Christmas in July! Also a ghost of Christmas past, present and future - i loooove these kind of stories!

This book was sweet and gave me the feeling of watching a great Hallmark movie - which i guess makes sense, considering this book was based on an already existing movie with Toni Braxton.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. All views are my own.

I’ve absolutely loved all of Karen’s Schaler’s Christmas books - including this one. They are by far my absolute favorite Christmas novels. This one was a different twist with the lead character who’s a Christmas Scrooge. I really hope this one gets made into a movie.

“You make time for the people who matter most.”

This retelling of Dickens’ classic, ‘A Christmas Carol,’ has all the feels, making it a perfect holiday read. Interestingly, this book came AFTER Schaler’s movie!

Upfront and honest: I dislike retellings. BUT this one won over my heart. I loved the characters and their development. In fact, I’d watch the movie after reading this book…something I rarely do. The cover of this book features the Christmas ornament showcased in the movie.

Alex Taylor is the perfect Scrooge; orphaned, workaholic, a loner, and commitment-phobic. She’s worked hard to make her company, Taylor Investments, one of the top financial firms in Atlanta. As everyone around her is gearing up their Christmas cheer, Alex finds ways to sidestep it while squashing her employees' reverie. Why? She couldn’t care less about Christmas! Gasp. In fact, “Merry Christmas” is not in her vocabulary. When she is visited by a ghost from her past, the experience transforms her and she begins to embrace the Christmas spirit, melting her frozen heart and allowing people to get close to her.

Despite knowing how it will all work out, the character development and love interest (aahhh, Justin) kept me turning pages. A little hesitant at first because I don’t care for retellings, this one softened my heart and I ended up loving this story about second chances, redemption, self-discovery and empowerment.

If you’re looking for an uplifting holiday read, this is it. There are recipes and exclusive photos from the movie included!

I was gifted this copy by HawkTale Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I received a free copy of, Every Day Is Christmas, by Karen Schaler, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Alexis is Scrooge in a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol. Orphaned in her early twenties, Alexis turned into Scrooge, she was all about work and making money. Alexis is lucky to have such dedicated staff, who didnt complain too much when she wants then to work Christmas, and no bonus this year. I liked this retelling of the classic, A Christmas Carol. I look forward to watching the movie this Christmas.

It wouldn't feel like the Christmas season without a new holiday story from Karen Schaler, and Every Day is Christmas ended up being my favorite of her stories yet.

As someone who absolutely adores A Christmas Carol, I couldn't wait to see how she was going to reimagine this beloved holiday tale. I'm happy to say that she did one of my favorite stories justice, while still putting her own beautiful and unique spin on it.

Readers follow the wildly successful Alexis Taylor who gave up on caring about anyone but herself after a horrific tragedy in her past at Christmas. Now she will walk over anyone or anything if it makes her extra money in the process, and she's barely recognizable from the sweet young woman she used to be. When a chance encounter on Christmas Eve has her freaked out that she's sure she just saw a beloved family member who passed away two decades prior, Alexis is about to experience the Christmas of a lifetime.

A heartfelt, heartwarming story about opening our hearts and remembering what truly is most important in the lives we are living, Every Day is Christmas is a beautifully written reimagining of one of the most beloved Christmas stories of all time.

Karen Schaler has truly become a wonderful voice within Christmas fiction, and I love how she always includes many extra bonus pieces at the end of each of her stories. It makes the story feel that much more immersive to the reader, and I can't recommend this beautiful contemporary romance enough.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Definitely recommended to anyone who enjoys heartwarming Christmas stories, retellings of A Christmas Carol, and/or clean Christmas romances.

Thanks so much to Hawktale Publishing for allowing me to read and review this title!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Hawktale Publishing) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

Sometimes I need a happily ever after and I have a fairly new tradition of reading Christmas stories when summer heat advisories are broiling too much to venture outdoors. Even though this one is set in Atlanta and there’s no snow, the Christmas spirit is on full display. It’s a classic Christmas staple story with a modern make-over. As Alexis reaches all her milestone goals and profit projections, her management staff and employees holiday cheer just angers her. She has long forgotten the spirit of this season. She has no family and shut down all emotional entanglements long ago. Her outlook and personality hit awfully close to home for me (except for the money part). Alexis is in for a surprising wake-up call from an unexpected visitor. Can she see her past, present and future before it’s too late? Is her heart of stone capable of melting?
This is a delightful holiday romance to remind us all what matters most is the love of family and friends who always stand by you. It’s a quick and easy read full of hope and joy. The author also shares recipes and activities sure to become new favorites for her readers. Thanks to NetGalley, the author Karen Schaler and to HawkTale Publishing for the digital advance reader copy of “Every Day Is Christmas”. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

Very much enjoyed this modern-day Christmas Carol story. There is nothing like a mother's love to get her daughter (Alexis) to forget the sad and to bring her to a happy and loving present day and future.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Alexis is a workaholic. She enjoys her job and aspires to be better every year. She doesn't enjoy Christmas and treats it like any other. This Christmas she is giving the gift to see what her life will be ot could be like. This is a must read for Christmas.

A heartwarming Christmas read. Great characters and a lovely story line to get you in the Christmas spirit. Recommended.

Every christmas I love to settle down and watch the hallmark christmas movies, so to read one was amazing. It is everything you would expect from a hallmark movie - it has the bah humbug, the change of heart, the realisation, the romance, the fun and everything you want from a feel good christmas read to get you in the spirit!

This is the perfect read, wrapped up cosy with a festive drink and let yourself be taken away and fall in love all over again.

This is a cute, modern version of the Christmas Carol.
Alexis lived through a tragedy on Christmas Day 20 years ago. That moment in her life changed her entire outlook. No longer would she feel the need for love, friends, or celebrating holidays. Her sole life's focus would be making money and being successful.
She manages to find that success but at a huge personal cost. She pushes everyone away, and has now managed to ruin Christmas Day for those she employs. When she has her "Christmas Carol" night, she sees what her future holds, and decides to make the changes she needs to be happy.
Great characters, love the little sparks of humor her "ghosts" bring to the story, and lots of second chances. Wonderful holiday, feel good story!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Christmas Karen has written yet another spectacular story. Alexis, the “Scrooge” in the story, sees the joy of Christmas happening all around her and refuses to partake until it’s almost too late. Every Day Is Christmas is truly a fabulous Christmas read that you won’t want to put down! I didn’t!

I requested to read and review this book for free from Hawktale Publishing. This is a great story! I know it's a Christmas story but I think it has a fantastic message for any time of the year. It reminds up to remember the important things and people on our life. It's a different take on The Christmas Carol! Alexis thinks she has it all but does she ? What can money buy? Can love be bought or is something you have to want and work for? Goals are a great thing but goals can blind sided us to what is right in front of us. This book can be read anywhere and by anybody!

Thank you NetGalley and Hawktale Publishing for the opportunity to read "Every Day Is Christmas" in exchange for my honest review.

As always Ms. Schaler has written a heartwarming Christmas story, that will surely kick off the holiday season for every reader. This story is a brilliantly reimagined take on "A Christmas Carol". Set in Atlanta we meet Alexis Taylor who has one true love in life and that is money. She owns an entire office block, runs her own financial firm. Her favourite word is "fine", no matter what people ask her, the answer is always fine - mostly to avoid a conversation. She gives off a very Scrooge-like vibe from the very beginning of the story. She gives no thought to her employees and their Christmas plans when she makes them work late on Christmas Eve. If they don't show up to work on Christmas Day they will lose their jobs. She is positively livid when she catches them exchanging Secret Santa gifts with each other. She cancels everyone's Christmas bonuses because she feels no one earned them this year.

She feels it is okay to phone people during their Christmas Eve dinners because they will understand that work comes first. Midnight on Christmas Eve she gets frustrated when none of the fund managers that she's been emailing and texting get back to her. She feels that everyone should be like her and have no time for Christmas. We learn that Alexis wasn't always like this. She used to love Christmas but after she lost her parents in a car accident she closed herself off from the holiday that they all loved and more importantly she closed herself off from love.

Her driver Justin works very hard to support his family but to him family always comes first. He hopes that one day Alexis will realize this. He takes her to see Christmas lights on a very special street but Alexis barely notices them.

She hears a Christmas carol ring-tone but she would never have that as her ring-tone...then she sees her mom sitting on the foot of her bed in a red wool coat - the very one that she was wearing in a photo that mysteriously appeared at Alexis' office. Her mom died 20 years ago how can she be there? Then the story takes on the Christmas past, present and future - with first her mom and then her dad guiding Alexis to see the error in her ways. How she has pushed good people out of her life. How is is afraid to love because if she opens herself up to love, she also opens herself up to be hurt.

The funny parts of the book are where where mom (Lydia) has to keep reminding her that the people in her past, present and future that they are visiting cannot see or hear her even though she insists on yelling to them. She sees that her actions have consequences in the lives of other people. She's shocked that she will one day be sick and alone because she has no one in her life that loves her. She learns that she can have a full bank account but an empty life. As in the original story, Alexis finds that there is still time to change the future by changing herself in the present.

This was a fantastic read and I was just sorry to come to the last page. The photos in the book were a lovely touch, it was nice to see the "homes" that are featured in the story. The link to the Christmas Camp Guide is a brilliant feature. To see all the other heart-warming Christmas stories written by Ms. Schaler, the recipes, extra photos, decorating tips and crafts are just such a thoughtful extra touch to this wonderful book. For me it's not the Christmas season without a book from Ms. Schaler! I'd truly love to give more than 5 stars!!

What a wonderful, contemporary twist on Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol. This is a beautiful story about love, forgiveness, second chances, and the true meaning of Christmas. This is a story to remind us to keep the spirt of Christmas in our hearts, alive and well all year long.

Karen Schaler is a favorite author of mine and I highly recommend Every Day is Christmas along with all her other books!

I am a sucker for anything that remotely resembles the transformation of a person through lessons during the Christmas season, a la A Christmas Carol and Ebenezer Scrooge. Karen Schaler's offering in 'Every Day is Christmas' is a priceless addition to my collection of favorites. The transformation of Alexis Taylor is painful and joyful in a way that warms the heart. I highly recommend it to all.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Every Day is Christmas

This story is based off A Christmas Carol. Karen Schaler created a wonderful story here.
Alexis hated Christmas. A tragedy occurred years ago on Christmas and she has hated it since. She instead put everything into work and making money. She doesn't have many close relationships. She had a boyfriend that ended because she chooses work over love.
When she walks into work on Christmas Eve and sees her staff celebrating Christmas, which makes her furious she plans to cancels bonuses for all of them. Here is where the Christmas Carol type story comes in. To make things sweeter the "ghosts" are her parents.
Read to see how Alexis goes through past, present, and future with her "parents" and how she finds love along the way that was always in the front seat!

I look forward to Karen Schaler’s Christmas book every year. EVERY DAY IS CHRISTMAS is a modern-day retelling of “A Christmas Carol” with Alexis Taylor as a powerful businesswoman living in Atlanta, only interested in money… with no idea she’s turned into a Scrooge. I love the Christmas details in every chapter, from the beautiful Christmas tree in the building foyer to the company employees getting in trouble for their impromptu Christmas party. The book has Christmas carols interspersed throughout, which was a nice touch. When Alexis sees the Christmas party and fumes, she cancels her worker’s Christmas bonuses, which causes mass panic… and the ghosts of Christmas past come in the form of her parents, who were tragically killed on Christmas years before. I liked how the backstory played into her hatred of Christmas. Seeing her scenes with her mother were nice and this modern-day story of a beloved tale was a quick, easy read with all the perfect holiday touches. I love that in any Karen Schaler book, she goes all in with the candy canes and tinsel for Christmas. There’s a romance storyline, but it’s barely there. The main story is about Alexis. There are photos from the movie set and recipes in the back of the book too, and I loved that a gluten free version of the cookies was included! 5/5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and Hawktale Publishing for review purposes.

This is a nice re-imagining of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I liked the updated version with a woman as the main character; not quite the curmudgeon as Scrooge was. She is a focused, workaholic attempting to keep the "demons at bay" related to the sudden Christmas death of her parents many years earlier. She has buried her emotions along with her parents. Then one Christmas Eve she believes she's hallucinating and seeing her mother. Thus begins the tale...

Alexis is a workaholic with her own financial company. She hates Xmas and doesn't give her employees Xmas off as they haven't met their targets. She gets a startling visit on Xmas Eve and then she taken back in time to relive her past.