Merry Random Christmas

Random #7

by Julia Kent

It all started with a game of Truth or Dare…

It’s bad enough I got arrested for prostitution on Christmas Eve. Alleged prostitution, mind you. I didn’t do it. Of course I didn’t. The cops say I offered up a certain sex act for a $5 gasoline gift card, but honey?

My sex acts are worth way, way more.

So when I tried to explain what happened to the person who came and bailed me out of jail, she wasn’t exactly impressed.

Because it was my boyfriend’s mother.

Now, I got two boyfriends, so Murphy’s Law said it had to be the mother I hate the most. And she hates me right back. Even more now that I lost her son.

That’s right. Where in the hell are Joe and Trevor?

It’s Christmas Eve, and I keep getting pictures on social media showing Joe and Trevor all oiled up in g-strings that look like candy canes, dancing with a bunch of well-coiffed older women.

I, on the other hand, am wearing Santa pants, flip flops, and smell like jail cell pee.

That game of Truth or Dare turns out to be way more dangerous than anyone expected.

And our savior? It ain’t the baby Jesus. Not the three wise men. No little drummer boy. Not even the donkey that carried the Virgin Mary on its back while she howled for an epidural.

Nope. Can you guess?

That’s right.

Mavis the Chicken.

Can she help us out of this clustercluck?

* * *

Merry Random Christmas is the eighth book in the New York Times bestselling Random series. Join the gang on Christmas Eve as Darla is unfairly arrested, Trevor and Joe are forced to become strippers, and candy canes appear in places where sugar is a bad, bad idea in this crazy, rollicking romp.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Contemporary, Holiday, Amazon, Contemporary Romance, Humor

172 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2015

About the author

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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 5 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.

From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire in a rom com).

She also writes romantic suspense as Meli Raine, sexy shifter romances as DJ Jennings, billionaire shifters as half of the author team Diana Seere, and co-authors with Elisa Reed.

She lives in New England with her husband and three children in a household where she is the only person with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.

She loves to hear from her readers by:

Email at jkentauthor@gmail.com

Twitter @jkentauthor

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor

Instagram @jkentauthor

Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com

FORTHCOMING:


Love You Again (Love You, Maine, #2), July 19, 2022

Ten First Kisses (anthology with my story, Shopping for a Booty Call), August 12, 2022

Love You More (Love You, Maine, #3), October 11, 2022

Love You Now (Love You, Maine, #4), January 3, 2023


Author photo credit: Felix Rust http://www.felixrust.com

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Random funny moments

So if you read this but haven't read any of the other books you'll feel lost. I've read a few which allowed me to understand the dynamics somewhat.
This had random laugh out loud moments, random eye rolling moments and more than a few random this is stupid as $h!t moments. It's hard to explain this read because it's true to the book series name Crazy!
Not even close to the best Christmas read this season.

[Pauline (Passionate About Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merry pee-in-your-pants Christmas!
What can possibly go wrong on Christmas Eve with Darla, Trent and Joe? The answer is... EVERYTHING!!! Things like being arrested on false charges, stripping with candy-cane g-strings, a chicken called Popsicle, bad eel food poisoning, being bailed out by your evil mother-in-law, a homeless dude named Tortilla... and those are a few of the highlights and wacky stuff you'll read about in this hilarious holiday novella that will have you in stitches! If you are a fan of the Random Series then you MUST read this crazy novella too! 5 Wacky Stars for this rollicking romp!

[ValerieC · Rating 4 out of 5]

So sad... This felt like an ending to my favorite Julia Kent series, without us knowing what's ahead for Darla, Trevor, and Joe.

[Mommaleena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprise

Merry Random Christmas (Random Book #8) by Julia Kent
•Surprise
Although this is number 8 in the series it's my first Julia Kent story. Being new to the series and coming in late didn't leave me feeling lost as to what was happening.... Only wanting to know the complete story from beginning to the end. Be prepared for some things that'll surprise you. I look forward top seeing what else is available. Due to sexual and adult situations this novel is recommended for readers 18 and older.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Julia Kent has done it again! I knew she would...she has never let me down!!! This book was funny, touching(yes touching..some moments with a chicken...yes I said a chicken...of course there is more to this but you have to read the book to find out just what that is!), some aww moments and some oh my god that just did not happen moments! We see Joe, Darla and Trevor and spend some quality time with Joanne Ross where the sarcastic humor is so so perfect! I laughed so very hard at some of the "new rule" moments! I had tears in my eyes with the acts of kindness that Trevor showed towards "Tortilla" and laughed so hard at the description of the "get up" both he and Joe were wearing or the lack there of while stripping because Sam and Liam got sick after eating bad eel! And lets not forget how the book opens with Darla arrested and in jail and being bailed out by of all people Joe's mother...that is when the fun began! We have some sighting (funny ones) of Alex and of course Darla's mom! Throughout this series you see all of the characters grow little by little and it is most evident in this book! I fell in love with this group in Random Acts of Crazy and look forward to the next one! I was honored to be able to read an ARC copy of this book provided by the author!

[Maria Dodd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Julia Kent. She never fails to deliver -always laugh out loud funny and full of emotion.

This book being set at Christmas time really grabbed the opportunity to play up the sentimental aspect of the season with goodwill to men etc. It also made the most of 'tis the season to be jolly :-) Joe and Trevor stripping was so funny but don't try explaining it to anybody, it just has to be read!

Go ahead, grab this book, shut yourself away and enjoy some Christmas cheer. When you've had a good laugh, soaked up the love floating abundantly throughout this book, don't forget to sit back and take a leaf out of the characters' books and count your blessings too.

I was given this book by Julia Kent in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

[Vicki Ceara · Rating 3 out of 5]

You really have to start at the beginning of the series to get all the inside jokes and to understand these characters and their motivations. Other than that...it's pretty standard for the Random crowd--which means total and unrivaled chaos!

There are far too many jokes in this one for me--where they could have spent more time dwelling on the 'goodwill toward all mankind' thing. The book does teach the value of acceptance of all people regardless of what you think the circumstances might be. It does it in a way that is not preachy and will leave a grin on your face.

Recommended only for those over 18 due to some graphic sexual situations.

[Cheryl Graham-Petit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an hones review.

Julia Kent has outdone herself yet again! Merry Random Christmas is remarkable well-written with characters that come alive on the page. Once you start reading, you won't want to put it down.

[Pinky Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow

Darla, Trevor and joe. + Christmas and you just know it going to be fun add to the mix a homeless man with a pet chicken and you have the recipe for pi#'+«ng your self laughing.

[Ms. Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads Firstreads in exchange for any honest review...

This book was hilariously awesome! It was a fast-paced, quick-read that was blunt, straight-forward, over-the-top, and very humorous. It did have a lot of adult and vulgar humor (more than I had anticipated) that many people will find offensive. Regardless, I did find it highly enjoyable and had myself several laughs over the insensitive content.

I reason why I gave it 3 stars is, even with a great sense of humor, I felt like it was written in a very sloppy fashion. It rambled on in several areas, the dialog and content became confusing, it bounced all over the place, and was also slightly repetitive (which is surprisingly for such a quick read). I felt like the writing style needed a little "trimming".

[SandyL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series I've read, and there were a lot of things going on before this book, but I still really enjoyed it. First of all, it's hilarious!! I love Julia Kent's way with words and imagination in this wacky book. Between Darla's arrest for trying to blow Santa for a gas card (and she doesn't even have a car!) to Joe and Trevor's stripping for a bunch of choir ladies, Tortilla and his chicken, Popsicle, and Joe's family, it was one disaster after another. There were a number of times I was laughing out loud. I'm giving this book 3.5 stars (I like a little more sexy in my sexy scenes) and also 'cuz **my fault** I need to read the beginning of the series to really understand the characters. But it's a great holiday read!!!

[Sandy Digger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry random Christmas

Ummm, not what I was expecting at all. Interesting, shocking and hilarious yes. It’s about a ménage couple Darla, Joe & Trevor and their Christmas. Since they’re pretty much no holds barred, it is about Darla getting arrested for prostitution which she didn’t do and then she can’t get in touch with either of her boyfriends to bail her out but Joe’s mother shows up and bails her out. Then Darla realizes his mother doesn’t know where he’s at. So how did she know Darla needed help? Well she’s monitoring his text messages. When Darla finally gets in touch with them she finds out they’ve been stripping for a group of women. This all leads to an interesting conversation with the parents. Definitely a different kind of story.

[Becky A · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Merry Random Christmas" received 4 stars.

The novel gained *STARS* for these items:

* gained for: "The book caught my interest in first five pages."

* gained for: "I thought about the book when I was forced to set it down and re-enter society."

* gained for: "There were no info dumps, poor writing, or copy edit mistakes that jerked me out of the story."

* gained for: "I was sad when the book ended. I want more!"

The novel failed to gain stars for these items:

NO STAR gained for: "That's it. I'm hooked on this author I will automatically buy anything s/he writes."

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars! Book eight in the Random series. Novella length told in multiple POV with HFN ending. Random Acts of Crazy is a band, the secondary characters are band members and are throughout the series. This is not really a stand-alone as it is a continuation of the series and often refers to situations that happened in previous books. I have read the previous books in the series and I continue reading to see if there is a HEA, but it just goes on without anything happening. Just weirder & more shocking situations that I don't find funny. I will not be continuing the series!

[Pary A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, great series

I just love these book in this series, and I know I’ll be so sad when I’m done reading them all. The characters are wonderful. They are funny and surprisingly deep (kind of). Darla is a hoot and someone I’m sure everyone has a least one friend like her. Joe and Trevor and the rest of the gang are your typical 20 something year olds. Guys that age only have sex and making money on their mind. There are too many great things (like Joe’s mom) to mention ,so read the series and join in in the fun!!

[Nikki Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series so I felt a little lost with the side characters but not enough to ruin the book. This book is exactly as it says. It’s random but in such a good way. I laughed so hard in some of the parts in the book. And other parts I wanted to cry for them. It was a really good read and makes me want to go look for the other books in the series. I think I need them in my life!!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would definitely NOT recommend as a stand alone book. This being the only book I've read in this series, and doing so because it was "sold" to me as a quick holiday read and not realising it was part of a series until it was too late, I found this very confusing. There was nothing at all about the dynamics of the relationship until nearly the end, where the book started to make some sense in all the craziness. It was very funny, and a whole group of crazy characters.

[JW David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was laughing so hard and often I had to put it down to catch my breathe.
I have this phrase I use at the stupidity that happens at work "You can't make this up!", but Julia can, does, and actively compete with the hilarious comedy/stupidity I regularly see at work, and she makes it all funny as heck!
Thank you for sharing your overactive imagination, but I find myself still wondering, are you really writing a biography, because some of this feels too much like "you can't make this up!"

[donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Random Book

If you want another Random act of all kinds of crazy, this is the book for ya or rather a whole series of them! I had to stop on occasion while reading just to let my brain cycle what I had just read! I was laughing so hard at points that my family was looking at me like I had lost my mind!

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some laugh out loud parts and then some stupidity. There was Darla who talks like a backwoods hick at times then she's deep and smart. She's a hot mess so is the story. I thought it was an okay read . not something that I would read more of but hey it was close to Christmas so I gave it a try.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't read any of the other books in this series and that may be part of the problem, but I thought this book was terrible. I couldn't understand why Darla was arrested for prostitution. Nor was the truth or dare game adequately explained. By the mid-way point, I just asked myself why I was bothering with this book when there are so many better books to read.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Never thought would outgrow potty humor but what is used in this story is actually beyond tasteless so guess I have standards after all. Who knew?

Anyway this was one of those goofy tales that when finished had to ask myself "What did I just read and why did I finish?"

Not a total loss as it did have a few sweet moments when not trying too hard.

[Jenny T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the 7th book in the Random series. This was a wild Christmas tale - a bit much for my sensibilities, so it was like looking an accident where you can't turn away. If you like your romances raunchy this read is for you- including foul language, outrageous situations, and threesomes. Still there were some nice character moments (for Darla, Joe, & Trevor) and funny moments for the holidays.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Christmas as it can only happen to Darla, Trevor, and Joe. It’s not exactly an accurate comparison, but this felt a little like the Three Stooges do It’s a Wonderful Life. There’s all the zany slapstick humor we’ve come to expect and love from this series. There’s also some beautiful sweet moments showing the power and magic of the season.

[Bev Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love Darla!

As always Darla is a hoot! She just makes my day anytime I read a random book! Love this series so much!! Can't get enough of this series! Julia Kent is hands down my favorite author !!

[Shirley Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to admit- it took me by surprise- a hilarious surprise! I had not heard of this series- much less have read any - but it wasn’t really necessary- there was so much going on- the dialogue was all over the place- in an outrageously hilarious way-
Guess I will ha e to find #’s 1-6!!!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious family dynamics

I started laughing within the first paragraph of this zany MFM. Darla, Trevor, and Joe cracked me up with the antics they get up to while traversing parents, friends, homeless guys and chickens. This was a fun and funny read.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of nonsense

?this book used very foul language way too often. There was no real story line just a lot of jumbled up scene s. In many places they did not even connect. Do not plan on reading any more books in this series of gibberish.

[Deborah Yunevich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Random story

I love this whole series, it just keeps me laughing. Only Darla, Trevor, and Joe can get in these situations and add Tortilla and Popsicle, it becomes more fun.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Merry Random Christmas (Random Series #8)

The Christmas story of Joe, Darla and Trevor. It's Christmas time and Darla is in jail and Joe and Trevor are stripping. Can they free Darla and have a merry Christmas? I didn't like this story.