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A Dreamy Summer on the Lake
Heartbroken and humiliated, Emma Tremayne has finally escaped from her high-powered PR job. Moving to the Lake District to enjoy some much-needed peace and quiet, she finds herself instead in the path of local mountain rescuer Will Tennant.
Emma only wants to be community-minded when she agrees to help the mountain rescue team raise funds for their new headquarters. Unfortunately, the locals, including the extremely handsome Will, don't look too kindly on outsiders. Can Emma convince Will that he has the wrong idea about her intentions, or will her leap of faith soon lead to a sharp fall . . .?
Emma only wants to be community-minded when she agrees to help the mountain rescue team raise funds for their new headquarters. Unfortunately, the locals, including the extremely handsome Will, don't look too kindly on outsiders. Can Emma convince Will that he has the wrong idea about her intentions, or will her leap of faith soon lead to a sharp fall . . .?
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2006
165 people are currently reading
1337 people want to read
About the author
Phillipa Ashley
43 books1,187 followersPhillipa Ashley is a Sunday Times and Amazon Top 10 best selling author of uplifting romantic novels.
She has written 26 books under three pen names since her debut novel , Decent Exposure, was made into a Lifetime TV movie called 12 Men of Christmas.
Her latest release is An Endless Cornish Summer.
A Special Cornish Christmas will be published in November 2021.
She also writes the Oxford Blue series as Pippa Croft and The Love Solution as Ashley Croft.
She has written 26 books under three pen names since her debut novel , Decent Exposure, was made into a Lifetime TV movie called 12 Men of Christmas.
Her latest release is An Endless Cornish Summer.
A Special Cornish Christmas will be published in November 2021.
She also writes the Oxford Blue series as Pippa Croft and The Love Solution as Ashley Croft.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
December 21, 2020
Listen, when you name a book "12 Men for Christmas" and do not provide me with 12 men, I will automatically knock a star off.
This book wins my award for Worst Juxtaposition of Title & Story for 2020. When I read the summary and title, I assumed this would be a fun romantic comedy in which a woman either dates 12 men around the Christmas season to find her perfect match, or dates 12 men purely for fun, sexy times.
This book is neither.
This book is a chore honestly. It reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie, which I am usually a huge fan of, but it just fell really flat for me. Emma, our main character, is fired from her London PR/job because her boyfriend cheats on her with her boss. Already I am trepidatious since you'd think she'd go to HR or someone above her to have her boss fired for wrongful termination, but nope. She decides to make a fresh start in Cumbria, far away and very different from London. There she gets a job working for the Tourist board in the area and suggests a male calendar to raise money for the local rescue team. She, of course, ends up falling for Mr. December and they have a constant struggle of being angry with one another while also falling in love.
The mention of the other guys on the team is the reason why this book has the title it is, and honestly it's ridiculous. There's about three male characters in the book, one being our love interest, one being his best friend, and the last is the leader of the team who is an older gentleman. False advertising all around as the other 10 men are mentioned maybe twice in the whole novel. Don't promise me 12 men and fail to deliver!
The romance in this is fine if you need something quick and easy and vaguely Christmas themed, but for me it really fell flat. Emma isn't necessarily likable as a character, but she's mostly understandable and relatable. I would never want to hang out with her, but I didn't find her overly annoying at least. Will however, our love interest, is a total waste of a character. I found him incredibly condescending and up his own ass, and honestly I wasn't into the romance because of him. I am really tired of books in which a woman gives up on good job offers and dreams in order to get some mediocre dick. Do better.
The best thing I can say about this book is the cover art is super cute and the sex scenes were pretty well done. I'm glad it at least gave us some steam to make up for the lack of chemistry. If you need a Christmas romance read and this is on the shelf go for it, but don't expect too much fun.
Blog / Twitter
This book wins my award for Worst Juxtaposition of Title & Story for 2020. When I read the summary and title, I assumed this would be a fun romantic comedy in which a woman either dates 12 men around the Christmas season to find her perfect match, or dates 12 men purely for fun, sexy times.
This book is neither.
This book is a chore honestly. It reads like a Hallmark Christmas movie, which I am usually a huge fan of, but it just fell really flat for me. Emma, our main character, is fired from her London PR/job because her boyfriend cheats on her with her boss. Already I am trepidatious since you'd think she'd go to HR or someone above her to have her boss fired for wrongful termination, but nope. She decides to make a fresh start in Cumbria, far away and very different from London. There she gets a job working for the Tourist board in the area and suggests a male calendar to raise money for the local rescue team. She, of course, ends up falling for Mr. December and they have a constant struggle of being angry with one another while also falling in love.
The mention of the other guys on the team is the reason why this book has the title it is, and honestly it's ridiculous. There's about three male characters in the book, one being our love interest, one being his best friend, and the last is the leader of the team who is an older gentleman. False advertising all around as the other 10 men are mentioned maybe twice in the whole novel. Don't promise me 12 men and fail to deliver!
The romance in this is fine if you need something quick and easy and vaguely Christmas themed, but for me it really fell flat. Emma isn't necessarily likable as a character, but she's mostly understandable and relatable. I would never want to hang out with her, but I didn't find her overly annoying at least. Will however, our love interest, is a total waste of a character. I found him incredibly condescending and up his own ass, and honestly I wasn't into the romance because of him. I am really tired of books in which a woman gives up on good job offers and dreams in order to get some mediocre dick. Do better.
The best thing I can say about this book is the cover art is super cute and the sex scenes were pretty well done. I'm glad it at least gave us some steam to make up for the lack of chemistry. If you need a Christmas romance read and this is on the shelf go for it, but don't expect too much fun.
Blog / Twitter
December 31, 2020
After reading the premise of this book, I had high hopes for a cute, Christmas romance, but unfortunately this book just did not deliver. First of all, there is almost nothing Christmas about it which was certainly disappointing. I also thought the idea of a nude men’s calendar was an adorable premise, but after the first third of the book the calendar is barely mentioned at all. Overall, this book was fine, but I really wish it had been more focused on the goofy aspects of the nude men’s calendar and that it had been more holiday focused.
Also, this is really nit picky, but it drive me absolutely bananas that the book describes Emma as having long dark hair several times, but the woman on the cover is blonde. I know that’s a silly thing to get annoyed about, but it bothered me lol.
Also, this is really nit picky, but it drive me absolutely bananas that the book describes Emma as having long dark hair several times, but the woman on the cover is blonde. I know that’s a silly thing to get annoyed about, but it bothered me lol.
December 13, 2016
2.5 stars
Read this for 12 Tasks of the Festive Season:
Task the Eighth: The Movie Ticket:
- Read a book that has been adapted to a holiday movie.
This book was made into the movie 12 Men of Christmas. I caught it on tv a couple years ago and instantly thought of it for this challenge, correctly guessing it started off as a book. This may make me a turncoat but I liked the movie better :/ However, it starred Kristin Chenoweth and had Anna Chlumsky, who I now love from Veep, so it was ahead of the game.
While the movie was set in America, the book is set in England, providing me with some delightful little English vernacular. So much use of the word "kit", I guess y'all don't say clothing? Even though I got to imagine everyone with an enchanting English accent, the writing style made point-of-view switching from the heroine and hero confusing and awkward. In fact, the whole story felt a little disordered and I had a hard time warming up to both the hero and heroine. Maybe the Yank in me, but I much approved of the movie's fun cheesiness and the holiday feel that was severely lacking in the original content.
Read this for 12 Tasks of the Festive Season:
Task the Eighth: The Movie Ticket:
- Read a book that has been adapted to a holiday movie.
This book was made into the movie 12 Men of Christmas. I caught it on tv a couple years ago and instantly thought of it for this challenge, correctly guessing it started off as a book. This may make me a turncoat but I liked the movie better :/ However, it starred Kristin Chenoweth and had Anna Chlumsky, who I now love from Veep, so it was ahead of the game.
While the movie was set in America, the book is set in England, providing me with some delightful little English vernacular. So much use of the word "kit", I guess y'all don't say clothing? Even though I got to imagine everyone with an enchanting English accent, the writing style made point-of-view switching from the heroine and hero confusing and awkward. In fact, the whole story felt a little disordered and I had a hard time warming up to both the hero and heroine. Maybe the Yank in me, but I much approved of the movie's fun cheesiness and the holiday feel that was severely lacking in the original content.
November 13, 2020
📚 Hello Book Friends! I don’t know about you but lately, it has been more difficult to get motivated. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy and healthy, but the lack of social interaction is starting to take a toll. After reading a serious historical novel, I needed something light and fun to boost my spirit. I found exactly that in 12 MEN FOR CHRISTMAS by Phillipa Ashley. Although it has the word Christmas in the title, it is not really a “Christmas” novel. It is a love story with lots of racy moments. It is a perfect fun, sassy, and sexy read. The tension between Emma and Will gives you the chills at the right places. It is a short book, but it is the right prescription to lift your spirit and put a smile on your face. I recommend this romcom wholeheartedly.
🙋🏼♀️ Thank you, RAINCOAST BOOKS for sending me a final copy of this sassy romcom. 12 MEN FOR CHRISTMAS by Phillipa Ashley is available at your favourite bookstore.
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November 15, 2021
If you are a cover buyer, like me, beware. Although a cute story the title and cover are misleading for the contents within. Centered around a fundraising calendar, with hot naked men for each month, Mr. December and the PR rep find themselves in a push/pull, enemies to lovers situation. The only thing Christmas is the deadline of the calendar. Yet, it is an easy to read and charming book, just under 200 pages. The authors writing style is choppy and she is constantly jumping between his/her perspectives. I would definitely be interested to see how this was made into a movie as well as how closely it stayed to the book.
January 4, 2021
I set out to read a bunch of Christmas-themed romance novels this year to keep me in the holiday mood and keep me happy. This was a disappointment. Whoever wrote the description of the book read a different book, whoever wrote the title...yeah, I don't know what to say about that. There were 12 men present, one love interest. It seemed like winter because it sounded cold, but no real holiday talk, and think it actually took place in summer (?). Then there was the couple. I really wanted to like her, but by the end, just annoying AF. As for him, a little too alpha for my taste.
November 15, 2023
He is mean and a lot of work but I like her so it’s worth reading.
November 29, 2015
Phillipa Ashley is a funny, entertainingly romantic author that will have readers sighing and believing in love.
Let me just start by stating that I love this book. I need to get all of my gushing out of the way. I have nothing but praises to dish out because this is exactly what I expect in my romance books. Dating Mr. December is a wonderfully, well written love story.
Emma Tremayne is a PR officer working for the Lake District’s tourist board and her first assignment is to help the mountain rescue team. They are in need of some serious money and in order to raise the cash, Emma proposes for the team to do a nude calendar. The idea is preposterous but the members take it in stride, knowing the money and exposure is what they need. All is in agreement except the stubborn Will Tennant, the small town’s wealthy entrepreneur.
Will and Emma ideas clash and they are not too friendly with one another. In fact, the initial banter between the two is funny. The dialogue is witty and humorous. Eventually Will concedes and is the last man in the calendar—Mr. December. Sure enough Will is sexy and is the perfect candidate but Emma refuses to let him know. She has had enough heartache in her past and she is not ready to tumble down that path again but it is so hard because she can’t fight her attraction to Will.
Prior to her arrival in Bannerdale, Emma was a top PR consultant in London with a dream client. Too bad she was sleeping with her client and he was sleeping with her boss (no spoiler). Needless to say, when Emma’s boss forces him to choose between the two, Emma makes the decision for them by throwing smoothies at them and getting fired. Now she is starting a new life in Bannerdale and she will not fall into the same trap.
Will is the rumored bad boy of the town. Everyone is still whispering over the fact that he left his fiancée two years ago, leaving him with this love them and leave them perception. He really doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him because he knows the truth of his failed engagement. Meeting Emma changes Will’s perception on everything and the two fight their feelings until the end.
As the story progresses, Will and Emma find themselves around each other a lot and they grow to like each other. The development of Will and Emma’s relationship is a slow progression but it is so well written and the story flows so nicely. They are both likeable characters. At first, Will is a bit standoffish and uses his snarky humor to take jabs at Emma but the author does a great job showing how Will fights his attraction to Emma and that he is not as cold as I had initial thought. Later on, when Will’s past is revealed, his behavior is more understandable. Emma is so sweet and hilarious. It is fun to watch her gain her confidence back and fall in love.
This book has everything that I’m looking for in a “feel good” love story. The characters are great. The story moves at a great pace. You can actually sit back on a cold day with hot cocoa and read this straight through. There is enough angst and conflict without distracting and taking away from the romance. Though the two main characters bickered the author does a great job revealing their emotions and you actually believe that they are falling in love with one another. It is not an overnight affair. The ending is real cute and sigh-worthy. Bottom line is that this book left me feeling good.
Honestly, since I’ve seen the movie before reading the book (something I never do), I can say that this book is just as cute and entertaining as the movie (Lifetime’s 12 Men of Christmas). There are subtle differences such as physical descriptions and locations but the overall premise is the same.
Overall, I recommend Dating Mr. December for true romantics who will want some holiday cheer this season. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Let me just start by stating that I love this book. I need to get all of my gushing out of the way. I have nothing but praises to dish out because this is exactly what I expect in my romance books. Dating Mr. December is a wonderfully, well written love story.
Emma Tremayne is a PR officer working for the Lake District’s tourist board and her first assignment is to help the mountain rescue team. They are in need of some serious money and in order to raise the cash, Emma proposes for the team to do a nude calendar. The idea is preposterous but the members take it in stride, knowing the money and exposure is what they need. All is in agreement except the stubborn Will Tennant, the small town’s wealthy entrepreneur.
Will and Emma ideas clash and they are not too friendly with one another. In fact, the initial banter between the two is funny. The dialogue is witty and humorous. Eventually Will concedes and is the last man in the calendar—Mr. December. Sure enough Will is sexy and is the perfect candidate but Emma refuses to let him know. She has had enough heartache in her past and she is not ready to tumble down that path again but it is so hard because she can’t fight her attraction to Will.
Prior to her arrival in Bannerdale, Emma was a top PR consultant in London with a dream client. Too bad she was sleeping with her client and he was sleeping with her boss (no spoiler). Needless to say, when Emma’s boss forces him to choose between the two, Emma makes the decision for them by throwing smoothies at them and getting fired. Now she is starting a new life in Bannerdale and she will not fall into the same trap.
Will is the rumored bad boy of the town. Everyone is still whispering over the fact that he left his fiancée two years ago, leaving him with this love them and leave them perception. He really doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him because he knows the truth of his failed engagement. Meeting Emma changes Will’s perception on everything and the two fight their feelings until the end.
As the story progresses, Will and Emma find themselves around each other a lot and they grow to like each other. The development of Will and Emma’s relationship is a slow progression but it is so well written and the story flows so nicely. They are both likeable characters. At first, Will is a bit standoffish and uses his snarky humor to take jabs at Emma but the author does a great job showing how Will fights his attraction to Emma and that he is not as cold as I had initial thought. Later on, when Will’s past is revealed, his behavior is more understandable. Emma is so sweet and hilarious. It is fun to watch her gain her confidence back and fall in love.
This book has everything that I’m looking for in a “feel good” love story. The characters are great. The story moves at a great pace. You can actually sit back on a cold day with hot cocoa and read this straight through. There is enough angst and conflict without distracting and taking away from the romance. Though the two main characters bickered the author does a great job revealing their emotions and you actually believe that they are falling in love with one another. It is not an overnight affair. The ending is real cute and sigh-worthy. Bottom line is that this book left me feeling good.
Honestly, since I’ve seen the movie before reading the book (something I never do), I can say that this book is just as cute and entertaining as the movie (Lifetime’s 12 Men of Christmas). There are subtle differences such as physical descriptions and locations but the overall premise is the same.
Overall, I recommend Dating Mr. December for true romantics who will want some holiday cheer this season. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
December 3, 2010
There is such a desolate wasteland for a good Chick Lit book this time of the year, that the timing on this release couldn't have been better. I didn't realize that this book was the inspiration for a Lifetime movie (The Twelve Men of Christmas) until I started to write this review. I kept thinking that this story would make an excellent movie and some one beat me to it! Now, I will have to go track down a copy. It stars Kristin Chenoweth as EJ (Emma) and is set in NYC, but I think the main plot points are all there from the description I read on line.
Emma is out of sorts after her boyfriend betrays her and her boss fires her. She moves out of London to the rural Lake District in England for a new position as a public relations consultant for the tourism board in the middle of nowhere. The local area has a mountain rescue team that desperately needs a new base camp and Emma decides that the volunteers would make excellent calendar subjects for a fund raiser. Will Tennent, a member of the rescue team is set against this idea, but finally caves in and goes along. Of course, Will is gruff, unfriendly and set in his ways, but comes around to Emma in more ways than one.
There is wonderful quick and smart dialog, some well placed action and it was a quick read for me. If you like Sophie Kinsella, Jill Mansell, or Hester Brown, you will love this author as well.
Emma is out of sorts after her boyfriend betrays her and her boss fires her. She moves out of London to the rural Lake District in England for a new position as a public relations consultant for the tourism board in the middle of nowhere. The local area has a mountain rescue team that desperately needs a new base camp and Emma decides that the volunteers would make excellent calendar subjects for a fund raiser. Will Tennent, a member of the rescue team is set against this idea, but finally caves in and goes along. Of course, Will is gruff, unfriendly and set in his ways, but comes around to Emma in more ways than one.
There is wonderful quick and smart dialog, some well placed action and it was a quick read for me. If you like Sophie Kinsella, Jill Mansell, or Hester Brown, you will love this author as well.
February 10, 2024
The man wears wrap-around sunglasses and that should tell you everything you need to know.
Sarcasm aside, this was such a difficult novel to find the will to finish, and it's short. One of the most jarring things about it is that the summary on the back cover implies a very different narrative than the one you get. The back cover suggests that the big-city PR ingenue is tasked with getting the rough-and-ready local rescue team to do a nude calendar for charity and then is tempted by love by multiple partners along the way. False on many counts, which is frankly disappointing.
The nude calendar is more of a subplot and mostly resolved before the first 1/3 of the book. It comes up as a topic sporadically as if the author forgot that that was supposed to be a central part of the plot and shoehorns it back into the conversation, only to be dropped again until she needs to pick a fight between her FMC and MMC. Which brings me to the issue of Emma and Will.
There is not even a whisper of the multiple suitor-style plot the back synopsis heavily implies. Instead, you get a romance that goes from reluctant lust to obsessive love in no time flat. And sometimes that happens in this genre, but my big issue with it is how insufferable both characters were. Will is at best a bully and at worst a domineering, manipulative ass with all the hallmarks of a future abuser. And yet Emma simpers and swoons about his "masculine nature" and is overwhelmed by the intensity of his attention in a way that is so frustrating to see romanticized.
While there is heat to this book, it was clunky and often randomly integrated. In general, I found the writing cringe and it struggled with pacing issues from the very start. I understand why this book has such a low rating and would not recommend it under any circumstances.
Sarcasm aside, this was such a difficult novel to find the will to finish, and it's short. One of the most jarring things about it is that the summary on the back cover implies a very different narrative than the one you get. The back cover suggests that the big-city PR ingenue is tasked with getting the rough-and-ready local rescue team to do a nude calendar for charity and then is tempted by love by multiple partners along the way. False on many counts, which is frankly disappointing.
The nude calendar is more of a subplot and mostly resolved before the first 1/3 of the book. It comes up as a topic sporadically as if the author forgot that that was supposed to be a central part of the plot and shoehorns it back into the conversation, only to be dropped again until she needs to pick a fight between her FMC and MMC. Which brings me to the issue of Emma and Will.
There is not even a whisper of the multiple suitor-style plot the back synopsis heavily implies. Instead, you get a romance that goes from reluctant lust to obsessive love in no time flat. And sometimes that happens in this genre, but my big issue with it is how insufferable both characters were. Will is at best a bully and at worst a domineering, manipulative ass with all the hallmarks of a future abuser. And yet Emma simpers and swoons about his "masculine nature" and is overwhelmed by the intensity of his attention in a way that is so frustrating to see romanticized.
While there is heat to this book, it was clunky and often randomly integrated. In general, I found the writing cringe and it struggled with pacing issues from the very start. I understand why this book has such a low rating and would not recommend it under any circumstances.
November 6, 2010
I didn't know that this book had been previously published in the UK and even had a Lifetime movie made based on it called 12 Men of Christmas. It was a delightful surprise to find out since I enjoyed the book and had the pleasure of featuring a guest post by the author just a few days ago.
Emma Tremayne starts the story off by trying to convince the local mountain rescue team to do a fund raiser featuring the men in a nude calendar. While most of the crew is ready to give it a go, Will Tennant does not approve of the idea. Since he is outnumbered in the vote, he eventually agrees to go ahead for the project and is cast as Mr. December.
Emma definitely has to work hard with her PR skills in getting this calendar going. After discovering her boyfriend cheating on her, she is looking for a fresh start and she thinks this calendar is just the thing her career needs. She doesn't want to get involved in another relationship and especially not with Will. He also doesn't want a relationship, but neither can fight the attraction between the two.
If you are in the mood for a fun and sexy Christmas read, then this is the book for you. The only thing that didn't appeal to me was some of the wording. Granted, this book is based in the UK, so the dialogue is a little different than what I am use to. After I got over that hurdle though, the book was a pure enjoyment! I loved Will and Emma. My only hope is that the author will give each man a story of their own in future books!
Emma Tremayne starts the story off by trying to convince the local mountain rescue team to do a fund raiser featuring the men in a nude calendar. While most of the crew is ready to give it a go, Will Tennant does not approve of the idea. Since he is outnumbered in the vote, he eventually agrees to go ahead for the project and is cast as Mr. December.
Emma definitely has to work hard with her PR skills in getting this calendar going. After discovering her boyfriend cheating on her, she is looking for a fresh start and she thinks this calendar is just the thing her career needs. She doesn't want to get involved in another relationship and especially not with Will. He also doesn't want a relationship, but neither can fight the attraction between the two.
If you are in the mood for a fun and sexy Christmas read, then this is the book for you. The only thing that didn't appeal to me was some of the wording. Granted, this book is based in the UK, so the dialogue is a little different than what I am use to. After I got over that hurdle though, the book was a pure enjoyment! I loved Will and Emma. My only hope is that the author will give each man a story of their own in future books!
February 15, 2012
3,5
Sıkılmadan çabucak okuyacağınız hoş romantik bir komedi. Benim hoşuma gitti kitap özelliklede yazarın ilk çıkan kitabı olduğunu düşünürsek gayet iyiydi.
Emma halkla ilişkiler alanında çalışıyor ve Dağcılık kurtarma ekibinin yeni bir merkeze ihtiyacı var ve para bulunması gerekiyor Emma da takvim satma fikrini ortaya atıyor kitabın adındaki ahlaksız teklif burdan ileri gelmiş herhalde takvimin her ayında kurtarmadaki bir erkeğin çıplak işte aletleriyle vs pozu olacak fikir bu tabii başta bi karşı çıkış oluyor özellikle Will kabul etmiyor ama sonra diğerleri kabul edince o da kabul ediyor ve o da Bay Temmuz oluyor. Emma ve Will arasında da başta sürtüşmeyle başlayan ilişki sonunda karşı konulamaz hale geliyor
Bu arada burada bir parantez benim okuduğum kitabın başında orjinal isim Dating Mr December yazıyordu ve bütün kitap boyunca Bay Temmuz diyip durduklarında nasıl yani oldum. Daha sonra gördümki iki baskısı varmış İngilterede Decent Exposure olarak basılıyorki bu baskı bizim çeviriye uyuyor Amerikada ise Dating Mr December olarak basılmış ikiside aynı kitap yani
Bir parantez daha kitap aynı zamanda filme çekilmiş "12 Men of Christmas" adıyla.
Dediğim gibi beklentisiz bir şekilde rahat bir şeyler okumak isterseniz bir deneyin derim kesinlikle:)
Sıkılmadan çabucak okuyacağınız hoş romantik bir komedi. Benim hoşuma gitti kitap özelliklede yazarın ilk çıkan kitabı olduğunu düşünürsek gayet iyiydi.
Emma halkla ilişkiler alanında çalışıyor ve Dağcılık kurtarma ekibinin yeni bir merkeze ihtiyacı var ve para bulunması gerekiyor Emma da takvim satma fikrini ortaya atıyor kitabın adındaki ahlaksız teklif burdan ileri gelmiş herhalde takvimin her ayında kurtarmadaki bir erkeğin çıplak işte aletleriyle vs pozu olacak fikir bu tabii başta bi karşı çıkış oluyor özellikle Will kabul etmiyor ama sonra diğerleri kabul edince o da kabul ediyor ve o da Bay Temmuz oluyor. Emma ve Will arasında da başta sürtüşmeyle başlayan ilişki sonunda karşı konulamaz hale geliyor
Bu arada burada bir parantez benim okuduğum kitabın başında orjinal isim Dating Mr December yazıyordu ve bütün kitap boyunca Bay Temmuz diyip durduklarında nasıl yani oldum. Daha sonra gördümki iki baskısı varmış İngilterede Decent Exposure olarak basılıyorki bu baskı bizim çeviriye uyuyor Amerikada ise Dating Mr December olarak basılmış ikiside aynı kitap yani
Bir parantez daha kitap aynı zamanda filme çekilmiş "12 Men of Christmas" adıyla.
Dediğim gibi beklentisiz bir şekilde rahat bir şeyler okumak isterseniz bir deneyin derim kesinlikle:)
January 9, 2011
So this is the book that knocked me out of my Hallmark movie type book phase. The fact that the plot line was painfully predictable wouldn't have been a problem, who is ever shocked by the ending of a Hallmark movie? The writing was clunky, the sentences insulted my intelligence and I got a headache from all of the involuntary eye rolling I couldn't stop myself from doing. I started this book in 2010 but ended it in 2011 and can say it is the worst book I read all year. Even though it is the first book I read in 2011 I am confident that by the end of this year it will still hold the title of worst book read in 2011. The idea that I may read a worse book this year is too depressing to contemplate.
September 26, 2011
The writing was almost painfully bad. The characters seemed confused - not just from chapter to chapter, but from page to page and even sentence to sentence. The only reason I even finished this book is because I've been leaving so many books unfinished recently. I felt like I needed to break the streak. ;-)
Seriously, don't read this if you are over 18 years old. The mood swings and manufactured drama are just not understandable unless you're still in high school. Unfortunately, it's written about (and FOR) adults, so there is some pretty graphic bodice-ripper type sex scenes that aren't at all appropriate for minors. So let me revise that statement: don't read this book, no matter how old you are. It's not worth your time.
Seriously, don't read this if you are over 18 years old. The mood swings and manufactured drama are just not understandable unless you're still in high school. Unfortunately, it's written about (and FOR) adults, so there is some pretty graphic bodice-ripper type sex scenes that aren't at all appropriate for minors. So let me revise that statement: don't read this book, no matter how old you are. It's not worth your time.
December 21, 2007
The plot - city girl meets rugged and handsome outdoor guy - is sprinkled with twists and misunderstandings which keep you turning the pages. The characters are well-drawn, so you keep rooting for them to sort it all out, although there were moments when I thought 'oh just speak to each other!''
Decent Exposure is a light romantic read for a rainy afternoon, with fabulous descriptions of life in a tight-knit Lake District community and a very sexy male lead.
The only bit I really disliked was the epilogue. Not a big fan, anyway, but this one
To read the rest of the review, please visit
http://www.trashionista.com/2007/11/b...
Decent Exposure is a light romantic read for a rainy afternoon, with fabulous descriptions of life in a tight-knit Lake District community and a very sexy male lead.
The only bit I really disliked was the epilogue. Not a big fan, anyway, but this one
To read the rest of the review, please visit
http://www.trashionista.com/2007/11/b...
April 3, 2011
3.5*
This was actually better than I expected. The author does a decent job of creating characters with some depth. There was some mis-communication here, but for the most part I thought the misunderstanding had a reasonable foundation. Will's reluctance to talk about his motives or his past were already well-established before Emma arrived on the scene. Emma's inability to trust was understandable given her past history and Will's reputation.
This was actually better than I expected. The author does a decent job of creating characters with some depth. There was some mis-communication here, but for the most part I thought the misunderstanding had a reasonable foundation. Will's reluctance to talk about his motives or his past were already well-established before Emma arrived on the scene. Emma's inability to trust was understandable given her past history and Will's reputation.
November 5, 2010
I really enjoy this book!! I have the UK edition (Decent Exposure) and it's a book I pick up and re-read from time to time. So, getting the US edition was a must! It's a fun, sexy read with characters that have lots of heart. It makes me *almost* want to take up abseiling/repelling! (Maybe with Will there with me, that its!)
January 1, 2024
DNF @ 18%. Mr. December was taking too long to make a move and I just got tired of waiting.
December 12, 2024
Missing 100% of the holiday fun times I signed up for. Wasn’t even sure that Christmas existed in this book’s universe until the epilogue.
January 8, 2025
Cute and fun, very reminiscent of old school Mills and Boon.
November 15, 2010
Author Phillipa Ashley studied English and Literature at Oxford University before working as a journalist and freelance writer. She didn't start writing fiction until 2005 when she joined an internet creative writing site. Other titles include: It Should Have Been Me, Just Say Yes, and Wish You Were Here. She resides in Staffordshire Village in England with her husband and daughter.
Emma Tremayne wasn't expecting a move from London to the Lake District, but she had no choice. After a disastrous event makes her lose her boyfriend and her high-profile PR job in the course of a day, she takes a job far from the city she knows and loves with a small town tourist board. Finally she feels as if she's regaining her esteem and confidence after settling in-- that is until she's asked to be responsible for a fundraising effort for the Mountain Rescue Team. An effort that involves a calendar for twelve naked men! As if the task wasn't challenging enough, sexy and rich rescuer, Will Tennant, is opposed to the idea. He thinks it'll make them a laughing stock. But as all things in life, Will is more than he appears. Much, much more. Can these two set aside their differences long enough to not kill each other... or fall in love?
This book was originally published under the title "Decent Exposure" in 2006 in the UK, by Little Black Dress Publishing. This has also been adapted into a Lifetime channel television movie in 2009 called "12 Men of Christmas," starring Kristin Chenoweth, Josh Hopkins, and Anna Chlumsky. Unknowingly, I had seen the TV movie last Christmas season before agreeing to review the book this year. The movie was set in the States and varied pretty drastically from the book, though followed a similar storyline. Though the movie was a cute fluff holiday piece, I enjoyed the book much more. Readers can enjoy the movie before the book, or vice versa, as neither should disrupt the other.
Even more than the witty romance, it's the secondary characters in the small town of Bannerdale that makes this book pop. A group of ordinary people that will capture your heart. With dry humor and candid dialog, I was laughing aloud several times. The book also had it's share of "Aww" moments. Whether you're in the mood for a little Christmas spirit, a funny story, or a heartfelt romance, this is the perfect book to cuddle up with. Highly recommended.
Kelly Moran
Author and Reviewer
Bookpleasures
June 8, 2011
I think I would have liked this book a lot more if there weren't regional speech differences creating a chasm of WTF? between me and the characters. I've read plenty of books by authors who don't live in the US and I rarely have a tough time with the vocabulary quirks that come from them living on one continent and me on another. This book got me, though. It got me good.
Now, this has nothing to do with the writing style, the plot (which I actually enjoyed. And there weren't even any werewolves. Don't worry, I'm shocked by this strange turn of events too.) or the characters and everything to do with me. Another way to look at this is that I read this book, beginning to end, in one day. Sure, parts of it went over my head (it took me a while to figure out what a "kit" was. Like, a seriously long time. I feel shame.) but I girded my loins, ignored the things I couldn't understand and read until those characters got their happy ending.
So, yeah. Regional differences aside, I liked this book. Like I said, I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it had been a little more ... approachable, but I think it would be arrogant of me to assume that everyone should write books that a California girl who wears skulls and voraciously devours books with werewolves in them can relate to. Heck, contemporary romances aren't usually my type of book PERIOD, so the fact that the characters and plot were engaging and kept my interest despite my lack of understanding of some of the slang used says a lot.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Now, this has nothing to do with the writing style, the plot (which I actually enjoyed. And there weren't even any werewolves. Don't worry, I'm shocked by this strange turn of events too.) or the characters and everything to do with me. Another way to look at this is that I read this book, beginning to end, in one day. Sure, parts of it went over my head (it took me a while to figure out what a "kit" was. Like, a seriously long time. I feel shame.) but I girded my loins, ignored the things I couldn't understand and read until those characters got their happy ending.
So, yeah. Regional differences aside, I liked this book. Like I said, I would have enjoyed it a lot more if it had been a little more ... approachable, but I think it would be arrogant of me to assume that everyone should write books that a California girl who wears skulls and voraciously devours books with werewolves in them can relate to. Heck, contemporary romances aren't usually my type of book PERIOD, so the fact that the characters and plot were engaging and kept my interest despite my lack of understanding of some of the slang used says a lot.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
October 2, 2011
Got this one at Border's going out of business sale for a little over a dollar. Cover looked fun, book jacket looked moderately interesting, so I got it. Thank goodness I only paid a dollar, because I would not have been pleased if I had paid the full price of $9.99. It started out really slow and didn't get much better although I had some hope for it. It's a classic love tale, you know how it's going to end, and the stuff in the middle isn't really that interesting. There's some sex thrown in, so it kind of reads like a romance novel at points, but then switches back to a cutesy little story. I don't really know what went wrong here, other than I know it went wrong. Interestingly I found out at the end that this was the basis for the Kristin Chenoweth Lifetime movie 12 Men of Christmas, although I'm sure Lifetime must have thrown in some extra tragedy and/or disease since it wasn't nearly dramatic enough for them the way it is.
December 1, 2021
The premise was fun. Marketing exec loses cheating boyfriend and job in London after lightly assaulting said boyfriend and her lying boss. Exiled to Lake District and hired to raise funds for mountain rescue team, she pitches a nude calendar showing off the buff boys on the team. I imagined her dating a number of the guys and finding funny incompatibilities with them one by one. But she picked the buffest, surliest one right off, and spent the rest of the book unraveling his hot-then-cold personality. The story was okay, the writing good, but not what I expected from the cover.
Also, I’d hoped for more about the beautiful Lake District, a sense of place in the snowy fields, lakes, and mountains--more description and less from disaster workers’ perspectives. I’m pretty sure that Christmas is a big deal there (it’s England, after all), yet there was very little about the Christmas season festivities, etc.
Anyway, on to the next Christmas read.
Also, I’d hoped for more about the beautiful Lake District, a sense of place in the snowy fields, lakes, and mountains--more description and less from disaster workers’ perspectives. I’m pretty sure that Christmas is a big deal there (it’s England, after all), yet there was very little about the Christmas season festivities, etc.
Anyway, on to the next Christmas read.
December 23, 2022
PR specialist Emma Tremayne fled London after finding her boyfriend, Jeremy, and her boss making the beast with two backs.
She's now based in Cumbria with the Tourism Board and on secondment to help Bannerdale Mountain Rescue Team raise funds for a new base.
Her idea of a nude calendar featuring the team is accepted, though reluctantly by one member, the infuriatingly attractive Will Tennant. He, of course, has no intention of getting involved with any woman and is still carrying the baggage of his last relationship around - he dumped her at the altar.
It doesn't take long before the focus shifts and narrows down to the relationship between the two. And that is where it falls apart.
It became a movie and I can see why - it ticks all the romantic boxes without actually being very interesting.
I stopped caring around the halfway mark - when you know how something is going to end and you don't care about the journey, that's the time to pull the plug.
2 Stars.
She's now based in Cumbria with the Tourism Board and on secondment to help Bannerdale Mountain Rescue Team raise funds for a new base.
Her idea of a nude calendar featuring the team is accepted, though reluctantly by one member, the infuriatingly attractive Will Tennant. He, of course, has no intention of getting involved with any woman and is still carrying the baggage of his last relationship around - he dumped her at the altar.
It doesn't take long before the focus shifts and narrows down to the relationship between the two. And that is where it falls apart.
It became a movie and I can see why - it ticks all the romantic boxes without actually being very interesting.
I stopped caring around the halfway mark - when you know how something is going to end and you don't care about the journey, that's the time to pull the plug.
2 Stars.
December 30, 2020
2.5/5
The premise of this story was cute, but the execution of it fell short for me. The calendar idea was fun and I expected more of the story to be about that. I was surprised that that storyline was mostly wrapped up in the first couple of chapters. Will gets to be Mr.December, which was most likely an attempt to incorporate some of the Christmas theme, but that too fell short. I could not tell this was a Christmas book at all. I kept waiting for any indication of the Holidays, and there was none. I'm surprised this book even got this title. This really is not a Christmas book.
As far as the romance, it was definitely hate-to-love. The hate to love happened so quickly though. It didn't progress as naturally as I would've liked. Also, the scenes between Will and Emma seemed unfinished. There was some disconnect there.
Overall, this was a cute story and I enjoyed reading it.
The premise of this story was cute, but the execution of it fell short for me. The calendar idea was fun and I expected more of the story to be about that. I was surprised that that storyline was mostly wrapped up in the first couple of chapters. Will gets to be Mr.December, which was most likely an attempt to incorporate some of the Christmas theme, but that too fell short. I could not tell this was a Christmas book at all. I kept waiting for any indication of the Holidays, and there was none. I'm surprised this book even got this title. This really is not a Christmas book.
As far as the romance, it was definitely hate-to-love. The hate to love happened so quickly though. It didn't progress as naturally as I would've liked. Also, the scenes between Will and Emma seemed unfinished. There was some disconnect there.
Overall, this was a cute story and I enjoyed reading it.
December 28, 2020
I didn't hate it, but there were a few bits that really weren't working for me. I felt the male lead was a bit too aggressive and manipulative. He seemed to realize it at one point and chided himself for it, so I thought maybe he could be redeemed, but in the end he was still the same just in a different context. And the title is a bit misleading as the "12 Men" are the men who work for the mountain rescue team and pose for a nude calendar as a fundraiser, but we never actually meet all 12 of them and the few we do are only at the beinning; and the only Christmas aspect is the lead being "Mr. December" of the calendar, and in the end they get married in the winter and are going to spend Christmas in New Zealand. Otherwise the entire book takes place over spring and summer.
Again, I didn't hate it, but it definitely was not a favorite.
Again, I didn't hate it, but it definitely was not a favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2011
I love nothing better than a good Brit chick lit that I can't put down. It's been eons since one made me disappear from the real world. I loved Emma - like any girl that's been jilted and scared to love again, yet totally vulnerable to it. And Will- he was perfectly written as a true guy with heart. I only wished this book had been longer, Emma and Wills courtship longer...I got sad when I realized it was over. I'll probably read it again. And maybe again. I need recommendations of similarly written books!
December 16, 2012
I chose this book because of the cute Hallmark Movie, 12 Men of Christmas that starred Kristen Chenoweth. Well this is a first for me: I enjoyed the movie much more than I did the book. I got through the book because of the movie. The book was not bad it was actually enjoyable. It was just a little hard to follow sometimes because of the language/slang the author used because the book takes place in the UK. So sometimes I felt a little lost.
All in all I enjoyed this romantic Christmas book.
All in all I enjoyed this romantic Christmas book.
April 14, 2021
I read it in a day. Some parts were a bit much. It was set in Cumbria where there are mountains and rescue teams. MC suggests a nude calendar to raise needed funding for a new base camp. Most of the book is tug of war between mc and Will, who's a rich guy. So, the blurb says soon to be a movie. So, I watched the movie starring Kristen Chenowitz. Unfortunately, she doesn't sing at all and is so tiny against the male lead. It would have been adorable with Reece Witherspoon, however. But they kept costs down, eliminating quite a bit from the book.
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