I love Debbie Macombers books. This is not my first book that I have read of hers, and certainly not the last. Alaskan holiday is a beautiful love story. Josie is a new chef working at a lodge during the in season in Ponder, Alaska. Palmer is a swordsman, who lives in a remote part of Alaska. Josie's stay in Ponder is for six months, she has a job starting a new hip restaurant in Seattle, Palmer wants Josie to stay and be his wife, but she is torn beteween the love of Palmer, and the dreams that she would accomplish in Seattle. This book was very sweet. I had. a hard time putting down. The imagery of Alaska described by author Debbie Macomber, makes me want to visit some day. Just not during the winter though.

Josie Avery got a job working in the kitchen of a lakeside lodge in the small town of Ponder, Alaska. The job was just to keep her busy until her internship with Chef Anton started in Seattle. She was really excited for this coveted opportunity, but there was something she never expected..... she fell in love. The only problem is, Palmer lives in Ponder, and Ponder isn't exactly brimming with job opportunities for an up-and-coming chef.

This book was a fun, quick read. If you need something light and uplifting, then this is the perfect book to choose!

In the small town of Ponder, Alaska, things close up during the winter and only a few people stay behind when the town closes up. This is the exact reason why Josie needs to make sure she gets on the last ferry so she can get to her new sous chef job in Seattle. But with a bumbling proposal and a night of tossing and turning, the ferry leaves without her. But now does Palmer have time to woo her correctly and make up for the horrible proposal? Or will Josie find another way to get to Seattle, even though her heart is still in Alaska? With adorable characters and a storyline that had me laughing out loud and hoping for a HEA this was a great read. Once again Debbie Macomber creates characters we cannot help but fall in love with them.

Alaskan Holiday – Debbie Macomber
I was fortunate to receive this novel from Netgalley.com as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.
Josie Avery is a culinary school graduate and is anxiously awaiting her chance to begin studying under famed Chef Anton, when his newest restaurant opens in Seattle, come winter. For the time being, she’s cooking for a lodge up in Ponder, Alaska, a small, quiet town, north of Fairbanks. Accessible only by cargo plane, or ferry, Ponder is pretty remote, although they fairly recently received internet service.
Palmer Saxon is a native Alaskan and swordsmith, who has become a constant companion to Josie during her time there, as has Hobo, his beautiful Husky. Although their relationship has been nothing more than hand holding and kisses, Palmer is pretty sure that he wants Josie to remain in his life. Josie too, feels love for Palmer, and is torn between him and the opportunity that awaits her back in Seattle.
Jack Corcoran is an older, never married gentleman, who loves Josie’s cooking, and eats at the lodge every night. A curmudgeon at best, Jack too would like to see Josie stay, and Josie finds in him, the father figure that she never had. But, as autumn and snow arrive, despite a missed ferry ride, Josie finds her way to Seattle to begin her new career.
As the distance looms between them, daily conversations and texts become more and more sparse, and then Palmer chances to see a picture on Josie’s Facebook page that leads him to believe he is losing Josie. So, Palmer and Jack hatch a plan to go to Seattle to see her…
This was such a sweet, romantic story, and a perfect read for an early autumn day! I could almost see the snow falling in Alaska, and was cheering on Palmer and Jack as they plotted to get Josie back to Ponder, where clearly, she belongs! A quick, fun, read to get you in the mood for the coming holidays!!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this story. It was a quick, easy, breezy read and sweet, too.

Josie has finished culinary school and her dream job is in her future with a top chef, but that is six months away, so she accepts a job as a chef in small town in Ponder, AK. She enjoys her time there and will miss all of her new friends, especially Palmer, but is intent to leave to start her new career at the end of 6 months.

Palmer is in love, he knows he needs to tell Josie how he feels before she leaves, but manages to overwhelm her with a marriage proposal. While josie has strong feelings for Palmer, she is focused on her career and needs to follow through with her plan.

The two try to manage their relationship long distance, but the distance is is too much and Palmer is feeling like he is losing Josie. The story comes together because this author had added comical supporting characters that give the story the right balance of humor and requited feelings to make the story sweet. This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more from this author.

4.5 stars


4.5 stars
I am a long time fan of Macomber’s books. I was beyond thrilled to find a new book of hers set during the Christmas season. I read it in one day!

An Alaskan Holiday is a refreshingly sweet, clean and light-hearted romance novel set in a very small and remote village in Alaska. Once again, Debbie Macomber has delivered an incredibly enjoyable book. I was drawn in on page one by the true to life, utterly believable and charming characters. The quirks of Jack are especially entertaining!

The plot is well developed and I would love to see this book become part of a series, as I would really love to read more of Jack, Josie and Palmer’s lives. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy, funny and romantic read, one which is clean with no swearing or sex.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Ballantine Books. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #AlaskanHoliday #NetGalley #Ballantine

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

Alaskan Holiday is a sweet romance written by author Debbie Macomber. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the advance copy.

This is the perfect book to read when the weather is in the upper '90's and I'm sweating where women should never sweat! I thought this book was about Christmas but it really wasn't. The story does have a holiday feel but maybe that's because it is set in Alaska. Josie has dreams of becoming a famous chef and the dream job awaits in Seattle. Palmer really complicates her plan when he proposes marriage the night before she is to leave the beautiful little town of Ponder, Alaska. After all her job in the town was only temporary. She HAD to get back to Seattle to begin her plan to become a famous chef! And the last boat out of Ponder leaves first thing in the morning. Josie doesn't love Palmer even though his kisses make her toes curl up and the beauty of the isolated little town is starting to grow on her. Without giving away too much leaving isn't as easy as Josie thought and maybe her future plans need some rethinking! Debbie Macomber has delivered another wonderful holiday book! I'm already imagining who will play the lead roles when Alaskan Holiday is made into a movie!
I voluntarily received this book through Netgalley.

I was a little disappointed in this book. I was expecting a Christmas book like she usually puts out this time of the year, but that’s not what this was. Instead it’s about a guy and girl who meet in Alaska and fall in love. But he lives there and she lives in Seattle. Felt like the book was just a Will They/Won’t They thing. Kind of boring.

I"m used to Debbie Macomber's books being material for Hallmark movies, however, this one fell flat. Sorry, I can't take any story seriously where the leading man is a swordsmith in bush Alaska. I also found the dual first-person narratives to be distracting. Disappointing, because I usually like her Christmas novels.

A short sweet novel by Macomber set in remote Alaska. Palmer has fallen in love with the seasonal chef, Josie, and awkwardly proposes to her the night before she is supposed to leave. She turns him down, but her stay is extended and they develop an even closer bond. Circumstances bring them back together In Seattle, where they decide they have to be together. It all works out in the end, something you can rely upon from Macomber's novels. My favorite person is the irrepressible and incorrigible Jack, although the dinner scene at Josie's house and how Jack acted, was a bit stretched. A nice read.

I finished this book in less than 2 hours. I could not put it down. Absolutely beautiful, gorgeous and the backdrop of Alaska is just perfect. Great read to cuddle up with tea or hot cocca this holiday season!

Josie meets Palmer while in the small Alaskan town of Ponder for a working holiday. She accepted a short-term position as a chef while waiting for a prestigious new restaurant for which she had been hired to open. She and Palmer spend a lot of time together and fall in love. However, Josie isn’t ready to commit to staying in Ponder for fear that she would eventually regret not taking what she believes would be a wonderful opportunity to work at a new restaurant owned by a renowned chef. As they say, absence does make the heart grow fonder after Josie leaves Ponder. She comes to realize that love was worth taking a risk on.

Another fun romp, this time in Alaska. Sweet and easy reading, she holds the top spot as most readable.

I enjoyed reading this fun story of love in Alaska. Macomber does a beautiful job creating an incredible setting. I felt like I was shivering in the cold along with Josie. Palmer is a sweet guy with a big heart. I found his swordsmithing to be an interesting occupation. And Jack is a hoot. He adds a comedic air to the story. If you enjoy a sweet, holiday romance with quirky characters and a beautiful setting, you'll enjoy Debbie Macomber's latest book, Alaskan Holiday. By the way, be prepared for a few surprises! I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another great addition to Ms. Macomber long list of wonderful books. Josie is getting ready to head back to Seattle after working for the season in Ponder Alaska as a chef. While there she falls for Palmer a welder who specializes in making swords. He proposes to her thinking that will let her stay and not leave but she told him her dream of always being a chef and the job that's waiting for her. They promise to stay in touch and see what will become of their relationship. A sweet storyline and Jack Palmer's friend brings the comedic relief. Review on goodreads and amazon.

Josie has just graduated from culinary school. She has come to Ponder, Alaska as chef at the lodge during the tourist season. Josie is looking forward to a future job in Seattle with a well known chef, the opportunity of a lifetime. She and Palmer, a local resident become great friends and fall in love. Staying in Ponder doesn’t fit Josies dreams so she is torn.

This is a light, fast feel good romance. I loved the character Jack, he is one of a kind!
Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I received this ARC from Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I give this book 5 stars! Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber is a feel-good read. I have always loved Debbie's writing style. Set in Alaska (hence the title) this particular story is about Palmer and Josie's love story. It's a light and easy read that made me wish for a relaxing winter evening by a blazing fire. If you're looking for a light read with a happy-ever-after ending, Debbie Macomber does not disappoint with Alaskan Holiday!

This is a weak plot line for Debbie Macomber. Previously, I loved her characters and she is wonderful at "fleshing" them out. This time, I felt all the characters were very two dimensional, i.e., Jack constantly talking about food or Anton being a megalomaniac. I knew after the first chapter Josie and Palmer would get together so there was no tension.. The promised Christmas magic was incidental rather than integral to the story.