Sienna Naples's family has been on the family's Idaho land for generations. This Christmas she will be alone after a painful divorce. Her BFF puts an ad in the paper about her needing a husband to help with the ranch; it was meant as a joke. Guy Maple is looking for help and when he sees the ad he tracks her down only to find it was a joke. Guy is taking care of his four-year-old daughter that is in need of a kidney transplant, and he needs to have a steady income so she will qualify for the transplant surgery. When he tracks Sienna down in the she has to let him know she is not really in the need of a husband. Sienna sense the desperation in Guy and they strike a bargain to marry, and she will provide insurance for him and his daughter.
Guy and Emma move in at the ranch, and she realizes just how bad his situation is and has fallen in love with his daughter. This is a wonderful heartfelt story on helping others and opening your heart to love.

Well that was emotional as heck!
I had no idea what this was about but I really wanted to check this out considering I really liked the other author’s work.
I don’t want to make this review about the author only, but I’m glad she decided to write again. This book was wonderful.
As a reader, I can tell the author pounded her heart into it. That in itself makes the book great.
Now add the loving characters: A strong and hardworking woman. A kind and loving father. A sweet and funny little girl. Each one of them brings a light to this story. The deeper themes are well balanced with its characters. You care because of the characters and that was my favorite part.

I was holding my breath and hopeful with Sienna and Guy. I was smiling reading Emma playing with the dog and the mule.

This story is about family and what it means and it was so well realized. The thing that made this book for me was family.
Then add the holiday season and the romance? *chefs kiss*

I really loved this book and I decided to give it 5 stars. ⭐️ it’s worth a read this holiday season.

I’ll be thinking about these characters the rest of the week. Maybe the rest of the year.

***THIS BOOK NEEDS CONTENT WARNINGS***

Rancher Sienna is alone at Christmas after her divorce. Her life is turned upside down when she meets handsome single dad Guy and his chronically ill daughter Emma. Sienna proposes a marriage of convenience to help Emma get the insurance she needs. Soon, though, Sienna is falling for Guy and his daughter. Could their arrangement turn into a real family?

I have nothing negative to say about Sarah Morgenthaler or this book. Both are brilliant. However, I’m very upset at how this book is being marketed with no regard to how the potentially triggering content could affect readers.

This book is not a romance. The central plot is not a love story. This women’s fiction novel is primarily about Emma’s illness. It’s distressing from start to finish. Sienna and Guy don’t have much of relationship beyond caring for Emma and supporting each other emotionally. They’re a lovely couple, but they’ve barely gotten to know each other by the end of the book.

Even before Sienna met Guy, this book triggered my depression. It just got worse from there. I’ve enjoyed Morgenthaler’s books in the past, and this novel has a cute rom com cover, so I figured the sad tone would turn more positive as the book progressed. Nope. Sad all the way through.

The cover, the genre designation, and the book description are completely out of alignment with the content of this book. This novel isn’t like Morgenthaler’s previous books that I’ve read. The publisher is being incredibly irresponsible in the way they’re marketing this content.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

It's been a few years between books for Sarah Morganthaler, after reading the acknowledgments it's an understood break and one that heavily influenced this book.

We meet Sienna fresh off a divorce with a friend trying to cheer her up with an ad for a news husband for Sienna. Through that ad we meet Guy and then in the first few chapters they're married.

Then the marriage of convenience begins... but really it's a story of grief and growth told through the lens of that trope. Sienna is grieving the 'what if' of her marriage, finding new footing in life and a father who's battling dementia. Guy is father to a 4-year-old in desperate need of a kidney transplant and he's balancing it with coping mechanisms to keep his grief at bay.

Putting them together in this situation forces each of them to face different parts of themselves and in a sense rediscover aspects of their humanity.

It's a moving and emotional book, I really enjoyed it.

This was such a heartwarming story! I absolutely loved it, and recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a story of love, grief, family, all set on a small town picturesque ranch.

This begins as a marriage of convenience, but so quickly becomes so much more. The characters are so lovely, you can really see their story develop, and you’re immediately bought into their love story.

I couldn’t put this book down! Definitely pick this up for a great winter read.

An emotional, hallmark-y, warm hug Christmas romance.

From the dedication, I KNEW this book was going to break me. It was worth every tear.

When the weather cools down, and the holiday spirit kicks in, this book will be the perfect companion.

A marriage of convenience with honesty and good communication, this book felt like a breath of fresh air. It was equal parts sweet and sad with a holiday spin.

Honestly, I’m not sure where to start on this one other than the fact that ‘THE CHRISTMAS YOU FOUND ME’ emotionally destroyed me in the best way possible (all my favorites do).

Listen, if you are looking for a sweet, light Christmas rom-com, this probably is not going to be the book for you, but if you are like me and need your books filled with real characters, storylines with grit, and a heart wrenching plot that weaves it all together- this is the book you need to pick up for the upcoming holiday season.

Tropes
• Small Town
• Cowgirl Meets “Townie”
• Single Dad
• Marriage of Convenience
• Clean/Closed-Door Romance
• Found Family
• Slow Burn

Plot
Guy Maple has tried to carry a heavy load for far too long. As a single dad, he’s struggled to balance finding work and holding a job that will also allow him to care for his dying daughter. One day he decides to swallow what’s left of his pride (all in the name of saving his daughter) and follows up on a local newspaper ad for a ‘Husband for Hire’ all in the name of the medical insurance that the ad is offering for the right candidate.

On the day her divorce is finalized, Sienna Naple’s is not only taken aback by the audacity of her best friend running an ad on her behalf in the local newspaper as a middle finger to Sienna’s ex-husband, she finds herself sharing a coffee with a man willing to fill the open position.

What follows is one of the most tender, selfless novels I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading as these two characters realize this Christmas will either make or break them with what they must overcome together.

Characters
All the characters in this story were wonderful and filled their positions in the book perfectly. Sienna is a strong female lead. Her obvious love language of ‘acts of service’ and wanting to take care of everyone and everything (relatable), even if it risks her own heart. Emma- a young girl wise beyond her years, yet every bit a broken child who just needs love and security in a world of harsh realities. Her actions throughout the whole story, I thought were believable not only for her age, but also for the cards she’d been dealt in life.

And my man- Guy. He gets a paragraph all his own, because in the hundreds of books I’ve read I’m not sure I’ve found a more perfect book boyfriend who is just absolute kryptonite for me. He’s sensitive and caring. Protective and honest. A strong communicator. Funny. Charming. And honestly, this list could go on forever. Most importantly though- he is the world’s best dad and husband (even if the marriage is more out of necessity than love). And good lord- this man and his sexy grins and winks would make any single woman willingly offer herself in marriage. Who knew men winking in books was such a turn on? Haha. Guy Maple’s cracked that code, ladies.

Final Thoughts
This novel had it all. I laughed. I gasped. I swooned. I cried. That only happens when you are immersed in a book and feel so strongly for the characters and the story they are living on the pages that you can’t help feeling everything they feel. This marriage of convenience was one of the best I’ve ever read. Sarah did a phenomenal job at accurately portraying the awkwardness of the situation, but more importantly she was able to show the heart of these characters in a way that you couldn’t help but root for. The development of their relationship as family and a couple was believable and beautiful to experience.

What I wasn’t expecting, was the hints of faith and discussions about God and prayer that were sprinkled throughout the story. The conversation that Guy and Sienna had about their struggles with faith through hard times was exceptionally done. I’m a firm believer in what Guy said about how God answers our prayers but maybe not in the ways we want at the time, but always the way we need. (Like I mentioned earlier- this MMC gets all the stars in my opinion- he’s a 100!)

Overall, this was a heartwarming novel and one I’m so thankful to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC. Now I need the physical book because this is one of those stories, I plan to read every year for Christmas just to experience this beautiful ride all over again.

Sienna's divorce has been finalized and as a joke, Sienna's best friend decides to put a "hiring a husband" ad that comes with great pay, great insurance, and other benefits!! This definitely puts a smile on Sienna's face and her best friend even sets up an interview with someone named guy Maple.

Sienna decides to just meet this person and lets him know that the ad was a joke. Guy was definitely understanding and he had explained to her that he was desperate. The reason for Guy being desperate: he needs good insurance to help his daughter Emma, who has stage 5 chronic kidney disease. This illness has really stressed Guy out, especially since he is a single dad without much support.

After meeting Guy, she can't stop thinking about how she could help and then she comes up with a genius plan. She decides to call Guy up and offers to marry him. They could live in her huge farm and they both can enjoy the benefits of having great insurance. Guy actually accepts the offer and does his best to help Sienna around the farm while also working on a construction project.

How does Sienna do with Emma? How's Emma's life now that Guy and Emma have moved in? Will Emma get the transplant she needs in order to survive?

I always love what Sarah Morgenthaler writes. This one is more emotional than her other books and I highly recommend this book. it is a "holiday" book, but it's not really screaming out holiday season except for snow and a few holiday traditions like decorating stockings for the animals on the farm.

First, thank you to Sarah Morgenthaler and Netgalley for providing this ARC.

I was not, at all, prepared for this book!

The truth is, despite having the book The Tourist Attraction on my TBR, I didn't get to read it last Christmas and, therefore, this was the first one I read by this author. And it didn't disappoint at all!

I felt every emotion possible with this book and I have to say that I full on sobbed in the last chapters.
The way this book is written made me feel everything the characters were feeling and I love it when a book can convey that to me.

It's a book with marriage of convenience and, of course, I love this trope, but this one is very well done!

Sienna is such an empathetic person that, after learning about Guy's story, she simply wants to help in some way and she then proposes that they get married so that Guy and his daughter are entitled to her health insurance.

And Guy is a desperate father who is willing to do anything, even accept a proposal from an ad meant to be a joke. And the truth is, he got the best for his daughter!

I thought this book portrayed these two's first hours of marriage very well, as we noticed an akwardness for a while, normal for two people who don't know each other, have just gotten married and are living in the same house. I really liked that this portrayed reality.

The way they develop their relationship is simply perfect. And I liked the fact that it was a different fake relationship than normal. That is, there hasn't been that whole "how are we going to fool everyone?" thing. I really feel that the relationship developed in the most natural way possible.

The way these two support each other is just relationship goals!

And Guy's daughter?? How loving! The way in which she deals with the disease I think it was very spot on. I really think this is how a child would react to being so sick and having so many restrictions.

I loved the way Sienna fell in love with little Emma, ​​it was just adorable.
And in the last chapters: the way Sienna deals with what happens was heartbreaking.

Despite being a book set at Christmas, we don't have too much information about it, which I thought was good. I think it was enough.

Read this book, please!
I want a physical copy by yesterday

Love it all- the quirky cast, the sweet romance and the setting outside of Moose Springs for such a different feel/vibe.

🎄ARC REVIEW🎄

4.5! ⭐
No spice (don't let this stop you!!!)

🍪 One-Bed
🍪 Single Dad
🍪 Forced Proximity
🍪 Marriage of Purpose
🍪 Strangersto Friends to Lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sarah Morgenthaler for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

This was my first book by @sarahmorgenthaler.author , and while I’m not typically drawn to Christmas-themed stories, the plot and tropes sounded intriguing. To my surprise, I found myself deeply invested in the characters and their journey.

The story begins with an unexpected twist: after finalising her divorce, Sienna's best friend jokingly places an ad in the local newspaper claiming Sienna is looking for a new husband. To everyone's shock, someone responds. Enter Guy, a single father seeking marriage to secure medical insurance for his four-year-old daughter, Emma, who is battling stage five kidney failure.

Sienna is moved by Guy’s situation and feels compelled to help, even though she doesn’t expect to experience the Christmas spirit herself. She becomes increasingly involved in their lives, learning about Emma’s condition and supporting both father and daughter as best she can. Meanwhile, Guy, while focused on his daughter’s well-being, also supports Sienna as best as he can.

The emotional weight of Emma’s suffering and Guy’s struggle to maintain hope is profoundly touching. As Sienna grows closer to them, readers will find themselves fully engaged and empathetic toward each character. What starts as a practical arrangement gradually transforms into a genuine marriage filled with love, comfort, and heartfelt moments, despite the challenging journey ahead.

This novel will make you see Christmas as filled with love, miracles and warm cookies (and this is coming from a self-proclaimed Grinch). 🤍🥺

This a GREAT READ. The story is about Sienna's family and how they took care of the wild Idaho land. Just getting off of a divorce her husband did not leave her much but the farm. Her friends, as a joke put out a flyer for a husband for hire and a stranger did apply for the job. She explained that it had been a joke from her friends,. She talked with Guy who was in town doing odd construction jobs because his 4 year old daughter ,Emma was in end stage kidney failure and the town had a pediatric dialysis center. He and Sienna talked and the next day she decided they should get married, so she could help the child and that they did. See how this journey turns out. Does the marriage work out and does Emma get her kidney. I highly recommend this book.

This emotionally intense romance follows Sienna, a divorced rancher, and Guy, a single dad trying to save his daughter with stage five kidney disease. The marriage-of-convenience storyline unfolds quickly due to their urgent circumstances, set against a cozy ranch backdrop during Christmas. Despite the rapid pace, Sienna and Guy’s honesty and vulnerability create a deep, heartfelt connection. While the ending may feel abrupt, it provides a well-deserved, satisfying conclusion after the characters' emotional journey. Filled with laughter, sadness, and love, this is a touching read with depth and heart.

“The Christmas You Found Me” truly made me feel the whole range of feelings on the emotional spectrum.

It starts off funny with a supportive best friend needling their BFF in a manner that’s mildly inappropriate but feels right for a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Sienna meets Guy on the day after her divorce is final, and fate has a funny way of bringing people who need each other together.

This is a single dad, marriage of convenience, insta-love story, which I don’t always love together but it really works. Sometimes life puts people on a twisted trajectory where the unthinkable and crazy options become the only option. Guy does everything he can to be a good dad to Emma, a good parent, and a good human. He just needs someone to look out for him, and Sienna’s going to try and save them both if she can help it.

I’m not exaggerating when I tell you this book could have been 700 pages of these three flawed-but-beautiful humans interacting with each other. From page one I wanted to be friends and neighbors with Sienna, I wanted to play and do crafts with Emma, and I wanted the protection, care, and devotion of Guy. When I finished this book I wanted to give Sarah Morgenthaler a hug.

Welcome back, Sarah. Your readers have missed you.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
Admittedly, i didnt know the plot before i started reading. I was torn apart when i realized there was a sick child that was driving most of this. But the author was able to swing it a way that didnt make the whole story sad.
Im a total suck for marriage of connivence. This was a fun twist on it too. Heartwarming and cozy!

First off I would definitely recommend checking the trigger warnings, I don't remember seeing any when I requested this book. There is a sick child in the story. Just thought I'd mention that just in case it's a trigger for you. I really did enjoy this book and it was a quick read for me. I really loved how Sienna and Guy's relationship. The fact that he didn't force her to do anything she wasn't ready was nice. Oh and Emma and Barley were just too cute. But it did feel a bit weird that the story took place over a few weeks and everything happened so quickly. I think had it happened over a few months I would have believed that it was possible. The ending also felt a bit rushed, almost like it was running out of time and had to quickly finish the story. I was also expecting some "spicy scenes" in the book but there wasn't anything. spicy, which is great if you aren't a big fan of it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review..

This romance is just perfect in every way and the perfect cozy romance to cuddle with during the holiday season. I loved this tender marriage of convenience and I truly felt the main characters slowly fall for each other. While this romance will definitely pull at your heartstrings, it is full of love, faith, romance and wonder. I’m thankful that this author picked up her pen and gave us this beautiful Christmas novel after suffering her own heartbreak. I hope there are many more. Thank you to #Netgalley and #Sourcebooks for this ARC - the opinions are all my own.

This is a nearly perfect romance novel. My only complaint is that the whole thing happens over the course of two weeks (except the epilogue.) If it had been two or three months, I would have found it much more believable. These people are in an impossible situation and everything goes perfectly for them. I can get behind that because it's a romance but I just couldn't believe that it could happen that smoothly in 14 days.

So with all that being said, this book is an absolute delight. It has just about everything I love about the genre. There's no steamy scenes, which was a disappointment but I'm willing to overlook that because their relationship was ideal otherwise and their focus was elsewhere.

This book is about a sick kid and it's heartwrenching. So if that's a trigger for you, this might not be a book you choose. I will say it is handled beautifully and is ultimately hopeful.

The mixture of sadness and joy and humor is so well done.

I highly recommend this one.

Make sure you have tissues at the ready for this very emotional, and endearing book!

There’s a whole list of CW for this book, so please be mindful before reading.

The writing in this book is absolutely spectacular, the author does an amazing job of describing the ranch, and has bumped Idaho up in places I need to visit.

I’m a big fan of single parent romance, and when you throw in a marriage of convenience, the author did a fantastic job creating this story. It’s fast paced, and you feel like these characters just fit together. Sienna is a hard working strong woman, and Guy is willing to do absolutely anything and everything to take care of his daughter.

This was a very emotional book, touching on different types of grief. This book absolutely broke my heart, but it gave so much hope and love with it.

[Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion]

CW: parent with Alzheimer's, divorce, child illness

As a fan of Morgenthaler’s Moose Springs series, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of her latest book, and it did not disappoint. From the very first page, I was immediately lost in the story, but this one hit differently compared to her other books. If you’re thinking, "Oh, another lighthearted holiday romance," you’re in for a surprise. This book is so much more.

It’s beautifully written, and I’m not sure my words can fully convey how wonderful this book is. Be prepared—this story is emotionally heavy. I laughed, I ugly cried, and I found myself completely caught up in its emotional roller coaster. There’s a constant tension throughout so you're just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The plot starts off with a humorous twist—Sienna's best friend places a joke ad in the local newspaper to help her find a new husband after her divorce. Guy Maple actually answers the ad. His 4-year-old daughter, Emma has stage-five chronic kidney disease and is on the transplant list, but Guy needs to prove he can afford the anti-rejection medication. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to save his daughter, even marrying a stranger.
While this is, at its core, a romance, the relationship that develops between Sienna and Emma is heartwarming. As a mom of a four-year-old myself, I couldn’t help but fall in love with Emma and root for her. She’s a sweet, brave child facing incredibly difficult circumstances, which makes the stakes of this story so real and emotionally gripping.

Both Sienna and Guy are wonderfully developed characters. Sienna is navigating the aftermath of a brutal divorce while slowly losing her dad. Guy is a single dad doing his best for a child with a serious illness. Together, they learn that it’s okay to lean on others, and that showing vulnerability doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human.