Love Always, Christmas by Karen Schaler was such a festive, heart warming, and heart breaking Christmas story. I didn't know what I was going to think about this book because I saw reviews saying it was like reading a t.v. script, but after I read this book it was so much more than that. Love Always, Christmas is about family, second chances, spending the holidays with those you love. I was surprised to find that a Christmas book can be a mystery, which this book had a little bit of. I'm so happy I didn't let these other reviews stop me from reading this book, because I loved every minute of it. I mean, let's be honest, the cover truly caught my attention, it's insanely beautiful, and gives off all the Christmas vibes. Christmas lights/decorations, snow globes, snow, cold weather, ugly Christmas sweaters? HELLO, I NEEDED THIS BOOK!!!!! This was my first book by Karen Schaler and certainly didn't disappoint. After reading this book, I did some research on this author and found out she's a queen of Christmas book, i'll definitely be checking out Karen Schaler's other books in the future. Please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this book because Christmas is right around the corner, YAY!!!!
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND HAWKTALE PUBLISHING FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!
Libby Larson's plan is to get Christmas over with as soon as possible. Libby lost her father in Afghanistan serving his country. Libby's father started a bunch of their Christmas traditions, but after losing him, Libby is determined to keep his traditions going to honor him. Libby also lost her mother, her only living family member, and now wants nothing to do with Christmas. After losing both of her parents, Libby is trying to save her parents house, but everyday something new comes up and Libby is running out of savings. Libby is a social media manager trying to save their family home, but with funds running low Libby doesn't know what to do. Trying to keep herself busy so she can ignore the sadness that comes with spending Christmas alone, Libby is working on her first big project since starting her own business, featuring "Christmas Kitty", a cat that goes viral all over social media with Christmas content. Libby lives in Evergreen Valley where Christmas is in full spirit.
In Evergreen Valley, Libby is out going for a run one morning when she gets taken down by a big inflatable Santa Claus, this is where Libby meets Adam Thompson, Adam's parents just moved to Evergreen Valley and lives across the street from Libby. Libby and Adam start off on the wrong foot when Libby punches the inflatable Santa and then hits their inflatable reindeer with her car because the wind blew it in front of her car. Adam calls Libby a "inflatable killer", the banter between Adam and Libby had me laughing throughout the whole book. Libby works with her best friend, Tammi. When Libby and Tammi need to film a video for Christmas Kitty but he doesn't seem to enjoy this Christmas setup, so Libby has a whole new idea to change the setup, which actually does work, YAY!!! when Libby and Tammi are going through Libby's mother's Christmas decorations, an unopened Christmas card slips out.
Libby goes to Holly Peak to find out who this twenty year old unopened Christmas card belongs to. When Libby arrives in Holly Peak, she learns that Adam is the town manager of Holly Peak. Even though Libby and Adam started on the wrong foot, Adam is the only person Libby can turn to, to help her find this mysterious person. Libby was always told she never had any other living family members, but when she finds out a family member sent this Christmas card years ago, Libby wonders why she was lied to her whole life. With secrets unraveling and getting help from Adam, Libby must join in on the quirky Christmas traditions Holly Peak has to offer. Holly Peak is in a contest with another little town to keep their title of the best Christmas town, Adam doesn't do social media, but since it's Libby's job, she comes up with all these hashtags to get more tourists to visit Holly Peak and win the contest. I loved and adored all these Christmas traditions, and now I want to visit Evergreen Valley and Holly Peak.