Fun holiday read perfect for getting into the spirit of the season and so glad to have this comfort around

I really liked this book but I really like this series also. Emery was caught up in a scandal so Emery went to Silver Springs to get away from it all. Dallas is the son of one of the owners/runners of a school in Silver Springs. Both Emery and Dallas have things in their past that stop them from opening up to others but the chemistry between the two are great and I loved the passion and protection that Dallas had over Emery. Enjoyed this book a lot!

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin for my advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review! This was originally released in 2020 and I promise you I read this a few years ago...I PROMISE...I just never wrote the review, YIKES!

Emery Bliss is a promising TV anchor, until she breaks up with her boyfriend (who also happens to be a colleague...which also happens to not be allowed) and then he leaks a sex tape. Don't get me started on how angry this made me because she ends up taking all the heat and he essentially escapes scot free! UGH!

Looking to be out of the public eye in LA and where she isn't known, she flees to Silver Springs, her hometown. She finds solace with Aiyana Turner, who ends up being like her mother figure (oh yeah, Emery's parents are going through a crazy divorce) and helps her with her ranch and prepare for her upcoming wedding.

One by one Aiyana's family comes to town and in walks Dallas Turner. A bachelor. A man who travels all around the world and doesn't have time for anyone. A man who also had a crush on Emery back when they were in high school. A man who will help Emery stand up to her ex-boyfriend.

The subject of revenge porn I felt was portrayed in a realistic manner. Dallas helps Emery, even with a lot going on in Dallas' own life. There are so many side stories to the main story in this tale, it is JAM PACKED. Novak does such a delightful job at stringing everything together and giving us all the answers we need. You'll be cursing Dallas one moment, cursing Emery the next, then back to Dallas, and eventually you find yourself falling in love with the flawed characters and want the best for them.

5 stars.  This was more than just a romance book. This has grief, pain, heartbreak, and love. While Emery is our star, Dallas is a fantastic co-star and his story is just as intriguing as Emery's in. This is the perfect book to set up a great Christmas in July if I do say so myself! It is part of a series, but it's a standalone! Enjoy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A California Christmas
By: Brenda Novak
Publisher: Harlequin- Trade Publishing
Pub Date: 10/13/2020

I love the Silver Springs series. They can be read in any order.
Emery Bliss is a tv news anchor but when her ex-boyfriend/co-anchor Ethan posts a video of them on a revenge porn site her whole life falls apart.
In an attempt to hide out she returns to Silver Springs and stays with Aiyana. Meanwhile much to her shock Dallas is home for Aiyana’s wedding and Christmas. They quickly fall into something new. But as Emery finds out her co-anchor was rehired and nothing is happening to him legally she decides to sue both the tv station and her ex. Unfortunately things get worse, Dallas ends up setting a trap to find out who's really after Emery.
These are quick reads that really suck you in!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first story I've read that addresses revenge porn. Emery is put through the wringer and goes between a lawsuit or hiding in the bed forever. Dallas has issues of his own, his childhood was a true literal nightmare. The two help each other not overcome so much and get through the problems that have their lives on hold. Of course, the fall in love but even that isn't a smooth path.

#ACaliforniaChristmas #netgalley #BrendaNovac

Good solid christmas story, really enjoyed it as I have enjoyed most work from this author. No long review.

This was the type of book that lets you escape and enjoy the peace of the day curled into a chair by a fire

It was fun an engaging and I really enjoyed it. but I always love Brenda Novak's books and have read this multiple times since the publication

When Emery’s ex posts a sex video of her online, she loses her job as news anchor and retreats to Silver Spring to find herself and decide her next steps. Staying with Aiyana, her mother’s friend, she’s thrown together with Dallas, Aiyana’s son she hasn’t seen in years. Dallas provides friendship, protection, and help getting through this, and maybe even love. This is a good romance with elements of revenge born and abuse. Although it’s part of a series, I didn’t feel I was missing anything by reading this first.

There's something about Christmas books that read like a Hallmark movie. The romance, and slightly predictable read is so wonderful for reading by the fire while the Christmas lights twinkle!

I enjoyed this read, it was a good romance and I enjoyed the way Ms. Novak wrote the story and her characters. I look forward to her next book.

A California Christmas by Brenda Novak is the seventh book in the contemporary romance Silver Springs series. Now as with a lot of romance series the main characters in each of the Silver Springs series change in each new novel with the setting being the common theme so they can be read as a standalone or in any order if choosing to do so.

Emery Bliss had the career of her dreams as a TV anchor and was climbing up the ranks. However, Emery did make one mistake and that was getting involved with a co-worker which as against the rules. When Emery did try to break it off he posted a sex video of her online for revenge and she ends up losing her job over the whole scandal.

Due to all the negative publicity Emery decided to head to Silver Springs and hide out with Aiyana at Horizon’s Ranch. Aiyana is known for helping those in need, including Dallas Turner who had been adopted by Aiyana when he needed her most and who has returned to the ranch for Christmas. Dallas is still never good with people but there is just something about Emery that he soon finds himself drawn to and the sparks begin to fly.

I have said it before but I’ll say it again Brenda Novak is an author that once I picked up one of her books I wanted to find time to read them all. Her stories always just pull me in and don’t let go until the end whether it’s a romance or thriller and A California Christmas was the same way. I haven’t read this entire series myself so I can also say for sure that it reads fine as a standalone. The characters were likable and the story engaging so I will still continue to read any by this author I can get my hands on.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I always read Brenda Novak's books as they come out and I always review on Goodreads and Amazon but for some reason always forget to review on here! As always a great book! Love her Silver Spring series!!

I was excited to pick this one up as I do enjoy books set at Christmas time, or centered around holidays. While this one does have Christmas in the title, it isn't necessarily a Christmas story and could be read any time of the year. I really enjoyed how the characters had to grow and face their own difficulties before figuring out if they could take the chance to be together. The chemistry between Emery and Dallas was incredibly crafted and really great to read. Their individual journeys and working through their own roadblocks really added to the story.

I would definitely want to pick up other books in the series to see how they connect, but I would say that you don't have to have read the series to read this book. I'm not sure if having read the previous books would add anything, but this does work as a stand alone.

Thank you Brenda Novak for creating the reading world of Silver Springs. This book is about second chances, friendship, weddings and Christmas celebrations. You will enjoy all the relationships and wonderful characters.
Happy Reading!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A California Christmas may have the holiday in its title, and the story does take place at the right time of year, but it's not your traditional holiday romance. In fact, the story could take place at any time of year, so it's more romance than holiday. It's also not what I would call lighthearted, which is kind of what I look for in a holiday romance. Emery and Dallas each have some deep stuff to deal with, so it is angsty - not really what I was looking for in a holiday story, but it worked here. The book held my interest, and the couple was easy to root for. It is a standalone in a series, or it felt that way to me - I didn't have any problem following the story or getting invested in the romance. The characters are likable, the romance is good, and the storyline is interesting.

A California Christmas took me back to Silver Springs and had everything I love in a romance;

A realistic, layered heroine with complicated feelings and a believable reaction to a deep betrayal from a former lover.

A completely dastardly bad guy.

A sweet romance that makes you glad you pushed past the jerk who did your new book best friend wrong.

This was a love for me!

Great christmas story set in Silver Springs. #7 in the series but can be read as a stand alone if have not read priors. Enjoyed story great easy holiday read.

I loved everything about this story, from the romance, to the characters, to the Christmas setting.

Emery is wonderful from the get go. My heart immediately went out to her because what she went through because with Ethan was so unfair. I can’t even imagine how people survive in such a scenario where they lose their job and reputation, all because of a viral video that they did not even consent to. Dallas is also charming in his own manner. I was intrigued with his past storyline and the complex feelings towards his father.

Similarly, all the characters are wonderful and people that you can connect with. Aiyana is wonderful in the supporting role as she imparts wisdom on Dallas and Emery while getting ready for the wedding. Even Susan, Cal, Tobias and Tommy were interesting in their own manner. Cain, Robert and Ethan turn out to be characters you love to hate.

The author did a great job in gradually setting the romance between the two main leads. Dallas and Emery find themselves in various situations that brings them closer. Some of my memorable moments is when Dallas supports Emery in front of Sidney, or when they support each other from Cain’s antics. There is also a nice mystery element as to who was behind uploading the viral video. This was a nice addition as the storyline went in a direction I did not expect.

I would have loved this book even if did not have a Christmas theme, because the characters and the storylines was so good! Even though I have not read the previous books in the series, I still loved this book. Overall, A California Christmas is a wonderful contemporary romance.

The unthinkable has happened to news journalist Emery Bliss: a sex tape has been leaked online. She loses her job as a result of this and retreats across the country to give the gossip and news time to die down a little bit. She ends up staying in Dallas Turner's childhood home at the invitation of his mother, and since he has come home for Christmas, the two are thrown into close proximity. Neither are looking for a relationship, but the more they help each other through baggage they're carrying around, the more they fall in love.

Normally I like to read series books in order, but I saw a lot of reviews that say the Silver Springs novels can stand alone and any one is a good starting point. So I began this series with the 7th book because it is a Christmas story.

This is a good story. I have really enjoyed some other books by Ms. Novak-especially her non-series title One Perfect Summer from early 2020. I like the way she gives the story depth by including issues. This book had some fairly heavy issues like murder, found family, and revenge porn.

I loved that most of the characters are all a part of this one huge family. When I looked back at the synopses of the previous book in this series, it looks like many of the other family members have been highlighted in previous installments. This was really obvious to me while I was reading. The story reads okay as an entry point into the series, but if I'd have known the origin stories for Dallas' siblings before reading this one, it would have been better. I'd have probably been more able to keep up with who is who (there are so many siblings!), but it would also have helped me understand the ages of the siblings. They range from young, to middle/high school, to adults who are married with their own families. There was so much that was alluded to from the siblings' pasts that made me feel like I was missing out on a lot.

One little thing: It wasn't as Christmas-y as I had hoped. I wish there had been holiday things that made me feel surrounded by the holiday while I read. Snow, meals, decorations-things like that. Mostly, Christmas is the time setting of the story and is happening in the background of everything else rather than being a large part of the narrative. That's totally okay; I'll just adjust my expectations when I read this one again in the future.

I feel like I will connect more with this installment when I go back to the beginning of this series and start over from there.


Thank you to Harlequin MIRA for sending me a free early digital copy of this book for review via NetGalley!

I think we are all ready for Christmas to come this year, and I have been trying to read more books with a Christmas setting to get me in the mood. While I don't normally think California when I think of Christmas, Brenda Novak's A California Christmas intrigued me, so I picked it up.

When Los Angeles TV news anchor Emery Bliss breaks up with her co-anchor with whom she had been romantically involved, he posts a sexually explicit video of them online and Emery is not only mortified, she is fired.

Traumatized, she runs away to the home of her mother's friend Aiyana who runs a school for children who have had difficulties in their young lives in the small town of Silver Springs. Aiyana adopted several of the young boys herself, including Dallas, a young man who lost his mother and sister to violence when he was a child.

Dallas is making a name for himself as a free rock climber, traveling the world, with no ties to anyone. He had a crush on Emery in high school and is saddened to discover what happened to her. Emery is in a fragile state, and Aiyana warns Dallas to be careful with her.

Emery and Dallas are attracted to each other, and Dallas becomes protective of her. He offers her a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen. His concern for her is very sweet, and his gentle manner gives men a good name.

While she ponders suing the news station for firing her, Emery takes a job at a local ice cream parlor, worrying the entire time that someone will recognize her. More than once Dallas comes to her rescue in that regard.

Eventually Emery and Dallas can't fight their attraction, and the resulting sexual relationship is very steamy indeed. But with Dallas traveling the world and Emery possibly moving to Boston with her mother and sick grandmother, a long term relationship seems impossible, no matter how much either wants one.

I think Dallas is good character, a very evolved young man in the way he respects Emery's feelings, not wanting to do anything that would make her uncomfortable, but he also has an old-fashioned chivalry about him. I also liked Aiyana and her soon-to-be husband's relationship. She had been single for so long, and finally is ready to take the marital plunge. It's nice to read about a mature, loving relationship.

A California Christmas is the seventh book in Brenda Novak's Silver Springs series, I just may have to dip into the others to get more background on these characters.