There's Something About Christmas [Kindle Edition]

Debbie Macomber (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A smalltown Washington reporter learns to love fruitcake in Macomber's chick-lit take on A Christmas Carol. Emma Collins ("kinda cute in an uptight sort of way") hopes that writing obituaries and selling ads for the Puyallup Examiner will lead to a journalism career. Instead, her first plum assignment—interviewing three finalists in a national fruitcake recipe contest—lands her in the cockpit of devil-may-care pilot Oliver Hamilton, whose good looks and charm remind her of her shiftless father. Despite Emma's fear of flying, Oliver takes her to Yakima, Colville and the San Juan islands to meet three women who all figure that when life gives you lemons (or anything else), make fruitcake. Emma tastes the thrice-married barmaid's liquor-laden concoction, the tender-hearted widow's chocoholic dreamand the struggling young mother's no-bake graham-cracker confection. While she tries to capture in print lessons learned from the three cooks, Oliver's plane is grounded by a snowstorm, Emma and Oliver kiss, she gets thrown out of her apartment trying to rescue a stray dog, he falls in the water trying to rescue her and she decides Christmas isn't as bad as she thought. It all adds up to another tale of romance in the lives of ordinary people, with a message that life is like a fruitcake: full of unexpected delights. (Nov.)
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Review

"Readers looking for a holiday fairy tale will find plenty of reasons to cheer." -- Publishers Weekly on When Christmas Comes

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 163 KB
• Publisher: Mira (November 1, 2006)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000MAHB78
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,868 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

With more than 100 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Debbie Macomber is one of today's most popular authors.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author is best known for her ability to create compelling characters and bring their stories to life in her books. Drawing on her own experiences and observations, Debbie writes heartwarming tales about small-town life, home and family and enduring friendships. Every book features the delightful sense of humor that readers around the world clamor for.

Debbie is a regular resident on numerous bestseller lists, including the New York Times (55 times and counting), USA TODAY (currently 63 times) and Publishers Weekly (23 times to date). She is the first-ever recipient of the "readers' choice" Quill Award for Romance Fiction, for 44 Cranberry Point, the fourth book in her highly popular Cedar Cove series. Debbie has also been honored with a RITA® Award, a Romantic Times BOOKreviews Career Achievement Award and is a multiple winner of both the Holt Medallion and the B. Dalton Award.

Her recent books include 92 Pacific Boulevard, 8 Sandpiper Way, 74 Seaside Avenue and Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook, as well as Twenty Wishes, A Cedar Cove Christmas, Summer on Blossom Street and The Perfect Christmas.

For more information on Debbie and her books, visit her Web site: www.DebbieMacomber.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars warm Christmas romance, October 25, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There's Something About Christmas (Hardcover)

In Washington State, Emma Collins writes ads and obits for the Puyallup Examiner, a newspaper struggling to remain financially solvent, which includes more local interest stories and a chance for Emma to write an article or two. Her editor Walt Berwald III assigns Emma to interview the three Washington state entries (Earlene, Sophie, and Peggy) who are among the national finalists in the Good Housekeeping fruitcake recipe contest; ironically she hates fruitcake.

To accomplish her assignment in a timely manner, Emma must fly in a Cessna when a 747 gives her cardiac arrest with a daredevil pilot Oliver Hamilton, who irritates her. Still this is her first true journalism assignment so she flies with Oliver around the state, which leads to them learning more about one another. He becomes her knight in shining armor bring dog food for her newly rescued pet and pizza for her. Emma realizes she can fly, look at fruitcake, and fall in love with Oliver. However, her other phobia, anti-Christmas is a whole different aversion and she refuses to explain her bah humbug attitude that could destroy their relationship.

This warm Christmas romance avoids for the most part the schmaltzy by using the right amount of humor to enhance the relationship between the pilot and the reporter. Emma is a terrific individual who overcomes two relatively minor woes and her fear of love ends in trauma especially around Christmas (Kate from Gremlins) to give her heart to Oliver, a modern gentleman. Fruitcake recipes aside, the real ingredients of this fine Yuletide yarn is a pinch of caring, a dab of understanding, and a whole lot of love.

Harriet Klausner

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Warm Holiday Read!, November 5, 2005

By 

Kristi Ahlers (Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There's Something About Christmas (Hardcover)

Debbie Macomber always offers readers "feel good" reads that are peppered with wonderful characters and fun storylines. This holiday offering is no different and will truly put you in the holiday spirit!

Emma Collins wants to write a story for her newspaper that will make people stand up and take notice of her talent. Writing obituaries is not going to be something she wants to work on for the rest of her career. But, when she's given a chance to write a "human interest" piece she is excited until she finds out that it will envolve two things she can't stand. Flying and fruitcake. That's right, she is going to have to write interviews on three of the states Fruitcake recipe winners who have a chance at a national contest. The fact that she must fly in a two seater airplane piloted by flyboy Oliver Hamilton and co-piloted by Oscar his mutt, who suffers from allergies from perfume...well, could things get any worse? Oh yes, but in the end it will be well worth it. Tis the season to be jolly and this Christmas she might just get the one thing that can't be found in stores...love.

As always Ms. Macomber has penned a very nice, romantic read that will offer plenty of laugh out loud moments, while at the same time offering heat warming lessons. This is one read that I consider an early Christmas gift from one of today's most wonderful authors!

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sweet Christmas treat with no calories!, November 10, 2005

By 

Patricia Raven "Penny" (Fresno, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There's Something About Christmas (Hardcover)

In "There's Something About Christmas" award winning and best selling author Debbie Macomber has given readers a sweet Christms treat with no calories! Whan a small town newspaper reporter is giver her first real story assignment it combines two of the things she likes least - flying and fruitcake. The tale unfolds with delightful intrigue - will she die of fear in mid air or turn green when faced with fruitcake? It includes many colorful and touching characters (some were REAL people Debbie has met!)along the way. A giant backwoods lumberjack wants to carry her off, the daredevil pilot both frightens and fascinates her and the fruitcake recipe contestants unwittingly share secrets to happiness. Stir this all with love and laughter and you have a recipe for a delectable Christmas dessert. In addition there are charming reflections by famous chefs on fruitcake and three recipes to boot. Pour some eggnog and savor this story!