When Fifi Gallagher returns to McKenzie Ridge to settle her grandmother’s estate, she finds herself toe-to-toe with…a buffalo. A toothless opossum.An emotional llama. And…a handsome silver fox. Fifi’s inherited more than just property — and apparently the jackass who lives there — and we aren’t talking about the hammock loving donkey.Right on the heels of sparklers and the Star Spangled … sparklers and the Star Spangled Banner, Fifi’s knee deep in twinkle lights and Jingle Bells when she takes her grandmother’s place as head of the town Christmas Festival…in smoking hot July.
Doctor Jensen Bain — aka silver fox — finds himself standing toe-to-toe with the infamous Fiona “Fifi” Gallagher straight out of Hollywood – threatening eviction. Accidentally sleeping with her certainly wasn’t part of the plan or worth declaring a Christmas in July miracle, despite the fireworks — due to the stick up her pompous…BEEP
From big city girl to small town animal whisperer, Fifi’s heart is suddenly torn between Hollywood and Holly-weird. When mysterious letters from a secret admirer, known only as Santa, make her question if she’s meant for the spotlight and couture or wildlife and red checkered flannel.
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I love Stephanie St. Klaire’s McKenzie Ridge Series, and this additional novella was quite the treat. I love the characters, the world Stephanie built and best of all the way the town rallied together to celebrate Christmas in July – when tragedy struck.
From the very start, Stephanie hooked me into this novella. When Fifi came home to take care of her grandmother’s estate, the last thing she needed was complications – Or a Sexy – doctor who happens to be paid in chickens and casseroles – interfering with her plan. She’d left McKenzie Ridge to build her life in LA and all she wanted to do was get out of there as quick as possible.
But the town has other plans for Fifi. They need her to come home and take the place of her beloved grandmother to keep things straight.
I love Stephanies humor in her books. She creates memorable characters, combustible chemistry and a world I never wanted to leave. I can’t wait for more from McKenzie Ridge.
5 Stars
How sweet it is to return to McKenzie Ridge and I LOVED that Granny Lou was at the helm of all the craziness lol. From the first page until last, I found myself laughing out loud and falling in love with Fifi and Doc Bain. These two start off like oil and vinegar, or more accurately, a match to gasoline. They are always explosive when around each other and their banter can only be described as foreplay.
Christmas in July is a heartwarming read that brings on the nostalgia as Fifi is reminded why she fell in love with McKenzie Ridge as a child. To see her snobbiness slowly fade away and her love for the town and all the crazy animals grow was a glorious thing. Another job well done SSK on another fabulous story. Now, excuse me while I google where to buy a sloth! LOL
Angela – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
This book was such a good reminder to live your dreams and follow your passions. And of coarse the perfect love story rolled in. Bain and fifi both have thick skin but are the perfect mix of fire and ice. I really enjoyed reading this one and once started couldn’t put it down!!
Welcome back to McKenzie Ridge. Fiona, aka Fifi is returning back to McKenzie Ridge as her grandmother has passed. She is greated by a buffalo. It appears her grandmother has a number of wild animals now living on the property. Fiona does not care, she just wants to sell and get back to Hollywood. Grandma Lou has other ideas for Fiona. Helping on the Christmas in July festivities is priority.
It appears Santa has a crush on Fiona. Who could this Santa be? Will she leave McKenzie Ridge or find her new home?
Very enjoyable read. Full of emotions. I enjoy when I can read and laugh at the same time.
Christmas in July was a hoot! A perfect way to get back to Mckenzie Ridge. Fifi and Doc were not only great together, but they were hilarious.
Bain and Fifi with their harem of animals had me laughing out loud on several occasions. Love a Stephanie St Klaire book.
This book has classic St Klaire humor and heart. I started laughing as soon as Fifi aka Fiona started with the cheese and rice comment,and that’s even before the buffalo starts breathing on her neck and nudging her behind. When she ever starts talking to Dallas and says mommy won’t let it hurt you and I realize she’s talking to her pet sloth to her first encounter with Doc Bain all I did was chuckle. Doc Bain is easy going and taking care of an interesting menagerie of “challenged” animals and Fifi seems to have a stick up her butt making her stiff and all Hollywood but she really has a soft center and needs to find it again.Opposites attract is certainly what this is. I love Mackenzie Ridge and was thrilled to revisit the characters.Never can go wrong with a Stephanie St Klaire read,always full of heart and chuckles.
When Fifi Gallagher returns to McKenzie Ridge to settle her grandmas estate, she finds a lot of surprises waiting for her, starting with Doc Bain.
Christmas in July had me laughing from the first page and I didn’t stop smiling throughout. The characters are charming, their banter funny and the animals adorable. Great time guaranteed with this quick and entertaining read !
I loved this cute little book. Bain is such a good man and an even better Doc when it comes to his animals. He does so much for the town and his friends. Fifi at first just wants to deal with her Gram’s stuff and go back to LA. Things have a way of changing. I loved everything about this book! Loved all the animal love. Enjoyed the few appearances of the MacKenzie couples from past books. Stephanie St Klaire never disappoints with her books. They are all amazing and just keep getting better and better. I would happily give her more then five stars if I was allowed too!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Absolutely loved going back to Mackenzie Ridge. Granny Lou is unforgettable and you fell the magic in the air.
Fionna (Fifi) visited her grandmother when she was a little girl and as years passed she would call and talk with her but now she has come to pay final a call to her beloved Gram who left her her house but when Fiona arrives she is met with the one thing she hadn’t counted on.
What do you get when you mix a mountain country vet with a somewhat stuck-up Hollywood set designer, add in a menagerie of animals, including some llama drama, an injured Jane Doe and a lethargic sloth, and top it off with a Secret Santa admirer? Why you get the perfect Christmas love story – in July! Fifi and Bain strike sparks off each other from the very beginning, but not in a good way. Their back and forth dialogue is loaded with snark and sass and is delightful and extremely funny. In fact, Fifi’s interactions with most of McKenzie Ridge will have you at least chuckling, and, of course, there’s always Granny Lou. It wouldn’t be McKenzie Ridge without her. You just can never go wrong when you have Lou Shaw around, or can you?
The characters are charming, the repartee is delightful, the animals are adorable, the chemistry’s hot, and the love, well, it’s just plain crazy. This will have you laughing from beginning to end. It’s an easy, quick read that’s highly entertaining and hard to put down. It’s so nice to be back in McKenzie Ridge. But even if you’ve never been there before, you’re sure to have a great time! I strongly urge you to take a chance on a visit. Once you’ve been there, you’ll never want to leave!!
Big city girl meets small town veterinarian and sparks fly. I enjoyed the banter between the two as they traded jabs. Christmas in July is full of small-town shenanigans that cracked me up. I adored the quirky characters and menagerie of animals which adds to this entertaining read. With each animal that crosses Fifi’s path, her priorities start to shift and her true passion surfaces. Doc Bain is just what Fiona needs as he helps her to realize that MacKenzie Ridge is where she truly belongs.
Thoroughly entertaining read!
A fun, laugh out loud visit back to McKenzie Ridge. Fifi is there to settle her grandmothers’ estate when the townspeople have her planning the Christmas in July celebration. This book has it all stuffed into a novella. You’ve got your Buffalo, a donkey that likes to nap in the hammock, a possum with no teeth that’s bffs with a handicapped turkey and a crazy llama. Add in a handsome doctor, a secret admirer, and lots of food and you’ll have a great time in McKenzie Ridge. A lighter side to the town. Stephanie always grabs me in the first paragraph and this was no different, couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. I highly recommend it. If you’ve read her McKenzie Ridge romantic thriller series this is a totally different look at the town.
Great little Christmas in July story!
I loved all the animals and Christmas in July in the McKenzie mountains. Fiona and Bain’s interactions were great and I loved it from start to finish.
This was a delight to read! Being back in McKenzie Ridge was like visiting old friends, especially Gran Lou Shaw. I loved seeing how “Holly Weird” Fifi slowly and hilariously finds her childhood roots again after being a Hollywood mastermind. Bain, the funny and yet devilish Vet was the perfect counterpart to her.
These two had so much spark, sizzling chemistry and snarky banter. I loved their back and forth. But, what happens when a secret Santa gets involved? Do these two find a way to make things work? Or does someone ride in on his sleigh and steals her away?
Let’s not forget the menagerie of animals including a sloth, a buffalo, a llama and a few more that added quite a bit of entertainment to the storyline. Another fun, entertaining and quick to read story from an amazing Author.
This was a very sweet quick read! I loved Fifi and Doc as characters. I loved that Doc told it right like it was, no fluff. Fifi shows up with every intent to sell her grandmothers house. But as days pass she is sucked into this quaint town, remembering all her childhood memories. She didn’t plan on meeting Doc and Doc didn’t plan on falling for her. Definitely a great addition to the McKenzie ridge books!
Fantastic!
Such a totally sweet and enjoyable story! It is a bit nostalgic returning to McKenzie Ridge and having the quirky Granny Lou play a large part in this new story, but this town wouldn’t be the same without her!
I enjoyed Fiona’s stuffy demeanor when she first gets to town. She appears quite snobbish, but her surroundings and the local critters soon knock her attitude down several notches! I love the menagerie! Each one has a special circumstance as to who/why they are there and it’s incredible how Doc Bain rescues them and makes this place their forever home. I also love the honest “love” Missy gives Fiona when she least expects it.
This story is full of heartwarming moments, thoughtful people, nestled in a town determined to keep their Christmas spirit alive – even in July! It’s also about fond memories of childhood experiences and dreams along the way and about a woman who was the heart and soul of this little mountain town. It’s also about learning your passion and taking that passion to the next level even if that level is far outside your comfort zone, taking chances. Doc Bain is just what Fiona needs to encourage and support her while helping her realize her passion.
This is a true love story. It’s sweet, caring and HOT with Santa making wishes come true! I loved it!
It was so much fun to head back to Makenzie Ridge and visit some old favorite characters as well as meeting a new one. Fifi returns to town to settle her grandmother’s estate and she is met with the menagerie that lives there with the local vet, Doc Bain. They rile each other up but could that animosity be covering the chemistry and attraction between them?
Fun ensues as Fifi takes over organizing the Christmas (in July) festival. Spitting llamas, pregnant cats, a sick toothless sloth, a donkey that naps in a hammock all make for a fun time. And when Fifi discovers she has a secret admirer sending her letters from Santa, she must decide if she is going to return to LA or take a chance on love and staying in Mackenzie Ridge.
This cast of characters is so much fun and I was thoroughly entertained. I can’t wait to read more stories with these people.
Fifi (Fiona) Gallagher has come back to McKenzie Ridge to go through her grandmother’s things and put her house on the market.
She’s very surprised when she arrives to find that the very handsome veterinarian Dr Jensen Bain is living on the property and has his practice set up there. Also living there are several animals including a buffalo, opossum, turkey and her old childhood cat, Missy. Fifi’s introduction to each of these animals is absolutely hilarious.
The best character is Lou Shaw she just tells it is and she pulls Fifi in into taking her Grandmother’s place to be in charge of the Christmas in July event.
The banter Fifi and Bain have is so funny. He can dish it right back at her. My favorite line he said to her was his response when she said his truck smelled like manure “Manure? Darlin’. I think that’s your attitude you’re smelling.”
The longer Fifi stays the more she re-falls in love with McKenzie Ridge Ridge and then Santa starts leaving love notes for her. Suddenly returning to L.A. doesn’t seem to be where she wants to be.
This story was hilarious. Ms. St. Klaire’s descriptive prose & writing style made it easy for me to picture FiFi, Doc & all of the rescue animals! Poor Dallas the sloth forced to dress in sweaters & tutus! The authors writing style is always sassy & a little snarky but this one is the best! There is always a little mystery in her stories but this mystery is a little different. FiFi keeps getting letters from Santa & she can’t figure them out. She just needs to open her eyes & see what’s in front of her! Not your typical romance but I really enjoyed it!