A winter wonderland and a movie magic Christmas. The characters are likeable and the plot is festive. Just like watching a hallmark movie

I confess I love a grumpy love interest… and when there are two grumps, well, I’m enjoying myself from the very first page! And what better location for grumpy people at Christmastime is St. Nicholas, Colorado where one secret mailbox stands all alone holding the letters that others have written to “Santa” because, well, quite frankly, those letters include the names of some serious Scrooge wannabe who need a little Christmas Magic in their lives.

A Movie Magic Christmas continues the magic in the Christmas in St. Nicholas series with one actress who has developed quite the reputation and is in town only to restart her career, and the man she loved before he up and disappeared on her leaving her with a completely broken heart and trust issues. Catalina and Jay definitely have some history when they begin working on this movie, she’s acting, and he’s providing still photography. His disillusion with the Hollywood scene came just as their former relationship might have proven to be the best thing that happened to them. Now, they’re having to face their past, those feelings that never really went away, and some serious Christmas magic.

I had such fun with this one. Catalina and Jay are a delight, grumpy, and hurt at first but slowly letting those old emotions fire back up again. I love a transforming romance, and it was an emotional journey watching these two fight the Christmas magic about the Mailbox while falling in love all over again — this time for keeps. A well-written, funny, emotional, Christmas magic-filled romance with a unique twist and a happy ever after future… what’s not to love about that?

I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Our main characters Catalina and Jay were a good balance between the two and showed what had happened to get them back together in this little town after having not seen each other in several years.

Catalina has become shut off from most people due to not being able to trust anyway due to her fame and them wanting something from her. This has caused her to become 'ice queen' of sorts as a safety mechanism for her own heart. While she was supposed to finally be able to go home and see her family for the first time in several years, she is now instead working through the holidays on a Christmas movie. This movie though is proving to be rather difficult in its own ways and the town is even obsessed with the scrooge story and says that they can help people not be scrooges anymore. While this seems a little far-fetched as time goes on they just might be right, or maybe it's just the kindness that they show to everyone that helps bring back some of that goodwill towards all.

Jay has grown up in this small town where the movie is being shot and after years of not being in the movie business anymore and instead doing wildlife photography, he gets roped into being a part of this new Christmas movie as well. Jay and Catalina become friends again throughout all of this and we just might see them both start looking at life a little differently.

Overall this book was fun and a sweet read. The two main characters while doing different things in life now are both wanting more out of life and that shows in how they interact with each other and those around them as the book goes on. Catalina starts believing that there are good people in the world again, and Jay just might start doing what he loves again after having been burned. The two of them together were so nice to see as you could tell they balanced each other out and helped bring out the best in one another. The town itself is so nice and I loved the legend of the scrooges and how the town helped them.

I could definitely see this one becoming a Lifetime or Hallmark movie with how the story went and the Christmas vibes that were a part of it.

I probably will be going back and reading the first book in the companion story as I did love this little town and some of the side characters we got to see in this book.


Review will be posted on my blog sometime in July as a part of Christmas in July. I read a finished copy from the library.

Catalina is in Colorado filming a new movie. This is an opportunity for her to run away from the controversial breakup with her ex-boyfriend. She is a star but her ice queen persona is causing her issue with the crew and fans. While everyone was at the set, she found out that Jay is also part of the crew as a Still photographer. Jay was on sabbatical leave as a director. He was the one who directed the film that turned Catalina into a star. The story then continue with both Catalina and Jay trying to rebuild their relationship and overcoming the obstacles along the way. This is fun and sweet holiday romance set in a small town of Colorado.

*review post scheduled to be posted on 31/3/23*

This was such a cute holiday read! I love the Scrooge Legend and St Nicholas so much! This series has a perfectly unique premise that really makes it stand out from the other holiday romances every year, and it's one I was really looking forward to. Catalina and Jay are so sweet together!

This is a good book. The two main characters are Catalina and Jay. Catalina is an actress. Jay used to be a director, but is a photographer. They were working in a movie together a couple of years ago. They still have an attraction. They meet again when Catalina comes to Jay’s hometown to make a movie about the town’s Scrooge legend. They needed a photographer for the movie so Jay took the job. Jay nor Catalina knew they were working together, it was a pleasant surprise. They had some issue to work out and fall in love.

This review is being withheld in solidarity with HarperCollins Union, until they get a fair a contract, however long that may take.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this Christmas book a lot.

So this book wasn't exactly bad but it was written as if the author left their term paper outline in it and filled it in with a ridiculous Christmas magic plot. And movie making. It made the whole thing kind of boring despite all the whacky Scrooge Legend plot and descriptions of festive Christmas drinks. The central message of finding love at Christmas curing grumpy Christmas and Love haters (the Scrooges of the Scrooge legend) was a bit off and I wish it also had other kinds of non-romantic love especially since I didn't quite buy the two main characters' romance. There was plenty of Christmas all up in the book though! And no one actively died on page. My inner Christmas Scrooge has been healed through the power of zero Christmas deaths!

I liked Colorado Christmas Magic so much that I knew I had to read A Movie Magic Christmas. This sequel introduces us to another grinch that is temporarily in St. Nicholas, Colorado this Christmas season.

The grinch is Catalina, an actress that is starring in a movie based on the St. Nicolas legend of the mailbox for Christmas wishes - including suggesting a grinch that needs their belief in Christmas magic restored. Catalina had her heart broken by another actor who was just using her to elevate his career. Devastated after their engagement was broken and he moved on to the next starlet, Catalina has protected her heart - losing her belief in love and her trust in others. She is now know as "The Ice Queen" in Hollywood.

Also in St. Nicholas is former movie director turned nature photographer Jay. Jay directed Catalina's first huge movie and they became good friends. Jay left Hollywood behind and Catalina skyrocketed to fame. Their friendship faded away, but now Jay is back home visiting his family for Christmas.

As Catalina's and Jay's paths cross again, will they pick up where they left off or is Catalina too closed off? And what about all the other grinches that are on set for the movie - will St. Nicolas be able to handle them all?

I really liked this book and am glad I read Colorado Christmas magic first, but I don't think it is necessary.

‘A Movie Magic Christmas’ by Caitlin McKenna was everything I could have hoped for in a holiday themed book. Most important was the theme of redemption, which after all is the reason for this season. It was full of warmth and whimsy and I’d highly recommend it for all.

I was given this book for review by the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

There's three MCs: Catalina, Jay, and St.Nicholas. I would be happy to be in St. Nicholas now as it's a lovely and magic place.
The story is festive, full of hope, a second chance romance that made me root for the fleshed out characters.
An entertaining and sweet romance.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed this book. A magic Christmas town meets Hollywood movie makers…. What could go wrong? A fun feel good book to get you in the holiday mood.

This time around...

Jay and Catalina had worked on an indy years ago, but it never developed beyond them liking each other.
Now, Catalina is a hard, brittle, jaded Hollywood starlet and Jay is an ex-drector trying to make a go at being a wildlife photographer. The actual film production stuff was better than most.

Catalina isn't in a good place, Hollywood has done a number on her, as it has done on Jay.
Will this time around work out?

I liked the story. There were a few things I felt like we left unfinished at the end, but overall it’s a very clean book and the story will definitely keep you coming back for more.

Wholesome with magic in the air. Catalina Jones is spending the holiday season in St. Nicholas, Colorado filming a new movie. She is bankable star but her ice-queen persona needs some image repair. The movie is based on the Scrooge Legend of the town. When Scrooges come to town they find their lives can be changed by love. The movie has its problems; a gotcha director, co-starring with her ex, a terrible script etc. But Catalina is surprised to find Jay Townsend is a fill in as a still photographer. He directed the film that turned her into a star. But he left Hollywood after being disillusioned.

The romance between Catalina and Jay is sweet. But the town is almost too magical. It gets hard to keep everyone straight as the magical influence is hitting many of the film crew. I did like the realistic details of filming and from assistants to the overseeing corporate suits. This is the second in the St. Nicholas series but I read easily as a stand alone. Not everything magical explained so I’m assuming the series will continue next Christmas.

I’d recommend this for people who enjoy clean, small town, Christmas romances with a bit of added fantasy. Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press & Carina Adores for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
(3.5 stars)

This was a quirky, fun, sweet holiday romance set in a small Colorado town where a movie is being shot about the town’s Scrooge Legend. The hero and heroine had worked on a film years prior and were the best of friends, but then one kiss and a whole boatload of missed opportunities and connections, they haven’t seen or spoken to each other since. The heroine, Catalina, has gone on to star in many movies and had her heart broken by one of her co-stars and has transformed herself into the “Ice Queen.” The hero, Jay, dropped the Hollywood scene and has been working as a wildlife photographer, but has plans to return to get a movie he wrote in production. He is called in as he is local to become the still photographer for the movie and they are reunited.
I enjoyed these characters and the fact there were a lot of layers to them. At times the story was a bit convoluted, but it always moved the plot forward and focused on the relationship building between Catalina and Jay and the happiness of the other people involved with the film.
I will say if what went on with the making of this movie is how things go in normal film production it’s a wonder any movie ever makes it to the screen. And we still don’t know what was up with the elf shoes or the reindeer, but maybe next book?
If you want a magical, fun, small town holiday romance look no further than A Movie Magic Christmas.

I loved every moment of this book. Catalina and Jay have such a sweet, tender romance. It truly felt like I was living out my own Christmas movie. Someone call Hallmark, right now. Plus, the whole behind the scenes of what its like to be in the film industry is spot on. (I can say that after the last four years. lol) The story and characters (oh, the side characters are so much fun!) meshes perfectly with the Christmas atmosphere of St. Nicholas, the imaginary town McKenna has created. This is a series, but you can read each book as a stand alone. Highly recommend to anyone that loves holiday romances. You won't be disappointed.

A fantastic read! I loved the characters who were easy to like! A sweet, romance that I finished in a day! Five stars!

I received an ARC of, A Movie Magic Christmas, by Caitlin McKenna. This is a short and sweet Christmas story. Catalina and Jay are filming a movie, will their be sparks off screen too?