A sweet Christmas story that leaves you wanting more.

When Emily Parker rents a mountain cabin for Christmas, she didn't think she would be spending her time with a strange man. She wanted to get away from Magnolia Bay because she felt like she was cursed. Emily’s last three relationships ended at Christmas and she feels her current boyfriend plans to break up with her too.

Veterinarian, Griff Boone was at Cozy Cabins to help his friend Lindy's dog Sassy who isn't feeling well. While waiting for Lindy to return from another friend’s house, Emily pulls up. Griff can't believe someone would actually show up driving a Barbie car and wearing flip flops with an ice storm on the way.

While Emily and Griff are stranded together in the cabin during the ice storm, they form a very close friendship. What will happen to their friendship when the ice melts and it's time to return to their regular lives? Will the Christmas curse finally be broken?

This is a quick book to read. So, if you are short on time and looking for something that will leave you with a happy feeling, get this book. Emily and Griff make a fantastic couple. I enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom.

Spent most of the story berating the nearly-TSTL heroine, and the relationship-building just didn't connect for me.

The Christmas Curse is one of those stories that is going to grab your heart and not let go. Both Emily and Griff feel cursed around Christmas. Things have happened to them both during what should be the happiest season of the year that just brings back sad, unhappy memories. Ironically, they have both decided to run away for Christmas this year. Emily to a mountain cabin that promises to let her disappear if that’s what she wants. Griff to the cabin he keeps where no one will venture anywhere near him. What they actually got was a bit of both their wishes and a whole lot more.

The last thing Emily had expected was to be stranded at the inn, during an ice storm with a total stranger – a totally gruff and rude stranger. Yes, maybe she’d turned her cell phone off a bit too early in her attempt to hide from Christmas and missed some important messages. And maybe she should have checked the weather predictions for the location in the mountains she was heading for, but she didn’t. All too soon she realized that those small things that she had thought unimportant were really deal breakers right now. Snow was one thing, but an ice storm that coated everything in a shimmering glow that looked beautiful from behind the window curtains, but held deadly consequences if you ventured out in it… was just not something she had planned for this trip.

During their time of isolation, Emily and Griff did their best to cope with the situation and each other, if a bit grudgingly. Griff was reliving memories of a past Christmas that had taken place at this very house. He had been running away to try to escape those memories. Now here he was babysitting another young woman who has no clue how to survive outside of town. And she’s opening up parts of his emotions that he really isn’t ready to deal with Emily was left with time to compare Griff to her current boyfriend (the one she is sure intended to breakup with her) Phillip. The comparison didn’t come out very good on Phillip’s side of the coin.. On one of the rare times when she and Griff actually talked civilly to each other, he had made some very good points about her so called curse. And thinking about them and the effect Griff is having on her heart is bringing some very strong, hard truths to Emily.

I really enjoyed The Christmas Curse. What’s the saying? Bad things happen to good people. And eventually those good people get their act together and make changes in their lives that will enrich and satisfy them instead of waiting for the fallout from a feeling of being cursed. While they were definitely attracted to each other, and maybe a romance had its beginnings during those few days of isolation both Emily and Griff made changes. The kind that make you ready for the love of your life to walk back into your life and bring that happy ever after with them.

*I received an e-ARC of The Christmas Curse from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

This was a easy quick read. I have enjoyed many of the other stories by Erika Marks, but this wasn't a favorite. I felt like the story needed something more. The connection between the main characters kind of happened out of the blue. I like stories where the attraction between the characters builds with time and interaction with each other. There was just something missing for me with this one.

Emily feels that Christmas comes with a curse so this year she has to sided to go off the grid and get through Christmas without ending yet another relationship over Christmas. When she takes off on her adventure to hide from Christmas she never expected to run into so many issues yet now she left wondering if Christmas is a curse or a blessing? Griff is walking out the door for his Christmas getaway to the south, he has one last stop to make to see a patient and he knows time is short and he needs to hurry. When in walks Emily he starts to question things that had happened in his past and wonder if its time for healing and time for finding the true meaning of Christmas before its to late.
I really loved this cute little Christmas story it sums up what Christmas is all about. Christmas and family is what you make of it not just blood, and that was very much portrayed in this book. The storyline was amazing and well written. I think there was maybe one curse word but over all the book was clean and fun. This book is really a fun book and so well worth the read this Christmas season.

This is a festive story about a young lady trying to ensure her boyfriend cannot do the same as her previous three - dump her at Christmas! To do this she’s going to spend the holiday in a remote cabin in the Carolina mountains where there’s no phone signal and, to ensure he can’t contact her, she’s even going to leave her phone at home!

Griff Boone is the local vet attending a patient when Emily Parker arrives to stay in the holiday chalet. Unfortunately by then the weather forecast is dire, her hostess is off to check on a neighbour who lives in an even more remote location and Griff is left to help care for the aged labrador and Emily. He also thinks he’s cursed at Christmas but for more fatal reasons than Emily. He’d also planned on going away for the festive season but certainly not to this location which is filled with heartbreaking memories for him.

When the ice storm arrives, the two have to abandon their earlier plans and get ready to spend Christmas together in someone else’s house. Not exactly what either of them had planned! On top of all this the two are attracted to each other. Emily is an economist who dreams of opening up her own cupcake bakery but her boyfriend doesn’t support her idea. Griff believes in following your dreams and aspirations, he’s supportive and really caring with Sassy. Could this be the time the Christmas curse is broken? When the ice finally melts, will their warm hearts break the curse and give them a chance at a HEA?

This is a delightful quick read that has a romance that starts slowly and blooms in the end as two people learn that Christmas can be a fantastic festive time and they no longer have to be modern day Scrooge’s in their attitudes to it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

Loved this!! A wonderful holiday tale of two people who have endured years of Christmas heartache but somehow find each other this year putting the Christmas curse to rest for good. Emily and Griffen are great together and both deserve happiness, especially this time of year. A great lazy day read. I definitely recommend it.

The Christmas Curse provides readers with a fantastic two for one offer - a lovely Christmas story and a decadently delicious cupcake recipe. This story is short and sweet but no less enjoyable for its brevity. Erica Marks has a way of spinning a yarn that fits in all the salient facts plus plenty of emotion without making her books feel either rushed or cluttered.
Both Emily and Griff hate Christmas, both feel the impact of bad memories at that time of the year and so when they find themselves trapped in a small, remote house in the lead up to Christmas Day things don't look too promising in the romance department. Until Emily wakes in the middle of their first night and starts baking cupcakes. The story unfolds sweetly, helped along by elderly golden retriever Sassy, until it reaches its inevitable happy ending. If you're looking for a feel good dose of Christmas cheer, look no further!

Sweet Christmas Story. Emily was unlucky in love during holidays. Three previous relationship ended during Christmas. So she thought she was cursed during Christmas. Now she feels her boyfriend Phillip is away and this relationship is on the rocks. She has to break her curse so she decided to avoid holiday by booking a cabin away from Magnolia Bay. Not checking her voicemail and weather forecast, she was almost didn't make it to cabin. She stops to find her Cabin when she meets Griff. Griffin is a vet who came to check on old Golden retriever while owner of the dog went to check on her friend. They did not have very good first impression of each other. But after baking in the middle of night they were getting closer. But Griffin had his past history was pulling him back. Griffin encourages Emily to pursue her dreams and they share a kiss. They finally share a Christmas together but her boyfriends comes back for Emily and Griffin is heading back. Emily finally sees Phillip for who he really is and she is breaking up with him and she felt so much better.. But what will she do about Griffin and her job???? Will she pursue her dream to become a cupcake baker and pursue Griffin????
This was cute holiday story. I did enjoy reading it..

The Christmas Curse by Erika Marks is this sweet Christmas story of old dogs and cool vets. I cannot remember enjoying a ridiculous story plot so much. Emily Parker is indisputably the quirkiest character. I loved her from the first page while she was still in Magnolia Bay. Really flips flops to the NC mountains in December? I know she would not want me to ask that. She was destined to find Griff Boone who needed love as much as she needed a someone to give her sound advice and not just about foot wear.

This is a wonderful story to make you remember the importance of following your own dream. The epilogue couldn’t have been better. Just a delightful heart warming read.

4.5 Stars

I enjoyed this book, a fun little read to get in the Christmas spirit!

It is a nice Christmas story. It is too simple and a fast read and that what makes it beautiful. The characters are lovable and the reading is enjoyable. It is the sweet romance of one lost soul and another one confused who get along on Christmas due to circumstances and a little push of destiny.
If you're planning a little escape into the romantic Christmas world, this is the book for you.

Emily Landon is sure that she is cursed when it comes to Christmas. Her previous three boyfriends have broken up with her during the holiday. Now her current boyfriend Phillip is away on business and has said they need to talk when he returns. Thinking she can break the curse by hiding out and not speaking with Phillip, Emily books herself a cabin in the mountains for Christmas. Avoiding her phone though, Emily misses a call from the owner that a storm is coming and she shouldn’t come to the mountains.

Griff Boone is the small town vet who has come out to the property to look after the owner’s sick dog. He has his own issues with the holidays and had packed up and planned to leave town before the oncoming storm arrives. When he suggests that the property owner go check on her neighbor before he leaves he doesn’t expect the storm to arrive sooner than predicted and for her to not be able to make it back from the neighbor’s and is left hosting Emily when she arrives.

Another nice little Christmas tale of two people riding out the storm together and coming to grips with their Christmas woes. Nice characters that grow together when they both share their own pain of the holidays and find comfort in each other.

This is listed as the sixth book in a series but read find as a standalone novella. Another good holiday read that I’d recommend checking out.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So this story was different. Yes, another couple stranded in a winter storm, with instant attraction, but there's not really romance between these two, since Emily is in a relationship already.
Emily is obsessed to get married and start a family, and seems to be more focused on the goal, than to the person to achieve the goal with. Philip, her current boyfriend, isn't that caring, pleasant, or likeable person, at all. It is really hard to understand why Emily would hang on to a person like that. But then, she also left for a Christmas vacation in the North Carolina mountains in flip flops...
But now, Emily is stranded on the inn with the vet, Griff. And while they don't get along that well at the beginning, they form some kind of trust, that allows them to open their hearts, and share some painful Christmas memories with each other. And as Philip shows up on Christmas morning, up in the mountains, and shows his true colors, the idyllic Christmas celebration is interrupted. There's an epilogue, that gives short of 'happy for now' ending for the story, but the time and distance between the ending and epilogue are unrealistic, and any real relationship based on the time spent together would be kind of odd. But if you are looking for a Christmas story with not so much romance, but more life lessons, and sweet cupcakes, this story might be for you
~ Two Spoons

A sweet lovely story about trying to avoid what Emily thinks of as the Christmas curse - boyfriends breaking up with her during the Christmas holidays. Emily is in a relationship with some one she thinks may be serious but wanting to avoid the "Christmas curse" as she calls it, she decides to duck out of town for the Christmas holidays and go to a cabin up in the Carolina mountains. Being a coastal girl, Emily doesn't think about checking the weather forecast or that the mountains do get ice and snow storms. Imagine her surprise at arriving at the inn where the cabin she is renting is located and wearing flip flops when an ice storm happens.

Griffin is a small town vet with his own back story and issues with the Christmas holidays. He plans to leave town for the holidays but promise to make one stop on the way out of town. He is the type who will make a house call to check on an aging dog belonging to a long friend. While he is doing the check on the dog, the owner of the dog (and of the cabins) decides to make a quick run further up the mountain to check on another neighbor. While she is gone, Emily shows up and the ice storm starts leaving them all stranded in various places.

Over the space of two days, Griffin and Emily learn to open up and fall in love although neither of them will admit to it. Once the ice starts to melt, Emily's erstwhile boy friend comes to see her. She is expecting him to propose to her but all he wants is his briefcase he left with her while he went out of town for the holidays. Griffin sees this and knowing her dreams of opening up a cupcake shop, encourages her to follow her dreams when she gets back to the coast.

Months go by and yes, Emily does follow her dreams and opens up her shop. But she is missing Griffin and it seems he is missing her too. Can these two work past the distance issue? You have to read this book to find out. And for the good times in the cabin as well.

A whimsical yet sentimental holiday read. This story has feel good written all over it. With The Christmas Curse Erika Marks does what she does best. Write quirky characters, stir up emotional that make you glad you took a chance. The small town scenario and the feeling of family and friends I loved this story.

Rosalie's review:
Emily Parker has had a bad run with men and Christmas. It seems that the festive time of year for most, ends up in heartache for her. Looking to avoid the “inevitable” again this Christmas season, Emily plans a few days away to bypass the season and impending doom.
Griff Boone has many memories in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, particularly in Cozy Cabins. Some of those memories he would love to hold onto, others, not so much. However, winding up iced in with Emily, after the unprepared, flip flop wearing, thin coat toting, nothing to prepare for NC weather woman, pins in his Jeep. This set up has nothing but problems written all throughout! But the two make it work, finding themselves, releasing past demons (both characters) and ending up with an enjoyable Christmas. The ending of this one did kind of throw me off, but other than that, this book was a great read!

A simple, sweet and quick read, perfect for an afternoon break.

Emily Parker has had a bad run with men and Christmas. It seems that the festive time of year for most, ends up in heartache for her. Looking to avoid the “inevitable” again this Christmas season, Emily plans a few days away to bypass the season and impending doom.
Griff Boone has many memories in the beautiful North Carolina mountains, particularly in Cozy Cabins. Some of those memories he would love to hold onto, others, not so much. However, winding up iced in with Emily, after the unprepared, flip flop wearing, thin coat toting, nothing to prepare for NC weather woman, pins in his Jeep. This set up has nothing but problems written all throughout! But the two make it work, finding themselves, releasing past demons (both characters) and ending up with an enjoyable Christmas. The ending of this one did kind of throw me off, but other than that, this book was a great read!

Emily has decided to leave her normal day too day life behind for the Christmas season. Unfortunately she has a bad track record for being dumped at Christmas and she thinks she is cursed.

She thinks that if she leaves and goes to a nice secluded inn, without any cell phone or service for it, that maybe she can just make it through this holiday for once.

Griffin is a well respected vet and just happens to be in the same quiet inn as Emily, he is there checking on a patient and then heading straight out of town or is he.... Thats when the ice storm hits.

It seems Fate has Other plans for them both and now two strangers have to work together and spend Christmas with each other as storm rages on.

This story is short sweet and beautifully written i loved the emotions through out the book and the way the author expresses it too us.

It is novel to see both of the main characters blaming themselves for their failed relationships and how they bring about change in themselves and together.

3 Out Of 5 Hearts From Cariad Books

The perfect lazy day read this holiday season. A quick read that will leave you smiling. Emily and Griffen. both don't like the holidays, both are looking for solitude but when an ice storm puts them in an isolated cabin for the holidays, they are sure to put the Christmas Curse to the past.

I really enjoyed the characters and how they found happiness in the simple ways. I highly recommend this short story. I received this book from netgalley for an honest review.

Emily Parker's last three relationships ended with her being dumped at Christmas. Feeling that her current relationship may be headed the same way, she decides to break the curse and hole up in a remote mountain cabin with no cell service and enjoy the holidays, alone but still in a relationship.
So she turns off her cell, and heads out of Magnolia Bay, dressed perfectly for there, but, as her friend pointed out, not for the mountains. She was also so determined to go, she didn't check the weather forecast. After getting lost, and barely making it through the worsening weather, she arrives to find a grumpy man instead of her hostess.
Veterinarian Griffin Boone has bad memories of Christmas, so always heads out of Angel's Landing for the holidays. Packed and on his way out, Griff receives a call about Sassy, one of his older patients that has been having problems. While there, he agrees to stay with her while her owner goes to check on an older resident in a remote area. When the guest that was cancelled arrives, Griff can't believe it. As the weather worsens, and Emily's car get stuck blocking Griff, the two hunker down to wait out the storm. They start to become friends and each finds love and understanding and the strength to move forward. Can they both break their curse?
Erika Marks always writes fun and interesting characters and stories, and this is no exception. A very sweet story, the characters' growth and finding their way in life is bigger than the budding romance.
**I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.