When new lumberjack, Tom Jeffries, tells the camp cook, Jo Christy, that he’ll marry her if she can make a fruitcake, “as good as the one my mother makes,” she rises to the occasion. After all, he’s the handsomest, smartest, and strongest axman her camp-boss father has ever had in his camp—and the cockiest. And she intends to bring this lumberjack down a notch or three by refusing his proposal. … proposal. The fruitcake wars are on! All the shanty boys and Jo’s cooking helpers chip in with their recipes but Jo finds she’ll have to enlist more help—and begins corresponding with Tom’s mother.
Step back in time to 1890, in beautiful Northern Michigan, near the sapphire straits of Mackinac, when the white pines were “white gold” and lumber camps were a way of life. Jo is ready to find another life outside of the camps and plans that don’t include any shanty boys. But will a lumberjack keep her in the very place she’s sworn to leave?
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Big Tom Jeffries loves teaching but secures a job at a family lumber camp in order to earn more money to share with his widowed mother by being a lumberjack. The fun began when Tom challenged the camp cook, Jo Christy, to make a fruitcake that tastes like his mother’s and he will marry her! Jo claims she doesn’t want to marry Tom but she can’t resist the challenge! I enjoyed learning about living in a family logging camp. I admired Tom for being so considerate of his mother. I recommend The Fruitcake Challenge to others. I received a complimentary audio book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
I read this story years ago and was so happy to have the chance to listen to it now as an audio book! The narrator had a very pleasant voice and did a great job with this novella. She changed her tone of voice for various characters, yet it was not overdone. This was a fun story to listen to.
Jo certainly had the tendency to jump to conclusions in this story. She caused herself so much worry and angst due to the things she assumed. Tom and Jo teased back and forth and there was some great banter between the two. A few open conversations between these characters would have meant that they could have realized how much they cared for each other earlier, yet there would have been much less of the spirited teasing that made the novella a lighthearted and fun choice for a Christmas story to enjoy.
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this audio book. All opinions are my own.
The Fruitcake Challenge
Christy Lumber Camp #1
By Carrie Fancett Pagels
Narrated by Virginia Gray
Jo Christy has no desire to spend the rest of her days in her family’s lumber camp, and she certainly has no intention of marrying a lumberjack. So when Tom Jefferies joins up with the camp, she is less than thrilled with his attentions.
Tom Jefferies has left behind the life he has known for the lumber camps of Michigan. Working as a lumberjack pays better than his previous job as a teacher. It is hard work, but he needs the pay to help support his mother. He never expected to meet someone like Miss Josephine Christy working at the Christy Family Lumber Camp.
Jo Christy seems determined to ignore all of Tom’s flattery and attempts at courting. But when Tom issues his Fruitcake Challenge, she sees this as the perfect opportunity to put him in his place. But as the fruitcake challenge progresses, she has a chance to get to know Tom better – if only he wasn’t a lumberjack.
I experienced this book in the audio format, and it was well presented. The narration by Virginia Gray fits well with the story. I did listen to the book at 1.2 speed (or faster), but I always listen to my audiobooks faster than the default speed – I listen at the pace I read. But even at the regular speed, the pacing is good.
If you want an enjoyable escape to 1890s Michigan’s lumber camps, this is the perfect way to do so. This is a clean read. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Historical Fiction, are fascinated by America’s logging past, or have a thing for fruitcake.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.
This is such a fun book to listen to. It’s a Christmas book but it’s also a romance and so you can really read or listen to this at any time of the year. Definitely, one that I can highly recommend to everyone.
So what’s it about?
Jo lives in a lumberjack camp and as such, she’s used to all the contests and boasts of the men. But when Tom( a new lumberjack to the camp) makes her a dare she knows that she must rise to the occasion and win. Of course, what she wins is the right to marry him. And of course, she plans to turn him down. That’s why she has to win. To take his cocky self down a notch or two.
But what she doesn’t count on is what she learns about Tom as she tries to make the best fruitcake ever and what that does to her heart.
This is a well written short novella. But don’t worry the story doesn’t end there. There are some sequels just waiting for you to read them as well.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
I enjoyed this historical romance on audio. Loved the narrator and the story. Sometimes serious and sometimes a little funny but always good story. I have read many books by this author and she never disappoints.
Jo doesn’t know exactly how she feels about this new lumberjack Tom because he seems so educated and using all these big words. But when he says he will marry whomever can bake a fruitcake like his mother she has a plan. I enjoyed the characters and how the author brought them to life.
Don’t miss this quick Christmas read that I think you will enjoy if you like a historical romance.
I received a free audiobook but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
A fun read with believable, lovable characters. I read it years ago and it has stayed with me. Just a whimsical story but so darn entertaining. You’ll love it!
The Fruitcake Challenge is my first read by Carrie Fancett Pagels, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The heroine, Jo Christy, is addressed numerous times throughout the book as Ms. Christy. My name being Christi as well gave it a cool little twist for me, really helping me to put myself in Jo’s position, and to become immersed in this world.
Poor Jo is in a world full of lonely lumberjacks and not very many women. Proposals and perusals are plentiful but are warded off by Jo’s two older, and very protective, brothers. That is, until Tom Jeffries, the new, confident and incredibly handsome lumberjack, comes into town, catching Jo’s eye, and leaving her unsure about how she feels about him. Tom is unimpressed with Jo at first glance, but decides to offer a challenge to the camp cook: if she can make a fruitcake “as good as the one my mother makes” then Tom will marry her. Jo, intent on bringing this cocky lumberjack down a peg, rises to the challenge, and it is this challenge that changes everything.
I adored the banter between Tom and Jo, loving the funny parts, but also appreciating the serious parts as well. It took me a bit to get into the story but once I got a few chapters in I really started to enjoy this unique novella, the tale painting a wonderful picture of The Fruitcake Challenge and Tom and Jo’s story.
I really enjoyed this reading experience experience, this novella so witty and sweet, and the lightheartedness exactly what I needed during this season.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
A crazy tale fueled by misunderstandings and secrets! While it makes a good book, I’m more fond of speaking truth. I’m glad this particular story didn’t have as much of the tragedies that many include!