Just when you think you know what to expect from Debbie Macomber, she turns it all upside down. She spins a delightful Christmas tale of a woman forced to go on vacation who finds love on an Amazon cruise. Our ambitious main character learns what she’s really made of. I’m a longtime fan and this one was excellent.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the review ebook. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to review this book! I really enjoy Debbie Macomber books, referring to them as warm blankets. I absolutely always know what I am getting. While the story felt a bit disjointed with the beginning cruise part, I understand that it needs to be set up that way for the rest of it to work. It definitely didn't initially feel like a Christmas story from the get go, but the latter part of the book definitely felt more like the Macomber books I know and love. I enjoyed the characters and appreciated the ending. I've been reading her books for years and will keep reading them for as long as she keeps writing them!

Everly was the middle child of five so she felt like she had a lot to prove and works super hard. She is pretty stressed out at her job because it seems that her partner Jack is more involved in his golf game than work and so she pretty much does all the work. When her assistant screws up again she has had enough and tells Jack that she is going to fire her. The thing is, is she is Jacks niece and he doesn't want to deal with his sister, so pretty much begs her to keep her on. Jack comes up with a great idea of sending Everly on a month vacation.

Jack has his niece book her on a two week cruise to some place warm and she does exactly that! Everly doesn't check to see what exactly the cruise is and all she knows is that it's in Brazil. When she gets there and on the cruise ship that is a bit smaller than she figured she finds out she is actually on a cruise down the amazon river where there is no wifi, no tv and only two showers a week permitted! Her assistant and gotten a bit of revenge...lol. 

Asher is a naturalist on the cruise and it's his job to lecture about and take those on the cruise on expeditions into the amazon. He takes a liking to Everly and they form a friendship while on the cruise that could lead to a bit more. 

There was a lot of fun things that happened while they were on the cruise and that was fun but I was a bit disheartened because after the cruise because of stupid things they went their separate ways at about 60% in and so you get 40% of pining and trying to figure out feelings. With Everly she is having a hard time dealing with family as she goes home for Christmas. 

To be honest this one just didn't feel like Christmas and I was a bit let down. I usually really enjoy her Christmas romances and while I did enjoy it, I just didn't like it as much as others I have read in previous years. I did really enjoy the fun antics on the amazon  cruise and the characters but it was a bit of a let down.

What a resfreshing book. It reminds you to take a step back and enjoy the life around you. Everly was not doing that and she ended up on a Amazon River cruise, which started off badly. As the tour guide, Asher did not think she would survive the cruise or even leave the ship to explore the sights.
I was also surpised to see the writing was a little different in the book than in the past books written by Debbie Macomber. I felt it was still a great book and I enjoyed it.



** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

Everly Lancaster is a high powered, type-A business woman who is too busy for Christmas. When her business partner orders her to take a month long vacation in December, her assistant wreaks vengeance by booking Everly on a Amazon River cruise instead of a luxury cruise. Too late to turn the ship around, Everly is stranded on an adventure cruise in the rainforest that she did not sign up for. There is no Wi-Fi, no pool, her designer clothes are not appropriate attire for trekking down the Amazon, and her passport with her actual name means that everyone on board calls her Daisy. One bright spot is naturalist Asher Adams, but any romance seems doomed to be a holiday fling. But Christmas is a time for miracles and maybe just maybe Everly will take a chance.

I look forward to Debbie Macomber’s holiday read each Christmas and this year she delivered Jingle All the Way. Mosquitoes, snakes and romance await you…

The tale begins in Chicago, then whisks us away to the Amazon before taking us home to the farm for the holidays.

This story had all the makings of a Hallmark movie. Overworked executive’s partner suggests she take a month long holiday when she wants to fire his niece. Said niece books a cruise and our heroine Evelyn ends up cruising down the Amazon. LOL.

On the cruise she finds herself smitten by Asher Adams, the ship’s charming naturalist. But Evelyn and Asher are from two different worlds. She is city; he loves the remote landscape along the Amazon river.

The story didn’t feel like a typical Macomber holiday read, and it took me a while to slip into the story. The last three-fourths of the book really grabbed me, particularly when Evelyn went home.

For me, the romance was a side-story to these two characters finding a work/life balance. I loved the farm, talks of fudge and the family members we met from siblings to cousins.

Jingle All the Way ended up being an enjoyable read, but not my favorite by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballentine, and Debbie Macomber for the ARC to read. I always enjoy this author’s books. They are always a light hearted and fast read. This was no exception, it was a wonderful holiday read. At this time, especially, it makes us take a step back and see all the things we are missing, What our priorities are and how we can change them if we have to. Great read, highly recommend.

I have always enjoyed Debbie Macomber's Christmas books, and Jingle All the Way does not disappoint.
Everly ( Daisy ) Lancaster is overworked and stressed from her Job. After making a big mistake, her boss suggests taking the month of December off. Her assistant books her on a relaxing vacation to a beautiful resort., or so she thinks.... When she arrives, it is not at all what she expects. This resort hosts a guided tour down the Amazon River! There she meets Asher Adams the tour guide and he tells her she will have a fun and memorable trip. After a few snakes, piranhas and an unnerving moment with some locals, Asher saves the day. Daisy and Asher spend some time together, but all things must come to an end. Daisy has to return home for Christmas and leave Asher there. Did sparks fly during their time together or was it just a vacation fling? Will they reconnect over the Christmas holiday? Pick up this book if you are looking for a quick, light Christmas novel!

The title may lead the reader to think this is a holiday read, but it really is not. The story takes place during December, but that and a short scene, with people singing carols, is all there is that relates to Christmas. Daisy (Everly) Lancaster is a self-made company CEO, who spends every waking moment on or in the company and is, in short, a stressed-out work-a-holic. Her partner convinces her to take a cruise during December to unwind. Daisy agrees and is looking forward to a luxury cruise, where she can lay back, soak up the sun and visit foreign ports, all in the lap of luxury. Her partner’s sneaky niece, however, schedules Daisy for a cruise on the Amazon, where everyone is on board to see nature’s sights in the rainforest, with few amenities. Daisy immediately wants off, but the ship captain informs her she cannot get off, but must instead stay for the cruise duration. Naturally, Daisy is not happy, but settles in as best as she can. Gradually, she becomes friends with the elderly couples, who are also on the cruise and the cruise adventure guide, Asher. Seeing that Daisy lacks many of the outdoor skills others on the cruise do, Asher sets out to help her along, hoping the cruise will at least be tolerable, with some good memories. As the cruise goes along and Asher spends more and more time with Daisy, both realize this is moving in a direction neither wants nor is happy about. After all, they come from very different worlds, to which they will return after the cruise. However, we do not always control our lives as much as we wish we did, and neither do this couple.

This is a good romance. There is a lot of fascinating information provided about the Amazon and the rain forest the cruise travels through. I enjoyed watching Daisy (who has changed her name to Everly for business purposes) and Asher as they went through the trip, each becoming more and more attracted to the other daily. I liked the realism they displayed. I could easily see Daisy as the CEO of a company, as I could easily see Asher as the well-versed, lover of the environment and adventure he so fondly spoke about all the time. The other passengers, though they played smaller roles, likewise fit the setting well. The setting, cruising along the Amazon through the rain forest, only enhanced an enjoyable read. No, this was not the usual Christmassy, holiday read, as so many of the other Christmas books the author and others have penned. Nevertheless, it was interesting and definitely made for a good, different holiday read. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I have mixed opinions on this book. Overall I would give 3-1/2 stars if I could. This is a story about a work-focused young woman who is forced on a vacation booked by someone else and ends up on a cruise in the Amazon. In her journey, she has mishaps but also a lot of self-discovery and examination of what is really important in life. This self-discovery is what I really enjoyed about the story. What I didn't like was the changing of names of the main character. Early in the story, she is Everly then all of a sudden she is being referred to as Daisy. This went back and forth during the story. Eventually there was an explanation and then it all made sense but until then, the name changing led to less enjoyment in the overall story. Despite this, I would recommend this story to someone looking for an enjoyable quick read. I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and am leaving this review honestly and voluntarily

Due to cataract surgery I have not been able to finish this book. - What I did read I found enjoyable and hope to finish this in the new year once my new glasses for reading come in. The plot line seemed fun and the characters were interesting.

There are a couple of signs that a book is really good… First, I react out loud to big moments. Second, I start retelling the story to my partner and giving him daily updates on the characters until I finish the book. I did both of these with this book! :)

What I loved: I enjoyed the plot, the characters, and related to the overworked executive who could really use a vacation. I also really appreciated that the main character, Everly, was represented as such a strong, independent woman. #girlpower

Overall, loved it and would totally recommend it to anyone looking for some light, happy reading!

**SPOILER ALERT — general talk of ending below**

What was just ok (I still loved the book, so these things weren’t bad just ok): Based on the title I thought it would be more “Christmas-y”, but I think that’s just my own expectation although the title doesn’t feel related to the story after reading it. Also, I was so shocked by the rapid ending! One second the characters are saying goodbye and they’ll see each other soon, then I turn the page and it says “Three Years Later”… Whaaaaat?! That was so fast, I would have enjoyed a little bit more of the in-between. But, again, that’s my expectation and it may not have made sense or actually worked for the book.

She can write a phone book and I would totally enjoy it. Christmas stories are always good! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

Here’s a little confession – I have never read a Debbie Macomber before now and really the only reason I grabbed a copy of this one was because . . . . Well, you see, Joe Goldberg becomes obsessed with Macomber’s fictional small town in You Love Me and since I am obsessed with Joe it all came full circle.

Now that I’ve finished???? I guess murdering our significant others isn’t the only thing Joe and I don’t have in common because this was just turrrrrrrrrible. The premise here is that Everly gets put on a month long sabbatical without much explanation provided aside from the fact that her assistant is a complete F-up who just so happens to be related to Everly's business partner and for some reason she doesn’t have any authority with regards to firing her. As a last hurrah to prove she is completely incompetent, said assistant books a two week cruise in South America that ends up being some sort of nature trip via boat down the Amazon. I was hoping to maybe get just a teensie taste of the vibes I got when watching The African Queen back in the middle-ages, but instead I was fast-forwarded through the first week of Everly's trip courtesy of a real convenient mosquito bite that took our leading lady out of commission and then things just went completely off the rails with potential cannibal Amazonians and instalove and other shenanigans.

Maybe her other stuff is better????? .

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

This story was a fun Christmas read! I didn't know that it was also going to become one of my favorites. This was my first Debbie Macomber novel and it will not be my last. Such a cute read.

Very cute Christmas book. A lot of things are left open ended. I hate his it jumps from one thing to three years later. With nothing about the in between. That made me dislike the book a bit. But overall good book.

I’ve enjoyed all of Debbie Macomber’s books and Jingle All the Way was no exception at all. I loved the characters and I thought they had great chemistry. I loved the aspect of the mistaken cruise and I liked how the main character wasn’t whiny and complain a lot when she found out it wasn’t a luxury cruise. I also loved how in this novel, the main character has very bad luck on the cruise but doesn’t sit in her room and sulk about it. She takes it all in stride and keeps going and having fun even when she gets lost in the forest and kidnapped by a local tribe or falls into piranha infested waters. Another thing I loved about this book was the familial relationships involved. After the cruise is over, Everly goes back to her hometown and stays with her family for the holidays and you really get an insight into her relationships with her siblings and parents. A lot of times in romance novels it rarely focuses on the family of the couple but Debbie Macomber does a great job blending romance and family life together. The only reason this book isn’t getting a full five stars is because as soon as Asher apologized for blowing it off with Everly, she immediately forgave him and took him back. I think I would’ve given it a full five stars if she wouldn’t have taken him back so quickly each time he told her their relationship would never work. Overall I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a lighthearted and witty holiday romance that will have you rooting for the main characters and wanting to curl up with some hot chocolate and a cozy blanket!

Never once would I imagine the Amazon being connected to Christmas...but after this book, I don't think I'll ever NOT make the connection.

Everly Lancaster sounds a lot like many of us. Overworked, exhausted, and always on the go she never gives herself a break. Now in a successful and secure job, she has to deal with an annoying and mistake prone assistant- who's also related to her CEO.

After one mistake goes too far, it's suggested that Everly take the month of December off. While at first it seems like too much- that month off changes Everly's life for good.

Poisonous snakes, piranhas, and Grandma's Christmas Fudge round out the endearing cast of characters and plot in Debbie Macomber's newest holiday read. Pick up a copy for the holidays, you won't regret it!

This was such a fun and easy read. The storyline was creative and so different from a typical romance novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy.

I always know I’m in good hands with a Macomber book, so I was super excited to pick up her latest holiday read. This one was quick and short and only took me a couple of sittings to read (and also paired really well cozied up with a chunky blanket and hot cocoa). While overall not as full of Christmas charm as I’d have liked and the storyline feeling off at times and being abrupt in places, I still found this to be a cute and lovely read! The way Everly and Asher met and their relationship overall was a fun journey to come alongside, and I couldn’t help but cheer them on as they faced challenges of work-life balance and just what you’re willing to give up for love. It felt genuine and realistic and that’s something I don’t feel I always get in Christmas romances, so that was a huge win. I also appreciated how this book went beyond the stereotypical small town love story that’s so common in holiday stories, what with the Amazon expedition “cruise” being a key component and all. It felt fresh and I just really wished a bit more Christmas-y goodness could’ve been incorporated somehow. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Jingle All the Way to be at the tippy top of your holiday-reads stack, but it was definitely a fun, lighthearted story that I think would be worth squeezing in if you can!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the gifted copy.