I’ve been in a very “bah humbug” mood for the past week or so, and decided maybe a sweet Christmas read would snap me out of it. So I grabbed a copy of In A Holidaze. The romance in this story was slow and addictive. And I found myself falling in love right along with them. Well technically Mae already had loved Andrew forever, but you’ll see what I mean. Andrew had been friends with Mae practically his whole life. He always saw her as a friend, but with magic or was it fate intervening, I kept my fingers crossed he’d start to see her in another light. You guys, Andrew was most definitely book boyfriend material! He was sexy, patient, thoughtful, sweet and kind. And I loved how he always paid attention to Mae. His eyes sparkle, and sensation zips up my spine. I swear he’s never looked at me like this, like he’s seeing me for the first time.

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren BOOK REVIEW: In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

I also fell head-over-heels for both MCs. Mae was extremely relatable, and I loved her comedic, screw-up moments as well as her honest, tender moments. She was just funny and vulnerable. Andrew was sort of the perfect male MC, but I loved him anyway. Sometimes, perfect characters are extremely annoying because real people have flaws, but Andrews's flaws are more subtle so you get to know him as a whole person the longer you read. They were magical together, and I bought the chemistry immediately. Leave it to Christina Lauren to come up with a lovely, sweet, romantic Christmas Story that is somewhat fresh and new in “In a Holidaze.” While there were a few parts of this novel that I think were extraneous, all in all, I truly enjoyed this story and loved the characters of Benny, Mae and Andrew. If you’re looking for a magical read that will be sure to make you smile, this is it! I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.I’m not even sure how to finish the sentence. I want to be happy, and I’m petrified that the path I’m on now is going to leave me bored and alone. In an Earphones Award-winning performance, narrator Eilidh Beaton delivers Christmas at the Island Hotel (Mure, Book 4) by Jenny Colgan. Imagine the joy and the stress of holidays on a small island somewhere between Scotland and Norway as a disparate group of workers struggle to open a new hotel. Unlikely romance among the staff is just one of the pleasures of this accent-rich gem. I didn’t mind the groundhog day trope, but what I did mind that there was no explanation provided about the time travel. This part of the plot felt forgotten by the end.

In A Holidaze: Love Actually meets Groundhog Day in this

And the way the cabin was described, and how they all came together to celebrate and spent time together was magic. Wonderfully Christmasish! I wanted it all RIGHT THEN! The traditions, the connections, the love, and the tender moments, and especially the cabin! Even though her mother married with another man, she is still dedicated to the tradition and spending the holiday with her father and her 17 years old brother as if they’re still happy family. And of course the best thing about the holiday is seeing Andrew: her 13 years longtime crush. She never dares to confess her feelings. This was a fun, heartwarming story. I love the traditions they had of meeting at the cabin playing games throughout the days. It was quite endearing. Even Maelyn's parents who were now divorced, still continue with the tradition. Although it would make sense for the grown-ups to eventually worry that something scandalous would happen between me and one of the Hollis boys down in the secluded basement, no one batted a lash. My mother was normally incredibly strict about boundaries, but we were family, after all.” Microwave: Place the hollandaise sauce in a glass bowl, and microwave it in 15 second increments. Repeat this process until your sauce is fully warmed up.

Hollandaise Sauce Ingredients

All you’ll need for this sauce are six ingredients. And you probably have them in your fridge and pantry already. So what happens when you have been in love with Andrew since the age of thirteen but make a mistake and kiss his brother, Theo on December 25th instead? Naturally, you wish for a chance to find some happiness and erase the last few days, right? Wishful thinking...maybe for us plain humans but for Maelyn Jones this exactly what happens. She revisits the beginning of her Christmas holiday to find out what makes her happy. A Christmas full of family and friends. Maelyn's parents and her college friends have been meeting for Christmas since she can remember. It's a tradition that everyone makes time for.

Holiday Books - Goodreads Holiday Books - Goodreads

She kissed the wrong Hollis brother. (Cringe.) Instead of kissing Andrew, her forever crush, she somehow managed to kiss his younger brother, Theo. More importantly (read: pathetically), I’ve never been into Theo, primarily because I’ve had a crazy, silent, soul-crushing crush on his older brother for what feels like my whole life. Andrew is kind, warm, gorgeous, and hilarious. He is playful, flirty, creative, and affectionate. He is also deeply principled and private, and I’m pretty sure there’s nothing that would turn him off a woman faster than knowing she made out with his younger, womanizing brother while under the influence of eggnog.

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Have I mentioned the cabin yet?? If not, it was a dream of coziness, and told the story of family get-togethers, of roaring fireplaces and game nights. Of baking together and sleeping in bunkbeds. A beloved vacation home that brought all the families together, year in and year out. And you never know. Not only will In a Holidaze put you in the mood to hang some mistletoe . . . it just might nudge you to stand under it, too. 💋 By no means, though, should my criticisms stop you from doing whatever it takes to get your hands on In a Holidaze. The novel is so joyful. So heartwarming. So filled with laughter and starry-eyed Christmas romance. I also found it absolutely ludicrous that Maisie’s parents let her sleep completely unsupervised in the basement with their friends’ sons. Maisie remarks that her mom is usually very concerned with safety and propriety for her daughter, and is apparently a big Catholic too, but isn’t concerned about anything to happen to her daughter when she sleeps in the same room with two teenage boys “because they’re family.” O-kay. I found this completely unbelievable, and not just because Maisie has been in love with Andrew since she was thirteen, which clearly highlights that she does not see him as a brother, but because bad things happen to kids even among blood families all the time.