Holiday parties and gift-buying will have to wait this year. Rowan West is up for a promotion to advertising manager. All she has to do is come up with a campaign to stream people back into a struggling, Christmas-themed adventure park and resort. She’s more of a big city-bright lights girl, but hey, anything to hop up to the next rung on the ladder. And in this case, anything is right. Because … Because she’s stuck with a horrible partner as she treks out to see the park for herself.
Jeremy Kincannon doesn’t so much love his job. But he’s doing his best to excel at it. He has to, in order to shut down the, oh, entire rest of the company that believes he’s only there because his step-father owns the business. So when he finds out he’s a finalist for the advertising manager position, he’s ready to fight tooth and nail to get it. Even if it means spending a week with the annoyingly perfect—and even more annoyingly pretty—other finalist.
They begin the trip as office adversaries. But spending so much time together, away from rivalries and rumors, reveals the truth of who each really is. Or maybe it’s the magic of Christmas working on them? Because the adventure park neither cared about turns out to be exactly what helps them find what they truly need in life…each other.
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4 Stars to The Magic of Christmas by Christi Barth.
I loved the premise of this book. The fact that the majority of the story takes place at a Christmas themed resort and amusement park is just icing on the cake. I wish there was such a place near where I live. Upstate and several hours of driving there was a Christmas themed amusement park. But because it was so far away and didn’t have striking reviews, we never visited. The author gave me such excitement as she described her little town in New Hampshire with the Christmas resort. I felt the fun and excitement as if I was there. There were so many fun things to do that I was swept away by not only the storyline, but Christmas as well.
Rowan and Jeremy are rivals at the same marketing firm. Rowan was vying for a promotion and she won’t let anything get in her way of receiving it. Especially Jeremy who is up for the same promotion. When they both are named finalists, Rowan isn’t happy. While in her own mind, she is better than Jeremy, he has a better chance. Jeremy is the bosses stepson. Rowan, as with many of the staff at the firm, believe Jeremy got his position due to nepotism. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Both Jeremy and Rowan are being sent to New Hampshire to create a campaign to save the theme park, which hasn’t been doing well. They both must come up with their own campaign and present it to the board. There can only be one winner.
I’m not going to lie, I disliked Rowan and her condescending attitude from the moment I read the first page. She was so full of herself. Unfortunately, it took me a good portion of the book to understand her better. Jeremy, however, I liked from the beginning. He was a gentleman. He made me laugh and he was considerate of Rowan from the beginning, even when I didn’t believe she deserved his friendship.
As the story goes on, their friendship grows into romance. But before they even have a chance to admit their feelings for each other, something happens that sends Rowan back to Chicago earlier than planned. And alone.
This is a sweet, fun, and sometimes whimsical story and I recommend it to anyone who loves romance with a Christmas theme. It was a pleasure to read.
This is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂
I was in the mood to read a Christmas story in the month of June. I was lucky to find this Christi Barth book. I recently enjoyed a book by this author so I decided to give her a second try. I was not disappointed at all. In fact I wanted to put up my Christmas tree and play some holiday music.
My mom likes to read what she calls, “smut free” romance books. This book was so sweet and innocent that I just have to buy it for her to read. It’s the perfect book to read at Christmastime with some hot cocoa, or in my case, during the summer. It hit all the feel good spots. When I finished reading this book I noticed that the Hallmark Channel is playing Christmas movies in June. Apparently, I’m not the only one who needed to feel a little Christmas spirit.
While I was reading The Magic of Christmas, it brought me back to my childhood. The Christmas-themed resort that the hero, Jeremy, and the heroine, Rowan, are trying to revive is very similar to one that actually exists in Putney, VT. Of course it’s not the same resort but it was easy for me to visualize the setting in which this story is set.
The writing style is easy on the eyes from beginning to end. The synopsis pretty much sums up the plot which is fine with me because the story-line was creative and ingenious for a contemporary romance. It makes for a light, fluffy and easy read without any surprises. The characters are well developed and relatable.
Jeremy and Rowan made for a heartwarming romance. Just as the synopsis states, “their rivalry wanes and attraction grows, will Jeremy and Rowan embrace the magic of Christmas?” I sure did.
This was my second Christi Barth book and I know it won’t be my last. There is a book that I’m waiting to read in one of her series. I’m going to officially put Christi Barth on my new favorite author to-read list. I hope others will enjoy this book as much as I did.
A great story about rival marketing designers finding themselves vying for a promotion. Their aim is to create the best marketing program for a holiday amusement park after a weeklong stay. Both of them need to prove their worthiness and neither of them is prepared for the true journey they will be taking.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was a sweet and enchanting story. It is an enemies to lovers Christmas romance, where two rivals at a marketing firm, Rowan and Jeremy, find themselves vying for a promotion by creating a marketing plan for an amusement park. I didn’t necessarily like the characters a whole lot but I did like this as a feel-good story. It was nice to lose myself in a book for a couple of hours and this story is perfect for the holiday season.
The Magic of Christmas is just what you need to cheer you up. I love reading a christmas romance at this time of year, gets you in the holiday spirit. I loved the back and forth chemistry between Rowan and Jeremy, it had me laughing throughout, The trip they take for work to the amusement park really makes them realise who the other person actually is deep down and not the persona they let on to be in the office and what it is they really want in life and that may just happen to be each other.
So if you want a christmas Rom-com to get you in the christmas spirit this is the book for you 🙂
The Magic Of Christmas by Christi Barth
Five Stars
The Magic Of Christmas is the first holiday story I have read this year. Christi Barth did a great job getting me thinking about getting in the spirit of the season. Rowan West is a workaholic that puts her job first, before any kind of life. She is up for a big promotion and all she has to do is beat out her office rival. Jeremy Kincannon is trying to prove that he is not just riding on his stepfather’s coattails. When both find themselves in a Christmas themed lodge and amusement park, both trying to win the account, they find maybe they had the wrong opinion of each other. This is a fun story that had me hoping for a happy ending. The characters were relatable and the dialogue is witty. I truly enjoyed this holiday book.
5/5 Stars
The Magic of Christmas by Christi Barth
This is the first book I’ve read by Barth, but it won’t be my last one. I loved the holiday movie vibe I got from it. The characters were just like the Hallmark movies.
Rowan has had a tough life. From childhood to adulthood. One thing after another always happens to her. When she’s up for a big promotion she is also sent to a resort with her biggest enemy. The quote I chose for Rowan is: “No. No, I won’t help you. At least, not until Jeremy’s shared his side of the story. And I don’t want the promotion by default. It wouldn’t mean nearly as much as if I beat him out, fair and square.”
Jeremy had a rough life with a deadbeat dad. When his step-dad stepped in and saved the day. Literally. He works hard but he finds himself falling for a coworker. The quote I chose for Jeremy is: “I do know. More than you think. My mom and I struggled, too. My dad was a deadbeat. Plain and simple. Spent what we had, and then what we didn’t. When she left him, things got even worse.”
I highly recommend this for anyone who loves romantic comedy.
The Magic of Christmas by Christi Barth was a fun read that helped me kick off my holiday season. I found myself smiling many times throughout the story and it really was just one of those feel good reads you look forward to curling up with.
I was surprised how quickly I was drawn to Jeremy as a character, unlike Rowan, Jeremy didn’t take any “getting used to” at all. Rowan was hard to like for me at first, her all work, no play persona was irritating at best. I did start to enjoy Rowan’s personality a bit more as the story progressed and her interactions with Jeremy were really entertaining. The characters had great chemistry and once again, brought a smile to my face and gave me feel good vibes.
I grew up in New Hampshire and have fond memories of day trips to a Christmas theme park we have in the northern part of the state, I loved that the story was set around a place so similar.
If you are looking for a fun, easy to read story to get yourself in a bit of holiday spirit, I would recommend the Magic of Christmas with a 4 star rating!
This book got me more into the holiday spirit than I expected it to. I loved the characters, I loved the premise, and I found some spots in this book that really pulled at my heartstrings. There was very real conflict and turmoil that was well written. I read most of it at one time, it had a great flow and I found that when I looked, I was farther in than I expected. If there is one magic of Christmas books on your list this year, I truly recommend this one.
The Magic of Christmas by Christi Barth
5 of 5 Stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderfully heartwarming festive romance by Christi Barth which I could not put down. Full of the magic of Christmas this story definitely put me in the festive spirit. Workaholic Rowan West is not in the Christmas mood as she has to come up with a campaign to make people visit a struggling Christmas themed adventure park and resort in order to gain a promotion to advertising manager. Unfortunately Jeremy Kincannon is also up for the promotion and is determined to prove to everyone that he deserves the job and not just because his stepfather owns the company. They begin their visit to the park and resort as adversaries, Rowan dislikes Jeremy and Jeremy thinks Rowan is annoyingly perfect. However, as they spend more time together away from the office politics and all the rumours they discover who the other one really is. With a bit of the magic of Christmas the adventure park neither of them cared about actually helps them find what they both need in life and that appears to be each other. ‘The Magic of Christmas’ has a lovely romantic storyline with a festive twist and likeable, relatable characters which made this a page turner of a story. The narrative flowed well and I loved how the relationship changed and developed between Rowan and Jeremy and their connection really came across in the story. I found reading this was a lovely start to the festive season.
This was adorably cute! I really liked reading this book and quite honestly it’s the perfect way to start those Christmas reads which I know I will be binge-reading over the next few months! I really liked the story and I really enjoyed the characters. The book was quick-paced but not too fast and it didn’t feel rushed at all which is great.
The way Rowan and Jeremy begin to connect is so cute and adorable and I fell in love with their characters and it was cute. I liked them both resisting until giving in to each other it’s one of my favourite things in these kind of books. They try to resist and always fail!
Really enjoyed it!
It has been quite the year, 2020 proves to us that we need some holiday magic early, so when I saw Christi Barth was putting out a cute rom com holiday read just in time for the craziest months of 2020 it was a no brainer for me to one-click the much needed escape. This little gem took me on quite the adventure as I followed Rowan and Jeremy in their competition to develop the winning marketing plan for a holiday themed park. These two may start as enemies but of course the magic of the season will try to intervene and bring these two hearts together in a warming way. I loved the push and pull between the characters. It had me laughing and cheering for the two to find the way to love each other. It was a believable romance, sometimes that is not the case for holiday reads but not with this one. I really enjoyed the kickoff to my holiday season and just might have the motivation to pull out my tree and decor a tad early this year!
The Magic of Christmas by Christi Barth is a festive feel good romance, perfect to get you into the Christmas spirit.
Rowan is focussed on her career, when a promotion comes up she’s willing to work hard and fight tooth and nail to prove she’s the right person for the job. But as is usually the way, these things never run smoothly.
This is a classic Christmas Hallmark style romance, just what we all need in the run up to Christmas. The author moves the story along at a fairly quick pace, but it’s very easy to keep up with. I loved the characters and both of the main characters really developed throughout the story so I found myself becoming more invested in their lives and wanting them to find their happy ending!
4 Stars
The Magic of Christmas by Christi Barth is a touching holiday romance with all the ingredients needed to make a for a heart-warming Christmas story. It was fun to curl up with this for a couple of hours and lose myself in the story.
Rowan and Jeremy are both being considered for the same promotion at the advertising company they work for. They are teamed up to come up with a campaign that will resurrect a struggling Christmas themed amusement park. There is a lot to prove, and a lot riding on the outcome. These two set off on their trip as staunch rivals, but things begin to change as they spend more time together. What happens next makes for a fun and romantic read.
I love Christmas themed stories, so it was a done deal as soon as I laid eyes on this book. I could envisage this being made into a wonderful Christmas movie.
My favourite of Christi Barth’s books that I have read so far!
Thank you, Christi Barth!
I absolutely loved reading the book The Magic of Christmas by Christi Barth, this was my first book by this author. This is a holiday romance story that is an amazing read that gets you in that Christmas spirit well it did for me! This was a fun shorter read for me, you have Rowan who is a professional woman in a marketing firm and Jeremy is the sexy stepson of the owner. However, Rowan and Jeremy are both up for a promotion at work, the same promotion. What happens when the competition starts to heat up between these two? I couldn’t seem to put this book down, you will love it!!
If you’re looking for something to get you in the Christmas spirit, this is the book for you. I loved that we get to visit Holiday Land and I could see all the details in my head and sounds like such a fun place!
Rowan is a work machine and doesn’t allow herself to let loose at the office. When she and Jeremy are paired together as competition and to visit a new place to get marketing ideas, things couldn’t seem worse for either of them. But with the magic of the season we get this beautiful and heartfelt story.
I really really enjoyed this book and the characters were relatable, believable and I love a heroine who sticks up for herself. This is a must read, holiday season or not!
The Magic of Christmas by Christi Barth was such a great read! I loved Rowan and Jeremy. They were such dynamic characters and their development was great to follow. I loved Rowan and her diligence to get the job done, she was icy at first but you do find out why. I did not put this book down and finished it in one sitting.
This sweet holiday story was just what my weary heart needed in what feels like a heavy season. Barth does a wonderful job putting together this story. Easy to ready, fast paced, relatable characters – this book was a quick read that I loved every page of and put me in the holiday mood. I can’t wait to read it again.
The characters are easy to fall in love with as much as their storyline. It’s easy to love this book with the holidays coming up. I enjoyed how their relationship blossomed but what makes it flow is the way it takes off. The element of the Christmas spirit, romance and love is beautiful in this read. You won’t be disappointed in this beautiful read!
The Magic of Christmas
By Christi Barth
5 stars
I LOVE a Christmas book! It’s my most favourite time of the year and after everything that’s happened this year I needed a Christmas read to get me in the spirit and this book most definitely did that! The author lovely descriptive language made me so want to visit the setting for this story! I felt all Christmassy after finishing it – my husband wasn’t impressed that I wanted to put the Christmas decorations up!
I loved the plot and the characters, I guess the story was a little predictable but with that wonderful Christmas magic the author sprinkled along the way I wasn’t really bothered. It was a lovely, easy to read story that I was lost in from beginning to end.