“The perfect blend of heart and sass.”—Publishers Weekly for Holiday SpiceWith a dash of Christmas magic… Two people who have spent most of their lives being rivals…Learn a little something about following their hearts…Carter Montgomery broke the family mold when he went to culinary school. Now a successful restauranteur, he’s at a crossroads: should he continue on his successful path or … crossroads: should he continue on his successful path or look for a new challenge? What he needs is time alone to think things through. But his matchmaking family has other ideas…
Emery Monaghan’s no-good fiancé has embroiled her in scandal and she needs a way out. When mentor Eliza Montgomery offers her a refuge, she’s relieved—until she realizes that the deal means rubbing elbows with Eliza’s son Carter—Emery’s childhood nemesis.
The Montgomery Brothers series:
Wait for Me (Book 1)
Trust in Me (Book 2)
Stay With Me (Book 3)
More of Me (Book 4)
Return to You (Book 5)
Meant for You (Book 6)
I’ll Be There (Book 7)
Until There Was Us (Book 8)
Suddenly Mine (Book 9)
Dash of Christmas (Book 10)
Praise for Samantha Chase:
“Utter rock star perfection. I dare you to stop reading until the end.”—Rachel Van Dyken, New York Times Bestselling Author, for One More Moment
“Chase’s three-dimensional characters leap off the page, encouraging readers to sit down, put their feet up, and enjoy…charming.”—Publishers Weekly for Until There Was Us
“Chase just gets better and better.”—Booklist
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What an absolutely wonderful book! This latest trip back to the Montgomery family by Samantha Chase has left me so completely happy and satisfied. I love this family and their matchmaking and meddling and to add in this magical “dash of Christmas”, it elevates the story to a perfect level for me! Carter and Emery’s story is chock full of heart and soul, and is such a sweet, funny, sexy and heartwarming story. Carter and Emery light up the pages with their chemistry and banter! I adore their history, especially the fact that they drove each other crazy in school with their competitiveness and still drive each other crazy now. There’s a fine line between crazy and love lol and they certainly find it! I honestly can’t say enough about how much I love everything about this story from beginning to end.
Gah! These Montgomerys. They manage to hit me straight in the heart every time, but this one is even more poignant and touching. Carter and Emery’s story had me all verklempt and made my eyes leak more than once, darn it! The big bunch of Montgomerys have such a strong sense of family that the author amazingly brings to life so it feels like I’m right there in the middle of their teasing and banter, like I’m recalling the nostalgic memories right along with them and I’m a integral part of the new memories they’re making.
Carter Montgomery and Emery Monaghan have known each other since the fifth grade, but theirs has been a relationship of rivalry and competition rather than camaraderie. It’s not until Eliza Montgomery decides on some well-intended matchmaker meddling in her son’s life that Emery is back in Carter’s life, agreeing to help Eliza by working with Carter on a project for charity. And if you know anything about the meddling matchmaking generation of Montgomerys, you know that Carter doesn’t stand a chance.
Carter and Emery are just so dang fun, with their witty, sassy banter and the delicious push and pull (or shove and yank at times). Their chemistry is hot and sizzling, despite most details being left to the reader’s imagination, and their journey to forever is heartfelt and full of emotion. I adore both of these characters and devoured their story, eager to see how it played out.
If this is your first introduction to the Montgomery family, don’t worry. These books all stand alone, so you can start with any of them. Fair warning though, once you read one you’ll want to read them all, and you’ll love the cameos of characters from other books showing up in the one you’re currently reading. Carter and Emery’s story is truly special. Maybe it’s the whole family being together again, or the Christmas theme, or the delightfully entertaining, heartstring-tugging relationship, but these two worked their way into my heart and left me with not only a happy sigh but a silly smile, as well. If you want a book that stirs your soul, makes you grin and leaves you with all those warm, wonderful feelings of Christmas, this is definitely the book for you!
*I read an early edition of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide feedback and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source.
Carter & Emery were adversaries from the time they met in elementary school. Everything was a competition. Now, Emery is helping Carter’s mother on her cookbook not knowing that Carter is supposed to be helping too. Plus they end up sharing the same apartment at the time. The Montgomery matchmakers are at it again. Will they stop competing long enough to let their attraction take hold?
I really enjoy Ms. Chase’s writing style & her realistic characters. Her books pull you in from the first page & you have to keep reading until the end to see what happens. Both characters had to get past their pasts in order to see what was right in front of them. I enjoyed touching bases with the other characters from other books & the Christmas letters were the perfect touch!
First I love the Montgomery’s. Carter and Emery went to school together and they competed with each other over the years. Emery always felt she had to work twice as hard as everyone else. Carter’s mom Eliza brought them together as adults to work on charity cookbook. Emery was coming off a horrible engagement. What made it worse is her parents did not stand by her. Carter’s mom gives Emery a life line when she asks her to help with the cook book. Emery is comfort food while Carter is fine dining. They both have self doubt issues. Carter has issues due to his past with his Dad. They push each other in good way and have great chemistry. Emery challenges Carter. Carter feels like he has found his other half in Emery. Carter makes Emery feel safe and secure. Carter gives her courage to stand up to her parents. I truly loved the ending to this book. I really hope Eliza gets her own story very soon.
A Dash of Christmas is just the book you need to get you into the holiday mood. I love what Samantha Chase brings to the pages. You get that splash of Christmas with that dash of romance all in one in the forms of childhood enemies come together. I love Carter and Emery. The fight and give between them is so much fun. I love how Emery pushes Carter’s buttons. They are such a fun couple to watch. I love how Emery stands up for herself through everything. I love the fact we still get the meddling of the Montgomery family. This book will put a smile on your face. Go one-click this one.
They have been rivals since they where children and now they have been thrown together at Christmas what will happen
Carter Montgomery never went into the family business instead he went to culinary school this has led to him been a leading chef with two and a third on the way restaurants but the excitement is wearing down and he is needing a new challenge so he knows that he will have to make some decisions over the Christmas break he is spending with his family. Emery Monaghan’s life couldn’t be more of a mess her fiancee cheated on her and her family sided with him luckily her mentor Eliza Montgomery lets her come and stay with her family. What she didn’t expect was that her enemy from her childhood years Carter would be there. Can these two realise that they are actually perfect for one another she pushes him while he makes her feel safe she is comfort food he is fine dining They are perfect foils for one another Can his match making family actually pair them off before the holiday ends
In true Samantha Chase style, once again the tales of the Montgomery Family are a joy to read. No better time of year than Christmas to bring two enemies together and male them fall in love. Carter and Emery’s story had so many levels of love that the reader never gets bored and add in the Christmas traditions and decorations and you have a holiday story that meets all expectations. The Christmas letters at the end were a fantastic way to encompass all of the characters we have fallen in love with throughout the series. Awesome read!!
I think this is the book that Melanie from Ms. Chase’s
Christmas at Silver Bell Falls was supposed to write – a book that takes place at Christmas but is not a Christmas book. That said, Carter Montgomery had such promise, the black sheep who went his own way instead of into the family business. Unfortunately I didn’t like Carter. I found him overbearing and condescending and spoiled. Thank goodness for his mom, Eliza put him in his place but good when he was being a petulant jerk. Emery on the other hand was a great character. She wasn’t feeling sorry for herself. She regrouped, got strong and stuck to her guns and then showed her inner strength to the family that didn’t support her when they should have. Wish there were some receipes at the end!
I’m so sad to see the Montgomery’s come to an end but Samantha left the best couple for last! Who doesn’t love a little enemies-to-lovers troupe with some Christmas thrown in for good measure?
Carter has been struggling with the construction of his newest restaurant and he’s not quite sure why. After the death of his father last year and knowing how his father wasn’t a fan of his decision to become a chef… he was feeling a bit lost. Then on top of everything the one woman who got on his last nerve was dropped into his lap to “help” with a project he had promised his mom he would help with.
Emery had never felt so isolated before in her life. Not only had her husband been caught cheating (again) but he had also been caught abusing women. And the kicker… her own parents told her to suck it up and go back to her husband. With his wealth and status, people are after him so she needs to stick by his side. So when an old family friend reaches out and gives her a place to hide away – the last person she imagined seeing with Carter.
These two were witty and fun – the back and forth. The bit of angst-fueled this romance and I really enjoyed these two together.
Although I am going to miss the Montgomery’s I can’t wait to see what’s next for M’s. Chase!
Smart, handsome, and successful. That should be enough right? Not for Carter’s matchmaking mother. Carter helps his mom out with a recipe book for charity and Eliza sets him up with an assistant to get in done in such a short time. Turns out that person is Emery – his life long rival. Their banter and arguing was a cover for the tension they felt even if they denied it for a long time. Overcoming baggage is never easy and these two had plenty. As with all of Samantha Chase’s books, once the couple can work past their issues, hot and fabulous is the only way to describe them! They were a great end to the Montgomery family stories.
I love Emery and Carter. They’ve known each other forever, they’ve tested each other their entire lives, and they ended up being the next couple to be set up by Carter’s family. Yet, their story was different. This was not a long-time love affair or a second chance at love. Emery and Carter didn’t like each other growing up. They were not nice to each other, their families were not friends, and they didn’t really keep in touch. Then they were thrown together, not knowing that they were even going to be living in the same apartment, and things changed.
I know this is fiction but I still felt like the story was rushed. Emery was just out of a horrible relationship and jumped right into Carter’s life. Carter didn’t necessarily push her but he didn’t help her get past the wrongdoings that were done to her. I don’t feel like he understood that she had to move past her last relationship to be able to be with him. I didn’t feel that heat or the spark right off the bat between these two. They pushed each other’s buttons all the time but there was very little true communication.
I love the Montgomery Brother’s series and have read them all. It was fun to see what some of the other characters were up to and how their lives had continued.
A DASH OF CHRISTMAS by Samantha Chase is the ninth and final instalment in the author’s contemporary, adult THE MONTGOMERY BROTHERS romance series focusing on the Montgomery siblings and cousins. This is chef and restaurateur Carter Montgomery, and Emery Monaghan’s story line. A DASH OF CHRISTMAS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Carter and Emery) with an introductory chapter from sisters-in-law Eliza and Monica Montgomery A DASH OF CHRISTMAS focuses on Eliza and Monica’s attempts to find a love interest for Eliza’s son Carter Montgomery. When her fiancé with political aspirations is caught, on numerous occasions, with his proverbial pants down, Emery Monaghan’s finds herself seeking shelter, far away, for the paparazzi and unsupportive family who are defending her obnoxious ex. With an offer to help write and edit a Montgomery cookbook for the upcoming holiday season, Emery will come face to face with her childhood nemesis, in the guise of chef and restaurateur Carter Montgomery. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Carter and Emery as they are forced to live together while they work on the book, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes to a close.
Emery Monaghan was all but forced into the relationship with Congressman Derek Whitman, a relationship that her parents supported and adored but Emery knew Derek had been unfaithful, and the sh*t was about to hit the fan. A formerly independent woman, Emery found herself floundering in a world of embarrassment and heart break when the news broke about Derek’s affairs. When Eliza Montgomery offered Emery a chance to ‘hide away’ from prying eyes, Emery jumped at the chance but was caught unaware when Carter Montgomery was pulled back into her life. Carter Montgomery had no idea he would be working with Emery Monoghan, the young woman who saw Carter as nothing more than the antagonizing boy who upset her life but Carter hid his affections for our story line heroine, affections he was hoping to bring to into the present.
The relationship between Carter and Emery is an enemies to lovers; an opposites attract, acrimonious childhood friendship that disguised Carter’s attraction to the little girl he would grow to love. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of the previous story line couples. We are briefly introduced to Emery’s ex fiancé Derek Whitman, and her social climbing parents who are willing to turn a blind eye to Derek’s behavior.
A DASH OF CHRISTMAS is a story of family, friendship, second chances, and love; an enjoyable and sweet tale of one man’s professional struggle, and one woman’s spirited attempts to make it on her own. The premise is spirited and emotional; the romance is tender; the characters are energetic and inspiring.
It seems odd reading a Christmas story when it’s literally a 100 degrees outside. A Dash of Christmas did a good job of giving me a bit of early Christmas cheer. Two people who have always been rivals end up working together on a cookbook project. It was entertaining to see how they responded to each other. Both have individual issues to deal with and circumstances beyond their control. I found the story sweet and charming. The cast of well meaning yet intrusive characters are likeable, relatable and fun. This is simply a delightful little story to brighten your holiday.
Loved this childhood rivalry that turns into so much more with the help of some awesome nosy well meaning family and friends…. was a heartwarming and fun reading experience! Carter and Emery are the type of couple I just love to read about and this whole series is filled with the best kind of charters you want to keep forever…. Loved it!
Carter Montgomery is a very successful chef and restaurant owner so when his mother approaches him about doing a cookbook to raise money for a charity that she’s involved with how can he say no. What he doesn’t realize is that his matchmaking family is at it again. His mother Eliza reaches out to Emery who just so happens to be Carter’s nemesis to help with the cookbook and offers her a place to stay while she works. This comes at a time in Emery’s life that she really needs a lifeline and to escape from the scandal that’s surrounding her. Watch the sparks fly whenever Carter and Emery are near each other which is why Eliza and Monika put their plan in motion and work to see it succeed. You really need to read this book and go on this journey with them. It was the perfect ending for such a wonderful series and it was nice to see Uncle William and other Montgomery’s again. I would definitely recommend this book. I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.
Another great book from Samantha Chase! Thanks sourcebooks & Netgalley for the ARC!
“With a dash of Christmas magic…
Two people who have spent most of their lives being rivals…
Learn a little something about following their hearts…”
I love a good rivals to lovers book and this one fits the bill perfectly! Always competing against each other – Carter & Emery’s reunion is definitely a knock out! This easy read starts the holiday season early as they work on a benefit cookbook he agreed to create and navigate both of their trust issues.
I highly recommend this book. It is the last book in the Montgomery brothers series and it is definitely worth reading the others first – just to meet this large family of characters.
Carter Montgomery is struggling to open his fourth restaurant. While dealing with the pressures of that he’s also trying to carry out his promise to his mom, Eliza, with putting together a cookbook. Unknown to him his mom has enlisted the help of his childhood friend-enemy, Emery. Who not only is going to help him put together the cookbook but is also hiding out in their family’s apartment.
She’s dealing with the devastating blow of her cheating ex-fiance, the hounding press and her unsupporting parents.
Carter and Emery’s banter is great and so realistic. The more they are together the more the chemistry between this two heats up. They end up bringing out the best in each other.
I received a copy for review purposes.
I have to start by saying the moms in this series and how they have to scheme and set their kids u is outstanding. I liked Carted in previous stories but I wasn’t a huge fan at the beginning of this story. The way he kept putting off his mom and talking about how busy he was made him feel a little stuck up.
The he ran into Emery again and she called him on it and how he’s stuck up about food as well. She helped him work through issues he’s had with the loss of his dad as well as pushed him to really figure out why he has the drive he does. If it really serves him.
He’s there for her during this time in her life where everything has been upended. I love the two of them and the dialog between them as well as the fun memories while they planned the cookbook.
It was a great end to the series and the ending helped to round it all out for the entire family.
5 DASHING STARS!! I love Christmas and the Montgomery’s….I knew this book was for me. Carter and Emery were perfect with all the feels and love to keep you turning pages. These two have things to work through, but you will enjoy their story. I am sad to say goodbye to the Montgomery’s….they have became part of my life. Samantha Chase introduces us readers to characters you will always remember.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am an avid reader of books written by Samantha Chase. I love the Montgomery series – Chase makes you think they are real and not fictional characters.
I love how a certain pug made a debut in this book – Marlene May have had a small part in the story but when you know the author well enough you know when she adds special details to her work.
This story is the last of the Montgomery series- so if you haven’t read the others, you have totally been missing out on quality entertainment! Emery and Carter grew up together and were always competing against each other which only made them strive to be the best they could be. When Emery’s life implodes, Carter’s mom (Eliza) decides to offer her a place to hide away from the real world and a job editing a cookbook for charity – which gives her something to occupy her days. Eliza has a hidden agenda with making sure Emory and Carter’s lives cross paths again- when they both seem to need each other.
Definitely a must read!