts influencing their actions and reactions. Both Matt and Dani are 45 and have had other relationships (good and bad) and are wary of diving into something new. But a friendship is worth cultivating and that friendship eventually leads them to a romantic relationship. This is a closed door romance so we get kissing scenes and the after sex cuddling but the rest is left to the imagination. While I wouldn't have minded more, I am content with how it plays out. Interestingly Matt's stories have some kinky love scenes though those are alluded to as opposed to put on full display.  I enjoyed reading the bits of Matt's stories that make it onto the pages as well, clearly an homage to a Game of Thrones style fantasy. 

The story is told from both points of view, and all of Matt's chapter headings include the countdown to his deadline to turn in the story. The tension of his writing difficulties is ever present, especially as its clear that the tv studio has a different vision of where the story should be going than the actual plot that Matt has developed. This makes for a bit of a page turner, wondering how it can all work out for Matt in the end.

Dani's family is a close knit one and all the scenes between her and her family are very enjoyable. It's a contrast to Matt who is estranged from his mother and doesn't have many trustworthy friends, only his assistant Jane. So his friendship with Dani becomes very important to him. But his career is just as important and when they conflict, he has to decide what's worth more. 

Write Before Christmas is a delightful romantic comedy, with lots of scenes that will make you laugh and smile, plenty of witty banter, as well as really likable characters and an interesting plot. I'm definitely going to be looking for more from this author. 

This review has been posted at All About Romance and feedback updated with the link.

It was cute and predictable but worth the read . I liked the writing style . The characters were relatable and I love the Christmas references.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A little late in reading Write Before Christmas but I love jumping into Holiday books so it doesn't even bother me. In it, you will meet Dani and Matt. She is newly divorced and is trying to find a new job to support her and her daughter. He is a fantasy writer currently dealing with writer's block. Ouch!

So magically he hires Dani to become his chef and housekeeper. Well, his assistant hires her but details. So it was pretty interesting that they kissed on a random night before they knew who the other person was.

Honestly, I devoured this book in one sitting. It was all kinds of cute and I just really ended up liking the characters and enjoying the whole entire story. I also kind of wish it was a movie. Ugh, can it be the holidays now? I got some snow.. now I just need some vacation time and family game/movie night.

4/5 stars

💚 Thanks to Netgalley for providing this great e-arc!


✨This was....surprisingly good. Sp many good things that happened in this book.

The perfect story for Christmas cheer. I appreciated the main character's being older in age as I think midlife romance stories are few and far between. The guy writer definitely was inspired by Game of Thrones/ George R.R. Martin and his fans clamoring for the final book. Definitely enjoyable and fun!

A famous fantasy author (Matt) travels to a small town to finish writing the final installation of his famous series, while under a serious deadline. Cue the divorced older (40's yay!) woman (Dani) who is in need of a job, but at the empty nester period in her life, ready to claim back her time.

I really enjoyed having two older love interests than the standard 20-30's in the average romance, and the reliability of both of them. Although I am not a writer, cook, parent, or really anything like either of them... I found myself relating to the way they think and responded to moments throughout the story.

Will Matt be able to get his story done in time, without "selling out" to the TV producers who run the show version? Will Dani find out what her passion is now that she has more time on her hands? Will they be able to figure out what these sparks between them mean, something just for fun, for an escape, or something more permanent?

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for my eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was an adorable Christmas read.  Perfect for that December break where you're reading sweet books and drinking hot cocoa by the fire.  Loved it.

Reclusive author on a murdering deadline meets newly divorced woman looking for a job. Thank god he needs someone to cook and clean for him, so he can try and finish his next book before it's too late.

I liked this premise, and I loved that this featured more mature characters. Romance is still mostly about people in their twenties or early thirties, so to have main characters well past that age category was definitely a strong selling point for me. Unfortunately I never connected with either character, and as a result I never cared about what happened to them or their relationship.

Write Before Christmas is a cute, cozy feel-good romance from Julie Hammerle and I enjoyed it immensely! It's the perfect festive read that'd been anticipating to read.

Matt is the famous author living the quiet solitude, working on his next book on a deadline. Jane, his loyal assistant makes sure he gets what he wants in his huge house where he lives all by himself. Including a chef who wouldn't steal his underwear and money from his wallet.

Enter Dani, the local woman who is recently divorced and living with her teenage daughter at her father's. Desperately in need of a job however tiny it is, she accepts the position of a housekeeper at Matt's house, without knowing who he actually is!

There's instant spark between the two gorgeous people and it's a treat to read. I was rooting for both of them to get together because they're so good and mature and perfect for themselves. I loved their character development and the premise and the festive tradition of the little town. Loved it how the author focused on both of Matt and Dani's profession giving them a definite dimension and a happy ending to all of the characters in the book. It is impossible not to fall in love with this book. Highly recommend it.

Write Before Christmas by Julie Hammerle is a sweet and Christmas rom-com between a Writer and a Cook. Dani Cooper, a recently divorced cook who is looking for some change and muse in her life. Matt, the writer is living in confinement to work on his next novel. Jane, his assistant is making sure he gets what he wants.

I really liked this book. You need to pick it up if you are looking for a light hearted and feel good book, which won't go wrong. Dani lives with her teenage daughter and her father. Dani is appointed as a housekeeper at Matt's house without she knowing who he actually is!

I liked how teenage girl passes cute cute comments for her mother and Matt. The chemistry and very sweet. I liked the small town setting and Christmas was the deadline for Matt, the writer to finish his next book. Dani unknowingly helps him to finish his book.

The writing style was great. We see the story progressing based on I guess 15-20 days before Christmas. Will he be able to finish his book? And also fall in love with DANI? I liked the simplicity of the story, no over angst just two souls falling in love and finding each other in the process.
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Thank You to NetGalley and Publisher for sending me eARC in exchange for a honest opinion.

With true-to-life characters and a believable storyline set during the  Christmas season; Julie Hammerle has given readers a quick, fun enjoyable romantic read. 

Dani is recently divorced; but was a stay at home mom for 20 years; so finding a job isn't easy. She doesn't have a wide range of traditional skills for the job market; but she's a whiz in the kitchen. Matt is a famous fantasy genre author who reached an extraordinary amount of celebrity when his books were made into a successful TV series.  Matt has relocated to Wackernagel to combat his writers block.....he must produce a new novel for the next season in the TV show.  Convinced by his assistant Jane, he hires Dani to be the cook & housekeeper for his few weeks stay. For further details, you will need to read the book.

What makes this story different from so many holiday/romance books is the couple. They are Gen Xers, so they are older...in their 40's as opposed to late 20's, early 30 somethings. As someone of the same generation, this was a breath of fresh air. This already gives the characters the added dimension of life experience. They are believable that neither at the top of the corporate ladder like so many books & movies you see in this genre. The romance is a gradual build up that flows so naturally, you can't help but get caught up in it & enjoy the ride. Both have baggage, like every person of that age, but without all the angst & heavy-handed drama. I love the holiday setting of course & some of the older pop culture references were a fun touch.

One slight drawback is Dani's complete lack of knowledge of current pop culture. As the mother of a teenage daughter she should have at least heard of things like Twitter & Instagram, even if she'd never used them. That was a bit of a stretch. Matt may be a little too insecure; but I suspect these were overly done to emphasize the growth in character development. All in all, not a deal breaker. This was an enjoyable read with a believable storyline and characters. The time flew by when reading. Definitely, recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy for an honest review

This was a super cute and fun christmas read. I loved Matt and Dani as well as Kelsie and Una. It kept me interested throughout and never felt too slow. I loved the story line and as well as the character development.

Write Before Christmas was a short story that was an enjoyable book to read.  The storyline was interesting and the characters were charming.  Matt Bradford was a famous fantasy book writer whose books had been made into movies.  He was having writer’s block and his deadline was close so he retreated to a small resort in Illinois so he could focus and finish his book.  He was trying to keep his identity secret after his last experience with the media.  He didn’t have time for relationships but when his assistant hires the woman he had meet while out for a run, the attraction between the two of them was too strong to be ignored.  Dani Cooper was recently divorced and moved back to the small resort where her parents lived.  She needed a job but had no experience so when she was offered the job of a personal chef to an unknown writer, she couldn’t turn it down.  As she slowly regained her confidence in herself, she was able to turn her love for cooking and teaching into a job she would enjoy.  But can their relationship extend past Matt’s deadline?

After a divorce Dani is living with her parents and her college aged daughter and is trying to vision board a future for herself now that she’s in her 40’s and starting over. She gets an opportunity for a short term gig as a  housekeeper for reclusive author M.C. Bradford who is desperately trying to finish writing his novel before the end of the year and needs help around the house so that he can focus on writing. Dani takes the job since  it’s a way to earn money  while she figures out what she wants to do next. However, Dani quickly learns that “M.C.” or Matt,as she knows him, is the handsome guy she’s been bumping into in the neighborhood for daily flirting sessions. 
This was a cute story that I thoroughly enjoyed about adults finding romance and love when they both thought it wasn’t in the cards for them. It taps into the holidays and our desire to be with family and people who love us as we are and not for what we can do for them. I would recommend it. 
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing be to read an ARC in order to provide my honest opinion and review.

Another Hallmark movie style book and I totally enjoyed it. Matt is an author who has spent most of his life  writing a book series. He sells his books to a TV station and the books blow up, changing his whole lifestyle. He is thrown into fame that he didn't really understand and a huge deadline to write a new book. Matt moves to a small town to write and meets Dani
Dani is a recently divorced woman who is learning to stand on her own too feet and finding her passion. 
She meets Matt and a little winter romance ensues. 
It was cute, predictable but fun. Definitely recommend for Christmas romance enjoyers.