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The Christmas Proposal
Grace Dawson is completely over her ex, Christina. But that doesn’t mean she wants to plan her wedding proposal to another woman.
Grace dreams of the day she’ll have a romantic proposal like those she plans for her clients at Tie the Knot. She’s spent the last year reading a boatload of self-help books. No way she’s going to fall back into old patterns and date someone afraid of commitment ever again. When it comes to everlasting love, Grace is all in.
Bridget Cartwright, Christina’s personal assistant, will do anything for Christina with the hopes of getting a promotion, even plan her proposal. So what if she knows zilch about romance and doesn’t even believe in happily-ever-after? There are companies for hire that do that sort of thing.
When Grace and Bridget end up stranded together on Mistletoe Mountain, Grace has no chance to escape. Not from her painful past, not from her attraction to Bridget, and definitely not from all the romance in the air.
Grace dreams of the day she’ll have a romantic proposal like those she plans for her clients at Tie the Knot. She’s spent the last year reading a boatload of self-help books. No way she’s going to fall back into old patterns and date someone afraid of commitment ever again. When it comes to everlasting love, Grace is all in.
Bridget Cartwright, Christina’s personal assistant, will do anything for Christina with the hopes of getting a promotion, even plan her proposal. So what if she knows zilch about romance and doesn’t even believe in happily-ever-after? There are companies for hire that do that sort of thing.
When Grace and Bridget end up stranded together on Mistletoe Mountain, Grace has no chance to escape. Not from her painful past, not from her attraction to Bridget, and definitely not from all the romance in the air.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2021
4 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Moreau
23 books25 followersLisa is an ultimate romantic and loves creating lighthearted, witty, happily-ever-after romances. Her first and second books both won a Golden Crown Literary Society (Goldie) Award.
Lisa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Midwestern State University, TX and has completed an indefinitely large number of creative writing courses at Santa Monica College, CA. She lives in Los Angeles, CA for the ocean, mountains, totally awesome weather, and only occasionally thinks about moving when she feels an earthquake tremble.
Lisa can be reached at www.LisaMoreauWriter.com
Lisa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Midwestern State University, TX and has completed an indefinitely large number of creative writing courses at Santa Monica College, CA. She lives in Los Angeles, CA for the ocean, mountains, totally awesome weather, and only occasionally thinks about moving when she feels an earthquake tremble.
Lisa can be reached at www.LisaMoreauWriter.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
November 15, 2021
Mistletoe Mountain.
I've never heard of Lisa Moreau but this Christmas novel is so enjoyable. It has a fairly interesting storyline and a festive vibe to it. Bridget has been tasked to plan her boss' Christmas wedding proposal and she engages Grace from Tie The Knot, a proposal-planning company to help her with it. Unknown to them both at the start, Bridget's boss is Grace's ex and by the time they find out the truth, both of them are stuck in a small town called Mistletoe Mountain with no way to leave or back out.
I love that Mistletoe Mountain is a Christmas town that doesn't come off too cheesy. I love the irony that Bridget who hates Christmas is stuck doing everything Christmas and that it was fun. And before you think it's another one of those Christmas grinch stories again, I need to say that Bridget has an actual legitimate reason to dislike the season. One that I can buy. I love that this book is not too light and not too deep. Both characters have backstories that are sad but they open up and support each other to get past them. I suppose you can call this an insta-love story but I didn't feel the insta at all and I really loved them together.
Overall, this is a good and heartwarming Christmas novel about family and about having the strength to face the past.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've never heard of Lisa Moreau but this Christmas novel is so enjoyable. It has a fairly interesting storyline and a festive vibe to it. Bridget has been tasked to plan her boss' Christmas wedding proposal and she engages Grace from Tie The Knot, a proposal-planning company to help her with it. Unknown to them both at the start, Bridget's boss is Grace's ex and by the time they find out the truth, both of them are stuck in a small town called Mistletoe Mountain with no way to leave or back out.
I love that Mistletoe Mountain is a Christmas town that doesn't come off too cheesy. I love the irony that Bridget who hates Christmas is stuck doing everything Christmas and that it was fun. And before you think it's another one of those Christmas grinch stories again, I need to say that Bridget has an actual legitimate reason to dislike the season. One that I can buy. I love that this book is not too light and not too deep. Both characters have backstories that are sad but they open up and support each other to get past them. I suppose you can call this an insta-love story but I didn't feel the insta at all and I really loved them together.
Overall, this is a good and heartwarming Christmas novel about family and about having the strength to face the past.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 29, 2021
The Christmas Proposal by Lisa Moreau is an easy to read holiday romance, the kind you grab when you want to curl up in front of a fire with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.
I don’t have a fireplace, but I did manage the hot chocolate (with marshmallows of course), a blanket, and a purring puddle of a kitty beside me as I consumed the story. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The plot has quite a few twists and turns, especially when Bridget Cartwright goes to Tie the Knot, a proposal company, and hires Grace Dawson to plan a Christmas wedding proposal for her boss. Grace doesn’t find out until later that Bridget’s boss is Grace’s ex…the one she had a bad breakup with. By the time Grace realizes this, she is stranded on Mistletoe Mountain with Bridget, with little to do but plan the proposal, remember old hurts, and get to know Bridget.
This is a lovely story with likeable characters, a gorgeous setting (I could easily live on Mistletoe Mountain), and a fairly low angst tale of romance in a holiday setting. Really, what else could you ask for…besides the fireplace and the marshmallows. So grab your blanket and your steaming cup of chocolate heaven, and read this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
I don’t have a fireplace, but I did manage the hot chocolate (with marshmallows of course), a blanket, and a purring puddle of a kitty beside me as I consumed the story. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The plot has quite a few twists and turns, especially when Bridget Cartwright goes to Tie the Knot, a proposal company, and hires Grace Dawson to plan a Christmas wedding proposal for her boss. Grace doesn’t find out until later that Bridget’s boss is Grace’s ex…the one she had a bad breakup with. By the time Grace realizes this, she is stranded on Mistletoe Mountain with Bridget, with little to do but plan the proposal, remember old hurts, and get to know Bridget.
This is a lovely story with likeable characters, a gorgeous setting (I could easily live on Mistletoe Mountain), and a fairly low angst tale of romance in a holiday setting. Really, what else could you ask for…besides the fireplace and the marshmallows. So grab your blanket and your steaming cup of chocolate heaven, and read this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
December 15, 2021
Grace works for a company providing unique wedding proposals and she is good at her job. So good that when Bridget needs to find someone to plan her boss's wedding proposal in the quaint Santa’s village of Mistletoe Mountain she contacts Grace. It isn’t until they are trapped in this magical town that Bridget realizes her boss is Grace’s ex. Let the awkward moments and cringeworthy discussions begin.
The Christmas Proposal has a feel good Hallmark movie vibe but adds a level of realness by giving us two main characters coming to terms with their pasts, present and futures. Life is not so candy coated and sprinkled with Hollywood snow for Grace or Bridget. Grace has avoided visiting her family who live and work in Mistletoe Mountain but agrees to help out this woman who seems desperate to please her boss. Bridget has no fond Christmas memories having grown up bouncing from foster home to foster home. She would much rather spend her free time doing what she loves, developing video games and hoping to land a programmers job with her boss, the best of the best in her field. Why else would she agree to head into the mountains with the peppy, Christmas obsessed Grace?
This is a lighthearted Christmas read filled with Grace’s family,welcoming locals and a village hoping to attract tourists for the holiday season. I loved the idea of decorating ugly sweater Christmas cookies. I also enjoyed watching Bridget embrace all the festive events she and Grace attend while Grace struggles to deal with her reasons for bailing on Mistletoe Mountain. This is a slow burn, gentle romance and a nice addition to your holiday reads.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
The Christmas Proposal has a feel good Hallmark movie vibe but adds a level of realness by giving us two main characters coming to terms with their pasts, present and futures. Life is not so candy coated and sprinkled with Hollywood snow for Grace or Bridget. Grace has avoided visiting her family who live and work in Mistletoe Mountain but agrees to help out this woman who seems desperate to please her boss. Bridget has no fond Christmas memories having grown up bouncing from foster home to foster home. She would much rather spend her free time doing what she loves, developing video games and hoping to land a programmers job with her boss, the best of the best in her field. Why else would she agree to head into the mountains with the peppy, Christmas obsessed Grace?
This is a lighthearted Christmas read filled with Grace’s family,welcoming locals and a village hoping to attract tourists for the holiday season. I loved the idea of decorating ugly sweater Christmas cookies. I also enjoyed watching Bridget embrace all the festive events she and Grace attend while Grace struggles to deal with her reasons for bailing on Mistletoe Mountain. This is a slow burn, gentle romance and a nice addition to your holiday reads.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
November 13, 2021
Grace Dawson works at Tie the Knot, planning proposals for people who need a little help making the moment extra special. She has been tasked with helping Bridget Cartwright plan a Christmas themed proposal and she is just the right person for that job. As they work through planning, Grace discovers that not only is Bridget not the one doing the proposing but her ex girlfriend, confirmed bachelorette, Christina that is proposing. Bridget is Christina’s assistant and has been promised a potential promotion if the proposal goes well. Bridget and Grace are forced together to find the best way to get through this task without both of them losing their jobs.
I really enjoyed this Christmas romance. I loved the townspeople of Mistletoe Mountain and the two MCs were adorable. Each having to work through their own issues to get through to the end while being forced into close proximity made for a great story. Both were likable characters who had had tough histories with family and past relationships. If you’re in the mood for a cute Christmas romance this definitely fits the bill. Only thing I didn’t like was that the end felt kind of abrupt and I felt like something that should have been said wasn’t. I can’t elaborate more without spoiling the ending but it just needed one last event for me to have felt like it was a proper end.
I really enjoyed this Christmas romance. I loved the townspeople of Mistletoe Mountain and the two MCs were adorable. Each having to work through their own issues to get through to the end while being forced into close proximity made for a great story. Both were likable characters who had had tough histories with family and past relationships. If you’re in the mood for a cute Christmas romance this definitely fits the bill. Only thing I didn’t like was that the end felt kind of abrupt and I felt like something that should have been said wasn’t. I can’t elaborate more without spoiling the ending but it just needed one last event for me to have felt like it was a proper end.
November 27, 2021
This was my best Christmas read so far. It does have some bumps, but for a holiday romance it’s just fine.
I didn’t really get how the book started, it was rather confusing. It does add this layer to the story layer on, but it was a bit unnecessary. If it weren’t there I wouldn’t have missed it is my point. It would have been just fine if Bridget was just hiring Grace as the proposal planner for her boss. Also, are those things for real? People actually hire people to plan “the perfect proposal”? I love that Bridget’s mind goes to business instead of weddings, it’s funny.
Grace is more of a sunshine-y person to Bridget’s more bleak outlook on life. Which is fully understandable and I like how the author added layers to the characters. Some more intense subjects are brought to light, and while the characters struggled with the events in the past, and are still finding their footing, the book never feel heavy.
It does feel like a super light holiday romance and just what one would expect for such a book.
One mayor point that has me doubting giving 4 stars. The dark moment, the break up, happens at the 86%(!) mark. This is just WAY too late. I’m giving the book 4 stars because I’m feeling generous at the start of the holiday season…
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
I didn’t really get how the book started, it was rather confusing. It does add this layer to the story layer on, but it was a bit unnecessary. If it weren’t there I wouldn’t have missed it is my point. It would have been just fine if Bridget was just hiring Grace as the proposal planner for her boss. Also, are those things for real? People actually hire people to plan “the perfect proposal”? I love that Bridget’s mind goes to business instead of weddings, it’s funny.
Grace is more of a sunshine-y person to Bridget’s more bleak outlook on life. Which is fully understandable and I like how the author added layers to the characters. Some more intense subjects are brought to light, and while the characters struggled with the events in the past, and are still finding their footing, the book never feel heavy.
It does feel like a super light holiday romance and just what one would expect for such a book.
One mayor point that has me doubting giving 4 stars. The dark moment, the break up, happens at the 86%(!) mark. This is just WAY too late. I’m giving the book 4 stars because I’m feeling generous at the start of the holiday season…
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
December 21, 2021
Imagine one of 'them' Christmas films on Netflix that you watch on a Sunday afternoon.... now imagine that film in a book..... The Christmas Proposal is exactly that!
Sit in your reading area, a glass of wine or a cup of tea, maybe some chocolate biscuits on a cold afternoon and get into the Christmas spirit with The Christmas proposal. It's got a magical feel about it, set in a village called 'mistletoe mountain' ( a name you would see on a Netflix film '), altho I do feel like Grace and Bridget could do with a little more chemistry.
It is worth a read and is perfect for over the Christmas period to get you into the mood for the holiday.
I've given The Christmas Proposal a 3.5 stars
Sit in your reading area, a glass of wine or a cup of tea, maybe some chocolate biscuits on a cold afternoon and get into the Christmas spirit with The Christmas proposal. It's got a magical feel about it, set in a village called 'mistletoe mountain' ( a name you would see on a Netflix film '), altho I do feel like Grace and Bridget could do with a little more chemistry.
It is worth a read and is perfect for over the Christmas period to get you into the mood for the holiday.
I've given The Christmas Proposal a 3.5 stars
December 11, 2022
I received a copy of the book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
This book promises a sweet Christmas lesbian romance, and it delivers it! I enjoyed this book a lot, and I read it in one sitting. It was a very cute holiday rom-com so if that's something you're interested in, this is your book.
We follow Grace and Bridget, on their way to plan a Christmas proposal. Grace works in a company that does proposal planning, and Bridget is tasked with planning her boss's proposal. Feeling out of her depths, she hires Grace's company. What they don't realize from the start, is that Bridget's boss Christina is actually also Grace's ex-girlfriend. They work together on this proposal, but they end up getting closer and having to work through some personal issues from the past. All set in the town that does Christmas all year round - Mistletoe Mountain, where Grace grew up.
I thought Grace and Bridget were great characters, with interesting backstories, and I enjoyed reading about them. Throughout the book, they build a very cute romance and help each other grow and get through some tough feelings. I loved Grace's family, they seemed lovely - I just wish we got a little bit more about them. The town is also really cute, and I loved reading about it. I liked seeing that the two main characters, especially Grace, take accountability for their lives, and are actively trying to get better. I don't mean this in a way to imply that Grace is a bad person, she isn't. She mentions going to therapy to try and work out her issues from the past, and I feel like that isn't very common in romance novels - so I really appreciated it.
Some minor issues that I had - I felt that writing was a bit on-the-nose sometimes, and doing more telling than showing. Sometimes the descriptions of other people's appearances seemed a bit cringy. Also at one point a character asks Bridget about her nationality - "because of her striking looks", which I assume was about her ethnicity but I also found it weird. And I thought that the topic of Bridget's trauma from being in the foster system was glossed over a little bit, though I like that it was mentioned and acknowledged.
Overall, this was a cute holiday lesbian romance that I read one sitting and very much enjoyed. So if you are looking for a cute and fluffy to read fast, I would recommend this!
3.5 stars
This book promises a sweet Christmas lesbian romance, and it delivers it! I enjoyed this book a lot, and I read it in one sitting. It was a very cute holiday rom-com so if that's something you're interested in, this is your book.
We follow Grace and Bridget, on their way to plan a Christmas proposal. Grace works in a company that does proposal planning, and Bridget is tasked with planning her boss's proposal. Feeling out of her depths, she hires Grace's company. What they don't realize from the start, is that Bridget's boss Christina is actually also Grace's ex-girlfriend. They work together on this proposal, but they end up getting closer and having to work through some personal issues from the past. All set in the town that does Christmas all year round - Mistletoe Mountain, where Grace grew up.
I thought Grace and Bridget were great characters, with interesting backstories, and I enjoyed reading about them. Throughout the book, they build a very cute romance and help each other grow and get through some tough feelings. I loved Grace's family, they seemed lovely - I just wish we got a little bit more about them. The town is also really cute, and I loved reading about it. I liked seeing that the two main characters, especially Grace, take accountability for their lives, and are actively trying to get better. I don't mean this in a way to imply that Grace is a bad person, she isn't. She mentions going to therapy to try and work out her issues from the past, and I feel like that isn't very common in romance novels - so I really appreciated it.
Some minor issues that I had - I felt that writing was a bit on-the-nose sometimes, and doing more telling than showing. Sometimes the descriptions of other people's appearances seemed a bit cringy. Also at one point a character asks Bridget about her nationality - "because of her striking looks", which I assume was about her ethnicity but I also found it weird. And I thought that the topic of Bridget's trauma from being in the foster system was glossed over a little bit, though I like that it was mentioned and acknowledged.
Overall, this was a cute holiday lesbian romance that I read one sitting and very much enjoyed. So if you are looking for a cute and fluffy to read fast, I would recommend this!
December 11, 2022
3 stars
Well.. what to say ...
Let's start it by saying I'm not a fan of grand gestures. I'm also not that fond of Christmas marketed stuff.
The idea of a proposal planning company is also hard for me to stomach.
But despite that, this book turned out quite decent even if it's cheesy as hell.
Well.. what to say ...
Let's start it by saying I'm not a fan of grand gestures. I'm also not that fond of Christmas marketed stuff.
The idea of a proposal planning company is also hard for me to stomach.
But despite that, this book turned out quite decent even if it's cheesy as hell.
December 15, 2021
Oh! I really loved this book! So good I could almost reread it again. Loved the two complex characters and the delightful Hallmark script! (This is a film I'd love to see.) Highly recommended.
November 14, 2021
I love sweet holiday romances complete with towns that want to celebrate Christmas year round. But somehow this one didn't push all my buttons. Grace Dawson works for a company that helps plan wedding proposals. Bridget Cartwright hires Grace to plan her bosses proposal, unfortunately the boss is Grace's ex. The proposal is to take place in Mistletoe Mountain which happens to be Grace's hometown. Grace isn't estranged from her family but because of bad memories she's avoided the town for years. Both MCs have some tragedy in their backgrounds to recover from.
There is a lot of potential in the story but parts didn't work for me. Bridget is so stilted and aloof at first I almost thought she was in the autistic spectrum, which she isn't. It is hard to see introvert Bridget being a smooth confident kisser just because there is mistletoe. The intimacy moment is rushed too. I don't need to know everything but we've built to this moment and bam its over. There were a few unresolved things too. We never know if the boss does the proposal accepted or knew that Grace played a part. The ending felt quick as well. The epilogue helps with closure but it feels fast and also half done. I liked reading the story but I needed more to rate it higher, Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
There is a lot of potential in the story but parts didn't work for me. Bridget is so stilted and aloof at first I almost thought she was in the autistic spectrum, which she isn't. It is hard to see introvert Bridget being a smooth confident kisser just because there is mistletoe. The intimacy moment is rushed too. I don't need to know everything but we've built to this moment and bam its over. There were a few unresolved things too. We never know if the boss does the proposal accepted or knew that Grace played a part. The ending felt quick as well. The epilogue helps with closure but it feels fast and also half done. I liked reading the story but I needed more to rate it higher, Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2021
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a lovely, sweet holiday romance. It features Grace, who started working for a proposal planning company after breaking up with her ex, Chrstina, who was also her boss. The other MC is Bridget, a gaming programmer who is working as Christina’s PC and is tasked with planning the proposal to Christina’s current girlfriend.
The two meet when Bridget hires Grace for the proposal planning not knowing how they are connected. Grace’s hometown also happens to be where Christina wants the proposal to happen, and is a Christmas wonderland. Bridget, on the other hand, hates Christmas due to her childhood spent in foster care.
The two get trapped in Grace’s hometown for a week or so and spend a lot of time together in the town and with Grace’s family. The two eventually work out the connection issue and begin a relationship while working on the proposal. Both MCs are sweet and I loved them both together and separately. The secondary characters in Grace’s town were also fun. Both have baggage from the past, but they work through it with each other. There’s the usual breakup thing around the 80% mark, but it doesn’t last long.
Honestly, this was like reading one of the better Hallmark movies, if you like them, then you’ll enjoy this. It’s a nice way to spend a few hours this time of year. 4 stars.
This is a lovely, sweet holiday romance. It features Grace, who started working for a proposal planning company after breaking up with her ex, Chrstina, who was also her boss. The other MC is Bridget, a gaming programmer who is working as Christina’s PC and is tasked with planning the proposal to Christina’s current girlfriend.
The two meet when Bridget hires Grace for the proposal planning not knowing how they are connected. Grace’s hometown also happens to be where Christina wants the proposal to happen, and is a Christmas wonderland. Bridget, on the other hand, hates Christmas due to her childhood spent in foster care.
The two get trapped in Grace’s hometown for a week or so and spend a lot of time together in the town and with Grace’s family. The two eventually work out the connection issue and begin a relationship while working on the proposal. Both MCs are sweet and I loved them both together and separately. The secondary characters in Grace’s town were also fun. Both have baggage from the past, but they work through it with each other. There’s the usual breakup thing around the 80% mark, but it doesn’t last long.
Honestly, this was like reading one of the better Hallmark movies, if you like them, then you’ll enjoy this. It’s a nice way to spend a few hours this time of year. 4 stars.
November 29, 2021
Cute holiday read. If you like Hallmark movies, you’ll enjoy this. It was an easy, enjoyable way to spend my afternoon.
Grace works for Tie the Knot, a proposal planning company that helps to make wedding proposals extra special.
Bridget is an executive assistant who is asked by her boss to plan the perfect proposal for her and her girlfriend. When Bridget and Grace’s paths cross, Bridget knows Grace is just the person to make her impossible to please boss happy. Through the planning, they figure out that the proposal is for Grace’s ex girlfriend who never wanted to commit to her. Grace and Bridget have to work together to figure out how to get this proposal off without a hitch so that Bridget can get a promotion and Grace won’t get a broken heart all over again.
Sweet, cheesy and super Christmas-y romance. I loved the setting of a town obsessed with all things Christmas. Each character had their own issues to work through and the good part is that none of it was a straight line to working it out, which made it more realistic yet fun to read.
My only complaint, if you can call it that, was that the ending felt a bit rushed and the epilogue could have been a little more detailed. Other than that, it’s all good :)
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
Grace works for Tie the Knot, a proposal planning company that helps to make wedding proposals extra special.
Bridget is an executive assistant who is asked by her boss to plan the perfect proposal for her and her girlfriend. When Bridget and Grace’s paths cross, Bridget knows Grace is just the person to make her impossible to please boss happy. Through the planning, they figure out that the proposal is for Grace’s ex girlfriend who never wanted to commit to her. Grace and Bridget have to work together to figure out how to get this proposal off without a hitch so that Bridget can get a promotion and Grace won’t get a broken heart all over again.
Sweet, cheesy and super Christmas-y romance. I loved the setting of a town obsessed with all things Christmas. Each character had their own issues to work through and the good part is that none of it was a straight line to working it out, which made it more realistic yet fun to read.
My only complaint, if you can call it that, was that the ending felt a bit rushed and the epilogue could have been a little more detailed. Other than that, it’s all good :)
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
November 11, 2021
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Cute Christmas Romance
Grace and Bridget meet to plan Grace ex Christina proposal Christina is Bridget boss although she doesn’t know anything about romance she’ll do anything to get a promotion.
Grace and Bridget being stuck together they learn things about each other and with Christmas in the air a romance starts to form. I enjoy this story it was fun with a Christmas settings.
Cute Christmas Romance
Grace and Bridget meet to plan Grace ex Christina proposal Christina is Bridget boss although she doesn’t know anything about romance she’ll do anything to get a promotion.
Grace and Bridget being stuck together they learn things about each other and with Christmas in the air a romance starts to form. I enjoy this story it was fun with a Christmas settings.
October 26, 2023
4 stars
This was a super cute Christmas romance. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and the premise. It was super Hallmark-y in the best way possible. My only complaint was that in the beginning of the book when Bridget and Grace were trying to see if one another were queer, they equated liking women to being a lesbian. Still, the story was really fun. I liked the characters' connection over their boss/former boss and all the Christmasy settings were super enjoyable. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a diverse holiday read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a super cute Christmas romance. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and the premise. It was super Hallmark-y in the best way possible. My only complaint was that in the beginning of the book when Bridget and Grace were trying to see if one another were queer, they equated liking women to being a lesbian. Still, the story was really fun. I liked the characters' connection over their boss/former boss and all the Christmasy settings were super enjoyable. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a diverse holiday read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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December 2, 2021Arc kindly provided by Bold Strokes Books via Netgalley for an honest review.
DNF at 26%.
I'm very sorry that this book did not work out for me. I was very interested in reading it upon looking at that beautiful cover and reading the blurb, but the execution wasn't good.
I liked the writing style and the plot was good, but my main problem was the fetishizing of lesbians. It happened a lot, from the very first chapter, and I wasn't willing to look past it and continue with my reading. Plus, it was kind of insta love-y and while that usually doesn't bother, it annoyed me a lot in this case, what with Grace's and Bridget's obsession to show the other that they both like women.
DNF at 26%.
I'm very sorry that this book did not work out for me. I was very interested in reading it upon looking at that beautiful cover and reading the blurb, but the execution wasn't good.
I liked the writing style and the plot was good, but my main problem was the fetishizing of lesbians. It happened a lot, from the very first chapter, and I wasn't willing to look past it and continue with my reading. Plus, it was kind of insta love-y and while that usually doesn't bother, it annoyed me a lot in this case, what with Grace's and Bridget's obsession to show the other that they both like women.
December 6, 2021
If you're a fan of the Hallmark or Lifetime movies, you'll probably like this. Me? Don't like them, didn't much care for this. If I hadn't been told the ages of the characters, I'd have thought they were teenagers, with the constant inner monologues.
Grace (of course her name is Grace, it's an xmas book) is a PA to her boss and is also sleeping with her boss. Bad idea all around. Of course her boss is a soulless, soul-sucking, commitment-fearing workaholic who, by the by, is also cheating on Grace. Grace finds this out after bringing yet another cup of coffee to her. With amount of coffee this woman appears to drink, it would be cheaper to just set up a coffee station in the office and get a full time barista to handle it. But I digress. Grace stumbles out of the office crying, running into Bridget, who is there to apply for a programming job. Grace convinces Bridget to go get her purse, which she has left in her boss' office in her haste to leave. Bridget does, and that's the extent of their first interaction. There's the merest whiff of instalove in the atmosphere, but that's all.
Bridget gets hired as the boss' new PA instead of programmer, promised that she'll get a look after the first of the year. She accepts. Tip: never do this in the real world. Terrible bosses will string you along forever, just like an MLM scammer, promising big things just around the corner if you're patient. If you're good at what you do - and Bridget is - you can get a job that doesn't involve running personal errands for your boss. Like fetching coffee every ten minutes and oh yeah, planning your boss' marriage proposal to her girlfriend. At xmas. With three weeks to prepare. This is not a good boss.
So off Bridget goes, fetching round nth of coffee, and she happens to pick up Grace's card from the counter there. Grace is now an event planner, and she's just done an event at that coffee shop, dressed as an elf, for some dude proposing to his fiancee. Grace's boss is also not a good boss, although at least she isn't running off to fetch coffee. No, instead, she's decorating the xmas tree in their lobby, by herself, because her terrible boss has tasked all the interns with something else. On the plus side, her boss' boss is opening a branch in Maui, and the choice to lead it is between Grace and one other person.
Bridget calls Grace, and they talk one time. Grace says it's impossible to plan this in a short amount of time AT XMAS when everyone does events AT XMAS, which is just like another book I read recently. Apparently it is not impossible, when one is either the xmas girl (as the other book called the woman in question) or comes from one of those Hallmark/Lifetime seasonally-named towns like Mistletoe Mountain.
Off they go, total strangers, to MM, as I'm going to call it. This was just bizarre to me. There is no way I'm going off on a five hour (or however long it was) drive to the middle of nowhere with someone I just met, when I have no family (Bridget - it means strength, as the book keeps telling us many times - was surrendered anonymously by her mother, so we can get her tragic backstory of abandonment issues) and apparently, no friends, to tell. But that would have cut the story short.
On the one road that leads to the town, there's a violent earthquake. Strong enough to shake the roadbed so much that Graces bangs her face on the steering wheel. And strong enough to cause an avalanche that is later determined to be a landslide AND avalanche. How romantic: stuck in a small town you don't know, with a woman you don't know and her family, for at least a few days. Side note: while Colorado, like pretty much any mountainous place, has probably hundreds of earthquakes every year, really violent ones are rare. FYI.
Naturally, the outgoing and affable Grace, who still has rampant inner monologue-ism about an as-yet unnamed tragedy with a capital T, works on the taciturn Bridget who just wants to get this thing set up (price is not an object, which is a good thing for a dying town) and get back to designing her mobile game. Clearing the one and only road leading into town will take longer than expected, which annoys Bridget's boss, probably because she now has to fetch her own coffee.
We get the whole Grace - Bridget love thing going on after about three days, and after about five, we get Grace's tragic story: her girlfriend, who was a figure skater, died. In an avalanche/landslide, of course. Turns out Grace was also a figure skater, and was heading to the Olympics, but all this put the kibosh to that, and Grace hasn't skated since.
By now they've also had their sexytimes, neither one of them having kissed anyone like they have the other, etc. It's a trope, so ok. There's a very, very strange thing during this sleeping together series: one morning, Grace wakes up early, slips out of bed, and heads down to get coffee and breakfast for the two of them. When she gets back, Bridget is awake and also somewhat distant, because she thinks Grace somehow abandoned her, like everyone else. What? Where exactly is she gong to go in a small town, when you're staying at her sister's inn? That was bizarre.
Also by now, their time in MM is done: the proposal stuff is set, and Bridget's even finished her game and rebuilt the town's web site. Man, she is efficient!
Back in LA, Bridget gets an attagirl, and she and Grace act like teens again, constantly texting cutsie stuff, telling one another how much they miss each other all day when they're supposed to be working, etc. Bridget's boss loves her new game, gives the programming job to her, and makes her game the number one item at some upcoming thing. Bridget takes herself over to Grace's office to tell her the good news. But the receptionist and her big mouth tells Bridget that Grace got the job in Maui (because the other person decided not to take it, for personal reasons) and that she's taking it, when Grace has not decided on that.
As is the case in every. Single. One. Of. These. Books, instead of just hanging around, waiting for Grace and talking to her about it - as an adult would - Bridget decides that Grace doesn't care after all, and is abandoning her, and storms out, not replying to any of Grace's calls or texts. When Grace shows up at her apartment, Bridget is stony, kicks her out. Grace heads back to MM to be with her family at xmas, and Bridget - after the boss' heart grows five sizes on the last day before the holiday and she tells Bridget her own little story about commitment - heads off to MM as well.
Grace has decided to skate in the xmas eve benefit, which has become a huge event, and Bridget has missed that, but finds Grace and apologizes. They have one of those touchy feely moments that are all so common these days about how they'll always talk to one another about everything, the town is saved, Bridget proposes to Grace, they both move from LA to MM, Bridget working remotely and Grace teaching skating, and they live HEA.
It may sound like I don't enjoy stories of strangers thrown together. There are as many romantic stories of this nature as there are more macabre ones (Strangers on a Train, And Then There Were None) and they can work. But it seems in some genres - like romance, straight or LGBTQ+ - authors are sometimes so very keen to hit the beats, or story notes/tropes, that the story is either not good, or there's way too much of some elements that send it not quite over a cliff, but just into my not favorite pile. Bridget isn't just abandoned, she's abandoned by everyone. Grace wasn't just a skater, she was set to be an Olympian. The two of them didn't just get caught in an earthquake and stranded by an avalanche, Grace's former girlfriend died in an avalanche. There's pathos for your story and there is PATHOS, and sometimes - a lot of times - less is more.
Two and a half stars of five, rounded down to two. This just didn't do it for me, sorry.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.
Expected pub date: December 14, 2021.
Grace (of course her name is Grace, it's an xmas book) is a PA to her boss and is also sleeping with her boss. Bad idea all around. Of course her boss is a soulless, soul-sucking, commitment-fearing workaholic who, by the by, is also cheating on Grace. Grace finds this out after bringing yet another cup of coffee to her. With amount of coffee this woman appears to drink, it would be cheaper to just set up a coffee station in the office and get a full time barista to handle it. But I digress. Grace stumbles out of the office crying, running into Bridget, who is there to apply for a programming job. Grace convinces Bridget to go get her purse, which she has left in her boss' office in her haste to leave. Bridget does, and that's the extent of their first interaction. There's the merest whiff of instalove in the atmosphere, but that's all.
Bridget gets hired as the boss' new PA instead of programmer, promised that she'll get a look after the first of the year. She accepts. Tip: never do this in the real world. Terrible bosses will string you along forever, just like an MLM scammer, promising big things just around the corner if you're patient. If you're good at what you do - and Bridget is - you can get a job that doesn't involve running personal errands for your boss. Like fetching coffee every ten minutes and oh yeah, planning your boss' marriage proposal to her girlfriend. At xmas. With three weeks to prepare. This is not a good boss.
So off Bridget goes, fetching round nth of coffee, and she happens to pick up Grace's card from the counter there. Grace is now an event planner, and she's just done an event at that coffee shop, dressed as an elf, for some dude proposing to his fiancee. Grace's boss is also not a good boss, although at least she isn't running off to fetch coffee. No, instead, she's decorating the xmas tree in their lobby, by herself, because her terrible boss has tasked all the interns with something else. On the plus side, her boss' boss is opening a branch in Maui, and the choice to lead it is between Grace and one other person.
Bridget calls Grace, and they talk one time. Grace says it's impossible to plan this in a short amount of time AT XMAS when everyone does events AT XMAS, which is just like another book I read recently. Apparently it is not impossible, when one is either the xmas girl (as the other book called the woman in question) or comes from one of those Hallmark/Lifetime seasonally-named towns like Mistletoe Mountain.
Off they go, total strangers, to MM, as I'm going to call it. This was just bizarre to me. There is no way I'm going off on a five hour (or however long it was) drive to the middle of nowhere with someone I just met, when I have no family (Bridget - it means strength, as the book keeps telling us many times - was surrendered anonymously by her mother, so we can get her tragic backstory of abandonment issues) and apparently, no friends, to tell. But that would have cut the story short.
On the one road that leads to the town, there's a violent earthquake. Strong enough to shake the roadbed so much that Graces bangs her face on the steering wheel. And strong enough to cause an avalanche that is later determined to be a landslide AND avalanche. How romantic: stuck in a small town you don't know, with a woman you don't know and her family, for at least a few days. Side note: while Colorado, like pretty much any mountainous place, has probably hundreds of earthquakes every year, really violent ones are rare. FYI.
Naturally, the outgoing and affable Grace, who still has rampant inner monologue-ism about an as-yet unnamed tragedy with a capital T, works on the taciturn Bridget who just wants to get this thing set up (price is not an object, which is a good thing for a dying town) and get back to designing her mobile game. Clearing the one and only road leading into town will take longer than expected, which annoys Bridget's boss, probably because she now has to fetch her own coffee.
We get the whole Grace - Bridget love thing going on after about three days, and after about five, we get Grace's tragic story: her girlfriend, who was a figure skater, died. In an avalanche/landslide, of course. Turns out Grace was also a figure skater, and was heading to the Olympics, but all this put the kibosh to that, and Grace hasn't skated since.
By now they've also had their sexytimes, neither one of them having kissed anyone like they have the other, etc. It's a trope, so ok. There's a very, very strange thing during this sleeping together series: one morning, Grace wakes up early, slips out of bed, and heads down to get coffee and breakfast for the two of them. When she gets back, Bridget is awake and also somewhat distant, because she thinks Grace somehow abandoned her, like everyone else. What? Where exactly is she gong to go in a small town, when you're staying at her sister's inn? That was bizarre.
Also by now, their time in MM is done: the proposal stuff is set, and Bridget's even finished her game and rebuilt the town's web site. Man, she is efficient!
Back in LA, Bridget gets an attagirl, and she and Grace act like teens again, constantly texting cutsie stuff, telling one another how much they miss each other all day when they're supposed to be working, etc. Bridget's boss loves her new game, gives the programming job to her, and makes her game the number one item at some upcoming thing. Bridget takes herself over to Grace's office to tell her the good news. But the receptionist and her big mouth tells Bridget that Grace got the job in Maui (because the other person decided not to take it, for personal reasons) and that she's taking it, when Grace has not decided on that.
As is the case in every. Single. One. Of. These. Books, instead of just hanging around, waiting for Grace and talking to her about it - as an adult would - Bridget decides that Grace doesn't care after all, and is abandoning her, and storms out, not replying to any of Grace's calls or texts. When Grace shows up at her apartment, Bridget is stony, kicks her out. Grace heads back to MM to be with her family at xmas, and Bridget - after the boss' heart grows five sizes on the last day before the holiday and she tells Bridget her own little story about commitment - heads off to MM as well.
Grace has decided to skate in the xmas eve benefit, which has become a huge event, and Bridget has missed that, but finds Grace and apologizes. They have one of those touchy feely moments that are all so common these days about how they'll always talk to one another about everything, the town is saved, Bridget proposes to Grace, they both move from LA to MM, Bridget working remotely and Grace teaching skating, and they live HEA.
It may sound like I don't enjoy stories of strangers thrown together. There are as many romantic stories of this nature as there are more macabre ones (Strangers on a Train, And Then There Were None) and they can work. But it seems in some genres - like romance, straight or LGBTQ+ - authors are sometimes so very keen to hit the beats, or story notes/tropes, that the story is either not good, or there's way too much of some elements that send it not quite over a cliff, but just into my not favorite pile. Bridget isn't just abandoned, she's abandoned by everyone. Grace wasn't just a skater, she was set to be an Olympian. The two of them didn't just get caught in an earthquake and stranded by an avalanche, Grace's former girlfriend died in an avalanche. There's pathos for your story and there is PATHOS, and sometimes - a lot of times - less is more.
Two and a half stars of five, rounded down to two. This just didn't do it for me, sorry.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.
Expected pub date: December 14, 2021.
November 21, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, for an advanced copy for review. I thought this might prove a warm and toasty, queer and woke sort of a Hallmark movie romp - unfortunately, it missed the mark in several ways for me.
Our story starts with Grace getting the rude awakening that her boss and lover is cheating on her, so she loses her job and relationship in the same day. A year later, she’s approached at her new job at a marriage proposal staging agency (is that a thing?) by Bridget, Grace’s ex’s new assistant, who needs a proposal planned for said ex. A comedy of errors later - or, well, several awkward moments later, there was very little humor in the antics of this book - Bridget and Grace are stranded in the holiday resort town the latter grew up in, which sports Christmas ambience year-round and is where this proposal will take place.
First of all, the story has promise and gives off huge Hallmark or Lifetime movie vibes; I actually feel like this would be better as a holiday movie special. This particular story would’ve benefited from a cutting of its cringey inner monologues, something a movie format would do nicely. In fact, I think a lot of this book could’ve been forgiven with a movie treatment; I don’t watch a holiday movie and find myself thinking “they’ve known each other MAYBE thirty-six hours at this point, isn’t a love declaration a lot?” very often, it’s different in writing.
I also think strange character creation choices were made, resulting in me straight-up hating one of the two main leads. The more relatable of the two was Bridget, whose constant social discomfort and awkwardness I read as perhaps indicative of her being on the spectrum, a much more fulfilling plot aspect if confirmed, but no, she was just awkward or something? I’m not the only one to note this and it was a real missed opportunity for representation in this sort of story. Then, oh my goodness, did I hate Grace. When they’ve known each other maybe 48 hours, Grace’s mother just goes to pull Bridget into a hug, and she finds it awkward. I personally completely understand why Bridget’s uncomfortable, but Grace immediately starts some mental somersaults to uncover why that might be weird? Her empathy was broken and she was nosy as heck, not a winning combination. She also flips back and forth - her inner monologue always wants to pull Bridget, whom she has known for a day, into her arms, kiss her, smell her, etc., BUT if Bridget asked about her past or something got too personal, Grace would snap at her and flip switches. Too much drama.
Lastly, Grace was given a far too elaborate and grim backstory for what felt like it could have been just a short, sweet holiday novella. An over-complicated job situation, the whole ex-boss/ex-girlfriend debacle, she randomly mentions a DEAD ex later on and how this influenced the story, AND she was a former Olympic competitor. Too much for a character I hated. It was over-long, and it being bad made it feel even longer. I hope there might be time for some last-minute editing, because someone got overzealous with the backstory here, and even some of the little details, too. Bridget is an orphan and repeatedly pulls out a scrap of paper with a message scrawled on it that was left in her baby wrappings when she was found - she pulls out this paper a lot, and after twenty-five years, it certainly would've disintegrated right?
There’s a reader and a market for every book, and I hope the readers out there who can overlook all this find this book, which had a lot of promise. Two and a half stars rounded up in generosity.
Our story starts with Grace getting the rude awakening that her boss and lover is cheating on her, so she loses her job and relationship in the same day. A year later, she’s approached at her new job at a marriage proposal staging agency (is that a thing?) by Bridget, Grace’s ex’s new assistant, who needs a proposal planned for said ex. A comedy of errors later - or, well, several awkward moments later, there was very little humor in the antics of this book - Bridget and Grace are stranded in the holiday resort town the latter grew up in, which sports Christmas ambience year-round and is where this proposal will take place.
First of all, the story has promise and gives off huge Hallmark or Lifetime movie vibes; I actually feel like this would be better as a holiday movie special. This particular story would’ve benefited from a cutting of its cringey inner monologues, something a movie format would do nicely. In fact, I think a lot of this book could’ve been forgiven with a movie treatment; I don’t watch a holiday movie and find myself thinking “they’ve known each other MAYBE thirty-six hours at this point, isn’t a love declaration a lot?” very often, it’s different in writing.
I also think strange character creation choices were made, resulting in me straight-up hating one of the two main leads. The more relatable of the two was Bridget, whose constant social discomfort and awkwardness I read as perhaps indicative of her being on the spectrum, a much more fulfilling plot aspect if confirmed, but no, she was just awkward or something? I’m not the only one to note this and it was a real missed opportunity for representation in this sort of story. Then, oh my goodness, did I hate Grace. When they’ve known each other maybe 48 hours, Grace’s mother just goes to pull Bridget into a hug, and she finds it awkward. I personally completely understand why Bridget’s uncomfortable, but Grace immediately starts some mental somersaults to uncover why that might be weird? Her empathy was broken and she was nosy as heck, not a winning combination. She also flips back and forth - her inner monologue always wants to pull Bridget, whom she has known for a day, into her arms, kiss her, smell her, etc., BUT if Bridget asked about her past or something got too personal, Grace would snap at her and flip switches. Too much drama.
Lastly, Grace was given a far too elaborate and grim backstory for what felt like it could have been just a short, sweet holiday novella. An over-complicated job situation, the whole ex-boss/ex-girlfriend debacle, she randomly mentions a DEAD ex later on and how this influenced the story, AND she was a former Olympic competitor. Too much for a character I hated. It was over-long, and it being bad made it feel even longer. I hope there might be time for some last-minute editing, because someone got overzealous with the backstory here, and even some of the little details, too. Bridget is an orphan and repeatedly pulls out a scrap of paper with a message scrawled on it that was left in her baby wrappings when she was found - she pulls out this paper a lot, and after twenty-five years, it certainly would've disintegrated right?
There’s a reader and a market for every book, and I hope the readers out there who can overlook all this find this book, which had a lot of promise. Two and a half stars rounded up in generosity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2021
The Christmas Proposal follows Grace, a proposal planner trying to find her way after getting cheated on and broken up with by her previous boss. We also follow Bridget who hires Grace to help plan her boss's proposal. All seems well until Bridget and Grace realize that the proposal Grace is planning is for her ex and the girl she cheated on her with. After Bridget and Grace get stuck in Mistletoe Mountain they don’t have much else to do besides plan the proposal and get to know each other better.
I love a good stranded together trope and A Christmas Proposal absolutely delivered. I enjoyed the setting of Mistletoe Mountain and the issues that our characters had to deal with while they were there. I also liked that even with the absurd situation it wasn’t written in an unrealistic way if that makes sense? Nothing was too over the top to make it all seem overly fictional, it was done just right to be quirky and cute.
My biggest issue with the book is that there was great build up to the romance but once it really started it got so serious so fast and it felt too unrealistic and a little uncomfortable. My one question with Christmas romances is always why does one person have to be overly obsessed with the holiday and the other hates it? Maybe I’m a bit of a Scrooge but I would love a character who just has a “normal” excitement level for Christmas. Nonetheless, this was a super cute holiday read and I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a cute holiday/winter story or just an adorable romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
I love a good stranded together trope and A Christmas Proposal absolutely delivered. I enjoyed the setting of Mistletoe Mountain and the issues that our characters had to deal with while they were there. I also liked that even with the absurd situation it wasn’t written in an unrealistic way if that makes sense? Nothing was too over the top to make it all seem overly fictional, it was done just right to be quirky and cute.
My biggest issue with the book is that there was great build up to the romance but once it really started it got so serious so fast and it felt too unrealistic and a little uncomfortable. My one question with Christmas romances is always why does one person have to be overly obsessed with the holiday and the other hates it? Maybe I’m a bit of a Scrooge but I would love a character who just has a “normal” excitement level for Christmas. Nonetheless, this was a super cute holiday read and I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a cute holiday/winter story or just an adorable romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
December 20, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is honestly the best sapphic romance book I've read since joining NetGalley. I love how both of the characters are flawed and also realise it. Usually I get annoyed at miscommunication or when a character draws their own conclusions but it's so understandable in Bridget's case.
I also love how they met a year before their story actually starts, it puts their lives in perspective and it's just a great addition to the story. I didn't give it 5 stars because I think that maybe there could have been a bit more yearning, that would've been nice.
But the 4 stars are so well-deserved. I loved both characters equally, Grace's family is amazing, it was all just very cozy and I will 100% reread this book every holiday season.
This is honestly the best sapphic romance book I've read since joining NetGalley. I love how both of the characters are flawed and also realise it. Usually I get annoyed at miscommunication or when a character draws their own conclusions but it's so understandable in Bridget's case.
I also love how they met a year before their story actually starts, it puts their lives in perspective and it's just a great addition to the story. I didn't give it 5 stars because I think that maybe there could have been a bit more yearning, that would've been nice.
But the 4 stars are so well-deserved. I loved both characters equally, Grace's family is amazing, it was all just very cozy and I will 100% reread this book every holiday season.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this Christmas romance that felt a bit like a Christmas movie. Maybe that’s because a big part of it plays at Mistletoe Mountain which seems to be the ultimate Christmas place , with lots of trees, cookies and Christmas cheer. The story line is outline in the blurb. Bridget is asked by her boss Christine to plan a marriage proposal to Beryl. Bridget hires Grace who works as a proposal planner not knowing that Christine is her ex. Grace us over her ex, but planning her wedding proposal to another woman is something else. An original concept which the writer developed into the lovestory of Bridget and Grace.
Though I own several of Moreau’s books, this is the first that I read. I liked her writing style and am looking forward to read more of her books.
Though I own several of Moreau’s books, this is the first that I read. I liked her writing style and am looking forward to read more of her books.
December 10, 2021
My main takeaway from this book is that I think it would make for an amazing lesbian Christmas movie! I especially loved the setting of a yearround Christmas town so much, and the book stroke a nice balance between a sweet story and actual, real-life trauma and problems. I personally wish I'd felt a little more emotionally invested, but all in all, this was a quick, enjoyable Christmas read.
December 29, 2021
DNF at 36%
Two stars because I think that I was the wrong audience for this book and it may be exactly what others are looking for.
I don't often read romance, but when I do it is because I'm in the mood for something cozy, light, and happy. I'm not really looking for depth or literary writing. I want something that's a little sexy and that I can be assured will have a happy ending. That said, I guess I do still expect a certain level of writing. I like my romances to have well-developed characters, good vibes, and snappy, witty dialogue.
The writing here is not any of those things. The characters are very opaque with lots of telling and not much showing. All the characterization is extremely unsubtle. Both main characters have trauma that is portrayed in ways that lack any nuance. The author identifies a "big bad" that happened to the character and shows them encountering triggers which seemingly have no effect. "Oh, here I am in this situation that reminds me of my trauma. That is such a bummer. I'd rather avoid this situation, but oh well. Doesn't this backstory make me interesting?"
And the prose itself is unenjoyable. My understanding of metaphors is that they are meant to elevate and make mundane things beautiful and poetic. I'm seeing the opposite in this book. A beautiful snowy landscape was described as looking like the ground was covered with cotton balls. Why would you take something majestic and beautiful like a fresh snowfall and compare it to a bathroom toiletry item?
All that said, if you are looking for the book version of a Hallmark holiday movie - this is it. I think it will work for lots of people!
Two stars because I think that I was the wrong audience for this book and it may be exactly what others are looking for.
I don't often read romance, but when I do it is because I'm in the mood for something cozy, light, and happy. I'm not really looking for depth or literary writing. I want something that's a little sexy and that I can be assured will have a happy ending. That said, I guess I do still expect a certain level of writing. I like my romances to have well-developed characters, good vibes, and snappy, witty dialogue.
The writing here is not any of those things. The characters are very opaque with lots of telling and not much showing. All the characterization is extremely unsubtle. Both main characters have trauma that is portrayed in ways that lack any nuance. The author identifies a "big bad" that happened to the character and shows them encountering triggers which seemingly have no effect. "Oh, here I am in this situation that reminds me of my trauma. That is such a bummer. I'd rather avoid this situation, but oh well. Doesn't this backstory make me interesting?"
And the prose itself is unenjoyable. My understanding of metaphors is that they are meant to elevate and make mundane things beautiful and poetic. I'm seeing the opposite in this book. A beautiful snowy landscape was described as looking like the ground was covered with cotton balls. Why would you take something majestic and beautiful like a fresh snowfall and compare it to a bathroom toiletry item?
All that said, if you are looking for the book version of a Hallmark holiday movie - this is it. I think it will work for lots of people!
December 1, 2021
The Christmas Proposal by Lisa Moreau.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this e arc of The Christmas Proposal. Also, thank you Lisa Moreau for such a sweet Christmas novel. I have been wanting a good Christmas read as tomorrow starts December and this just got me in the Christmas mood.
This is a Christmas love story and the primary setting is Mistletoe Mountain! The town Mistletoe Mountain was one of my favorite parts of this story.
"When Grace and Bridget end up stranded together on Mistletoe Mountain, Grace has no chance to escape. Not from her painful past, not from her attraction to Bridget, and definitely not from all the romance in the air."
Think hallmark movie with all the feels... but a bit more romance and steam.
This was a great Christmas romance and quick read. I highly recommend you read this in December. 4*+ for me.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this e arc of The Christmas Proposal. Also, thank you Lisa Moreau for such a sweet Christmas novel. I have been wanting a good Christmas read as tomorrow starts December and this just got me in the Christmas mood.
This is a Christmas love story and the primary setting is Mistletoe Mountain! The town Mistletoe Mountain was one of my favorite parts of this story.
"When Grace and Bridget end up stranded together on Mistletoe Mountain, Grace has no chance to escape. Not from her painful past, not from her attraction to Bridget, and definitely not from all the romance in the air."
Think hallmark movie with all the feels... but a bit more romance and steam.
This was a great Christmas romance and quick read. I highly recommend you read this in December. 4*+ for me.
December 2, 2021
I was looking for a cute and cheesy Christmas book as we are approaching the holidays and The Christmas Proposal delivered it all.
Although it wasn't my favorite writing style and thought the events were a bit rushed, the read was lovely. An evening spent very nicely.
Thank you Bold Strokes Books and Lisa Moreau for the e-ARC and allowing me to read this adorable book!
Although it wasn't my favorite writing style and thought the events were a bit rushed, the read was lovely. An evening spent very nicely.
Thank you Bold Strokes Books and Lisa Moreau for the e-ARC and allowing me to read this adorable book!
December 5, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Grace has had bad luck in love. Her last ex, who was also her boss at the time, broke up with her after Grace asked her to move in. She doesn't even want to talk about the string of unfortunate relationships before that. Now she works for a proposal planning business, making magical moments for gooey, in-love couples. Her newest client insists on a christmas proposal, an idea that Grace adores. She does NOT adore the fact that it needs to happen in Mistletoe Mountain, a place she'd like to avoid at all costs. What she doesn't mind is her eye-catching contact for the proposal, Bridget. Bridget is planning a proposal for her boss, who's girlfriend LOVES christmas. Bridget does not. She does like the prospect of a promotion from personal assistant to programmer though, so she hires a proposal planning business to help her make it as mund-numbingly christmas themed as possible. Besides, her contact, Grace, is her own kind of intruiging. They take a trip up to mistletoe mountain that entails a lot more tension, romance and surprises than either woman could have ever expected.
This sugary-sweet sapphic christmas romcom is like a written-word version of a hallmark movie, but make it gay. Can you think of anything more awesome than that? Because I can't! The relationship between Bridget and Grace is well-developed and natural, from attraction to crush to love. The two are absolutely adorable. The characters did tiptoe around each other a lot, mostly because of the initial client relationship and because of backstory, meaning this is definitely something for those of you that enjoy slower-burn romances.
The side characters are also multi-dimensional. So much so, that I could imagine what they look and act like. (If this ever becomes a movie I swear I NEED Sandra Oh to play Christina. And not just because of the name.) The Characters in the christmas town are also amazing. I just love the setting of welcoming locals.
That town, Mistletoe Mountain, the town a large portion of the book takes place in, sounds absolutely magical. The descriptions are very detailed but not too much either. I didn't feel bored for a sinle second. The story was magical, sweet, sappy and ´surprising. It also had so much (figurative) cheese i could've made fondue.
If you're looking for a cheesy, sweet holiday romance then this is your book.
Grace has had bad luck in love. Her last ex, who was also her boss at the time, broke up with her after Grace asked her to move in. She doesn't even want to talk about the string of unfortunate relationships before that. Now she works for a proposal planning business, making magical moments for gooey, in-love couples. Her newest client insists on a christmas proposal, an idea that Grace adores. She does NOT adore the fact that it needs to happen in Mistletoe Mountain, a place she'd like to avoid at all costs. What she doesn't mind is her eye-catching contact for the proposal, Bridget. Bridget is planning a proposal for her boss, who's girlfriend LOVES christmas. Bridget does not. She does like the prospect of a promotion from personal assistant to programmer though, so she hires a proposal planning business to help her make it as mund-numbingly christmas themed as possible. Besides, her contact, Grace, is her own kind of intruiging. They take a trip up to mistletoe mountain that entails a lot more tension, romance and surprises than either woman could have ever expected.
This sugary-sweet sapphic christmas romcom is like a written-word version of a hallmark movie, but make it gay. Can you think of anything more awesome than that? Because I can't! The relationship between Bridget and Grace is well-developed and natural, from attraction to crush to love. The two are absolutely adorable. The characters did tiptoe around each other a lot, mostly because of the initial client relationship and because of backstory, meaning this is definitely something for those of you that enjoy slower-burn romances.
The side characters are also multi-dimensional. So much so, that I could imagine what they look and act like. (If this ever becomes a movie I swear I NEED Sandra Oh to play Christina. And not just because of the name.) The Characters in the christmas town are also amazing. I just love the setting of welcoming locals.
That town, Mistletoe Mountain, the town a large portion of the book takes place in, sounds absolutely magical. The descriptions are very detailed but not too much either. I didn't feel bored for a sinle second. The story was magical, sweet, sappy and ´surprising. It also had so much (figurative) cheese i could've made fondue.
If you're looking for a cheesy, sweet holiday romance then this is your book.
December 18, 2021
Plot: ✍
Grace Dawson is completely over her ex, Christina. But that doesn’t mean she wants to plan her wedding proposal to another woman.
Grace dreams of the day she’ll have a romantic proposal like those she plans for her clients at Tie the Knot. She’s spent the last year reading a boatload of self-help books. No way she’s going to fall back into old patterns and date someone afraid of commitment ever again. When it comes to everlasting love, Grace is all in.
Bridget Cartwright, Christina’s personal assistant, will do anything for Christina with the hopes of getting a promotion, even plan her proposal. So what if she knows zilch about romance and doesn’t even believe in happily-ever-after? There are companies for hire that do that sort of thing.
When Grace and Bridget end up stranded together on Mistletoe Mountain, Grace has no chance to escape. Not from her painful past, not from her attraction to Bridget, and definitely not from all the romance in the air.
Thoughts: 💭
I loved this book. It was so adorable. It had the perfect cozy feel for a holiday book. I absolutely loved Grace and Bridget together. At first I was so mad at Christina but I quickly turned those thoughts around. This book has the perfect amount of drama without being too much for a holiday book. I loved the small town feel of Mistletoe Mountain. I'm a sucker for quaint towns and come back stories. Highly recommend you grab this book on December 14th. You can preorder it now!
Thank you much to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. ❤
Grace Dawson is completely over her ex, Christina. But that doesn’t mean she wants to plan her wedding proposal to another woman.
Grace dreams of the day she’ll have a romantic proposal like those she plans for her clients at Tie the Knot. She’s spent the last year reading a boatload of self-help books. No way she’s going to fall back into old patterns and date someone afraid of commitment ever again. When it comes to everlasting love, Grace is all in.
Bridget Cartwright, Christina’s personal assistant, will do anything for Christina with the hopes of getting a promotion, even plan her proposal. So what if she knows zilch about romance and doesn’t even believe in happily-ever-after? There are companies for hire that do that sort of thing.
When Grace and Bridget end up stranded together on Mistletoe Mountain, Grace has no chance to escape. Not from her painful past, not from her attraction to Bridget, and definitely not from all the romance in the air.
Thoughts: 💭
I loved this book. It was so adorable. It had the perfect cozy feel for a holiday book. I absolutely loved Grace and Bridget together. At first I was so mad at Christina but I quickly turned those thoughts around. This book has the perfect amount of drama without being too much for a holiday book. I loved the small town feel of Mistletoe Mountain. I'm a sucker for quaint towns and come back stories. Highly recommend you grab this book on December 14th. You can preorder it now!
Thank you much to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. ❤
January 10, 2022
I love Hallmark movies! Even more so as the channel provides more diversity. While reading, I thought, Hallmark. Grace Dawson, wedding planner extraordinaire, getting over a break-up, assigned to plan her ex wedding. what a drag. Bridget Cartwright, personal assistant to Christina, Grace's ex.
As the story unfolds, it is difficult not to like Grace, Bridget and Grace's parents. I enjoyed the location description of Mistletoe Mountain. Grace, is not interested in returning to her home town, though she loves her family very much. Bridget, having grown up being moved from foster home to foster home has lousy memories of Christmas. I smiled and warmed my heart as Grace interacted with Bridget and provided a different view of the holiday.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
As the story unfolds, it is difficult not to like Grace, Bridget and Grace's parents. I enjoyed the location description of Mistletoe Mountain. Grace, is not interested in returning to her home town, though she loves her family very much. Bridget, having grown up being moved from foster home to foster home has lousy memories of Christmas. I smiled and warmed my heart as Grace interacted with Bridget and provided a different view of the holiday.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
December 25, 2021
After initially confusing the different names... Grace worked for and went out with Christina, who dumped her for Beryl and is Bridget's new boss, who now has to plan Christina's proposal, so she hires Grace... confused yet?
Well the plot is much simpler, includes a Christmassy small town and overcoming relationship anxieties in order to ice skate into the Happily Ever After. And yet I could not help being cynical about the two main characters suddenly conquering their relationship traumas and hang-ups over the course of a week. This would make an amazing Netflix holiday romance movie but as far as the book goes I did not find myself believing the "insta love".
Still: plus points for lesbian representation, a female boss who is actually good at her job and single prarenthood!
Well the plot is much simpler, includes a Christmassy small town and overcoming relationship anxieties in order to ice skate into the Happily Ever After. And yet I could not help being cynical about the two main characters suddenly conquering their relationship traumas and hang-ups over the course of a week. This would make an amazing Netflix holiday romance movie but as far as the book goes I did not find myself believing the "insta love".
Still: plus points for lesbian representation, a female boss who is actually good at her job and single prarenthood!
November 21, 2021
an overall 3/5
If you’re looking for a fluffy, lighthearted sapphic book to read this christmas, the christmas proposal is for you.
pros:
- sapphic Christmas novel!!! (we seriously need more)
- very fluffy, very cute
- Bridget is an aspiring game developer/programmer (I’m a sucker for mcs in the stem field)
cons:
- that scene where Bridget was asked her nationality seemed off and out of place, I understand that it was supposed to explain that she was a foster kid and didn’t know her parents, but it came out of nowhere and was never addressed again
- i wish it was a tad longer, some important scenes did not have enough detail
I’d recommend this for anyone who wants a lighthearted Christmas read. for added fun listen to Christmas music while reading
If you’re looking for a fluffy, lighthearted sapphic book to read this christmas, the christmas proposal is for you.
pros:
- sapphic Christmas novel!!! (we seriously need more)
- very fluffy, very cute
- Bridget is an aspiring game developer/programmer (I’m a sucker for mcs in the stem field)
cons:
- that scene where Bridget was asked her nationality seemed off and out of place, I understand that it was supposed to explain that she was a foster kid and didn’t know her parents, but it came out of nowhere and was never addressed again
- i wish it was a tad longer, some important scenes did not have enough detail
I’d recommend this for anyone who wants a lighthearted Christmas read. for added fun listen to Christmas music while reading
December 27, 2021
well SLAP ME with a hallmark movie and call me carol this is the cutest cheesiest holiday romance yet!!!
grace, a successful proposal planner at tie the knot, is itching for a promotion and a way to never return to her hometown of mistletoe mountain again (yes really that’s the name lol). bridget, an assistant for the CEO of a huge game design company, is freaking out because her boss wants the perfect holiday proposal to her girlfriend and … bridget is not a fan of christmas. but when bridget hires grace to plan the proposal, little do either of them know that bridget’s boss is grace’s ex-girlfriend.
okay this was definitely made for hallmark everyone.
was it the cheesiest? yes. was it super fluffy and cute? yes. did the main characters actually do things like kiss under the mistletoe, bake cookies, and live in a place called candy cane inn? also yes.
but it made me feel warm and cozy on the inside just by binging this one, and so for that, it gets alllll of the stars.
thank you to netgalley and bold strokes books for the advanced copy in exchange for a review. this one’s out 12/14/21 :’)
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: cabernet franc ice wine
grace, a successful proposal planner at tie the knot, is itching for a promotion and a way to never return to her hometown of mistletoe mountain again (yes really that’s the name lol). bridget, an assistant for the CEO of a huge game design company, is freaking out because her boss wants the perfect holiday proposal to her girlfriend and … bridget is not a fan of christmas. but when bridget hires grace to plan the proposal, little do either of them know that bridget’s boss is grace’s ex-girlfriend.
okay this was definitely made for hallmark everyone.
was it the cheesiest? yes. was it super fluffy and cute? yes. did the main characters actually do things like kiss under the mistletoe, bake cookies, and live in a place called candy cane inn? also yes.
but it made me feel warm and cozy on the inside just by binging this one, and so for that, it gets alllll of the stars.
thank you to netgalley and bold strokes books for the advanced copy in exchange for a review. this one’s out 12/14/21 :’)
rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: cabernet franc ice wine
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