Susan's Review of A Dash of Christmas by Samantha Chase

With a dash of Christmas magic...


Two people who have spent most of their lives being rivals... Learn a little something about following their hearts...

Carter Montgomery broke the family mold when he went to culinary school. Now a successful restauranteur, he's at a crossroads: should he continue on his successful path or look for a new challenge? What he needs is time alone to think things through. But his matchmaking family has other ideas...

Emery Monaghan's no-good fiancé has embroiled her in scandal and she needs a way out. When mentor Eliza Montgomery offers her a refuge, she's relieved―until she realizes that the deal means rubbing elbows with Eliza's son Carter―Emery's childhood nemesis


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A Dash of Christmas is Carter Montgomery and Emery Monaghan’s enemies to friends to lovers story! Loved the characters backstory-they were childhood rivals-and how Eliza Montgomery’s holiday cookbook project brought them together.

Emery learns that her politician boyfriend has been cheating on her. To add to her humiliation, he has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior. By employing this current events storyline, the author makes Emery a relatable heroine. Everyone understands being disappointed by friend or lover but, Emery has been embarrassed beyond belief. Eliza Montgomery offers Emery the perfect place to regroup and hide out from the media; her family’s condo in New York City and enlists her help in a charity project.

Eliza knows that her son Carter,who is helping her with the cookbook, is scheduled to stay at the condo. Eliza makes sure Carter and Emery are at the condo at the same time—she’s learned a lot about matchmaking from her sister- in -law! Sparks fly when the couple realizes they are both working on the same project!

I loved the dynamic between Carter and Emery—they are total opposites and their conversations are fabulous. Samantha Chase is an excellent storyteller—Emery and Carter’s story draws the reader in from the first chapter. Loved that famous chef Carter was appalled that Emery’s breakfast choice was chocolate pop tarts—I could imagine his expression- and that Emery nudged him by saying that grape jelly was her favorite fruit. Carter loved creating his fancy ingredient meals from scratch while Emery had no problem eating frozen pizza!

As Carter and Emery spend time together working on the cookbook-their mutual attraction sizzles and it’s such fun to have them fall in love while arguing about gouda, pop tarts and kettle corn! Their visons of a holiday meal are totally opposite; Carter wanted to create a fancy over the top meal while Emery wanted to eat a traditional turkey dinner with stuffing and mashed potatoes and a few cookies for dessert. Loved that Carter got Emery to try different foods and that Emery’s idea of simple, comfort foods resonated and inspired Carter.

A Dash of Christmas brings the west coast Montgomerys to New York for a mock Christmas dinner comprised of recipes from the cookbook. Loved that Emery spent time with Meghan, Summer, Gabriella and Maylene. Carter and Emery’s story has all the feels—it’s a heartwarming celebration of family, food and love. I am sad that my favorite series has ended and loved that Ms. Chase gave the Montgomery family a perfect Christmas card ending!

Thank you Samantha for writing a fabulous series! I loved William Montgomery and his charming, over the top, matchmaking schemes, adored Gina and Mac, related to Summer, Maylene and Ethan’s romance and cheered for Zach to recover and realize that Gabriella was his perfect match! Megan and Alex’s story will always be special to me—it’s my comfort read. This series is a fan favorite because everyone needs a little magic in their life!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the Author

Susan's Review of Suddenly Mine by Samantha Chase

New beginnings are irresistible…

Christian Montgomery is burnt out. The family business is his entire world, and Christian has never stopped trying to atone for a mistake made years ago. His only break from grueling work is sitting on his beachfront deck, watching the California surfers, and wishing he could be that carefree.

Sophie Bennington was happy living in her small Kansas hometown…until she learned her entire life was a lie. So she hightailed it to the West coast, where she loves to surf, even though she’s no good at it, and she’s hoping to start a new career.

A chance encounter shows Christian and Sophie that no matter what happened in the past, the future is bright and new…but only if you have the courage to open your heart…

Samantha Chase pairs stressed out, executive Christian Montgomery with Sophie Bennington, a shy, determined nurse from Kansas in Suddenly Mine. Christian and Sophie’s story is a fabulous journey filled with emotion, great dialogue and a healthy dose of Montgomery matchmaking.

Samantha Chase has created two unique characters in this novel; a Montgomery who isn’t sure if he wants to continue his career in the family business and a nurse who moved cross country to start over with a blank slate. I enjoyed reading this novel because the characters grew with each chapter of the book. Christian and Sophie are not cookie cutter romance characters-they have flaws, job pressures and family issues which made them relatable to me.

Sophie’s life is turned upside down when her grandmother admits to a family secret. She leaves Kansas for California hoping to sort through her feelings and resume her career in nursing. I loved Sophie’s can do attitude. She was determined to learn how to surf—and she got up every time a wave knocked her down. I really liked that Sophie stood up for herself-she was shy and a bit reserved but she was not a pushover! Christian’s life is his job. He needs to atone for a mistake he made years ago. He feels pressure from his father to focus, focus on the family business. Christian feels trapped—he runs an important division of his family business and has no time to himself.

The Montgomery family dynamics are very important in this novel. Samantha Chase makes an excellent, bold decision which shapes the plot. This choice made Suddenly Mine an excellent read because Ms. Chase stayed true to her characters. Suddenly Mine remained Christian and Sophie’s story; not a family drama. Ms. Chase’s fabulous dialogue is showcased when Sophie and Christian come to terms with their reality. Sophie speaks up for herself and their relationship and challenges Christian to see that someone else’s expectations shouldn’t define him. Loved the conversation between Christian and his uncle William Montgomery. Christian’s charming, matchmaking uncle is my favorite character in this series—he knows what to say and when to say it. William words have a huge impact on Christian. Family expectations lead Sophie back to Kansas to face her fears.

In my opinion, Suddenly Mine is Samantha Chase’s best work—this couple has a strong bond but, they have a lot of issues to work through. The book is rich in detail, characters and plot. Ms. Chase’s descriptive voice keeps the reader on the edge of their seat—I wasn’t sure how the last few chapters would play out.

Suddenly Mine is a fabulous romance filled with love, passion and the Montgomery clan. I am SO looking forward to A Dash of Christmas -Carter’s story!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the Author

Susan's Review of Snowed in for Christmas

Stranded in the Snow (Holiday Acres, Book 2) by Noelle Adams
Olivia Holiday doesn't expect to spend the weekend stranded in a romantic cottage during a snowstorm with the one man she dislikes the most. Scott is a player and holds a grudge against her family, and she's determined not to give in to the deep feelings for him she's been hiding.

A Christmas Rescue (Silver Bell Falls, Book 4) by Samantha Chase

Saving a litter of puppies right before Christmas was incredibly rewarding for Bailey Walsh. But getting snowed in with her sexy-yet-grinchy veterinarian boss turns out to be rewarding in a whole other way.

Love on the Edge Of Reason (Pine Harbour, Book 8) by Zoe York
Tom Minelli doesn't know why Chloe Davis has fled Pine Harbour, but she's pregnant with his baby and he wants her back. But a winter storm rolls in just as he finds her, trapping them together in a cabin on the lake.

 

I am so excited to review the three novellas in Snowed in for Christmas! I loved that each couple was snowed in for a few days as being trapped together challenged each couple to acknowledge their feelings for each other. Loved the great descriptive writing, sexual tension and honest dialogue in each story.

The sexual tension between Olivia Holiday and Scott Mattheson is sizzles on page one of Stranded in the Snow by Noelle Adams. Olivia’s family runs Holiday Acres, a farm that also serves as a wedding venue. Olivia has a love-hate relationship with Scott and is not amused when her sister asks her to show Scott, a photographer, the farm’s honeymoon cottage. The fun begins when Olivia and Scott are stranded in the cottage. Loved the attraction between Olivia and Scott and the couple’s honest conversations. This story impressed me so much that I ordered the next book in the series.

A Christmas Rescue was my favorite story. I adored Samantha Chase’s Silver Bells holiday romances and this story embodied all of the elements of the Silver Bells series that I love. The characters are fabulous, the romance is sweet and the true meaning of Christmas is woven seamlessly through the story. Loved Bailey and Gavin’s (aka the Grinch) opposites attract story. Bailey loves Christmas; the decorations, the lights and baking. Gavin does not like the holidays... AT ALL. Delivering a litter of puppies during a snowstorm provides this couple the perfect opportunity to explore their feelings for each other. Samantha Chase has written an emotional story filled with her trademark spot on dialogue and humor. And the epilogue is a riot! This story would make a perfect Hallmark movie!

Love on the Edge of Reason is the first Zoe York book that I have read. I enjoyed this second chance holiday romance. Tom Minelli is spending Christmas Eve alone. He doesn’t know where Chloe Davis, his friend with benefits, is. Tom tracks Chloe down and arrives at her cabin just as a snow storm lands. They are forced to spend several days together. I loved Tom; he knew that he messed things up with Chloe and he so wanted to make things right. The conversations between the couple were painfully honest and emotional. Spending time in the cabin allowed Tom and Chloe the chance to open up to each other and learn to trust each other. Great characters and a sweet relatable story.

If you are looking for a fun book to read over the holidays, pick up a copy of Snowed in for Christmas!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

Purchased through Amazon

Noelle Adams handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she reads any book she can get her hands on and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.


Samantha Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of contemporary romance. She released her debut novel in 2011 and currently has more than forty titles under her belt! When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook, wearing a tiara while playing with her sassy pug Maylene…oh, and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.


"New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Zoe York is a busy working mom of two young boys, wife to a very understanding soldier, and creator of modern, sexy, small town contemporary romances. Her debut novel, What Once Was Perfect, started the popular Wardham series, and her first military romance, Fall Out, was released as part of the international bestselling SEALs of Summer super bundle.
She lives in London, Ontario, and is currently chugging Americanos, wiping sticky fingers, and dreaming of heroes in and out of uniform.

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Made for Us Samantha Chase

Zoe Dalton has been  tasked with an impossible job. A difficult client has already fired her predecessor. Zoe wonders what she is in for as she drives to the construction site to meet the client Aidan Shaughnessy, the owner of Shaughnessy Construction.

"I take it that this is a test to determine if I can see that the problem is in the details. Let me assure you, Mr. Shaughnessy, that I do. I have a real problem with craftsman who rush through a job and put out shoddy work. I think the homeowner deserves a house that has been put together perfectly. And for the finishes and decorating," she said as she stood a bit taller, "we want the potential buyers to come in here and not only want to buy this house, but to want their own to look as perfect as the model. If not better."

He quirked a dark brow at her. As much as Aiden hated to admit it, he was impressed. And he wasn't impressed easily. Zoe Dalton had not only seen everything he'd wanted her to see, but she had even picked up on an issue or two that has escaped him.

Not a easy thing to do.

Aiden continued to stand there and look at her, so Zoe figured she'd better nudge him along."Are we ready to hit the upstairs? I have a list of problems with the staircase."

And in that moment Aidan Shaughnessy thought he might have met his match.

The first two chapters of author Samantha Chase's Made for Us are fast-paced and contain the right amount of emotion, drama and dialogue. I was drawn into the story immediately because these pages set the stage for the emotional conflict within the novel and provided insight into the characters of Aidan and Zoe. Both Aidan and Zoe have suffered the loss of a parent. Aidan's mother died sixteen years ago and he is still grieving for her. Zoe moved from Arizona to North Carolina six months ago after her mother's death. Aidan can't move forward and although Zoe thinks of her mother often and feels her loss, she has accepted her death . 

Samantha Chase has created a different hero in Made For Us. Aidan is brusque, very demanding and controlling. He doesn’t have the qualities found in a typical romance novel hero, he’s not the charming , billionaire business man who drives a Mercedes. Aidan is a down to earth hero with every day issues! He is a successful contractor who thrives on routine and stresses out when things do not go as planned. 

Kudos to Samantha Chase for writing a exceptional love story. I am glad that she chose to write Aidan and Zoe’s story instead of the typical formula romance novel to start off her new series. Death , grief and destruction are not what a reader expects in a contemporary romance--these elements work in this story and set it apart from a typical read. Samantha Chase writes a strong female character in this novel and it was so refreshing to read. Loved how the author balanced Aidan and Zoe’s passionate love story with the threat of the storm moving towards their town. 

Made for Us sets the stage for the new series perfectly with its elegant prose and sincere dialogue. It contains several surprising plot twists which adds to the story's authenticity. 

I am looking forward to the second Shaughnessy Brother book!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman 

ARC from Sourcebooks
Graphics from Samantha Chase.