Will their competitive spirits ruin the spirit of Christmas?When Ben Winters and Lara Cottridge hear that a Vermont radio station is hosting a Christmas contest with a $10,000 prize for a charitable project of the winner’s choice, they seize the challenge. Although strangers, they both are obsessed with all things Christmas and each has their own worthy pet project in mind.News of the contest … mind.
News of the contest creates a lot of buzz, but most participants fall at the first hurdle – a timed online quirky Christmas quiz. The second, a stressful on-air quiz whittles the field down to two – Briarhill Falls residents Lara and Ben who are surprised that they have never met.
As the contest heats up with five further Christmas-themed challenges, the town and state become enthralled by the battle of wits and skill. Soon Lara and Ben realize they have far more in common than a love of Christmas. And far more at stake. Will their competition stand in the way of falling in love?
more
Oh my goodness! I adored The Christmas Contest. It was funny, sweet and a real page turner. I was completely caught up in the story from the first page. Within half a chapter, I was rooting for both the hero and the heroine. It kept me on the edge of my seat, wishing they could both win. I read it in one sitting, sacrificing a good night’s sleep and I don’t regret it one bit. I can’t wait to read it again. This one is going on my yearly holiday romance reading list.
The Christmas Contest was a cute enjoyable story. Both main characters are Christmas fanatics; loving every detail about the festive holiday. When they hear about a contest on the local radio that awards the winner $10,000 towards their favorite charity, each believes they could win. After thousands of entrants are narrowed down, it’s Ben and Lara who go for the win. I’ll admit, at the beginning, Lara was a bit cut-throat. Not that Ben wasn’t in it to win it; but he was definitely a gentleman throughout most of the book. The subject of a Christmas contest was a premise I hadn’t come across before. It was refreshing to read something new and entertaining. That said, this was a sweet story. Once Ben and Lara admitted their attractions, the contest became more than just prize money. I’ll say both Ben and Lara’s causes were equally important. And in the end, I was very pleased with the outcome.
I have previously read a few other books by this author, although this is my first holiday romance from her. I truly enjoyed them all and look forward to reading more by Scarlet Wilson. I definitely recommend this sweet, entertaining Christmas romance. Set in a small Vermont town with a lovable cast of characters and a fun, original storyline, I believe you’ll enjoy The Christmas Contest.
This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
Scarlet Wilson’s The Christmas Contest is a fun, sweet romance that will have you ready for the holiday season. Ben and Lara competing through Christmas themed challenges had me cheering them on. I can easily imagine The Christmas Contest as a holiday movie that I would watch again and again.
The Christmas books from Tule Publishing Group this year are all TV Movie ready! This is yet another Holiday read that could so easily go straight into movie production tomorrow because it reads just like a movie itself. Boy-Ben meets Girl-Lara after entering a radio Christmas trivia contest to win 10k. They just happened to live in the same town and had not met each other before, the contest went to it’s final stages. But meeting each other could prove to be THE prize after all. I enjoyed the descriptions of the places we saw in the book , t made it so easy to just picture being there in your mind’s eye. It was a knock off of a read.
What a wonderful holiday read. Ben and Lara two people so into Christmas enter a contest on a radio station. It will give money to a charity of their choice so both decide to enter to help their community. Neither know of each other, live in the same town but have never met. Ms. Wilson fixes that little problem quickly and what a story she has penned. When they become the final two what happens will it destroy what is wonderful happening between them. Not saying won’t ruin a truly lovely Christmas story. enjoy its special.
This is a superb fun Christmas read a perfect book to get you into the holiday spirit.
Ben and Lara are both Christmas obsessed and when a local radio station offers a $100,000 to a charity of choice for the winner they both jump on the chance to help their community. As contestants are whittled down they are two left standing When they both live in the same small town and have so much in common why have they never met As the competition between them heats will it destroy something that could be wonderful between them
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. This was a cute Christmas story. A radio station advertised a contest that would give the winner $10,000 for the charity of their choice. Lots of people entered the contest online and the questions asked were about less well known facts and practices of Christmas in a timed setting. The top 10 contestants were selected and they had to compete by answering more questions during a phone call. The final 2 applicants, Lara and Ben were from the same small town in New Hampshire but didn’t know each other.
Lara entered to win decorations and a big tree for her grandma’s assisted living facility. Her grandma had raised her and a contractor had taken advantage of the home and stole the money allocated for decorating for Christmas. Ben was volunteering as a coach at the high school and wanted the money for a new floor for the gym. There were 5 challenges Ben and Lara had to complete with the best 3 of 5 winning the money.
Both Ben and Lara worked hard for their respective causes with some complications along the way. They also realized they had chemistry they wanted to explore once the contest was over. They realized only one of them would win and they both felt uncomfortable about the other losing. The two were really likable characters and the story was original and very sweet. I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the competitions as well as the suspense as to who would win. I look forward to other books by this author too.
What a fun read! The Christmas Contest by Scarlet Wilson has two strangers competing for a huge charity donation. It is like the how the reality shows on TV should be. Though the reader meets Lara Cottridge first in the book, Ben Winters is just as adorable as the Christmas obsessed competitors in this story.
I was really wanting them both to win in this story, not just for the donation but also in the area of love. Man, these two would be a hoot in real life. Maybe I actually know one or two people who the characters could have been modeled after.
Just a delightful book. Not really a Debbie Macomber story but fans of hers should LOVE this one. Hallmark should buy the rights, this would make an excellent holiday movie. For just a while I forgot all my troubles, enjoying seeing these two strive to win while they truly got to know each other.
4.5 Stars
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A truly amazing story. Once I started reading I just could not put it down.
Anyone who knew Lara new she was a Christmas nut so when the local radio station held their contest about Christmas trivia they knew Lara would be a perfect fit. Ben also lived in the same town as her but their paths never crossed until they were finalists for the Christmas contest and $10,ooo dollars
They each had a charity they wanted to use the money for and they had to work to win the challenges.
This was a really good book and I seriously just couldn’t put it down
Loved the competition spirit between these two characters Lara and Ben, both worked hard to make other people have a nice Christmas with nothing in it for themselves.Love the chemistry between these two,makings of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
A radio Christmas contest turns into so much more for competitors, Ben and Lara. They have entered to win 10,000 dollars for their choice of charity but in the end they both come out ahead. As they spend time competing against each other there is buzz between them, that they soon can not deny.
A sweet Christmas story that I highly recommend to get you in the mood for the holidays. Loved the simmering romance between Ben and Lara, love when you least expect it. This would be the perfect Hallmark movie.
4.5
Cute and fun
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Christmas
Standalone
HEA
This would make a cute Hallmark movie.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from Tule Publishing.
The competition for a $10,000 prize heats up between two contestants as they vie for the win. Each has a special place to donate the money, both places are equal in need and exceptional. This is a completely wonderful, enjoyable, and fun novel with romance just hovering for its turn at the prize.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Christmas overload? Too much Christmas? Bah Humbug! A sweet cute Christmas read. It was like reading a hallmark movie. Ben Winters and Lara Cottridge love the Christmas season. Both entered a radio Christmas contest for their own causes. Hers- her grandmothers assisted living facility needed a tree and decorations (a way to cheer them up) and his- for the gym for the high school kids he coached. Both are in it to win and they never expected the buzz it would create or how much they would enjoy spending time together. Nor that they would have so much in common and chemistry, possibly love blooming in the air. Which makes it hard because they both want to win but feelings could start complicating things if they let it. Is winning more important than exploring a relationship? What happens when one wins and the other one doesn’t? I really enjoyed this story but for me I wished the chemistry had been expanded more beyond a kiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from Tule Publishing.