Loved this book! A love story of Megan and Conner but a love story of the town of Branding Iron. The characters are charming and each one has a story to tell of their lives and romances. Through all the mishaps I loved the stories evolving between Megan and Conner but so many in the town. My kind of easy reading and feel good book!


Thanks Janet Dailey and Kensington Books!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

This was a delightful tale. I adored the cast of characters. This book is really the third one in the series The Christmas Tree Farm (even though it isn't noted as such). There were some parts that seems vaguely familiar but then I read a LOT!

Megan is in town to spend the holidays with her family and to sing at the Cowboy Christmas Ball. She is a school teacher in Nashville to help further her singing career as Miss Lacy Leatherwood. Connor is a partner at the Christmas Tree Ranch and last year at the Ball fell heavily for the gorgeous, sexy singer. He is so looking forward to this year's ball to see the singer again.

This story is how these two characters meet and fall in love. Both have a secret. Megan's is her alter ego and Connor's, well he knows her secret. See when Daniel, her brother, was injured, Megan sang to him while Connor drove them to the clinic. How could he forget that sultry voice?

The book is written in the dual POV format. I adore this. It is my absolute favorite format. I get to see the characters' thoughts so I can fully identify with and understand the characters better.

This is a sweet, clean romance that I would highly recommend to anyone of any age. The only disappointment, no puppies!!!!! Especially the adorable ones on the cover.

Obviously HOLDING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS was written a while ago since the author Janet Dailey passed several years ago. However it appears that her family has endeavored to publish some of her stories, some new, others reissued. HOLDING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS seems to be a new work or at least not one I recognized as a long-time fan. Janet Dailey wrote sweet romances that provided some relaxing reads. HOLDING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS is a prime example of the Janet Dailey we used to know.

Makeup is a good tool to cover up flaws and such. Makes your eyes look larger, checks rosier and lip more lush. For some makeup is a tool to disguise their insecurities. For Megan her makeup transforms her into a self-confident sexy singer. Allows her to go onstage and perform, which is her dream job. So onstage Megan becomes Lacey. And Lacey is what Megan dreams of being. Megan sees herself as being forgettable not so as Lacey.

However Conner doesn’t see Megan that way at all. Conner isn’t really looking for a relationship with Megan who’s visiting her parents. And as Megan says she has a guy at home. So Conner is confused. He would like to enjoy the time Megan is in town with this beautiful smart lady even as he has his hopes up to see the lovely singer Lacey who caught his eye last Christmas at a town dance.

See confusing. But the author sets up both of these characters in a twisted scenario that is ripe for fun and laughs, if nobody winds up with a broken heart and unfulfilled expectations. Janet Dailey had been known for sweet but at times complicated relationships that somehow blossom into real love. In HOLDING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS the storyline is one that showcases the twists and turns of a friendship that has the propensity to develop into something more. Megan is very attracted to Conner but worries that she has competition – her alter-ego Lacey. Conner has to hide the fact that he recognized Lacey/Megan but can’t find the right moment to come straight. So the die is cast and HOLDING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS by Janet Dailey has the reader rooting on both characters. Simple and delightful read for the beach or vacation.

Holding Out for Christmas was very entertaining and I enjoyed reading another solid story from Dailey. Good little romantic break that started a quiet weekend off right.