Wow, all I can say is, this story blew me away! Keep the tissues close by as you are reading ALASKAN HOLIDAY by Debbie Macomber. She will have your emotions all over the place. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop! The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Josie and Palmer after so much heartache! What an awesome story. All of Debbie’s characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again. You will also wonder how much heartache a person can stand before they completely break down and shatter.

ALASKAN HOLIDAY is all about family and the past and the secrets that come out are heart tugging. It had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. I had to know what was going to happen to Palmer and Josie and all the secondary characters. Josie is only supposed to be chef at the lodge for the summer. When the season is over she is supposed to catch the ferry with everyone and leave. Well, that doesn’t happen! ALASKAN HOLIDAY is a heart tugging story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down! You also won’t be able to stop yourself from laughing at Jack and his schemes!

ALASKAN HOLIDAY is without a doubt one of the my top books I’ve read in 2019 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. My heart broke for Josie and her dream job! I really wanted her to fly back to Ponder, Alaska and Palmer. How could she walk away from him? Debbie Macomber really knows how to write about family drama, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author. I have many of her older books to read and that brings me so much joy and happiness to know they are waiting for me!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Very sweet story despite its tragic beginning. A Classic Debbie Macomber tale with a hopeful ending.

Alaskan Holiday is not my cup of tea, but I do have patrons that will enjoy this book. Thank you for the advanced copy.

I LOVE anything Debbie Macomber writes, but I think I found my favorite of hers! I truly could not put down at all!!

I just love her books. Light and “feel good” in this crazy world! I always look forward to her books.

I fell in love with Ponder and now I want to move there and live in that story book world. Palmer's proposal to Josie doesn't go quite the way he expects and she leaves Alaska for a chef job. I enjoyed the story that developed throughout this novel between the two which was super romantic, and has me really wishing to go to Alaska for a visit (it has always been on my bucket list!) but the true shinning star of the book is Jack, Josie's older friend that is almost like a surrogate dad for her. I enjoy their relationship just as much as hers with Palmer. I hope Debbie Macomber does a follow up story for this awesome couple next holiday season or maybe even a novel for Jack and a love interest would be fun as well!

I loved the idea of the book, and I loved the location. I got a little annoyed with the main characters at times because they were not acting very bright. It was marketed as a Christmas book, and the cover led me to believe that it would be, but there was very little Christmas to the story and that disappointed me. I did enjoy the ending, and I can see myself reading it again someday.

Although I love all Debbie Macomber books, this one was not my favorite. I felt like the story dragged & it didn't draw me in as much as her books usually do. I always look forward to a new book by her, but this time I was disappointed.

I read romances as a break from other genres. I enjoy Debbie Macomber books because they entertain without a lot of serious thought or controversial topics. A good love story that ends as expected but gives you an entertaining story along the way. Ms Macomber stayed pretty honest with her Alaska themes and settings which makes the stories easier to read.

I loved reading this book from beginning to end. The innocence and magical sparks of Josie and Palmer made me smile a lot. The friends and family involved in their lives brought warmth, love and humor. It all came together in a way only Debbie Macomber can do. Book provided by NetGalley.

This is a quick easy read for the busy holiday season. I usually love everything Debbie Macomber writes but this one was just an okay story. Josie goes to remote Alaska for a summer to cook in a tourist lodge. She meets Palmer and they begin a romance but she has no intentions of staying around when summer ends. She misses the last ferry at season's end and almost misses her chance for love with her actions. Of course being a Christmas story and a Debbie Macomber book, you know it has a happy ending. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber takes readers to Ponder, Alaska. Josie Avery has spent the last six months working as the chef at Caribou Lake Lodge. The season is over, and Josie is heading back to Seattle to start her new position as sous chef at Chef Douglas Anton’s new restaurant. Josie will miss Alaska, the freedom to create unique dishes with local game, Jack Corcoran who supplies game to the lodge and loves to eat, and will especially miss swordsmith, Palmer Saxon. Josie and Palmer spent many hours together during the season. But her mother is her only family and she lives in Seattle. Plus, working for Chef Anton is a wonderful opportunity and she has worked hard to obtain her culinary training. Palmer proposes the night before Josie departs, but she feels she cannot stay (though she is very tempted). The next morning, Josie awakens late and learns she missed the last ferry out of Ponder. Jack insists that this is Palmer’s chance to convince Josie to stay in their rustic town (and keep cooking her delicious food). When Josie finally departs for Seattle, the pair want to make their long distance relationship work. Palmer is willing to give Josie the time and space she needs. Reality gets in the way of their plans and a picture of Josie with the handsome chef awakens the green eyed monster in Palmer. Can the magic of Christmas find a way to bring these two star-crossed lovers together?

Alaskan Holiday is a charming story. I loved Debbie Macomber’s descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness and the people who live in Ponder. Jack Corcoran’s is a delightful character. He is rough around the edges, but a softy inside. He loves to eat and wants to keep his favorite chef in Alaska. Jack provides plenty of humor in Alaskan Holiday. Josie has fallen for the quiet, rugged Palmer Saxon who is a master swordsmith. But she does not want to leave her mother alone in Seattle plus she has gotten her dream job of working for a big name chef. But if two people love each other, life has a way of working things out. Compromise is the key to any relationship. I thought Alaskan Holiday was well-written, with engaging characters and a good flow. While the story does have an expected outcome, it did not hinder my reading pleasure. Debbie Macomber has a way of drawing readers into her books and keeping them entertained. I am giving Alaskan Holiday 4 out of 5 stars. Alaskan Holiday is a light, feel good story which is just what we need during the holiday season.

Debbie Macomber delivers as always. Great Christmas read with well defined characters and a great story set in an unusual setting. I loved this book from beginning to end and I loved the feeling I had when I finished. It really put me in the holiday spirit!

This is a light romance that would be recommended for Debbie Macomber fans. I think you would like it.

I've never thought about those that actually brave the bitter cold and make Alaska their home. Though fictitious, Alaskan Holiday gives you a glimpse into what Alaskan life can be like for some, and while I enjoy reading about the circumstances of others, there is no way I could trade my southern sun for all that snow.

Palmer, the hunky Alaskan that cares for the simple things in life, has fallen for Josie, the career-focused Seattleite chef, that was only supposed to be in Ponder temporarily, but has extended her stay longer than expected due to extenuating circumstances. It is during this brief trip to Alaska that Palmer and Josie have developed a connection but, as is real life, it's complicated than that, and becomes even more so when Palmer asks Josie to marry him the night before she's supposed to head back to Seattle, where she has her dream job waiting.

What follows is a tug of war of emotions between Palmer and Josie that is utterly charming, making it hard for us as the reader to not fall in love ourselves! The snowy setting is vivid and bright, coming alive for the reader as a true beauty to behold, and renewing my craving to one day travel to both Alaska and Seattle.

Alaskan Holiday is a fun read, even though the holidays are over. The progression of the story is wonderful, the book being well written, and since I was able to read it while traveling during the holidays it made the story that much sweeter! You really do want to see these crazy kids figure out their prospective situations and find a way to be together. Shouldn't love always find a way??

I liked that the characters diverged from some of the romance novel stereotypes and included those outside the couple, especially the inclusion of Jack as a friend who Josie comes to see as family. I haven't finished this yet and am interested to see how the characters resolve some of the conflict.

As I did not get to this book in time for review, I wound up buying a copy for myself. This is classic Debbie Macomber, it hits right in the feels, particularly good for getting in the holiday mood. A chef and a swordsmith, a little drama and an Alaskan backdrop. Well worth a purchase.

Palmer, a master swordsmith who lives in Ponder Alaska is contemplating settling down. He is quickly approaching his thirties and feels that the time might be right to finally find himself a wife. Luckily for him he meets Josie, a sous chef at The Caribou Lake Lodge. However Josie is a native of Seattle and her job in Alaska is temporary an ending soon when the lodge closes for the winter.

Josie is independent and is very dedicated to her work. She loves to cook and is great at managing. She manages to score a job working for a very famous chef in Seattle, but while she is waiting to start that job, she’s been in Ponder for six months working at the lodge.

Even though Josie and Palmer seemed cute together, I didn't feel connected to the characters. I would have loved to watch their relationship bloom from their first meeting up until the end of the story. I think because I never got the chance to see the relationship grow, that hindered me from feeling connected to the characters and also from being invested in their relationship/outcome. The romance was okay but it just didn't make me swoon. The author made it seem like Palmer was a little socially awkward, however seeing his interactions with not only Josie but Jack and other townspeople as well, I didn't get that feeling. So the way he proposed to Josie at the beginning of the story seemed slightly out of character, even if he isn't a “romantic". But by the end Palmer redeemed himself in my eyes. Everyone got their happy ending and I was happy. The Epilogue was perfect!

Interesting thing about this story is that it didn't feel very holiday-ish or Christmassy, despite the name. I wouldn't call it a Christmas romance since the holidays are glossed over in this story, but it does take place during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Alaskan Holiday is a light and fluffy contemporary romance perfect for readers who enjoy their love stories with HEA endings.


RATING: 2½-3 out of 5.

Once again a great book. This book took place in a setting that most of us will never get to see. such a great love story. Could not put the book down.

Debbie Macomber never disappoints. I like this book. The writing flows well, as usual and the characters are well developed. There is a lit to love about this book. Thanks netgalley fir tge guft of the arc, the opinion in this review is soley my own.