Tangled up in Tinsel

Christmas Tree, PA Sweet Romcom #2

by Jessie Gussman

When Amber is hired to decorate the mansion of a high-profile client for Christmas, she’s determined to impress. But when the mountain of tinsel she ordered arrives in a hopelessly tangled mess, she’s in over her head.

Enter her client’s charming yet mischievous brother, Daniel, who offers to help her out of the holiday jam.

As they work late into the night, untangling more than just decorations, Amber starts to realize that Daniel might just be the one to untangle her heart as well.

Genres: Christmas, Novella, Workplace Romance, Christian, Inspirational, Romance, Humor

71 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2024

Reviews

[Lady M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is similar to the last book, except these two were strangers instead of having any sort of history. It made the insta love a little less believable for me because of it. Still a cute, short and sweet story than can be read in a day

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun series that takes place at Christmas in a small town called Christmas Tree, PA. Each book is very short and complete and can be read in just a few hours.

Julie is an interior decorator who is hired to finish decorating a billionaire's mansion for a Christmas event. The original decorator had started decorating the mansion but had a medical emergency so Julie had to use the plan already started. The ballroom was the only room left to decorate and the billionaire wanted her to make it look like the previous year. The boxes of tinsel needed to decorate the ballroom were left in a tangles mess so before she could start the difficult job she had to untangle all of the tinsel. She needed to do a good job so that she would get a good review from the billionaire possible giving her more business.

Daniel is the younger brother of the billionaire and it is actually his home that they are decorating. He
is an outgoing person who likes to bring peace to situations. He has the plans for decorating from the previous decorator. When Daniel meets Julie he feels drawn to her and he decides to help her untangle the huge tinsel mess. Daniel has been burned in the pass by women when they discover that he is a millionaire so he doesn't tell Julie who he is.

They work together well and their vibrant discussion makes the time fly by. Will this tinsel situation lead them to a special relationship?

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, very short novella, with a HEA romantic tale that takes place in Christmas Tree, Pennsylvania. Daniel's brother Samuel is hosting a holiday party, and Amber is hired to replace the party decorator. She has a tight deadline and a HUGE workload to finish overnight with (as the title implies) a mess of tangled tinsel. Daniel offers to help her untangle the tinsel and decorate. Can they get it done in time? Amber is organized. She needs this job and is more concerned about others than herself. Daniel recognizes this as a rare quality, since most of the women he's met in life are interested in his/his brother's wealth. Daniel and Amber get to know each other as they work through the night. Can they finish in time? "Tangled up in Tinsel" is a perfect Christmas escape and just like reading a Hallmark movie! My only complaint is that it's too short! I highly recommend "Tangled up in Tinsel" as well as the entire Christmas Tree, PA, series by one of my favorite authors!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.

[Mary Ann Speel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great short story in this series. Recommend it to anyone who loves Christmas stories. The h is a party planner and she gets a emergency call to complete decorating at the mansion in town. The previous person had to have emergency surgery. When she arrived she was not expecting what she encountered. Everything was decorated except a very large room that was to be used for a large party. The owner wanted it to be decorated the same as it was the year before. When she was shown the boxes containing the decorations she finds inside tinsel that is a tangled mess. Instead of giving up she attacks the problem. Unknown to her the owner of the mansion has pity on her and comes to help, she thinks that he is an employee and the H never corrects her. As they successfully succeed in putting up the tinsel as it was the last year they become friends and decide that they really like each other and want to develop a lasting relationship. You can’t help but root for the H and h and their relationship because of the people they are. Enjoy your read.

[Lana Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an exceptional short story! Amber is an interior decorator who gets hired to decorate (at the last minute) the billionaire’s home in Christmas Tree, PA. This would set up her career to become nationally recognized! However, when she gets to the mansion, she finds out she isn’t getting the job of decorating but of correcting what another, first hired decorator, had started, then just quit and left a HUGE mess and she feels like now she will be known as a failure in her decorating world! But, there’s a really nice servant (she thinks) who is more than willing to help her finish this mess if a job and he bends over backwards helping her. He stays up ALL NIGHT LONG, working, doing the parts that she would NOT have been able to finish, alone! She is so shocked when she finds out who the man really is! She also felt such a connection with him and and so comfortable and at ease in the home, itself. Oh, I just LOVED this cute, mixed up mess that turned into such a beautiful romance! You will, too!! Grab it now!!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangled Up In Tinsel is a funny short story. Amber is a decorator and is like at the bottom of the list for someone to replace the decorator that had to have an emergency surgery. They call her the day before this client party is to be held at the billionaire's mansion on the hill above Christmas Tree, PA. Everything is decorated except the ballroom where the party is to be held. The decorator last year used lots of tinsel to make the ballroom look magical. So Samuel has said that he wants that exact decoration from last year done. Now the decorator from last year left mad and when they got the boxes of tinsel out it was tied in knots. So at that point Amber is not feeling very professional at getting it done by herself. When Daniel comes down with the notes from the decorator that was working on the mansion and pictures from his phone from last year he introduced himself as Daniel that works there. That wasn't a lie but, it wasn't the full truth. He offers to help Amber to get to know her.

[Star-Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in Jessie Gussman’s Christmas Tree, PA series and it’s another sweet, short romance just over an hour read with interior decorator Ambers Roger’s landing the job of finishing the Christmas decorating for billionaire Samuel Barrage at his brother Daniel’s home. Amber doesn’t know the home belongs to Daniel nor does she know just how big a job she has agreed to do but she does soon learn that she and Daniel may have a lot of things in common. I absolutely love Jessie Gussman’s books and I thought this little gem was a delight to read but I did feel it didn’t quite have enough substance. Just a tad too short in developing their relationship and I missed the Jessie Gussman wit that I adore. Yet it does make an excellent little Christmastime read for a cozy night by the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa. I received an advance review copy of this book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Eva Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangled up in Tinsel (Christmas Tree, PA sweet holiday romcom short read book 2)
Christmas sweet romance.
Amber is a designer and decorator who lives in Christmas Tree, Pa. Daniel is a millionaire neighbor who works for his billionaire brother, Samuel. Amber has been hired to finish decorating a mansion for Samuel. The original decorator had emergency surgery. With a very limited time to complete the project, Daniel steps in to help.

Thought provoking, as you listen to them talking about life and relationships. Quick, enjoyable read. Entertaining.

[Margaret P Medberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Amber is hired at the last minute to decorate the beautiful home of billionaire Samuel Barrage, she discovers that the job is more difficult than expected because the last decorator crumpled up all the decorations. Happily, Daniel Barrage, Samuel’s brother swoops in to help her not revealing to her that he is actually the owner of the house and extremely wealthy as well.

Jessie Gussman once again has taken a simple idea and turned it into a fun little romantic tale. Daniel discovers a sweetness, and honesty in Amber, and she, not realizing his true identity, is totally her delightful self. The story is a bit of a study of what people should really look for in relationships. The novella is a sweet and quick read, perfect for an evening of hot chocolate and curling up on the couch.

I received this advance reader copy for free and I am voluntarily offering my honest opinion.

[Elizabeth Fiscus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber is a go-getter interior decorator who loves small-town life, but doesn't want to pass up the opportunity to put up Christmas decor for local billionaire Samuel Barrage. She knows if she does well on this job, she would be set with clients for a long time. Little does she know she has one day to work her magic! Enter Daniel. Unbeknownst to Amber, he is Samuel's younger, more approachable brother. As they work together to get the yards and yards of tinsel for the ballroom untangled, Amber and Daniel get to know each other and have great conversations. Will this decorating job lead Amber to more than just job prospects?
This is an enjoyable quick novella that you can easily read in an afternoon. I received an advance copy of this book from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Michelle Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet and clean short Christian romance. It is the second in a series of 6 Christmas novellas. It can be read as a stand alone. Has Christian values. Less than 100 pages.

Amber is hired to finish the Christmas decorating the big mansion in town. She arrives to find the ballroom is the only room left to decorate and it needs to be prepared a certain way. However, the tinsel is tangled. Can she get it done in one day? Daniel owns the house, but it is his brother who has hired her. He decides to help her but neglects to tell her who he is. Can they get it done? Will a friendship or more develop?

Another cute Christian Christmas novella. The characters are engaging and very interesting. I am enjoying the storyline. I like the Christian premise of the stories.

I received an ARC from the author and am leaving an honest review.

[Joyce Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber is an interior designer in Christmas Tree, PA. She is asked to decorate the mansion owned by the billionaire in town at the last minute. The current decorator had to have emergency surgery. They need the house decorated before an event the following day. Amber knows this is her chance to get her name out and her business growing. When she arrives everything is decorated except the ballroom. Daniel shows her the pictures from last year's design. When she opens the boxes of tinsel, she realizes that the decorator from last year, who left in a huff, just threw the tinsel in boxes. It was a tangled mess. She's not sure she can get it done before the luncheon the following day. Daniel stops by to check on her and sees the mess and offers to help. She doesn't want to take him away from his job, but he insists that he has time to help. Such a sweet, fun book.

[Leis Phinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series, and like the first, it's a sweet Christmas rom com. This one features a case of mistaken identity and immediate attraction. Amber takes on a last minute job, finishing up the decorations for a party at the local mansion. She doesn't realize that Daniel, the man helping her, is the homeowner. As they work together, they discuss their personal values and interests and they see one another's character revealed. What will happen when Amber learns who Daniel really is? This is a sweet quick read with conversations about character and values along with humor and all the feelings of Christmas! I received an ARC of this book and it is my honest opinion that you will really enjoy it.

[JLBBM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangled up in Tinsel is book 2 in the Christmas Tree, PA sweet holiday romcom short read series by Jessie Gussman. Amber is a local that is hired by the billionaire in town to finish decorating for a Christmas party after the original interior designer had emergency surgery. What she finds is a massive mess of tangled tinsel that needs to be hung in the huge ballroom. A employee, Daniel, offers to help her and they soon find they are extremely attracted to each other. But Daniel hasn’t been completely honest with her, so will Amber feel the same after she finds out what he is hiding from her? A great story, but because it is a short novella, the timeline does feel rushed. Still I have faith they will be able to get their happily ever after.

[Sandra Hartzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an ARC for this book, but this is my voluntary and honest opinion. Interior Designer, Amber is hired to decorate a large ballroom the way it was the year before in one day. It’s an almost impossible job made harder because the last decorator didn’t put the tinsel away neatly and it has to be untangled before it can be hung. Another worker agrees to help her hang it, but she is resistant because she doesn’t want him to not do his own job. What she doesn’t know is that he owns the house and is the brother of the man who hired her. As they work together, they find they are attracted to each other and have the same values and hopes for life. This is a heartwarming Christmas story about relationships, love of God, honor, and hard work.

[Christie Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber is an interior decorator hired to pick up where another decorator left off decorating a huge mansion. She has no idea how big the task is when she arrives to begin. She has a deadline of the next morning. Daniel is the brother of the town billionaire and “manager” of the house. When he sees Amber and realizes the huge task before her, he offers to help. As they work together, they realize they have a lot in common as they discuss deep topics such as character and integrity.

This book keeps you entertained and laughing. It also has many Christian principles, primarily focusing on growing in integrity.


I received a copy of this book from the author. My review is entirely voluntary and unbiased.

[Linda Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sweet romance story for the holidays

I found this story especially very sweet And it's a romance for the holidays that you'll sure to remember. I enjoyed the characters they were mainly just main characters in this story but you only need to a boyI enjoyed the characters they were mainly just main characters in this story but you only need 2 boy and a girl I enjoyed the characters they were mainly just main characters in this story but you only need 2 boy and a girl. The plot was he was looking for love but not somebody looking for wealth. This story could have been written very different ways and lots of different circumstances leading up to the unveiling but this author just took the simple way told the simplest story A quick read and the story gets told.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure and simple, short and sweet—I loved this novella! It was the perfect lift to my spirits during the busy-ness of the holiday season. The characters, Amber and Daniel, were inspirational with their pure motives and high standards as they got acquainted and then moved their relationship forward with a heart-to-heart conversation. Favorite quote: “…I don’t know that you can know for sure that you love someone eight hours after meeting them. But I do know that you can say for sure whether or not you will love someone, because love isn’t just a feeling. In fact, I believe with all of my heart the feelings will come and go, ebb and flow, but the decision to love someone is one that you make consciously and then you act on every single day.” Highly recommend!

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, contemporary romance novella

Romance, sweet, contemporary; series but stand alone read
Amber and Daniel’s story starts out as Amber accepts a last minute rush holiday decorating job. Daniel, rich and suspicious of others motives holds back a bit about who actually is (brother of the billionaire who hired her, but owner of the house)
As he offers to help her with a seemingly insurmountable task, their genuine interactions and their honest, kind, and caring responses to each other open up both their hopes for the possibility of something more.
Quick fall (the perils of a novella), but lots of character and kindness with genuine emotions with both characters, told from alternating point if view, made this a fun, sweet, read. More of a 3.5 for me as a reader.

[Dee Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber has been hired by Samuel to decorate the ballroom exactly like it had been the year before. When Amber gets the seven boxes of pencil into the ballroom, she discovers the tinsel in a tangled mess. The decorator from the year before, and Samuel got into a disagreement with the decorator from the year before. He did not care how he put the tinsel up. Needless to say it was in horrible mess. Daniel comes in and helps Amber untangle the boxes of tinsel. They start hanging up the tinsel and Amber stomach growls because she’s hungry. It’s only 2 o’clock in the afternoon. They break for lunch and are having to discussion it is a good clean story. I highly recommend this book.

[Lia Lorimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amber is not a person who resists a challenge but, faced with six large boxes of tangled Christmas decorations which need to be used to beautify a large ballroom for an absent employer in 24 hours, even she feels a little overwhelmed. When Daniel, who works in the mansion, offers to help, Amber is not only pleased, but discovers a person with similar values and interests.
Ms Gussman packs a lot of thought-provoking content into her books. This is a light-hearted novelette which nevertheless makes the reader reflect on the characters conversations after turning the last page.
This is my honest opinion of the ARC I received from the author.

[Roberta aka Bobbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short contemporary, inspirational, romantic comedy. As you can deduce from the title there is tinsel and it is definitely tangled. That's how Daniel and Amber meet.

While they were untangling all the knots they discussed their beliefs and theories about good and bad and how we can choose how we want to react to various happenings.

Even though it's only been a few hours both Daniel and Amber feel like they are falling in love. Can we hope for a HEA? Read Tangled up in Tinsel and decide for yourself.

I was given an ARC of this story at the request of Jessie Gussman, the author. All thoughts and comments are mine, given voluntarily.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute Christmas story. A decorator agreed to finish decorating the mansion after the previous decorator had a medical emergency. An employee offered to help her finish on time. Working together, they found they both had the same old-fashioned values. He has a secret and she values honesty. Enjoyed their interactions as they both remained calm no matter the circumstances, determined to finish decorating in 24 hours despite the challenges. Could the very long day lead to romance or would his secret prevent the romance?

Received an ARC and this is my honest unsolicited opinion.

[J Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet holiday love story!

Amber has a big opportunity when a rich local hires her to decorate his mansion for Christmas, but she only has one day to do it. All the decorations are tangled in knots and it is starting to look helpless until a man at the mansion volunteers to help. The long hours together give Amber and Daniel a chance to become friends and maybe more.

What a perfect romance for the holidays! The description of the decorations made me wish the book had pictures. I received a free copy but my review was honest and voluntary.

[Tami Willard · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's excited to get the chance to finish decorating for his brother's event. Coming in after someone else isn't easy though. Then she learns she must decorate exactly the same way as last year, with a lot of tinsel. How will she be able to pull this off? After seeing how last year's designer left things she gladly accepts his help. What will she say when she discovers he's more than just an employee? Will tinsel hold the same power as mistletoe?
I received a copy of this book from the author. Review voluntarily given.

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a sweet, clean romance with characters that are instantly likeable and so very relatable. In the course of a day, Amber and Daniel make a connection that will last a lifetime. Untangling tinsel gives them a chance to observe each other, ask a few questions that illuminate the things or characteristics they value and test the pull or connection they feel with each other. It is a connection they both want to build upon with the intent of building a future together.

It is will happily recommend this sweet and inspiring book.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short but very sweet story about Amber and Daniel.
Amber takes a last minute job decorating a mansion for Christmas before a big party.
Daniel comes to help her without letting her know he was the brother of the billionaire throwing the party. As they work together untangling the decorations and hanging them they start talking about their beliefs and how they try to live their lives for the Lord.
Will the two of them find a hea after a short amount of time together. Read and fall in love with this wonderful couple.

[Becky Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber Roger is an interior designer and she has been hired to finish decorating for a Christmas party for Samuel who is a billionaire. Amber jumped on this task because she thought it could definitely help her business grow. Daniel who is Samuel’s brother shows her around and that is when she realizes the job is much bigger than what she thought. But luckily for her Daniel offers to help her decorate and maybe some feelings get involved.

I received this ARC from the author, I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maryann Skaritka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amber gets the dream job of her life when she is asked at the last minute to complete a holiday decorating assignment for a wealthy billionaire in Christmas Tree, Pennsylvania. This would immensely give a boost to her career.
Daniel introduces himself as an employee of the billionaire. He sees that Amber is overwhelmed by the enormity of the project and the time restraints.
It’s love at first sight and this couple see that they share much of the same values.
This sweet short story will leave a splash of heartwarming joy in your heart for the holiday season.

[Rhonda Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber and Daniel meet assuming each is hired by a billionaire. However, not all assumptions are correct. As they sort decorations and get the ballroom ready they realize while opposites attract, so do similar value systems. There is a serious time crunch with a short time to complete decorating. Take a short reading break and discover the details of whether they meet their deadline. And what they discover as they decorate.