I honestly love everything this author writes. And this book is no different. It's a holiday story yes but true to this author it's romantic with a bit of humor.

Merry is working as a temp, and she can't seem to get along with her boss.
Her family sets her up on a dating site of all things?

Oh, yea that boss. He also has a profile on that same dating site. What do you think happens?

Two people learn so much about each other but what happens when they find out whom each is?

Well grab your copy and find out. You won't disappointed.

My review of this title hase been posted on the Fresh Fiction website and can be viewed in its entirety at:
http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=63810
Thank you for the opportunity to view this ARC.

Good storyline with very likeable characters that pulled me right into the story from the very first page and kept me totally engaged until the turn of the very last page!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Christmas and Debbie Macomber - the perfect combination!

MERRY AND BRIGHT is everything I want in a Christmas story. It made me feel good, and is a break from the everyday craziness of life. This story is an interesting twist on the usual chemistry that attracts people, and is very current with the online dating scene. I highly recommend this novel, for a sweet, warm, touching, entertaining, feel good book!

5.0 out of 5 starsSweet escape
ByMaggie on October 3, 2017
Format: Hardcover
What a sweet and timely book! This is just the right book for an escape from a hassled holiday. The characters are interesting, the plot moves right along, the themes are very real in today's world, what's not to love!

Merry and Bright was such a pleasure to read. Merry didn't have time to date but her mother and brother thought she should so they signed her up on a dating website. There she met Jay who she instantly connected with, not knowing he was Jayson her boss. As I don't want to give the story away, read it, you won't be disappointed. I have to say I have loved all the books I have read by Debbie Macomber.

I enjoyed this quick Holiday read, and I will tell you once you start you won’t want to close the cover. I personally love to read Debbie Macomber, a go to author for me, and this one did not disappoint.
The author has us walking in Merry/Mary’s shoes as she goes about her life, and then we meet Jayson Bright, and we see that not all of us are brought up with a loving family as Merry had.
Jayson is a bright, handsome, and power driven man, Merry is working a temporary job to earn enough money to return to finish college, and at first you don’t see much in common, but come along, there are so many chuckles awaiting.
I don’t think you will be disappointed with this one, just that I wanted more!
I received this book through Net Galley and Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Merry and Bright is classic Debbie Macomber. It's short, sweet, and cheery. Everything works out the way it should and the story infuses holiday cheer. Thanks to NetGalley for the copy.

Meet Merry Knight, busy single woman with a loving family with extra needs. Her family wants what's best for her and thinks online dating is the answer.
Jayson Bright is overworked, rule following and doesn't have time for dating. Until Kismet happens and he is intrigued by the possibility of finding a match.
Of course things aren't always what they seem when your communicating online...

I really enjoyed this book. Merry amd Jay 'meet' online when her mom and brother sign her up for an online dating website. They talk every night and really enjoy reading it slow. Things are going great until they decide to meet face to face. When Merry gets to the meeting place, she realizes that Jay is her over-bearing boss and retreats to her house.
Jay is really disappointed and almost gives up on the relationship, but feels like they had the beginning of something worth fighting for. She realizes that she should tell him the truth about why she didn't meet him, but the longer she doesn't tell him, the harder it becomes.
When he finds out the truth, will he forgive her? Will she be able to forgive him for his reaction? Are two people who have vastly different lives going to find a way to be happy? I really enjoyed the character of her brother and the part he played in their relationship.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest,voluntary review.

Nice holiday story. If you need a break from more intense books like I do sometimes this one is a great one to read. It was a bit predictable, but the the characters were very likable so it was still a pleasure to read their tale.

“Christmas is a condition of the heart. It’s being open and sincere, generous and kind to those with less, or showing our love to those we cherish.”

Yes, this is a review on a Christmas story and it's only October. But I love Christmas. I love all the decorations. I love Christmas music year round. I love a white Christmas. And I love the true reason for Christmas - the celebration of the birth of the Christ child.

This is a secular Christmas story and I enjoyed it like I've always enjoyed Debbie Macomber's other Christmas books.

Merry Knight (born on December 26th) is working as a temp at a large consulting firm. She lives in Seattle with her family, is 24 years old, has a lot of family responsibilities and is working tons of overtime on a special project so therefore has no time to devote to a love life.

Her mom and her brother think she needs someone in her life and sign her up on an online dating service much to her dismay.

I liked this story a lot. More and more people are turning to online dating and this story lets us readers take a peek into one such online romance.

Fun storyline yet it made me think too. I especially liked how Merry's brother, Patrick, who has Down's Syndrome, was portrayed.

I received this book from Random House through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

Between her temp job with mandatory overtime work and preparing for the holidays, Merry is too busy to think about a social life of any kind. Her mother and younger brother take matters into their own hands and create an online dating profile for her. When she starts chatting online with one of the men, they learn that they have a lot in common. When they decide to meet face-to-face, though, everything changes.

I've always enjoyed the Christmas-themed books by Debbie Macomber, and this book was no exception. While the story is entirely predictable, I like light and 'fluffy' books at this time of year, and I am already looking forward to her next Christmas book.

Fans of Debbie Macomber know that she always releases a Christmas themed novel, and this year that novel is called Merry and Bright. Once again, the author has written a delightful holiday story...one that is a quick and engaging read with characters that are well-written and realistic. Overall, it is the feel good and heartwarming holiday story we've all come to know and expect from author Debbie Macomber at this time of year.

Merry Knight has a full schedule on her hands and no free time to pursue a relationship. She is finishing out her one year contract with Matterson Consulting, a job with a very demanding and by-the-book boss, Jayson Bright. When she isn't at work, she helps take care of her family...especially her eighteen-year-old brother Patrick, who has Down Syndrome. Needless to say, she is caught off guard when she comes home from work to find out her mom and brother signed her up for an online dating service called Mix & Mingle. To make matters even worse, they use a picture of the family dog as her profile picture. Thinking nobody will take her profile seriously, she is surprised when she receives a response.

Jayson Bright is trying to prove to his Uncle Matt that he can handle anything that comes his way at Matterson Consulting, including meeting the deadline that involves the contract with Boeing. This literally takes up all of his time, leaving him with no time for a social life. He receives an unexpected visit from his cousin (Cooper), who is in Seattle on a layover from a business trip. During the visit, Cooper tells Jayson that he met the love of his life and is getting married. He explains that it is a girl from their childhood in which he reconnected with through Mix & Mingle. Curiosity has Jayson checking out the Mix & Mingle website the following day, and that's when a profile picture captures his attention...it is a picture of a golden retriever.

The story that unfolds is perfectly paced and well developed. It is a testament to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, with two characters so devoted to their jobs that they forget to take time for themselves. The online relationship that occurs is quite adorable, and I truly loved the fact that the author found a way to include Patrick. Considering that Patrick is so important to Merry, it was heartwarming to see just how protective he is of her. I loved that both characters chose profile pictures of their dogs...especially since both of them felt it was important to get to know the person, and not judge by their appearance. There are some twists, and the relationship that starts out great online doesn't have the same luck when the truth comes out.
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Overall, this was the heartwarming Christmas story that I have come to love and also look forward to by author Debbie Macomber. Once again, she puts the focus on a message for all to learn from....never let your work stop you from from having personal happiness. It was great seeing Merry share her love of the holiday with Jayson...and seeing him look at it through her eyes as well! I also loved the fact that the author gave a great deal of attention to Patrick, which showed Merry's love and devotion to her family. The use of the dog pictures was a great way to show that people need to look beyond appearances. Debbie Macomber always has an underlying message in her books that make them a worthwhile read.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. My views are my own and are in no way influenced by anyone else.

Just what I needed to take my mind off the news. I devoured this book. Started it before bed intending to read a chapter or two. Forced myself to put it away when I finished Chapter 8 then after watching the news this morning I checked out and finished the book up.
A lovely fun Christmas time story. My very favorite type of romance. They fall for each other not knowing that they actually know each other in real life. Loved it when Rock Hudson and Doris Day did it in Pillowtalk and given that I've watched You've Got Mail 3 times in the past week I obviously still do.
As usual Debbie Macomber not only spins a story you will get lost in. She creates a lovely little setting that you can just fall into. Perfect for the holiday season. A quick fun read that would be great to pick up during the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Every year by the beginning of October I am itching to read a good Christmas romance. Yesterday, on the 1st day of October, I started reading Merry & Bright and it was exactly the type of Christmas novel I love. It was so good I read it all in one sitting! I love the play on words title for the Christmas season with the two main character's names! It just makes this book even more cute. I found myself rooting for Merry and Jayson from the second he created his online dating profile. I loved the humor and romance, and that this could be read in a few short hours since I didn't want to put it down. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a lighthearted romance.

This was a very sweet read, Debbie Macomber has the ability to make you feel all warm and fuzzy with each new book.

I loved it!

MERRY AND BRIGHT by Debbie Macomber is everything you want from a Christmas story and more.

Merry Knight knows the joy and importance of a close-knit family as the Knights have always been there for each other, especially helping out her Mum who has MS and her younger brother Patrick. Taking a year out of college to work, Merry is thriving at her temporary job even if the boss is a curmudgeon, but her social life is definitely at a standstill because she simply doesn't have the time. But when her mum and brother decide to play matchmaker, Merry finds herself in an online romance with Jay, who seems to be her perfect match in every way, but when they arrange to finally meet, a shocking revelation is waiting for them...

I am a huge Debbie Macomber fan and find her books enthralling and beautifully romantic, and MERRY AND BRIGHT is no exception, and it has the added bonus of Christmas loveliness to make it even more perfect! I really enjoyed the characters of Merry and Jay and their deep connection that develops even though they have never seen each other. While they both had completely different childhoods, they both are searching for something meaningful and real, and it was such a pleasure to watch their friendship develop. With plenty of romance, drama, and misunderstandings, MERRY AND BRIGHT by Debbie Macomber is the perfect Christmas read and I highly recommend it!

This is one of my favorite Christmas novels. The story of Jayson Bright and Merry Knight had so many sweet moments! I loved Merry's brother Patrick! I loved how Merry opened Jayson's eyes to some of the joys of Christmas. We should all see the joy in some of the simpler things around us! Debbie Macomber definitely has a knack for writing great Christmas novels. It is one of my favorite genres. This is a must read if you love Christmas stories as much as I do!

“I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.”

Another fantastic read by Debbie Macomber one of my favorite authors. She never disappoints. Great story about family, Christmas spirit, and of course romance. Another winner for this author. Can't wait for her next book.