Tomorrow is Christmas Day. And in the last 48 hours I have: 1) Fired two of my trusted employees. 2) Defaced the office Christmas tree. 3) Completely blown it with the first man I’ve really liked in the last ten years. But it’s worth it, because I’m about to earn the promotion of a lifetime. Unfortunately, my former boss and mentor, Marley Jacobs, is determined to show me the error of my ways … to show me the error of my ways before midnight.
Except I’m not about to let anyone get in my way—even Marley.
Especially since Marley is dead.
more
I truly adore the writing style of this author which is no secret. And – because I decided I would spend a whole month now reading nothing but Xmas novels – the release of this came just about right.
Thing is only that the “Scrooge” theme itself is a hit and miss for me – paired with the fact that it would obviously be the female in the story – well – if it had been any other author I will be honest – I would not have picked the book.
But Ms. Costa did not disappoint – she delivered a heartwarming plot and even managed to give the story a different twist with the female being the Scrooge for a change as well as adding her unique personal ingredients to the mix.
It is not her fault that for me everything should always center around the male in the story when it comes to certain aspects of the plot – so I am sure that there will be a lot of people out there loving this different approach to this well-known theme.
I believe that this story is a perfect choice for you if you are planning to read some heartwarming stories before the holidays …
Jingle my bells and spike my eggnog, I’m giddy with adoration for this swoony hero! But then I adore all of Costa’s heroes, as well as the wonderful, flawed women who love them. Her heroes all have some sort of physical challenge, which she somehow simultaneously keeps in the forefront while nudging it aside as the deeper aspects of the character are revealed, and all of it serves to endear both hero and heroine even more to the reader.
Elizabeth Scribner has worked and fought and clawed her way to the height of her career at Janetta Advertising, and if she lands this next big client, she’s a shoo-in for the CEO slot her mentor and boss, Marley Jacobs, vacated as a result of her untimely demise. Elizabeth hasn’t dated in years, vowing to make her career her only priority, but when the kind-of-geeky, entirely-too-hot-for-his-own-good guy sends a drink over to her in a bar after a particularly challenging day, she decides he might be the one to end her dating moratorium, but just for one night.
And that’s when things get really out of control. Tim and Elizabeth discover there’s been a case of mistaken identity, Elizabeth’s competition for the CEO spot ups his game in order to grab the title of CEO, and Elizabeth is being contacted by her dead boss to video chat. If you’re getting A Christmas Carol vibes, you’d be right, and Elizabeth gets glimpses of her past, present and future, twenty-first-century style.
These characters are so wonderful and their story so heartfelt and uplifting that I’m giving this book five stars, but only if one of them is the biggest, brightest, shiniest star on top of the Christmas tree! You’ll love Tim, with his nerdy brain, his crooked grin and his heart as big as the tree at Rockefeller Center. You’ll admire Elizabeth for her business acumen and her commitment to her career, but you’ll fall completely in love with her as you watch her heart thaw like icicles in the sun. This fantastic holiday read will warm your heart and fill your soul, so get your copy and start reading this phenomenal, enchanting story today!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this Ms. Costa. I really really needed a good book right now. This book is different from any romance I’ve ever read. Yes it’s a take off on A Christmas Carol—modernized and adapted to encompass a love story. And what a love story it is.
Elizabeth (Ebbie) is the heroine and after the prologue I’m like, “Aww, she’s adorable. I like Wonder Woman too.” Then after Chapter 2 I say to myself, “She’s horrible. We need to get her laid right away!” Then after Chapter 6 I think, “She’s a deplorable human being. Get out everyone, while you still can!” Then she meets Tim and I think everything is going to be okay. But not yet, we’ve still got a long way to go.
Tim. You can’t say enough about Tim. Handsome, charming, humble, studdly, resilient and patient. OMG is he patient. Yet realistic, about himself and Elizabeth. (“I’m going to regret this aren’t I.”) I’m laughing and crying at the same time. Every time she boots him out I want to slap her, but he just goes along with her, understanding her limitations and painfully aware of his own reality, yet refusing to let her bring him down.
It’s gladdening to watch Elizabeth take this journey of transformation back into the Ebbie she was in the prologue. Yes, Marley and The Past, Present and Future showed her why, but Tim showed her how. There’s a great epilogue spanning the rest of their lives together. The first time I’ve ever read one like that, and it’s perfect.
I know with such a feel good book the last thing you think about is technique, but that’s what makes it feel so good. Ms. Costa communicates effectively and efficiently, and the story is paced well so that it doesn’t run too long or too short. The dialogue is very natural and it’s easy to read, but the best part is the way she humanizes these characters, and it’s hard to describe but she just knows how to give them that X factor that makes you understand them and makes them lovable. Even Elizabeth, as bitchy as she is, is made sympathetic. I can feel Ebbie fighting to break through the walls that Elizabeth has built.
So all in all, it’s a terrific story (except too many cats LOL). There’s hardly any sex if you care about that, and it will just touch your heart. I’ll be reading it every Christmas time I’m pretty sure.
I loved this story of Ebbie. A sort of recreation of the original Scrooge. Her realization of what her life needed to be compared to what it was and the way it was heading was so good. Tim was the icing on the cake. I loved the characters in the story! Great retelling
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Excellent Gender Switch “A Christmas Carol”
I will admit that I am a fan of the retelling of classic Christmas stories. I’ve read two that were contemporary spins on A Christmas Carol this week, both very good in completely different ways. I’m hard-pressed to say which I liked better. But luckily, I don’t have to choose. I adored this one. I think I read a few other books by this author, but this one was simply so well done. It is told strictly from the perspective of the heroine. The author did an excellent job showing us how she became who she is and what she is like now. She really does have to grow and change in this book. Watching her awkward fits and starts kept me up reading. I love it when a book does that. She really is a piece of work when the book begins and through much of the beginning. The way of introducing scenes of the past, present, and future was done in a very contemporary way, which I found satisfying. Most characters in this book were gender switched. The Scrooge character is female as well as Marley and Bob Cratchit. Tiny Tim is definitely not so tiny, but he definitely is dealing with physical difficulties like the original Tiny Tim. But in this book, Tiny Tim is all grown up and quite this swoon-worthy hero. It definitely takes a special man, as well as glimpses of her life from the ghosts, to thaw the witchy ice queen. This book definitely goes into more depth than some others I have read. If you like retellings of classic Christmas stories like I do, with a healthy dose of romance and character growth, you may very well enjoy this story.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Marley takes Elizabeth under her wing, and teacher her how to be cutthroat in order to get ahead. Elizabeth’s career is her absolute priority – not dating, marriage, kids or even a social life. But Marley dies, and Elizabeth is on her own to navigate her way to the top. She does a spectacular job, and everyone hates her. This is a nice modern retelling of A Christmas Carol. The characters are wonderful, and it’s an enjoyable book to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a book! Costa puts a delightful twist of a simmering to sizzling modern romance on a classic story, and the immense satisfaction is ten-fold!
A great updated take on an old classic. Elizabeth is a fabulous Scrooge! Not much to like about her. The author does a great job of making her a villain. But, as with the original story, things take a turn. The fabulous story turns into a beautiful and sexy romance with lots of angst. I couldn’t put this book down!!!
Really fun modernization of a Dickens classic; Tim’s all grown up
I loved this romantic, modern version of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol set in the bustling world of NYC advertising, with a career-driven woman and her mentor in the Scrooge and Marley roles. Tim’s not so tiny, though he still deals with disability surrounded by his large, close-knit family. I loved the creative, modern spin on how dead Marley first makes contact with heroine Ebbie and, in this version, Ebbie’s lack of sympathy and patience for her employees is somewhat justified. She’s driven more by a mania for perfection and success in a male dominated world than by the original Scrooge’s avarice.
Some of the best scenes for me related to her visits to the past and reconnecting with her girlhood AND, of course, the romantic bits. The romance is not too explicit but very satisfying emotionally. There’s a certified villain and humor too, and even some cat love for the animal lover. The epilogue really covers all the bases and leaves no major character out, making this a true standalone story.
I definitely recommend this light and easy to read holiday romance with a touch of redemptive magic.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This was a great modern retelling of Dicken’s Christmas Carol. The characters were on point and the story was well developed, true to the original and touching. Elizabeth (Ebbie) is a driven workaholic being considered for the CEO position of Jannetta Advertising. Her mentor Marley recently past away leaving the position open. Elizabeth’s opponent for the job is Richard, a smary, charming ex-hook up. She fires two people days before Christmas. Tim, the son of her ex secretary, and Ebbie meet at a local bar and hook up. The next morning each realizes who the other is and she kicks him out. They keep connecting throughout her visits with the ghosts. After she has her epiphany, she makes up with Tim, gets the job and has a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ms. Scrooge
Annabelle Costa
https://www.facebook.com/annabellecostaauthor/
Release date 12/02/2019
Publisher Rose Bud Press
Blurb :
Tomorrow is Christmas Day. And in the last 48 hours I have:
1) Fired two of my trusted employees.
2) Defaced the office Christmas tree.
3) Completely blown it with the first man I’ve really liked in the last ten years.
But it’s worth it, because I’m about to earn the promotion of a lifetime. Unfortunately, my former boss and mentor, Marley Jacobs, is determined to show me the error of my ways before midnight.
Except I’m not about to let anyone get in my way—even Marley.
Especially since Marley is dead.
My review :
When an only business minded woman filling perfectly the role of Ebenezer Scrooge collides with her past, present and future; which way will she follow …
It has been two years since I have discovered Mrs Annabelle Costa’s work, and it was already a Christmastide themed story, since I purchase every new book she releases, even her paranormal romance.
She is one of the very few contemporary romance authors I follow and after The Grinch, this year is Scrooge, I am a sucker for any reinterpretation of A Christmas Carol, and even more when it is a romance.
After a very messy day, this was the perfect read to cheer my mood.
Ebbie is truly on the right track to become the most hated vixen in her enterprise. Firing her secretary a few days before the holidays, cancelling the office party and rejecting her sister’s invitation.
She has in appearance very few things left to be admired, but maybe she is not all dark, she has some lights in her, well hidden but still there and needing the right insensitive to let it shine.
The story is told from her point of view in the first-person. Still it does not embellish her actions and when she is a shrew, she is one.
After, she just not popped up in life this way, it was one brick at a time, she morphed to this single minded woman.
Right, I go upset at her, still she is no monster just driven the wrong way.
Hopefully Tim barging in her life is the best thing she could have hope.
Tim, is such a caring and cheerful hero, what ever Ebbie does, he tries to show her life is not black and white, that there are middle shades where they might be able to meet if only she wants.
He is the perfect man like Mrs Annabelle Costa knows to write about.
I can only urge you to discover her work, she has a very unique talent to bring her made of paper and ink characters to life with all their flaws and issues.
5 stars.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/516004178988758?d=n&sfns=mo