Review by Ronny
The Christmas Countdown is bursting with holiday joy and a romance that is oh so delicious.
Favourite Quote:
“Impossible,” I said gravely. “Everyone knows eggnog’s all its cracked up to be.”
He burst out laughing again. “I’m always eggstatic for eggnog.”
“Because it’s eggsquisite?”
Book Synopsis:
She’s given up on love and Christmas…but fate has other plans.
All Callie wants for Christmas is to hibernate. She’s still reeling from being dumped by her childhood sweetheart, and under no circumstances will she go home for the holidays considering her ex will be right next door with his new, perfect partner. Callie is officially in grinch mode, but her meddling sister, Anita, won’t let her give up on life, love, and Christmas quite so easily.
Anita stages a Christmas intervention for Callie with a homemade Advent calendar challenge—cheerful tasks to push Callie out of her comfort zone and into the holiday spirit, inspired by a childhood tradition. Callie reluctantly plays along, but when she comes face-to-face with a charming baker who just might be the spoonful of sugar she needs, her strict rules on love and the holidays are tested.
As they strike a deal to do the activities together, could the twenty four little doors on Callie’s Advent calendar not only open up one, but two closed-off hearts?
Review:
There are times when a book comes to you at just the right moment. Whether it’s because you need to escape the world, or need a pick-me-up, or something that just inspires you, when you find that special book, you know it in your soul. That was what this book was for me. I was feeling super glum, and reading this book was like being wrapped in a cozy, warm blanket. It left my heart feeling light and happy. This book exudes a genuine Christmas spirit and joy, and I am so glad Holly wrote it. What also makes this book so special is that Holly shares some of her own family holiday traditions with us. The Christmas Countdown calendar is something that she has done with her own kids, and it’s such a fun and clever idea. It’s full of tasks, activities, and presents. It’s such a fun family or friends’ tradition, and I hope it inspires others to create their own Christmas calendars.
I really cannot think of a thing that I didn’t enjoy about this book. The plot is fun and full of holiday shenanigans. The puns. Oh, the puns are purrfection. I just ate up every single punny exchange that happened between these two. The banter between Callie and Marco almost has that fast, witty, punny rhythm that existed between Lorelai and Luke from the Gilmore Girls show. The only real difference is Marco isn’t a grumpy man. Besides all the fabulous dialogue that went on between Marco and Callie, this book is also bursting with fun holiday shenanigans. I love a story where the two MCs have to, or in this case, want to complete a series of fun and unique tasks together, and because these two have quite a few tasks to complete in a short period of time, it makes for a quicker-paced book, which in turn makes for a quick read.
The sisterly relationship between Callie and Anita was wonderful. That close sisterly bond was this lovely blend of sisterly love, poking fun at each other, and just a bond that comes from two sisters who are there for one another no matter what. If you are a fan of meddling, yet loving mothers, then you will enjoy the relationship between Callie and her mom. This is a romance, meaning the main focus of the story is the budding relationship between Callie and Marco. However, it is also about Callie’s inner journey of self-discovery and figuring out what truly makes her happy. Her life up to this point has really been dictated by what her family and long-time boyfriend wanted. It’s always great watching a heroine reflect and come to realize that she doesn’t give a shit what others want her to do. It’s time to do what she wants to do. And Callie, to some extent, blows up parts of her old life, so that she can break free and do what she wants to do.
The romance was sweet and charming, a quintessential holiday romance. This book has great banter, chemistry that leaps from the pages, and just a relationship that you cannot help but root for. This book also has a micro trope that I adored, which is the heroine’s cat (or her sister’s cat in this case) that hates everyone except for the hero. It is catnip for my soul. I enjoy the fact that there wasn’t too much angst between these two. There was this nice progression to their relationship. 90% of it was flirty, fun, and steamy, which is what I want from a holiday romance. That’s not to say there isn’t miscommunication and situations that these two have to work through in order to get the HEA they both deserve.
The Christmas Countdown is festive, fun, and oh so sweet.
