Now a Hallmark Channel Original MovieA magical, modern-day Christmas CarolDigital designer Emma Wallace is finally poised for her big break: kitchenware giant Johnson Cookware is looking to rebrand – and with Christmas around the corner, Emma’s long-held philosophy of work-before-play may just give her the edge she needs to win the account.The only peppermint twist in her Scrooge-worthy plan? … peppermint twist in her Scrooge-worthy plan? She’s promised her ever-patient, architect boyfriend Sam Cole that after spending the last three Christmases in her office instead of in his arms, she’ll make this holiday just about the two of them. But as Christmas Eve draws near and the deadline crunch threatens her promise to Sam, Emma finds herself visited by three boyfriend “ghosts” of Christmases past, who come bearing the gift of hindsight.
Will showing Emma her past romantic failures, as well as her early courtship with Sam, help her to see the path to true happiness in time to save her future?
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Ok but this was super cute. A quick holiday read and of course, a little predictable since e we all know the story. But it was still fun and sweet and a little sad and magical. I really liked it!
BOYFRIENDS OF CHRISTMAS PAST by Erika Mark is a fun take on A Christmas Carol.
Emma Wallace, aka Ebenezer Scrooge, a graphic design artist, is obsessed with her career to the point she doesn’t have time for anything but climbing the corporate ladder. Sam Cole, her current boyfriend, an architect, is the complete opposite. He’s always there for Emma and cooking is Sam’s passion. He even teaches an after-school cooking class for kids.
As the book opens, Sam and Emma are on shaky ground. Emma’s sole focus is on her career, the big account she’s about to land, and being financially independent. She’s close to driving Sam away. He is kind, patient, and loves Emma, but he’s reaching the breaking point and about to end their relationship.
To prevent Emma from losing him, past boyfriends arrive in her dreams to show her the mistakes she made in those relationships. A perfect feel-good read that you won’t be able to put down with a satisfying happily-ever-after.
Boyfriends of Christmas Past is a story loosely based on Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol with a twist. Emma is a workaholic and could never keep a relationship. All of her past boyfriends ended the relationship because her priorities were not with them. As the years pass and Emma gets older, her need to be the best at her job puts her current relationship with Sam in jeopardy. Sam was a great guy; very patient and understanding however, he too, has limits. And when the final nail is hammered in, Emma will have to fight if she truly wants to have a future with Sam.
Emma is visited by a few of her past boyfriends. It is these men that help her to see the light. Of course, Emma is driven by a fatherless childhood and a mother struggling to makes ends meet. Emma doesn’t want to ever depend on any man for financial security.
I very much enjoyed how this version of the story played out. It was fun and witty and the author’s version of the classic Scrooge was one I hadn’t read before. I would definitely read more from this author.
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Boyfriends of Christmas Past is my new favorite Christmas romance. Edie Grace gives readers a modern retelling with some twists of the classic Christmas Carol. I loved the characters. I couldn’t put this one down until I knew how everything would turn out. I can see myself reaching for Boyfriends of Christmas Past anytime I’m wanting the feels of the holiday season.
Edie Grace is a new author for me to read books written by. Boyfriends of Christmas Past is a quick read, not a great deal over a hundred pages. I was able to read it in an afternoon, especially easy to do so because it stayed interesting. The Scrooge theme has been done before but I found the ex-boyfriends instead of ghosts to be extremely humorous.
Emma’s story of fearing commitment is not particularly comic just the idea of old boyfriends showing up to guide her is. Emma is likable to all, any boss would love her. However, maybe not all the people she keeps waiting in life. A balanced life seems to be the idea since Emma is neither greedy nor uncaring. The conclusion of the book was a bit of a surprise. I thought I knew exactly how it would end with a happily-ever-after, which it did, but getting there was a twist. I liked that turn of events.
There are supporting characters who I would enjoy reading their stories so perhaps there will be more. I for one would read them. Usually I give this type of short but enjoyable story 4 stars, but Boyfriends of Christmas Past brought a tear to my eye so it gets an extra ½ stars.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This only a short read and gives more than a wave to the classic story A Christmas Carol.
Emma Wallace always puts her job first and this caused several of her boyfriends to walk away from her she has rebuilt a new relationship with Sam Cole but is starting to follow that same old pattern When she starts to dream of past boyfriends and they warn her of her tendencies she has to rethink her work ethic Has she left it to late will Sam walk away as well or will she have a chance to save this relationship You will have to read to see
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. This book was so good. Even though the idea of Scrooge and Christmas past, present and future are often written about, this book was a fresh and delightful take on it. The book features Emma and Sam. Emma’s main focus has always been to work hard and succeed at her job. She pushes away all of the men she dates as they are not as important as getting ahead at work. Sam is also driven to succeed at his job and volunteer position but he puts his personal life and his loved one first. We learn that Emma will always show up late or cancel her personal plans if they conflict with her work. Sam has this happen to him often and he is hurt, disappointed and angry with her.
Emma has a dream where first her high school and then her college boyfriend appears to show her about their relationship and how she would cancel on him and not be there for him. He showed her scenes of their dates and how she didn’t try. The next night she’s visited by her boyfriend out of college who again shows how he wanted to marry her but she put her job first and got dumped.
Emma is working to get a special account and rather than tell her boss she has plans she pushes her luck to get to a cookie event that Sam is in charge of. She misses this special cookie event at the school Sam volunteers at and he tells her not to bother coming to his parents for Christmas. She had been told by the boss that she got the account but would need to be at a meeting the next afternoon after she and Sam were supposed to leave for his parents house. She is very upset that Sam broke up with her. She has the final dream which stars a boy she dated in college. She revisits her meeting and first date with Sam. She realizes how important he is to her. He also shows her what could or would happen on Christmas. Sam meets another woman who is available. She vows to repair things with Sam.
Seeing what might happen to her was really sad. I got choked up. There were also some funny and sweet moments. I really loved the story and seeing Emma mature and realize what was important.
Boyfriends of Christmas Past by Edie Grace
A magical, modern-day Christmas Carol
Digital designer Emma Wallace is finally poised for her big break: kitchenware giant Johnson Cookware is looking to rebrand – and with Christmas around the corner, Emma’s long-held philosophy of work-before-play may just give her the edge she needs to win the account.
The only peppermint twist in her Scrooge-worthy plan? She’s promised her ever-patient, architect boyfriend Sam Cole that after spending the last three Christmases in her office instead of in his arms, she’ll make this holiday just about the two of them. But as Christmas Eve draws near and the deadline crunch threatens her promise to Sam, Emma finds herself visited by three boyfriend “ghosts” of Christmases past, who come bearing the gift of hindsight.
Will showing Emma her past romantic failures, as well as her early courtship with Sam, help her to see the path to true happiness in time to save her future?
This is Emma Wallace and Sam Cole’s story.
Emma was going to be late—there was no question about it. And even worse, long before she’d glanced up from her cluttered desk at five fifteen and felt the prickles of panic shoot across her scalp, she’d known of her inevitable truancy.
Because, truthfully, Emma Wallace had known she’d be delayed meeting her boyfriend, Sam Cole, for dinner at their favorite restaurant the minute she’d walked into her office at Zenith Media that morning and learned that the Johnson Cookware account was up for grabs again—and her proposal was getting a second shot.
So why hadn’t she texted to let Sam know way back then?
Despite the lack of Christmas music in favor of a live bluegrass duo, there was no confusion as to the season. Twinkle lights swung from the exposed beams and wrapped around the room’s unfinished wood columns, and every table boasted a festive centerpiece of pine boughs and holly sprigs, the thick, sappy scent of fresh pine nearly overpowering the smell of sautéed garlic.
“Baby, I am so, so sorry,” Emma blurted breathlessly as she slid into the bench.
“Me too.” Sam’s voice was uncharacteristically tight, sending a knot of regret sinking in her stomach. His gaze remained fixed on his menu. “The couple over there just got the last order of scallops.”
I highly recommend reading.
Boyfriends of Christmas Past by Edie Grace is a 4 star book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Edie’s Books with Tule:
Boyfriends of Christmas Past
Loved everything about this book from the cover to the title,characters,storyline.Ms.Grace is a new author to me and after reading this one I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Have you seen the movie Ghost of girlfriends past with Matthew McConaughey with he gets visited by his old girlfriends to see the error of his ways,this book is that but only opposite, and has that added Christmas touch of the Christmas Carol added in where she has visitors from her past ex- boyfriends come into her in a dream showing her how she puts her work first .Is it too late to change her ways you will have to 1-click to find out.
Emma is career driven and a workaholic. She decides that since her Mother had to quit working and take care of Emma when she was growing up and had to be dependent on Emma’s dad for money. Emma has decided she doesn’t want that. So she works all the time. She makes her boyfriend Sam wait on her, she is constantly late or sometimes doesn’t show up for their dates all because of work.
Sam is patient to a point. He sits and waits for her. He even tries to decide how long it will take before she shows up. At one point she misses an occasion that is extremely important to Sam. While Emma is asleep she is visited by three boyfriends of her past showing how she was. Kinda like Ebenezar Scrooge in the Christmas Carol.
Will this be a wake up call for Emma, read the book and see. You will be glad that you did.
A different spin on the classic Christmas Carol story. For Emma, a workaholic her idea of work before play seems to always be just work, work, work. To the extend for the last three years she’s always late for their dates or cancelling them with her boyfriend Sam. He’s a great guy who’s almost to his breaking point with her. Unknowing to her she’s on the same path as she’s been in the past. With Christmas Eve drawing near she gets visited by 3 old boyfriend ghosts who come bearing the gift of the truth. If only she will see it and make the right decisions before it’s too late. A sweet entertaining read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from Tule Publishing.
A fun twist on the classic Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol.
Emma Wallace had been dating Sam Cole for three years. But during those years, Emma always put her job first leaving Sam waiting and wondering when she would show up for their dates. When Sam finally had enough, he broke up with Emma. He wanted a woman who would be there when he needed her and would put more effort into their relationship.
Emma gets a serious wake-up call when several of her ex-boyfriends come to her in her dreams trying to convince her to change her workaholic ways before she loses Sam. But is it already too late?
This was a fun quick read. But even though it’s short, the story didn’t miss a beat. It was sweet and fun and magical all rolled into one. If you’re looking for an inspirational holiday book, I would recommend this one.
This is such a creative and engaging take on A Christmas Carol with a driven woman finding she is more Scrooge-like that she ever thought. Visits in apparition form of her old boyfriends show her how she is making a huge mistake in her current relationship and how she is going to lose the love of her life unless she takes some drastic measures.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.