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.

Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review.

When I saw Write Before Christmas I thought it look’s so cute.. I’m a sucker for cute and beautiful book cover. I thought Matt and Dani so cute it reminds me of another hallmark movie an enjoyable read 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Reading
Lisa

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 !

I received an advanced copy of Write Before Christmas by Julie Hammerle from Entangled Publishing, LLC after volunteering to write a review on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was drawn in by the quirky cover art and book description, and the story did not disappoint. This is an adorable story about Matt, a writer whose recent book-to-screen television adaption launched his career into the public eye on a level he isn't all together comfortable with. The resulting writer's block leaves him crumbling under the weight of a deadline.

Then he meets Dani, a newly single Mom who happens to be looking for a new direction for her own career. The universe places these two lead characters in each other's paths, both needing something from the other, albeit temporarily.

As the story progresses, both characters have to learn more about themselves in a few weeks than they have over their entire lifetimes. They are both mid-forties, and neither one wants to mess around anymore.

I loved the honesty of this book. There were parts that felt a little brash, and rushed, but I liked the perspective that two 45-year old lead characters brought to the book. I am used to reading romances about twenty-somethings, so the more mature narrative was refreshing. The characters stayed very consistent throughout the story which is something I really appreciated. Matt was an introvert who struggled with interpersonal relationships, but kept pushing himself to try harder at everything he does. Dani is a sweet, caring Mom who just wants what is best for everyone around her, though she is trying to navigate the new waters of self-care and self-reliance as her daughter goes off to college. Even the secondary characters were well thought-out and made sense.

I won't give away too much, but I was very happy with the romance in this book - it is totally PG. Though the characters discuss some more scandalous topics, the book leaves out any smutty details. Don't get me wrong, I love a good smut book, but I also love a Hallmark approved love story, too, and Write Before Christmas delivered just that to all audiences!

There was nothing profound or deeply emotional about this story, but it was well written and warm and fuzzy. I give it 4 stars and a job well done!! Great little read to get you in the mood for Christmas!

Matt is an author stuck in a writer's block. Like George R.R. Martin, he's penned a series of books that were adapted into a successful TV series. Now he's on a deadline to produce the last book before the last season of the TV series starts filming. But he's out of inspiration, and the TV people want dragons. Matt is against dragons.

Dani is newly divorced and looking for a job. She gets hired to feed Matt and cater for his premiere party while trying to create an Instagram presence to market her foodie ideas. One things leads to another and they have a passionate fling. But their relationship is on a deadline too: Matt is going to leave town after a few short weeks.

I liked the scenes with Dani's family, the writing plotline and the way the chapters were structured based on the proximity of the deadlines. The romance part didn't give me a lot of feels but this is a well written and nicely edited book and I was actually thinking of reading the next book that is excerpted at the end.

I read an ARC that I got via Netgalley and these are my voluntary opinions, free of charge.

I received an advance copy of, Write Before Christmas, by Julie Hammerle. This is a cute romance story. Th characters are nice, the setting is nice.