Christmas Ever After by Karen Schaler

I could not have loved this book more. Seriously, go buy this right now if you love Christmas and romance! The characters were amazing, the feel-good Christmas spirit was everywhere, and I’m honestly ready to start the holiday season immediately. This one put me into the holiday mood.

Successful romance author Riley Reynolds is not a grinch, but after the loss of her father as a child, her and her mother, chose Hawaii every year over celebrating Christmas. After a fabulous string of book releases, Riley has a book bomb, and her publisher is giving her one chance to make it right. She has to write a Christmas-themed romance novel. Her publicist creates a Christmas Camp idea hosted by Luke, who is trying to sell his family’s Christmas cottage resort, and Riley will be the Miss Christmas host. Fans of her books will be coming to the cottage to spend a Christmas weekend with Riley while she comes up with new ideas for her book. With her secret ignorance of holiday traditions, and a mistaken interview comment that makes three of her ex-boyfriends think they are “the one that got away”, Riley has her hands full at Christmas Camp. Her exes have all shown up to reignite that romantic spark, and she must balance them, as well as her fans during her Christmas Camp experience. All while trying to create the perfect book.

This book was utterly fabulous. The descriptions of the Christmas decor were amazing. I want to go on my own Christmas Camp adventure now! Luke’s resort is the perfect mix of homey feel, and relaxed vacation atmosphere that you want in a get-away adventure. I loved how the author chose to describe the town, the decorations, the Christmas Lake and trees, and everything else. It was just an amazing creation of a book setting.

The characters were so well-developed. Riley is struggling with her lack of Christmas knowledge, her loss of romance in her life, the loss of her father, and these crazy feelings that she keeps having for Luke, the resort owner. When her exes come into the picture, she genuinely wants to see if there is a connection with the “one that got away” or if it’s the one in front of her now that she should go after. I loved her character arc throughout the story. We go on a ride with her romance adventures, watching her grow as she realizes what’s really important to her, but we also get to experience her growth and acceptance of her loss of Christmas spirit and how to get it back.

I want to talk a bit about the other characters because they were all SO fabulous. All the characters were so well-developed with their own backstories that we get to read about, and their own personalities to connect to. One of my favorites is the dog. Luke’s dog is amazing. He’s a bit anthropomorphized, but it made him so lovable.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book, and I highly recommend it!!

To Read or Not To Read:

I would recommend Christmas Ever After for readers that love Christmas, romance, and feeling wonderful from a story.

Where to Find This Book:

Christmas Ever After by Karen Schaler is available at these sites! The author is donating percentage of each book sold to help support libraries and independent bookstores!

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From Karen Schaler, the writer of the Netflix phenomenon A Christmas Prince and Hallmark’s Christmas Camp comes this new heartwarming holiday romance. Mamma Mia meets The Bachelorette in Christmas Ever After…

While promoting her next novel, a Christmas love story, author Riley Reynolds is caught off guard when she’s asked during a live national television interview how she can write about romance when she still hasn’t found “the one” herself. Scrambling for an answer, she quickly answers that she has had great love in her past and that love inspired her novels.

Little does she know that this one offhanded remark will turn her world upside down. Three of her ex-boyfriends see the interview, and each, believing she’s talking about him, shows up for her Christmas Camp book event at the Christmas Lake Lodge, determined to rewrite his happily-ever-after with her!

Over the festive weekend, Riley’s old boyfriends compete to win her heart, pulling out all the stops while planning the most romantic Christmas dates on the planet. Despite herself, Riley starts falling for each guy— again—but for different reasons. As Riley revisits each relationship and discovers more about herself, she embraces the magic of Christmas and finally finds true love and her own Christmas ever after…

Bonus Content: Christmas Ever After includes delicious original Christmas recipes and fun holiday crafts and activities!

Just the Facts:

Christmas Ever After by Karen Schaler
Genre: Holiday Romance
Page Count: 384 pages
Publisher: HawkTale Publishing
Pub Date: September 29, 2020

Karen Schaler is a three-time Emmy award–winning storyteller, screenwriter, author, journalist, and national TV host. After writing the Netflix hit A Christmas Prince in less than two years she went on to write three original Hallmark, and Lifetime Christmas movies, and three Christmas novels for HarperCollins Publishers earning her the nickname “Christmas Karen”. Karen wrote the original Christmas Camp Hallmark movie and books and has created a real-life immersive Christmas Camp experience for grown ups helping people embrace the true meaning and magic of Christmas, giving everyone the opportunity to feel like they’re starring in their own holiday movie! Karen’s currently in development for her next original Christmas movie and her next novel Christmas Ever After comes out September 29th! Karen is also the creator and host of Travel Therapy TV, featuring the most empowering places to visit based on what you’re going through in life. Karen’s travels to more than 68 countries and continued globetrotting around the world inspires her movies and novels. All of Karen’s stories are uplifting and empowering, filled with heart and hope.

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