NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Love can transform even the best-laid plans in this heartfelt Christmas novel from the queen of Christmas stories, Debbie Macomber.Trapped in the middle of five siblings, Everly Lancaster always had big dreams. Now a top real-estate executive, Everly finds her work is her life, leaving no space for anything (or anyone) else. Sensing her stress, Everly’s boss insists … Everly’s boss insists she take December off. At first, a month away seems crazy—how will the company survive without her? But Everly’s mother convinces her otherwise. She deserves a vacation—plus, when she returns, she’ll have no excuse to skip family Christmas like she did last year.
But after her vengeful assistant books a guided cruise in the Amazon instead of the luxury beach vacation she expected, Everly is horrified to realize that she’s about to spend the next two weeks trapped—with no Wi-Fi!—in the rain forest. Not even Asher Adams, the ship’s charming naturalist, can convince Everly that the trip will be unforgettable. Slowly but surely, she realizes he is right: the sights are spectacular. And with each passing day, Everly’s relationship with Asher deepens, forcing her to take a long, hard look at her priorities.
Everly and Asher begin to see magic in the possibility of a life together. But as the cruise nears its end, and Everly’s family Christmas approaches, both must decide if love is worth the risk. A merry surprise may be in store in Debbie Macomber’s newest holiday delight.
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When Everly (Daisy) Lancaster is forced to take a vacation…her nightmare of an assistant books her a vengeance trip. The workaholic had no phone, internet, or the proper clothes for this trip, but she would have never met Asher if it weren’t for this disaster vacation.
This seasonal romance was a fun, enjoyable read that had me laughing throughout and just gave me a great feeling. Author Debbie Macomber is great at writing a cute romance with a Hallmarkish feel. There was a lot of family, drama, and mishaps throughout! Really enjoyable holiday romance. 4 stars.
Everly worked hard to get to where she was in the business world as co-owner of a big business; rarely visiting her family, changing her name from Daisy to Everly, and taking time for herself. She also has this assistant who cannot seem to get things straight. Everly has had enough of her assistant’s mistakes and wants her out. Being forced to take a month off, Everly takes some time for herself. Unfortunately, that assistant happens to be the co-owner’s niece. The assistant takes revenge, tells her she is going to book her on a cruise, and hopes things will be better when Everly gets back. The cruise ended up being a week-long journey on the Amazon River. Again, a bungled up job by the assistant, or is it? Things start off a little rough but, after being care for by the dashing Asher, the expedition director, things begin to change. Beginning with Asher calling her Daisy instead of Everly. As the week goes by, Daisy begins to see her life differently and realize how much she has given up to rise up the ladder of success. It is great to get into the Christmas spirit. Another Debbie Macomber book that makes the heart feel good. This would make a great Hallmark movie! Thank you to Ms. Macomber, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I liked this book I mean who doesn’t love a good Christmas book. I liked how this book the main character Everly is reminded to slow down and find herself and try and find what’s really important in life. I liked Asher at first he came off a little mysterious at first. I liked how he was out going and so many people loved him and was willing to following him. I loved how even though Everly took everything as it came and nothing seem to hold her back. I really enjoyed the value of family in this book and how it really puts you in the Christmas spirit. I loved how the author kept this a good clean read and is suitable for all. Overall this is a good and quick read and you won’t be disappointed. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Everly Lancaster is stressed to the max. She wants her co-owners niece fired. Instead she is told to take a month off. She has no concept of relaxing. She has been on this merry-go-round for so long, she has no idea how to get off. The cruise she was booked on was not what she expected. It wasn’t for fun and relaxation, it was a sightseeing/educational cruise down the Amazon. Asher Adams feels at home out in the open. He enjoys passing on his love of nature to people taking these cruises. He never encounters anyone like Everly and he makes it his mission to get her to let go of technology and enjoy. This cruise brings out memories of growing up and doing things with grandparents and parents. Love was not on the agenda but she fell just the same. What Adam failed to understand is just how much Everly’s family loves her and will protect her against a perceived enemy. In the end, both change to achieve their HEA.
Jingle All The Way is this year’s holiday offering from prolific author Debbie Macomber. In this novel, real estate mogul of the internet realty domain Easy Home, Everly Lancaster, has taken up all the slack left by her business partner, Jack Campbell, and has put in 60 hour weeks regularly while giving Jack an out because she doesn’t trust his ability to deal. When Jack insists Everly hire his niece Annette, and Annette repeatedly messes up thinking she will get away with it, Everly fires her. But Jack intervenes and insists Everly take off the month of December and that Annette will book a relaxing tropical vacation for her.
In a whirlwind, Annette does book a Brazilian cruise and gets Everly there on time. What Annette doesn’t divulge is that it is not a luxury cruise, but a bare bones Amazon cruise. By the time Everly determines the limitations of the cruise, it is far too late to disembark, putting her incommunicado for two weeks. For most of the first week of the journey Everly is stricken with a very adverse reaction to a tropical mosquito bite, giving her time to connect with the journey’s naturalist, Asher Adams, who also fills the role of medic, loosely.
The connection is real and the adventure is life changing, but the rejection at the end of the cruise is heart wrenching. Everly returns to Chicago a changed woman and calls her partner on the carpet. Jack must take up the slack. Everly is taking the entire month off, and leaves for her Indiana family farm to spend the holidays with her family.
This is a very good story, and not exactly what you might expect from Ms, Macomber, but the surprise is a big part of the enjoyment. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
The beginning of this review is going to make me sound like a big old scrooge, but please bear with me. I am and have been a big fan of Debbie Macomber for what feels like forever and I adore her work. Always sweet feel good stories that are heartwarming and love filled. This book took a lot of reading for me to feel that way. The beginning of this book drove me bonkers and made me angry. I started and stopped reading multiple times trying to get beyond the first 10% of the story. Here is why. Everly is a seemingly amazing woman. She is strong, smart and works like her life depends on it and she is great at it. That she then allows herself to be bullied, manipulated and pushed out of the office by her partner Jack and his niece is so very unreasonable and unrealistic. Jack, her partner is supposed to have her back and be on the same page business wise. What he is is a giant tool, which may be the nicest thing I could say about him. He is more than pathetic and spineless and is so incredibly whipped by his sister and niece while leaving the lions share of work, particularly the problems to Everly/Daisy. He “has to” give his niece a job and rather than be a decent partner and human being he saddles Everly with her as her assistant. When she again and again screws up and Everly fires her from being her assistant he won’t do it or take her as his assistant. She is a horror show of a human being, spoiled rotten to the very core and knows she has him by the throat because Jack is a chicken hearted jerk who is afraid of his sister and her. He is an embarrassment of a human, friend, partner and basic decent human being with his head in a place it is not anatomically possible to be and yet it is. He then “forces” his partner to take a vacation that his heinous niece sets up and sends her on a cruise with no wifi or access to the outside world with a smirk on her face. Rather than a luxury cruise she sends her on an adventure cruise down the Amazon with no access to the outside world. Seriously who in the world is dumb enough to accept that and actually go? No one, that is who. Not even a spineless fictional would not look to see where she was being sent before going. I didn’t feel anything, but disgust for everyone, but kept reading as as it was written by one of my most beloved authors knew it had to get better. So finally 65% in Everly decides she matters and the only way for others to treat her better is for her to do so herself. She is right as people can only treat us the way we allow them to. Ultimately Jack realizes that his niece is all Everly said she was, fires her and begs Everly to come back early for “he needs her so badly and she is the only one who can handle the big problems”. She continues her vacation because she has a lot to mull over about her life. Does she go back, does she sell her stake in the business, move back near her family who love her unconditionally? Basically what is next for her? The rest is thankfully in true DM fashion. Phew! Sweet, redemptive, loving all of course leading to the proverbial happily ever after. It was a lovely fun wonderful ending, but took a lot to get there. Oh and though this book takes place at Christmas it is by no means a Christmas book. Not a big deal, but if you’re expecting for the book to revolve around the holiday be aware.
Overworked Everly goes on what she thinks is a luxury vacation. She soon finds herself on a trip into the Amazon with naturalist Asher. They fall in love and must decide how to mesh their very different lives. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my honest review.
I am a huge Debbie Macomber fan. Her Christmas stories are usually all I need to get in the spirit of the holiday. I’m glad I read this book in August because it isn’t a story that will get me in the spirit of the season. Jingle All The Way is our annual Macomber Christmas gift but it just doesn’t give enough. While the premise of the story is interesting, including a cruise down the Amazon with piranhas and a native kidnapping, the characters and storyline development just seem to skim the surface. Jingle All The Way is a cute story and would probably make a good Hallmark movie, it just isn’t one of my favorite Macomber stories.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book from NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this fun, Amazon adventure. Everly is a workaholic and when her assistant keeps screwing up everything, she has had enough. Her business partner decides it is time for her to take a vacation. A whole month! What will she do with all that time. When her assistant books her a cruise, she decides it is time to get away. She expects to get lots of sun and fun. What she got was an Amazon river cruise with no internet. How will she survive two weeks with no internet? Asher is the naturalist on this trip and knows that Everly is going to be trouble. When she gets lost in the jungle, has a bad reaction to a bug bite and then falls into the river, he knows she is special. They spend so much time together and become really close. He knows their relationship can’t go anywhere, she loves Chicago and he loves the wide open spaces. Can they find a middle ground?
I don’t think I’ve read a book by this author before and figured a holiday romance would be right. I was not disappointed. This is sweet and the setting is different than expected but fits what Everly needs perfectly. The relationship she develops with Asher is amazing and I can see them making it work but she has to set her priorities straight. I fell in love with the rainforest and the sights and the story itself.
Jingle All the Way by DEBBIE MACOMBER
Love can transform even the best-laid plans in this heartfelt Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author and the queen of Christmas stories, Debbie Macomber.
Trapped in the middle of five siblings, Everly Lancaster always had big dreams. Now a top real-estate executive, Everly finds her work is her life, leaving no space for anything (or anyone) else. Sensing her stress, Everly’s boss insists she take December off. At first, a month away seems crazy—how will the company survive without her? But Everly’s mother convinces her otherwise. She deserves a vacation—plus, when she returns, she’ll have no excuse to skip family Christmas like she did last year.
But after her vengeful assistant books a guided cruise in the Amazon instead of the luxury beach vacation she expected, Everly is horrified to realize that she’s about to spend the next two weeks trapped—with no Wi-Fi!—in the rain forest. Not even Asher Adams, the ship’s charming naturalist, can convince Everly that the trip will be unforgettable. Slowly but surely, she realizes he is right: the sights are spectacular. And with each passing day, Everly’s relationship with Asher deepens, forcing her to take a long, hard look at her priorities.
Everly and Asher begin to see magic in the possibility of a life together. But as the cruise nears its end, and Everly’s family Christmas approaches, both must decide if love is worth the risk. A merry surprise may be in store in Debbie Macomber’s newest holiday delight.
This is Everly Lancaster and Asher’s story.
Everly Lancaster was ready to explode. Her assistant, Annette, the very one Jack Campbell, her business partner and CEO, had highly recommended she hire, who also happened to be his niece, had made yet another crucial mistake. One in a long list of costly errors. This time, however, this Gen Z, spoiled, irresponsible, entitled young woman had gone too far.
Annette Howington had mortified Everly in front of five hundred real estate brokers.
“It’s really not that big a deal,” Annette insisted, smiling as if to suggest this had all been a small misunderstanding. “You did fine without your speech.”
“You need a break and I’m going to see that you get one and that’s final.”
But after her vengeful assistant books a guided cruise in the Amazon instead of the luxury beach vacation she expected, Everly is horrified to realize that she’s about to spend the next two weeks trapped—with no Wi-Fi!—in the rain forest. Not even Asher Adams, the ship’s charming naturalist, can convince Everly that the trip will be unforgettable. Slowly but surely, she realizes he is right: the sights are spectacular. And with each passing day, Everly’s relationship with Asher deepens, forcing her to take a long, hard look at her priorities.
I highly recommend reading.
Jingle All the Way by DEBBIE MACOMBER is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by DEBBIE MACOMBER.
I received a complimentary e-book from Net Galley.
In my opinion Debbie Macomber is a star author. I have never been disappointed with any story I have ever read of hers. This story is no exception. I enjoyed Daisy “Everly” Lancaster’s story of emotional evolution. Everly comes from a farming family in Indiana. She is one of 5 siblings and has always felt “out of place” in her family. All her siblings seemed to be athletic and sports minded; she was always the book worm. Straight out of college she and her business partner created a great real estate business. Everly has taken on most of the responsibility of the day-to-day operations of the business. She is “accidently” on purpose put on an Amazon River cruise by her vindictive assistant who also happens to be her business partner’s, niece. One mishap after another plagues her during her trip; she handles it all like a trooper. The trip gives her the time she needs to examine her life a little more closely than she has over the last few years; allowing her to come to some decisions about her family and career. She meets Asher Adams, the ship’s naturalist/medic onboard and they strike up a friendship; a friendship that she would like to see continue, once the cruise ends. Asher has other ideas; breaking things off once they dock in home port. Will Everly and Asher be able to work through their differences or is his rejection of Everly the more than she can handle now?
To me, this story has an unusual romance angle and shares material that broadens our horizons. Wonderfully warm characters and exciting locales; superb writing.
I was beyond delighted when I was invited to review Debbie Macomber’s new Christmas book since I love her books, especially the Christmas ones that I look forward to each year. The story of Everly and Asher is an old as time, and so well-written that I laughed, I cried and I rejoiced as I read. Just the feelings I wanted as the holiday approaches! Everly is a real estate executive who is tricked into going on an Amazon River cruise. There she meets naturalist Asher, a young man dedicated to telling everyone about all of the mysteries of the Amazon. I laughed aloud at some of the escapades that Everly got into. She may have been a very capable real estate mogul, but she was definitely out of her element in the wilds of the Amazon. It was amusing to read about Asher’s attempt to thwart her getting seriously injured while also teaching her about the place he loved so much. The conflict comes when the two fall in love and they have no idea to believe that their love can continue since they live worlds apart. I always enjoy how Ms. Macomber resolves the conflict and I think that her readers will recognize her fine hand in this wonderful Christmas story. It’s all about family, love, talents and compromise. Fans of romance and Debbie Macomber will thoroughly enjoy this story. And, bonus! I learned a lot about the Amazon, too!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber is a charming Christmas tale. It contains Debbie Macomber’s trademark writing style. The author has a way of drawing a reader right into a story which was what happened to me with Jingle All the Way. Everly Lancaster aka Daisy has spent the last six years working to make the real estate company she, Easy Home that she co-owns with Jack Campbell a success. Work has dominated her life to the detriment of her family and other relationships. Now she has an inept assistant who happens to be her partner’s niece. Jack insists she take a thirty-day vacation. The inept assistant is tasked with finding a relaxing cruise in a warm climate. You just know that this is not going to go well. What ensues are embarrassing and humorous situations along with a chance for a romantic encounter. Asher Adams is a naturalist who works on the cruise Everly takes down the Amazon River. He is the perfect counterpart for Everly. A beautiful setting and a cozy cruise ship have a way of bringing two people together. Staying together, though, is the tricky part. I enjoyed meeting Everly’s large, boisterous family. It is amazing how time gives us a different perspective on our family and where we grew up. I liked that Everly took her time while laid up to gain a new perspective about the cruise as well as reflect on her life. I was surprised by how quickly this story flew by for me. I loved the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the tale. Jingle All the Way is a heartwarming holiday story that will leave you smiling. I wish we did not have to wait a year for Debbie Macomber’s next holiday novel. Jingle All the Way is an entertaining holiday story with an incapable assistant, wardrobe woes, tribal tribulations, insect irritation, sociable siblings, and Christmas cheer.
Jingle All the Way is an easy-to-read holiday romance. Everly is a workaholic whose partner at her company forces her to take a vacation. She assumes she’ll be experiencing luxury when in reality she ends up on a two-week tour through the Amazon rainforest. She has a series of unfortunate events on the ship she and becomes close with the tours’ naturalist. They quickly form a friendship and strong feelings for each other, but he breaks things off before they can really begin because of their drastically different lifestyles. Either way Everlys life has been changed or the better, and she rediscovers her passion for life and her family. When Asher realizes his mistake will she be willing to give him another chance.
This is a really sweet opposite attract holiday romance. The first half of the book has our heroine trailing the Amazon rainforest where she fights an illness from a mosquito bite, encounters natives, fishes for piranha and falls in love. I loved that she made the best of her highly unexpected situation. In the second half of the book Evelyn takes us back to her childhood home on the farm and it’s filled with family, gingerbread house building and sleigh rides. While the book is from both Evelyn and Ashers point of view, it was much more of the former. Evelyn really was the star of the book and Asher kind of falls to the side line. In my opinion, even though he was sweet and kind, I didn’t feel like we needed his point of view.
Jingle All the Way is my first Debbie Macomber book and I would really like to read more by her in the future
I received an early ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine. The comments and review are my honest opinion.
Everly (Daisy) is all business as a partner in a well-known real estate company in Chicago. Everyone is well aware of how all business she is. Daisy hasn’t had a serious relationship in years, let alone a casual one. She even claimed she was too busy to go home last Christmas to visit her parents and siblings. This year her partner insists she take the month of December off and tells Daisy’s assistant to book her a cruise somewhere warm.
The cruise does not turn out exactly as Daisy envisioned, in more ways than one. This is a good story to pick up as Debbie MacComber has written an enjoyable feel-good story to start off your holiday reading.
Debbie Macomber’s last two books that I’ve read have really thrown me for a loop! The first half or so of this Christmas book takes place on the Amazon River. We’re talking bugs, snakes, native people with spears and rainforest. The book before that that I picked up to cheer me up after my mother died was about cancer. She used to be an automatic read for me, but I think that’s going to change.
Having said that, the book was pretty good once I wrapped my mind around the rainforest stuff. It did really take some readjusting on my part. Poor Everly ended up on a ship going down the Amazon instead of the huge cruise ship sailing in the Caribbean that she expected (an angry assistant booked it for her). She was a disaster on the trip. Everything that could go wrong did–except for meeting Asher. Asher is the nature guide and is attracted to Everly despite the disaster that she is. As the trip ends, they are pretty close. There’s obviously a huge obstacle in their way as far as having a relationship(the Amazon guide being his profession), and they go their separate ways. Everly goes back to the land of snow and hot chocolate to be with her family and try to get over him. Is there anyway they can ever have a lasting relationship?
Ms. Macomber is talented enough to pull this story off and leave you feeling like you did read a tradition Christmas romance. I’m not sure how, but she did it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I Would Love To Live This Story
This is a fun, sweet, and clean romance. I don’t want to spoil it, but let me say that much of the story concerns a cruise that I would love to take. Much of the story is about re-evaluating life, goals, and determining what is really important. So much of the story revolves around an idyllic Christmas on the farm. All in all, I would love to live this story and that alone makes it a great romance. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
This was a truly delightful book! The story is entertaining from the start and was impossible to put down. The characters have great interactions as they journey to find their way to happily ever after. Don’t miss out on this lovely story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book; all opinions expressed are my own.
A sweet holiday story. Daisy was a workaholic before she went on an unwanted cruise. Asher is the tour director for the cruise. These two spend plenty of time getting to know each other and falling in love. Family and faith are important to both of them and is what helps them to come terms with how they want to continue on with their lives in the future.