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Merry and Bright
Merry Smith 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.
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.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2017
2173 people are currently reading
8291 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
894 books20.6k followersDebbie 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 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, 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 six 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.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, 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 six 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.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,613 reviews
December 26, 2017
You can see this review and many others @ https://readrantrockandroll.com/2017/...
Merry and Bright is a warm, feel-good, clean holiday romance that will get you into the holiday spirit. I was looking for a light, easy, and satisfying read and this one definitely hits the mark.
Merry is preparing for the holiday season, taking care of her family, and working crazy hours as a temp for a job that will soon be completed. She couldn't be happier because she doesn't get along with her boss and has plans to finish her college degree. She lives with her mom who isn't well, along with her little brother Patrick who has down syndrome. Her mother and Patrick wish she could start a relationship because they feel like Merry is lonely, so they get on the computer and set Merry up with an online dating profile, using a picture of her dog so nobody knows who it us. Her profile catches a wink right away, but it's a mystery who this man is!
Jayson is Merry' s boss and he's truly not a person who's in the Christmas spirit. He has struggles in his relationship with his father which is far from perfect. It's bad enough that he simply doesn't want to see his father anymore. They don't get along and Jayson's sort of bitter about everything. He has his best friend to lean on and he's truly a good person at heart, but just needs a little help opening his eyes.
This was my first Debbie Macomber book and I personally loved this story. It was such a fast read and kept me interested until the end. The narrative is believable and the characters were written perfectly. I didn't feel that it was super predictable until I got closer to the end because every time I thought the story was going one way, the course seemed to lead to a different outcome. This book is lovely and I'm positive Debbie Macomber is going to be a favorite author.
5*****
Merry and Bright is a warm, feel-good, clean holiday romance that will get you into the holiday spirit. I was looking for a light, easy, and satisfying read and this one definitely hits the mark.
Merry is preparing for the holiday season, taking care of her family, and working crazy hours as a temp for a job that will soon be completed. She couldn't be happier because she doesn't get along with her boss and has plans to finish her college degree. She lives with her mom who isn't well, along with her little brother Patrick who has down syndrome. Her mother and Patrick wish she could start a relationship because they feel like Merry is lonely, so they get on the computer and set Merry up with an online dating profile, using a picture of her dog so nobody knows who it us. Her profile catches a wink right away, but it's a mystery who this man is!
Jayson is Merry' s boss and he's truly not a person who's in the Christmas spirit. He has struggles in his relationship with his father which is far from perfect. It's bad enough that he simply doesn't want to see his father anymore. They don't get along and Jayson's sort of bitter about everything. He has his best friend to lean on and he's truly a good person at heart, but just needs a little help opening his eyes.
This was my first Debbie Macomber book and I personally loved this story. It was such a fast read and kept me interested until the end. The narrative is believable and the characters were written perfectly. I didn't feel that it was super predictable until I got closer to the end because every time I thought the story was going one way, the course seemed to lead to a different outcome. This book is lovely and I'm positive Debbie Macomber is going to be a favorite author.
5*****
dnf
December 28, 2017And this is why I don't read Christmas novels...
This is totally on me as I should have never requested this book.
It's too sweet and too cutesy.
And the play on the names Merry and Bright...? Eye roll.
Add in the annoying as fuck meddling mother and the boring plain Jane paragon of virtue Merry and I would rather watch paint dry than finish this book.
This is totally on me as I should have never requested this book.
It's too sweet and too cutesy.
And the play on the names Merry and Bright...? Eye roll.
Add in the annoying as fuck meddling mother and the boring plain Jane paragon of virtue Merry and I would rather watch paint dry than finish this book.
December 25, 2022
A fun and light rom-com of misgauged first impressions. I don't think I would have been as easy-going as Merry was when her mom and brother, Patrick, filled in a dating profile for her on an online dating site. But Merry takes it all in stride and she and her family seem easy-going and down-to-earth which makes for a relaxing, casual read with humorous moments and some all-in-good-fun eye rolls too! I enjoyed this so much that I wouldn't mind listening to this again. It's a perfect read for fans of cute and cozy holiday romance books or movies.
November 23, 2025
Merry Smith has her days filled - between her time-consuming job, her loving (but hectic) family and the holidays right around the corner - she doesn't have time for anything else.
But apparently, her mom and younger brother think she does.
They signed her up for a dating website and while Merry first thinks it will be a complete disaster...she actually meets a really nice guy.
But then she finds out who he is real life and her heart plummets. This could never work...or could it?
This was a really sweet holiday book, if a bit predictable and a smidge bland.
I did really love Merry's family.
Her bustling mother, well-meaning father and her special-needs brother really helped bring this book to life. Her brother was just the best and I loved how respectful (and realistic) his disability was shown to be.
This book is relatively short (220ish pages), and I felt like the romance was a bit rushed because of that.
I would've loved for the love to have had an extra 50-100 pages to fully develop but at the same time I didn't mind it too much.
All in all, this was a short and sweet book!
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September 5, 2017
Merry Knight has been quite busy with her job and family while getting ready for the upcoming Christmas season so she hasn't put any time into starting any kind of a social life. As an early present Merry's mother and brother decided that they would sign her up for an online dating service when she kept using the I don't have any time excuse. Merry isn't sure about getting out there and dating but doesn't have the heart to be mad at her family for thinking of her happiness.
Jayson Bright hears about the online dating service from a friend who is now a very happy customer and planning his own wedding. A bit skeptical Jayson hesitantly signs on to check out the service and immediately sees Merry's new account and decides to take a chance and message her. The two of them quickly become friends behind their computer screens chatting away with one another night after night but when the time comes to meet there's quite a big obstacle that just may keep them apart.
Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber was a lovely little Christmas romance read that is sure to put a smile on your face and bring in those festive thoughts as the holiday season approaches. Merry was born near the Christmas holiday hence her festive spelling of her name and has always loved the season and everything it brings. Jayson however is the Scrooge in the story who never had the lovely memories of Christmas that Merry had so it was nice to see how her influence brightened his spirit.
While Merry and Jayson were both likable and true to their character descriptions and fun getting to know I think what made this story even more touching was Merry's family. While the family is a close knit loving bunch Merry's brother sometimes stole the show as he helped Merry with finding a date. Her brother was special needs and I felt like the character was wonderfully portrayed in the story and loved him interacting with Merry and Jayson. In the end it was a lovely little feel good Christmas romance and I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Jayson Bright hears about the online dating service from a friend who is now a very happy customer and planning his own wedding. A bit skeptical Jayson hesitantly signs on to check out the service and immediately sees Merry's new account and decides to take a chance and message her. The two of them quickly become friends behind their computer screens chatting away with one another night after night but when the time comes to meet there's quite a big obstacle that just may keep them apart.
Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber was a lovely little Christmas romance read that is sure to put a smile on your face and bring in those festive thoughts as the holiday season approaches. Merry was born near the Christmas holiday hence her festive spelling of her name and has always loved the season and everything it brings. Jayson however is the Scrooge in the story who never had the lovely memories of Christmas that Merry had so it was nice to see how her influence brightened his spirit.
While Merry and Jayson were both likable and true to their character descriptions and fun getting to know I think what made this story even more touching was Merry's family. While the family is a close knit loving bunch Merry's brother sometimes stole the show as he helped Merry with finding a date. Her brother was special needs and I felt like the character was wonderfully portrayed in the story and loved him interacting with Merry and Jayson. In the end it was a lovely little feel good Christmas romance and I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
July 26, 2022
This is a Christmas Romance. This is my favorite Debbie Macomber Christmas book that I have read as far. This is a cute and sweet Hate to Love Christmas Romance, and I feel this book really shows you that you should always watch what you are saying to people because you never know who they are. I love Merry's brother character, and I really love when their is a special needs characters. I love all the characters in this book. The cover and title of this book is just everything. If you want a sweet Christmas book this is the book for you.
September 2, 2021
This was a cute, sweet Christmas story that was perfect for a nice cold day where you're drinking a warm drink or putting out decorations. 🎄❄ It was short, a little longer than novella length, but perfect for this sort of tale. Merry is caught up in her home life and trying to save up enough money to finish school. Jason Bright, her boss, is something of a curmudgeon, who seems to care only about work. Naturally, they meet through a dating website, but have no idea who the other is. It has a definite "You've got mail" feel to it. I also really liked how several characters with disabilities were portrayed and included as part of the narrative.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen erader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen erader.
September 15, 2017
Yes, it's a Christmas book. Yes, I know it's not Christmas yet but I've had this book waiting for me for a while now. It doesn't release until October but the synopsis just kept calling to me and I couldn't wait any longer. And life is going to be crazy the first of October to read and write the review then, so I decided to grab it now and enjoy. And I did! It was fabulous! I've read the last several Christmas books that Debbie Macomber has written and have loved them. This one was no exception!
I had a big ol' grin on my face the whole time and kept thinking that this was just super cute and I couldn't wait for the big reveal to happen. Cute, cute, cute, cute!!!!
I loved Merry's relationships with her parents and teenage brother. Patrick, the brother, melted my heart. Patrick has Down Syndrome and loves his sister Merry very much. So in a moment of wanting to cheer her up, he and her mom create a dating profile for her online. They use the image of a their dog for her profile picture and surprise her with their news. What she doesn't expect is to find another user with the picture of their dog as their profile. A wink, a click and a short message lead to lots of fun conversations (via the internet of course) and the chance at a happy and Merry Christmas.
Merry's personal life is stressful right now. Work is stressful. She just wants to enjoy nothing more than chatting online with her new friend Jay after a long day. Their friendship slowly starts to evolve and it's time to put it to the test of meeting. Will they be able to ever meet? Will their friendship be enough to keep them happy once they do meet?
Seriously this was a super cute story that I devoured last night. I think I say this every time I read one of her Christmas novels...I sure hope they make this into a Hallmark movie! Yep, the same sentiment rings true for this book. I want a Hallmark movie out of this one! It's just a sweet, feel good and happy novel. A cozy Christmas story that warms your heart and gets you in the mood for family and friends and just the magic of that time of year. I'd happily curl up on the couch with my hubby and family, popcorn and blankets, and laugh and giggle and smile and sigh all while watching this.
There are so many more things I want to say about this book but I really don't want to spoil it and if I start to say something about the characters or a scene, I just know I'll give something away, even if I were being vague. So let me leave it at that and say one last time that I highly recommend this for a cute, super sweet read. If you need a good pick me up, grab this one.
Content: Clean
I received a copy from the publisher, Ballantine Books, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
I had a big ol' grin on my face the whole time and kept thinking that this was just super cute and I couldn't wait for the big reveal to happen. Cute, cute, cute, cute!!!!
I loved Merry's relationships with her parents and teenage brother. Patrick, the brother, melted my heart. Patrick has Down Syndrome and loves his sister Merry very much. So in a moment of wanting to cheer her up, he and her mom create a dating profile for her online. They use the image of a their dog for her profile picture and surprise her with their news. What she doesn't expect is to find another user with the picture of their dog as their profile. A wink, a click and a short message lead to lots of fun conversations (via the internet of course) and the chance at a happy and Merry Christmas.
Merry's personal life is stressful right now. Work is stressful. She just wants to enjoy nothing more than chatting online with her new friend Jay after a long day. Their friendship slowly starts to evolve and it's time to put it to the test of meeting. Will they be able to ever meet? Will their friendship be enough to keep them happy once they do meet?
Seriously this was a super cute story that I devoured last night. I think I say this every time I read one of her Christmas novels...I sure hope they make this into a Hallmark movie! Yep, the same sentiment rings true for this book. I want a Hallmark movie out of this one! It's just a sweet, feel good and happy novel. A cozy Christmas story that warms your heart and gets you in the mood for family and friends and just the magic of that time of year. I'd happily curl up on the couch with my hubby and family, popcorn and blankets, and laugh and giggle and smile and sigh all while watching this.
There are so many more things I want to say about this book but I really don't want to spoil it and if I start to say something about the characters or a scene, I just know I'll give something away, even if I were being vague. So let me leave it at that and say one last time that I highly recommend this for a cute, super sweet read. If you need a good pick me up, grab this one.
Content: Clean
I received a copy from the publisher, Ballantine Books, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
September 1, 2017
Merry And Bright
Debbie Macomber
Received from Netgalley
Merry Knight is working a temp job at a consulting firm but she might as well be a full time employee with the hours she is working. To top it off she does not like her boss, Jayson Bright. She seems to get on his nerves as she is happy and trying to spread holiday cheer and he keeps shutting her down. MERRY AND BRIGHT introduces you to Merry's parents and her special needs brother, Patrick. She loves her family very much and tries to do all she can for them, but her job now has mandatory over time and she feels as if she just doesn't have enough time in the day. Jayson is a very handsome man but very serious and does everything by the book. Merry could never imagine being with a man like that.
Merry's mom is worried that life is passing Merry by. One day her mother and brother sign her up on a dating website. She needs to have fun again and enjoy life. They want men to like her for her not her beauty so they put up a picture of the family dog on her profile. There she meets Jay and decides not to meet him right away. She likes getting to know him without the physical stuff getting in the way. When they do finally meet, well, let's just say things don't go as planned. MERRY AND BRIGHT will have you giggling out loud, at the same time holding your breath. The way Merry freaked out was totally expected and I'm sure I would have done the same thing.
I have never met a Debbie Macomber story that didn't pull on my heart strings and MERRY AND BRIGHT did not disappoint. It is kind of predictable but I still loved every minute of it. It is a sweet story filled with family, emotions that will have you smiling and tearing up, second chances and no bad language or sex scenes. I look forward to Debbie Macomber's holiday stories every year and as soon as I know they are coming I'm filled with excitement. Debbie has a way of pulling her readers right in and making them fall in love with all of her characters. I found myself cheering for Merry and hoping she would be able to teach Jayson what Christmas is all about.
Debbie Macomber
Received from Netgalley
Merry Knight is working a temp job at a consulting firm but she might as well be a full time employee with the hours she is working. To top it off she does not like her boss, Jayson Bright. She seems to get on his nerves as she is happy and trying to spread holiday cheer and he keeps shutting her down. MERRY AND BRIGHT introduces you to Merry's parents and her special needs brother, Patrick. She loves her family very much and tries to do all she can for them, but her job now has mandatory over time and she feels as if she just doesn't have enough time in the day. Jayson is a very handsome man but very serious and does everything by the book. Merry could never imagine being with a man like that.
Merry's mom is worried that life is passing Merry by. One day her mother and brother sign her up on a dating website. She needs to have fun again and enjoy life. They want men to like her for her not her beauty so they put up a picture of the family dog on her profile. There she meets Jay and decides not to meet him right away. She likes getting to know him without the physical stuff getting in the way. When they do finally meet, well, let's just say things don't go as planned. MERRY AND BRIGHT will have you giggling out loud, at the same time holding your breath. The way Merry freaked out was totally expected and I'm sure I would have done the same thing.
I have never met a Debbie Macomber story that didn't pull on my heart strings and MERRY AND BRIGHT did not disappoint. It is kind of predictable but I still loved every minute of it. It is a sweet story filled with family, emotions that will have you smiling and tearing up, second chances and no bad language or sex scenes. I look forward to Debbie Macomber's holiday stories every year and as soon as I know they are coming I'm filled with excitement. Debbie has a way of pulling her readers right in and making them fall in love with all of her characters. I found myself cheering for Merry and hoping she would be able to teach Jayson what Christmas is all about.
September 26, 2017
This sweet story is so typical of work related romance today. The author has combined so many elements that are both endearing and humorous, it is easy to get caught up in the story.
The last thing Merry needs is a romance, and yet sometimes things happen for a reason. Merry develops a beautiful friendship over chat with a stranger but when it comes to meeting face to face, she hesitates. It is too good to be true? Is this something she really needs or wants with all of the pressure at home and at work?
The author knows how to get into the emotional head of her characters and craft a story that is deep and yet so very much like you and I. No one is uncomplicated and we all have fears that hold us back. This story takes on a big fear and blows it away in a memorable story that doesn’t let you go.
Merry and Bright is a delightful story, just in time to get us geared up for the holiday season. A feel-good story that you will enjoy!
The last thing Merry needs is a romance, and yet sometimes things happen for a reason. Merry develops a beautiful friendship over chat with a stranger but when it comes to meeting face to face, she hesitates. It is too good to be true? Is this something she really needs or wants with all of the pressure at home and at work?
The author knows how to get into the emotional head of her characters and craft a story that is deep and yet so very much like you and I. No one is uncomplicated and we all have fears that hold us back. This story takes on a big fear and blows it away in a memorable story that doesn’t let you go.
Merry and Bright is a delightful story, just in time to get us geared up for the holiday season. A feel-good story that you will enjoy!
November 20, 2017
I feel like I’ve heard this story before and it was called You’ve Got Mail😬 It is very reminiscent of the movie - from meeting online, to one of them finding out the other is the enemy - even there being daisies involved.
However, it is a very sweet Christmas love story. There were some very lovable characters - Patrick, Merry’s brother with Down’s syndrome was a sweetheart and stole the show for me.
This is my first read by Debbie Macomber - it is a festive tale full of love and redemption and happy endings. I would recommend to readers looking for a good, clean, festive holiday romance.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
However, it is a very sweet Christmas love story. There were some very lovable characters - Patrick, Merry’s brother with Down’s syndrome was a sweetheart and stole the show for me.
This is my first read by Debbie Macomber - it is a festive tale full of love and redemption and happy endings. I would recommend to readers looking for a good, clean, festive holiday romance.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2024
3.5⭐
Genre ~ holiday fiction
Setting ~ Washington
Publication date ~ October 3, 2017
Est Page Count ~ 216 (17 chapters)
Audio length ~ 4 hours 20 minutes
Narrator ~ Em Eldridge
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ online blind dating, boss/employee, grump/sunshine, no steamage
Merry & Jason match on an online dating app.
Ahh, to hide behind a keyboard and be a totally different person then how you come across in person. Neither know what the other looks like, since the profile pictures are dogs, but they seem to have a connection. We the reader know that these two actually know each other and they do not get along all that well.
I loved Merry's brother Patrick so much. He is a delight with a kind soul who has Down Syndrome. He stole the pages for me.
Overall, some choices were made that didn't make me hate the book per say, but I just didn't care for the deception.
Narration notes:
She did fine. Don't be surprised here, but I wish there was a male narrator. There are "two" characters, Merry and Mary, so obviously that would come across easier to read on page as opposed to listening.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ holiday fiction
Setting ~ Washington
Publication date ~ October 3, 2017
Est Page Count ~ 216 (17 chapters)
Audio length ~ 4 hours 20 minutes
Narrator ~ Em Eldridge
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ online blind dating, boss/employee, grump/sunshine, no steamage
Merry & Jason match on an online dating app.
Ahh, to hide behind a keyboard and be a totally different person then how you come across in person. Neither know what the other looks like, since the profile pictures are dogs, but they seem to have a connection. We the reader know that these two actually know each other and they do not get along all that well.
I loved Merry's brother Patrick so much. He is a delight with a kind soul who has Down Syndrome. He stole the pages for me.
Overall, some choices were made that didn't make me hate the book per say, but I just didn't care for the deception.
Narration notes:
She did fine. Don't be surprised here, but I wish there was a male narrator. There are "two" characters, Merry and Mary, so obviously that would come across easier to read on page as opposed to listening.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
November 11, 2017
Wow! I am really,really, really liking Debbie Macomber!
This book is one of her special Christmas stories. I couldn't help but feel myself smiling all the way through it. This was a perfect day for a book like this. Cold and dreary outside, warm and bright inside.
This book was a quick read. I read it all the way through in 2 hours!!
Sweet, but not overly so, with some very funny bits.
This book is one of her special Christmas stories. I couldn't help but feel myself smiling all the way through it. This was a perfect day for a book like this. Cold and dreary outside, warm and bright inside.
This book was a quick read. I read it all the way through in 2 hours!!
Sweet, but not overly so, with some very funny bits.
December 16, 2018
Merry’s life has been all about her job. Thanks to her demanding boss, she’s working 10 hours a day and because of that, she doesn’t have the time to have any kind of social life. To remedy that, her mother and brother sign her up on an online dating website. She’s mad at first, but seeing as they used a photo of their dog instead of one of hers, she’s not worried, thinking that no one would be interested in dating a dog. Until someone actually does, and she finds out that someone is actually her boss. The man that has a rule against Christmas decorations in the office and then is the sweetest when chatting online with her. How will she mix the two together?
Full review available at Under the Pages.
Full review available at Under the Pages.
August 23, 2017
Merry Knight works as a full time temp employee at a consulting firm. She mainly enjoys her job but seems to have gotten on the wrong side of her employer when she eats and her desk and decorates her cubicle for Christmas. She is cheery and happy but lacks a social life. So her Brother and Mother decide to create an online dating profile for her. At first Merry is not to happy with the idea but eventually begins to have fun with it and begins an online relationship with a man who seems too good to be true.
Jayson Bright is the Vice President of his Uncle's Consulting Company. He has deadlines to meet and finds himself reprimanding his temp employee for and then feeling bad about it - but as the boss he must enforce the rules. He also does not have much of a social life. He works hard to make his deadlines and that does not leave him much room for fun. When he learns his Cousin Cooper is getting married and that he became re-acquainted with an old friend online, he decides to set up an online profile for himself. It isn't long before Jayson meets a woman online and begins an online relationship with her.
So the book is pretty predictable but that did not stop me from enjoying this book. I found that I liked all of the characters and was rooting for them both individually and together. This is a fast and enjoyable read for Christmas 2017. Debbie Macomber books are light and sweet but also deal with some real life issues. In this book we see characters with down syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis. If you are looking for a sweet feel good book for the Holiday season, this is a wonderful book. This book is also perfect for those who enjoy romance novels but without sex scenes or excessive (foul) language.
I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Jayson Bright is the Vice President of his Uncle's Consulting Company. He has deadlines to meet and finds himself reprimanding his temp employee for and then feeling bad about it - but as the boss he must enforce the rules. He also does not have much of a social life. He works hard to make his deadlines and that does not leave him much room for fun. When he learns his Cousin Cooper is getting married and that he became re-acquainted with an old friend online, he decides to set up an online profile for himself. It isn't long before Jayson meets a woman online and begins an online relationship with her.
So the book is pretty predictable but that did not stop me from enjoying this book. I found that I liked all of the characters and was rooting for them both individually and together. This is a fast and enjoyable read for Christmas 2017. Debbie Macomber books are light and sweet but also deal with some real life issues. In this book we see characters with down syndrome and Multiple Sclerosis. If you are looking for a sweet feel good book for the Holiday season, this is a wonderful book. This book is also perfect for those who enjoy romance novels but without sex scenes or excessive (foul) language.
I received a copy of this book from Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
December 22, 2017
Not only was there HUGE amount of emotional cheating, the hero was disgusting.
He dismissed the heroine while she was talking or rather confessing because the “love of his life” showed up and she was stunning.
This is his reaction to the OW:
“Merry was only a few feet away from him now. The closer she got, the more enraptured he became. She was a vision; her beauty took his breath away. Merry was far and away more than he’d ever anticipated or expected. What shocked him was that he didn’t recognize her. He quickly scanned his thoughts, wondering where and when he might have seen her before, because she definitely wasn’t someone he would forget.”
While heroine is with him. His only problem with the OW at this point was he doesn’t know her and the woman in chats told him they knew each other. And he surely couldn’t forget this vision. He’s so consumed by her heroine finally decided to just leave.
I don’t care what you think, but at that moment he CHOSE the OW over heroine and I also don’t care whether the OW was a threat or not.
If the OW was truly Merry, he chose her, if she isn’t, which she’s not it doesn’t matter because he decided to dump the heroine and go for the OW.
If it wasn’t the heroine who was Merry and if he wasn’t confused he would NOT have chased the heroine. He chased her because she was Merry NOT Mary. He chased the fictional version, not the real woman. And then he let her go because she wasn’t good enough. Only after her kid brother told him she cared did he get over to her. The kid brother and the mother ought to be slapped for that. Meddling is NOT ok.
He has been flirting with her while he was in love with her cyber version. Yes, I know they’re the same he DIDNT.
This is why I hate this type of romance, romance by correspondence. Because one ALMOST always cheats.
I loved You Got Mail though, because the heroine at no point of time strung the hero along. She was honest and then she kept the line in between then despite the attraction UNTIL everything was resolved.
This guy was just disgusting. How do you recover from his reaction to OW, WHILE heroine was talking to him??!!
He dismissed the heroine while she was talking or rather confessing because the “love of his life” showed up and she was stunning.
This is his reaction to the OW:
“Merry was only a few feet away from him now. The closer she got, the more enraptured he became. She was a vision; her beauty took his breath away. Merry was far and away more than he’d ever anticipated or expected. What shocked him was that he didn’t recognize her. He quickly scanned his thoughts, wondering where and when he might have seen her before, because she definitely wasn’t someone he would forget.”
While heroine is with him. His only problem with the OW at this point was he doesn’t know her and the woman in chats told him they knew each other. And he surely couldn’t forget this vision. He’s so consumed by her heroine finally decided to just leave.
I don’t care what you think, but at that moment he CHOSE the OW over heroine and I also don’t care whether the OW was a threat or not.
If the OW was truly Merry, he chose her, if she isn’t, which she’s not it doesn’t matter because he decided to dump the heroine and go for the OW.
If it wasn’t the heroine who was Merry and if he wasn’t confused he would NOT have chased the heroine. He chased her because she was Merry NOT Mary. He chased the fictional version, not the real woman. And then he let her go because she wasn’t good enough. Only after her kid brother told him she cared did he get over to her. The kid brother and the mother ought to be slapped for that. Meddling is NOT ok.
He has been flirting with her while he was in love with her cyber version. Yes, I know they’re the same he DIDNT.
This is why I hate this type of romance, romance by correspondence. Because one ALMOST always cheats.
I loved You Got Mail though, because the heroine at no point of time strung the hero along. She was honest and then she kept the line in between then despite the attraction UNTIL everything was resolved.
This guy was just disgusting. How do you recover from his reaction to OW, WHILE heroine was talking to him??!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2020
I don't know if I've ever read anything by Debbie Macomber before, but this was a delight. This one is very cute and cheesy (which I'm not typically into), but for some reason it really works for me during the Holiday season.
I've seen reviews where people are saying the play on names is dumb, but I had an Aunt who passed away actually named Merry, instead of Mary... so I enjoyed seeing that. Merry's family signs her up on a dating site. She's a sweet young woman who takes care of her family as much as she possibly can when she's not being forced to work overtime at her temp job. Her boss is a real stickler for the rules and getting their big project turned in before Christmas. Her mom has MS and her younger brother has Down Syndrome. His excitement over her meeting a man is just adorable. This story has "You've Got Mail" vibes, which I'm totally here for. I think I will try another Debbie Macomber Christmas tale this year!
I've seen reviews where people are saying the play on names is dumb, but I had an Aunt who passed away actually named Merry, instead of Mary... so I enjoyed seeing that. Merry's family signs her up on a dating site. She's a sweet young woman who takes care of her family as much as she possibly can when she's not being forced to work overtime at her temp job. Her boss is a real stickler for the rules and getting their big project turned in before Christmas. Her mom has MS and her younger brother has Down Syndrome. His excitement over her meeting a man is just adorable. This story has "You've Got Mail" vibes, which I'm totally here for. I think I will try another Debbie Macomber Christmas tale this year!
December 20, 2022
Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another of Debbie Macomber’s delightful and entertaining Christmas stories.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another of Debbie Macomber’s delightful and entertaining Christmas stories.
December 18, 2020
Re-read update: I'm slightly appalled that I just finished reading this book, came to Goodreads to rate it, and found that I've read it before...less than a year ago.
While Debbie Macomber is the queen of Hallmark Christmas stories, that can be a good thing or a bad thing based on the reader. She heavily uses tropes and worn-out lines in such a way that they have no pop. No soul of their own. The dialog in this book is truly terrible. And the story heavily resembles You've Got Mail, so maybe that's why I don't remember it.
I'm dropping my original rating from two stars to one. The dialog was so hard to swallow, and the fact my brain completely blacked out this book in less than a year tells me how underwhelming it was.
----------------------
Essentially, this was a retelling of You've Got Mail. It was a warm and sugary Christmas romance with problems that weren't too weird and perfectly resolved in a neat little bow-tied package.
There was something odd that I noticed as I was closing the book after finishing it. The dust cover description of the book has the wrong last name for the female protagonist. Her last name is "Knight," and the dust cover says "Smith." Weird little slip-up.
I'd rate this a G.
While Debbie Macomber is the queen of Hallmark Christmas stories, that can be a good thing or a bad thing based on the reader. She heavily uses tropes and worn-out lines in such a way that they have no pop. No soul of their own. The dialog in this book is truly terrible. And the story heavily resembles You've Got Mail, so maybe that's why I don't remember it.
I'm dropping my original rating from two stars to one. The dialog was so hard to swallow, and the fact my brain completely blacked out this book in less than a year tells me how underwhelming it was.
----------------------
Essentially, this was a retelling of You've Got Mail. It was a warm and sugary Christmas romance with problems that weren't too weird and perfectly resolved in a neat little bow-tied package.
There was something odd that I noticed as I was closing the book after finishing it. The dust cover description of the book has the wrong last name for the female protagonist. Her last name is "Knight," and the dust cover says "Smith." Weird little slip-up.
I'd rate this a G.
January 19, 2018
3.5 Stars
Really cute, and it had the You've Got Mail vibe, which is one of my all-time favorite movies!
Em Eldridge did a fantastic job narrating.
Really cute, and it had the You've Got Mail vibe, which is one of my all-time favorite movies!
Em Eldridge did a fantastic job narrating.
December 3, 2024
Its never the Christmas season if I don't read Merry and Bright. I had to read it early so it was as good as it was the last two times I read it. You want a fun romantic book, read this one!!!
September 1, 2017
Merry and Bright was a very sweet holiday love story by Debbie Macomber. The book pulled me right in, and I really liked the two main characters, Merry and Jason. I felt sorry for Jason, never having had much of anyone care for him before, and I was glad that Merry had a warm and loving family.
Merry is a temporary employee at the company owned by Jason's uncle, and he is her boss. Merry inadvertently ruffles Jason's feathers a few times, making her very uncomfortable with him.
When Merry's mother and brother set her up on an online dating site, she meets a man there who seems to be exactly suited to her. What she doesn't know is that this man is her boss, Jason. The two are clueless that they already know one another in person, and don't care for each other. Watching Merry and Jason get to know one another online was enjoyable, and I liked the way their relationship developed. I could see that things were going to get rocky between them when they met in person, and I was really anticipating that!
This was a fun book and a good holiday read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Merry is a temporary employee at the company owned by Jason's uncle, and he is her boss. Merry inadvertently ruffles Jason's feathers a few times, making her very uncomfortable with him.
When Merry's mother and brother set her up on an online dating site, she meets a man there who seems to be exactly suited to her. What she doesn't know is that this man is her boss, Jason. The two are clueless that they already know one another in person, and don't care for each other. Watching Merry and Jason get to know one another online was enjoyable, and I liked the way their relationship developed. I could see that things were going to get rocky between them when they met in person, and I was really anticipating that!
This was a fun book and a good holiday read. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
October 4, 2017
A classic Debbie Macomber novel! Everything a Christmas story should be... sweet, warm, and full of holiday cheer! This one left me with a big smile on my face!!! Highly recommend.
December 22, 2017
So flipping fluffy and cheerful and "Hallmark movie"-esque. It was so darling, exactly what I needed this time of year!!
Read
September 20, 2017Debbie Macomber is a much-published romance author whose assurance with all the expected romance elements exhibits itself nicely with this cosy seasonal romance.
I'm a sucker for epistolary romances, especially when the romance that develops in the letters runs counter to real life, as it does here: Merry Knight works hard earning money for her family, who are struggling with various expensive issues. About the only free time she has is for baking.
Her mother and brother feel badly about how hard she works, and so they concoct a plot: they sign her up for an online dating service, only her name gets misspelled.
Meanwhile, she is laboring away at her temp job, trying to do two positions' worth of work before her contract runs out before the holiday. This job is not made easier by her boss Cain, who seems to be a real stick-in-the-mud rules wise, and every encounter she has with him gives her a worse impression.
Meanwhile Cain is lonely and stressed, as he has to prove himself with the current contract, which has to be delivered on time, and correct. His way of dealing with the staff is to be a stickler. His best bud calls up to announce he's getting married, and extols this dating service . . .
You know where it's going from there. The fun is all in the getting there, and how Macomber is going to handle the Big Reveal, and what happens after. I really enjoyed how much time she took to set up the characters of Merry's family, and how Cain gets a separate friendship going with Merry's brother, who has some health challenges.
There were a couple of points at which the secret seemed a bit strained in order to keep the reveal from happening too soon, but I was willing to roll with it, as the rest of the story was so enjoyable. Who found out first, how they reacted, how the other reacted, and what finally happened kept me turning the pages until the satisfying ending. I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable holiday season read.
Copy provided courtesy of NetGalley
I'm a sucker for epistolary romances, especially when the romance that develops in the letters runs counter to real life, as it does here: Merry Knight works hard earning money for her family, who are struggling with various expensive issues. About the only free time she has is for baking.
Her mother and brother feel badly about how hard she works, and so they concoct a plot: they sign her up for an online dating service, only her name gets misspelled.
Meanwhile, she is laboring away at her temp job, trying to do two positions' worth of work before her contract runs out before the holiday. This job is not made easier by her boss Cain, who seems to be a real stick-in-the-mud rules wise, and every encounter she has with him gives her a worse impression.
Meanwhile Cain is lonely and stressed, as he has to prove himself with the current contract, which has to be delivered on time, and correct. His way of dealing with the staff is to be a stickler. His best bud calls up to announce he's getting married, and extols this dating service . . .
You know where it's going from there. The fun is all in the getting there, and how Macomber is going to handle the Big Reveal, and what happens after. I really enjoyed how much time she took to set up the characters of Merry's family, and how Cain gets a separate friendship going with Merry's brother, who has some health challenges.
There were a couple of points at which the secret seemed a bit strained in order to keep the reveal from happening too soon, but I was willing to roll with it, as the rest of the story was so enjoyable. Who found out first, how they reacted, how the other reacted, and what finally happened kept me turning the pages until the satisfying ending. I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable holiday season read.
Copy provided courtesy of NetGalley
October 1, 2017
**ARC RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
3.5 stars
This was a short and sweet Christmas story. I liked it but I found that it took me nearly all the book to warm up to the hero.
Sweet and innocent heroine. Grumpy and lonely hero. A chance meeting online brings them together but will dishonesty tear them apart.
- no cheating
- no om/ow drama- there was one part that I thought he was a jerk when another woman was around but he said it wasn't what it seemed
-slight pushing from both
- no steam whatsoever
- no epilogue
3.5 stars
This was a short and sweet Christmas story. I liked it but I found that it took me nearly all the book to warm up to the hero.
Sweet and innocent heroine. Grumpy and lonely hero. A chance meeting online brings them together but will dishonesty tear them apart.
- no cheating
- no om/ow drama- there was one part that I thought he was a jerk when another woman was around but he said it wasn't what it seemed
-slight pushing from both
- no steam whatsoever
- no epilogue
October 1, 2017
I am not sure why I chose this book to read (was it 3 am or something?) as I am not a romance novel fan but this turned out to be a rather sweet story about a girl just trying to make it in the world. With a mom with MS and a brother with Downs, there is no money for college so she takes a temp job at a large company.
As a Christmas present, her mom and her brother sign her up on an on-line dating service. They don't use her picture but that of her dog instead to make sure the guy likes her for her. It leads to a lot of mistaken identities and mishaps.
It's sweet and perfect for Christmas. It has heart.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.
As a Christmas present, her mom and her brother sign her up on an on-line dating service. They don't use her picture but that of her dog instead to make sure the guy likes her for her. It leads to a lot of mistaken identities and mishaps.
It's sweet and perfect for Christmas. It has heart.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.
December 4, 2021
This was light and breezy, and it had just enough to the plot to keep me invested. Although the story was very similar to You’ve Got Mail, but not nearly as charming, I still enjoyed it for what it was.
Content:
A few “surprising” words, and casual wine drinking.
3.5 stars
Content:
A few “surprising” words, and casual wine drinking.
3.5 stars
December 31, 2019
This was adorable, and I read it in one sitting! Think ‘You’ve Got Mail’ set during Christmas. Perfect for the holiday season!
December 13, 2020
Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber is exactly the type of book that inspires the typical, Christmas Hallmark movies. There is a man and a woman who are not exactly fond of each other and hilariously fall for each other. That is the gist. Merry Knight works as a temp while taking care of her mother who has MS and her brother. Even though she loves her family, she is NOT a fan of her selfish boss. Christmas is a special time and her mother and brother decide that Merry needs a date, so they make her an online dating profile. They choose her profile picture with care…not her best picture, in fact, it isn’t a picture of her at all, but their family dog! Meanwhile, Jay Bright works night and day at his company. Being the boss means having all the pressure. He decides to socialize more and make a dating profile—his picture? Yep, you guessed it, a picture of his childhood dog. These pictures bring them together and they start messaging each other, but they don’t know that they already know each other…
If you are in the mood for a little sappy romantic comedy, this is it! It is cheerful and will bring a smile or two to your face. My favorite character has to be Merry’s brother who is down syndrome. His character shows how amazing those who are a part of the Down syndrome community are! They are clever, smart, funny, and ever so kind. Her brother shows how independent one with down syndrome can be! Now as for Merry, she is sweet and hardworking but possibly a little judgmental. Then there is Jay. He may be hardworking but he is just so oblivious. How can he not know that Merry and Merry are THE SAME PERSON?!?!?! Just saying, it would take multiple Jay’s to change a lightbulb.
Em Eldridge is the narrator of the audiobook and does a splendid job at capturing each personality. The audiobook is a quick listen, only 4 hours! So it would have the perfect audiobook to listen to while baking cookies or decorating the house. It will definitely bring a little Christmas spirit into the home! I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars!
If you are in the mood for a little sappy romantic comedy, this is it! It is cheerful and will bring a smile or two to your face. My favorite character has to be Merry’s brother who is down syndrome. His character shows how amazing those who are a part of the Down syndrome community are! They are clever, smart, funny, and ever so kind. Her brother shows how independent one with down syndrome can be! Now as for Merry, she is sweet and hardworking but possibly a little judgmental. Then there is Jay. He may be hardworking but he is just so oblivious. How can he not know that Merry and Merry are THE SAME PERSON?!?!?! Just saying, it would take multiple Jay’s to change a lightbulb.
Em Eldridge is the narrator of the audiobook and does a splendid job at capturing each personality. The audiobook is a quick listen, only 4 hours! So it would have the perfect audiobook to listen to while baking cookies or decorating the house. It will definitely bring a little Christmas spirit into the home! I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars!
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