Morgan Reed is excited to open her beauty salon, but her goal gets complicated when she discovers her rented space is already occupied by hot furniture maker, Dallas Parker. Morgan Reed is excited to return to her hometown of Christmas Mountain, Montana, and open her beauty salon, but when she arrives to her rented business space she’s shocked to find it already occupied by Dallas Parker—her … occupied by Dallas Parker—her brother’s best friend, the guy she had a childhood crush on, and the one her mom blames for their family’s greatest tragedy.
With their landlord out of the country and unreachable, Morgan and Dallas must open their businesses together. But, no worries, all small towns need a combo furniture store/beauty salon, right? Ugh. As they work together, Morgan tries to keep her emotional distance but time and off-the-charts chemistry soon turn a childhood friendship into a blossoming romance.
Unfortunately, just when their relationship develops into something deeper, an unexpected crisis re-opens her family’s old wounds and the blame is on Dallas once again. Will Morgan’s sadness and fear pull them apart, or make her realize Dallas has always been her heart’s true safe harbor?
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Great Christmas read
Cute share.
I’ve loved every book by Susan Hatler. The characters and development of the story are wonderful. I just want to continue to read til the end and still want more. Great read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Classic meddling behind the scenes, mommy-dearest, and quite a few on their side. He’s ready and just has to wait for her to catch up.
What a sweet story of love between two people who are so different and with an issue of an over-protective mother. Great lesson to live your life for you!
The Christmas compromise by Susan Hatler.
A very enjoyable read. Loved how Dallas and Morgan were together.
Loved the ending. 5*.
This story is filled with angst and conflicted love. I was pretty sure I’d enjoy it when I saw it was by Hatler. She is a great author.
Every time I read a book by Susan Hatler I never think it can get any better but she surpassed all expectations with this one!
This was a very emotional story that revolves mostly around Morgan and her complex relationship with her mother, Ivy. If you were one of those rare and lucky individuals who were able to grow-up with the full support of your parents to pursue your goals and dreams without any pressure to conform to what they want and expect for you then you would probably not really understand Morgan and could view her as insensitive and uncaring towards her mother. She just wanted to live her own life and not the one envisioned for her by someone else. Unfortunately, that sometimes means removing yourself from the sphere of influence that is attempting to mold you into someone you are not.
Dallas had a different problem when he was growing up and has returned to his hometown to open a furniture store but since he had been labeled a bad-boy when he was younger he now has an undeserved image and reputation to change in the minds of the small town.
I really liked how the romance between the two of them was allowed to grow and develop at a pace that equates more with real-life and not the insta-love that is being used in so many romance books lately. A book that deals with some of the more serious issues of expectations and perceptions of others all presented in the fun upbeat writing style that we can always find in a Susan Hatler book. All of the books in this series are keepers but this one is by far my favorite!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author continues to bring us characters that pull us into their lives. Morgan is hoping that being back in her hometown is the right decision. However, problems start when she is confronted with her old crush, Dallas.
this was a great read and wonderful characters. Loved the setting too. Being in Montana for Christmas was great.
Not a short story! I’m used to reading Hatler’s short stories and I love them, but I also love this longer book by her. She’s a Jack of all trades! Honestly, this book was amazing. I loved the setting and the characters and the storyline. There isn’t a thing that I would change. Simply wonderful.
This is a great read with an awesome storyline that has well developed and engaging characters that have lots of chemistry. The smooth flow of the storyline makes for a good reading time.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Morgan’s landlord messed up, and rented her shop space to someone else. Dallas – her brother’s best friend – has already opened up a furniture store. With the landlord out of the country, they have to work this out between themselves, even if it means having a combination beauty salon/furniture store for a little while. They become friends, and then more. Morgan has family issues to work out, mainly with her mother. Everything eventually works out as Morgan and Dallas head for a happy ending. As always, the author has delivered a clean and charming story with realistic characters. Morgan and Dallas have great chemistry together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Morgan always tried to please her mother living a life she didn’t want because she felt guilty over the death of her older sister, but she’s finally found something that makes her happy opening her own beauty salon and falling the guy she’s always had a crush on that her mother never approved. I was fortunate in that my parents never tried to tell me what to go to school for even though I am as Morgan would say a boring accountant. I thought it was so cool that Dallas makes his own furniture. And I loved the idea of combing their businesses. This was a sweet Christmas romance with many funny, poignant, and romantic moments.
Morgan Reed is excited to be returning to her hometown of Christmas Mountain, Montana, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She had given up on her mom’s wish that she obtain an MBA and instead attended beauty school to become a cosmetologist. She had kept the secret all these years, but she missed home and couldn’t keep living a lie. Besides, her much loved mentor, Ms. King, had always been there for her and was now dying of cancer. Ms. King’s final wish was for her seven high school choir team members to sing “I’ll be Home for Christmas” together once again for her at the annual Christmas extravaganza. This was a definite sign Morgan needed to return home and make things right. She only wished her mom would accept her for who she is rather than the disappointing substitute for her deceased sister, Grace.
Morgan drove into town, excited that she would be opening her own hair salon soon. She had already rented the building and decided to stop and take a look inside. She texted her mom that she was late and would see them tomorrow as she fumbled for the keys to her leased building. She mentally cataloged the improvements she would be making, and headed to the stockroom to see what else needed to be done. The door out front squealed and she heard footsteps! As she approached, the lights came on and she stared at Dallas Parker— her older brother’s best friend, her secret high school crush, and the man her mother blamed for their family’s worst nightmare.
As they tried to figure out what each was doing there, they discovered they both had leased the building, Morgan for her beauty salon and Dallas for a furniture store! And the landlady was out of the country, unreachable to straighten out this confusion. Will the two of them have to battle it out over who gets the building, or will they figure out a way to somehow compromise and work together? Will old feelings come back? Or will this whole situation just be one more thing to make her mother disappointed in her?
This was a great book, not just because of a second chance at love, but because the author expertly presents some important real-life issues as Morgan feels she is a constant disappointment who does not measure up to her sister who died. Dallas is amazing and gentle, providing compassion, understanding, and genuine care for Morgan. Grab your copy and experience this emotional story to see if things can finally work out for both of them.
An excellent story about 2 people occupying the same space with different businesses. Dallas was her brothers best friend and someone she had a crush on in school. Morgan lost her sister and her mom blames Dallas. Will they be able to forgive and forget. Loved this Christmas love story.
This wonderful Christmas romance is a tale of self-growth, forgiveness, and learning to focus on the future, not the past. Morgan Reed returns home, after pursuing he dreams, to open a beauty salon. To her surprise there is a mixup with the building’s lease and she finds Dallas Parker, a friend of her brother and family until her sister’s tragic death, also has a lease for his furniture store in the same location. They decide to share the space until the landlord return at Christmas. Morgan and Dallas have had a secret attraction to each other for years but neither one spoke of it. That attraction has not changed over time.
This book has great characters, hilarious banter, romantic ups and downs, family conflict, personal healing, and an endearing journey self-discovery and growth. Susan Hatler has written a great tale of love and of becoming your own person. I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC in return for an honest and voluntary review.
A woman returning home – to open up a beauty salon – and to own-up to her parents that she did not want to become a banker like everyone else in her family-
When she reaches her hometown she finds out that the place she rented is also rented out to the man her mother blames for the death of her sister.
A comedy of errors, hiding out from the parents and Christmas magic. The book is well-written and entertaining, A perfect book to get into the Christmas mood.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A story line that’s emotional, touching, and heartwarming. A great female lead character and a charming male lead character. When a business rental space mix-up brings Morgan and Dallas back together will old emotions and blame them apart or will it bring them closer together. Just when things are taking a turn for the better, a family crisis may bring back blame and open old wounds. Will Morgan and Dallas be able to overcome the crisis and have a HEA?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I just LOVE LOVE LOVE Susan Hatler books and this one did not disappoint!!! This is an emotionally packed romance with an awesome plot, story and great characters and word building! The story grabbed me and I couldn’t stop reading.Morgan is returning to her home town to open her own beauty salon, but there is a mix up and Dallas an old friend also has a lease on the same building. Sharing the space with her brothers best friend was not what she planed for. I loved how they were thrown together trying to work together and make sense of the mix up with their lease. The only person who can clear everything up is out of town until Christmas eve. Dallas and Morgan’s chemistry was off the charts and their bantering had me laughing! It’s a wonderful Holiday that you won’t want to miss!!! I LOVE this author and can’t wait to read more!!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.