THE KNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a light contemporary romance by New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Marilyn Brant, who also penned the award-winning and Jane Austen-inspired novels ACCORDING TO JANE and PRIDE, PREJUDICE AND THE PERFECT MATCH.When successful building contractor Austin Knightley returns to his hometown of Crystal Corners, Minnesota after a decade away, he vows to avoid … decade away, he vows to avoid pampered and popular types like his old high-school crush Emma Westwood—the town’s biggest queen bee and self-appointed matchmaker—only to get swept into a community Christmas project she’s now organizing.
With nods to Jane Austen’s classic novel EMMA, this modern heroine may be a little “clueless” in the Midwest, but she’s got gifts to share and plenty to learn from the boy next door, who’s all grown up and handsomer than ever. Even when a snowstorm threatens to derail her plans, she’s determined to figure out how to set things right and save THE KNIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
This sweet and heartwarming holiday romance is a story that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
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With a nod to Jane Austen’s masterpiece “Emma,” set in present day Minnesota, “The Knight Before Christmas” is an endearing holiday romance. When wildly successful Austin Knightley returns home to Crystal Corners to be closer to his family, he encounters his old high school friends and discovers past impressions are no longer the same…or are they?
Following the popular trope of enemies to lovers, Austin and the town’s sweetheart, Emma Westwood, are thrown together to create a huge gift presentation at the town’s Good Will Toward Men & Women Project holiday event. Chocked full of warm-hearted moments that will satisfy the holiday sweet tooth in all of us, make sure to add “The Knight Before Christmas” to your to-be-read wish list.
I loved this book. We read it in our book club but I had already purchased it to read. This is romantic and sweet. This is the story of Emma and Austin. At first Emma comes off as being bratty but then as we learn more about her we become enchanted with her. She is very beloved in her town because she cares about others and they realize it. Austin has known her since they were kids in school and claims to have always been bugged by her. We learn that he has secretly cared about her. There are so many fun scenes, like Austin teaching Emma how to build her shelves and the two of them making the Sacher torte together. I enjoyed the Knightley family and their loving banter and teasing each other. It is a Christmas story and it takes place in a charming and sweet little town in Minnesota. The story is so compelling to keep reading to see what happens next. It seems like a perfect book for a Hallmark movie. It is a definite 5 stars.
LOVED!! That pretty much sums up every book I read by Marilyn Brant and this sweet, heartwarming, witty, delightful, enemies-to-friends-to-more, story might be one of my very favorites. I adored Austin and Emma and smiled the whole way through. I always feel like I’m *right there* in the stories Marilyn writes and this time the setting (Christmas time – yay!), the secondary characters, the food and fun, all added up to one of the happiest reads of the year for me. 🙂
The Knight Before Christmas by Marilyn Brant
Starts with how to contact the author and links to her other works.
About the book follows. Dedication is included.
Starts out when Emma is 6 and she always gets what she wants at Christmas and she had just watched a knight save the day and hopes she gets one.
She does and she dreams of a real one.
Present day is about Emma and how she runs into Austin-just back in town, and hiis sister as they are shopping and he never offered her the last carriage.
She is a match maker but hasn’t found her own match, yet. She’s also a gossiper and Austin hates that in her since their school days.
Alternating chapters of Austin who’s returned to his family to live now that he can run his business from anywhere. He hopes to give more of his life to his aging parents.
She learns the display she had ordered was not going to arrive in time. It was to display the children’s toys for the festivities.
He agrees to help her that means she has to manually help also. They spend a lot of time together and get to know one another and find out interesting things in common.
Love all details on the carpentry required and fun times they share with trying something new.
Sibling rivalry-precious! Statue figurines-what a treasure@
When the time gets down to just hours before the event she has to put on her bossy voice and tells him how she feels about him and his safety on the road…
He blames himself because he knows he won’t be able to finish the job… he goes to plan B.
Bonus is hearing of the travel, I can just picture it in my mind.
I received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.