If a perfect Christmas story exists, this comes really close. The Perfect Love Song reminds me of that story, one you read over and over just to get into the mood for the season. I loved Charlotte and Jimmy's budding relationship and the way they both learn that love is better than anything else. I recommend this beautiful book to those looking for something inspiring and for those who love watching Hallmark movies. Definitely a must read.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to review this enchanting story. Opinions are mine.

The Perfect Long Song is the perfect Christmas tale of love and redemption. It is a short story yet packs a powerfully emotional punch. Jimmy has a rough, raw edge to him that sweet and kind Charlotte sees straight through. A new relationship is born out of honesty and vulnerability, but the cost of success is expensive, in every possible way. I loved how the characters drew me in right away and left me holding my breath hoping and praying for the right outcome.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this Christmas story! I agree with the other reviewers that it seems destined to be a Hallmark movie. Really great and sentimental love story. I really like this author.

This story is destined to be a Hallmark Christmas movie. The story is a bit predictable but most Christmas stories are. I still enjoyed the characters and the plot.

At first, I wasn't sure what to think of this story, but I am so glad that I kept on reading it. This is story includes a myth, two lost and found loves, hope and redemption. It is about finding the one you love and then losing them for awhile and then finding them again. It is about not losing hope or faith. It is about the strength of family and friends that are family and about strangers that go above and beyond. It is about how one woman's story of love filled with mythology from her home in Ireland, touches the lives of Kara, Jack, Charlotte and Jimmy and shows them the meaning of believing in true love. I think this book fits in beautifully with the meaning of Christmas and I believe that many of those who read it will be touched with its messages. I am also looking forward to making the shortbread cookie recipe featured in the back.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story was sweet and there was definitely potential for me to completely love but the set up of the story felt a bit off for me. Not having read Jack and Kara's story, it felt a little abrupt how the characters all interacted without having any backstory to explain certain events that happened previously.

I kind of missed the falling in love part for the MCs. I liked both Jimmy and Charlotte, they were both so supportive, affectionate and in love with each other, I couldn’t help it. But I would have loved to get their whole story. I would have appreciated their love story a lot more if I was there from the beginning. One of the best parts of a romance is how it began but this one started after they’d already fallen in love so you miss all the moments before that built up their relationship.

The Perfect Love Song is about Jimmy and Charlotte, they met and fell in love (prior to this book) and have been seriously dating and in love with each other for a while now. During one of Jimmy’s quick trips home, he and Charlotte put music to one of her poems. It was meant to be a sweet song, just for them but when he shares it in front of a crowd, the song’s popularity throws both Jimmy and Charlotte for a tail spin.

Their love song quickly becomes the perfect Christmas song of the year, pulling Jimmy into instant fame and stardom. Things quickly become chaotic when Jimmy loses sight of what’s important and puts his relationship in jeopardy with his poor decision making.

Overall, this was a cute Christmas romance with likable characters and a redeeming hero who sets out to make amends for his crappy way of handling certain things. It was low on drama and full of forgiveness. It’s a clean, wholesome, Christmas romance.

Jimmy and Jack Sullivan, brothers and co-founders of the country group Unknown Souls, return to Seaboro, South Carolina in a fateful trip that will change both of their lives—but especially Jimmy’s. Jack returns because his true love, Kara Larson, found him after almost marrying someone else. Jimmy returns because he’s falling in love with Kara’s best friend, Charlotte Carrington.

Coming to Seaboro dredges up memories Jimmy would rather forget—memories of the house they’d left on Christmas day and the father they’d left behind with no regrets. But something about Charlotte and the light shining from her eyes starts to heal the memories.

That evening, without even trying, Charlotte and Jimmy write a song together—a song about friendship, love, and coming home to the one you love. A song about how music can save us—a perfect love song.

When Jimmy gets a chance to perform the song as an opening act for two big-name country stars in a special holiday tour, he jumps at it. He’ll make enough money to keep the band going and maybe find enough fame to help it rise above playing in bars and to tiny crowds.

Loneliness and feeling alienated from everyone he loves come as an unexpected consequence of Jimmy’s solo gig. He buys a Claddagh ring, and plans to propose to Charlotte. The strain of fame and touring take their toll, though, and Jimmy’s feelings of isolation increase. Will he make the right decision before he loses everything he holds dear?

A sweet Christmas story about true love, making good choices, and learning to live with hope for grace-filled gifts.

This was an unusual story as I haven’t seen anything in the Christian market with the main character being in the music business. I enjoyed the story and the main characters’ personalities. I felt that there were some story strings left undone or shortened more than I would like, but I was rooting for Jimmy and Charlotte to figure out how to make their love story work. I was intrigued with the setting in Ireland at the end but would have loved to be more immersed in the location. All in all a good read.

The Sullivan brothers, Jack and Jimmy are members of a touring band. Jack is engaged to Kara and Jimmy has fallen for Charlotte, Kara's best friend. The band has Thanksgiving dinner at Kara's where Jack and Kara plan to get married at Christmas in Ireland. Jimmy and Charlotte write a song together that becomes an instant hit and results in Jimmy being offered the opportunity to tour with a famous band over the time leading up to Christmas. He becomes well known and the fans love him. Will fame go to his head? Will this interfere with his participation in Jack's wedding? A perfect holiday story with loveable characters. I couldn't put it down.

I had the opportunity of reading this heartwarming, lyrical, and beautiful book years ago and was delighted to find new content and cover for THE PERFECT LOVE SONG, by the talented NYT bestselling author, storyteller, and one of my favorites—Patti Callahan Henry.

"The truth inside the story is what the storyteller aims for."
—Maeve Mahoney to Kara Larson

Can one song save a life?

Meet Jimmy and Jack and Kara and Charlotte. A beautiful journey of music, lost love, myth, and a Christmas miracle or two. An inspiring novel of love, music, hope, and redemption.

Elegantly packaged, the hardcover copy is stunning! My top Holiday book for 2019. 🌲 If you missed this story the first time around, here is your chance to read a moving holiday Christmas story. Who says you cannot experience Christmas in October?

A perfect gift 🧧 for the upcoming holidays. 🎁 Available in e-book, hardcover, audiobook, and audio CD formats.

Bonus Content ❄ Included:
Shortbread Recipe (yum)
Charlotte's Southern Garland (a must)
The Legend of the Claddagh Ring (very intriguing)
The Story Behind the Story (a given for Patti)
Discussion Questions (ideal for book clubs) and
An excerpt from the bestselling novel Becoming Mrs. Lewis (a must-read)

If you have not read Becoming Mrs. Lewis highly recommend. It is beautifully written, meticulously researched, and fascinating. You will enjoy Patti's journey with Joy!

View my Q&A with the Author. Becoming Mrs. Lewis. (blog)

There is a lot packed in this small gift and assured to get you in the holiday spirit! 🌲 A gem.

If you love Ireland, Christmas holidays, the Low Country, magical love stories, music, and legends of the past, this one is for you. Patti is a master storyteller and she does not disappoint. There is always a "story behind the story."

THE PERFECT LOVE SONG has all the makings for a Hallmark Christmas series! For fans of the TV series, "Chesapeake Shores" and book series by another favorite author, Sherryl Woods. You will even find the Irish connection (similar to the O'Brien family) and the music (similar to Jesse Metcalfe/Trace Riley). Swoon!

Highly Recommend!

"May stillness be upon your thoughts and silence upon your tongue!
For I tell you a tale that was told at the beginning . . .
the one story worth the telling."
—A Traditional Irish Storyteller's opening

Check out Patti's The Perfect Love Song web page.

If you have not listened to Patti's new "Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis Podcast," you can listen and download the episodes HERE! One of the BEST!

A special thank you to Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

#JDCMustReadBooks

Everything about this book should have ended up right up my alley for a perfect, holiday-themed romance read. However, I struggled to get into this book and it’s not a book I just want to keep reading more and more. While it’s well-written, there’s a lot of different plots and perspectives that had me confused. That being said, in terms of Christmas romance book, it is very cute. But as I settled into it more, it is very sweet and cute, like a comforting blanket.

I read a lot of different kinds of stories, and have never till now find one I just couldn't finish. This book was hard to get into, hard to keep reading, and I stopped at about 25 %. It was like watching a soap opera on TV.
I don't like writing bad reviews for books, and try really hard to finish any ARC sent to me. This was just too much drama and nothing else. The brothers had a hard time as children, with a mean father, which there mother leaves.
They find women to love, try to get over the past.... All of this in first 25% of book.
There was no intrigue or suspense just lots of family drama. I read for entertainment, to fall into a story in places I will never see and characters one can feel what is going on.
I'm sure others did not see this book as a penny novel, due to some of the reviews.
If you like harlequin romance this may be a book for you. I did not read enough to know if this a clean story or not.
I received an ARC from the author.

A really quick read for me.
Jimmy and Charlotte are in love.
Jimmy’s brother Jack and Charlotte’s best friend Kara are engaged.

Jimmy and Jack are also in a country band together.

When Jimmy and Charlotte write a song together, Jimmy sings it once in a bar and someone important hears it.
He insists to Jimmy that it’s the perfect Christmas song. With some pressure, he convinces Jimmy to go on a solo run singing the song on a tour with another group.

Jimmy convinces himself it’s what’s best for his band.

It’s definitely not what’s best for his girlfriend.
And it’s not best for his brother either, because it’s cutting it pretty closer to Jack’s wedding to Kara.
The wedding is in Ireland, if he doesn’t make it back in time he will miss the wedding.

This book really really feels like it’s part of a series. It’s not listed as a series book. But I’m going to look further into it. Cause I feel like these couples must have been established in another book. And if they haven’t? Then it feels like we jumped over the backstory too quickly.

The story was cute but I felt like I didn’t know the characters well enough.

I got to read an early copy from NetGalley. Thanks

Typically, I just devour books, usually in one sitting. My reading experience with The Perfect Love Song was very different. It took me several attempts, over a couple of weeks, before I finally was able to sit down and read more than 5 or 10 pages at a time. There was just too much going on in the story that didn't grab my interest and move the story along. That said, I can see it turned into a Hallmark Christmas movie.

This is a sweet Christmas story about music, love and family. What is the most important thing about Christmas? It’s all in this book!

Sweet contemporary Christmas story. The formatting is the only reason it didn’t get 5 stars. There were numerous Thomas Nelson 1798. Ms. Henry did a wonderful job making the laid back country band. Jimmy and Jack had a rough childhood but used music as their way to escape. Now as adults Jimmy sings with the band but it’s hard to be recognized. He’s fallen for his brothers fiancé’s best friend, Charlotte. There are a lot of ups and downs and it’s especially hard to deal with during the holidays and while Jimmy’s on the road. I received a complementary copy of the book via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Callahan Henry.

Title: The Perfect Love Song
Author: Patti Callahan Henry
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"The Perfect Love Song" by Patti Callahan Henry

My Rationalization:

Good Christmas story which extended into a wedding that was held in Ireland and bringing in the story about the 'Claddagh Ring.' I loved how this author was able to bring in lots of the traditions of Ireland in this lyrical tribute to love. It was interesting seeing these two brothers [Jimmy & Jack] who had a band The Unknown Souls who were dating two best friends Charlotte and Kara. What will happen as Jimmy & Charlotte during Thanksgiving together writes a love song called 'Unexpected.' However, when it was sung by his band at a 'Holiday Jingle Jam concert' a Milton Bartholomew [concert promoter] who was listening thought it was more of a Christmas song... and the story will take off. Now to truly understand what all is going on you will have to pick up "The Perfect Love Song" to see how well this author brings it all out to the reader as this heartwarming story will take on 'twists and turns, forgiveness, grace, and unexpected giving?' It will be quite a read as the story will be of love that finally finds its way back to each other in a beautifully told story as one will see this Christmas miracle that will lead a brother to Ireland and even to one that truly loves him.

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

The story of a ballad that changed the Unknown Souls band members lives began oh an early and dusky Thanksgiving morning as the band’s battered tour bus pulled into Seaboro, S. C. . It was just another day, just another road trip for the band members. But this port if call was an exception for Jack and Jimmy. The brothers arrived in their childhood town not for a concert, but to see their loves. Jimmy opened the bus window and inhaled the aroma of childhood, then closed his eyes to all the good and bad of his visceral memories that assaulted him each time he believed he had overcome his past. Jimmy and Jack founded the band ten years ago. Jimmy played the acoustic guitar, Jack the base. Their voices blended in most of the songs, yet each had his own style when singing alone. They wrote songs and traveled together. Than there was harry the drummer, Isabelle the back up singer, and Luke the band manager and keyboard player , each as close as family. Jack was engaged to Kara who had been his childhood love and next store neighbor. Jimmy had Charlotte waiting inside. Jimmy had known Charlotte a few years as a child and they’de reconnected months ago. Isabelle said they would take off and leave them alone, but Jack said nope , you’re staying . We’re family and it’s Thanksgiving. A band counted as family and they all knew it. For a few of them it was the only family they cared about. Jimmy avoided looking at the house next store. It would have been different if their father hadn’t been a fall-down drunk. They had lived in that house until jimmy was sixteen and Jack was twelve. Than that fateful Christmas morning when their mother packed up the station wagon including the presents and headed to Texas. They hadn’t stopped for anything but gas, drinks, and packaged food from convenience stores off the highway. Jimmy went and got his guitar and was with Charlotte and together co wrote their very first song It was a ballad that they believed was about happenstance, fate, amd legend that gave birth to the long awaited love love between them. Jimmy asked Charlotte how she knew to write a song. She replied that she didn’t write a song. She had just told him some of her poetry lines. She never shows her poetry lines to anyone. He said “ You instinctively understand the rhythm and cadence of lyrics Charlotte. Why didn't I know this about you?”
I loved this book, it was a great romance and connected to music. I loved Jimmy and Charlotte together as well as Jack and Kara . I also choked up at times while reading this book. I was so glad when Jimmy realized again the importance of true love. I didn’t want to put this down and only did when I had to. I loved how close Charlotte and Kara were’ I also loved that the band were all like family to each other. I loved when Jimmy made the decision to do everything he could to go to Ireland and his brother’s wedding. I loved the pace and plot. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.

Jimmy and Jack have a band and travel the country sharing their love of music. When Jimmy and his friend Charlotte write a love song, it rockets Jimmy and Jack to stardom. It also takes him away from his friends and family, including Charlotte. She has come to be more than a friend. This is not something Jimmy ever expected.

Charlotte and Jimmy really click well together. They each have a love of music. Plus, Charlotte loves to write poetry. These two combinations go hand in hand. I loved these two. However, there were places where the author stated the obvious or the conversations were a little stilted. This did not necessarily take away from the story.

This is such a sweet and enjoyable read. I loved the country music references. Plus the characters just made this tale all the better. This would make a fantastic Hallmark Movie!

Fun book about Christmas and love and figuring out what is real. I liked this but not as much as Patti Callahan Henry's other books. The writing seamed forced and different from her other books. This was not my favorite so I won't leave a review elsewhere.