Member Reviews
I love Debbie Macomber's holiday books ( along with all her others). This book is exceptionally written with characters that need to learn what is important in life. Travel with Everly on an adventure she ( nor you) will not soon forget. Fabulous book to prep for the holidays! Enjoy! 📚
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House – Ballantine for an e-copy of this book to read and review. I think I received it before it was available to the public, but it is available now and I do recommend it.
Everly Lancaster is a partner in an online real estate company and works 60 hours a week, while the other partner practices his golf swing in his office with the door closed.
He tells her she needs to take the month of December off and at first she doesn’t know how the real estate work will get done, but then a vacation starts to sound appealing.
Her assistant, who she just fired, books a river cruise for her on the Amazon. Everly has visions of sunning herself on the beach, reading novels and getting some much needed sleep.
When she gets to the boat it’s not the big cruise ship she imagined. It’s quite small and on many days they take out Zodiac boats to explore jungles, and often meet up with indigenous tribes.
There is no internet, which at first has her asking the captain to turn the boat around so she can get off. How will she be able to take care of problems at the real estate office? The captain refuses.
But then a romantic interest, Asher Adams, the naturalist onboard, garners her attention. He brings her food and medicine when she’s sick. He provides her with the right type of clothing for the day trips. But, then of course, there’s a misunderstanding, like in a Hallmark movie.
That’s enough to reveal for now. I liked the setting, the information I learned about the Amazon and the characterization of the other passengers.
Even though I don’t usually seek out romances, this one wasn’t saturated with the lovey dovey stuff so it was quite tolerable.
My only criticism and the reason for four stars, was the ending seemed very rushed.
Read it for a lift for the holidays.
Debbie Macomber never fails to captivate with her Christmas stories. Jingle All the Way is a story of family, love, and new beginnings.
Everly is fed up with her partner,Jack’s niece and when she tries to talk him into seeing how bad his niece is messing up he decides she is in need of time off instead. The niece for spite books Everly on an Brazilian Boating trip I instead of the exotic cruise she was expecting. By the time Everly realizes what happens it is too late to change plans . While the boat was not what she expected she met Asher and quickly fell for him. Knowing they were from two different worlds they enjoyed their time together but afterwards realized it wasn’t meant to be. Everly heads to her family home for Christmas and to take her mind off of Asher.
A heartwarming story that is a perfect way to start the holiday reading .Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for an arc for my honest opinion.
Everly Lancaster is a workaholic. Her business partner forces her to take a vacation and she gets tricked into taking a cruise in South America. She faces one some trying and awful experiences but there is one bright spot - naturalist Asher Adams.
Dedicated romance lovers will enjoy this story. It has an interesting setting and enjoyable characters. For me there were a few parts that were just too far-fetched.. Thanks to Ballantine Books for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
Everly has ventured from her childhood farm life to a high-powered executive. She’s stressed and completely frustrated by her assistant who unfortunately is the niece of her business partner. After she fires her, her business partner sticks up for his niece and forces Everly to take a month-long vacation so she can destress. The assistant books her on a luxury cruise that is leaving from Brazil quickly. With a few mishaps, Everly gets to the boat in the nick of time to leave port. Surprised to see her bare bones room on this so-called luxury cruise, she decides to go along with it until she finds that there is no internet. That fact has her at the end of her rope and demands to get off. She is assured that this is impossible as this is a trip down the Amazon to explore the rainforest. There are many mishaps in store for her on this trip. Will this turn into a disaster or a life lesson? You’ll have to read it to find out! I enjoyed this book very much!
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Everly Lancaster is co-owner of an online real estate company. She is married to her job working 60 plus hour weeks. After her co-owner assigns his niece to work as an assistant to Everly, Everly becomes very frustrated. The niece is incompetent and She can’t get rid of her. Instead Everly is place on 30-day vacation leave and sent to a “luxury cruise”. The cruise is on Amazon River and isn’t close to luxurious. What starts out as a disaster turns into what may be the meeting with the love of her life.
This is a sweet little Christmas romance. Enjoyable read.
Debbie Macomber's last two books that I've read have really thrown me for a loop! The first half or so of this Christmas book takes place on the Amazon River. We're talking bugs, snakes, native people with spears and rainforest. The book before that that I picked up to cheer me up after my mother died was about cancer. She used to be an automatic read for me, but I think that's going to change.
Having said that, the book was pretty good once I wrapped my mind around the rainforest stuff. It did really take some readjusting on my part. Poor Everly ended up on a ship going down the Amazon instead of the huge cruise ship sailing in the Caribbean that she expected (an angry assistant booked it for her). She was a disaster on the trip. Everything that could go wrong did--except for meeting Asher. Asher is the nature guide and is attracted to Everly despite the disaster that she is. As the trip ends, they are pretty close. There's obviously a huge obstacle in their way as far as having a relationship(the Amazon guide being his profession), and they go their separate ways. Everly goes back to the land of snow and hot chocolate to be with her family and try to get over him. Is there anyway they can ever have a lasting relationship?
Ms. Macomber is talented enough to pull this story off and leave you feeling like you did read a tradition Christmas romance. I'm not sure how, but she did it.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
An overworked executive is forced into a vacation. Everly thinks her assistant (that she'd just tried to get fired) booked her a luxury cruise, but it was a tech free nature cruise down the Amazon River. Everly ends up sick in her cabin for the first few days of the trip and the naturalist on board, Asher, spends time with her while she is recovering and the two start to become close. What happens when the cruise is over though?
I've been a fan of the author's books for years and this one did not disappoint. The ending felt like it was rushed a little, but the whole book happened within a month. I guess I really just wished for some more time to go by between the end of the cruise and the end of the book.
I would absolutely still recommend the book even though it left me personally wanting a little bit more.
#JingleAlltheWay #NetGalley
A christmas story that takes place in the Amazon rainforest is anything but ordinary! Everly is addicted to work and has forgotten how to relax and unwind. In an effort to sabotage her, her administrative assistant books her on a trip of a lifetime. Everly expects to be floating in the tropics and sipping fancy drinks, but winds up on the adventure of a lifetime that includes scary mosquito bites, dangerous wildlife and a hunky guide. Despite uncertain surroundings, Everly finds herself letting go of the work and finding joy in the unknown. When she finally returns home at Christmas, Everly struggles to find her place in her large family. Debbie Macomber writes a story full of comic relief among big issues. Women struggling to find work/life balance is a real topic for many readers. I think Macomber does an excellent job of introducing romance without allowing Everly to give up on her own passions and dreams. Jingle All the Way was a delightful holiday story!
A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had such high hopes for this book they completely fell flat. Usually these types of books grab me immediately and I have a hard time putting them down. I had to force myself to finish this book. The writing felt robotic and the story didn't flow very well. It honestly felt like all of the meat was taken out of the story and the cliff notes were left. I couldn't find a real connection with any of the characters. Everly is very strong and independent but came across a little whiny and "woe is me". If you're expecting a true Christmas novel this is far from it, more time is spent on the cruise than getting a Christmas feeling.
When Everly (Daisy) Lancaster is forced to take a vacation…her nightmare of an assistant books her a vengeance trip. The workaholic had no phone, internet, or the proper clothes for this trip, but she would have never met Asher if it weren’t for this disaster vacation.
This seasonal romance was a fun, enjoyable read that had me laughing throughout and just gave me a great feeling. Author Debbie Macomber is great at writing a cute romance with a Hallmarkish feel. There was a lot of family, drama, and mishaps throughout! Really enjoyable holiday romance. 4 stars.
I adore a Christmas romance, especially when it's one by Debbie Macomber. I loved falling into the story of Daisy and Asher. I enjolement to the story of the two meeting on a cruise that Daisy had no desire to be on. The magic of romance in the air can change anyone's perspective on life. Such a fun. holiday read!
This is a Christmas/holiday romance, but it has a twist - a lot of the book doesn’t center around the traditional Christmas holiday in the United States, but rather while out of the country on a vacation. Daisy is a business woman who goes by the name Everly, to be taken seriously - she is a business woman who takes her business and life very seriously. Her business partner demands she take a long vacation, in an effort to avoid an uncomfortable family situation with his niece, Everly’s administrative assistant.
The cruise that is booked for Everly is not the luxury cruise she believes she is bound for, and the unexpected happens around every corner, including spending time with an attractive naturalist, Asher. Through their interactions, they both end up questioning the paths they have both chosen.
This is a cute romance that deviates from the “formula” of what I would consider a typical holiday romance book. It is a clean romance, not a steamy, graphic romance - which I appreciate. If you are looking for some holiday cheer that is not too over-the-top Christmassy, this May be the book for you.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley In exchange for an honest review.
This is a charming holiday romance with lovely characters and settings. It's just the kind escapism that I'm looking for these days and especially during the holidays. Perfect to curl up in front of the fire with a cup of tea.
Debbie Macomber always has a way of making your day brighter with her books and Jingle All the Way does it's job! Nothing like all your plans not working for you and find that they take you where you need to be. Snuggling up with this adventure definitely put a smile on your face and is truly a feel good get away. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC opportunity!
Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber is a charming Christmas tale. It contains Debbie Macomber’s trademark writing style. The author has a way of drawing a reader right into a story which was what happened to me with Jingle All the Way. Everly Lancaster aka Daisy has spent the last six years working to make the real estate company she, Easy Home that she co-owns with Jack Campbell a success. Work has dominated her life to the detriment of her family and other relationships. Now she has an inept assistant who happens to be her partner’s niece. Jack insists she take a thirty-day vacation. The inept assistant is tasked with finding a relaxing cruise in a warm climate. You just know that this is not going to go well. What ensues are embarrassing and humorous situations along with a chance for a romantic encounter. Asher Adams is a naturalist who works on the cruise Everly takes down the Amazon River. He is the perfect counterpart for Everly. A beautiful setting and a cozy cruise ship have a way of bringing two people together. Staying together, though, is the tricky part. I enjoyed meeting Everly’s large, boisterous family. It is amazing how time gives us a different perspective on our family and where we grew up. I liked that Everly took her time while laid up to gain a new perspective about the cruise as well as reflect on her life. I was surprised by how quickly this story flew by for me. I loved the epilogue that nicely wrapped up the tale. Jingle All the Way is a heartwarming holiday story that will leave you smiling. I wish we did not have to wait a year for Debbie Macomber’s next holiday novel. Jingle All the Way is an entertaining holiday story with an incapable assistant, wardrobe woes, tribal tribulations, insect irritation, sociable siblings, and Christmas cheer.
Jingle All the Way by Debbie Macomber // ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @randomhouse for the eARC of Jingle All the Way via @netgalley! ✨
Jingle All the Way was a cute and classic Hallmark-esque holiday story with a twist - a large part of the plot was set in the Amazon Rainforest! While this added element of adventure helped it stand out from the traditional holiday book crowd, it almost was too different for me to fully enjoy this as a Christmas book. I'm a huge fan of Christmas movies and books precisely for all of the cliched holiday scenes that are staples of the genre: ice skating, baking cookies, tree decorating, and all of those quintessential holiday activities. However, this book more than makes up for it with the holiday themes and character tropes. Everly and Asher, our two main leads, have an undeniable chemistry that was a joy to read. Overall, this book was a fun and quick read, although I enjoyed the second half much more than the first.
On a side note, I wasn't a huge fan of the plot detour with the indigenous Amazonian people. It felt a little dated and slightly problematic in the current age.
I liked this book I mean who doesn't love a good Christmas book. I liked how this book the main character Everly is reminded to slow down and find herself and try and find what's really important in life. I liked Asher at first he came off a little mysterious at first. I liked how he was out going and so many people loved him and was willing to following him. I loved how even though Everly took everything as it came and nothing seem to hold her back. I really enjoyed the value of family in this book and how it really puts you in the Christmas spirit. I loved how the author kept this a good clean read and is suitable for all. Over all this was a good and quick read and you won't be disappointed.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book.
With all the awful stuff going on in the real world I wanted escape and an early Christmas read. But this wasn't really a Christmas book. 75% of the story happens in the Amazon and there's no Christmas until the last section. I wanted to be swept away by romance, and I'm a big an of "insta-love" in the right setting! but ... the main characters meet on a boat trip fall so madly in love that they can't live without each other -- it didn't quite feel real to me. But it was sweet and an easy read.
Debbie Macomber is my go-to author for a Christmas story. Jingle All the Way is the unusual one yet but oh so enjoyable. Much of the story takes place on an Amazon cruise so until way over halfway it doesn’t feel like a Christmas story. After the cruise is over it is entirely Christmas. Still I loved the cruise part of the story even looking up about piranha. Sure enough you can fish for them.
Daisy/Everly is in need of a vacation but the one planned is not for her good. However, it works out to be the absolute best thing for her. Asher Adams has a lot going for him if he was not so wishy-washy towards a relationship. I kept looking for Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy to show up to help him along.
Once Daisy/Everly returns bask in the states the story slows down with all the Christmas activities. I did understand how her actions show the change of heart she has had but I kept wishing for the romance to happen quicker. However, like real life some things cannot be rushed.
Fans of Debbie Macomber will not want to miss Jingle All the Way. New readers will quickly become fans.
4.5 Stars
The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.