The Christmas Wager
-
-
4.3 • 4 Ratings
-
-
- $11.99
-
- $11.99
Publisher Description
A delightful enemies-to-lovers holiday rom com set in the quaint mountain town of Maple Falls, Colorado, about a city girl and a small-town boy who compete in the town’s annual holiday games in order to win the right price for a charming, local Christmas shop, perfect for fans of The Hating Game and The Twelve Dates of Christmas.
One rivalry. Eight days until Christmas. Let the holiday games begin.
When L.A.-based real estate developer Bella Ross arrives in the sleepy mountain town of Maple Falls, she has one mission: to acquire the local failing Christmas shop, Always Noelle, securing the promotion of her dreams. Nothing can get in her way. Except the shop owner’s stubborn grandson, Jesse Harrison.
Both refuse to budge, until an unlikely wager is struck: Bella and Jesse will compete in the Maple Falls Holiday Games, an annual tradition of eccentric feats of strength and skills. Winner decides the selling price. They’ll give each other a run for their money, but as the competition heats up, Bella and Jesse’s icy feelings toward each other begin to thaw. It’ll take a Christmas miracle for them to admit there’s a spark, but what if it’s just another game?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Cassidy (The Revenge List, as Hannah Mary McKinnon) whips up a fluffy rom-com that would be right at home on the Hallmark channel. Ambitious urbanite Bella, a real estate developer, finally has an assignment that could get her the promotion she craves. If she can purchase the building that houses Always Noelle in Maple Falls, Colo., her boss has essentially promised to put Bella in charge of the firm's new Denver office. Though the Christmas shop has been in the Harrison family for generations, sales are poor and elderly owner Clarence is willing to consider Bella's offer—until his handsome grandson, Jesse, steps in and demands a fairer price. Clarence proposes a wager: Maple Falls has a tradition of outdoor winter games, and one of the teams needs a substitute. If Bella participates and beats Jesse's team, Clarence will sell at the desired price; if she loses, she'll have to come up with another $150,000. By day, Bella and Jesse become fierce competitors, but at night these opposites' mutual attraction threatens to sabotage the bet. Meanwhile, Bella overcomes her aversion to both small-town life and Christmas cheer. The plot is by the numbers, but humor and charm make it zip by. This simple, feel-good tale is just right for fans of Sally Thorne and Christina Lauren.
Customer Reviews
Adorable rom-com that captures the essence of Hallmark movie
The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy is an absolutely adorable rom-com that captures the essence of a Hallmark movie. This book combines all the elements we love - enemies-to-lovers, forced close-proximity, small-town charm, and of course, the magic of the holiday season. A big-city girl must compete in a small-town's annual holiday games in order to win the right price for the charming, local christmas shop her bosses have their greedy eyes on. As she navigates the challenges of the games, she discovers unexpected friendships, romance, and the true meaning of Christmas. Perfect for fans of The Hating Game or The Twelve Dates of Christmas, The Christmas Wager is a captivating read that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling. TAGS: fiction, romance, contemporary romance, holiday romance, christmas, enemies-to-lovers, forced close proximity, small-town, opposites attract. *Thanks to NetGalley, the book's publisher & the book's author for providing a free eARC in exchange for my honest review #NetGalley #TheChristmasWager #HollyCassidy
An Entertaining Read!
Bella lives in LA and works for a real estate developer. She is offered a promotion of a lifetime, to move to Denver, to lead the sales/ marketing team at the new location, but there is a catch. In order to get the promotion, she has to go to Maple Falls to negotiate a property the company is looking to buy. If successful, more than likely, she would be offered the promotion.
Jesse is an electrician and the grandson of Clarence, the owner of the Christmas Shop, Always Noelle. His grandfather is ready to sell as it is not doing so well. When Jesse is confronted with Bella and Clarence going over the contract for the sale, Jesse is offended and upset that his grandfather never consulted him. Jesse feels Bella is trying to take advantage of Clarence, as the sale price she offered is too low.
Maple Falls Holiday Games is an annual tradition where four teams compete in a top secret challenge. Clearance decides, since they couldn’t agree on a selling price, that Bella will compete against Jesse in the games. Depending on who won, would determine the selling price. Can Bella win and get the bid she is hoping for or will she have to ask her boss to raise their bid by 150,000 dollars to go with Jesse’s price? Will Bella be able to impress her boss in order to get her promotion?
The clever storyline, the humor, the drama, and the entertainment definitely check all the boxes for a fun holiday read! Plus, the banter and dynamics between Bella and Jesse make for an entertaining read!