A full-length standalone holiday romcom from USA Today Bestselling author, Delancey Stewart! I’ll just admit it right up front—I don’t love the holidays. In fact, Christmas makes me downright cranky. Call me the Grinch if you must, but if your dad chose that day to decide he was wrong about that whole wanting a family thing, you’d grow up miffed about mistletoe too. Every candy cane, ugly … wanting a family thing, you’d grow up miffed about mistletoe too. Every candy cane, ugly sweater, and falalalala reminds me of the worst day of my life.
So when my uncle—a bigwig network executive—gives me one last shot to salvage my disastrous TV production career on a show called Holiday Homes, I’ve got no choice but to suck it up, head to the small town of Singletree, and fake festive.
The problem?
Callan Whitewood. The sexy, sullen former pro-soccer player might be the one person on earth who hates the holidays more than I do. After a devastating injury ended his career, he’s left with a limp, no idea what to do with his future, and a cheerless attitude worthy of Ebenezer Scrooge. But I’ve got a TIME LIMIT to convince the gorgeous grump to allow his home to be featured as the pinnacle of the Christmas episode of the show that’s going to save my career.
That is, if I can keep my hands off him… but I’m having a bit of trouble sticking to the task.
SHAKING THE SLEIGH is a standalone holiday romantic comedy with a satisfying happily ever after, plenty of festive chuckles, some sexy times and a few chinchillas. Maybe a cat. (And there might be a wombat because wombats really do fit into almost any story.)
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I enjoyed this story so much more than I thought I would! I loved the Christmas theme which was why I picked it up. Now I will have an fun book to keep me entranced for years. There are so many reasons to love this book! The town, the people, Madison and Annabel. Not to mention the two main characters.
Callan was broody, grumpy and wanted to be left alone. April was the female grinch and is trying to not get fired from her job. Once their paths cross the fun times start rolling. I have many passages highlighted in this book. Funny ones, thoughtful even serious ones.
Annabel is a treasure! As a supporting character she did amazing. Her friendship became an important factor and her zeal for decorating the hotel and herself was enjoyable. Madison was a treat! She is young and I loved her enthusiasm and her words. Everything comes with a youngsters slang or lysp. Here is what she call April—Ape-will! So cute!
This is a first time author to me. I am not sure what took me so long but this is a great one to start off with. The whole Christmas theme made this a fun, enjoyable holiday story.
I love Christmas Holiday books and this one did not disappoint. April and Callen were so cute together and enjoyed watching them work through their ups ans downs to find a relationship for the holidays.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I volunteered to read this ARC for an honest review. I enjoyed this story about Callan and April. Callan had just moved to Singletree to get away from his past, tragic career ending injury, an ex that humiliated him in public and a brother suffering from his own wife’s death. He’s purchased the Singleton Manor and wants to hide out. Unfortunately for him April has been assigned the job of filming his home for a Christmas special. This is her last chance at production and she can’t screw up. But she and Callan are like oil and water at first, both see the other as an enemy. April hates Christmas and he hates everyone. But when forced to work together to help cheer his nieces up, they realize that they have serious chemistry. Great HEA with lots of laughs.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow, what a great story. I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to know what will happen next. Who knew a TV show could bring love.
I loved Callan and April together, they may have met under different circumstances. But they overcame it even with bumps in the road.
Who knew the holiday season could bring love.
I highly recommend this book.
This is truly the perfect book for Christmas.
I want to say I would recommend it for a Lifetime movie, but then the awesome steamy parts would go missing.
Anyways…the town of Single Tree has done a spectacular job of stealing my heart. The many unique characters, the set-up, the hominess. It kept a smile on my face when Callan and April were not. I would highly recommend this book.
Happy reading!
Rating 5 stars
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shaking the Sleigh was such a fun, romantic and often hilarious story! I was drawn into the story right from the start and absolutely love these characters. I really like how the story is told from duel points of view so you get to see what’s going on from the different character angles.
April and Callan are such relatable characters and while neither one is looking for love their chemistry is just too intense for either of them to ignore! Their back and forth banter had me laughing out loud at times, however there are some serious moments as well. Grab this book and find out if these two Christmas grinches can find love and get into Christmas spirit!
A wonderful, one click worthy book for sure!
By Alisa
This book is so sweet it will get you ready for Christmas cookies! A crabby former soccer player and a woman who hates Christmas manage to help each other’s hearts grow three sizes and find their Christmas spirit. With two adorable little girls, a tree named Christopher, a cat in a wheelchair, a sexy sleigh ride and a whole lot more, this is definitely worth adding to your Christmas list!
I’m going to start this off by saying I’m moving to Singletree. This small town is so cute and filled with some of the best quirky characters I fell in love with it as much as I did with Callan and April.
I love a good holiday romance and Delancey and me cracking up watching the two of them fall in love.
Plus it has a cameo of my favorite Granny. This is one book you want to stuff your stocking with lol.
Yep, Sylvie Stewart has done it again….one sexy Christmas story that will have you wishing that there were more! Engaging, funny and seriously sexy. I have never laughed so hard one second and smiling the next them back to laughing again. The perfect romantic read to put you in the holiday mood. Loved this book and so can’t wait to get my hands on the next book this fabulous, amazing and talented author writes next. Happy reading!!
A light, fun and enjoyable read with a bit of sexy added in. Definitely a great read for the holiday season. Strong characters you’ll love getting to know and a story line that draws you in to the story and holds there til you read the last page.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Light, fun, and sexy with plenty of Christmas cheer, Shaking the Sleigh is a great holiday read. I love Delancey Stewart’s writing style – it’s so easy to read with a lightness that draws you in to the story. There’s a whole lot to like about this book, and the hero is an adorably grumpy former soccer star who will steal your heart.
The story follows April, a TV producer who is one step away from being out of the business for good. She hooked up with the star of a Bachelor-like show, and now the only job she can get is working for her uncle on a Christmas special. This is especially problematic for her because she hates all things Christmas. To make matters worse, her job – and thus career – hinges on her getting a former soccer star to honor the contract he was unaware that he signed. Callan recently bought a home in town seeking isolation after his own career-ending injury left him a mess emotionally as well as physically, and the last thing he wants is for his new house to be featured on TV. Unfortunately for both of them, the chemistry that sparks between them is obvious from the start and problematic for so many reasons.
It’s a light, easy read with a touch of steam and a hero who is easy to like. I honestly thought Callan would be grumpier, but it doesn’t take long for him to see the potential in things with April. On the other hand, I struggled to connect to April at times. She lost her last job because she slept with the star of her show – not because she was all that into him, more as a conquest to know that she could. And even knowing how much she has on the line, she’s still the aggressor in things with Callan, pushing the physical connection between them. It wasn’t completely off putting, but it definitely rubbed me the wrong way. That didn’t stop me from enjoying the book as a whole, and ultimately it’s a well written, sweet yet sexy read that’s perfect for Christmastime.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shaking the Sleigh is a delightful Christmas Rom com. April and Callan are wonderfully flawed and interesting characters whilst Cormac, Maddie and Taylor made my heart ache. The octogenarians are laugh out loud hilarious. In fact this book is packed full of wonderful characters. I loved this book, the story is fabulous and it takes you on a ride from sad to funny and back again and it has a great HEA. I cannot recommend it highly enough, it is the perfect seasonal read for any time of year.
I am not a big fan of Christmas. The Grinch is my best friend, lol but, I loved this book. Callan and April were so good together. The chemistry that they had was so hot. The people in the town were so fun. It made me want to move there and meet them. This book has me laughing, sighing and even had a few tears in my eyes when it came to the family moment. This book was just so good. I can’t wait to read book 2 in this series. I am so not ready to leave Singletree.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
April has one shot left before he entire career goes down the toilet. The Christmas decoration show being filmed in Maryland needs to off without a hitch. It’s especially tough for her, though, because she hates Christmas. Callan is a pro soccer player. Or rather, was. An injury ended his career, and his girlfriend isn’t who she thought she was. He bought a house in Singletree, MD to be near his brother and nieces, but he’s not really feeling the Christmas spirit this year. And unfortunately, the house comes with a contract (signed by the previous owner) for April’s show to film his Christmas decorations. They become friends, and then more… This book is hilarious! But it’s also heartwarming – April and Callan open up about their pasts, and they begin to move forward. April and Callan have great chemistry, and there’s some pretty terrific banter between them. And I love that Helen (Gran from the Happily Ever His/Hers books), and that she’s just as crusty as ever. Tis the season for Christmas romances, and I’ve read some good ones, but this is the best!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was such a cute Christmas romance that it could seriously be made into a movie. April hates Christmas and anything to do with it because it reminds her of a day that her life was devastated. SO after a big mistake from her previous job her uncle is giving her a chance at redemption so he is ending her to do a Holiday show in a small town called Singletree, Maryland. This town embodies everything that is Christmas so of course April instantly hates it. When she goes to try and secure a house for the show, she stumbles upon a gorgeous man who is hateful, grumpy, and doesn’t want her in his house. After several attempts to get Callan’s ok for the show he shuts her down again and again. Callan is an ex soccer star that suffered a career ending injury that makes him depressed, angry at the world, and wondering what to do with his life next. He is jaded by people constantly using him and after his money or what he can do for them so when he moves to Singletree, he never expected April and her show. After all her attempts to get Callan’s ok for the show she starts to spend one on one time with him by his request. There is an attraction there that neither one of them can fight so they don’t. Can things work out when they live so far apart? Will the show be their undoing? How can they make things work? I loved this story and the side characters were just as wonderful, that you feel like you are part of this small community. I hope we get much more from this town.
Just when you thought every possible medium, local, and snippet of space had gotten its jingle on, more X-massy stuff pops up. Ironically, a few of the biggest grinches get hooked into the holiday mayhem as a part of a few different schemes.
Can these two get their jingle on: the pro athlete who got injured and disappointed, and the little girl Santa Daddy left behind and never came back to?
More than a little holiday magic may be needed for these and other seasonal miracles- and any disappointments and challenges along the way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Christmas Magic…
If you are looking for a nice holiday read, I highly recommend this story. Between April’s “dislike” of the holidays and Callan’s wishes to left alone, it’s will take a LOT of Christmas magic to get a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shaking the Sleigh has all the Christmassy elements I love so much. Our h, April, has not celebrated Christmas since she was a little girl. The season is a struggle for her. Now working as a production manager for TV shows, she’s made a mistake and is given a second chance, so she is sent to Singletree, Maryland and her soul starts to heal while her heart finds home. Her job has her at Callum’s door, where he promptly rejects her. Things start hearing up, and both Callum and April become charmed and fall in love with singletree.
I just can’t say enough about how much I love this book. We all feel stress during the holidays, and even feel like skipping Christmas throughout the years, so this book strikes a cord that love is at the center of the celebration and Christmas is a lovely time to recognize that. This book serves up a great bog helping Christmas cheer, and the ending, lord the ending, made my heart fill with joy!
Shaking the Sleigh is the holiday rom-com you NEED to take you away from the stress of shopping and cooking and planning! It’s a sweet, easy read (with some HEAT).
Callan and April are such believable characters – they’re both struggling, and so easy to relate to. We’ve all struggled. We’ve all had trouble getting into the holiday spirit one time or another. It isn’t insta-love, but it’s a spark. Something that leads to more. Something that leads them to become more whole, even before they really become a couple. I love this about Delancey’s writing. Her characters become strong on their own, they come to revelations, and then they get their HEA.
Delancey Stewart is a master of creating believable, yet fantastical worlds. I feel like I know what downtown Singletree looks like, and I’d love to walk around there with the inn-keeper and the baker and the brother’s little girls. The side-characters are just as real and amazing as the main characters (and I can’t wait to see if some of them get their own books – two in particular so far!).
If you love to laugh out loud, swoon over sweet characters, older adult characters looking for their second chance at life, not just love, distilleries with strange rules and funny mascots, this book is TOTALLY for you!!
*I received this book ahead of time and made no commitment to leave a review, favorable or otherwise.*
There’s nothing like a holiday rom com to get you in the mood for Chirstmas! This book is like a great Hallmark holiday movie.
Callan is an former soccer player whose career was sidelines by an injury. April is a reality TV producer that is trying to salvage her career after an ill-advised tangle with a bachelor-type leading man. When April’s last chance to salvage her career sends her to Callan’s town, the two cross paths and can’t help but help each other heal.
Callan and April are a great fit together, and I really loved reading this book. The writing is great, the character development is natural and organic, and it was a fun holiday read.