Maddie Scott has big dreams.Dreams of taking Broadway by storm. Dreams of seeing her name in lights, and nothing is going to stand in her way. She never expected that a chance meeting with a certain force of nature would throw her entire world into a tailspin. Connor Stanwick is a man who knows what he wants. Or at least, he thought he did. When he bumps into Maddie, literally and figuratively, … literally and figuratively, everything changes.
Christmas lights and hot chocolates, sugarplums and carols – dreams can be funny things.
We never quite know where what we think we want will actually end up taking us.
Take a breath. Snuggle close…and let Christmas magic take hold.
From bestselling author Darlene Kuncytes, take a moment to enjoy some holiday romance that will leave you breathless!
more
Connor and Maddie are the perfect couple for a little Christmas Magic and the gift they receive is worth it. The author writes a perfect Christmas novella you won’t be able to put down. The story line is on point. This one has all the feels you want in a romance with a little magic thrown in. I loved the characters and the way story ends is perfection.
Here it is almost Halloween and I am ready for Christmas! Of all of the love stories, I have ever been part of, mine is my favorite. Second comes Maddie and Conner. And sweet Hanna.. I had initially thought this was the run of the mill, fall in love, life happens and ruins it all.. this one has a sweet ending, that I didn’t anticipate.
A fun, quick read
Weighing in at just under 100 pages, this bight sized delight is the perfect contemporary romance for a one sitting heart-string-puller, to get you feeling the holiday spirit. You can read it anytime that you feel like you need a little wintery pick me up, but I’d suggest it as an early winter read. There’s the perfect amount of drama and emotional turmoil to keep you engaged and questioning, yet the entire feel of the book is mellow and warming. I totally made myself a mug of hot chocolate and considered turning on my fireplace. If my husband wouldn’t have shut that down so quick, I probably would have cooked us all out – just to keep the feel of the book alive for the rest of the night haha.
Maddie Scott and Connor Stanwick are quite the pair.
She’s a singer, trying for an acting career. He’s a former SEAL who is also trying his hand at something new. Acting comes easy to him, he’s good at it and is looking forward to a shift in lifestyle. When he steals her cab and makes her late to an acting class (the same class he’d stolen the cab to get to on time) he winds up watching her get kicked out because of the tardiness. She’s furious! She’d worked very hard to get in and is trying her butt off to make it in the industry. Connor winds up feeling bad and walks out to follow her. Despite the conflict, they wind up hitting it off and their emotional pull to one another cannot be argued.
I love the romance in this book. It’s very well written and realistic. I was drawn in from page one and felt connected to the characters and their emotions from cover to cover.
Unfortunately, their start to something real and worth while is short lived as Connor is afraid of how he feels for Maddie. He winds up taking an acting job and moves away without talking about it with her. He practically just leaves her behind to try her best to move on. Her kind hearted nature gets the best of her, and although she too has a secret, she forgives him in her heart and only wants him to come back to her.
A year later, as Christmas rolls back around the two are unable to escape the inevitable. The ending is absolutely beautiful, and the setting couldn’t be more perfect. If you’re looking for a light and unforgettable holiday romance then look no further. This story is sweet and full of heart. 4.5 stars for me.
The Christmas Gift
A light Christmas story with likeable characters
This was a cute story to get you in the holiday spirit!
Both Maddie Scoot and Connor Stanwick have big dreams. One wants to take Broadway by storm and the other is determined to make it in Hollywood.
But sometimes forces outside of our control can make us reconsider these dreams. As is the case with Connor. After serving 2 tours overseas he came back to the states determined to achieve his goals and not let anyone get in the way.
I do have to say there were some inconsistencies that just kind of nagged at me throughout the story. I know Maddie was said to have worked 2 jobs, I’m assuming that they were the restaurant and jewelry story? The only one really consistently mentioned was the jewelry store. But I was also curious as to how Maddie struggled for extra money when she lived in her closet size apartment, but yet was able to move into the 2 bedroom apartment on one income…even as a manager adding in the extra income of a baby (which I have 2 of so I know how much they cost) I just can’t see this happening.
I’m also not the biggest fan of women keeping pregnancies a secret. I don’t care that you don’t want to get in the way of their dreams it takes 2 to tango and create a baby. It also would’ve been nice to know why she thought she couldn’t have children…
This book is a perfect little read for a day when it’s chilly out and you’re somewhere cozy. The main characters are very likable and have good chemistry together. While it could have been fleshed out into a deeper, or more complex story, its length (13 chapters) made me more likely to finish it at a time of year when I can’t really delve into something hefty.
Love the story, characters, setting, time, love and it all. 100 % worth the read and again and again and again. Two lonely people come together during the Christmas season whey they are both alone, tired and trying to make their dreams come true. Come with them as you see New York thru their eyes and if you do, it’s magic
Its October and this book has gotten me to feel all Christmasy. A fan of her stories and this was cute. You never know whats in store for you. You make these plans and think of nothing else and then boom….things change. Loved this story. I do love the holidays. Feel good in the heart. Recommend!