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Starring Christmas
Starring Christmas features two Christmas novellas by beloved novelists in one set!
Falling for a Christmas Star by Rachel McMillan Sam Medina has finally made it. A last minute casting change finds him en route to Toronto to star in the latest entry of the Serendipity Network’s annual Christmas movie extravaganza, My True Love Gave to Me. Finally, he will have the chance to shake off his reputation for supporting roles as the best friend or kind-hearted barista and prove that he is leading man material.
Merry Strathford is too busy for love. When she’s not pursuing a tenure track position in Medieval Women's studies, she’s serving plum pudding lattes at the Holly and the Ivy Café. Thus far, the only romance in her life occurs when she falls under the spell of her favourite made-for-TV movies. That is, until Sam Medina walks through the coffee shop door.
Suddenly, both Sam and Merry are living the romance of a Serendipity movie. But life isn't all snowflakes and sugar plums and real life ---and relationships---are far from cookie cutter shortbread.
Lone Star Christmas Lights by Allison Pittman
Mari Medina is in love…with her neighborhood. She’s converted her historic ancestral home into a cool coffee shop and party space, with an apartment upstairs big enough to share with her mother. It’s a comfortable, safe existence, even if it lacks the spark to fuel her unsuccessful attempts to break into the world of writing romance. Still, she’s always on the lookout for a new taste to bring to her patrons.
Larsen Clarke had everything that comes with a successful career: a luxury apartment, a flashy sports car, and his pick of society women. When hardship strikes his family, he gives it all up, trading for a room in his brother’s home, and a venture into creating craft beer. He’s traded his expensive suit for a plaid shirt, and the only risk he’s willing to take involves bold Texas-based brew.
When Mari and Larsen meet, it’s a collision of retail and romance. She’s looking for a story, he’s looking for himself. Together, they just might find a little lone star magic.
Falling for a Christmas Star by Rachel McMillan Sam Medina has finally made it. A last minute casting change finds him en route to Toronto to star in the latest entry of the Serendipity Network’s annual Christmas movie extravaganza, My True Love Gave to Me. Finally, he will have the chance to shake off his reputation for supporting roles as the best friend or kind-hearted barista and prove that he is leading man material.
Merry Strathford is too busy for love. When she’s not pursuing a tenure track position in Medieval Women's studies, she’s serving plum pudding lattes at the Holly and the Ivy Café. Thus far, the only romance in her life occurs when she falls under the spell of her favourite made-for-TV movies. That is, until Sam Medina walks through the coffee shop door.
Suddenly, both Sam and Merry are living the romance of a Serendipity movie. But life isn't all snowflakes and sugar plums and real life ---and relationships---are far from cookie cutter shortbread.
Lone Star Christmas Lights by Allison Pittman
Mari Medina is in love…with her neighborhood. She’s converted her historic ancestral home into a cool coffee shop and party space, with an apartment upstairs big enough to share with her mother. It’s a comfortable, safe existence, even if it lacks the spark to fuel her unsuccessful attempts to break into the world of writing romance. Still, she’s always on the lookout for a new taste to bring to her patrons.
Larsen Clarke had everything that comes with a successful career: a luxury apartment, a flashy sports car, and his pick of society women. When hardship strikes his family, he gives it all up, trading for a room in his brother’s home, and a venture into creating craft beer. He’s traded his expensive suit for a plaid shirt, and the only risk he’s willing to take involves bold Texas-based brew.
When Mari and Larsen meet, it’s a collision of retail and romance. She’s looking for a story, he’s looking for himself. Together, they just might find a little lone star magic.
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2016
About the author
Rachel McMillan
28 books1,137 followersRachel McMillan is the author of The Herringford and Watts mysteries, The Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries, The Three Quarter Time series, The London Restoration and The Mozart Code. Her non-fiction works including Dream Plan Go: A Travel Guide for Independent Adventure and A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada and is always reading.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 27, 2016
Adorable collection of two connected stories sure to please Hallmark Christmas movie fans everywhere.
McMillan's story has two characters with chemistry that glows from each page. The story gives many winks and nods toward Hallmark Christmas movies and will make even the most closeted fan admit to their addiction to these sappy, yet feel-good stories. It also gives a bit of a look at how the characters may not be exactly as they appear on screen.
Pittman's tale follows the sister of one of McMillan's characters. Her shop is a place I would personally love to visit, what a clever idea and it makes the story fascinating and believable. The sparks between Mari and Larsen are smoldering, yet catch fire and the reader's heart at the same time.
The settings in both tales--Canada and Texas--are so well described that they become almost like characters themselves.
Fun stories sure to enhance your Christmas season in all the best ways.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
McMillan's story has two characters with chemistry that glows from each page. The story gives many winks and nods toward Hallmark Christmas movies and will make even the most closeted fan admit to their addiction to these sappy, yet feel-good stories. It also gives a bit of a look at how the characters may not be exactly as they appear on screen.
Pittman's tale follows the sister of one of McMillan's characters. Her shop is a place I would personally love to visit, what a clever idea and it makes the story fascinating and believable. The sparks between Mari and Larsen are smoldering, yet catch fire and the reader's heart at the same time.
The settings in both tales--Canada and Texas--are so well described that they become almost like characters themselves.
Fun stories sure to enhance your Christmas season in all the best ways.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
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December 12, 2016A delightfully charming Christmas duo that kept me reading way past my bedtime. I adored these holly jolly novellas! Fantastic character development and fresh writing galore, the connection between tales in Canada and Texas was artfully executed.
Here's hoping for an encore!
Here's hoping for an encore!
December 5, 2016
Are you a Christmas movie addict like I am? I'm talking about the cheesy and romantic hallmark channel sort. If so, then I can pretty much guarantee you'll love these two short stories, because they both read like swoony and fun Christmas movies! I know both of these authors are fans, and it so clearly shines through. I loved every reference, especially to a few favorites of mine. Best of all though? Even as things happen pretty rapidly in the romance department, the characters are so lovable and believable as they fall in love that it doesn't really matter. The heroes are swoonworthy and gentlemanly, both heroines are hilarious and sweet, the chemistry is fabulous, and the storylines are loads of fun. Basically I just grinned my way through both stories and loved every single minute! (Even the cheesy and silly moments, because what Christmas movie doesn't have those? The cheesier the better, am I right? ;) A perfect read for Christmas time!
December 31, 2020
A perfect way to end the year. Two separate but intertwined romances about the magic of Christmas. Sam Mendina is a would be actor who gets the lead role in a romantic Christmas movie which if filmed in Toronto. At a local coffee shop he meets academic Merry who loves these type of movies, but struggles to find love herself. Back in San Antonia, Sam's sister owns a bookshop and meets local craft brewer, Larsen. Sweet and absolutely lovely.
December 30, 2016
I'm not a watcher of Hallmark movies (we don't have the channel down under) but I am a fan of Rachel McMillan's writing. So it was an easy decision for me to grab this duo of novellas. 2 stories, 75 pages each, quick reads and two different authorial voices.
I loved how Rachel & Allison connected the two stories:a brother (Sam Medina) falls in love with Merry while making a Hallmark movie in Toronto (Rachel's home) and his sister (Mari Medina) falls in love with Larsen back home in San Antonio (Allison's home) as she plans a celebration of her brother's new movie.
Witty,at times a little corny, classic will he/she, won't he/she standoffs and predictable endings as is consistent with a Hallmark movie. Good fun with strong multi-dimensional characters who have interesting careers and two cities that I'd love to explore now having read a little of them in these novellas.
Good holiday reads that make you smile.
I loved how Rachel & Allison connected the two stories:a brother (Sam Medina) falls in love with Merry while making a Hallmark movie in Toronto (Rachel's home) and his sister (Mari Medina) falls in love with Larsen back home in San Antonio (Allison's home) as she plans a celebration of her brother's new movie.
Witty,at times a little corny, classic will he/she, won't he/she standoffs and predictable endings as is consistent with a Hallmark movie. Good fun with strong multi-dimensional characters who have interesting careers and two cities that I'd love to explore now having read a little of them in these novellas.
Good holiday reads that make you smile.
December 1, 2016
I read this delightful collection in two sittings--I loved it! Starring Christmas delivers exactly what you would hope for: wit, laughter, believable romance complete with awkward moments, and evergreen-scented happy endings. Both McMillan and Pittman deliver laugh-out-loud lines and plenty of smiles. A heart-warming blend of Christmas movie magic and real people finding their own happily ever afters. I normally gravitate toward reading thick historical novels, but this contemporary Christmas duo was exactly what I needed to decompress and enjoy a generous dose of holiday spirit. I'm hooked on these authors, and will reading more from them!
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December 31, 2016*Read December 2016
December 10, 2020
In "Falling for a Christmas Star" by Rachel McMillan, Sam Medina has a starring role in a Christmas movie being made in Toronto. In a coffee shop he meets Merry Strathford who also works as a teacher at an university and writes a blog for a women's magazine. He's only there for a few weeks. They have enjoyable times and some misunderstandings.
I liked the way the second novella, "Lone Star Christmas Lights" by Allison Pittman, had a connection to the first. Sam's sister, Mari, the owner of The Book Club, a coffee shop in San Antonio, meets an intriguing man one morning at the Farmer's Market. Larsen Clarke gets her to try one of his specialty beers. They don't date, they have business connections but still manage to fall in love.
These are both quick, fun Christmas romances.
I liked the way the second novella, "Lone Star Christmas Lights" by Allison Pittman, had a connection to the first. Sam's sister, Mari, the owner of The Book Club, a coffee shop in San Antonio, meets an intriguing man one morning at the Farmer's Market. Larsen Clarke gets her to try one of his specialty beers. They don't date, they have business connections but still manage to fall in love.
These are both quick, fun Christmas romances.
December 31, 2016
Instant classics!
Absolutely darling and delectable in their execution all the way around.
The imperfect but lovable and strong leads to the beauteous vivid settings that instantly took the reader Right There--Starring Christmas are two stories that will leave a mark and sparks of hope. Truly delightful 200%
Absolutely darling and delectable in their execution all the way around.
The imperfect but lovable and strong leads to the beauteous vivid settings that instantly took the reader Right There--Starring Christmas are two stories that will leave a mark and sparks of hope. Truly delightful 200%
January 1, 2021
Didn't love it...
Not really my kind of stories. Not terrible, but I found the first one confusing at first, especially. The 2nd was about city folk who drink a lot of alcohol, which I don't do. I guess it was hard for me to relate.
Not really my kind of stories. Not terrible, but I found the first one confusing at first, especially. The 2nd was about city folk who drink a lot of alcohol, which I don't do. I guess it was hard for me to relate.
December 20, 2017
This was cute pair of stories. I liked the first story by Rachel McMillan more, I felt like the chemistry of that one was better. But they were both cute.
January 6, 2021
Two sweet Christmas stories for those who enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies.
November 22, 2021
Cute, interconnected Christmas novellas!!
December 13, 2016
Review to come
December 30, 2017
Two sweet Christian Christmas romances as siblings find true love
December 25, 2020
No truer words...
A cute set of stories that circle around two San Antonio siblings. Travel, Christmas, and Christmas movies comprise the foundation of these stories. Sweet, cute, and adorable...perfect for the holidays!
A cute set of stories that circle around two San Antonio siblings. Travel, Christmas, and Christmas movies comprise the foundation of these stories. Sweet, cute, and adorable...perfect for the holidays!
December 14, 2016
DNF
Sadness.
Just couldn't get into it.
Sadness.
Just couldn't get into it.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews