I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Debbie Macomber out did herself again. This story was super cute and sweet.

Merry is a hard working temp who spends her free time taking care of her parents and her brother and Jayson is a grinch/scrooge of a fellow who never grew up in a loving family environment. Merry and Jayson meet on a dating website but little do they know they work together.

I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and book club.

As I started reading Debbie Macomber's book Merry and Bright, I knew I was not going to put the book down until I finished it. I really liked all of the characters in the book and the story. I just loved the book and hopefully it will be made into a Hallmark movie.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of this book for allowing me to read this for my honest review!!

Book reminded me a lot of the movie You Got Mail. This is a precious Christmas story. Great Christmas story.
What do you do when you have a boss you think is very rude and mean? You have a special needs brother that wants to do something special for your birthday so he and your mom sign you up for an online dating website. You do find someone or should I say your brother finds someone for you to correspond with..
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

I loved reading "Merry and Bright"! Very relatable characters and a story that builds from the beginning and does not quit until the end. It is about family, relationships, work, and finding love when it has been right in front of you the entire time. Jayson and Merry both deserve happiness but can Jayson get from behind his stodgy attitude and Merry from behind her shyness? Read it and find out!

My Review: I have become obsessed with Debbie Macomber's Christmas books over the past few years and have kept up with reading each of her new releases. While this book, as with many of her Christmas books of years past, tend to be predictable and follow along common tropes, they always have that warm fuzzy holiday feeling that I look for. I adored the characters in this book, especially Merry's family with all their loving and yet meddling ways. There were so many elements to love in this story and great messages about taking time out of your schedule to enjoy the true meaning of the holiday, about not judging people by their looks or even their attitudes as there is often more behind the facade. Simply a sweet romance that you can invest yourself into for a few hours during the holiday season.

Merry and Bright
Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber has a gift for portraying regular people in a way that makes the reader understand that no one is really “regular.” In this remake of a “you’ve got mail” kind of story, Merry Knight struggles to earn the money for her tuition as a temp while helping her mother, afflicted with MS, her brother Patrick, whose down syndrome seems more beautiful characterization than disability, and her overworked father make ends meet. She’s working for Boeing, helping to get a final bid out to a customer before Christmas, and works overtime so often she has no time for a life of her own.
Feeling bad about that, her Mother and Patrick sign her up for an online dating site. They upload a picture of the family dog as her profile, and soon she is chatting with a man who also uses his dog as his photo.
Merry doesn’t realize that the charming Jay is really her irritating boss, Jayson Bright. The series of near misses and endearing communications, along with the interference of the trusting Patrick makes this a warm and funny Christmas story. A perfect read for the busy holiday season where everyone wants to feel a little Merry and Bright and in love.

Who doesn't love a good Christmas book? This was my first book by Debbie Macomber and I loved it. The story line was one of love and understanding and the characters were easy to like. If you need a feel good story you will want to read this. She may be my new favorite author!

Merry Smith's mother and brother sign her up on a dating site. She finds herself chatting with a person with similar interests. Is this going to be the start of something exceptional? You bet. A great story as only Debbie Macomber can write. Once you start it, you will not want to put it down.

Quick read for those who like holiday reads and the writing of Debbie Macomber. Enjoyable characters.

always enjoy the yearly Christmas novel from Debbie Macomber. This year, things take on a You've Got Mail vibe, but with the characters connecting through a dating site called Mix and Mingle. That anonymity and a misspelled name set the stage for a fun courtship that takes the read right up to the holidays.

Do you like lighthearted Christmas romance stories?
Well, if your answer is yes, then this book will not disappoint! Merry (aka Mary) Knight is working on a temp assignment at Jayson (aka Jay) Bright’s company. When her mother and brother sign her up for an online dating service, she’s hesitant. She’s so busy working that she has no time for romance. Meanwhile, Jayson Bright is a curmudgeon workaholic from a dysfunctional family.
He’s also Merry’s boss. When they meet online, they don’t realize that they are already connected to one another.
I really liked Merry. She’s a hard worker and she likes the simple things in life. I liked Jay, but, felt he had some growing up to do. However, his bad-temper was partially due to his sad childhood, and it was understandable why he was so grumpy.
The way the story plays out is funny and romantic. I also loved how Merry dealt with the issues in her own life (outside of dating). Her mom is sick and her brother has special needs. In spite of all this, she mostly remains happy and carefree with an optimistic look on life, for the most part.
I also loved reading about Christmas! The holiday scenery and decorations, the way they were described, was so much fun to read about!

Enjoyable holiday story. I will be recommending this for my holiday book club.

Merry and Bright, though holding no surprises, is a sweet and enjoyable holiday read, sure to join my list of annual Christmas Reads. Debbie Macomber, as always, has written a book filled with warmth, the importance of family and how love can brighten the darkest soul. 

Merry Knight has been blessed with a warm, loving family, though they are far from rich—a situation that forces Merry to postpone her final year of college in order to work full time to make money to pay for it. As a temporary working, HR doesn’t even care that her name is spelled incorrectly on her nameplate. Her boss, the dour and strictly-by-the-book Jayson Bright, makes her life difficult, enforcing mandatory overtime and every rule in the handbook all without cracking a smile. The long hours, combined with her family responsibilities, leave Merry little or no time to socialize. Her mother, Robin, and her brother, Patrick, sign her up for a dating website, where she meets “Jay,” the alter ego of Jayson. Initially neither is aware of the other’s identity. Over the course of the book, their online encounters begin to loosen up Jayson, which leads to a thawing in the relationship between “Mary” and Bright. 

This is an enjoyable, quick read which I enjoyed very much. I recommend it to fans of Debbie Macomber, romances, and books set during the holiday season. Three and a half stars.

I was given a copy of this by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.

Merry Knight doesn’t have time for dating. Between a big project at work with her demanding boss, helping her mom, and spending time with her brother, who has time for dating? Sure, it would be nice, but she has more important things to worry about right now. Then her well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for Merry, and dating looks like it just might happen.

Soon Merry is chatting online with a charming stranger, and hopes to get to know him better. Until they meet in person, and she finds out he’s the last man she could ever actually date. Now Merry is torn between the kind man she knows online—and the all-business person she knows in real life.

I’m not going to lie: the only reason I read this was because of the author. I generally avoid Christmas tales, because the commercialism of the season disgusts me, and the fact that stores put Christmas decorations out in September drives me up the wall. But this was a very sweet, satisfying read, with some touches of humor. Merry’s family, especially her brother, add so much to the story, and I actually finished reading this in just a few hours. (I’m ashamed to say I didn’t catch the significance of the title until I finished the book.) A lovely, uplifting story, that just might get you in the Christmas spirit.

(Galley provided by Ballantine Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Such a cute story. This was a read in one day book. The flow was quick but detailed and fun. The characters were well developed and I felt like I knew them. The story was predictable at the beginning but the author included plenty of plot twists and turns that kept the reader interested. I couldn't put the book down. It's Christmasy but not over christmasy. It can be read at any time of the year. Great story to snuggle up on a couch with a blanket and warm drink.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a cute holiday read. I have loved every Debbie Macomber book I have read so I was really looking forward to reading this Christmas story and I thought it was fantastic. Definitely recommend it.

First, romance isn’t a genre that I typically read because it can feel a little cheesy and unrealistic, but I was intrigued by this book for a light, fun read. It was perfect, not at all cheesy!

Second, I love, love, loved the opening letter from Debbie. It felt like I was reading a letter from a dear friend. It instantly put me on a trajectory of loving the book (almost no matter what).

Third, the characters were incredibly relatable. I saw bits of myself in Merry, and my own family reflected hers in some ways. I really enjoyed the character of Jayson Bright, it was easy to love him and hate him all at the same time. I can appreciate the writing skill it took to find that perfect balance for his character. Patrick was awesome! His innocence in his involvement was so enjoyable throughout the story. Also, I loved the misspelling of the nameplate that is the foundation of being able to tell Merry from Mary as the story progresses. It was so clever and created great dimension to the 2 characters in 1.

Overall, the book had a lot of great laugh-out-loud moments and one-liners, as well as a lot of great really touching moments. I was very emotionally invested in the story by the end of the first chapter.

Finally, I loved the ending. I couldn’t put the book down, and I didn’t want it to end but I actually felt like it all wrapped up really well. Nothing was left hanging or unaddressed. I’ve read a lot of books lately that have started out great, then lost momentum as if the writer was rushed for a deadline and couldn’t give as much focus and detail to the story. This was not one of them. I felt like Debbie maintained great attention to detail and development of the story all the way through to the end.

Debbie Macomber is a highly requested author in my store. I always order copies for the store and call customers to let them know she has a new release. I really like her characters and settings. This is a great romance read and I highly recommend it