Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I love Holiday themed books. They are a weakness in my reading armor. When I noticed this on Entangled’s page I jumped at the opportunity to request it. Thankfully, they let me read it and I was not disappointed. This was SO CUTE and while there wasn’t a ton of Christmas-esque things, it was still adorably holiday.

Following the story of Matt (M.C) and Dani made my heart swell. Dani was such a relatable character. While I’m not her age, I think seeing a divorce’ was nice! It gave a different look at what it’s like to date post divorce and being a little older. Watching Matt navigate the waters of trying to be in public after a blunder was fun and refreshing. I loved the dynamic they had with each other and they way the complimented each other as the couple. The family dynamic and the holidays was an added bonus.

If you love holiday themed novels, adorable relationships, and cute doggos- this one is for you!

This was super cute! What happens when an author who writes a Game of Thrones like series has to meet his latest deadline before Christmas? Well, he hires someone to help cook and clean around the house, of course. I really like the pace of this one and Dani and Matt together. Definitely a really fun and sweet Christmas romance!

Write Before Christmas comes out later this month on November 30, 2020 and you can purchase HERE.

December 1, nineteen days until deadline

What comes next? What comes next?

My brain chanted these words over and over again, cutting through the death metal pounding in my ears, as my feet hit the pavement. Alone on the road, I forced a fist pump in a futile attempt to jolt my creative juices into a flow state.

What comes next?

This was a fun Holiday Romance with a fresh premise. Matt is a writer who had very little commercial success until his book series was optioned for a television show (this is a clear nod to Game Of Thrones). Now he is suddenly under pressure to finish the final book in his trilogy on a timeline that meets the show-runner's expectations and he can't go to the store without being recognized. He holes up in a small town to try and force himself to finish, but soon realizes he needs some help around his rented house so he can focus on writing. Enter Dani, a newly divorced single mom in desperate need of a job.

I loved reading a romance where the leads were 45 years old and had lived a bit of life already. Matt and Dani had good chemistry and even better meaningful, intelligent, dialog. I loved them as a couple well before they added a physical relationship to the equation. This book has no open-door scenes so it's a good book if you are looking for physical connection with a detailed sex scene.

I loved Dani's colorful family and her generous spirit! And Matt was a smart and very relatable MC. This romance is light on the swoony romantic gestures, but heavy on a realistically sweet love story about figuring out exactly what you want and then going after it.

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

TRIGGERS: Divorce (where female is financially impacted)

First of all, before I get into this review I just want to say that the cover for this book is really cute. I'm a huge sucker for cute animated covers and that's actually one of the major reasons why a choose a certain book to read. This book gave me alot of hallmark vibes and it actually did feel like it came something right out of a hallmark movie. The setting, the characters, and the storyline was nothing I haven't read before, but it was still cute. I don't really know how exactly should I rate it because I did find certain things cute about this book, but overall, it just didn't really work for me.

if you love cheesy, predictable romantic hallmark movies this book is for you! What I loved most about this book was the amount of humour the author incorporated in the story. While it had all the elements of a good Christmas romance; it was the fact that the story had me laughing out loud that makes me want to recommend it to everyone this holiday season!
Posted on Instagram @thesharpereader

Write Before Christmas by Julie Hammerle a five-star read that should come wrapped in a bow. I really enjoyed this one, I hadn’t read the author previously, but I will be keeping an eye out in future as I really enjoyed the writing. I really liked Dani Cooper, I especially loved that she was older and looking for her second chance and feeling the need to put herself second after her daughter. Then we have M.C. Bradford, as that is how he is mostly known, but really he’s just Matt, an author who has a deadline that he wont be able to make, if he keeps on the spiral he is on now. This was a great story, sweet and seasonal and writing by an author I can’t wait to hear more from.

I really liked this one. Such a fun and easy read, I will definitely recommend this book to some of my friends.

Grumpy author with writer’s block finding love after all!

Dani Cooper needs a job after her divorce because her ex-husband is slow on sending her money and she hadn’t worked in twenty years so any type of job would be good. Fantasy author M.C. (Matt) Bradford was hiding out in Wackernagel, Illinois trying to finish his book when his assistant hired Dani after the first housekeeper was fired. He needs to finish the final book in his series so the script writers for The Saga could finish the planning for their last season.

I loved the book because it is very realistic about dating for people over 40 and shows Dani having to move back in with her parents, trying to find a job after raising her daughter and getting a divorce. So, you have Matt as a grumpy author with writer’s block and Dani trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life.

Story being set during Christmas is a bonus.

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

With the pressure to deliver the final book in his hit fantasy series, Matt was experiencing a severe case of writer's block. His solution? Escape to a small town, where he could enjoy some anonymity. He did find some solace in the small town, and it came in the form of his new housekeeper.

I started out as a fan of Hammerle's YA books, but after reading Knocked-Up Cinderella, I knew I would be reading more of her adult books. Write Before Christmas was fun and heartwarming, and I would say had a Hallmark feel, which is something the always delights me.

First of all, can we just thank Hammerle for writing books featuring mature heroines. It's wonderful seeing women over forty finding love, and in this instance, finding her second chance at happiness. Dani spent over twenty years in an unsatisfying marriage. I wanted her to find love with every ounce of my being. She deserved someone who would love and respect her and make her happy. It was kismet that her dog ran over Matt and brought the two of them together. What started as a holiday fling quickly showed signs of becoming more, and I was here for it. Why? Because I thought they were fantastic together.

Dani was also at a crossroads in her life. While she was married, she played the role of homemaker. Now, she was on her own and needed to figure out what to do with her life. It was great seeing her parlay some of her domestic talents into a possible career. She was seizing opportunities, while also making some of her own. I loved that she wanted to rely on herself and cheered all her successes.

I was in such a funk when I picked up this book, and I have to say, this was the right book at the right time. Books set during the holidays have been my panacea and are especially effective, when they incorporate the holiday fun into the story. It was great partaking in all the Christmas events in this small town. I loved baking he cookies and going to the holiday bazaar, but I really delighted in spending time with Dani's family. They were such a fun and welcoming group. I could feel the love that existed between them all, and they made me laugh. In fact, I laughed a lot as I read this book, and yes, that's a good thing.

Overall, I had a fabulous holiday with Matt, Dani, and the rest of town. It was a treat watching these two figure out their future and get their HEA. This was fun fluffy goodness, which left me feeling the holiday cheer.

A writer with a deadline and a crazy writer’s block and a recently divorced cook looking for a job literally run into each other and thus begins our holiday romance. The story follows writer Matt who has a hit television show (think of something along the lines of Game of Thrones, and exactly along the lines of how George R.R. Martin is workshopping the ending of his series and how the show writers wrote their own ending) and how he’s struggling to wrap up his book series all the while making the showrunners happy. Then comes Dani, a recently divorced mom who’s broke and out of a job since her ex bankrupted them. Matt needs a cook and house cleaner, and Dani needs a job, and so after running into each other, and a few opportunities, they find themselves together again. The story is a fun holiday romance and I really enjoyed reading from both Dani and Matt’s POV. The added edition of the holiday was such a fun touch and I think this would make a great holiday read! So grab a cup of hot chocolate, some cookies, and crack open this fun book!

*Thank you Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A holiday romance with characters in their 40’s?! Yes please! This was a really enjoyable story about a recently divorced woman needing a job and a reclusive author under a looming deadline. I really enjoyed the writing and so many things made me chuckle to myself. A fun way to get kick off the holiday season but not likely to become a holiday tradition.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an adorable Hallmark-style romance with mature adults. It was refreshing to have two main characters in their 40s at two different points in their lives coming together to make it work in a modern world. There’s the age of social media and influencers that are explored somewhat throughout the story as both main characters have their own relationship with different platforms and the side characters, two of which have strong social media presences. The overall novel is light-hearted and makes for an easy feel-good read.

Dani is a divorced 45-year-old who was a homemaker while raising her now teenage daughter for almost the past twenty years. After her divorce, she moves back in with her parents and now has to navigate how to return to the career world. She was a teacher in the past, but that doesn’t seem to be what she wants to return to. Instead, at the insistence of her sister-in-law, creates a vision board that leads her to begin exploring her love of food. She’s not sure exactly what she wants to do exactly yet for a job, but she knows she wants to try this option.

Matt is an author, who recently exploded to fame with his newest series, the Bastyan Saga, which has been adapted into a hit T.V. show, The Saga. With the final novel in the trilogy’s manuscript due right before Christmas, he decides to follow his assistant, Jane, to her quiet hometown for some needed isolation to finish writing. He faces a similar situation to Game of Thrones where the next season will be filming possibly before the final novel is complete. Matt feels the pressure to finish the novel so what is filmed for the final season is the ending he envisioned.

Jane insists that Matt get a housekeeper/cook during his stay so he can focus on his writing. She ends up hiring Dani, who just happens to the woman he was attracted to while meeting during one of his runs previously. They also shared a kiss right before her start date. The kiss situation was very out of the blue as there was no build-up. It seemed like they looked at each other and said “why not” and then kissed without a lot of substance behind it. Now with Dani working for Matt, the two of them have to navigate this new relationship with the logistics of him not being a permanent resident of the town and his need to finish the novel by the deadline.

I loved Dani’s journey to find a new career path that suited her needs. She’s at a new place in her life and her wants have changed compared to when she was working before her past marriage. She wasn’t even sure that food was the right area as it was just a picture that interested her in her vision board’s creation. This is very relatable and a shout-out to vision boards as they can help people visualize dreams that might not have been clear to them otherwise. She’s willing to try ideas to find what she wants to do as a career and it was nice to read about, as it’s a very relatable concept to people of any age.

Dani and Matt have an attraction to each other and great communication. Although they can’t always fully articulate everything to each other, they try their best to open up as much as they can. Matt has trepidation as he’s been burned many times by people who have been after getting close to him for his fame and it’s nice that Dani respected his fear. I like how supportive each of their networks, her family, and his assistant, were of their union while also being open about their own opinions about why them being together would either be good or bad. It was refreshing to have such open communication and support in a novel and not have a ton of focus on drama. There is some in this story, but it’s not the dominant feature.

Overall, it is a heart-warming tale that is great for all types of audiences of romance as it’s not as detailed as many other novels of the same genre. I’m a complete fan of both types and enjoyed this novel’s tone as it fits with the story. All the characters remained true to themselves and each played their part in the story. The novel was a very enjoyable read and it intrigued me to read the next novel by this author.

**Thank you very much to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC for an ARC for me to review. Opinions expressed are completely my own. **

This book is super cute. It’s set in December, but can be read any time. It will make you very thirsty for cream soda, and perhaps hungry for cookies. I like how both Dani and Matt used to work in schools in different capacities.

Matt is a writer, most famous for the hit TV show based on his books. Dani is recently divorced and moved in with her parents. They meet by chance on a walk, and have a bit of instalove, before they realize she works for him.

Write Before Christmas was a very cute holiday romance. It was a quick and easy read. I finished it in just a couple of hours. While I did enjoy it, it wasn't really my cup of tea. The ages of the main characters threw me off a bit because there wasn't really any indication that they would be middle aged. Not that I don't think people this age deserve to have romance novels written about them. I just tend to prefer characters around the same age as me. That's just a personal preference though so I'm not going to let that affect my rating. It was a good read and the characters were great! I loved seeing Dani grow into herself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
This was a very cute story and I enjoyed it very much. I particularly appreciated seeing a couple in their mid 40’s as the romantic leads- we need more representation like this in romance novels. If you’re looking for a family focused Christmas story with an added bit of glitz in the form of a famous author and a tv show, then this is the one for you. I wouldn’t say it was too heavy on the Christmas stuff so I definitely think you can read this at other times of the year. This is also quite low on the spicy level so you don’t need to be hiding your blushes when you’re reading it on the bus. Definitely recommend.

4 Christmas Time Table Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
Pssst...In case you aren't aware, I am not a Twenty-Something or even a Thirty-Something. Nope, those days have passed. But that does not make me an old fuddy-duddy, quite the contrary. I have been known to get down with the best of them...maybe needing help getting up but...I digress, hahahahahaha

What I am saying is those who are not New Age or a little bit older still want love...all types of love.

So when I saw Write Before Christmas had a woman who was recently divorced with a college-age daughter and an established fantasy author who became a celebrity, "Known" when his series was picked up for television, took off to the point where memes were made with quotes were plastered over sweatshirts, I had to read this.

The best was that they were grown-ups.

Our author, Matt, has writer's block. He is on a deadline and dragons are being suggested by the TV producers. Well, that's not going to happen. His assistant books a mini McMansion for him at a location where no one would know him. A cook/housekeeper will be there so he can just work on his book/script. Fine, hopefully, something comes to him and he will be able to write.

Dani is at a crossroads. She is now divorced and her daughter has gone off to college. She was a teacher but does she want that now...As a way to clear her head, Dani takes on the position of cook/housekeeper for a man staying out one of the rentals. Dani has no idea as to "Who" Matt is and that works extremely well for both of them.

These two start to mean more to each other before they realize it. Is Dani the muse Matt needed and nothing more...or is there a possibility there. Dani starts to see life different than what she had in the past, does it work thinking Matt could be part of it.

I enjoyed how all of this worked, no overt angst, just grown-ups falling for each other, and learning to accept love.

I'm going to say that this book was not what I was expecting! From the blurb I expected that Dani was just younger and I mean like in her 30s but not. This is a romance between 45 years old and it was really good so it definitely surprised me!
The story takes place in a small town where a famous author is going to write the end of his series (it kinda sound like a type of game of thrones for me) and needs a cooker for his stay. Dani recently divorced needs a job and ends working form Matt (writer).
Through the story we get to see how Dani gains confidence in her skills with help of her sister in law Una. I loved UNA she was amazing!!

All I can say it is a good romance story but for me the ages didn't work :( BUUT I really think the second chance for love for Dani was great and how through this new relationship she found herself and what she loved!

Dani is a divorcee, former teacher, desperately looking for a new job/career to support her and her 19 year old daughter.

Matt is a fantasy writer whose series has been made into a hit TV show (think G.R.R Martin and Game of Thrones), but he seems to have a bad case of writer's block and his personal assistant has shipped him off to a holiday rental house/mansion to meet his Christmas deadline for the third and final book in the series.

Worlds collide when Matt's assistant hires Dani to be Matt's private chef and housekeeper, the added bonus, she has no idea who he is ... other than the stranger she kissed one night while out walking her dog!

Matt is fighting the TV producers who want him to write dragons in the third book and the last thing he needs is a distracting woman making his bed and cooking him delectable treats. But suddenly the words seem to flow more freely, is Dani his muse?

I really enjoyed this, but I can't put my finger on why TBH because there wasn't really any major drama, even the tension seemed muted. Maybe it's a facet of the protagonists being over 40 that they don't go for all the hand-wringing angst of the 20-somethings. Anyway, it was a charming read with likable and genuine-sounding characters. Perfect feel-good holiday romance without the saccharine.

I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed the romance of Will and Dani, their struggles and how they overcame the setbacks that they met. It got me into the Christmas spirit.

I absolutely love Christmas book season and I was very intrigued by the synopsis of this book! I liked the small town feel. I enjoyed the supporting characters, and the book/TV show drama. However I couldn’t connect to either the hero or the heroine and the romance felt forced. I could have done with more “Christmas!!” as well. Overall a nice book !