The most fun you will ever read as one grumpy rancher play Christmas boyfriend in The Trouble with Christmas by Amy Andrews. No one is less likely to fit in at Credance, Colorado than Suzanne St. Michelle but then she does.

Retired military now rancher Joshua Grady is wonderful as the Grinch in this story. He has a heart that grows exponentially as the story progresses. Of course this is with a lot of humor, sass along with kicking and screaming. A pretend relationship story but we all know how those end. The relationship becomes too real and no longer fake.

I love this author ability to turn a phase, making the story a sheer delight to read. Ms. Andrews can make me laugh out loud one minute then cause me to put my hand to my heart because of a touching moment. It happens many times in The Trouble with Christmas. The most fun I have had when anyone was getting ready to celebrate Christmas.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This return to Credence has the gaudiest Christmas I've ever experienced.

Suzanne and Grady couldn't be more different. An artist who is engaging and a rancher who is basically a hermit. The instant attraction nearly shorted out my kindle but the heat kept me wanting to read more.

I loved the opposites attract, fake relationship and while I don't normally love angst in my holiday books, this one felt right. There were some parts that dragged on for me and I would have loved a little more effort from Grady but this hilarity in this book definitely made up for that.

I can't wait for more visits to Credence! Everyone in that town needs a HEA!!

Overall, I enjoyed Grady and Suzanne’s story. I had not read the first book in the series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing any background information into either the town or its citizens. So, The Trouble with Christmas, to me, is a stand-alone book.

Grady is probably the grumpiest hero I’ve ever read. I mean, I certainly understand why, and it didn’t turn me off in any way. But for him to so readily agree to Suzanne’s fake boyfriend/tacky Christmas scheme seemed a bit of a reach.

Suzanne was not only chatty, she was more than a bit scattered. Her internal monologues were both funny and annoying while she tired to draw Grady out of his shell. I think she took the whole Christmas decorating to an extreme..do Hallmark Christmas movies really deck the halls with tacky decorations and seizure-inducing lights? Asking for a friend, as I don’t watch them!

Oh, and how many times did we need to told her name was pronounced Su Zahn?! While her mother was pretentious, Suzanne herself wasn’t. While I think the first half dozen or so chapters were slow moving, I though it ended with a bang, and I was definitely satisfied with their HEA.

So, 3.5 stars for this quirky Christmas tale. It looks like it’s Winona’s turn next; I’ll read that book!

My thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy. All opinions are voluntarily and honestly given.

This was an amazing story! All the joy, mixed feelings and hope where potrayed so realistically that you felt like you were there.

If you're looking to get away from the end-of-summer heat, try picking up this cozy romance.

When an artist claims the cottage for the holidays, the fellow on-site, ex-military rancher is annoyed and wants nothing to do with her. But his curiosity gets the best of him, and eventually, the season seems a little brighter than he hoped. 

I really enjoyed the male character, but when it comes to his female attraction, that's where is stopped for me. I just was not into her personality, and personally, I was just as annoyed as he was at the beginning of the novel. 

But the lighter romance overpowered her dialogue, and I eventually enjoyed the overall book. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. I think if you want a cozy contemporary to snuggle up with while the weather starts to feel more and more like Fall, grab this book and a cup of warm tea!

This book was an early Christmas gift. I loved this book, Grady and Suzanne were a fantastic couple even though they were complete opposites. Suzanne was exactly what Grady needed to get him out of the loneliness that he was stuck in. Suzanne was the type of person that didn’t like silence and had to fill it with chit chat and Grady loved his silence. But what he didn’t realize was that while he thought he was alone and liked that he was actually lonely and Suzanne filled that void for him. Grady was alone and avoided Christmas for 17 yrs and then Suzanne showed up and basically threw up Christmas all over his house. She grew up in a house where Christmas was more about art and not the cozy, warm Christmas that she dreamed of.
I loved the way Grady had to go about fixing things with Suzanne after he basically told her to leave and that he wanted to be alone again. It was the perfect way to prove to Suzanne how much she meant to him.

I absolutely adored this book! This is the second book in Amy Andrews's Credence, Colorado series but can definitely be read as a standalone. There is some minor character overlap from the first book, but you can definitely read The Trouble with Christmas without reading Nothing but Trouble.

Grady and Suzanne cannot be more different. He is a small-town rancher and she is a big-city artist. While they are super different they have some intense chemistry. When Suzanne enlists Grady in a fake relationship so she can deal with her parents, the two are thrown together and given the chance to explore their chemistry. Are they too different or will the holiday make them see they are perfect together?

I cannot recommend this enough! I love Amy's writing style and enjoyed the dual points of view. Pick this one up ASAP! Thanks to NetGalley, Entangled, and Social Butterfly PR for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Oh the feels, laughter, sexy times, and relationships you get with this book. I loved how feisty and persuasive Suzanne could be along with how stubborn and alpha Grady could be. The two of them had so much heat, I am surprised my phone did not combust. She opened him up, he was still a little abrupt and standoffish, but he slowly became more human. Suzanne was a pistol, but really only ever wanted a true, fun spirit filled hoky Christmas. And I love that he gave in, even if it cost her. Throw in family dynamics which proved to be interesting and funny too, and this story is golden. I loved all the characters. Grady's aunt and uncle, Cora and Burl, were so sweet and sincere, they are the type of people you hug. Suzanne's parents were a little reserved and a tad uppity, but the way they came around and supported Suzanne was heartwarming. Now all I need is a fun, sexy story for Winona, who is a hoot and a half all on her own.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

It’s September, and I couldn’t wait to read my first Christmas book. I’m one of those people that loves watching the Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movies. I can’t get enough of them, and The Trouble with Christmasdefinitely got me in the Christmas spirit, even if the male protagonist was being broody and mean to the female protagonist most of the time. This was the first book I read by Amy Andrews, and now I need to read other books from her.

I enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down to the banter between Joshua Grady (aka Grady) and Suzanne St. Michelle. Grady didn’t sign up to have someone stay in the cottage next to him, but now he’s forced to have a New York artist in his mince, and he’s very grumpy about it. Suzanne has come to Credence, Colorado to get her muse back for her art. She usually replicates famous paintings and gets paid for it. Now she wants to create her own original art pieces and hoping the beautiful scenery in the small town of Credence will help her. Instead, her muse has other plans to get her creative juice flowing. It is the rancher Grady that doesn’t want anything to do with her. Things are about to get even more hectic between these characters when Suzanne tells her parents that want her to come back to New York for Christmas that she can’t since she’s with her boyfriend, Grady for Christmas. Before she knows it, her parents are coming to the small town, and now she has to tell the grumpy rancher that he has to pretend to be her boyfriend. Let’s say the man is not very happy at all with her but will do it for her at a price.

These two characters have their moments of hatred between each other. It more leans towards Grady though to Suzanne since he doesn’t want a relationship. He doesn’t like Christmas either, due to what happened several years ago. The whole town wants him happy, though, but he won’t let anyone in. The minute Suzanne waltz into his life is when things turn upside down for them. There is so much tension between the two that it gets out of hand at times. I loved it, though. I love the back and forth of two characters that are complete opposites of each other.

Grady is grumpy, broody, but sexy too. He did get on my nerves with his broodiness at times towards Suzanne. Suzanne knew how to handle Grady though with her crazy smart remarks and also with her quirkiness. My favorite scene between the two was when Suzanne was making cookies, and those cookies were not regular Christmas cookies. They were naughty cookies. There was also the scene when Suzanne was painting Grady.

If you are looking for a book to put you in the Christmas, spirit that is funny, sexy, and hot than check out this book. I loved how Amy Andrews close out the book at the end. There is a perfect HEA for these two characters that deserve it.

Story Rating: 4 stars
Steaminess Rating: 3.5 stars
Standalone or part of series: Book can be read as a standalone.
Do I recommend this book? Yes.
Will I read other books from the author? Yes.
Tropes/Elements: Fake/Pretend Relationship; Enemies to Lovers; Opposites Attract; Small Town Romance
Hero: Rancher; Grumpy; Heartbroken; Broody; Pain in the Butt
Heroine: Artist; Creative; Upbeat; Independent; Smart-Mouth

Grady needs a hug. He stopped truly living 17 years ago following a huge tragedy in his life. He works the ranch and has established strong boundaries to ensure that he won't be hurt again. His fear is to love someone and have them leave. Then Suzanne shows up to rent the cottage on the ranch in her van, Ethel, loaded with her paints and hopes of finding her art. Suzanne gave up on her real passion with her painting when so many said her work lacked emotion so she became the best reproduction painter out there. She loves what she does but it feels empty so her hope is that the beauty of Colorado will spark her muse. What she never expects is to meet Grady, the broody rancher that doesn't know how to smile. Next thing she knows, she is painting and everything she paints is Grady. But the real fun begins when Suzanne's parents come to visit and she has to convince Grady to be her boyfriend, oh and love Christmas. This is so much fun as they push each other's buttons while fighting their bone deep attraction. Will the city girl be able to break down the country boy's walls? I enjoyed every moment to find out. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

Suzanne has decided to rent a cabin so that she and her friend can embrace the Christmas spirit her way rather than the non-traditional way her parents do. When she declines her parent’s invitation to spend Christmas with them she says the first thing that comes to her mind and that is that she can’t bear to be away from Joshua and the wonderful Christmas he has planned.

Joshua has a tragic past and if he had his way he would live in isolation with his pain. The last thing he wants to do is spend an idyllic Christmas season full of cheer and merriment with his neighbor pretending to be her boyfriend until they come to arrangement to swap favors.

Hot chemistry and witty banter add up to a heartwarming story as Joshua and Suzanne find their own Christmas miracle.

This is the first book that I have read from this author and I found it to be really enjoyable. It is the second book of the series but it can be read as a standalone. I am not a big fan of the holidays but I do love a good Christmas movie or book. This story kind of reminded me of a movie that was the same premises except the heroine “kidnapped a boyfriend” and I love that quirky type of movie so this book was a real treat. Suzanne and Josh were a great couple and you can see the chemistry and attraction that they have for each other so clearly although they don’t want to admit to it. You can’t fight it because if it is meant to be, love will find a way.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

OH SO GOOD!! This is Christmas Gold! It deserves all the stars and more. I was immediately hooked, by this opposites attract story and I didn’t want this to end. Filled with so many LOL moments, tacky Christmas sweaters, x-rated Christmas cookies, over-the-top Christmas decorations, and a fake romance with a-hot-surly rancher, that was an erotic author’s wet dream. I think the cover captures Joshua perfectly, a seriously hot rancher with a subdued confidence.

I was totally taken by Joshua Grady, all sexy-broody-looming-silent-hunk of a rancher with his quiet, solitary life. But every December is extremely difficult for him, as he has to deal with the anniversary, and the loss of his parents and high school sweetheart.

So when Suzanne St. Michelle a artsy, curvy, talkative woman arrives much to his dislike, to stay a month in the cabin next to his ranch, he has no intentions of being friendly. Suzanne is there to find her muse and to paint the scenery that is all around her. But one look at Joshua and her muse is all about painting him. You could cut the sexual tension between them with a knife. The heat is electric between them. She shook him to his core with her constant chatter, and womanly curves. Spine tingling heat!

But when Suzanne tells her parents a big white lie, that she is spending Christmas with her new boyfriend Joshy, who loved all things Christmas and had decorated his place for her. Her parents are on their way to meet him. Now Suzanne just had to get Josh to play along. He knew she was trouble, he just thought he could resist her. Their banter is hilarious. And their times together will touch your soul.

Get ready to get your Christmas spirit on. You don’t want to miss this one! Oh how I LOVE an Amy Andrews’ story and this is her best yet!

I loved the version of Christmas that was portrayed. I could absolutely imagine the kind of houses and yards that they show on, The Great American Light Fight.

A romantic Christmas book that makes the reader laugh out loud!

Painter Suzanne St. Michelle wanted to find her muse again after she had made her career on painting reproductions of other artists so she decided to visit her best friend at Credence, Colorado. When Suzanne met rancher Joshua (Grady) Grady, her muse was finally awake and ready with ideas using Grady in her paintings that he didn’t approve of.

There is so much more to The Trouble with Christmas because the descriptions of the Christmas decorations are something that I was laughing at because I know somebody that decorates close to that and has a Christmas sweater for every day of the holiday. Not many writers can get the feeling of being in a blizzard and Amy Andrews did it making the reader feel like they were actually there feeling the cold.

I loved both books in the series because Amy Andrews writes an awesome small town romance where everybody and their family get into each other’s business wanting to help.

P.S. I’m hoping the next book is about Arlo and Winona!

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

This reader always jumps at the chance to read a book by author Amy Andrews, having read quite a few already. This novel however did not move me like previous reads have, where her books often have had that flooring effect. The first book in the Credence, Colorado series was a stand out. Unfortunately, the second instalment The Trouble With Christmas, did not have that same impact, that same oomph. The characters didn't come close to keeping my attention. Suzanne's character was too full of herself and implausible. For this reader, her scenes dragged. Grady's character, however, was interesting, and comical in his retorts in many scenes. His character has held the star rating for this review. There is a bright side - Arlo's character has been a stand out in both reads. I am hoping he gets a story. I am still looking forward to the next instalment in the Credence, Colorado series. Here's hoping the next instalment brings the magic back .
Review copy received from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley

The book was well written and I found the story enjoyable. It was a quick read and the characters were quirky and well meaning. I had not read other books in the series and would like to do that.

LOL fun!! I love reading Amy Andrews books and The Trouble With Christmas is filled with crazy holiday fun, a grinch-like rancher, crazy faux inspired paintings and one dominatrix Barbie Christmas tree topper. This is a holiday book you do not want to miss.

What could possibly go wrong when Suzanne St. Michelle tells one tiny lie to her parents in hopes that they won't visit her while she's staying in Credence, CO this holiday season? What is this tiny lie you ask? She's dating the grumpy rancher, Joshua Grady, whom she's currently renting the cottage from. She may have also embellished the small lie and told her parents that Josh LOVES Christmas. That he is something like a Christmas fairy, sprinkling that stuff around like fairy dust in his good cheer. Josh in fact tries to avoid anything to do with the season, but I'll get to that.  You see, Suzanne was only trying to keep her parents in New York. She only wanted to spend Christmas with her friend, in a very over the top way like a Hallmark movie. So there was nothing wrong with a little lie...right?  Try telling that to the grinch...I mean Josh.

Joshua Grady prefers solitude. He also prefers answering people with one word replies if asked anything. You see, Grady, as he prefers to be called, isn't much for conversation or people. So when Suzanne rents his cottage, he isn't thrilled, but he's able to stay away, so no harm no foul. But when Suzanne approaches him about this hairbrained scheme to be her fake rancher boyfriend when her parents decide to visit for the holidays...well he has more than just one word to say about that. He doesn't like the holidays for a reason and he certainly doesn't like his solitary alone time to be encroached upon...but she also offers up a deal that he can't refuse. If only the deal doesn't break Suzanne's muse in the process.

I love the town and the townsfolk of Credence, Co. They add so much color and life to the story. Grady and Suzanne have great chemistry, along with a great back and forth that will have you chuckling out loud. The holiday items mentioned that are outrageously over the top had me laughing so hard. This was like watching Clark Griswald light up his home on TV, but better because it was Grady's. Amy Andrews filled every nook and cranny with a garish Christmas item and I loved the creative touches her mind came up with. Pulling Grady out of his grinch-ish mood was a fantastic transformation to read and I loved every moment.

Hot! Amy Andrews writes them hot whether it's a rough and tumble rugby player or a grumpy grinch of a cowboy. She nailed this one serving us up Josh on a platter! What a piece of work! We meet Suzanne and Josh when she shows up to stay at the guest cottage on his ranch. His uncle rented it to her, Josh doesn't like company, Josh doesn't like people period. He stays away from town as much as possible, the less you show the less they'll know. That's Josh. He's a rancher. He lives that life. Suzanne is an artist, daughter of a famous sculptor and artsy father, she paints reproductions for a living and does very well at it. Problem is she hasn't been able to paint anything original in years, so she takes a break from the city and drives to Colorado hoping to find her muse. Oh she finds it alright.... in the form of Josh. She doesn't want to go home for Christmas, she planned the trip purposely to cover the holiday because she's tired of her parents and their idea of Christmas. So when she pointedly tells her mother she won't be coming home, Mom decides they'll go to her and that's where the story hits the ground running with her little fib about Josh being her boyfriend and how much he loves the holidays (not), in hopes of deterring her parents, they're coming anyway. Now she has to tell the guy who barely tolerates her what she's done, and Josh makes her an offer. One she can't refuse. I should add to that Suzanne bakes. When she's a tad stressed, she really bakes! The arrival of her parents pulls the story into the fast lane and wow these two, despite being oil and water really send off some fireworks. Add in a snowstorm that has them on lockdown for several days and you get a great story. Well written with two dynamic characters I couldn't have loved this more!

arc from Entangled and NetGalley for an honest review.

The Trouble With Christmas by Amy Andrews is at times dramatic and at times hysterically funny as we follow the story of Suzanne St. Michelle, a reproduction artist who has always lived in the shadow of her famous sculptor mother. She gets away to Credence, CO to find her muse, but what she finds is Joshua Grady, a surly rancher whose extra cabin she rents out for some peace and quiet so she can paint.

When Suzanne decides not to return home to NY for another undecorated, unhappy Christmas, her parents choose to go to Colorado to visit her. In an effort to dissuade them, she concocts a story about how she and "Joshy" are now living together and how he always goes overboard decorating and that they won't like it, her parents shock her by saying they'll come anyway....which creates a problem - how will she get Josh to go along with her lie? Problems and fun ensue and the novel is a surprisingly enjoyable Christmas read! Thank you to the author, Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel for my honest opinion.