Book Review ~ Merry Humbug Christmas by Sandra D. Bricker

Merry Humbug Christmas

Sandra D. Bricker

Contemporary Fiction/Christmas

About the book:

A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year.

In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe.

In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian’s family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that Bah! Humbug cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year! And once she sets her future in-laws’ family cabin ablaze, she’s pretty sure there won’t be even ONE golden ring in her future.

My thoughts:

Are you already put out with this winter weather? Do you need something to give you a much needed laugh on these cold and dreary days? Well look no further than Sandra Bricker's adorable new book, Merry Humbug Christmas. This book combines two novellas that intertwine to create one zany Christmas story. 

Best friends, Joss (aka Merry Christmas Snow) and Reese (as in the delicious candy bar) have a distinct disdain for all things Christmas. For the past several years they have diligently avoided anything associated with the holiday. Like all great romance inspired books a man (or men in this case) is going to come along and change everything!

Fans of Sandie have come to expect her trademark humor and they will not be disappointed in this novel. Other authors just couldn't pull off all the craziness that goes on without you shaking your head, but somehow Sandie makes it all seem perfectly plausible. 

In a funny way I think most of us could relate to the catastrophes that ensued. Okay so maybe most of us have never booked a Bah! Humbug cruise only to be bumped to an all things Christmas cruise. But I have shown up to something only to find out it all changed without my knowledge. Joss' cruise fiasco is funny but for me Reese's meeting of the Norman Rockwellesqe future in-laws could actually be classified as hilarious.

Be sure to pick this one up for yourself as well as a friend. I think it would be great therapy after the holidays. After all laughter makes the heart merry like a good medicine!

Connect with the author:

www.SandraDBricker.com

Facebook

Twitter ~ @SandieBricker

You have been waiting and now it is here ~ Always the Baker, Finally the Bride

Disclosure *I was given a copy of this book. All thoughts are from @FitzysMom of Rambles of a SAHM

Always the Baker, Finally the Bride

Another Emma Rae Creation, Book 4

Sandra Bricker

Contemporary Fiction

Buy it on Amazon!

About the book:

In Always the Baker, Never the Bride, readers fell in love with Emma Rae and Jackson, and they’ve gotten more acquainted with them in the two books that followed.

But now it’s time for the diamond to meet the road as Jackson fields an offer to sell The Tanglewood, a move that will uproot this high-flying family act once and for all. Get reacquainted with all of the lovable and quirky characters from the first three books as your favorite diabetic baker figures out if she'll achieve her greatest goal of all: Will Emma, at last, become FINALLY the Bride?

 About the Author:

Website: SandraDBricker.com

Facebook Page

Twitter: @SandieBricker

For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While honing her chosen craft of screenwriting in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she put Southern California in her rearview mirror and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver. 

"I guess most people would see my career as a publicist as a sort of dream job. But giving it up turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!" she declares. "Not only was I given the gift of getting to know my mother as an adult woman before she passed away, but I was also afforded the blessing of being able to focus completely on my dream of a writing career."

The author says that it was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer. "I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost," she says. "So it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch the Love Finds You line."

Sandie's real-life role as cancer survivor has parlayed into her steadfast commitment to raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Spearheading a series of devotionals for Summerside Press (such as the popular His Grace is Sufficient...Decaf is Not), the author has stipulated that a portion of each contributor's proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

My thoughts:

Three years ago I opened the pages of Always the Baker, Never the Bride and fell in love with Emma Rae, Jackson and the Tanglewood Inn. How could I help myself? The characters were zany yet loveable. The setting was absolutely magical. And the storyline was witty and fast-paced. All the makings of the perfect lazy afternoon read.

Over the following years Sandra Bricker gave us the next two installments, Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride and Always the Designer, Never the Bride. Each of these books added to the depth of the relationship between Emma and Jackson while introducing us to new people and new stories.

Now we’ve come to the end, but oh what an ending! Without giving anything away let me just say that the wedding scene is more than worth the wait. This last installment takes us on a sentimental journey that involves all the people we’ve come to know and love.  I enjoy the way that each person is allowed to show their strong side and their vulnerable side. There are unique types like Fee and very sophisticated individuals like Jackson’s sisters. I have to say that my favorite person besides the main characters was Aunt Sophie. We all need an Aunt Sophie in our lives.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good love story. This is the series that my book club broke our rule of never reading the sequels. We just couldn’t resist! I think each of you will be just as delighted as we were. Start from the beginning, make some of the recipes, enjoy the advice sprinkled throughout and you’ll see exactly why the Tanglewood Inn is where we all want to escape to.

Disclosure: The opinions expressed in this review are those of @FitzysMom from Rambles of a SAHM. A book was provided free of cost in order to facilitate this review. This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or Services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising"

Author @SandieBricker Gives Readers a Chance to Step into Her Book with a #Contest!

Book 1

Ever dream of being a character in a book?
Here's your chance!

If you're a fan of the Emma Rae Creation books
(Book 1: Always the Baker, Never the Bride)
then you know Emma and her passion for cakes!
But now that she's getting married herself,
how will she choose her own cake?
 

Contest:

On November 1^st, a contest will debut on the author’s Web site  where readers will compete for the honor of choosing Emma’s wedding cake from a series of drawings provided by up-and-coming Canadian artist, Hanna Sandvig. Bricker says she talked to more than a dozen artists before finding and falling in love with the childlike wonder of Sandvig’s artistry. “Hanna’s talent just embodies the fun and whimsy of Emma’s personality.”

The contest runs through December 31st. At that time, Sandra will choose her favorite ten entries, and her editor Ramona Richards from Abingdon Press will help her narrow it down to just ONE LUCKY WINNER!

SO WHAT DO I WIN?

The winner will receive a phone call from Sandra so that she can determine personality, etc. for purposes of building a character sketch of YOU...the reader...and you'll be written into her story as the very person who
sways Emma and helps make her decision! Fun, right?

In addition, the winner will get an advanced reader copy of this new book. Publication date: Spring 2013

So what are you waiting for head on over here for your chance to win!

“I wanted to do something really special for the final book,” Bricker explains. “I think what I’ve come up with is going to excite my readers while rewarding them for sticking with these characters…and with me!...the way they have.”

“I never imagined how loyal my readers would turn out to be,” Bricker says. “I just really wanted to find a way to say thank you in a very personal way. I think this contest is going to fit the bill. The winner will actually be written into the final book as well as receive a preview copy of the novel and a special Emma-inspired confection as well.”