All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas. But the young teacher and struggling musician sure can’t find that in sunny Arizona. Luckily, there’s someone living in a perfect mountain home in the Colorado Rockies looking to make a vacation trade this year.West Prescott is an in-demand songwriter and talented musician who put his own singing career on hold to write songs for … songs for celebrity acts to perform. When his mother convinces him to do a vacation trade for Christmas, he never imagined one of the houseguests would be so sweet–or so strikingly pretty. Naturally, he decides to stick around, and, to get better acquainted, he poses as the house’s caretaker. But when Emma’s friend Gillian discovers his true identity and sets her sights on him, things
get . . . messy.
Fan favorite Melody Carlson is back with another delightful Christmas tale to warm your heart on those cold winter evenings.
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t’s not Christmas without reading one of Carlson’s Christmas stories! This is her newest one and it was great!
If this little book doesn’t get you into the Christmas Spirit I don’t know what will!
I love books that leaves my heart feeling full and this one didn’t disappoint. It’s not Christmas without reading Carlason’s Christmas books!
The only character I didn’t really like was Gillian. I agree with another reader.
Carlson does such a good job in bringing some of my favorite people like Emma to life once again. I was happy to have her back because in the first book I felt like she was my best friend since we related to so many things.
I finished this book in less than an hour because I didn’t want to leave my happy place that Carlson has made for me while reading this book. I didn’t want it to end. This book truly made me forget what all was happening in the world right now. With much appreciation and thank you Melody Carlson.
I’ve seen snow most of my life and I really don’t care for it. It was why I moved to Florida. Snow and ice and me do NOT get along!
I’ve been to Colorado and I loved it so it was easy to picture the ski resort in which this story takes place.
I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own. Thank you Netgalley/Revell publishers for a copy of this book
Melody writes the cutest Christmas novellas. While this one isn’t my favorite of her Christmas stories, it was definitely worth the read. It has a bit of a vibe like the movie “The Holiday” with the characters flipping homes for the Christmas holidays. I liked Emma and West a lot. Emma’s best friend though was not my favorite. I had a hard time believing they’d be friends in the first place. Gillian and Emma had next to nothing in common and Gillian comes across as mean and spiteful. It made the story a bit off for me. Still I enjoyed seeing Emma and West’s romance blossom and I liked the music angle of the story. Melody is still my go to for a fun Christmas story each year. Looking forward to next years story.
I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Melody Carlson is a fairly new to me author. I have read only a few of her books. Her books are usually light hearted and fun. This book was fun and somewhat light hearted but some of the bickering could have been toned down. However, that being said how many families actually don’t contain some friction. I love that this is set during Christmas time. The story was fast paced with short chapters that were an easy read. I look forward to more from this author. I received a copy through Netgalley. A positive review was not required.
The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson.
What a cozy sweet Christmassy story. Honestly speaking, we are just few months to Christmas and reading this novel is making the reality so real.
In my country, Nigeria, there are no snow because we are in the tropics of Africa. Seeing how descriptive a white Christmas is, I couldn’t help wishing for snow so I can experience the awe Emma had when she saw snow for the first time.
The book was so engaging from page one. The bickering between the Landers family was just too amusing.
I already like West immediately I started reading tit bits of his life.
You know those Hallmark movies with Christmas themes? This book is perfectly suited for a Hallmark movie.
West is such a perfect gentleman.
This is a short novel that I read between 2 hours approximately in morning so early while still up on my bed.
I am rating it 5 perfect stars. It is such a clean and romantic read.
Melody Carlson writes so amazingly!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
Once again I have to say, “it just wouldn’t be Christmas without the latest Novella by Melody Carlson”. I have been reading them for ten years or more and always look forward to them. The Christmas Swap is her offering for the year 2020. Thankfully, the actual events of this year did not show up in the book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted romance featuring a Christmas house-swapping. Unfortunately it was a done deal when songwriter West Prescott learned that his step-father had swapped his house for the holidays. When circumstances arise that force West to return to his home, he decides to sleep in his studio until the guests leave. Of course one of the guests attracts his attention but one complication after another makes things difficult for West to connect with what could be the woman of his dreams.
The Christmas Swap moves along at a steady pace and can easily be read in one sitting for a reader like me. Characterization is well developed and I found it easy to relate to them all, especially Emma and West. One character in particular caused some problems but even she was not deliberately divisive or mean. Overall this book is a feel-good story that is perfect for a relaxing evening as the holidays approach.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
This short story grabbed my attention from the very first chapter with the interesting and complicated characters-Emma, the Landers Family, and finally Tyler. I liked the idea of the house swap although I would never want to do that personally. I loved reading the imagery of Colorado, the snow, mountains and skiing. The author did a great job and I felt like I was right there along side them.
I especially liked Emma’s helpful and positive character. The Landers family, especially the mom and Gillian (who was supposedly Emma’s good friend) were simply awful and toxic. I do not understand why such a positive, good hearted person like Emma would want to have a friend like Gillian. I felt like the selfishness and manipulative behavior took away from the whole Christmas, fun feel of the book.
Clean romance, fun fiction Christmas story about failed expectations, hope, love and the holiday spirit. Overall, I enjoyed reading this quick holiday story.
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
This book was absolutely delightful.
I enjoyed reading it. Short but captivating.
I enjoyed reading how West and Emma’s attraction for each other grew despite the fact that it was a short book. The seetings were absolutely amazing and made me want to magically appear there.
The author’s books are always wonderful especially her Christmas novellas and this one was not an exception.
I received a copy of this book from Revell and this is my honest opinion.
The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson is the perfect Christmas read. I adored the story and found it the perfect feel good story you expect for Christmas time. Mistaken identities, a house swap, and mischievous antics make this book a fun read. The snowy Colorado setting definitely adds to the Christmasy feel of the book. I think readers of romance will adore this holiday tale. I sure did. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
Melody Carlson has been writing Christmas books every year for several years. I have been reviewing them as long as I have reviewed books, and she has never disappointed. Each book is totally different than the others, yet is always a delightful read. The Christmas Swap is another great read, yet different.
This book is a little more lighthearted than some, and is pretty much a straightforward romance around Christmas. I loved the two main characters, West and Emma. West especially is an awesome character as he slightly misleads the guests in his house to his true identity, yet his reasons are totally understandable.
The Christmas Swap is a simple story of boy meets girl, and their romance is almost thwarted by girl’s shallow best friend. Though fictional, the book does show how some people are so easily drawn to others because of who they are, and not drawn to the person of their own personality. Emma was drawn to West because of the kind of man he was, but Emma wasn’t drawn to him until she found out who he really was.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Christmas Swap, and it is another Christmas novel the author can be proud of. And yes, it put me in the mood for Christmas.
I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.
The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson is a lighthearted Christmas romance novella. I look forward to reading Melody Carlson’s Christmas novella each year. There have been some that are just magical (The Christmas Bus, Christmas at Harrington’s, The Christmas Shoppe). The Christmas Swap is easy to read with steady pacing. I liked the premise of swapping houses for Christmas. Unfortunately, there are some terrible characters in the story. The griping, backbiting, and the manipulating did not make this an entertaining Christmas story. I liked Emma Daley and West Prescott. West’s mother was a sweet woman who loves her family and is supportive of West. Mr. Landers was a nice man who has a terrible family. Gillian is pushy, annoying, and scheming. Mrs. Landers was irritating with her constant litany of complaints. I wanted Emma to stand up for herself. I can understand being grateful for being included in the families Christmas plans and wanting to be helpful. However, there comes a time when you need to quit being a doormat. If I were Emma, I would need a vacation to unwind from the trip with the Landers family. I enjoyed the descriptions of Breckenridge, West’s home, the mountains, and the beauty of snow. I could imagine Emma staring in wonder when she sees the clean, fresh snow for the very first time. I missed the feeling of Christmas and humor that is normally present in Ms. Carlson’s Christmas novellas. The romance was minimal. Just when I was starting to smile and enjoy what was occurring, the story was over. The Christmas Swap needed an epilogue. I hope that Melody Carlson gets her mojo back in time for next years Christmas tale.
I love reading Christmas books anytime of the year. It is getting close to the holidays and this charming story put me right in the holiday spirit. I loved the concept of swapping houses at Christmas time. I know I would have picked going anywhere where snow is since I have never seen it. It sounded like it would be fun for Emma to tag along with her friend Gillian and her family to Colorado.
I did not care for Gillian at all. She is self centered and has a horrible attitude. It was clear that Gillian got her attitude from her mother. My oh my did Gillian’s mother complain about everything. The house wasn’t good enough, she was cold, the decorations were not to her liking. I think she and Gillian should have just flown home.
The premise of the story centers mostly around Emma and West. I won’t go into much detail about who West is because I want that to be a surprise. I did like how West and Emma hit it off, but Gillian was green with envy. She finds out a huge secret about West and wants him for herself. The story is cute but lacking in some areas. I did like the back and forth with Emma and West but I wanted more depth to their characters. The story seemed to end abruptly and I feel like it didn’t really have a satisfactory closing. It was too predictable and left me with questions more than answers.
I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads. The review is my own opinion.
This is your typical story of mistaken identity. But it is so well told. You will be cheering for Emma and at other times want to smack her. The story gives you an idea of what it would be like swap houses during the holidays. I don’t think I could do that. Airbnb is the closest I can come to that.
The Christmas Swap
by Melody Carlson
Rating: 4/5
I’ve been a fan of Melody Carlson for a while and I absolutely devoured this story. It was beautifully written with lots of humor and romance. This lighthearted and charming Christmas story was just what I wanted to escape for a few hours.
Emma Daley finds herself in the Colorado Rockies to celebrate a white Christmas with her friend’s family who decided to do a house swap for the holidays. Instead of hot Arizona, Emma gets to see snow for the first time for Christmas. She is a part-time substitute teacher and struggling singer-songwriter who is not interested in getting involved with her friend’s brother or his friend. After arriving at the house, Emma meets West who says he’s the caretaker of the house but he’s really the owner of the house and award-winning songwriter, TW Prescott. He offers to teach her to ski and the rest is history. Sparks fly and shenanigans ensue to make a perfect holiday story come to life.
This story definitely reads like it could be a Hallmark holiday movie, so if you love those, then you will love this story. It’s not super deep but it has heart and is a quick chairlift view into a Christmas romance where two souls find each other. I found myself rooting for Emma and West. I really wanted the book to be a movie so I could hear both of them sing and play together. Haha. I enjoyed the setting and am now eager to start skiing again. Maybe. 😉
Although the timeline is short (like almost every Hallmark movie) the romance doesn’t feel too rushed. As a musician myself, I understand the connection that occurs between creatives, so the short timeline actually didn’t bother me as much. Fun times in a Christmas setting.
I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a cute, clean Christmas romance.
My thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.
3.5 Stars
This was such a cute little read! It isn’t deep or heavy; what you see is what you get. But with the state of the world right now, that feels like a beautiful thing. This book is fluffy and enjoyable!
There were a few characters that I didn’t like. Though I imagine that was the intent, it was almost too well done. I disliked one of the characters so much that I almost hated seeing her on the page. But I REALLY liked Emma and West. I would have loved to have more time with them, to see their development and really let them build. I wanted more of them.
Overall, The Christmas Swap reads like a Hallmark movie–and I love those. So if you’re looking for a quick, cute read, this is the ticket.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. All expressed opinions belong to me.
“All Emma Daley wants this holiday season is a white Christmas.”
Every year I anticipate Melody Carlson’s Christmas books! And every year I’m not disappointed because that’s exactly what she writes best.
I really enjoyed picturing a snow-covered cabin all decked out for the holidays, warm and inviting. I could see myself sitting in front of the fire, sipping on hot cocoa and gazing at the snowy mountain peaks out the vast windows. That would be a dream Christmas in my book! For the most part, I loved this story. Carlson knows how to paint those vivid setting pictures in a reader’s mind, brings her characters to life, and sets you right in the middle of the pages. It’s one of my favorite things about the author. Last year, I binge-read almost all of her Christmas books for this very reason, I just could not get enough!
When I write a review, I also try to be honest, and so this was what I didn’t like. I didn’t like Gillian, Emma’s best friend for fourteen years. I didn’t like Mrs. Landers, who had not one single positive thing to say. Gillian was manipulative, scheming, and treated everyone poorly. I found her to be annoying and grating, and don’t know how Emma remained friends, let alone best friends with her. The only decent members of the family were Mr. Landers & Grant, the brother—who I eventually came to like at the end. The family arguments left me feeling tense and upset, which ruined the enjoyment of the story. However, I did like the developing relationship between Emma & West and wished the author would have expounded more on that. They had real potential to be a solid couple, so I was looking forward to watching them. The ending was abrupt, so a reader must imagine a happy ending for these two.
This story didn’t live up to Carlson’s reputation as a writer in my opinion; it certainly wasn’t her best yet. I was surprised because she is one of my must-read authors when it comes to yearly Christmas books. The beginning was better than the ending and I was really disappointed! It also lacked a light faith theme which she usually includes. So for me, this wasn’t my cup of tea. However, I will continue to read her future books in spite of not liking this one.
*This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews. A favorable review was not required and all opinions expressed here are mine alone.*
The Christmas Swap by Melody Carlson is a delightful contemporary festive offering that will leave you smiling.
I always look forward to autumn and the latest Christmas themed book from Melody Carlson. This year’s novel is totally charming and will get you in the mood for cold December days.
Set in a lodge in snow covered mountains, there is a wonderful warm atmosphere. All is cosy and charming. There is an eclectic mix of characters – some with huge, welcoming hearts.
The reader sees the fickleness of some who are attracted by status, money and power. In contrast there are pure hearts who like the simple things in life and who like people for just who they are and not the size of their bank balance.
The Christmas Swap is positively wonderful, a Cinderella style novel that will warm your heart whatever time of year you read it.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
I know some of you are going to be groaning about the Christmas books already coming, but I’ll ready them any time of year, so I have no problem with them. And Melody Carlson is always a good choice to kick of the seasonal reads.
In The Christmas Swap, Arizona resident Emma gets roped into going with her friend’s family to Colorado for the holidays. While Emma both anticipates (she’s never seen snow) and dread (the Landers family has its challenges) the vacation, she goes along.
The short length of this book means the romance moves fast (a matter of days), character development doesn’t go as deep, and the antagonist is extremely unlikable. However, the magic of falling in love during the holidays is there.
While this isn’t my favorite Carlson Christmas read, I did finish it in one sitting.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Author Melody Carlson pens a sweet, quick Christmas read. Perfect for those cold nights to come.
The characters in The Christmas Swap had me smiling, pulling out my hair, and wondering when Gillian would get what she deserved. And I kept reading!
I loved the setting of Colorado because I love lots of snow at Christmas. It was interesting to learn a bit about skiing as well as swapping houses. I don’t think I’d like to try either. But I did enjoy the plot line.
I would classify this as a clean romance, not Christian romance as there is nothing about God in the story. I was a bit confused by a couple of things that were left dangling. At one point West puts a small something in his pocket, but we never learn what that was. And I didn’t like the ending at all. No spoilers, so I won’t go into why. I guess I would have preferred to see details in the book “sharpened” a bit. I felt things moved too fast.
If you want a sweet, romantic Christmas story read The Christmas Swap. It was a cute book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
This was a cute novella length Christmas story that I enjoyed as a pleasant light read. As Emma heads out for a Christmas in Colorado with her friend’s family, she meets West Prescott, who didn’t quite make his flight as their families swap homes for Christmas.
Not all things go as West plans but it’s those twists and turns that make the story fun and keeps you reading. Coming from a family that skis, I enjoyed the skiing theme. It presented interesting personalities, that were not maybe as trustworthy and caring as they should be. I enjoyed the book and how things worked out in the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. All thoughts are my
The Christmas Swap is a fun trip to Colorado for the holidays.
All Emma wants is a quiet few days, but instead, finds herself dragged cross-country from Arizona. Although this is Emma’s first chance to encounter snow, her wealthy friend Gillian has another plan as she tries to throw Emma together with her brother, despite Emma’s lack of interest.
West Prescott paused his dreams of a career performing to write songs instead. He’s made millions but never imagined his stunning Colorado home would be filled with strangers for Christmas. When he ends up staying behind and not heading to their home in Arizona, the last thing he expected was to fall in love.
As West ends up mistaken for the caretaker and then becoming an ad-hoc ski instructor, he manages to keep his true identity hidden, until a jealous Gillian blows his cover and the fledgling relationship falls apart.
For me this was an enjoyable read, probably not Melody Carlson’s best. Gillian is a little too shallow and Emma a little too sweet for my taste. That said, the book was a fun read with a satisfying ending. Recommended if you want a quick holiday romance.