This is a really cute holiday book

I think the main character, Cara, is very relatable to a lot of women. I loved hearing about her background and why she worked so hard.
Matteo Benz is a great character. He’s funny and incredibly thoughtful.

The story is slow in the beginning and I didn’t know if I would finish the book. I’m so glad I did. Around 40% into the book the pace picked up and it was an overall great read!

As the 3rd book in the series Christmas in Eldovia, a magical, Christmasy, fictional European country, readers are in for a treat. This enemies-to-lovers story features the oh so proper, traditionalist Matteo Benz who acted as matchmaker in the first 2 books, <i>A Princess for Christmas</I> and <I>Duke, Actually</I> (aka helped steer these two stubborn, blinded couples past their emotional roadblocks). As equerry to the King, it’s his job to manage just about everything having to do with the kingdom, a duty he enthusiastically commits to given his love for his country. However, in his quest to ensure everyone else’s comfort and happiness, he’s ignored his own.

Enter Cara Delaney, workaholic management consultant from New York who has been tasked with evaluating Morneau, the centuries-old luxury watch company that’s the country’s only source of revenue. Matteo is convinced she’s going to recommend massive layoffs and leave destruction in her wake. So, it’s no surprise that animosity between them is strong from the moment they meet, but there’s a fine line between hate and love, and when they’re forced to spend considerable time together and then end up working to investigate some shady dealings within the company, it’s inevitable that they’ll cross that line. However, will two people married to their jobs and living thousands of miles apart be able to find common ground? You’ll have to read this delightful Christmas story to find out. This can be read as a standalone, but highly recommend reading the first two books. Now the question is whether this is the final book in the series or if Holiday will give us the romance between Imogen and Kai. Can’t wait to find out!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

This is a good slow burn, enemies to lovers Christmas romance. This is the 3rd book set in the lovely fictional kingdom of Eldovia. I liked the characters and I’d love to visit somewhere like Eldovia someday, 4 stars.

Matteo Benz has spent his life serving at the pleasure of the Eldovian crown. His work is his life and his life, well...he doesn’t have much of one. When he is tasked to aid a management consultant who has been flown in to help straighten out the king’s affairs, he is instantly disturbed by her brash American manner—as well by an inconvenient attraction to the brainy beauty.

Cara Delaney is in Eldovia to help clean up the king’s financial affairs, but soon finds herself at odds with the very proper Mr. Benz. As intrigued by his good looks as she is annoyed by his dedication to tradition for its own sake, she slowly begins to see the real man behind the royal throne.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

3.5 stars

So This Is Christmas isn't a grumpy/sunshine romance, but in some ways a grumpy/grumpy romance. I love how Jenny Holiday wrote these characters and gave us a dual POV. I read this book in just about one sitting and it left me with a smile on my face.

Our main character Cara travels a lot for her work and is upset about having to leave for Thanksgiving. That's normally always the holiday she spends with her parents. I loved how much she was there for her parents and really wanted to take care of them. Being so busy didn't leave much time for a relationship, so she had her flings while traveling. Until she met Matteo and started feeling a connection.

Matteo will do anything and everything for his country, so when Cara comes to try and make sure this country doesn't lose money all he sees is someone coming in to make people unhappy and take jobs away from their people. I love how passionate he was for everyone, but it was clear that he was thinking of everyone but himself! He was just so generous and very heartwarming.

I loved watching these two grow closer together even if they tried everything to keep that from happening. Their walls slowly went down, but this is definitely a slow burn romance. Watching them slowly get to know each other was a lot of fun, but I do wish we had a little more time with them. The balance of what Cara was there to do and the romance could've been leaning a little more to the romance if I had to choose.

Eldovia is a place I would move to. There love of Christmas and just how beautiful the country sounded would have me packing my bags! There were also some side characters I would've loved to have seen more of. If you're looking for a quick and heartwarming read I would suggest So This Is Christmas!

Nothing wrong with this but nothing overly special either. It was a cute Christmas read but I found myself skimming through some of the middle chapters. Definitely prefer other books in this series. Also repeated mention of a Christmas Eve Cocoa Ball just really makes me cringe for an unknown reason.

Some of the business talk hampered the plot a bit, but ultimately the romance shined and made this holiday romance sparkle.

Read/Listen If You Like:
❤️ Holiday Romances
💼 Workaholic Characters
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🪝 Hookups to More
🗺️ Small European Country Settings
🤴🏻Monarchies
👑 A Prince for Christmas (movie)

My Thoughts:
The first thing I noticed that I didn’t love was the LONG chapters. I personally am a fan of lots of short chapters so this one gave the dragging feeling as I was 10% done with the book when I finally got to chapter 2.

However, as I got further into this one I really started to enjoy the tension of the two MC’s as they started out as enemy workaholics that were working in different directions but both ultimately working towards the same mission to support the small country and its watch company.

This one definitely had all the escapism of enjoying their countryside activities and made me picture all the various Christmas village scenes in all the various Christmas meets royalty Netflix movies that no matter how cheesy they are, I love them for the comfort of what they are and wish this series was made into their next series of Christmas movies.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for my ARC of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Like your holiday romances with a side of Star Trek and a dash Pride & Prejudice? Then, this one’s for you—ie: Me 😂

So This is Christmas is the third book in Jenny Holiday’s series centering around the small country of Eldovia. Mr. Benz is the king’s right hand man, and not an immediate fan of Cara, an American consultant sent to work with the country’s largest company. The book contains all the enemies to lovers, forced proximity goodness with a ridiculously over the top side of Christmas cheer ❄️🎄🎿

This series always reminds me of The Princess Diaries. I’ve listened to this entire series on audio so if audiobooks are your thing, I recommend it 🎧 I also received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, I thought I was going to love this Holiday "Holiday" book way more. Her books are great, but I felt like this one was lacking the magic.

I looooved the previous books in the series but this felt way too slow & like nothing was happening.

Unfortunately, I found this one a bit dull. I really appreciate the opportunity to read and review, but I don’t think this one worked for me. I hope to continue to be considered for other cozy books!

So This is Christmas is a cute holiday romance set in the fictional country of Eldovia. Cara is taking over a client and heading to Eldovia to help them put their watch company in a better financial place. Matteo is equerry to the king, and determined not to allow any layoffs. There is a lot of tension between Cara and Matteo at the beginning, as they work their way through what is going on at the company. The tension led up to a wonderful build up as Cara and Matteo begin to explore their feelings for each other, as well as figure out what is really going on at the company.

Sigh. I wanted to love this because I enjoyed the previous books in this series, but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. I just felt bored most of the time and didn't feel the chemistry I needed to between the MC's. I was more interested in the side characters and their charm than the main characters and that was a bit problematic to me.

This was cute, but I didn’t love it. I don’t always feel iffy about plot-heavy romance books, but I feel like the pacing of this one missed the mark. The first 70% is all non-relationship related conflict, then the bulk of the romance happens within the last third of the novel. I liked the characters alright, but their chemistry didn’t stick out at all. I’m glad I finished SO THIS IS CHRISTMAS because it was cozy and Christmassy and fun, but overall it was just okay.

Jenny Holiday does it again! Her Hallmark-with-sex inspired romance novels are exactly what you need at this time of the year!

DNF at 22%

I failed to fully connect with either Matteo or Cara. I was disappointed because I loved Duke, Actually and other works by Jenny Holiday in the past. At 22%, I decided it was time to just let the book go instead of reading any further with characters I am not connecting with and a story that it not gripping me. At this point it feels like a chore to read it. Not all books are for all readers and this book was just not for me.

This was another festive, holiday read from Jenny Holiday! An excellent book to read during Christmas. Overall, I would definitely recommend it!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

I thought this would be a fun read with 2 grumpy MCs but it just ended being very boring and infuriating.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC for an honest review.

I was so excited to get this after reading Duke, Actually last year. Unfortunately, this book didn't hit me like Duke, Actually. I enjoyed it, but when I was finished, I didn't have that warm glowy feeling like I had with the previous book. I also didn't really care for the instalove. I could see their attraction (barely), but this falling for each other within the matter of a month, especially when they were at odds with each other for at least two weeks of it, felt rushed. I did enjoy the setting, Eldovia seems like every magical Christmas town you see in the movies. I found myself more interested in Kai and Imogene and their history than our two mains. The book wasn't boring, per se, I just wasn't invested in the story by the time it was over.

I was excited about this book, to be back in Eldovia. I really liked Duke, Actually and I was looking forward to reading about another couple in this setting.

I liked the premise of the story but after reaching the halfway point I was disappointed. I loved the characters and it seemed like it was getting repetitive. He's like this and she's like that and he can't seem to "like" her but then he finds out she misses her mom on Thanksgiving and bam he finally has compassion. Fine I can overlook that detail but I couldn't get past his fascination with her nails....or how he caressed her thumbnail?! The whole scene at the place where he took her for lunch was sweet and then he just kissed her and it was awkward as hell. Yes people are awkward but it's the lack of depth of characters, lack of plot and i wasn't personally enjoying it.