The Christmas Cookie Chronicles: Carrie

The Christmas Cookie Chronicles #1

by Lori Wilde

Come join a meeting of the First Love Cookie Club!

“On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your own true love, he will be your destiny.”

Carrie MacGregor doesn’t believe this—not one bit. She might be a “paid up” member of the Cookie Club and the local Sweethearts Knitting Club, but she’s not about to give in to the forced ho-ho-ho of the season. And why? Mark Leland. When he left town he broke Carrie’s heart. Now, the local-guy-made good is back, hosting the reality show “Fact or Fantasy.”

Mark broke her heart. her friends think they’ll be getting back together. But could the magic of a Twilight, Texas Christmas make Carrie’s secret dreams come true?

And don’t miss The Christmas Cookie Raylene available November 29thfrom Avon Impulse!

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Contemporary, Fiction, Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2011

About the author

Lori Wilde can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to write. She even went to nursing school so she could have a schedule flexible enough to allow her to write on the side. She nursed for 20 years, working in a variety of settings from the newborn nursery to the recovery room, to dialysis. But she never lost her desire to write.

She sold her first book in 1994 to Silhouette Romance but later discovered she had a flair for comedy and branched out to Harlequin Duets and now, to Blaze.

Lori is an adventuresome soul who loves to travel. She’s taken flying lessons, completed two marathons, rode in a hot-air balloon, performed with a professional jazz band, traveled Europe as a teenager, hiked volcanoes in Hawaii, trod on glaciers in Alaska, shot white-water rapids, water-skied, snow-skied, raced all-terrain vehicles, bodysurfed in the Gulf of Mexico, and photographed grizzly bears in Yellowstone.

She lives in her native Texas, with her own real-life hero, Bill.

Reviews

[Laurie Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I seen this book come in through NetGalley I wanted it but since I hadn’t read a contemporary all year I passed, but it kept nagging at me. Then I seen that someone on goodreads reviewed it so I got my chance to find out if this is a standalone once the reviewers said yes I flew to NetGally’s email to get it and I am so glad I did because I LOVED IT. Lori Wilde is a new author to me and I want all of her books NOW!! LOL. I really enjoyed the way she writes.

This story flowed so well and it was truly romantic. It had me laughing one minute then crying the next and the sex was way hot. I enjoyed all of the characters of Twilight and I will be coming back for more.

Carrie is very strong heroine and is in need of some action since she is such a holiday grouch. Mark needs to get out of Hollywood and back to his stomping ground and the only way he knows how to do that is to go back home but once he gets there his feelings for Carrie come back in a flash.

I recommend this to any romance reader that wants a quick hot novella read.

[Jackie's Bookbytes · Rating 2 out of 5]

"On Christmas Eve, if you sleep with kismet cookies under your pillow and dream of your own true love, he will be your destiny."

Carrie MacGregor doesn't believe this--not one bit. She might be a "paid up" member of the Cookie Club and the local Sweethearts Knitting Club, but she's not about to give in to the forced ho-ho-ho of the season. And why? Mark Leland. When he left town he broke Carrie's heart. Now, the local-guy-made good is back, hosting the reality show "Fact or Fantasy."

Fact: Mark broke her heart. Fantasy: her friends think they'll be getting back together. But could the magic of a Twilight, Texas Christmas make Carrie's secret dreams come true?

"And don't miss The Christmas Cookie Chronicles: Raylene available November 29thfrom Avon Impulse "

I didn't like Carrie's cynical attitude but I listened to this on audio which was part of the Christmas Cookie Collection and I thought the narrator did a brilliant job. Carrie wasn't sure what to make of Mark Leland showing up after he had left her 8 years ago. Their romance was the stuff of legends and was exactly what Twilight was popular for.

Instead of - sleeping with kismet cookies under your pillow dreaming of your one true love- type thing, in the Christmas Cookie Collection it was: "If you throw a penny in the sweetheart fountain(?) and make a wish for a special someone , he will come back to you and live HEA."

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't even imagine what it would be like to live in a town that is totally given over to the belief that throwing a penny in the town fountain that celebrates long-time lovers who found each other after a 15 year absence will also mean that the owner of the penny will also find their first love again. Carrie has waited eight years to make that a reality in her life and now she no longer waits for the man who stole her heart years earlier. In fact, they eloped to Las Vegas, but when they returned to Twilight, Texas, Carrie became aware that Mark's application for a full college scholarship has been approved and she cooperated when the parents insisted on an annulment. Now Mark is a famous TV personality and host of a reality show that is coming to Twilight in order to debunk the myth of true love upon which the town and its economy are based. This is a fun read, delightful characters, and one of those books that will give the reader a sigh of enjoyment when coming to the end of the story. Just one of those books that makes reading fun.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out with Carrie, Carrie MacGregor and she hates Christmas.
She runs the town yarn store after the original one in town burned down. She heads up the town knitting club also and it's just a week from Thanksgiving.
The knitters ambushed her into decorating the shop because they knew why she'd never do it herself and we learn as the story goes on the reasons why...
This story also follows Mark Leland who is returning to the town to host his 'Fact or Fiction' myth buster show...
He is torn between keeping his promise to Carrie about NOT mentioning their busted relationship or cashing in on that for the show...
Hot steamy sex scenes and he knows he lives on the west coast and she in Texas and there's no way they will ever be together and she knows she may have him one night but forever??
Loved the scenes with Christmas decorations, so very detailed!
. read vol 1-4 at the same time

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Christmas Cookie Chronicles: Carrie' is the first of three novellas revisiting Lori Wilde's 'Twilight, Texas' series. I really enjoyed catching up with the characters and finding out about Carrie's story. I would have liked the book to be longer with more depth, but as a fan of the series I was happy to have this instalment.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review

this is a novella done by Avon Impulse, that is a short story of the Christmas Chronicles but is also loosely connected to the Twilight Texas series. So if you are familiar with that series, then I can recommend this book to you. These are great shorts that have some fun holiday delights.

In this book, this involves a Christmas legend, some magic, fated love and reunited lovers finding each other again. The heroine was a bit prickyl, and she is such a SCROOGE lol She literally hates everything Christmas. She comes face to face with her high school sweetheart, and they were once married, but in the end they weren't meant to be at the time. Mark once broke her heart, and has created a whole different life for himself. But when he comes back to their hometown, they run into each other and have to face up to their past.

I found this short story to be adorable. Its under 100 pages, so its a very quick read. It had a very hallmark feel to the story. Just poignant and charming with some fun laughs along the way. If you are looking for some Christmas fun, then I recommend this one out to you.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I looked at the cover photo, read the little blurb, saw it was short and borrowed it. It was okay, but it became like romance novels when it threw in the steamy sex scene.

Carrie lives in Twilight, TX running the yarn shop her sister opened, dreading the coming Christmas season, her mother died on Christmas Eve when a rumor has started that her former high school sweetheart and ex-husband is coming to town to tape about the local legend. The legend states that if you throw a penny into the fountain you and your high school sweetheart will marry and be together forever. It doesn't matter how long it takes, but that it happens.

Just to be clear, I do not like romances. If a book catches my attention, even if it is a romance, I will read it, but I can live without the sex scenes and fantasy love.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

The small town of Twilight, Texas, has a legend. If you toss a coin into the fountain you will be reunited with your high school sweetheart. Carrie used to believe, but not anymore. Then Mark, her first love, returns to town because of his job. A cute story about second chances, finding what’s really important in your life, true love and a HEA. My only complaint is that the story wasn’t longer. A fun, quick read.

[Kelsey Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute typical Christmas story. It's not amazing but it's Christmasy and sweet.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Second book I've read by Lori Wilde and the second time the excessive amount of typos and using the wrong words has detracted from the story. Quit publishing your rough drafts!

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

originally posted at http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

Return to Twilight, Texas where high school sweethearts find their happily ever after. Twilight’s legend continues and brings two more sweethearts together over the holidays.

Carrie MacGregor hates Christmas; she is Scrooge and the Grinch rolled up into one. Christmas represents lost love, dashed hopes and a broken heart to Carrie, her mother passed away five Christmases ago from ALS and eight years ago Carrie’s high school sweetheart and husband of two days walked away from her during the holidays. Carrie’s mantra to get through this year’s holidays is no fuss, no tears, no drama and no memories, and then she is told that her lost love, Mark Leland, is finally returning to Twilight and Carrie knows her mantra isn’t going to be enough to get through this holiday season.

Mark Leland left Twilight eight years ago leaving behind his high school sweetheart and wife of two days to go off to college and never looked back. Mark has changed considerably over the last eight years, he has gone from the provincial farm kid from Twilight to Los Angeles’ next up and coming reality television show host. When Mark arrives back in Twilight, he is instantly reminded of what he left behind or, more accurately, who he left behind: Carrie MacGregor, the only woman he has ever loved and he can’t help but think maybe he should have tried harder to keep her eight years ago.

Ms. Wilde’s The Christmas Cookie Chronicles: Carrie, is a heartwarming holiday read injected with Wilde’s distinctive humor and loaded with genuine emotion. Like Ms. Wilde’s other Twilight stories, she continues to take her readers on an emotional journey with both of her main characters who struggle with their feelings of lost love and how they rekindle the magic between them. I really liked Carrie in this story because, even though she puts up a tough front, I saw her as loving individual who sacrificed her own feelings in order to protect those people who were important to her. Mark, the hero of this tale, is one of those guys that you can’t help but fall a little in love with, even though he has made some dumb choices over the years, you know he truly loves Carrie and he has finally grown up and figured it out.

Ms. Wilde’s writing is superb. Considering the length of this novella, she managed to tell a wonderful love story and was able to bring back some of the hilarious characters from previous Twilight series. The plot was well laid out and kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. Both the heroine and hero were well developed characters with great chemistry. Wilde’s dialogue as always was believable, humorous and emotional. The absolute best part of this story was the ending, so very romantic and touching that it brought a tear to my eye.

Pick up the perfect holiday read, Lori Wilde’s The Christmas Cookies Chronicles: Carrie, and curl up in front of the fireplace with some hot cocoa and spend an afternoon in Twilight, you’ll be glad you did! For those of you who have never read one of Lori Wilde’s books from her Twilight, Texas series you are in for a treat, if you have, this fun holiday read will reacquaint you with some old characters and introduce you to a few new ones you will fall in love with.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since the season is nearly upon us I couldn't resist the lure of this title when it was offered. It sounded like a sweet and easy holiday read, which it was, kind of, but in a empty calorie kind of way.
There was no mention of it being a novella in the description so this was an unexpectedly short read with not a lot of substance. There was simply no time for anything but vague characters and a bare bones plot and I repeatedly felt like I must have skipped a dozen pages here and there. I can only surmise that the actual intent of this story is to introduce the cast and setting for the actual series, a teaser if you like. I would have preferred to know that going in though because I was disappointed.
I also discovered I was very distracted by the town being named Twilight (especially having seen Breaking Dawn just a few days ago), I kept waiting for a Bella or Edward to appear, unfair perhaps but the association is unavoidable I think.
Personally I read The Christmas Cookie Chronicles: Carrie in less than a half hour so it would make for a quick lunchtime or commuter read. If you are a fan of romance then this is a way to sample Wilde's Twilight, Texas series and get into the festive spirit as well.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carrie MacGregor and Mark Leland were high school sweethearts. They couldn't see themselves separated by college, so when Mark was 19 and Carrie 17.5, they ran off to Vegas and got married. The marriage lasted 48 hours; when they returned to Twilight, Mark discovered he had been accepted to Columbia. Carrie made the sacrifice and called their marriage off.

Now a new TV show is coming to town, one that will challenge the legend of Twilight. And who is the host of the show? Mark Leland.

While I did like this book, it didn't grab me like The First Love Cookie Club did. I felt sorry for Carrie being thrown into that situation. All those pennies she threw into the Sweetheart Fountain, lol! Granted the story and Mark redeemed themselves at the end, but I found the premise becoming more callous as the show progressed. Not my favorite of the series.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have long enjoyed Lori Wilde’s Twilight Texas books featuring the Sweethearts Knitting Club and First Love Cookie Club so I was delighted to read The Christmas Chronicles novella featuring Carrie. I love small town romances and while I enjoyed revisiting and seeing some of my favorite characters, this novella works perfectly as a standalone. The romance was sweet, felt genuine and brought a smile to my face. The townsfolk and the television show added some interesting twists. Twilight Texas is a small town I’d love to visit. There are two other Christmas Chronicles featuring Raylene and Christine. I look forward to reading those as well.

Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about Twilight, Texas - where first loves will always be reunited if a penny is thrown in the fountain.
Carrie has always loved Mark. In fact, years ago they were married for all of two days before getting an annulment. Mark went off to college and fame as a reality show host. Carrie now runs the Yarn Barn.
When Mark and his show come to town to look at the myth of Twilight you can expect sparks to fly between these first loves.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of the Chronicles for some of the characters from this series. This short story features Carrie, one of the women in the knitting club. It was fun and cute to dive back into the town of Twilight. To see Carrie get her HEA. I already have the next book ready to read, Raylene's story and the Christine's on pre-order.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

ack, such terrible writing, I couldn't get through the first chapter. wanted something fun and easy with a holiday theme. this was not it for me. no wonder it was 99 cents in nook books. just my opinion, folks!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

True love wins out!

This is a sweet story of two young people who loved each other enough to want the best for each other and were finally smart enough to realize it was them all along!

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute! Got to see some old characters and some new. Love the town of Twilight.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a very cute and sweet holiday read, the kind of story you crave to watch around Christmas :-) Review to be posted soon.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book met a need that I had: mind candy. It was a short, sweet book that was easy to follow and as a bonus talked about knitting. Great holiday read!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought I would try a season-appropriate book. I'm not really the romance novel type, but it was a cute, fast read. I can definitely see this as a future Lifetime Movie Network feature.

[Jewett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A SHORT FUN READ

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed a fun lunchtime read, I had this book in my Blio eBook library, and there you have it.

[Kimberly Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Total Lifetime Christmas movie in book form. Short and Sweet, I think the whole thing is 70 pages.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really quick short read. Was ok.

[Gaylen Matlock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an easy read. I enjoyed hearing more about Carrie who had been introduced in an earlier story. Good character development. I enjoyed this book enough to buy the next two.

[Carrington Blencowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short story and really good! Read it around the holidays!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book of Lori Wilde's that I have read. Love this story. Planning on getting more of the Twilight, Texas stories. Great job Lori Wilde. The book kept my attention and loved the characters.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carrie & Mark