NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Christmas is the season of the heart, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber is here to warm yours with a delightful holiday novel of first impressions and second chances. Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and … crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her—minus her photo—and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.
Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects—or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.
Praise for Merry and Bright
“Warm and sweet as Christmas cookies, this new Debbie Macomber romance is sure to be a hit this holiday season.”—Bookreporter
“Heartfelt, cheerful . . . Readers looking for a light and sweet holiday treat will find it here.”—Publishers Weekly
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Every year Debbie Macomber gives us a beautiful Christmas story.
This year I was more than delighted with Merry and Bright.
The story conveys an emotion as I had not felt for a long time.
Merry, who was born on December 26, has an envious inner positive energy.
She works as a temporary employee at a company while saving money to pay for her senior year of college. She wants to be a teacher.
She comes from a solid and loving family.
Her mother suffers from multiple sclerosis and her 18-year-old brother, Patrick, has down syndrome. The family is beautiful.
The Christmas party is a long-awaited tradition. It is at this time that they take the time to thank all the people for their help and support throughout the year by giving them time to cook for these people.
With such a love-filled life story, Merry has clashes with her boss, Jayson Bright.
A handsome man, but always serious, he never smiles.
Jayson carries the responsibility of the VP of his uncle’s company on his shoulders. With deadlines and all reports to do, he has no time for social life or smiling.
So when he knows that his cousin, Cooper, was in love and marrying soon, Jayson is astonished. More so to know that the meeting of Cooper and his fiancée was through a dating website.
Determined to risk his luck, Jayson signs up, but doesn’t put his picture on the profile, but a dog he had in his teens.
Jayson is interested in the profile of a woman whose photo was also a dog.
They exchange messages for some time until they decide to meet each other.
From there everything changes because the woman didn’t appear. But, she did. She saw him. She freaked out.
Merry is surprised to discover that the man she had been talking to online was her boss.
Company policy didn’t allow for loving relationships between employees.
In a few days she would not work there anymore.
And she and Jayson had had several clashes in the office.
How could she forget his pedantic and serious way?
How would Jayson be after having his heart broken by a woman he didn’t even know?
The end of the story has a lot the magic of Christmas, with human mistakes and success, full of merry and bright
5 stars
A charming holiday romance with a little help from well-meaning angels. Loved the characters and the cozy, holiday romance.
What a wonderful story. If you liked “You’ve Got Mail” or the old movie “Little Shop Around the Corner”, you will love this book. It is sweet and such a “feel good story”. Merry’s mother and brother sign her up on a dating site. You can guess what happens from there. As always, Debbie Macomber has hit the mark again!
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
I was drawn in from the get-go and got very attached to Merry. I loved the dynamic of Merry’s ailing mother and her down syndrome brother. I felt like I was reading a story about real people that could be my neighbors. This was a fun, relaxing read!
I loved the book it was awesome I finished in like a day and a half. The characters were great and I loved Merry’s brother. The girl though I must confess drove me crazy I really just wanted her to be honest from the start but I’m glad everything worked out. Would love to know what happens next with them. Great story
WHAT’S IT ABOUT
Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her—minus her photo—and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.
Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects—or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.
MY TAKE
A cute twist on The Shop Around the Corner (In the Good Old Summertime and You’ve Got Mail) theme where pen pals fall in love but know each other in real life where they hate/don’t like each other. In this case, Mr. Bright is Merry’s boss.
It’s a sweet story where the grumpy unlove rich guy is taught how to enjoy Christmas through Merry (and her delightful brother with Downs Syndrome).
The narrator did a decent job.
4 1/2 stars
Debbie Macomber’s Merry & Bright was the first Christmas romance novel I ever read. Her sweet, relatable characters introduced me to the world of heartwarming Christmas romance that quickly became my favorite sub-genre. While the plot isn’t overly complicated, it’s just enough to keep you turning the pages. And you’ll be immersed in the wonder and charm of the most magical time of the year. Although, I’d argue it’s a perfect read all year long.
There’s nothing like a Debbie Macomber Christmas romance to bring a bit of cheer to the holiday season. Merry and Bright is a fun fast read that just makes you smile and feel good. With all that is going on in the world, it is wonderful to enjoy a happily ever after story that takes place during Christmas.
This was such an adorable little Christmas story! I loved both Merry and Jason. And I loved that Jason cares so much about Merry and her family. I wanted this to be a little longer to make the ending a bit more justified. I’ve been loving all of the Debbie Macomber books I’ve read the past month or so!
Book 275 towards my goal of 280! 3/5 stars for this Holiday Romance read. I’m pretty sure it has been made into a Hallmark movie, but if not, it should be It was a cute story, but I think after the last romance book I read it just wasn’t quite steamy enough! If you’re looking for a Hallmark Christmas movie in book format, check it out! Narration is good too!
Merry lives a full life between family and work and now that her boss has mandated overtime, her life has little time for anything else. When her mother and brother sign her up for an online dating site, she meets Jay, will it progress to more? Merry is a strong character who speaks her mind, enjoys Christmas and is dedicated to her family. Will these qualities be able to help her as she gets to know her boss Mr. Bright better while they work on a project? This fast paced book has all of the makings for a holiday movie and played like one in my mind as I read.
This was a sweet Christmas romance. Add in a caring brother and puppy dogs and I was hooked. Merry is a great character. Her and Jason are so cute! If you are looking for a Christmas romance, I recommend this one.
Great book
I absolutely loved this audiobook. I loved all the characters. I wasn’t bored or disappointed at all while listening. The narrator does amazing job. I enjoy Debbie Macomber book I think is the third book if her’s that I have read and will continue reading anything that she puts out. Her writing style the way she hooks into her books. Highly recommend her books. I haven’t been disappointed yet..
About Book- Merry is young woman working to help take care of her family. A mother who sick and her younger brother who Down syndrome. Merry works for a boss who merry thinks is rude and not into the holidays at all. Merry feels like he is mean and a grump. Merry mother and brother set up account on a dating website and she ends up chatting with a man. Who merry really is starting to have feelings for. And so is this man that she is talking to. Again highly recommend this audiobook.
Wouldn’t you be surprised if your grouchy boss had a likable side to his personality? That’s the theme in this delightful holiday story about a temp who works her heart out to help her family, who then reward her by registering her on a dating website where she starts chatting with a wonderful guy. I love the charm of the Christmas spirit and family closeness in this story.
Good short holiday read
This is an enjoyable holiday story. The characters are engaging and I think that the writing flows effortlessly; so that you actually feel like “you’re a fly on the wall” and going through the story with the characters.
It is a girl meets boy; girl is annoyed by boy; boy doesn’t really notice girl type, of story. Merry is a 25-ish woman working as a temp. at a well-known information company in the Seattle area of Washington state. She has a one-year contract so that she can earn enough money to complete her college degree as a special education teacher. She has a downs syndrome younger brother and lives at home with him and their parents. Their father is a traveling salesman; so most of the time it’s just the three of them. They are a close-knit, loving, family. Merry has seen Jason Bright around the office. After all, he is the VP and apparently next in line as President; once his uncle retires. Due to an on-line dating site and the unexpected decision for 2 people to try new options; they start messaging, without knowing their true identities; and find that they like each other. This was was wonderfully delightful Christmas story.
This is a charming contemporary holiday romance!
I love the main characters and the very differing views of the Christmas season that they have. Their names are fantastic for fitting into the the story itself. In fact I think that they are inspired. I don’t know which came first the idea for the story or the idea for the title of this book. I do know that they are perfect.
I adore Merry and the way that she relates with her family and others around her. I would love to be able to consider her a friend. At the same time I can understand all of Jayson’s negative opinions of the holidays. He’s had a difficult family life that has totally colored the season for him.
I was enchanted with the way that their relationship developed through the course of this book. As with just about all romances they needed some help from others and I can’t think of any better helper than Patrick.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and 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 Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I loved this one just as much as threat of her work. Oh my gosh this was so good I lived her brother who made even more entertaining. Patrick made this book even more special.
I always enjoy reading Debbie McComber