Scheming for a White Christmas

by Erin Lucy

My love life is as hot as a mushy avocado. Until Colton steps in and lights my fire.

My family loves Parker, the guy I just dumped. They love everyone I bring home, determined to marry me off before “my time runs out.” If I go to our week-long Christmas extravaganza without him on my arm, they’re going to give me heck.

That’s where Superstorm Dillon comes in. I tell my family I’m going on a last-minute writing retreat in Georgia. The writing retreat part is true. Driving down to Florida in time for the party? Not happening. Instead, I’ll be snowed in for days at a cabin in the wilderness, far far away from my nosy relatives, enjoying my white Christmas alone.

All is well until the lights start flickering, I can’t figure out how to start a fire, and the Abominable Snowman comes knocking on my door.

Oh, never mind. That’s the property manager, Colton, who’s built like a linebacker. His truck ran off the road and he needs a place to ride out the storm. There goes my relaxing writing retreat.

This little scheme of mine isn’t going to plan. And it’s about to get a lot worse. Luckily, Colton knows how to light my fire…in more ways than one.

Scheming for a White Christmas is a forced-proximity sweet romantic comedy that will tickle your funny bone and warm your heart.

Genres: Christmas, Romance

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2024

About the author

Erin Lucy is partial to beaches and corn fields. She loves small towns, quaint cities, and places that feel cozy. Her social media of choice is Instagram. She’s also on Facebook, or you can stop by her website to see what she’s up to.

She has a day job, three kids, a husband, and some pets. If she’s not writing, she might be reading, going to church, going to the gym, or drinking way too much boba tea.

Long ago she received an English degree with Honors from a college in the Midwest.

Reviews

[Issa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This story is supposed to be a cosy christmasy read. In reality, it is about two walking red flags who trauma bonded after almost dying in a snowstorm. I will leave you with my favourite quotes, “we haven’t even kissed, and he’s already seen me pee!”, and “the jerks always get the hot chicks. Speaking of chicks, the breasts are ready”.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second Erin Lucy book to review both with similar storylines. In this story Anna is an author just wanting to escape her family's love life questions and expectations and write her books in the comfort of an idyllic white Christmas. However mother nature sends a snowstorm that snows her in her cabin. When a knock on the door reveals Colton, the landlord, needing to a stay with her because he drove off the road things get complicated and feelings get in the way.

I had really high hopes for this story because I liked the other book by Erin. However, this story fell short. The story was cute but the characters seemed a little flat and boring to me. I wish we could have had a little more character development especially Colton and his wishy washy attitude toward Anna and life. Also the fact that he told her he'd go back to his ex wife kind of put a wet blanket on the romance aspect of this story. The end was cute but getting there was a little uneventful. I would recommend for a quick holiday read with no spice.

Thanks to NetGalley, Erin Lucy, and Victory Editing for allowing me to review this ARC!

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Anna lies to her family that she's at a hotel for a writer's retreat it's because she has found a remote cabin rental that will give her total isolation to get her book done. She didn't count on a freak snowstorm in Georgia! Nor did she ever dream that the property manager would get stuck in a snow drift and seek shelter in her cabin. But wait, there's more! Never did I imagine a book about being stuck at Christmas could be so enjoyable! I laughed so hard I started to cry! The pages flew by and I didn't see what was going to happen! An unusual Christmas, a surprising change of heart, and a perfect ending. Sweet love story!

[Chhavi Gandhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 3.5/5
📖 Genre: Sweet Romantic Comedy, Holiday Romance
📅 Publication Date: December 4, 2024

🌟 Summary: Anna, a romance author, plans a secluded Christmas retreat in a cabin to avoid her family's matchmaking efforts after a recent breakup. Her plans for solitude are disrupted when a snowstorm forces Colton, the property's rugged manager, to seek shelter with her. As they navigate the challenges of being snowed in together, unexpected sparks fly, leading to a heartwarming tale of love and self-discovery.

🖋️ My Thoughts:

✔ Charming Setting: The snowed-in cabin amidst a winter wonderland provides a cozy and picturesque backdrop, enhancing the romantic ambiance of the story.

✔ Engaging Premise: The forced-proximity trope is executed well, with Anna and Colton's initial awkwardness evolving into genuine connection, making their blossoming relationship enjoyable to follow.

✔ Humorous Elements: The narrative is sprinkled with lighthearted moments and witty banter, adding a delightful comedic touch that keeps the story engaging.

🔸 A Few Drawbacks:

▫ Character Depth: While Anna and Colton are likable, some aspects of their personalities and backgrounds could have been more fully developed to create a deeper emotional connection with readers.

▫ Predictable Plot: The storyline follows a familiar romantic comedy trajectory, which, while comforting, offers few surprises for seasoned readers of the genre.

✨ Final Verdict: Scheming for a White Christmas is a delightful holiday read that combines romance and humor against a festive backdrop. Despite its predictability, the charming setting and engaging interactions between the protagonists make it a worthwhile addition to any holiday reading list.

📌 Recommended For: Fans of sweet romantic comedies, holiday romances, and readers seeking a lighthearted, feel-good story to enjoy during the festive season.

[Andreea · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.25 stars

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review from the author.

This is a clean romance, fyi.

I was excited to get Erin Lucy's new book because I discovered her this year and the other book from her I absolutely adored (Debugging Love), so of course a lot of comparison was going on in my head as I was reading this book - for instance how charming and real the characters were compared to how one-dimensional I found them in this book. And in the other book Erin managed to build great secondary characters too, so why does this book fail with the main characters? I just don't get it. Oh, and the humour in this book... too slapstick comedy for my taste.

I simply couldn't be bothered to care for the characters, especially Colton (I mean, who wants a guy who bluntly tells you he will go back to his ex-wife). We just didn't vibe.

The premise was fun and interesting, and I would've rated the book higher if it wasn't for the ending. She goes back to Colton even though you would expect him to do everything in his power to get her back, right? But he does NOTHING! He simply realises his ex sucks, by making the other woman horrible, mind you, which is something I personally don't like.

Sorry.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED Anna and Colton's story. I appreciated how the circumstances pushed them both out of their comfort zones, and how they both grew as individuals from their shared experiences. I loved how this put them in the situation where they could recognise the chance for a love they never realised/believed could actually exist for them.

I loved how you could TOTALLY pick up on the chaos of Anna's family through her initial phone call with them. I was rolling my eyes along with her at her family's antics, and loud volume, and intensity, and I could totally understand why she took the actions she did. I could also pick up on Colton's frame of mind very easily, and I enjoyed watching him "bloom" throughout the story...

I loved all the "clumsy" accidents that happened, that "exposed" Anna and Colton to each other.
I also loved the small ways they showed care and empathy for each other.

I also loved how you could tell how much Colton really loved Violet, and wanted to do right by her, and have her be happy, above his own comfort and happiness. This endeared him to me even more. And along with this, I loved how Anna connected with Anna pretty much immediately, and inately understood how important Violet was to Colton.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Skyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

When Anna decides to plan a writing retreat a few days before Christmas in hopes of getting snowed in to avoid her family’s badgering about her love life, she gets more than she bargained for when she actually gets snowed in. As if that wasn’t the worst part of her scheme, she ends up snowed in with the grumpy property manager Colton. Colton carries baggage of his own in regards to his love life. The winds of Dillon end up being the least of their worries when all they have to turn to is each other.

Tropes:
🎄 Only One Bed
🎄 Grumpy/Sunshine
🎄 Holiday Romance
🎄 Emotional Scars
🎄 Damsel in Distress
🎄 Forced Proximity

This is a closed door romance that actually had me constantly laughing. The contrast between Anna's warmth and Colton's guarded nature adds a delightful tension to the story. I found the dry humor Colton had to be so funny in comparison to Anna’s sunshine personality. The mixed signals and the struggle of being stuck together in a somewhat perilous situation made for a cute Hallmark style romcom. This was a charming holiday romance that blends the warmth of a cozy, snowbound retreat with the emotional complexity of personal baggage and second chances.

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had not read anything by this author, but I will definitely be adding her name and books to my TBR list! A truly fun ride from beginning to end! Before heading to her family Christmas gathering at her parents’ home, Anna Bertolucci has always dreamed of a quiet, snow filled Christmas and that is what she will do this year. She has rented a B&B cabin in the woods and looks forward to the time to write her next book (which she never would have been able to do with her loud and lovingly obnoxious relatives) and snow! What she didn’t expect was storm of the century Dillon or meeting Colton Brooks, a plumber and co-owner of the cabins. He survives an accident with his truck and is barely able to make it to the closest cabin…where Anna is staying…let the fun begin! A tree falling, a cabin with an outhouse, “laugh out loud” dialog and two strangers doing their best to stay warm, become friends and maybe something more? Enjoy, I sure did! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

[Heather Noyes-Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna is a romance author who’s tired of the get married/have kids already Italian family Christmas tradition. So this year she rented a cabin to have a writing retreat. What she didn’t plan for was a bomb cyclone to hit and keep her snowed in for days. Colton and his father own the cabin Anna is staying in. Colton heads out to make sure all the cabins they rent have food and propane… his last stop is Anna when his truck gets stuck in a snow drift. Colton and Anna are forced to share the little cabin and get to know each other very quickly. All the “no ways” happen to these two during these days of blizzard. You’ll laugh and probably wish you booked a cabin retreat this Xmas season.

This was a fast and fun read. Perfect amount of romance mixed with a good helping of laughter. Can’t wait to read another @erin_lucy_author

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @netgalley and @victoryeditingngc for this #advancedreaderscopy

Pub date was 12/4/24

#2024bookchallenge118of75
#schemingforawhitechristmas
#netgalley

[Isla · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Scheming for a White Christmas' by Erin Lucy is a cozy, light-hearted Christmas read. As the main character is attempting to escape her families Christmas celebrations after a big break-up she goes for a writing retreat at a cosy lodge, expecting a massive storm to block her in. However, she gets more than she bargained for.

The plot and concept of this novel is really fun.

I have to say though the novel was really under-developed and the characters were very unlikeable. The characters felt like they were from every basic romance and were so 2-D. The author character is constantly bragging about how she has written so many novels, at one point claiming she has already written 40. I feel like that is the key here. Sometimes quantity isn't the answer but quality is.

Thanks to #netgalley for this ARC of #schemeingforawhitechristmas

[Patricia Feher · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not for me. I liked the fact that the female lead was an author and could examine people well. But the language was quite cringe and I didn’t really get why they were so attracted to each other. They bare knew anything about each other and the physical attraction wasn’t believable either because their appereance wasn’t described that much in detial. He also wasn’t really over his exwife. And the reasons she broke up with her exes were simply stupid. I get it was meant to symbolise the fact that if you love someone you don’t find their little annoying habits annoying but it didn’t really hit.

[Jazmyn Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the premise of this book—it was a cute story with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. That said, I wish there had been more chemistry between the main characters. Colton, in particular, felt a bit underdeveloped. His hot-and-cold behavior got frustrating, especially when he basically said, “I don’t want you, but let’s still kiss.” Total jerk move.

I also found myself confused by the timeline toward the end. Scenes jumped around, and I couldn’t tell if something happened later that same day or days later—it all felt a bit rushed.

Still, I did enjoy the read overall, and since this was my first book by this author, I’m definitely open to checking out more from them.

[BlueFalkon95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scheming for a White Christmas by Erin Lucy is a sweet Christmas romance of boy meets girl. Normally author Anna spends the Christmas season with her family but she decided to spend a white Christmas in a cabin writing a new book. Anna’s plans are dashed when a snow storm blows in Colton to change them. Many things occur during the snow storm which brought them together. They learn many things about themselves and each other. What will happen when the weather returns to normal?

[Rachel Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great festive read. Anna has run way for Christmas to have her own writers retreat in a snowy cabin. But she ends up snowed in with Colton. A meet cute fit for her romance books but will it lead to anything more for them? I loved the setting

[Mirisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book about a romance author and a recent divorced man get snowed in together. After an unforeseeable turn of events has them in a small outdated cabin until they can be rescued. Where feeling develop. Great Christmas book.

[Denice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story

This is a cute story. Colton and Anna have quite the adventure from their meeting, history making snow storm, and crazy family they found love. Sweet, swoony moments and a fun story.

[Megan Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nicely written romance with humour, a good mixture between feeling Hallmark-y and being realistic, and likable characters, details, and plot.

It's very fun! I enjoyed it.

[Maria Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love snow in romances. This one is good. Nothing special. But good as a beach read

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the premise of Scheming for a White Christmas. It was fun watching the relationship between the two main characters evolve.
The humorous aspect was engaging and made me smile more than a few times.
Did the story have quirky and corny moments? For sure it did. But, that is what made for a fun read!
All in all, a wonderful festive read that I enjoyed reading.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#shortbookthyme
@shortbookthyme

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book. It was a cute story and I was definitely laughing at multiple scenes, but I would have liked to see more chemistry between the characters. Also, Colton needed a bit more development. I got really frustrated with his hot and cold attitude, especially when he pretty much said I don’t want you but can we still kiss. To me that is such a jerk move. At the end, I was confused how much time passed between scenes. Was it the same day, just later that afternoon or was it days later? No clue, so it seemed a bit rushed.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and will try more of this author since this was the first book of their’s that I have read.