Title: Merry and Bright
Author: Debbie Macomber
Genre: Women's Fiction, Romance, Holiday
Release Date: October 3, 2017
About the Book:
Christmas is the season of the heart, and #1 New York Timesbestselling author Debbie Macomber is here to warm yours with a delightful holiday novel of first impressions and second chances.
Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her—minus her photo—and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.
Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects—or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.
Buy Links: Amazon
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER - RELEASE DATE OCTOBER 3, 2017
My Review:
Once again, Debbie Macomber gives us a delightful story with loveable characters. This was a quick read that I finished in one afternoon. Perhaps that was because I was unable to put it down.
Merry Knight takes on a temporary job working long hours to help pay for next year's college tuition, all the while helping out at home with her mother who has multiple sclerosis and her brother with Down's Syndrome, Her life has become so busy that she has had no time for a social life. That's when her mother and brother come up with a plan to have Merry join an internet dating website. When they tell Merry what they had done, Merry couldn't get angry with them because she knew they were only trying to help. Instead of a picture of herself, she decided to use a picture of their dog. Then when she receives a response from a man who also posts a picture of a dog instead of himself, she becomes intrigued and a fondness developes. After weeks of corresponding, they plan to meet in person. That's when Merry discovers who this man really is and she quickly leaves before he sees her.
One of the things I liked about this story is that neither Merry nor Jayson lied... other than not posting their true names. And even though I just knew how the story would end, it still didn't keep me from cheering for this HEA, And the characters! Oh how I loved sweet Patrick! Even though Jayson wasn't all that loveable in the beginning, as I learned his history and his personal story, and as I saw how he changed after getting to know Merry/Mary, I started loving him as well.
This is such a great Christmas story. Debbie Macomber has a way of making you feel the joy and excitement with each Christmas carol sung and each decoration described. "Merry and Bright" would make a great Christmas gift for all your reader friends.
Disclosure: A complimentary ARC was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.
My Rating:
About the Author:
Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 990 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Sixteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2016, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include A Girl’s Guide to Moving On (February), Sweet Tomorrows (August), and Twelve Days of Christmas (October) and an adult coloring book, The World of Debbie Macomber: Come Home To Color (April). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published two bestselling cookbooks, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and five have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
Macomber owns two businesses in Port Orchard, WA, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove Series. These include The Grey House Café, formerly the Victorian Rose Tea Room, featured in the Cedar Cove Series, and A Good Yarn Shop, introduced in her popular Blossom Street novels. They are located on the Village Square campus, which also serves as Debbie’s corporate headquarters.
She and her husband, Wayne, serve on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, and she is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington and winter in Florida.
