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Kismet, Michigan #4
All He Wants for Christmas
Lisa Plumley knows how to craft a terrific, heart-warming story." --"The Romance Reviews"In Kismet, Michigan, Christmas is special: big fluffy snowflakes, sleigh bells, carolers singing. It's a picture-perfect holiday--you just have to choose who's in the frame. . .
Jason Hamilton is on thin ice with the board of his toy company. The young CEO may be a kid at heart, but his party boy reputation requires damage control. So Jason's off to Kismet to inspect a model store, stay on Santa's Nice list, and stick to business--no goofing around. Which is too bad, because the store manager, Danielle Sharpe, is the definition of what makes Naughty fun. . .
Danielle is thrilled to show off her thriving little toy store--especially if it's her ticket out of Kismet. The single mom is tired of manufacturing cheer solo while her ex-husband has all the fun. But if she'd known Jason was this hot, she wouldn't have offered to host him. With Jason in her house, Danielle is getting warmer than spiked cider. She's supposed to impress him with her expertise, not daydream about catching him under the mistletoe. Now whatever she does, she can't get swept up in the magic. . .
Raves for Lisa Plumley's Kismet Christmas Romances
"Laugh-out-loud. . ..Tugs at the heartstrings from the beginning and doesn't let up until the final page." --"Publishers Weekly "on "Together for Christmas "
"A deliciously satisfying, cocoa-worthy holiday read." --"Library Journal "on "Holiday Affair
Jason Hamilton is on thin ice with the board of his toy company. The young CEO may be a kid at heart, but his party boy reputation requires damage control. So Jason's off to Kismet to inspect a model store, stay on Santa's Nice list, and stick to business--no goofing around. Which is too bad, because the store manager, Danielle Sharpe, is the definition of what makes Naughty fun. . .
Danielle is thrilled to show off her thriving little toy store--especially if it's her ticket out of Kismet. The single mom is tired of manufacturing cheer solo while her ex-husband has all the fun. But if she'd known Jason was this hot, she wouldn't have offered to host him. With Jason in her house, Danielle is getting warmer than spiked cider. She's supposed to impress him with her expertise, not daydream about catching him under the mistletoe. Now whatever she does, she can't get swept up in the magic. . .
Raves for Lisa Plumley's Kismet Christmas Romances
"Laugh-out-loud. . ..Tugs at the heartstrings from the beginning and doesn't let up until the final page." --"Publishers Weekly "on "Together for Christmas "
"A deliciously satisfying, cocoa-worthy holiday read." --"Library Journal "on "Holiday Affair
259 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2014
13 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Plumley
63 books153 followersBest-selling author Lisa Plumley has delighted readers worldwide with more than three dozen popular novels. Her work has been translated multiple languages and editions, and includes contemporary romances, historical romances, paranormal romances, and a variety of stories in romance anthologies.
Her fresh, funny style has been likened to such reader favorites as Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, LaVyrle Spencer, and Jennifer Crusie, but her unique characterization is all her own.
Lisa’s alter ego is cozy mystery writer Colette London, whose Chocolate Whisperer mystery series featuring globe-trotting chocolatier (and amateur sleuth!) Hayden Mundy Moore includes Criminal Confections, Dangerously Dark, and The Semi-Sweet Hereafter. It will continue with Dead and Ganache in October 2017 (all from Kensington Books).
Her fresh, funny style has been likened to such reader favorites as Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, LaVyrle Spencer, and Jennifer Crusie, but her unique characterization is all her own.
Lisa’s alter ego is cozy mystery writer Colette London, whose Chocolate Whisperer mystery series featuring globe-trotting chocolatier (and amateur sleuth!) Hayden Mundy Moore includes Criminal Confections, Dangerously Dark, and The Semi-Sweet Hereafter. It will continue with Dead and Ganache in October 2017 (all from Kensington Books).
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 2, 2016
This is one of those books where your favourite character ends up being one of the side ones.
As cutesy as the main characters of this book are...they tend to come off a little strong sometimes. And by 'a little strong' I mean 'slightly stereotypical/cheesy/Hallmark card knockoffs' ;)
So the title of Best Character a.k.a Character That Saved This Book For Me has to instead go to Miss Gigi. The main character's salesclerk, she is a French miracle filled with wicked humor, good advice, and a kind streak a mile wide! I found myself hanging on for the parts where we get to experience the fun-storm that is Gigi and her 'man wisdom'.
If only she had been the main character! Then the book may have gone a little something like...
As cutesy as the main characters of this book are...they tend to come off a little strong sometimes. And by 'a little strong' I mean 'slightly stereotypical/cheesy/Hallmark card knockoffs' ;)
So the title of Best Character a.k.a Character That Saved This Book For Me has to instead go to Miss Gigi. The main character's salesclerk, she is a French miracle filled with wicked humor, good advice, and a kind streak a mile wide! I found myself hanging on for the parts where we get to experience the fun-storm that is Gigi and her 'man wisdom'.
If only she had been the main character! Then the book may have gone a little something like...
December 6, 2015
Good story about a man who has a little growing up to do and a woman who needs a little more fun in her life. Jason is the CEO of a toy company that he turned into national chain from its beginnings as a single store. But he really doesn't like the business side of things and tends to take long, party filled vacations. His most recent vacation put him in the center of some really bad publicity, leading his board of directors to give him an ultimatum: Clean up your image or you're out. So he's headed off on a tour of the midwest stores, starting with the one in Kismet. He's supposed to generate good publicity and behave himself, starting with the elderly store manager.
Danielle took over as store manager six months earlier. She's a divorced mother of three, determined to win a promotion that will take her out of Kismet and away from her cheating ex and his new airheaded wife. She has her own methods of making the store work, most of which involve completely ignoring the corporate guidebook. She knows they will get her in a boatload of trouble if they're discovered, but she's confident in her ability to keep the boss distracted.
I loved the first meeting between Danielle and Jason. He spent awhile just wandering the town and getting a feel for it before showing up at the store. It was so much fun to see him jump in and start working the floor like a regular employee. He has great charm and personality and soon has customers eating out of his hand. Even when a group of protesters arrive, he defuses to situation so completely that Danielle isn't quite sure what she just witnessed. When they finally meet and Jason discovers who she is, he's a little bummed. He's really attracted to her, but he shouldn't do anything about it. I really liked how Danielle tries to make Jason see that just apologizing wouldn't be so bad, but he is determined to stand his ground. Danielle thinks she's been promised a promotion if she can bring Jason into line, so she's done some string pulling on her end to make sure Jason is just where she wants him.
I really enjoyed the buildup of their relationship. The chemistry between them is strong and things build up between them thanks to little touches and unexpected emotional connections. It was fun to see Jason have fun with Danielle's two boys, especially since he's almost as big a kid as they are. Her daughter is a harder sell, and she gives Jason a hard time throughout the book. It was sweet to see the way he really wanted them to like him.
There's trouble on the horizon though, as the head of the board of directors is determined to oust Jason from the company and doesn't care how he does it. We see him using Danielle's desire for a promotion to get her to report on Jason's "progress". Danielle feels guilty about the secrets she's keeping from Jason, especially as they grow closer and she realizes that she's falling for him. Meanwhile, Jason discovers that the video he sent to Chip to show him how he's changed has become a social media PR campaign. He's furious, and worried about what she'll say when she finds out. He doesn't want to tell her because he's afraid that it will end the relationship that he's finding increasingly important to him.
I liked Jason a lot. He's a fun loving guy who really has a big heart. He loves his family and is very protective of their privacy. He doesn't publicize how poor they had been and how he got his start in the toy business. I also enjoyed the protectiveness that came out when he saw how her ex was treating her. His pretend relationship with her, to help her shut down her ex's attitude, turned real very fast. It was really sweet to see all the things he did with her and the kids, and the effect it ultimately had on him.
I also like Danielle. She had obviously been the adult in her marriage and it has made things awkward with her ex and his wife. I really understood her frustration with having to be the bad guy with her kids when it came to the things her ex did. Having Jason doing things for her, both big and small, was something so different that she couldn't help but fall for him. I loved the way that showing him around Kismet at Christmas made her realize that she really didn't want to move away after all.
When Chip came to Kismet and started manipulating both Jason and Danielle, the resulting drama was pretty intense. Both Jason and Danielle felt like they had been betrayed, and neither wanted to listen to the other explain what had happened. I enjoyed seeing each of them get life, love and relationships explained to them. I especially loved the appearance of Mr. Moosby himself in Kismet, the reason he was there, and how much he obviously cared about Jason. The solution that they came up with that worked for everyone was fantastic. The Christmas morning scene was sweet and romantic.
Danielle took over as store manager six months earlier. She's a divorced mother of three, determined to win a promotion that will take her out of Kismet and away from her cheating ex and his new airheaded wife. She has her own methods of making the store work, most of which involve completely ignoring the corporate guidebook. She knows they will get her in a boatload of trouble if they're discovered, but she's confident in her ability to keep the boss distracted.
I loved the first meeting between Danielle and Jason. He spent awhile just wandering the town and getting a feel for it before showing up at the store. It was so much fun to see him jump in and start working the floor like a regular employee. He has great charm and personality and soon has customers eating out of his hand. Even when a group of protesters arrive, he defuses to situation so completely that Danielle isn't quite sure what she just witnessed. When they finally meet and Jason discovers who she is, he's a little bummed. He's really attracted to her, but he shouldn't do anything about it. I really liked how Danielle tries to make Jason see that just apologizing wouldn't be so bad, but he is determined to stand his ground. Danielle thinks she's been promised a promotion if she can bring Jason into line, so she's done some string pulling on her end to make sure Jason is just where she wants him.
I really enjoyed the buildup of their relationship. The chemistry between them is strong and things build up between them thanks to little touches and unexpected emotional connections. It was fun to see Jason have fun with Danielle's two boys, especially since he's almost as big a kid as they are. Her daughter is a harder sell, and she gives Jason a hard time throughout the book. It was sweet to see the way he really wanted them to like him.
There's trouble on the horizon though, as the head of the board of directors is determined to oust Jason from the company and doesn't care how he does it. We see him using Danielle's desire for a promotion to get her to report on Jason's "progress". Danielle feels guilty about the secrets she's keeping from Jason, especially as they grow closer and she realizes that she's falling for him. Meanwhile, Jason discovers that the video he sent to Chip to show him how he's changed has become a social media PR campaign. He's furious, and worried about what she'll say when she finds out. He doesn't want to tell her because he's afraid that it will end the relationship that he's finding increasingly important to him.
I liked Jason a lot. He's a fun loving guy who really has a big heart. He loves his family and is very protective of their privacy. He doesn't publicize how poor they had been and how he got his start in the toy business. I also enjoyed the protectiveness that came out when he saw how her ex was treating her. His pretend relationship with her, to help her shut down her ex's attitude, turned real very fast. It was really sweet to see all the things he did with her and the kids, and the effect it ultimately had on him.
I also like Danielle. She had obviously been the adult in her marriage and it has made things awkward with her ex and his wife. I really understood her frustration with having to be the bad guy with her kids when it came to the things her ex did. Having Jason doing things for her, both big and small, was something so different that she couldn't help but fall for him. I loved the way that showing him around Kismet at Christmas made her realize that she really didn't want to move away after all.
When Chip came to Kismet and started manipulating both Jason and Danielle, the resulting drama was pretty intense. Both Jason and Danielle felt like they had been betrayed, and neither wanted to listen to the other explain what had happened. I enjoyed seeing each of them get life, love and relationships explained to them. I especially loved the appearance of Mr. Moosby himself in Kismet, the reason he was there, and how much he obviously cared about Jason. The solution that they came up with that worked for everyone was fantastic. The Christmas morning scene was sweet and romantic.
December 3, 2014
Five Reasons to grab a cup of cocoa and curl up with All He Wants for Christmas
If you love small-town with sleigh rides, candy cane parades and local dinners where everyone knows everyone than you will adore Kismet, Michigan. Our heroine manages the Moosby Toy Store on Main Street and you will find all the holiday spirit you desire there.
The perfect little set-up. A naughty picture on the internet puts James Hamilton, CEO of Moosby in the hot seat and the board creates a campaign tour to restore his image. They send him to their number one store to work, meet customers and inspect the model store. Danielle Sharpe is a divorced mother of three who has tripled sales at Moosby’s. She is determined to impress the corporate office and move up the ladder, far away from Kismet.
The romance oozes holiday magic. The chemistry between Jason and Danielle was hilarious, sweet, and tender. I loved how Danielle did not outwardly swoon all over Jason. Jason loved it too, since most woman only see dollar signs and his looks. The tension built slowly at first, from accidental touches to sweet stolen kisses. The tale is clean, with fade to black moments making this one for everyone.
There is just the right amount of tension threaded throughout the story regarding the Moosby Company. We wonder if Jason can restore his reputation or will a plotting board member get him kicked out the door. Will Danielle get the promotion she wants and leave Kismet behind. Corporate spies, breaking store policy rules, the kids and a little romance all make it interesting.
If you love snuggling up during the holidays and watching the Hallmark’s Holiday specials, than All He Wants for Christmas is the perfect holiday read. From the kids, to playing naughty in the stockroom this tale has it all.
Copy provided by publisherThis review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
If you love small-town with sleigh rides, candy cane parades and local dinners where everyone knows everyone than you will adore Kismet, Michigan. Our heroine manages the Moosby Toy Store on Main Street and you will find all the holiday spirit you desire there.
The perfect little set-up. A naughty picture on the internet puts James Hamilton, CEO of Moosby in the hot seat and the board creates a campaign tour to restore his image. They send him to their number one store to work, meet customers and inspect the model store. Danielle Sharpe is a divorced mother of three who has tripled sales at Moosby’s. She is determined to impress the corporate office and move up the ladder, far away from Kismet.
The romance oozes holiday magic. The chemistry between Jason and Danielle was hilarious, sweet, and tender. I loved how Danielle did not outwardly swoon all over Jason. Jason loved it too, since most woman only see dollar signs and his looks. The tension built slowly at first, from accidental touches to sweet stolen kisses. The tale is clean, with fade to black moments making this one for everyone.
There is just the right amount of tension threaded throughout the story regarding the Moosby Company. We wonder if Jason can restore his reputation or will a plotting board member get him kicked out the door. Will Danielle get the promotion she wants and leave Kismet behind. Corporate spies, breaking store policy rules, the kids and a little romance all make it interesting.
If you love snuggling up during the holidays and watching the Hallmark’s Holiday specials, than All He Wants for Christmas is the perfect holiday read. From the kids, to playing naughty in the stockroom this tale has it all.
Copy provided by publisherThis review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
December 20, 2014
I am a sucker for Christmas stories and though I don't normally like to pick up in the middle of a series, I figured I would give this one a go when I saw it on Netgalley. I just fell in love with that snowman and his purple scarf on the cover. Living in Florida means that we don't experience the joys of building snowmen, so I have to enjoy them vicariously.
This was a great feel good Christmas read. We have the womanizing bad boy CEO Jason, who though he plays up the image, is much more of a good family guy than he likes to admit. Then there is Danielle, divorced single mom, who likes to downplay that she is a bit of a rebel. She disregards irrational company policies and uses her organizational skills to make her tiny store one of the best in the country. There is even an evil villain in the mix; the head of the board of directors of the toy company out to oust Jason and has no problem using Danielle to get the job done.
Take two people highly attracted to one another, make them keep secrets from one another while trying to withstand the machinations of the board of directors. Add three cute kids, a town full of classic holiday activities and mix thoroughly. It's a combination for a great story. Other couples are mentioned, hinting at some back story, but it wasn't enough to feel like part of the story was missing. On a personal note, like Danielle's oldest daughter, I too got a 'Mom's New Boyfriend' at about that age, and it was amusing to see some of the same attitude and stunts that I played on my soon to be step-dad. This really helped to ground the story in reality for me, while losing non of the holiday charm. I gave it 3 stars.
This was a great feel good Christmas read. We have the womanizing bad boy CEO Jason, who though he plays up the image, is much more of a good family guy than he likes to admit. Then there is Danielle, divorced single mom, who likes to downplay that she is a bit of a rebel. She disregards irrational company policies and uses her organizational skills to make her tiny store one of the best in the country. There is even an evil villain in the mix; the head of the board of directors of the toy company out to oust Jason and has no problem using Danielle to get the job done.
Take two people highly attracted to one another, make them keep secrets from one another while trying to withstand the machinations of the board of directors. Add three cute kids, a town full of classic holiday activities and mix thoroughly. It's a combination for a great story. Other couples are mentioned, hinting at some back story, but it wasn't enough to feel like part of the story was missing. On a personal note, like Danielle's oldest daughter, I too got a 'Mom's New Boyfriend' at about that age, and it was amusing to see some of the same attitude and stunts that I played on my soon to be step-dad. This really helped to ground the story in reality for me, while losing non of the holiday charm. I gave it 3 stars.
September 30, 2014
Cute book! This book is the 4th in the Kismet Series, however it's the first one I've read. The story is set during the Christmas season in Michigan with lots of holiday activities. Trying to clean up his reputation & save his job as CEO, Jason Hamilton goes to Kismet to check up on the local toy store not realizing Danielle Sharpe is the manager. The hidden agendas of both of them are fun to read and I enjoyed the seemingly fast paced romance between Jason & Danielle. Overall, I liked this book and would like more of these characters & their story.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in-exchange for my honest opinion/review.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in-exchange for my honest opinion/review.
October 16, 2014
'Tis the season for the holiday reads. I pretty much love all kinds, but at this time of the year I particularly want to mix in some real sugary, feel-good stories. This one had some pretty adorable stuff- small town setting, lots of Christmasy activities, cute kids, humorous moments and a couple that were really good for each other though it took them a long time to figure it out.
This is the fourth book in a series of books set in Kismet, Michigan with each told during the holiday season. I didn't read the ones before, but had no trouble picking this one up. I recognized the previous couples which were nice to meet and thought their stories sounded interesting, but the previous stories really didn't play a part in this one.
The book opens with toy company CEO, Jason Hamilton, learning that a picture out of his control hits the social media sites and causes a firestorm of bad publicity for the family-oriented toy store chains. He thinks it will just go away and doesn't really care what people say since it’s not true, but some of the company board of directors are using it as an opportunity to oust him and wrest more control of the company. The board wants Jason to go on a good will tour to several stores and deliver an apology to the masses at each stop. Jason doesn't feel he has anything to apologize for, but he is willing to concede and head out on the tour starting with a store in rural Michigan that has the best sales and numbers for the last half year. Jason suspects that his enemy on the board is setting him up and using the hopeful store manager at the same time.
Danielle Sharpe has the opportunity she has been waiting for since she took over as manager and brought the store's sales around. She is ambitious, driven and doesn't mind cutting some corners on the company policy handbook to get the job done. It has paid off. The board president informed her that the CEO is on his way to do some publicity stuff and talk to her about a promotion to corporate. She is a divorced single mom with three kids living in the same small town with her cheating ex and his young wife so starting over in LA with a promotion is her dream. She'll just have to knock the CEO's socks off and keep him so busy that he doesn't notice all the unapproved changes.
Jason is charming and wins over the town, but not suspicious Danielle who wants to know why the newshounds and boy-cotters are really there. He tells her the truth after he nips the trouble in the bud. Danielle gets a look at his charisma and decides to use it for her own advantage so she schemes to keep him close and keep him in town longer to pad her chances of getting that promotion. In the meantime, she is strongly attracted to the man and he is very distracting. His fun-loving spirit, interactions with her kids, help to put her ex and his wife in their place and genuine interest in the people of the store and the holidays all work to win her heart even if there is a small part that she holds back so she won't be hurt again.
Jason finds himself coming back to life and taking an interest in things with the help of Danielle, her family, time back at one of the stores and being in Kismet for the holidays, but he sees trouble on the horizon when the board president decides to make Jason and Danielle his next promo by splashing everything they do with the kids all over the internet with Jason unable to stop him. He knows it’s just a matter of time before Danielle finds out and gets upset thinking he used her and her family.
This one had the holidays, small town quirkiness, laughable moments Grinchy character, and heartwarming family stuff really going for it. It’s a long time developing story. I felt a lot of time was spent building up the store backdrop and the career situations of both main characters and there were tons of small moments and descriptions too. None of that was bad or boring taking each scene one at a time, but all the extra stuff added together did slow the story down to a crawl at times. One dynamic that I really enjoyed probably the most in the book was Jason's efforts with each of Danielle's children particularly her daughter who hated Jason in the beginning. Families that go through a divorce have it tough and that part of this story wasn't sugar-coated, but the second chance aspect was nice.
There was some character development taking place too. Both the main characters are so cocky of their abilities, but get leery when it comes to putting themselves out there for love particularly since they are from different backgrounds in the present day and their romance seemingly has a expiration date. Jason has always been able to bring people around, but with the success of the company he has lost touch and just goes through the motions these days. He cares deeply for the owner who gave him his break and hates the idea of disappointing the old man so that is his motivation to try. Danielle's self-worth and trust in men took a hit when her husband cheated on her and the new wife plays games using the kids as pawns. She's in the mode of needing to prove herself while protecting herself from getting involved with anyone again.
The cocky was parts funny and parts putting off for me particularly Danielle. It's possible that the bossy, sassy, conniving stuff was supposed to be funny, but I didn't connect with that side of Danielle at all. Some of her monologue read like a pushy, schemer and later, her angry-betrayed behavior was just soooo hypocritical after all the sneaking around behind Jason's back that she did that I went from mildly not into her to quite put off since he didn't do what she was accusing him of. I didn't really care for her as a romance interest either for the above mentioned reason. Jason's behavior wasn't perfect, but he's the one that kept making all the grand gestures and small gestures throughout the story even the end.
So I wasn't totally on board with the heroine, but the overall story, backdrop and tone hit the spot. I plan to go back for the other books in the series when I can. Contemporary Romance lovers who enjoy their holiday stories small town and on the sugary end of the spectrum, this would be a good bet for you.
My thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
This is the fourth book in a series of books set in Kismet, Michigan with each told during the holiday season. I didn't read the ones before, but had no trouble picking this one up. I recognized the previous couples which were nice to meet and thought their stories sounded interesting, but the previous stories really didn't play a part in this one.
The book opens with toy company CEO, Jason Hamilton, learning that a picture out of his control hits the social media sites and causes a firestorm of bad publicity for the family-oriented toy store chains. He thinks it will just go away and doesn't really care what people say since it’s not true, but some of the company board of directors are using it as an opportunity to oust him and wrest more control of the company. The board wants Jason to go on a good will tour to several stores and deliver an apology to the masses at each stop. Jason doesn't feel he has anything to apologize for, but he is willing to concede and head out on the tour starting with a store in rural Michigan that has the best sales and numbers for the last half year. Jason suspects that his enemy on the board is setting him up and using the hopeful store manager at the same time.
Danielle Sharpe has the opportunity she has been waiting for since she took over as manager and brought the store's sales around. She is ambitious, driven and doesn't mind cutting some corners on the company policy handbook to get the job done. It has paid off. The board president informed her that the CEO is on his way to do some publicity stuff and talk to her about a promotion to corporate. She is a divorced single mom with three kids living in the same small town with her cheating ex and his young wife so starting over in LA with a promotion is her dream. She'll just have to knock the CEO's socks off and keep him so busy that he doesn't notice all the unapproved changes.
Jason is charming and wins over the town, but not suspicious Danielle who wants to know why the newshounds and boy-cotters are really there. He tells her the truth after he nips the trouble in the bud. Danielle gets a look at his charisma and decides to use it for her own advantage so she schemes to keep him close and keep him in town longer to pad her chances of getting that promotion. In the meantime, she is strongly attracted to the man and he is very distracting. His fun-loving spirit, interactions with her kids, help to put her ex and his wife in their place and genuine interest in the people of the store and the holidays all work to win her heart even if there is a small part that she holds back so she won't be hurt again.
Jason finds himself coming back to life and taking an interest in things with the help of Danielle, her family, time back at one of the stores and being in Kismet for the holidays, but he sees trouble on the horizon when the board president decides to make Jason and Danielle his next promo by splashing everything they do with the kids all over the internet with Jason unable to stop him. He knows it’s just a matter of time before Danielle finds out and gets upset thinking he used her and her family.
This one had the holidays, small town quirkiness, laughable moments Grinchy character, and heartwarming family stuff really going for it. It’s a long time developing story. I felt a lot of time was spent building up the store backdrop and the career situations of both main characters and there were tons of small moments and descriptions too. None of that was bad or boring taking each scene one at a time, but all the extra stuff added together did slow the story down to a crawl at times. One dynamic that I really enjoyed probably the most in the book was Jason's efforts with each of Danielle's children particularly her daughter who hated Jason in the beginning. Families that go through a divorce have it tough and that part of this story wasn't sugar-coated, but the second chance aspect was nice.
There was some character development taking place too. Both the main characters are so cocky of their abilities, but get leery when it comes to putting themselves out there for love particularly since they are from different backgrounds in the present day and their romance seemingly has a expiration date. Jason has always been able to bring people around, but with the success of the company he has lost touch and just goes through the motions these days. He cares deeply for the owner who gave him his break and hates the idea of disappointing the old man so that is his motivation to try. Danielle's self-worth and trust in men took a hit when her husband cheated on her and the new wife plays games using the kids as pawns. She's in the mode of needing to prove herself while protecting herself from getting involved with anyone again.
The cocky was parts funny and parts putting off for me particularly Danielle. It's possible that the bossy, sassy, conniving stuff was supposed to be funny, but I didn't connect with that side of Danielle at all. Some of her monologue read like a pushy, schemer and later, her angry-betrayed behavior was just soooo hypocritical after all the sneaking around behind Jason's back that she did that I went from mildly not into her to quite put off since he didn't do what she was accusing him of. I didn't really care for her as a romance interest either for the above mentioned reason. Jason's behavior wasn't perfect, but he's the one that kept making all the grand gestures and small gestures throughout the story even the end.
So I wasn't totally on board with the heroine, but the overall story, backdrop and tone hit the spot. I plan to go back for the other books in the series when I can. Contemporary Romance lovers who enjoy their holiday stories small town and on the sugary end of the spectrum, this would be a good bet for you.
My thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2017
I started it but did not finish because I really hated the characters. I just could not get into it.
November 20, 2017
Charming holiday read! You gotta suspend disbelief a bit but it's adorable and festive
Read
November 2, 2021Have to count as finished because I left this one behind when I went on my trip. ????? Only brought the one I actually read back home.
October 7, 2014
Well It's October you know what that means, yep Christmas books. (hahaha) Seriously it is getting closer and Publishers are getting started already. My first Christmas book for the season is Lisa Plumley's Kismet Michigan novel. All He Wants for Christmas well lets just say I want them to make a Hallmark Movie out of this book! I love Hallmark Christmas movies and I can see this on T.V. Kismet is a picture perfect Christmas wonderland, makes me wish I was there. The characters are all likeable and funny and it was a joy to read and kick started my holiday spirit.
Jason Hamilton struggled in his youth trying to make things better for his younger siblings by fashioning make shift toys out of spare parts and whatever was laying around; it all changed when a small toy store owner took him under his wing. Jason found his niche and took that small store and made it to one of the best chain toy stores in the country. Jason is a good guy and knows how to have fun, but one ill timed photograph has the board on his back about his wild ways and wants a public apology. Jason is insistent that he did nothing wrong and refuses to apologize. But the board has maneuvered him to do community work at different stores to show the public his good side.
Danielle Sharpe has three kids and an ex husband who is going through an early mid-life crisis and married a young trendy woman who is good for his ego. All she wants is to make life good for her kids and be able to give them what they need. As manager of the Moosby Toy Store is her ticket to a life in L.A. and a pay raise to give her kids a good life. But things with Moosby is wonky, they send out the same inventory to every store. For the small rural town she gets left with half the toys not selling she concocted a plan to trade inventory with other stores that will raise profits for her store and the others; only problem is that it is slightly illegal. Now she has the head of the board naming her store the model store and is sending CEO Jason Hamilton to her store to tell her the good news of a potential promotion.
Danielle never paid attention to celebrity news and was taken by surprise by the sexy CEO. Jason was expecting a little old grandmotherly type store manager but was pleasantly surprised by the obliviously sex store manager. Jason knowing that the way to Danielle is through her kids sets out to win them over The two boys the easiest her teenage daughter was a little tougher to get to. Danielle thought it was best for her to move her kids but after spending some time with Jason she thinks she just maybe wrong. Jason trying to show the board of directors he has changed, he never expected them to make it viral. With their budding relationship the latest trending craze Jason is afraid of what Danielle will think when she finally find out and Danielle is afraid of what will happen if her inventory scheme is discovered.
Jason is a great book boyfriend, he is sweet and so great with kids. I really loved reading this book. For the first Christmas book of the season it is a great start.
Jason Hamilton struggled in his youth trying to make things better for his younger siblings by fashioning make shift toys out of spare parts and whatever was laying around; it all changed when a small toy store owner took him under his wing. Jason found his niche and took that small store and made it to one of the best chain toy stores in the country. Jason is a good guy and knows how to have fun, but one ill timed photograph has the board on his back about his wild ways and wants a public apology. Jason is insistent that he did nothing wrong and refuses to apologize. But the board has maneuvered him to do community work at different stores to show the public his good side.
Danielle Sharpe has three kids and an ex husband who is going through an early mid-life crisis and married a young trendy woman who is good for his ego. All she wants is to make life good for her kids and be able to give them what they need. As manager of the Moosby Toy Store is her ticket to a life in L.A. and a pay raise to give her kids a good life. But things with Moosby is wonky, they send out the same inventory to every store. For the small rural town she gets left with half the toys not selling she concocted a plan to trade inventory with other stores that will raise profits for her store and the others; only problem is that it is slightly illegal. Now she has the head of the board naming her store the model store and is sending CEO Jason Hamilton to her store to tell her the good news of a potential promotion.
Danielle never paid attention to celebrity news and was taken by surprise by the sexy CEO. Jason was expecting a little old grandmotherly type store manager but was pleasantly surprised by the obliviously sex store manager. Jason knowing that the way to Danielle is through her kids sets out to win them over The two boys the easiest her teenage daughter was a little tougher to get to. Danielle thought it was best for her to move her kids but after spending some time with Jason she thinks she just maybe wrong. Jason trying to show the board of directors he has changed, he never expected them to make it viral. With their budding relationship the latest trending craze Jason is afraid of what Danielle will think when she finally find out and Danielle is afraid of what will happen if her inventory scheme is discovered.
Jason is a great book boyfriend, he is sweet and so great with kids. I really loved reading this book. For the first Christmas book of the season it is a great start.
September 8, 2014
Get ready for some snow in summertime with ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS, a true love story with pretty much the perfect guy and his feisty yet adorable girlfriend.
Stupid girls and their stupid selfies. CEO of fun Jason Hamilton finds himself in an awkward position when the board of his toy company forces him to clean up his image after a damaging photo of him is leaked. Taking drastic action, the board exiles him to a store in Kismet, MI to kick off a damage control PR tour. Jason never imagined he'd find everything he wanted for Christmas in a little Podunk holiday town, but when he meets Moosby's store manager Danielle Sharpe, his entire outlook on life is thrown off kilter.
Danielle just knows that Jason is here to offer her a corporate promotion, after all, HER store is the highest selling branch in the WORLD! The more time they spend together, the more she realizes that maybe Kismet is where she's meant to stay...Jason, too. Because Jason is falling hard and fast for Danielle, her kids and the holly-jolliest town he's ever seen. But they're both keeping secrets from each other that could damage their newfound relationship. Will they discover what they really want for Christmas in time or will their lies tear them apart?
ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS is book 4 in the Kismet, Michigan series by the funtabulous Ms. Plumley. I adored the theme of this book, since as a retail professional myself, I could relate to a ton of the situations mentioned. I completely fell under the enigmatic spell of Jason just as everyone in Kismet did. He was engaging and funny and self-deprecating, not to mention gorgeous and sweet and smart. He was pretty much the most perfect book boyfriend ever! The banter between him and Danielle was just perfect, and his efforts to win over her kids cracked me up.
While the humor and chemistry was top notch, I felt like ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS seemed to stall after the first several chapters, and the momentum that had been built fell rather flat and I wound up having a tough time getting enough motivation to continue reading.
The sex scenes were also a disappointment. The word cock was used, which is typically a benchmark for some seriously hot sex, however in this story, it was pretty much glossed over! I think a raunchy encounter or 5 would be enough to put this book back into the exciting category! As it stands, this is a well written and fun story, but it just la
Stupid girls and their stupid selfies. CEO of fun Jason Hamilton finds himself in an awkward position when the board of his toy company forces him to clean up his image after a damaging photo of him is leaked. Taking drastic action, the board exiles him to a store in Kismet, MI to kick off a damage control PR tour. Jason never imagined he'd find everything he wanted for Christmas in a little Podunk holiday town, but when he meets Moosby's store manager Danielle Sharpe, his entire outlook on life is thrown off kilter.
Danielle just knows that Jason is here to offer her a corporate promotion, after all, HER store is the highest selling branch in the WORLD! The more time they spend together, the more she realizes that maybe Kismet is where she's meant to stay...Jason, too. Because Jason is falling hard and fast for Danielle, her kids and the holly-jolliest town he's ever seen. But they're both keeping secrets from each other that could damage their newfound relationship. Will they discover what they really want for Christmas in time or will their lies tear them apart?
ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS is book 4 in the Kismet, Michigan series by the funtabulous Ms. Plumley. I adored the theme of this book, since as a retail professional myself, I could relate to a ton of the situations mentioned. I completely fell under the enigmatic spell of Jason just as everyone in Kismet did. He was engaging and funny and self-deprecating, not to mention gorgeous and sweet and smart. He was pretty much the most perfect book boyfriend ever! The banter between him and Danielle was just perfect, and his efforts to win over her kids cracked me up.
While the humor and chemistry was top notch, I felt like ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS seemed to stall after the first several chapters, and the momentum that had been built fell rather flat and I wound up having a tough time getting enough motivation to continue reading.
The sex scenes were also a disappointment. The word cock was used, which is typically a benchmark for some seriously hot sex, however in this story, it was pretty much glossed over! I think a raunchy encounter or 5 would be enough to put this book back into the exciting category! As it stands, this is a well written and fun story, but it just la
October 13, 2014
I've always enjoyed a Lisa Plumley book and this is no exception. I really love Kismet. This is my first book in this series and I can imagine Kismet to be so magical when Christmas comes with snow, the Christmas lightings and all the town festivities. It's no wonder that Jason would come to love Kismet so much too. Jason is actually a much better man that he's portraying to the board and a turn of events resulted in him having to visit the local Mooseby store in Kismet to remedy the loss the company is taking as a result of his bad behavior and to secure his position as the CEO of the company.
Danielle has been working for the local Mooseby store in Kismet and she is good at her job, making this outlet one of the best selling stores. She feels up for a promotion and with wanting better lives for her kids, she worked with Chip Larsen, the Chairman of Mooseby to ensure that Jason is fully co-operating with the promotional activities organized by Mooseby HQ. Wanting to secure that promotion, she goes out and beyond what was required. Despite all that, she miscalculated as feelings for Jason developed.
You can't not fall in love with Jason. He's such a gentleman and he's so good with kids. I really loved how he put himself out to bond with Danielle's kids when he didn't have to. He gave himself fully to the kids but knowing Danielle has issues with relationships, he was patient, understanding and respectful. This is definitely a feel good Christmas read and you'll warm up as the warm fuzzies kick in as you read this book. The ending couldn't have been better.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Danielle has been working for the local Mooseby store in Kismet and she is good at her job, making this outlet one of the best selling stores. She feels up for a promotion and with wanting better lives for her kids, she worked with Chip Larsen, the Chairman of Mooseby to ensure that Jason is fully co-operating with the promotional activities organized by Mooseby HQ. Wanting to secure that promotion, she goes out and beyond what was required. Despite all that, she miscalculated as feelings for Jason developed.
You can't not fall in love with Jason. He's such a gentleman and he's so good with kids. I really loved how he put himself out to bond with Danielle's kids when he didn't have to. He gave himself fully to the kids but knowing Danielle has issues with relationships, he was patient, understanding and respectful. This is definitely a feel good Christmas read and you'll warm up as the warm fuzzies kick in as you read this book. The ending couldn't have been better.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 16, 2014
This is the first book in the Kismet, Michigan series that I have read and I have to say that I really liked it and will be going back to read the other books in this series.
Danielle has been burned in the past by her Ex-husband and don’t trust men. When the chance arises for her to woo the CEO of the toy store chain that she works for and a possible promotion is on the line, she is willing to bend the rules. She has her 3 children to look out for and she thinks that the promotion and move to LA will benefit them the most BUT is the really what she wants?
Jason is forced by the board of the toy store to spend time in Kismet cleaning up his image and doing damage control due to some photos of him in a compromising situation. He thinks that he is looking for a little old lady who manages the toy store, but what he actually gets is a young, attractive manager in Danielle which he was not prepared for.
The more time they spend with each other, the more that they realize that they are running out of time together, and each are willing to do whatever is necessary to extend their time together.
Misunderstandings happen, trust between each of them is questioned and realizations of true feelings are discovered. I loved how their relationship developed and caught both of them off guard.
**ARC received from NetGalley for an honest review**
Danielle has been burned in the past by her Ex-husband and don’t trust men. When the chance arises for her to woo the CEO of the toy store chain that she works for and a possible promotion is on the line, she is willing to bend the rules. She has her 3 children to look out for and she thinks that the promotion and move to LA will benefit them the most BUT is the really what she wants?
Jason is forced by the board of the toy store to spend time in Kismet cleaning up his image and doing damage control due to some photos of him in a compromising situation. He thinks that he is looking for a little old lady who manages the toy store, but what he actually gets is a young, attractive manager in Danielle which he was not prepared for.
The more time they spend with each other, the more that they realize that they are running out of time together, and each are willing to do whatever is necessary to extend their time together.
Misunderstandings happen, trust between each of them is questioned and realizations of true feelings are discovered. I loved how their relationship developed and caught both of them off guard.
**ARC received from NetGalley for an honest review**
October 22, 2014
All He Wants for Christmas by Lisa Plumley
Difficult reading this book in July and it's about the cold times during the holidays.
Story follow Danielle who has 3 kids and works at the toy store. She's so determined to get the promotion, she knows she deserves it as their store is deemed the best model store of the chain.
Story also follows Jason who is the head guy but one party might land him out of that job. Pictures are on the net with not such a great rep with what's being shown in them. He now has to go visit all the stores and try to promote higher sales in order to keep his job and that's still up in the air.
Part I liked the best was the family plans where he flies in to meet up with his family at a new location to them all. Love family time she and her family get to spend together and I just imagine all the toys during the time-bring back so many happy memories of my own childhood.
They do meet up and get to share time among other things. Sleigh ride is the ultimate and will reveal the whole hidden truths. Loved the recipes at the end, what a surprise.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
Difficult reading this book in July and it's about the cold times during the holidays.
Story follow Danielle who has 3 kids and works at the toy store. She's so determined to get the promotion, she knows she deserves it as their store is deemed the best model store of the chain.
Story also follows Jason who is the head guy but one party might land him out of that job. Pictures are on the net with not such a great rep with what's being shown in them. He now has to go visit all the stores and try to promote higher sales in order to keep his job and that's still up in the air.
Part I liked the best was the family plans where he flies in to meet up with his family at a new location to them all. Love family time she and her family get to spend together and I just imagine all the toys during the time-bring back so many happy memories of my own childhood.
They do meet up and get to share time among other things. Sleigh ride is the ultimate and will reveal the whole hidden truths. Loved the recipes at the end, what a surprise.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review
January 4, 2015
There is something about small towns and Christmas that just gets me right in the heart. Luckily, the setting of Kismet, Michigan fit perfectly within this scenario. Kismet is the setting which the story of All He Wants for Christmas by Lisa Plumley takes place. It is a small town which comes vibrantly to life during the holiday season. At the center of this story is Danielle who is the manager for the local toy store. The toy store is part of a larger corporation but Danielle has made some unique touches to the store trying to make it all her own. Her personal touches have been so successful that they draw the attention of the board of directors in their mission to present a positive image of their CEO Jason. The board of directors is desperate to present Jason is a positive manner as his reputation has had a tendency to paint the company in a negative light. Jason is thinking that he’ll just take a few nice pictures, do a few nice interviews, and be on his way …. but all of that changes once he meets Danielle.
Read Full Review Here
Read Full Review Here
October 22, 2014
***ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Love the bad boy finds love with responsible single mom angle...but halfway through this read, the whole thing kinda fell flat. Jason gets caught in a compromising selfie and crucified by his board...despite the fact that it really wasn't as bad as depicted...but that's social media for you. He gets sent to Kismet to recharge his public face and meets scarred, single-minded Danielle...the portrayal of the chemistry was very PG...and there is nothing wrong with that. However, I felt that the transition from boss/employee to cozy roommates with benefits was a little too abrupt and lacked a little bit of "fanfare". Some of the situations depicted was a little too...suffice it so say a bit of suspension of belief is necessary. This also dragged about a third of the way through and it was all I could do to finish it. Christmassy, cutesy.
Love the bad boy finds love with responsible single mom angle...but halfway through this read, the whole thing kinda fell flat. Jason gets caught in a compromising selfie and crucified by his board...despite the fact that it really wasn't as bad as depicted...but that's social media for you. He gets sent to Kismet to recharge his public face and meets scarred, single-minded Danielle...the portrayal of the chemistry was very PG...and there is nothing wrong with that. However, I felt that the transition from boss/employee to cozy roommates with benefits was a little too abrupt and lacked a little bit of "fanfare". Some of the situations depicted was a little too...suffice it so say a bit of suspension of belief is necessary. This also dragged about a third of the way through and it was all I could do to finish it. Christmassy, cutesy.
November 17, 2014
DNF. This novel is cute. Very cute! So cute that at times it was sticky sweet. And yet, I still stopped reading it at 54% of the way through and skimmed the rest.
I liked the plot and thoroughly believe this novel has potential. In truth, for everything I did read -- up to the 54% -- I would give it 3 out of 5 stars because I liked where this novel was going at that time. However, the reason I skimmed the second half of this novel instead of finishing it is because it moved very slow. So slow in fact that my attention kept wavering and by what was possibly the 10th time of me reading but not really focusing I decided to stop.
My favorite characters in this novel were Jason -- a great hero who's still finding himself -- and Gigi -- Danielle's funny French co-worker and friend.
I recommend this novel only if your looking for an idealistic holiday romance.
I liked the plot and thoroughly believe this novel has potential. In truth, for everything I did read -- up to the 54% -- I would give it 3 out of 5 stars because I liked where this novel was going at that time. However, the reason I skimmed the second half of this novel instead of finishing it is because it moved very slow. So slow in fact that my attention kept wavering and by what was possibly the 10th time of me reading but not really focusing I decided to stop.
My favorite characters in this novel were Jason -- a great hero who's still finding himself -- and Gigi -- Danielle's funny French co-worker and friend.
I recommend this novel only if your looking for an idealistic holiday romance.
October 5, 2014
I love revisiting the town of Kismet especially when Lisa Plumley sets the story at Christmas. Jason and Danielle were easy characters to fall in love with. The papers print some stuff about Jason and he’s forced to go to Kismet by the people on the board of his company. When he arrives in Kismet, he meets Danielle and her kids. They teach him all about the magic of small town living as he’s a dude from L.A. who thinks he wants to be running the company that he works for. While in Kismet, he learns that family and tradition are important and decides that kismet is for him. This was a story that was filled with humor and was a great Christmas story read to get one in the mood for christmas. :) 5 stars!
December 30, 2014
Lisa Plumley can definitely write a Christmas novel; she is one of the best at this specific genre. Jason, a toy company CEO and a sweet kid at heart, is a great, unique hero. Danielle was not a great match for him with her selfish ambitions and was very unbelievable as a mother of 3. Some boringly typical Christmas scenes with kids made the read a bit slow, but overall it was a good holiday read.
January 3, 2016
Fun filled slow Holiday ride in Michigan.
This was my first read from Plumley. I enjoy romance in any form. This holiday read was one to make me happy was fun filled. There are ups and down but the romance prevails.
Thanks to NetGalley and the delightful Holiday Read.
This was my first read from Plumley. I enjoy romance in any form. This holiday read was one to make me happy was fun filled. There are ups and down but the romance prevails.
Thanks to NetGalley and the delightful Holiday Read.
February 18, 2016
A delightful Christmas romance. Very sweet and cute, the characters are pleasant. I liked Danielle's smart ass replies and attitude. The ending was a bit flat. I wished the board situation was dealt with a bit more aggressively. A nice book to read over the holidays.
August 16, 2014
Not bad but kind of slow. It felt Ike it was missing something more
October 9, 2014
Cute book about a toy magnate and one of his store managers. Plus great Whoopie Pie recipes at end.
October 17, 2014
Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:
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June 7, 2018
There may be snow on the cover but this is a great beach read. Make sure to grab this book when you head to the beach!
November 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this trip to Kismet for Christmas. I liked Jason and Danielle. These are such fun Christmassy books.
January 29, 2017
I love Christmas stories...so cute & romantic
February 25, 2024
I didnt finish it, I found it boring.
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