Dashing Through Christmas

Christmas Creek Romance #8

by Rachelle Ayala

It's a case of mistaken identity, secret agendas, Christmas love and magic, all with the help of a "talking" dog with superhero qualities.
~ * ~
Event planner Misty Jolly needs all the help she can get to pull off Christmas Creek’s biggest makeover: a grand indoor Christmas fair at the spanking new convention and retail center. The original Christmas Creek settlers, including her parents, aren’t sure having Santa in a heated gazebo with an artificial skating rink and electronic northern lights display is a good idea, but Misty has no time to listen to their concerns.

While rushing to a meeting with a cantankerous contractor, Misty causes a plane crash and finds a handsome stranger who’s rendered speechless by her presence.

Dash Weston has no time for Christmas fun and festivities. As CEO of a huge retail conglomerate, all he cares about is cleaning up his bottom line at Christmastime. The big Christmas Creek project is over budget and overdue. A mere blizzard isn’t going to stop him from investigating—in disguise, obviously.

It’s love at first sight for Dash when Misty pulls him out of the wreckage of his private jet. The problem? He’s tongue-tied and unable to communicate except with a stray dog wearing a red superhero’s cape. Dash dives in to help Misty while charming her with his fake Christmas-loving identity. But the dog knows the truth, and Dash steps in deep doo-doo when Misty reveals her dislike of his CEO-identity.

Dash will do anything it takes to get what he wants, but he’ll need all the Christmas magic he can muster to slow Misty down long enough to believe in him again.

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2021

About the author

Rachelle Ayala is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She writes emotionally challenging stories but believes in the power of love and hope.

Her book, Knowing Vera, won the 2015 Angie Ovation Award, and A Father for Christmas garnered a 2015 Readers' Favorite Gold Award. Christmas Stray was awarded the 2016 Readers' Favorite Gold Award and A Pet for Christmas had an Honorable Mention. In 2017, her book about a single mother with an autistic son, Playing for the Save, won the 2017 Readers' Favorite Gold Award for Realistic Fiction.

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She is also a writing teacher and founder of the Romance In A Month writing community. She lives in California with her husband and has three children and two birds.

For an updated, printable booklist:
https://www.scribd.com/document/34213...

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE
Broken Build
Hidden Under Her Heart
Knowing Vera

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Taming Romeo
Claiming Carlos
Whole Latte Love
The Remingtons: Leap, Laugh, Love
The Remingtons: Blush of Love
Bad Boys for Hire: Ryker
Bad Boys for Hire: Ken
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick
Laguna Beach: Lucky in Laguna
Sapphire Falls: Going Haywire
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Sapphire Falls: Going Hearts Over Heels

SPORTS ROMANCE
Played by Love
Playing the Rookie
Playing Without Rules
Roaring Hot!
Intercepted by Love
Playing Catch
Playing for the Save

SWEET ROMANCE
Christmas Stray
A Father for Christmas
A Pet for Christmas
A Wedding for Christmas
Christmas Lovebirds
Valentine Hound Dog
Spring Fling Kitty
Blue Chow Christmas
Valentine Wedding Hound

HOLIDAY ROMANCE
Christmas Flirt
Santa's Pet
Deck the Hearts
Her Christmas Chance
Sapphire Falls: Going Toe to Mistletoe
Bad Boys for Hire: Nick

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
Michal's Window

NON-FICTION
Your Daily Bible Verse
Romance In A Month
366 Ways to Know Your Character
Love Stories: Writing a Romance Novella

Reviews

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Jolly Family of Christmas Creek. It’s been awhile since I was last here but I remembered past Christmas seasons spent in Christmas Creek.
In this book we read about Misty Jolly and how she found her love on the airport runway. The issue with that, though, is her love is a fraud. He is in Christmas Creek pretending to be Sam, a dentist. In reality he is Dash come to spy on Misty and her family as they get ready for an event with Dash’s family business. Sam is everything Dash is not. Sam is who Misty falls in love with. Dash falls for Misty, too...as Sam. What a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive, (Walter Scott). How will Dash wiggle out of the giant lie he wove? Will Misty understand his reasons for lying? Will they be able to build a life together?
Did I mention that Dash has a guardian angel that is armed caped dog? Can it get any cuter? This was a fun book to read. I adore Westie, (the dog), and laughed at the connection between Sam and him.
Put this on your Christmas TBR!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about Misty Jolly who is an event planner trying to accomplish a grand indoor Christmas event hoping it will help all the people of Christmas Creek as well as Dash Weston who is also financing this event. Also part of this story is Westie the dog who seems to be able to talk to people through his woofing. It all started with a plane crash and ends with…well read the story and see how it ends. I might add there is a little bit of magic involved.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dashing Through Christmas is a beautifully captivating thawing of a cold, lifeless heart by the non-stop warmth of a true believer in not just Christmas but in hope and love. This adventure takes us on a crash course with the true spirit and heart of the season as seen through the eyes of one who truly believes in the good in this world and wants to preserve it. Nothing will prepare you for the hilarious mishaps, the heart-wrenching twists, and the true beauty of falling in love with your soulmate. Don't wait to savor this amazing story with a hot cup of chocolate and your favorite treat.

Dash could be called a Scrooge and not just for the Christmas season. All year round, his only focus is on the bottom line. What sells, what's hot, and what's next on his list to conquer. When Misty Jolly comes crashing into his life, he doesn't know if he wants to punch her or kiss her. She is filled with such boundless and enthusiastic hope and awe of Christmas even though she has lived in this tiny town her entire life. Dash can't help but to be drawn to her and her magnetic presence. Can the magic of experiencing Christmas in the cozy town of Christmas Creek change not only his perspective but perhaps his very life?

Misty is always on the go. She never sits still long enough to see the sun rise or listen to everything her sister wants to say. Dash is the only one who could ever make her slow down even a little. It's so amazing to see how these two discover the magic and wonder of the other. When your heart recognizes its other half, there is always something new to discover and be in awe of. These two make such a beautiful couple, and I enjoyed watching their awkward meeting and tentative friendship turn into something truly incredible and life changing.

Rachelle Ayala has kept me thoroughly entertained with her Christmas Creek series. She continues to delight with this amazing family of Christmas Jollys. Misty is just the latest in this magical family who is sure to pull at your heart strings and have you cheering for her in no time at all. I can't wait to see what happens with the sibling! I need more of these incredible Christmas stories that never fail to touch my heart and remind of what Christmas is all about.

[Lori R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Dash, flying into the Christmas Creek airport during a blizzard,to spy undercover on Misty Jolly, the event planner he had hired. Unfortunately for him his plane crashes because of Miss Jolly taking a shortcut on the runway.
This book was a lot of fun to read and to anticipate when Misty would realize Sam is not who she thinks he is. He is really Dash, the CEO of Weston International and she is in charge of the event planning for his big Christmas event. I enjoyed watching Sam and Misty fall in love. Who knew what would happen when Misty found out Sam was Dash. That made for a great part in the story. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misty is running the transformation of Southside Glen, she's working with Gordon, her sister's boyfriend. She's rushing to get to work and takes a shortcut through the airport, causing a plane to crash, not really her fault as the airport was closed due to the weather.
She helps the man out of the plane, he seems to have lost his voice but he has ID as Sam, a dentist, but really he's the main investor undercover.
Things get really complicated and very amusing.

A great read from Rachelle.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Misty Jolly is always moving fast and getting into all kinds of mishaps. She is running behind on her project of getting Southside Glenn open in time for Christmas. There is a blizzard and she can't get across town fast enough so she cuts through the airport and uses the runway to get to the other side of town. While on the runway she comes in contact with a small plane trying to land.

From there thing keep happening and I haven't been able to put the book down. I'm sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dashing Through Christmas is a super cute, mistaken identity, Christmas romance. To truly enjoy a Christmas Creek romance you must BELIEVE! Both Jolly and Dash were far too believable in this hurry up world. I liked Sam better - as I am sure I was supposed to. Written with whimsey and sensitivity, this sweet book took up most of my Sunday! I could not put it down. If you love Christmas stories with a little whimsy, this is the book for you. It would make a good hallmark movie!

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reason to laugh and maybe shed a few tears. Dashing through Christmas comes alive with the spirit of love and regret. Ayala pulls at the soul with the pressures of life and the yearning for something more. Misty and Dash get a crash course in life, love and hope with a dash of sprinkling of humor on the side.

[Rachelle Ayala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story came from another cute animal picture I picked up while procrastinating and browsing stock photos. A super-dog leaping in the snow. Where did he come from? Where is he going? And why is he wearing a red cape?

There's only one location in all my story worlds that I could fit this little westie terrier, and that's the magical, legendary town of Christmas Creek, where the belief in Christmas being the best of times brings magical blessings and serendipitous twists of fate to its visitors and denizens alike--always with love in the air and romance on deck.

It took me a couple of years between creating the cover and writing Dashing Through Christmas. I always knew the heroine would be a person in a hurry, reminding me of a friend who was always on the go and trying to do three or four things at the same time. Misty Jolly fit the profile. She's one of the younger Jolly siblings and wants to stand out and be seen and heard.

It was harder to figure out a hero for Misty. I toyed with opposites attract, imagining a Zen-like character who carved scrimshaw and traveled to Christmas fairs to sell his wares. He was supposed to have a dog or maybe even be a dog shifter. I pictured him with prematurely white hair, a beard, and a mountain man who lived off the grid.

But when I went to write the story, I couldn't make it work! Why would Misty take the time to hang out with one of the vendors at her Christmas fair? She was in charge of the entire event. She had things to do, meetings to go to, fires to put out. How could a slow-paced guy who practiced taichi and meditated be interesting enough for a high-energy event planner?

So I made a one-eighty. If not opposite, then how about both of them being high energy and obsessed with their jobs? And I came up with Dash Weston, the major investor and CEO of the company that hired Misty to put on the Christmas extravaganza event. To make it more interesting, Dash goes incognito as a mystery "shopper" to spy on Misty and her preparations. He's in a rush. She's in a rush. They meet in a crash between his airplane and her Jeep.

Ah, but what about the dog? He appears after the crash and is almost run over by Misty. And then, he imparts his magic with his snarky remarks, spoken in yips, whirrs, barks, and howls. Dash, who gets knocked in the head, is able to understand Westie. But can Misty?

Read the book to see what happens when Misty falls in love with Dash's "mystery shopper impersonation" (Sam) while resenting Dash's authority and role as CEO of the project. With both characters dashing through Christmas, will they ever slow down enough to not just fall in love but to recognize the spirit and blessings of the season? I hope I made the right choice of "sameness attracts" rather than "opposites attract."

[Renate Deutsche Oma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who wouldn't enjoy some Christmas magic with a superhero "talking" dog? Rachelle Ayala loves including pets in her stories. This story screams Christmas with its Christmas Creek setting, a Christmas fair, Santa, a skating rink and electronic northern lights display. Throw in Dash Weston, CEO of a huge retail conglomerate, a plane crash, mistaken identity, secret agendas for a page turning holiday read.

[Lucy Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

What a great read, mystery shopper and weird doggy talk with magical Christmas people and wishes that may come true. Love this series so much and can't wait for the next one to come on the 20th novemeber.