Christmas in Big Sky country… never had. There’s only one problem…Natalie’s sexy maternal uncle.
Stockbroker turned lodge owner Carson McBride isn’t letting Emily take his niece anywhere. But it’s Christmas, so he offers a truce—Emily can spend the holidays at the lodge with him, his father, and Natalie, and they’ll figure out custody in the New Year. He’s sure Emily will realize that Montana is the best place for their niece to grow up.
Only, during the next week, the one thing Emily and Carson realize is that they can’t keep their hands off each other! But even as they grow closer—much, much closer—they’re still at an impasse. Will Emily leave with Natalie or will she give her niece up to Carson? Or will this unconventional family get a true Christmas miracle?
PRAISE FOR PAM MANTOVANI: “Big city meets small town in this perfectly sweet and heartwarming tale of family, loss and the healing magic of love and Christmas. Beautifully written, The Christmas Baby Bargain is one of those books that will remain on any romance lover’s keeper shelf. Including mine!”—Naima Simone, USA Today bestselling author
“A winning combination of emotion, strong writing and wonderful characters.”—Joan Johnston, NYT and USA Today bestselling author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: As an Army Brat, award winning author Pam Mantovani frequently had to leave friends behind. But no matter where she lived, romance novels were her constant companions. Then she met the man of her dreams on a blind date, and after she married her hero, Pam started writing her own love stories. Now she has more friends, imaginary and real-life, than she can count. She’s still happily married to the man who swept her off her feet and gave her the romance of a lifetime. She loves writing about strong women and men who find each other and quilt the fabric of their lives together.
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OVERALL RATING –5 stars
RECOMMENDED FOR: those that like a easy read romance with lower steam
First my usual points:
– I do not do spoilers unless warned.
– Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate.
– This is a standalone
– No errors that I caught as far as editing.
– The author was new to me
BOOK:
– Contemporary romance
– 1st person with dual POV
Star Ratings – 1 (poor) – 5(READ THIS BOOK)
· Writing Quality: 5 stars
· Story ingredient: 5 stars
· Ease of reading/Pace: 5 stars
· Plot strength: 5 stars
· Steam Level: 3 (open door scenes but not explicitly graphic)
Notes/Opinion (personal):
I enjoyed this sweet read. Two people – in a tragic situation – but willing to work together for what’s best. Romance was not rushed (but of course it’s a book and therefore, limited time allowed) but very comfortable with growth. No overly graphic scenes but nicely done. I very much enjoyed the story and the ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Emily is about to purchase the event planning company from her boss when her brother and his wife are killed in a accident and she goes to help her late sister-in-law’s brother Carson who currently has baby Natalie. This is a sweet romance between two different people who want the best for Natalie and soon realize that they both want so much more.
The Christmas Baby Bargain by Pam Mantovani is a wonderful Christmas themed story that starts out with tragedy but evolves into a heart-warming and insightful tale of two damaged souls with different outlooks on life and the need to overcome their disparities for the sake of an innocent child.
Ms Mantovani excels in her ability to bring reality and credibility to her stories and this one is no exception. I enjoyed following the natural progression of Carson and Emily’s relationship from adversary to tolerance and then finally love. Some extra special moments in the book with the interactions between Carson’s dad and the adorable Natalie.
I’m sure other readers will gobble this book up in one sitting just as I did.
A New Beginning . . .
This was such an emotionally satisfying story. Event planner Emily Harrison and Carson McBride, now the owner of a Montana lodge, have their world turned upside down when a tragic accident claims the lives of Emily’s brother and Carson’s sister. Now baby Natalie’s parents were gone. Both Emily and Carson want custody, but for now, Carson has her through a Power of Attorney and has invited Emily to stay with him and his dad over the holidays.
Emily and Carson care for Natalie together and gradually their attraction turns to something more. Carson’s dad is supportive of their budding relationship and is the loving father figure Emily had needed in her life. Is this new dynamic strong enough to bring them all together as a family?
Emily’s brother and his wife have died and left behind a daughter, Natalie. Emily wants to give Natalie the life she didn’t have growing up. However, Natalie’s Uncle Carson also thinks that he will be the best person for Natalie to live with. They agree to stay with Carson over Christmas and deal with the custody issue in the new year. Carson hopes that this will convince Emily that his lodge is the best place for Natalie to grow up. But what they don’t plan for is how much they are attracted to each other, will this change their minds on the custody issue or not?
I enjoyed this book, it is a lovely story and I would recommend reading it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Christmas to Remember
Emily and Carson are brought together for their baby neice, the daughter of her brother and his sister, after her parents’ deaths in a plane accident. Baby Natalie will be celebrating her first Christmas, but without her parents.
Childhood experiences shape and influence our lives much longer than we care to admit. This is very true for both Emily and Carson. Their pasts make it difficult for them to let down their defences and find common groung. Yet both passionately want what is best for baby Natalie. If only they could agree on what that best should look like.
You will get sucked into the warmth of this family and the traditions of their holiday season in the cold and snowy woods of Montana. This is a great book to curl up in a chair with your favorite holiday beverage and laze a day away.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was the first book I have read by this author and wow was it great. It was such an emotional rollercoaster. One minute I was sad and then laughing because of Emily’s witty comments about the cold! I loved the characters and could feel their emotions and feelings for Natalie. Emily and Carson both wanted what was best for Natalie but had different ideas of what that would be. It broke my heart when Emily decided to give up the custody battle, knowing that if Carson lost Natalie it would hurt him while she would just return to her normal life. The book was a wonderful Christmas romance with a great family touch.
The Christmas Baby Bargain
by Pam Mantovani
Publisher Bell Bridge Books
Publication date November 15, 2019
4
MY REVIEW
The Christmas Baby Bargain is a sweet and heartwarming Christmas Story. I fell in love with this beautiful heartwarming story from the very first page.It kept me turning the pages all the way to the satisfying end. It was wonderfully written and full of great Characters. The main characters feel real, like people I could meet every day, and I cared about them from the very beginning. I enjoyed this story very much and I am eager to read other books by this author . Many thanks to the publisher , author , and netgalley for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#TheChristmasBabyBargain #NetGalley
The Christmas Baby Bargain is the latest offering by author Pam Mantovani. Emily Henderson and Carson McBride we’re present for the christening of their niece Natalie and named as godparents just a few weeks ago. Now that her brother Daniel and his sister Suzanne have been lost in a small plane crash, they are pitted against each other as to who gets custody of the sweet baby, Los Angeles Emily or Montana Carson. Soon after the funeral, Carson proposes a Christmas truce whereby Emily will stay with Carson, Natalie, and his Pop at their Montana lodge through Christmas.
They are from different worlds with different priorities with the exception of Natalie’s wellbeing. As they wend their way from Thanksgiving to Christmas, Emily and Carson discover an intense attraction. But she will be returning to LA right after Christmas, returning to a high powered event planning position and the possibility of purchasing the company. After the first of the year, hunting and fishing trips will resume at the lodge. And they will once again be torn by job demands.
This is a sweet story of loss and the wake that follows. But Emily and Carson have much to gain if they can just maneuver this new path. With multifaceted characters and beautifully described surroundings, this book will touch the heart. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
4.5 Stars!
I really enjoyed The Christmas Bargain by new to me author Pam Mantovani. This book is about Los Angeles event planner Emily Harrison, and Carson McBride, a Montana lodge owner that used to earn an good living as a stock broker in New York City. Emily’s brother and Carson’s sister were happily married, until they tragically lost their lives. Natalie, Emily and Carson’s infant niece, is now their responsibility.
Emily and Carson both want custody of Natalie, but are willing to put their animosities aside during the holiday season. Emily finds the cold Montana climate a bit difficult, however, her attraction to Carson keeps her warm. Carson enjoys Emily’s company as well, and as they grieve together and take care of Natalie together, they fall into lust and love. Carson’s dad encourages their relationship, and Emily looks up to him as the father she always wanted.
This is a well-written, emotionally charged book with three engaging characters. Ms. Mantovani passionately combines emotion, friendship, and sexy times into this romantic story. I immediately connected with both Emily and Carson, and there was never a moment that I did not want them to form a family. Emily’s sad and unusual childhood tugged at my heart. Overall, this is a terrific book with a happy ending that will leave a smile on your face.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.