“Thank you,” he said so genuinely that it felt like there were champagne bubbles in my stomach. I shivered again, but this time not because I was cold.
It Happened One Christmas is bursting with Christmas magic.
Will magic happen under the mistletoe?
All year long, Zoey Andrews lives and breathes Christmas–not just because she loves everything about the festive season, but because, as the director of countless Christmas movies, she’s perpetually (and happily) surrounded by 24/7 holiday cheer. And this year Christmas has come early: After years of making other people’s movies, Zoey finally has the chance to make her own. There’s just one thing standing in her way of that: Benoît Deschamps, the sexy, bearded, grouchy and utterly frustrating, plaid shacket-wearing tree-farm-owner-slash-mayor who refuses to grant Zoey the permit to film in Chelsea, the cozy and snowy Quebec hamlet at the center of her screenplay.
With just four days left before Christmas, Zoey must change Ben’s mind, but not before an unscripted ice storm leaves them stranded in the middle of nowhere, with nothing–no food, no phone, no electricity–except . . . each other.
Will Ben’s chilly resolve shatter Zoey’s Christmas movie wish? Or will Zoey be able to melt through his stubbornness–and maybe even his heart?
Holy jingle bells, this book is absolutely amazing and is my favourite holiday read of the year. First, I must warn y’all that there will be some major gushing about this story and Chantel’s writing in this review because I just adored everything about this book. It Happened One Christmas is the perfect book for those readers who love Hallmark movies but wish they had a bit more spice and realism to them. One of the many things I love about this book is that it takes place in Canada. It makes my heart smile when a Canadian author writes a romance book that takes place in Canada. It’s so great that our country and its talented authors get to shine in the spotlight. The small town of Chelsea and its residents have all the charm and coziness I love in my small-town romances. Through Chantel’s descriptions, this town comes to life, and I felt like and wished I was there. I loved learning about all the special Christmas traditions that Quebeckers have and adore that these traditions played an important part in Chantel’s life.
It’s no secret that grumpy/sunshine small-town romances are my favourite, so everything about this story sang to my romantic soul. The story itself is fun and engaging. I loved the pacing and enjoyed all the fun twists that Chantel included. You get to enjoy this slower pace while you explore the town of Chelsea, and then things pick up when Zoey and Ben find themselves stuck in the middle of nowhere during a fierce ice storm. The character development in this book is masterfully done. Something draws you to these characters, and you can’t help but feel invested in their lives. Zoey is smart, sassy, and passionate about all things Christmas. I love that she goes that extra mile to ensure her dreams come true.
The chemistry between Zoey and Ben is delicious. I loved every interaction they had together. Fans of blow burn, snowed in, and grumpy/sunshine tropes will adore this love story. It’s sweet, funny, and a little bit spicy. I love these two so much that I didn’t want their story to end, and I wished I could spend more time with them.
It Happened One Christmas is a must-read this holiday season. So grab a cup of cocoa, curl up in your comfy chair, and get ready to fall in love with the world Chantel has created.
