Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER.
When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree.
Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed.
Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage.
I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog.
I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart.
I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday.
I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push.
I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match.
Fa la la la la, la FML.
When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree.
Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed.
Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage.
I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog.
I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart.
I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday.
I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push.
I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match.
Fa la la la la, la FML.
REVIEW: PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!
THIS, in all seriousness, will be the book for you during your holiday vacation. This was the most down-to-earth, REAL depiction of a family Christmas you will ever read AND enjoy. I laughed. I reminisced. I actually teared up. This was the best. I read more than I highlighted. I laughed more than I have in a long time. And I swooned extra hard. Typical Kate Stewart greatness.
This is the family we all know and hate/love at holidays. So very real in a total Christmas Vacation sort of way. Shenanigans, actualities, truths...the whole story had me laughing. This one hit all the buttons for an easy, light, and enjoyable read. In the beginning, I was like - who is this Whitney chick, and why is she being so mean?? Ok, then I realized whaaat was going on. I continually laughed at how she was constantly trying to justify her anger towards her coworker but the good side of her couldn’t get over the fact that he was truly a good guy. Ha ha Ha!!! I couldn't not laugh at what was unfolding while watching it unravel right in front of her.
Whitney was a quick-witted, cynical - yet hilarious - heroine with a mentality that kept me laughing. She was purging her anger while holding onto her emotions (counterintuitive, I know), and that made for some seriously hilarious mental arguments and actions. There were so many parts that had me LAUGHING and I am excited for so many to enjoy them. Worth noting - I love a strong, alpha male with emotions. Not whiny, weak - but one with emotions even he has to fight. Kate gave me something to love and something to hate about Eli. He was a real person, in that nature, because we got to see that he had faults and we got to see that he was perfect in Whit's eyes. I loved seeing a real man have emotion, whether it be anger, or love, or hurt, or happiness — I loved seeing it.
You know the idea of a memory smell? This was truly a memory visual. I couldn’t help but actually see the shenanigans Stewart was sharing; the fighting, the kids, the decorations - the family camaraderie. It was all there, and the memories it brought about were heartwarming. This was such an awesome mixture of family holiday memories and the likeness of the movie Christmas Vacation - comedic with heart. Everything kind of just made you smile because it worked in the manner of it being a light Christmas romantic comedy, but infused with Stewart's signature, destined love.
Eli and Whitney are a couple that brings the truth to the value of a second chance. The parents are proof of what love and patience can accomplish. The brothers and sisters all show how family can be tested but it still remains core. This was pure. There wasn't any over the top drama. Any unrealistic miscommunication. No other woman drama. It was just two real, honest people trying to revisit some emotions that one is fighting and one is chasing.
The push and pull wasn't there - this wasn't an angsty book, by any means. But it did show me how these tow adults handled a difficult breakup, and then came together. Told through flashbacks, this one allowed me to fall in love with them in the here and now, but also gave me some backstory that I couldn't help but falling in love with. I saw why they worked...but found out why they "didn't" and it was just a well laid out, easy read. Not heavy....just a very welcome, very easy read that I most definitely needed.
<<I do have to admit - the amount of movie references made me simultaneously smile and search my memory for scenes. It was smile inducing and very worthy for the ones I recognized, but slightly confusing for the ones that I have not seen...but definitely added to the funnies.>>
For someone who usually avoids any type of holiday read (they're usually cheesy, just like Hallmark movies) and reads very few comedies (they're usually cheesy), this one I will happily and easily recommend. It was a good mix of women’s fiction and comedy, with a hearty dose of romance - but the realness of it was refreshing. I fell in love with this family. It was fun. It was an easy read. It produced plenty of smiles. It was just really cute. It was REAL! I loved this holiday magic. READ. IT.
"What are you doing here Eli?"
"Maybe you're still the reason, Whitney."
~BEE
~MEET KATE STEWART~
Kate Stewart lives in Charleston, S.C. with her husband, Nick, and her naughty beagle, Sadie. A native of Dallas, Kate moved to Charleston three weeks after her first visit, dropping her career of 8 years, and declaring it her creative muse. Kate pens messy, sexy, angst-filled contemporary romance as well as romantic comedy and erotic suspense because it's what she loves as a reader. A lover of all things '80s and '90s, especially John Hughes films and rap, she dabbles a little in photography, can knit a simple stitch scarf for necessity only and does a horrible job of playing the ukulele. Aside from running a mile without collapsing, traveling is the only other must on her bucket list. On occasion, she does very well at vodka.
~CONNECT WITH KATE~
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