A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas

by Darcie Boleyn

Has the perfect man been there all along?




Lucie Quigley hates Christmas. So when she’s asked to be a bridesmaid at her friend Petra’s Manhattan wedding, she jumps at the chance to escape the festivities at home. Her best friend Dale Treharne jumps at the chance to be her plus-one, seeing it as a way to help Lucie get through the most miserable time of the year.



In New York, as the snow begins to fall, Lucie and Dale realise that their feelings run deeper than friendship. But can they overcome their pasts, and make it a very merry Manhattan Christmas?



The perfect uplifting and escapist read to curl up with this Christmas, ideal for fans of Helen J Rolfe and Mandy Baggot.Praise for A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas

‘I just loved this book, every single page of it!… it was full of depth with unexpected moments of poignancy … So make sure you cuddle up this Christmas and enjoy a few hours of perfect, festive escapism with Lucie and Dale and their sumptuous love story.’ My Chestnut Reading Tree

‘A lovely Christmas story … takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a page turner and I found it hard to put down … beautifully written.’ Stephanie Reads

‘An amazing festive story that immediately filled my heart with joy … Darcie Boleyn has a wonderful way with words and she has a great sense of humor as well … Darcie Boleyn combines sadness with lightness and cheer in a fantastic balanced way. Her story is very romantic and I enjoyed it so much that it's now on my list of favorite Christmas reads. I highly recommend this dreamy Christmas story.’ With Love for Books

‘Another enchanting book from the talented Darcie Boleyn … What starts and looks like your general light hearted Christmas book, evolves around mid way into something that is very compelling to read, and has a bit more depth to it and plenty of strands of storylines.’ Rachel’s Random Reads

‘Oh I do love this author's writing! … The development of the romance was well paced, their reticence in risking their friendship, the historic events which impinge on their relationship, the expectations of others, all make this an enthralling and highly entertaining read.’ Splashes into Books

‘Okay let me say up front I love books by Darcie, NYC is my favourite place and Christmas just adds to the joy … giggles a plenty. Follow Lucie and Dale as they experience the magic and the test on their friendship … it's real melt-your-heart stuff. I could rave about this forever but suffice to say it's made it into my top books of the year list and I encourage everyone to read it and prepare for the festivities’ Ali - The Dragon Slayer

‘Pretty sure this is one of my favourite Christmas books of the year!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Can I just say right here … Dale … oh Dale. Everyone needs a Dale this Christmas, I think he could be the book boyfriend of the year … With her warm and witty writing style, teamed with some sensitive sub plots, Darcie made A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas a delight to read. It was a real page turner.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Holiday, Chick Lit, Fiction, Adult, Contemporary

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2016

About the author

Darcie Boleyn has a huge heart and is a real softy. She never fails to cry at books and movies, whether the ending is happy or not. Darcie is in possession of an overactive imagination that often keeps her awake at night. Her childhood dream was to become a Jedi but she hasn’t yet found suitable transport to take her to a galaxy far, far away. She also has reservations about how she’d look in a gold bikini, as she rather enjoys red wine, cheese and loves anything with ginger or cherries in it – especially chocolate. Darcie fell in love in New York, got married in the snow, rescues uncoordinated greyhounds and can usually be found reading or typing away on her laptop.

Reviews

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This is my first time reading a book by this author but it certainly won't be my last. This book was so much fun and I just adored Lucie and Dale! Even though Lucie hates the Christmas season (with good reason) the book is very festive and sweet. A great Christmas read!

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucie is to be a bridesmaid at her old university friend, Petra’s, extravagant wedding in New York, just before Christmas. Determined that she can’t go alone, she asks her best friend Dale to go with her.

Dale and Lucie have been best friends since they were little children, and knowing that he can’t let Lucie down, he agrees to go.

Not knowing how to break the news to his mother, as she always puts on a big spread for the family at Christmas, he tells Lucie that she has to go with him to explain to his mother that he won’t be there on the big day. However things don’t go according to plan, and his family get the wrong end of the stick, and think that Lucie and Dale are dating and are off to New York together for Christmas as a couple.

Will the lie be exposed, or will love find away into both of their hearts over the Christmas period in beautiful Manhattan.

A Very Merry Christmas in Manhattan, is a romantic tale of two people having that kind of friendship that most people wish for, set in a backdrop of the most wonderful city on the planet (I love Manhattan).

Lucie is a woman carrying a lot of hidden baggage from her past, that even her best friend doesn’t know about. She hates Christmas, but will Christmas in another country be the turning point for her finding peace with her past.

Dale is the most fantastic best friend. He’s pragmatic, helpful, caring and would drop anything and everything to be there for Lucie. You get the feeling that Dale has been in love with Lucie forever, but has always been too scared to tell her, in case it ruins their relationship.

The book is a truly spectacular read and I loved every minute of it. Although it is a chick lit, it has a deeper core than most, and you get swept away in the lives of Lucie and Dale.

There is a lot of humour in the story, alongside some real emotional scenes, plus many scenes that I didn’t see coming. A wonderful Christmas story that will have your heart melting, and your pulse racing.

Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com

[Nina Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Have you ever laughed out loud while reading a book because it was so bad? I wish 0 stars was an option 😂😭

[Penelope · Rating 1 out of 5]

I went into this book with zero expectations and thank God I did because if i hadn't I would have been even more disappointed then I already am. This book was the literal definition of boring. The synopsis makes it sound like this is a cute friends to lovers romance that takes place during a wedding in Manhattan. Spoiler alert: the're not even in NY until like 170 pages. This book had literally no plot. The majority of it was just about Lucie and Dale living daily life. I don't know about you, but I read to ESCAPE daily life not read about some boring, bland characters living it. Normally I like to give books the benefit of the doubt and even if i really dislike them still give it 2 stars, but I could not think of a single thing I enjoyed about this, so 1 star it is!

[Jenny Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been to New York at Christmas and I was just waiting for this part in the book! Darcie paints it so well! I just adored Lucie and Dale and couldn't wait to see what transpired with them. There were tears and smiles and out-loud giggles all the way through. A wonderful holiday read!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this story was not written so well in a perfect Christmas setting it could almost be too perfect. Lucie and Dale fit into my favourite kind of love story the best friend to lover, the ones who belong together but cannot always see it, either by one party or both. Lucie and Dale are both fantastic characters to follow taking the reader to the beauty of New York. A Christmas in New York at that. I doubted even Lucie could hate Christmas then, especially in the right company of Dale. Dale is as perfect to a person you can get, caring, understanding, loveable but is not annoying in the sense of being too perfect. An easy festive Christmas read.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Steaminess Rating:
❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
(Check my profile for my “Steaminess Rating Chart!)

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I adored Wish upon a Christmas Cake by Darcie Boleyn, I was really excited to discover that she had another Christmas themed book out for 2016. But would it live up to the 5 stars that I gave to one of my most favourite Christmas romances EVER? Amazingly it did and not only that-I loved this book EVEN MORE!

Lucie and Dale have been friends since they were children and have been there for each other through good times and bad. Dale will do anything to keep Lucie happy so when she asks him to be her plus one for a wedding in Manhattan on Christmas Eve, he agrees even though it means Christmas away from his family. The first half of the book gives the reader an insight into Lucie and Dales relationship, both of whom I felt an instant connection to, and also as to why Lucie has such a dislike of Christmas. We meet Dales family too, all of whom I just loved immediately, mainly due to the chaos and banter that reminded me so much of my own family get togethers! Dale was just the sweetest, most thoughtful friend to Lucie and I was amazed she hadn’t snapped him up as he seemed perfect boyfriend material to me!

Once they arrived in New York, I fell in love with Lucie and Dale even more (I was definitely suffering from another case of “fictional character crush” with Dale). The setting then magically built up to began to play a huge part in their story. Manhattan is one of those places full of iconic festive images that we are all aware of from films and television. Central Park in the snow, carriage rides snuggled under a blanket, ice skating, they all add up to that perfect romantic Christmas. So what better place to for Lucie to face her fears and start to look to the future than in the snowy glamour of the city that never sleeps. And the excitement of being in New York and wanting to explore all those well known landmarks was perfectly conveyed by the author, as I also experienced those same feelings during my first visit there-you feel like you’ve been dropped into the middle of a real-life film set! I think I walked around Manhattan with my mouth permanently open in awe!

I just loved this book, every single page of it! It made me laugh, it made me cry,  it made me feel safe and I just wanted to hug both Lucie and Dale (apart from the times when I wanted to shake them for not taking risks with their feelings!) and make everything perfect for them. But this wasn’t a just a superficial sweet and fluffy love story, it was full of depth with unexpected moments of poignancy. Darcie Boleyn writes such a beautifully involving plot that her characters became quite real to me and I was very sad to say goodbye to them at the end. So make sure you cuddle up this Christmas and enjoy a few hours of perfect, festive escapism with Lucie and Glen and their sumptuous love story. Just make sure you have your hot chocolate and mince pies at your side because once you’ve started you aren’t stopping!

Many thanks to Canelo for my review copy of A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Another enchanting book from the talented Darcie Boleyn, and probably the third or fourth book I have read set in New York at Christmas this year alone. However this is definitely a good contender for Christmas in New York book of the season, as it follows the story of Lucie and Dale, childhood best friends.

Lucie though is not a fan of Christmas with good reason, which is hinted at throughout the book, and finally revealed. Dale loves Christmas and when Lucie asks if he will accompany her to New York over Christmas, so she can be a bridesmaid, he doesn't hesitate to say yes.

The only slight flaw in the plan is when Dale lets his parents know he won't be coming over for Christmas, because of Lucie, they make a massive assumption about the pair, that leads to a spiralling set of lies.

What starts and looks like your general light hearted Christmas book, evolves around mid way into something that is very compelling to read, and has a bit more depth to it and plenty of strands of storylines.

The overwhelming thought I will take from the book is just what a thoughtful and romantic sort of guy Dale is. He is the ultimate boy next door sort, and seems to always be there just as Lucie needs him. Lucie is the sort of girl who although she hates Christmas, she is willing to try a bit harder this year just to make her friend happy, and slowly her heart starts to melt towards the season.

There are some classic New York moments in this, and I especially loved the description of the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Centre, as well as the carriage ride around Central Park .These are things I only ever see in books, but hope one day I will get to experience for myself, but until then I am happy to lose myself in festive fiction such as this very enjoyable book.

Thank you so much to Canelo and Netgalley for my copy of this book. This was my honest opinion.

[Lauren Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read!

[(P)Ila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super carino e dolcissimo <3

[Samantha Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book! 🥰 The only reason it didn't get the full 5 stars is because of lack of communication between the 2 main characters. A cozy Christmas read 💖

[Kaisha (The Writing Garnet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com

Can opposite genders ever REALLY be ‘just friends’? Lucie Quigley seems to think so, after all, her best friend, Dale, has been by her side through thick and thin. So when Lucie gets asked to be involved in her friends Manhattan wedding, the only person she wants to accompany her is Dale. Unfortunately for Lucie , the wedding is just before Christmas and given the fact she dislikes the festive season, she is will be heading to a city that takes Christmas quite seriously. Not that ideal really is it!
Will Lucie and Dale’s relationship stay in the friend-zone, or will their feelings for each other begin to sparkle, just like Lucie’s new-found lust for Christmas?
I have no idea whether my review will do the book justice, but I’m certainly going to have a go! I fell in love with Dale’s character as soon as he appeared in the book. His generosity and kindness was such a breath of fresh air; it would have been hard NOT to adore him as he is such a loveable character. As for Lucie, I didn’t dislike her as a person, I merely disliked some of the decisions that she made as she seemed to run before she could walk. Nevertheless, she was a very sweet girl and I did feel sorry for her because of her past, such a shame.
For me it was quite clear from the beginning that Dale and Lucie felt way more for each other than they were letting on, especially seeing as Dale’s family came to the conclusion that they WERE actually together! Eep! At least they managed to get a test-run relationship just in case, eh?
‘A Very Manhattan Christmas’ is a Christmas book that we didn’t know we needed, until it arrived, as the amount of beauty that shone from Darcie’s writing has given the Christmas star a run for its money. Darcie has given the book world such a gift this Christmas with her festive hug in a book, a book that kept on giving right until the very end. A book that kept filling my heart with its obvious beauty as well as its hidden beauty. A book which taught me that no matter what life throws at you, good or bad, as long as you have the right person or people by your side, you can achieve absolutely anything.
I’ll be honest, there were times I laughed and there were times I cried whilst reading A Very Manhattan Christmas, but believe it or not, they weren’t tears of sadness. Instead, they were tears of happiness for certain situations throughout the storyline. They were tears for feelings I never thought I could experience whilst reading a book, feelings I cannot explain. I absolutely adore this book. It is such a beautifully written, warm and inviting read that once read, it felt as though a part of me was missing. Daft maybe, but it is true.
‘A Very Manhattan Christmas’ is in my Top 3 of  favourite Christmas books, EVER. A perfect and must read this Christmas, and any time of the year, Darcie Boleyn has totally outdone herself with this gem. Just….beautiful, truly beautiful.
Thank you Canelo!

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a straight off of the Hallmark channel kind of book. A friends to lovers, second chance romance. If you are a fan of Hallmark Christmas movies you will likely enjoy this.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I do love this author's writing! I thoroughly enjoyed escaping in this festive friends to lovers romance and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone seeking a novel with great, well developed, complex characters whose past greatly influences their attitudes and behaviour. They're easy to relate to, too, believable and a delight to get to know. The storyline is full of twists and turns so whilst everyone knows what they hope will happen there are plenty of surprises in store for readers.

There are some standout scenes for me in this novel.... As a teacher I found the activities and Christmas concert Lucie participated in brought back fond memories, and the discussions with one pupil were evocative,too. What happened when walking down the aisle, I'm very pleased to say didn't evoke any memories but were, like the rest of the novel, superbly written and I could just imagine it happening! The descriptions of Manhattan during the festive season make me dream of actually visiting there - though I must confess to preferring warmer climes when possible.

So, in case you haven't noticed, I thoroughly recommend this festive friends to lovers romance. The development of the romance was well paced, their reticence in risking their friendship, the historic events which impinge on their relationship, the expectations of others, all make this an enthralling and highly entertaining read.

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC of this novel. This is my honest review after thoroughly enjoying reading it!

[Claire Mc Partlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable, easy reading story set around Lucie and Dale, who have been best friends forever. Lucie is invited to her rich friend's wedding in Manhattan at Christmas, all expenses paid, and she persuades Dale to come along as her plus one.

Christmas is always a hard time of year for Lucie because her Mum died on Christmas Eve so she has hated Christmas since she was 13. Dale has a big boisterous family and he always tries to drag her into the festivities so she's not alone and sometimes she's persuaded to join in with the celebrations and sometimes she stays on her own. Lucie's Dad has remarried and while Lucie puts up with her stepmother she's not that keen on her as she's quite hard work!

Lucie and Dale had such a lovely relationship and, apart from a little blip when they got-together romantically years ago, have always been best friends. Of course the Manhattan Christmas and wedding magic gets to them and their relationship starts to change. Lucie manages to confront a few demons from her past that she hasn't told Dale about, and in the end happiness reigns - even after the debacle of a wedding that they're in Manhattan for!

A very enjoyable heart-warming Christmas story.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sign of an excellent book to me is one i cant put down. A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas was in that category. Lucie has been asked by her friend Petra to be a bridesmaid.
The venue will be in New York, flights and accommodation paid for by Petra's father. Of course Lucie asks her best friend Dale to come with her. I loved the friendship between Dale and Lucie, he really was an amazing friend. It was clear for readers to see his true feelings for Lucie. Even though she couldn't.
I cant think of a more magical place at Christmas then Manhattan. Enjoy the ride as Darcie Boleyn weaves her romantic tale. Arc received from Net Galley in exchange for a honest review

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

I feel bad giving this book a lower rating because I did enjoy it, but I felt it was very cliche and the characters felt quite one dimensional. I enjoyed it but found that the twists at the end were a bit too dramatic

[ANNETTE · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reminded me of a Hallmark movie.
I wish there was a little action .

[Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous festive read! A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas is my first Christmas book of the season and it has set the benchmark very high!

Lucie and Dale are the best of friends, have been since they were little. Lucie has been invited to New York for Christmas to be bridesmaid for one of her University friends, Petra and she doesn’t hesitate in asking Dale to join her, who better to be her plus one?! Lucie is not a fan of Christmas for good reason and whilst Dale isn’t a fan of her University friends, he agrees and takes it as an opportunity to show Lucie how Christmas can be fun.

Lucie and Dale are both in their thirties, single and get on extremely well….the story is predictable in the sense that from the outset the reader can see how perfect Lucie and Dale are for each other but that’s exactly the reason it is a fabulous, festive romance! Right from the start, Boleyn set the scene and I was asking why these two weren’t together and it’s the realisation they experience regarding their feelings each other that makes this book an absolute page-turner.

A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas is told from the perspectives of both Lucie and Dale which is a great way of getting insight into each of the characters and the reader gets to understand things from both their perspectives before they actually share things with one another.

Amazingly, given the title, the time in Manhattan is actually only half the book but the build-up is brilliant, it really sets the scene for what lies ahead. This book is full of both happy and sad moments, both of which are written beautifully by Boleyn.

Whilst Lucie and Dale are the main characters, I loved the supporting characters of Lucie’s Dad and Dale’s family, who seem to be a bit of a nightmare in a lovely way, have taken Lucie into their fold and only want the very best for her and Dale.

A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas is a heart-warming festive read that will leave you feeling excited for the season (and if you are anything like me, wanting to go to New York in the freezing snow!)

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always loved this author and this book was so good and didn’t take long to read as so hooked I didn’t want to put it down. It’s full of romance and letting go of the past to be happy and of course set in wonderful Manhattan and such a heartwarming read with some upset as well.
Lucie hates Christmas everything always goes wrong she lost her mum at Christmas and can’t move on from that but her best friend asks her to be a bridesmaid in Manhattan at Christmas and she doesn’t want to not go so she asks her friend Dale who’s been her friend for years he’s always there for her. He agrees to it as he’s use to looking after her but when he tells his mum he is going away she thinks they are a couple and so happy they decide to go along with it. They go to Manhattan and snow falls and they soon start to realise they do have feelings for each other but lucie is hiding something and pulls away but then at the wedding her ex is there and she gets a shock and when things happen they end up talking and she goes back to Dale and opens up but she’s worried he won’t want her but will he decide they are a couple or not.

[Leena Aluru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its an amazing story of growing up emotionally. Lucie, at 33 is stuck between 2 major emotional upheavals of her life. This trip to Manhattan helps her come to terms with her loss and openly accept her best friend/ boyfriend/ lover. Dale is truly the rock of Gibraltar ,always looking out for Lucie. Lucien, on the other hand is clumsy and accident prone. They make a really sweet couple.
Recommended 👍

[Megsss · Rating 4 out of 5]

God this was adorable. I flew through this book as it was so easy to read but I liked that about it! I needed some cosy Christmas romance after months of Shadowhunters and this was perfect. The characters were complex and extremely well written, making the universe come to life easily and beautifully. I adored the depth of Lucie, she was such an interesting character despite her awkwardness. Honestly such a cute Christmas book, and set in one of the best cities in the world, what more can you ask for??

[Anna Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay.

Nothing spectacular but nothing bad. Just middle of the road. Wish it was more romance-y because like this was just not?? I like a little steam so meh with that.

I’m glad we got both perspectives but I wish we had more of Dale’s perspective. I always like a NYC setting but wish more of the book was there.

Could’ve been better. But whatever.

[Sadie Grabill · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first half was like unnessecary i could have just not read it lol. but the second half was not for the weak. stabbed my heart. they had a one bed and childhood best friends and ex lovers trope so you can imagine how it went 😫

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Best Friends fall in love as 18 year olds. One goes to University the other stays in their hometown. The young college student falls in love with another, has a negative experience at a weekend party with other students. She and her best friend resume their friendship living in the same community keeping each other company for 10 years. The young woman is asked to be a bridesmaid for her college friend in New York City in America across the pond. The bridesmaid invites her best friend and they finally discover they truly love one other.

[Elaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was adorable :))

[Ayla Patton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly was such bore. I didn’t like the third person writing and there was so much miscommunication. It felt like the story was being rushed, it took me forever to want to read it just to be done.

[Elaine]

nice easy read.
short so perfect for short break reading

[Nandini Arakoni · Rating 2 out of 5]

giving a holiday movie but british…. sorry this was almost all predictable and kinda overdone but i was entertained