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The Christmas Room
"The beloved author of the Mystic Creek series gifts readers with a novel of homespun good cheer, as two families discover the joy of hope and redemption--just in time for the holidays. As summer gives way to fall in Rustlers Gulch, widow Maddie McLendon begins to have second thoughts about uprooting her life to move there with her son and grandson. Contractors have yet to break ground on their new house, leaving them--along with four horses, three dogs, and six cats--to live in a makeshift camp of trailers, tents, and sheds, while a brutal Montana winter looms on the horizon. . . . Millionaire rancher Sam Conacher doesn't take kindly to his foolish new neighbors, but then he hasn't taken kindly to anyone since his wife died six years earlier. He's content to wallow in his grief alone, while keeping a tight rein on his twenty-six-year-old daughter. But now Sam's daughter has gone and fallen in love with Maddie's no-good son. . . . Though drawn together by their love-struck kids, Maddie and Sam never see eye to eye on anything, until a near-tragedy gives them a true glimpse into each other's souls. And as the first snowflakes begin to fall, they'll discover the secrets and slipups that have brought each of them to this point in their lives--to when an open heart is the biggest gift of all. . . "--
428 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2017
588 people are currently reading
3002 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Anderson
102 books2,959 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
(1)romance author:
Adeline Catherine was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. She always yearned to be a writer like her mother. The morning that one of her professors asked if she could use samples of Catherine’s creative writing on an overhead projector to teach was a dream come true. In 1988, she sold her first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before she tried her hand at a single-title historical romance. Nine books later, she did her first single-title contemporary.
Catherine married Sidney D. Anderson, an industrial electrician and entrepreneur. They had two sons, Sidney D. Jr. and John G. In 2001 she and her husband purchased a central Oregon home located on a ridge with incredible mountain views and surrounded by forestland honeycombed with trails. It was her dream home, a wonderland in the winter and beyond beautiful in the summer. She named it Cinnamon Ridge after the huge ponderosa pines on the property, which sport bark the color of cinnamon.
Sadly, Catherine lost her husband to a long-term illness in 2014. She has kept Cinnamon Ridge as her primary residence but divides her time between there and her son John's farm, where she has the support of her loved ones and can enjoy his horses, cows, and raise her own chickens.
Catherine loves animals and birds, both wild and domestic. She presently has two Australian shepherds, six cats, and a very old canary. She is very family oriented as well. Her older son has lived in Japan, Australia, and now resides in New Zealand. Catherine and her stateside family will celebrate Christmas on the north island with Sidney, his wife Mary, and their two sons, Liam and Jonas.
(1)romance author:
Adeline Catherine was born and raised in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA. She always yearned to be a writer like her mother. The morning that one of her professors asked if she could use samples of Catherine’s creative writing on an overhead projector to teach was a dream come true. In 1988, she sold her first book to Harlequin Intrigue and went on to write three more before she tried her hand at a single-title historical romance. Nine books later, she did her first single-title contemporary.
Catherine married Sidney D. Anderson, an industrial electrician and entrepreneur. They had two sons, Sidney D. Jr. and John G. In 2001 she and her husband purchased a central Oregon home located on a ridge with incredible mountain views and surrounded by forestland honeycombed with trails. It was her dream home, a wonderland in the winter and beyond beautiful in the summer. She named it Cinnamon Ridge after the huge ponderosa pines on the property, which sport bark the color of cinnamon.
Sadly, Catherine lost her husband to a long-term illness in 2014. She has kept Cinnamon Ridge as her primary residence but divides her time between there and her son John's farm, where she has the support of her loved ones and can enjoy his horses, cows, and raise her own chickens.
Catherine loves animals and birds, both wild and domestic. She presently has two Australian shepherds, six cats, and a very old canary. She is very family oriented as well. Her older son has lived in Japan, Australia, and now resides in New Zealand. Catherine and her stateside family will celebrate Christmas on the north island with Sidney, his wife Mary, and their two sons, Liam and Jonas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 455 reviews
January 3, 2018
Much different than I thought it would be. A cute read. My full review will be on my booktube channel at http://Youtube.com/peterlikesbooks
September 29, 2017
Cam, his son Caleb and mother Maddie have arrived in a town in Montana and set up on a parcel of land where they intend to build. In the meantime home is a tent and caravan as they begin this stage of their journey.
Not so far away is Sam and his daughter Kirstin, they have a huge ranch but not many workers. Sam has scared them all away with his grumpiness, think Scrooge and the Grinch rolled into one plus some. He has been really mean spirited since his wife Annie died about five years ago. He is very protective of his daughter Kirstin and runs off any man who looks at her. So... when Cam shows some interest it is a real challenge to Sam. He is downright rude and before long there is a war going on between Sam and Maddie, who resents his attack on her son Cam. A wall is built, no trespassing notices are put up.
Maddie though is hiding a secret that she is keeping from her son Cam and grandson Caleb. Caleb is having a difficult time settling into a new school and so far has no friends. Cam is finding it hard to sell land, all in all things are not going well. However there is romance blossoming between Cam and Kristin. And even though its war for Sam and Maddie, perhaps there is going to be a second chance romance there too.
The story was a load of fun. It moved along at a good pace with something happening all the time. I loved Caleb, the young teen who had a heart of gold trying to fit in with his peers. He was thoughtful and so caring especially of his grandmother.
While the story does come together at Christmas and is totally heart warming, most of the story takes place before Christmas, so don't feel you are getting too Christmasy to read this now. It's a perfect pre Christmas read, that will put you in the spirit for that season when it arrives.
Not so far away is Sam and his daughter Kirstin, they have a huge ranch but not many workers. Sam has scared them all away with his grumpiness, think Scrooge and the Grinch rolled into one plus some. He has been really mean spirited since his wife Annie died about five years ago. He is very protective of his daughter Kirstin and runs off any man who looks at her. So... when Cam shows some interest it is a real challenge to Sam. He is downright rude and before long there is a war going on between Sam and Maddie, who resents his attack on her son Cam. A wall is built, no trespassing notices are put up.
Maddie though is hiding a secret that she is keeping from her son Cam and grandson Caleb. Caleb is having a difficult time settling into a new school and so far has no friends. Cam is finding it hard to sell land, all in all things are not going well. However there is romance blossoming between Cam and Kristin. And even though its war for Sam and Maddie, perhaps there is going to be a second chance romance there too.
The story was a load of fun. It moved along at a good pace with something happening all the time. I loved Caleb, the young teen who had a heart of gold trying to fit in with his peers. He was thoughtful and so caring especially of his grandmother.
While the story does come together at Christmas and is totally heart warming, most of the story takes place before Christmas, so don't feel you are getting too Christmasy to read this now. It's a perfect pre Christmas read, that will put you in the spirit for that season when it arrives.
June 4, 2018
Sweet Christmas romances…
Yes, there are two couples falling in love in this sweet, small town Christmas story. This author knows how to write family love stories that you can happily get lost in for hours and this one was no exception.
Maddie, with her son Cam and grandson Caleb, are excited about their new home but immediately find themselves at odds with their new neighbour, Sam. Sam is beyond grouchy, downright unpleasant in fact, kept in line only by his daughter Kristin. Grief touched them all but each dealt with it in a different way….
The feud was fierce, each side not giving an inch, despite the flare of desire and love between Cam and Kristin. There was more than a glimmer of attraction between Maddie and Sam but it was hard to see behind all the yelling. Before things went beyond repair, however, the two families found themselves needing each other and the truce meant other feelings had time to grow…
I really enjoyed this two-fer love story with the young and older generations getting in on the fun. With Caleb the pin that held it all together, even as devastating secrets came to light, this newfound family found the strength and love to sort it out. With just the right mix of sweet, cranky drama, this will be the perfect holiday read to pull out when the snow begins to fall… ~Diane, 3.5 stars
Yes, there are two couples falling in love in this sweet, small town Christmas story. This author knows how to write family love stories that you can happily get lost in for hours and this one was no exception.
Maddie, with her son Cam and grandson Caleb, are excited about their new home but immediately find themselves at odds with their new neighbour, Sam. Sam is beyond grouchy, downright unpleasant in fact, kept in line only by his daughter Kristin. Grief touched them all but each dealt with it in a different way….
The feud was fierce, each side not giving an inch, despite the flare of desire and love between Cam and Kristin. There was more than a glimmer of attraction between Maddie and Sam but it was hard to see behind all the yelling. Before things went beyond repair, however, the two families found themselves needing each other and the truce meant other feelings had time to grow…
I really enjoyed this two-fer love story with the young and older generations getting in on the fun. With Caleb the pin that held it all together, even as devastating secrets came to light, this newfound family found the strength and love to sort it out. With just the right mix of sweet, cranky drama, this will be the perfect holiday read to pull out when the snow begins to fall… ~Diane, 3.5 stars
September 20, 2017
This book has so many elements of a perfect woman’s read. A little bit country, a handsome cowboy, some wonderful family connections, marvelous character development, and budding sweet romances. What’s not to love?
The author hit the mark with this great creation. She combined so many different aspects of life into this book that made it so very likable and difficult to put down.
The author touches on the trials and tribulations of a single parent, finding a love connection, moving to a new state, learning the ropes’s of the new area, supporting and dealing with mama, and many more issues and factors of life. Not to mention the crotchety neighbor next-door and his lovely daughter!
The author weaves a wonderful story that is humorous in parts, with touching and endearing characters that are so true to life, and she does it with a fluidity that grabs your attention until the very last word.
Definitely a Christmas story that women’s fiction lovers will enjoy!
* copy received for review consideration
The author hit the mark with this great creation. She combined so many different aspects of life into this book that made it so very likable and difficult to put down.
The author touches on the trials and tribulations of a single parent, finding a love connection, moving to a new state, learning the ropes’s of the new area, supporting and dealing with mama, and many more issues and factors of life. Not to mention the crotchety neighbor next-door and his lovely daughter!
The author weaves a wonderful story that is humorous in parts, with touching and endearing characters that are so true to life, and she does it with a fluidity that grabs your attention until the very last word.
Definitely a Christmas story that women’s fiction lovers will enjoy!
* copy received for review consideration
July 28, 2017
Charming and heartfelt. It is a lovely read, seasonal yes but covers a lot more territory. Thank you Penguin/Random for providing this advanced reader copy. Goodreads giveaway!
December 21, 2022
The story is about a crusty rancher's daughter and the upstart neighbor, their parents, an older couple, intrigued me, but the story didn't hold my interest. The loss in each family was just a lot to overcome. DNF at 50%
September 3, 2017
Three generations of the McLendon family pulled up roots to make a new life in a rural Montana town amidst the beauty of the wilderness, only to find their next door neighbor will do anything to make their life a living hell. Little did he know he would later eat those words when he meets his match in Maddie McLendon.
Two generations will find love, but it is sixteen-year-old Caleb that shows the most maturity and unselfish love throughout this tale. Maddie has a terrible secret that she keeps “for the good of her family.” Sam blames himself and punishes the world for his wife’s death. Twenty-six-Year-old Kirsten allows her father to run roughshod over her life, sneaking around to find “fun” and lose her virginity. Cameron has tried to raise his son the best he can, and has set an amazing example.
What could have been a beautiful holiday romance got lost in vile name calling, physical violence, and worse, a total lack of understanding and compassion on Sam’s part when Maddie’s “secret” is revealed. While there are moments of humor to lighten the darkness, I just couldn’t relax into this tale and believe in the two romances I saw growing. THE CHRISTMAS ROOM by Catherine Anderson had so much to give being a holiday romance, I was disappointed that it just didn’t quite deliver for me. I would, however, love to read Caleb’s story when he becomes an adult.
I received an ARC edition from Berkley.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Publisher: Berkley (September 26, 2017)
Publication Date: September 26, 2017
Genre: Holiday Romance
Print Length: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Two generations will find love, but it is sixteen-year-old Caleb that shows the most maturity and unselfish love throughout this tale. Maddie has a terrible secret that she keeps “for the good of her family.” Sam blames himself and punishes the world for his wife’s death. Twenty-six-Year-old Kirsten allows her father to run roughshod over her life, sneaking around to find “fun” and lose her virginity. Cameron has tried to raise his son the best he can, and has set an amazing example.
What could have been a beautiful holiday romance got lost in vile name calling, physical violence, and worse, a total lack of understanding and compassion on Sam’s part when Maddie’s “secret” is revealed. While there are moments of humor to lighten the darkness, I just couldn’t relax into this tale and believe in the two romances I saw growing. THE CHRISTMAS ROOM by Catherine Anderson had so much to give being a holiday romance, I was disappointed that it just didn’t quite deliver for me. I would, however, love to read Caleb’s story when he becomes an adult.
I received an ARC edition from Berkley.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Publisher: Berkley (September 26, 2017)
Publication Date: September 26, 2017
Genre: Holiday Romance
Print Length: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Read
June 29, 2017After several very grim war biographies and memoirs, I was in the mood for a light, romantic seasonal romance.
This is a seasonal romance, though its lightness is debatable, as famous mystery writer and widow Maddie McLendon and her handsome son and grandson relocate to the big sky land of Montana. Unfortunately, their property abuts on that of crabby widower Sam Conacher, who keeps a very tight rein on his 26-year-old daughter. So there is a bit of a Romeo and Juliet thing going on with son and daughter, who are instantly attracted, but the real spark is between middle-aged Sam and Maddie.
Good things: the descriptions of Montana were vivid and appreciative of ranch life. Maddie was a crack-up, and Sam a fascinating old codger. The pacing, once it got going, was brisk, and as Christmas approached, there was a sense of the season's meaning that transcended the all-American Giftmas, though I wasn't convinced by the strength of the faith of these characters who suddenly go to church at the very end, after no sign of faith or Christian behavior for the first 75% of the book.
Downside: the teenage grandson is so very good he's kind of like a TV kid, and the younger romance isn't nearly as interesting as that of the oldsters. Also, there was a whole lot of cancer for a light seasonal read. But that might be my prejudice; when I see cancer in fiction, especially romance, it's an instant turnoff. I probably wouldn't have finished this if it hadn't been a NetGalley read.
And yet I found myself glad I did, as everybody redeemed themselves, the community came together, demonstrating the best of community spirit. Anderson's middle aged romance was a rarity and quite welcome after a slew of romances for the under thirty crowd.
Copy provided by NetGalley
This is a seasonal romance, though its lightness is debatable, as famous mystery writer and widow Maddie McLendon and her handsome son and grandson relocate to the big sky land of Montana. Unfortunately, their property abuts on that of crabby widower Sam Conacher, who keeps a very tight rein on his 26-year-old daughter. So there is a bit of a Romeo and Juliet thing going on with son and daughter, who are instantly attracted, but the real spark is between middle-aged Sam and Maddie.
Good things: the descriptions of Montana were vivid and appreciative of ranch life. Maddie was a crack-up, and Sam a fascinating old codger. The pacing, once it got going, was brisk, and as Christmas approached, there was a sense of the season's meaning that transcended the all-American Giftmas, though I wasn't convinced by the strength of the faith of these characters who suddenly go to church at the very end, after no sign of faith or Christian behavior for the first 75% of the book.
Downside: the teenage grandson is so very good he's kind of like a TV kid, and the younger romance isn't nearly as interesting as that of the oldsters. Also, there was a whole lot of cancer for a light seasonal read. But that might be my prejudice; when I see cancer in fiction, especially romance, it's an instant turnoff. I probably wouldn't have finished this if it hadn't been a NetGalley read.
And yet I found myself glad I did, as everybody redeemed themselves, the community came together, demonstrating the best of community spirit. Anderson's middle aged romance was a rarity and quite welcome after a slew of romances for the under thirty crowd.
Copy provided by NetGalley
December 23, 2017
Just over the last few year's I've come to enjoy Catherine Anderson's writing. Her style and tone work so well with my ideal of a holiday romance. Adding in the easy-listen voice of Susan Bennett and I had a successful book listen on my hands.
The Christmas Room is a standalone modern western romance story that gave me a whopping two romances and a very in depth story for the price of one. It was literally the blending of two families that started out hostile, but love and understanding and some rather hilarious events brought them together. Both families had been broken and weakened by loss and their encounter through Cam and Kirsten's romance was just the catalyst they needed.
Old growly bear, Sam Conacher lost his wife and then lost his mind, turning bitter and mean and holding tightly to his only child. Maddie McLendon lost her husband and now cautiously is optimistic for healing with her son and her grandson here on a new place in Montana. Cam and Kirsten just want to survive the fallout if her dad finds out they're together while Cam's son, Caleb, just wants to fit in and find a friend here in their new home.
This was a gently-paced, but never boring story of family and not just a romance. I loved watching all these unique and sometimes quirky people help one another after lots of hostilities and fireworks that sometimes had me laughing. The incident with the portajohn has me snickering each time I imagine it. I loved seeing Cam and Kirsten's romance, but the one that grabbed me was the surprise December one percolating in the background until later in the book.
Each situation, scene, and the overall hopeful holiday spirit in ranch country was so well done. And as I said, Susan Bennett was a fantastic fit for the story. Her adult male voices were gruff and froggy, but this worked because The Christmas Room is western in flavor and Sam was something of an irreverent Scrooge. She had a nice sense of comedic or dramatic timing depending on which was called for.
All in all, my holiday reading was not complete without the addition of this gentle, touching story. I know I will come back to it and want more of the author's work and recommend it to others.
My thanks to Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Christmas Room is a standalone modern western romance story that gave me a whopping two romances and a very in depth story for the price of one. It was literally the blending of two families that started out hostile, but love and understanding and some rather hilarious events brought them together. Both families had been broken and weakened by loss and their encounter through Cam and Kirsten's romance was just the catalyst they needed.
Old growly bear, Sam Conacher lost his wife and then lost his mind, turning bitter and mean and holding tightly to his only child. Maddie McLendon lost her husband and now cautiously is optimistic for healing with her son and her grandson here on a new place in Montana. Cam and Kirsten just want to survive the fallout if her dad finds out they're together while Cam's son, Caleb, just wants to fit in and find a friend here in their new home.
This was a gently-paced, but never boring story of family and not just a romance. I loved watching all these unique and sometimes quirky people help one another after lots of hostilities and fireworks that sometimes had me laughing. The incident with the portajohn has me snickering each time I imagine it. I loved seeing Cam and Kirsten's romance, but the one that grabbed me was the surprise December one percolating in the background until later in the book.
Each situation, scene, and the overall hopeful holiday spirit in ranch country was so well done. And as I said, Susan Bennett was a fantastic fit for the story. Her adult male voices were gruff and froggy, but this worked because The Christmas Room is western in flavor and Sam was something of an irreverent Scrooge. She had a nice sense of comedic or dramatic timing depending on which was called for.
All in all, my holiday reading was not complete without the addition of this gentle, touching story. I know I will come back to it and want more of the author's work and recommend it to others.
My thanks to Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 19, 2017
I feel like I am in the Grinch...I am bombing all my Christmas reads!!! Another one I just couldn't finish
October 3, 2017
Could not get into this book at first but it ended up being a delightful seasonal romance that I know you'll enjoy too. Beautiful cover really adds to the charm of the story!
Pub Date 26 Sep 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date 26 Sep 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 25, 2017
Rated 4.5 - THE CHRISTMAS ROOM by Catherine Anderson drew me in with the vintage camper on the cover but the characters snagged my heart. I laughed and cried as they found their way to happy-ever-after.
Cameron (Cam) McLendon moves to Montana with his son and mother. His mom and dad helped raise Caleb, so bringing his mom with them to his dream property after his father’s death makes sense. Madeline (Maddie) is a well-known mystery writer who can continue her craft anywhere. Whether she can keep her secret during this upheaval or not is another story.
Sam Conacher built a reputation as mean-spirited and unreasonable after his wife’s death. So much so that only three people will work for him and one of them is his daughter, Kristin. Sam is especially protective of Kristin, often ruining any man’s reputation who shows an interest in her.
When Kristin and Cam meet, they agree to date secretly to stay out of Sam’s crosshairs. It’s when Sam discovers their attraction that fireworks explode between him and Cam’s mother, Maddie. Can the lion overcome the lioness in a game of rude barbs while protecting their young?
At over 400 pages, there are more characters to enjoy in this family drama that threatens to resemble the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Maddie and Sam are hilarious as they sling verbal threats at one another. I was happy their fiery friendship is as well developed as Cam and Kristin’s budding romance.
Sam thinks the Clampetts have moved in when he looks at the vintage camper and various outbuildings scattered across the McLendon river property. Had he known it was up for sale, Sam would have bought it to keep the trash out. Unfortunately, the McLendon’s new home construction faces multiple delays so they’re improvising until it’s built. Teenager Caleb McLendon comes with his own set of problems as the new kid from California in a contemporary western small town.
THE CHRISTMAS ROOM is a sweet story about blended families. The characters are well drawn and distinctive. More than the plot or technique which are both enjoyable, the characters are bold in my mind as if they’re real.
This is a large book that could have been tightened to a few less pages and not lost impact. I found myself skimming toward the end as I was ready to experience their resolutions. Although it seemed overdone in some places, readers will appreciate the ability to experience everything with the characters. There were also a couple places that I felt could have been elaborated a bit more but none of my quibbles stopped me from eagerly consuming it.
The dual love stories for two different generations of characters was especially appreciated. I really love reading about well-seasoned couples who find love for the second time. They’re not always easy to love, have a multitude of obstacles to overcome, and must find ways to mesh past and present that is emotionally stunning.
Sam Conacher stole the show for me. He’s cranky and unbearable to those who love him. He has such deep-seated pain that expels in anger. His journey to forgiveness isn’t easy and often hurtful to everyone within an arm’s reach of him. The fact that they still love him proves he’s worth redemption and this reader was elated by the end of the novel.
This is not a story centered on Christmas as the cover may imply, but it has all the blended family holiday feels. The novel’s title reasoning becomes apparent by the end the book and is enchanting. I cried several times in this novel. It’s beautifully rendered and makes the reader care deeply about the characters.
I believe this is the first book I’ve read by Catherine Anderson in many years. I’m sure I read the Comanche series before I kept track or wrote reviews. Ms. Anderson’s talent pulled me right in like some of my favorite authors. Her easy-to-love style of laying out an emotionally wrought family tale that’s heartwarming and filled with laughter is addictive. THE CHRISTMAS ROOM will warm you with its keen spirit of love. Recommended!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital copy provided by the publisher from NetGalley for an honest review.
Cameron (Cam) McLendon moves to Montana with his son and mother. His mom and dad helped raise Caleb, so bringing his mom with them to his dream property after his father’s death makes sense. Madeline (Maddie) is a well-known mystery writer who can continue her craft anywhere. Whether she can keep her secret during this upheaval or not is another story.
Sam Conacher built a reputation as mean-spirited and unreasonable after his wife’s death. So much so that only three people will work for him and one of them is his daughter, Kristin. Sam is especially protective of Kristin, often ruining any man’s reputation who shows an interest in her.
When Kristin and Cam meet, they agree to date secretly to stay out of Sam’s crosshairs. It’s when Sam discovers their attraction that fireworks explode between him and Cam’s mother, Maddie. Can the lion overcome the lioness in a game of rude barbs while protecting their young?
At over 400 pages, there are more characters to enjoy in this family drama that threatens to resemble the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Maddie and Sam are hilarious as they sling verbal threats at one another. I was happy their fiery friendship is as well developed as Cam and Kristin’s budding romance.
Sam thinks the Clampetts have moved in when he looks at the vintage camper and various outbuildings scattered across the McLendon river property. Had he known it was up for sale, Sam would have bought it to keep the trash out. Unfortunately, the McLendon’s new home construction faces multiple delays so they’re improvising until it’s built. Teenager Caleb McLendon comes with his own set of problems as the new kid from California in a contemporary western small town.
THE CHRISTMAS ROOM is a sweet story about blended families. The characters are well drawn and distinctive. More than the plot or technique which are both enjoyable, the characters are bold in my mind as if they’re real.
This is a large book that could have been tightened to a few less pages and not lost impact. I found myself skimming toward the end as I was ready to experience their resolutions. Although it seemed overdone in some places, readers will appreciate the ability to experience everything with the characters. There were also a couple places that I felt could have been elaborated a bit more but none of my quibbles stopped me from eagerly consuming it.
The dual love stories for two different generations of characters was especially appreciated. I really love reading about well-seasoned couples who find love for the second time. They’re not always easy to love, have a multitude of obstacles to overcome, and must find ways to mesh past and present that is emotionally stunning.
Sam Conacher stole the show for me. He’s cranky and unbearable to those who love him. He has such deep-seated pain that expels in anger. His journey to forgiveness isn’t easy and often hurtful to everyone within an arm’s reach of him. The fact that they still love him proves he’s worth redemption and this reader was elated by the end of the novel.
This is not a story centered on Christmas as the cover may imply, but it has all the blended family holiday feels. The novel’s title reasoning becomes apparent by the end the book and is enchanting. I cried several times in this novel. It’s beautifully rendered and makes the reader care deeply about the characters.
I believe this is the first book I’ve read by Catherine Anderson in many years. I’m sure I read the Comanche series before I kept track or wrote reviews. Ms. Anderson’s talent pulled me right in like some of my favorite authors. Her easy-to-love style of laying out an emotionally wrought family tale that’s heartwarming and filled with laughter is addictive. THE CHRISTMAS ROOM will warm you with its keen spirit of love. Recommended!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Digital copy provided by the publisher from NetGalley for an honest review.
September 26, 2017
The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson is a charming holiday romance story that touches on grief, healing and redemption. Two families find their lives intertwine when an accident causes them to move in together. Over the course of time two romances develop. One I could see happening but the second one was one no one would have predicted.
Three generations of McClendon’s have come to Montana to fulfill a dream of making a life here in Rustlers Gulch. Their neighbor isn’t too happy that they have taken up resident in a temporary cabin, tent and an old RV trailer. Sam Conacher and his daughter Kirstin have a tough job on their hands trying to run a large ranch without much help. Sam became a hard and angry man after the death of his wife 6 years ago and his hands couldn’t work for him any longer. Now he keeps suitors away from his daughter Kirstin but she finds ways to live a little.
Maggie McClendon is a widow mystery writer who is making the most of her time with her son and grandson building a home in Montana. She also had been keeping a secret from them and has just a few more treatments before she is clearly in remission. When Sam comes looking for Maggie’s son Cameron, to warn him off from his daughter, they totally get off on the wrong foot and turn adversaries. Forced to live together they slowly realize how much they have in common since they both lost their spouse. Maggie helps Sam see the error of his ways and a friendship is born. Love comes softly for these two and unfortunately hit a few bumps. Nothing can be worse than losing a spouse and blaming yourself for their death. Sam had a lot to overcome and Maggie led the way to his recovery.
The romance that developed between Cameron and Kirstin was heartfelt with cautious baby steps. Cameron didn’t want to repeat an impulse marriage and wanted to really get to know her before getting intimate. Kirstin was ahead of the game and knew it was right with this man. Her past partners may have been limited but the connection she felt with Cam was real to her. After his accident he knew without fail that he loved Kirstin. I guess facing death will do that to you. Cameron and Kirstin’s relationship might have started with an attraction and then in secret, but it felt like they made a real connection and that it was going to be a long lasting one.
Overall I enjoyed this story. Real emotions were expressed and the griefs that both Sam and Maggie felt were genuine and my heart ached for them. Her grandson Caleb was a bright spot throughout the story and had a good head on his shoulders for someone so young. The scenes of Montana she described were breathtaking and I can only imagine what it might be like to see those views every day. The Christmas Room was a charming story and captured the spirit of the holiday for me.
September 30, 2017
Catherine Anderson is a favorite author of mine. When you combine her flavor of writing with Christmas, it is a perfect combination. I loved this book!! I love how Ms. Anderson takes her time to tell the story. The pace is even and you are taken on a journey to experience the connection of two families who share a similar pain of loss and their path to healing.
Cam is a single father who meets Kirstin and they have an immediate attraction. She wants to pursue this feeling with Cam but worries that her father will scare him away, like her previous love interests. She explains to Cam that he is mean and will stop at nothing to keep them apart, but it's too late. The two are falling in love and don't want to keep this a secret. Kirstin's father, Sam, does not take the news well and is violent in their first encounter. He regrets his behavior because he understands this will drive away his daughter. He is also having some missteps with Cam's mother, Maddie. He made the mistake of insulting her and is paying for it.
An unexpected event occurs that changes their lives and forces a bond with the two families. This bond is healing some old wounds and they begin to see a future where they can be happy again. I don't want to add any spoilers as this story just grabs you from the beginning and when I was 90% of the way through, I was feeling anxiety because I didn't want it to end. This is one of this Ms. Anderson's best books!!
Cam is a single father who meets Kirstin and they have an immediate attraction. She wants to pursue this feeling with Cam but worries that her father will scare him away, like her previous love interests. She explains to Cam that he is mean and will stop at nothing to keep them apart, but it's too late. The two are falling in love and don't want to keep this a secret. Kirstin's father, Sam, does not take the news well and is violent in their first encounter. He regrets his behavior because he understands this will drive away his daughter. He is also having some missteps with Cam's mother, Maddie. He made the mistake of insulting her and is paying for it.
An unexpected event occurs that changes their lives and forces a bond with the two families. This bond is healing some old wounds and they begin to see a future where they can be happy again. I don't want to add any spoilers as this story just grabs you from the beginning and when I was 90% of the way through, I was feeling anxiety because I didn't want it to end. This is one of this Ms. Anderson's best books!!
November 9, 2017
Coffee Dates with the Christmas Room
First Date: Widow Maddie McLendon, a famous writer, has relocated with her family, as her son makes his dreams of owning a ranch under the open skies of Montana come true. Her son, now thirty-five is divorced and the father of a tall, lanky sixteen-year-old boy named Caleb. They've set up makeshift quarters on the land they own. His mother in a trailer and Cameron and his son in raised tents. Our story begins when Cameron meets Kirstin and the two connect. Only she is the daughter of millionaire rancher Sam Conacher. After his wife died, Sam has become quite cantankerous and will ruin any man who looks at his daughter. Oh boy, things are about to get interesting. Cameron's first instinct is to run, but he and Kirstin strike up a friendship and before you know it they are sneaking off for picnic lunches.
Second Date: I love the enemies to lovers trope and we discover it within the pages of The Christmas Room. Sam Conacher soon learns about Kirstin and Cameron and sets about giving that hillbilly a piece of his mind and maybe a fist, but when he arrives at their campsite he comes "horse to face" with Maddie. I loved the back and forth bickering and snark between them. Maddie is a woman who speaks her mind, and Sam might just have met his match. We get to know Maddie, Caleb, Cameron, and Kirstin, who is at her wits end when it comes to her father. I loved the simple conversations, the building of friendships and acclimating to life in Montana. Hilarious moments ensue involving flashlights, and no trespassing signs. I adored Maddie, despite her flaws, and have to admit Sam grew on me. Cameron was adorkable and honorable.
Third Date: A mishap has the McLendon's and the Conacher's getting cozy, and poor Sam had some adjustments to make. I was completely swept up in the developing friendships, romances and daily life of living on a cattle farm. Anderson weaved healing, faith and the power of family into this tale reminding all of us of the true meaning of the season. Flawed characters and a special young man restore our faith and left me grinning.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
First Date: Widow Maddie McLendon, a famous writer, has relocated with her family, as her son makes his dreams of owning a ranch under the open skies of Montana come true. Her son, now thirty-five is divorced and the father of a tall, lanky sixteen-year-old boy named Caleb. They've set up makeshift quarters on the land they own. His mother in a trailer and Cameron and his son in raised tents. Our story begins when Cameron meets Kirstin and the two connect. Only she is the daughter of millionaire rancher Sam Conacher. After his wife died, Sam has become quite cantankerous and will ruin any man who looks at his daughter. Oh boy, things are about to get interesting. Cameron's first instinct is to run, but he and Kirstin strike up a friendship and before you know it they are sneaking off for picnic lunches.
Second Date: I love the enemies to lovers trope and we discover it within the pages of The Christmas Room. Sam Conacher soon learns about Kirstin and Cameron and sets about giving that hillbilly a piece of his mind and maybe a fist, but when he arrives at their campsite he comes "horse to face" with Maddie. I loved the back and forth bickering and snark between them. Maddie is a woman who speaks her mind, and Sam might just have met his match. We get to know Maddie, Caleb, Cameron, and Kirstin, who is at her wits end when it comes to her father. I loved the simple conversations, the building of friendships and acclimating to life in Montana. Hilarious moments ensue involving flashlights, and no trespassing signs. I adored Maddie, despite her flaws, and have to admit Sam grew on me. Cameron was adorkable and honorable.
Third Date: A mishap has the McLendon's and the Conacher's getting cozy, and poor Sam had some adjustments to make. I was completely swept up in the developing friendships, romances and daily life of living on a cattle farm. Anderson weaved healing, faith and the power of family into this tale reminding all of us of the true meaning of the season. Flawed characters and a special young man restore our faith and left me grinning.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
November 9, 2019
This is a new to me author and sadly I won't be reading another of her books. There are at least 5 character POV (points of view) and they constantly switch making it hard to get used to who is currently front and center. Switching between Cam and Sam became confusing and then when Caleb (the son) appeared in the story, his obsession with his father's date and making-out was creepy. DNF this book.
January 9, 2018
Okay, look. We all knew I wasn't really going to stop reading Catherine Anderson books after my last review of hers. And yes, this book was no different. It was not good. It was very not good.
So here's the thing.
I can see CA trying here. She did something different. It didn't follow the same exact formula as most of her books, and I give her props for going in a different direction (okay granted, basically the storylines WERE the same, but there were two of them happening simultaneously, plus the perspective of the teenage son, so... that mixed it up a bit). And frankly, I can see some effort put in here to keep up with the times and what young people are really like (which New Leaf completed bombed on... see aforementioned review).
Let's break it down.
Cam and Kirsten. They were a little more casual about dating and sex than past romantic leads, although this is almost cancelled out by the fact that they had to talk about the fact that kids these days are more casual about dating and sex. Boy, that 10-year age gap (was it even that much?
Maybe it was like 8 years) really highlighted that generational difference. See guys, around 2005, young whippersnappers started being honest about the fact that they wanted to have sex. And that's exactly when things changed. And that's why Cam is scandalized by Kirsten's desire to "jump into bed" (there should be a drinking game with that phrase). Still, okay CA, I see you trying here.
And all right. They relied on technology more realistically for the times... I mean Cam and Kirsten exchanged 115 text messages one day! (Amateurs.)
And, besides an unsurprising comment from Kirsten about how much physically easier it is on men to run a ranch (sigh... look, I'm not going to get into a scientific discussion about whether that's true. But just... why say it at all? It wasn't needed), I liked that she was running a ranch.
There, see? I'm not all negative. But let's be real: it still just doesn't hit the mark. Cam and Kirsten are cheesy and unbelievable from their first conversation. Telling each other their life stories as if they've been practicing these monologues for months. That super speshul feeling Cam has the moment he lays eyes on Kirsten... just something about her, natch. (LAZY. WRITING.) The same old lines of cliche dialogue are back in play. And once they're together, their relationship is completely boring from then on.
And considering the fact that Cam is literally gored by a bull name Satan (I shit you not) that is saying something. At least, I think that's what happened. He was saving her, or something. Ladies can't handle ranches as good as men, y'all.
And once again with the step-family relationships. AGAIN! At least for once the child in question wasn't a precocious, perfect little girl. Instead, it's a fairly unbelievable high school boy who spies on his father in hopes of seeing him have sex. Yes, you read that correctly. HE WANTS TO SEE HIS FATHER DOING THE DEED. Let that sink in for a moment. Oh, and apparently no one gives a poop that Caleb only attends school something like 8% of the time. Anyway. So Kirsten knows these people for a few months, and at some point, Caleb "proposes" to her by asking if she'll be his mom. BE HIS MOM. Really? Why do they have to take it to that level? Can't they just have a normal step-mom/step-kid relationship? STOP MAKING IT SEEM LIKE STEPPARENTS HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. You can be a goddamn great stepparent without this level of mush.
Truthbomb: I liked Maddie and Sam. I know, look at me, being positive. I didn't think I'd be interested in the love story of senior citizens, but hey, we all like to branch out, and the best part of the book (even though it was a total cliche romantic comedy meet-cute) was the fact that Sam didn't know Maddie was writing his favorite murder mystery books. Of course, that part of the plot went basically nowhere. I mean he did burn all her books and she did kill him off in one of them, which SOUNDS like fun, but somehow it manages to be boring.
But okay. The things keeping them apart--guilt and lingering feelings for their departed spouses, health problems, honesty, etc.--were actually things I believed and wasn't rolling my eyes over every two seconds. I mean, I was still rolling my eyes, but at least their problems were legit.
Oh, except for that ONE thing. Which almost ruined the modicum of appreciation I had for the character of Maddie. So, she has killed off Sam as a fictional character in her book. But nowwww what is she going to doooooooo?!?! Characters can't be based on real people! It's not allooooowed! This is an UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM.
Enter Sam. You know he's going to fix this problem, cuz he's got a penis.
"How about if you just change the location and my hair and eye color?" he says.
"Sam, that's brilliant!" No, literally. That is what she says. SHE COULDN'T THINK OF THAT HERSELF.
Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Come on, Catherine, just--please. It was a funny little bit that she'd killed him off. Until it turned into an ~opportunity~ for cheesy drama. The constant need to make men solve all the problems in your female characters' lives once again makes them look absolutely moronic and helpless.
Still, though. Sam and Maddie... they weren't bad.
At the end of the day, though, it just wasn't well written. I reeeeeally had to fight not to just skim the entire second half of the book. Way too long with way too little happening. Cringeworthy lines. Like how many times can Maddie think, "For some reason, Sam made her feel happy." Really? What oh what could that reason be? How mysterious. "For reasons she couldn't articulate, she wanted to share things with Sam." "He wasn't sure how she did it, but Maddie brought out the best in Sam." On and on. These mysterious feeeeelings these grown-ass adults just can't understand even with 60 years of experience being alive (literally the same thing happened with Cam and Kirsten, and it was just as irritating, but at least it went on for less time). Okay then. That's just lazy writing. And there were just so many things like this happening in the writing in this book. On every page.
Like I said. I appreciate that CA put in a little effort here to write something different and get with the times. Also, the fact that this was released in a lovely hardback cover with a very nice new picture of Catherine was a nice change as well. (When you've been reading an author for a million years, you start having serious opinions about these things, mmkay.) And I'm glad that Catherine seems to be thriving after losing her husband. Her notes and recipes were sweet. And obviously, people like what she's doing, but I'm trying to imagine this same book being published with a no-name author, and I just can't see it happening. She's skating by on her name, but hey, I guess I don't begrudge her her success.
So here's the thing.
I can see CA trying here. She did something different. It didn't follow the same exact formula as most of her books, and I give her props for going in a different direction (okay granted, basically the storylines WERE the same, but there were two of them happening simultaneously, plus the perspective of the teenage son, so... that mixed it up a bit). And frankly, I can see some effort put in here to keep up with the times and what young people are really like (which New Leaf completed bombed on... see aforementioned review).
Let's break it down.
Cam and Kirsten. They were a little more casual about dating and sex than past romantic leads, although this is almost cancelled out by the fact that they had to talk about the fact that kids these days are more casual about dating and sex. Boy, that 10-year age gap (was it even that much?
Maybe it was like 8 years) really highlighted that generational difference. See guys, around 2005, young whippersnappers started being honest about the fact that they wanted to have sex. And that's exactly when things changed. And that's why Cam is scandalized by Kirsten's desire to "jump into bed" (there should be a drinking game with that phrase). Still, okay CA, I see you trying here.
And all right. They relied on technology more realistically for the times... I mean Cam and Kirsten exchanged 115 text messages one day! (Amateurs.)
And, besides an unsurprising comment from Kirsten about how much physically easier it is on men to run a ranch (sigh... look, I'm not going to get into a scientific discussion about whether that's true. But just... why say it at all? It wasn't needed), I liked that she was running a ranch.
There, see? I'm not all negative. But let's be real: it still just doesn't hit the mark. Cam and Kirsten are cheesy and unbelievable from their first conversation. Telling each other their life stories as if they've been practicing these monologues for months. That super speshul feeling Cam has the moment he lays eyes on Kirsten... just something about her, natch. (LAZY. WRITING.) The same old lines of cliche dialogue are back in play. And once they're together, their relationship is completely boring from then on.
And considering the fact that Cam is literally gored by a bull name Satan (I shit you not) that is saying something. At least, I think that's what happened. He was saving her, or something. Ladies can't handle ranches as good as men, y'all.
And once again with the step-family relationships. AGAIN! At least for once the child in question wasn't a precocious, perfect little girl. Instead, it's a fairly unbelievable high school boy who spies on his father in hopes of seeing him have sex. Yes, you read that correctly. HE WANTS TO SEE HIS FATHER DOING THE DEED. Let that sink in for a moment. Oh, and apparently no one gives a poop that Caleb only attends school something like 8% of the time. Anyway. So Kirsten knows these people for a few months, and at some point, Caleb "proposes" to her by asking if she'll be his mom. BE HIS MOM. Really? Why do they have to take it to that level? Can't they just have a normal step-mom/step-kid relationship? STOP MAKING IT SEEM LIKE STEPPARENTS HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. You can be a goddamn great stepparent without this level of mush.
Truthbomb: I liked Maddie and Sam. I know, look at me, being positive. I didn't think I'd be interested in the love story of senior citizens, but hey, we all like to branch out, and the best part of the book (even though it was a total cliche romantic comedy meet-cute) was the fact that Sam didn't know Maddie was writing his favorite murder mystery books. Of course, that part of the plot went basically nowhere. I mean he did burn all her books and she did kill him off in one of them, which SOUNDS like fun, but somehow it manages to be boring.
But okay. The things keeping them apart--guilt and lingering feelings for their departed spouses, health problems, honesty, etc.--were actually things I believed and wasn't rolling my eyes over every two seconds. I mean, I was still rolling my eyes, but at least their problems were legit.
Oh, except for that ONE thing. Which almost ruined the modicum of appreciation I had for the character of Maddie. So, she has killed off Sam as a fictional character in her book. But nowwww what is she going to doooooooo?!?! Characters can't be based on real people! It's not allooooowed! This is an UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM.
Enter Sam. You know he's going to fix this problem, cuz he's got a penis.
"How about if you just change the location and my hair and eye color?" he says.
"Sam, that's brilliant!" No, literally. That is what she says. SHE COULDN'T THINK OF THAT HERSELF.
Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Come on, Catherine, just--please. It was a funny little bit that she'd killed him off. Until it turned into an ~opportunity~ for cheesy drama. The constant need to make men solve all the problems in your female characters' lives once again makes them look absolutely moronic and helpless.
Still, though. Sam and Maddie... they weren't bad.
At the end of the day, though, it just wasn't well written. I reeeeeally had to fight not to just skim the entire second half of the book. Way too long with way too little happening. Cringeworthy lines. Like how many times can Maddie think, "For some reason, Sam made her feel happy." Really? What oh what could that reason be? How mysterious. "For reasons she couldn't articulate, she wanted to share things with Sam." "He wasn't sure how she did it, but Maddie brought out the best in Sam." On and on. These mysterious feeeeelings these grown-ass adults just can't understand even with 60 years of experience being alive (literally the same thing happened with Cam and Kirsten, and it was just as irritating, but at least it went on for less time). Okay then. That's just lazy writing. And there were just so many things like this happening in the writing in this book. On every page.
Like I said. I appreciate that CA put in a little effort here to write something different and get with the times. Also, the fact that this was released in a lovely hardback cover with a very nice new picture of Catherine was a nice change as well. (When you've been reading an author for a million years, you start having serious opinions about these things, mmkay.) And I'm glad that Catherine seems to be thriving after losing her husband. Her notes and recipes were sweet. And obviously, people like what she's doing, but I'm trying to imagine this same book being published with a no-name author, and I just can't see it happening. She's skating by on her name, but hey, I guess I don't begrudge her her success.
October 11, 2017
Title: The Christmas Room
Author: Catherine Anderson
Publisher: Berkley
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating:Five
Review:
"The Christmas Room" by Catherine Anderson
My Thoughts....
I found this a good novella Christmas story that touches on a little bit of it all....from 'grief, trials and tribulations of a single parent, finding a love connection, moving to a new state, with secrets, physical violence, name calling, lack of understanding, healing, redemption' and it did have some heart warming moments. This author gives the reader a wonderful story that was even humorous at times, with touching moments with interesting characters from [Maddie, Cameron (Cam}, Caleb McLendon, Sam and Kristin Conacher to name a few that will definitely keep your attention all the way through this beautiful description of Christmas Montana story. Be ready for a long story of this well blended family where the reader will be able to read about this 'dual love story of two different generations' with the best of it all ... it all happens around the Christmas holiday. All that is left to say is that this was really a fantastic story of families and their relationships in how this author brings it all together so well after all is said and done.
September 17, 2017
A couple of days after I (apparently) finished The Christmas Room, I double-checked because I forgot that I'd already read it. That's how unmemorable it was. Then I read the synopsis and thought 'ohh yeah, that was the one that was so schmaltzy.' And mind you, I expect a certain amount of sentimentality in a Christmas story, but this one was just... too much. If your attitude is Bring On the Schmaltz! you may love it.
*ARC via netgalley*
*ARC via netgalley*
December 25, 2023
A good read. Always good to have a grinch story. Odd that it was named for Christmas when it’s barely mentioned. But the characters and their relationships were worth it.
November 24, 2023
I enjoyed this book, it is a story about love, loss, grief, families, some romance and most if all redemption. My biggest complaint with a title like The Christmas Room I wanted more Christmas, only got it at the end.
November 19, 2017
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (live 12/11)
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zP3T4z
The Christmas Room was a lovely read. And one I devoured. Family, drama, ranch life and...Christmas! This book was huge but I finished it in less than 24 hours. Every spare second I was reading a little more.
The Gist: Cam and his family have moved to town and they're basically camping out until their home is built and oh that puts a spur under their neighbor's saddle. He can't stand them hillbilly neighbors and when he finds out the son is sniffing after his daughter...and she's sniffing right back? Oh hell no. He's gonna make em all sorry they moved to town. Or that's his plan. Until he gets put in his place by a sassy older lady who's not backing down to all his bluster and growling.
The Christmas Room is more of a family story instead of an individual romance. Two families that are struggling--Cam, his son and mother starting over after losing their patriarch and Kristen and her dad struggling to find a bond in the face of their own loss.
And two romances spring up from it. I enjoyed that. Seeing two different generations of each family finding love when they least expected it. And three generations healing and finding a home together. They have a lot of sadness and insecurity to work through. Lots of anger and damaged relationships to mend. But it was lovely watching it all happen.
--Watching Cam's son find a place in his new school, spending time with his family and growing into a solid young man.
--Watching Cam and Kristen's young love start to grow and bloom.
--Watching Sam and Maddie (the parents/grandparents) move on from losing spouses and start living again.
Both of the romances were very slow going. They take their time and don't rush into anything. Weeks and months go by before they finally solidify what's between them. I liked that and felt it suited them. Things are kept pretty PG on all fronts and closed doors which, eh, not my favorite but was okay.
There's the magic of the holiday season and that was wonderful, too. Though this isn't really a "Christmas" book. It spans quite a few holidays and is only Christmasy towards the end.
All in all The Christmas Room was a heartwarming story that had me rooting for a wonderful set of people fighting through each day and the challenges life through at them. It was nicely done and time well spent. The word fabulous was used way too many times, though. lol
December 16, 2021
📚 Hello Book Friends! THE CHRISTMAS ROOM by Catherine Anderson was a sweet story about loss, love, and forgiving oneself. This book surprised me as it starts with Cam and Kirstin meeting and falling for each other. You would think that the rest of the book would centre around them but no… the real plot was about Maddie (Cam’s mother) and Sam (Kirstin’s father). The insta-love between Cam and Kirstin felt rushed and so was their wedding. I am not sure why the author would write the drama about the wedding dress. It made Kristin look like a spoiled child. If I were Cam, I would call the wedding off because this situation showed a side of Kristin’s character that is not desirable and points to many troubles in the future. All in all, it was still a sweet story. There were many beautiful moments despite what I did not like about the book. The book ended with a fantastic Christmas spirit moment and was heartwarming.
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October 7, 2017
The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson is an amazingly heartwarming book that swept me away.
Ms Anderson's ability to capture emotions on paper is stellar.
Set on a Montana Ranch with nature as the backdrop, was the perfect theme I had been craving.
A beautiful story of love lost, love found, and friendships we all need in our lives.
The story delves into trials and tribulations we all must face and conquer during times of adversary.
Cam and Kirstin's chance meeting was so engulfing and richly loved. Fate is amazing.
Caleb was a true joy and a wonderful addition to this amazing story. This young man melted my heart with his compassion for his family.
Sam and Maddie stole the show. Their bickering, scheming, and friendship that developed between them, truly warmed my heart and soul.
Well written with just the right spice to have readers literally smelling the fall foliage in bloom and the arrival of Christmas in the air.
Catherine Anderson's own special ability to deliver heartfelt stories will leave her readers feeling very warm, comforted, and fuzzy inside.
Ms Anderson's ability to capture emotions on paper is stellar.
Set on a Montana Ranch with nature as the backdrop, was the perfect theme I had been craving.
A beautiful story of love lost, love found, and friendships we all need in our lives.
The story delves into trials and tribulations we all must face and conquer during times of adversary.
Cam and Kirstin's chance meeting was so engulfing and richly loved. Fate is amazing.
Caleb was a true joy and a wonderful addition to this amazing story. This young man melted my heart with his compassion for his family.
Sam and Maddie stole the show. Their bickering, scheming, and friendship that developed between them, truly warmed my heart and soul.
Well written with just the right spice to have readers literally smelling the fall foliage in bloom and the arrival of Christmas in the air.
Catherine Anderson's own special ability to deliver heartfelt stories will leave her readers feeling very warm, comforted, and fuzzy inside.
October 15, 2017
3.5 Stars
This is my first book by Catherine Anderson and what a wonderful read it was.
I appreciate that the book started in August and didn't jump right into Christmas, after all this was released in September. Call me a holiday book rookie, this is my first year reading Christmas book this early. As the story develops through the season, it felt really natural.
I love the setting and also another first to read anything ranch/cowboy related. I loved it. The characters are all likable, especially Sam who is my favorite. It cracks me up when he swears.
The downside was it was a tad too long. Certain topics were mentioned more than once. I didn't enjoy the sneak around part when Cam and Kirstin stayed out either ...the drama afterwards was also unnecessary.
This is my first book by Catherine Anderson and what a wonderful read it was.
I appreciate that the book started in August and didn't jump right into Christmas, after all this was released in September. Call me a holiday book rookie, this is my first year reading Christmas book this early. As the story develops through the season, it felt really natural.
I love the setting and also another first to read anything ranch/cowboy related. I loved it. The characters are all likable, especially Sam who is my favorite. It cracks me up when he swears.
The downside was it was a tad too long. Certain topics were mentioned more than once. I didn't enjoy the sneak around part when Cam and Kirstin stayed out either ...the drama afterwards was also unnecessary.
September 27, 2017
Read my review on RomanceJunkies.com by clicking on the link below:
http://romancejunkies.com/reviews/the...
http://romancejunkies.com/reviews/the...
September 15, 2019
Heartwarming but boring
Kirstin Conacher is sick and tired of being pinned under her father’s thumb. Ever since her mother died six years ago, her once loving, thoughtful father has become bitter, angry, mean, and extremely protective. She can’t go to town without him being suspicious; she can’t look twice at a man without him flying into a rage. She rebels, naturally, and one day she manages to meet Cam McLendon. Thoroughly charmed by him, she’s desperate to see him again—but is terrified of what her father would do if he found out.
Maddie McLendon’s got a lot on her mind. She, her son, and her grandson are camped out on their recently acquired Montana property, waiting for their living quarters to be built. They’re making do, but their camp isn’t prepared or equipped for winter, and as construction is delayed again and again, they’re wondering how they’ll endure the snow and cold in their less-than-comfortable set-up. On top of that, she’s secretly receiving chemo treatments, and it’s getting hard to explain why she’s sick so often. Also, her grandson doesn’t seem to be fitting in at his new school, but he won’t talk about it. And now Cam, her son, is enamored with the daughter of their nasty, cantankerous neighbor, and it’s only a matter of time before the ole codger finds out about their rendezvous. Would the old rancher destroy her son’s reputation before Cam has a chance to make something of himself in the valley they now call home?
______
The Christmas Room is a heartwarming story with likable characters and a down-to-earth quality that speaks of intelligence. It’s also very informed, and I’m sure Anderson spent a lot of time researching. If you have the patience, this is a good story about ordinary citizens living ordinary lives, which can be a refreshing change in a market saturated with billionaire playboys, supernatural abilities, and law enforcement.
That said, snails move faster than this book’s plot. It’s predictable and full of unnecessary detail. I got this book the day it came out, and I dinked around with it for three weeks before forcing myself to sit down and finish it. Thankfully, though, I have far fewer notes about this novel than I did about Anderson’s last one.
First, a note to the editor: señor needs a tilde over the n. Thankfully, “senor” doesn’t really mean anything, but it’s very important to include tildes where they’re needed. You don’t want to be the editor who thinks “ano” is the same as “año.” That would be embarrassing. And this is irrelevant, but just in my opinion, Mexicans don’t speak “Mexican,” they speak Spanish. Perhaps some slang and phrases and usage are different from the Spanish spoken in Spain or even Central or South America, but it’s still Spanish. We don’t say Americans speak American or UK residents speak British. If we need to make the distinction, which is really only when eggcorns or slang meanings are discussed, we say American English or British English. So I’m still going to say Mexicans speak Spanish, unless I need to specifically refer to colloquialisms unique to their country. Then I’ll say Mexican Spanish.
Second, a few inconsequential things that gave me a moment’s pause. One, Sam mentions that his hair’s getting thin on top, but in everyone else’s point of view, they think it’s hella thick. As a “polar bear’s coat” even. Maybe it was a matter of perception, but it confused me as far as how I was picturing him in my mind.
Then, while an author can name their characters whatever they want, it’s usually recommended the names be distinct from one another so as not to confuse the reader. It took me a few chapters to keep Sam and Cam straight, especially with the POV jumping around as it was. The name similarity was commented on by Kirstin, I think, but while I read it as ironic, I don’t think Anderson meant it to be.
Next, I thought it was really, really weird that Caleb skipped lunch and consequently two other classes because he wanted to spy on his dad and Kirstin on their walk and see if they were developing a closer physical relationship. IE, if they were doing more than holding hands. I don’t care how it’s explained or how big of a lecture he got about privacy afterward, I felt this was pervy. I can believe a sixteen-year-old skipping class; I can believe a sixteen-year-old being absurdly curious about sex. I cannot believe a sixteen-year-old would skip class to spy on his own father, not even with someone who wasn’t his mom. I had a hard time stomaching Caleb after that. Unless Anderson was trying to show us that Caleb was a perv, which I know she wasn’t, that bit just was not necessary at all.
Lastly, this isn’t a nitpick so much as a hilarious observation. Toward the end, Sam and Maddie are talking about the possibility of sex, and, trying to ease her self-consciousness, he mentions that his night vision is bad, meaning he wouldn’t be able to see any of the flaws she was so worried about—provided the lights were off. In sympathy, Maddie says it’s hard for her to kneel anymore. Sam says he’ll get a special pillow so it doesn’t hurt. Reading it, I’m cracking up, because I thought they were bantering with tongue-in-cheek. She was laying it on that sex with her wouldn’t be much fun for him; he probably wouldn’t see her naked, and she probably couldn’t…kneel. Then I read: “Sam was content with the nonsexual turn of their conversation.” And I laughed even harder, because Anderson hadn’t realized how that dialogue could sound to a gutter-thinker like me. In my defense, Sam and Maddie were talking about sex, and it wasn’t clear that they had stopped. The most hilarious thing in the book, and it wasn’t supposed to be funny.
As for the characters, the one I felt for most was Maddie. I related to Kirstin a bit regarding the situation with her father, but for the most part, I didn’t really connect with any of them. They were nice enough, but none of them really had arcs except Sam. He went from mean to nice. Classic Grinch arc, appropriate for Christmas. But Maddie didn’t change. She never even told the boys about her cancer. It could be argued that Cam unclenched and took a risk in falling for Kirstin so quickly, but I just think he’s a guy who hadn’t gotten any in a very long time, and Kirstin, who he was really into, was throwing herself at him. Would you really expect him to keep saying no, in this day and age? (In any day and age?) It could be argued Kirstin finally stood up to her dad, but she went right back to tiptoeing around him after, so I wasn’t really impressed. Caleb made some friends. Good for him, but it wasn’t an arc. All he did was buy some new clothes—speaking of, I don’t think Anderson gave his classmates enough credit. There’s always that one genuinely kind, optimistic kid, often classified as a geek or dork, who doesn’t care about appearances and just sees an opportunity to make a friend. Maybe Caleb didn’t make it easy for anyone to befriend him. We didn’t see anything that happened at school, just had Caleb’s word. So they were nice characters, but no one I’ll feel compelled to revisit.
Reading this book was like having a conversation with my grandma. I love the ol’ gal and tell myself, while visiting her might be a chore sometimes, I’ll be able to look back someday and be thankful for the time I’d spent with her. She tells me stories I’ve heard before; she tells me the mundane details of her day-to-day life; she tells me about Grandpa and their life together before he got sick and died. She can ramble on and on. I’m bored and can think of a million other things I’d rather be doing, but I sit at her kitchen table and nod, knowing that telling me about her life is one of her favorite things to do.
noapologybookreviews.com
keeneyeediting.com
Kirstin Conacher is sick and tired of being pinned under her father’s thumb. Ever since her mother died six years ago, her once loving, thoughtful father has become bitter, angry, mean, and extremely protective. She can’t go to town without him being suspicious; she can’t look twice at a man without him flying into a rage. She rebels, naturally, and one day she manages to meet Cam McLendon. Thoroughly charmed by him, she’s desperate to see him again—but is terrified of what her father would do if he found out.
Maddie McLendon’s got a lot on her mind. She, her son, and her grandson are camped out on their recently acquired Montana property, waiting for their living quarters to be built. They’re making do, but their camp isn’t prepared or equipped for winter, and as construction is delayed again and again, they’re wondering how they’ll endure the snow and cold in their less-than-comfortable set-up. On top of that, she’s secretly receiving chemo treatments, and it’s getting hard to explain why she’s sick so often. Also, her grandson doesn’t seem to be fitting in at his new school, but he won’t talk about it. And now Cam, her son, is enamored with the daughter of their nasty, cantankerous neighbor, and it’s only a matter of time before the ole codger finds out about their rendezvous. Would the old rancher destroy her son’s reputation before Cam has a chance to make something of himself in the valley they now call home?
______
The Christmas Room is a heartwarming story with likable characters and a down-to-earth quality that speaks of intelligence. It’s also very informed, and I’m sure Anderson spent a lot of time researching. If you have the patience, this is a good story about ordinary citizens living ordinary lives, which can be a refreshing change in a market saturated with billionaire playboys, supernatural abilities, and law enforcement.
That said, snails move faster than this book’s plot. It’s predictable and full of unnecessary detail. I got this book the day it came out, and I dinked around with it for three weeks before forcing myself to sit down and finish it. Thankfully, though, I have far fewer notes about this novel than I did about Anderson’s last one.
First, a note to the editor: señor needs a tilde over the n. Thankfully, “senor” doesn’t really mean anything, but it’s very important to include tildes where they’re needed. You don’t want to be the editor who thinks “ano” is the same as “año.” That would be embarrassing. And this is irrelevant, but just in my opinion, Mexicans don’t speak “Mexican,” they speak Spanish. Perhaps some slang and phrases and usage are different from the Spanish spoken in Spain or even Central or South America, but it’s still Spanish. We don’t say Americans speak American or UK residents speak British. If we need to make the distinction, which is really only when eggcorns or slang meanings are discussed, we say American English or British English. So I’m still going to say Mexicans speak Spanish, unless I need to specifically refer to colloquialisms unique to their country. Then I’ll say Mexican Spanish.
Second, a few inconsequential things that gave me a moment’s pause. One, Sam mentions that his hair’s getting thin on top, but in everyone else’s point of view, they think it’s hella thick. As a “polar bear’s coat” even. Maybe it was a matter of perception, but it confused me as far as how I was picturing him in my mind.
Then, while an author can name their characters whatever they want, it’s usually recommended the names be distinct from one another so as not to confuse the reader. It took me a few chapters to keep Sam and Cam straight, especially with the POV jumping around as it was. The name similarity was commented on by Kirstin, I think, but while I read it as ironic, I don’t think Anderson meant it to be.
Next, I thought it was really, really weird that Caleb skipped lunch and consequently two other classes because he wanted to spy on his dad and Kirstin on their walk and see if they were developing a closer physical relationship. IE, if they were doing more than holding hands. I don’t care how it’s explained or how big of a lecture he got about privacy afterward, I felt this was pervy. I can believe a sixteen-year-old skipping class; I can believe a sixteen-year-old being absurdly curious about sex. I cannot believe a sixteen-year-old would skip class to spy on his own father, not even with someone who wasn’t his mom. I had a hard time stomaching Caleb after that. Unless Anderson was trying to show us that Caleb was a perv, which I know she wasn’t, that bit just was not necessary at all.
Lastly, this isn’t a nitpick so much as a hilarious observation. Toward the end, Sam and Maddie are talking about the possibility of sex, and, trying to ease her self-consciousness, he mentions that his night vision is bad, meaning he wouldn’t be able to see any of the flaws she was so worried about—provided the lights were off. In sympathy, Maddie says it’s hard for her to kneel anymore. Sam says he’ll get a special pillow so it doesn’t hurt. Reading it, I’m cracking up, because I thought they were bantering with tongue-in-cheek. She was laying it on that sex with her wouldn’t be much fun for him; he probably wouldn’t see her naked, and she probably couldn’t…kneel. Then I read: “Sam was content with the nonsexual turn of their conversation.” And I laughed even harder, because Anderson hadn’t realized how that dialogue could sound to a gutter-thinker like me. In my defense, Sam and Maddie were talking about sex, and it wasn’t clear that they had stopped. The most hilarious thing in the book, and it wasn’t supposed to be funny.
As for the characters, the one I felt for most was Maddie. I related to Kirstin a bit regarding the situation with her father, but for the most part, I didn’t really connect with any of them. They were nice enough, but none of them really had arcs except Sam. He went from mean to nice. Classic Grinch arc, appropriate for Christmas. But Maddie didn’t change. She never even told the boys about her cancer. It could be argued that Cam unclenched and took a risk in falling for Kirstin so quickly, but I just think he’s a guy who hadn’t gotten any in a very long time, and Kirstin, who he was really into, was throwing herself at him. Would you really expect him to keep saying no, in this day and age? (In any day and age?) It could be argued Kirstin finally stood up to her dad, but she went right back to tiptoeing around him after, so I wasn’t really impressed. Caleb made some friends. Good for him, but it wasn’t an arc. All he did was buy some new clothes—speaking of, I don’t think Anderson gave his classmates enough credit. There’s always that one genuinely kind, optimistic kid, often classified as a geek or dork, who doesn’t care about appearances and just sees an opportunity to make a friend. Maybe Caleb didn’t make it easy for anyone to befriend him. We didn’t see anything that happened at school, just had Caleb’s word. So they were nice characters, but no one I’ll feel compelled to revisit.
Reading this book was like having a conversation with my grandma. I love the ol’ gal and tell myself, while visiting her might be a chore sometimes, I’ll be able to look back someday and be thankful for the time I’d spent with her. She tells me stories I’ve heard before; she tells me the mundane details of her day-to-day life; she tells me about Grandpa and their life together before he got sick and died. She can ramble on and on. I’m bored and can think of a million other things I’d rather be doing, but I sit at her kitchen table and nod, knowing that telling me about her life is one of her favorite things to do.
noapologybookreviews.com
keeneyeediting.com
December 30, 2017
This is a very heartwarming love story that ends at Christmas time. I did not read the blurb before reading this book so the couple that I thought the entire book was about it turns out weren't even the two main characters as I thought. The McLendon family, Maddie (mother/grandmother/widow/author), Cam (Maddie's son/Caleb's grandmother/real estate broker) and Caleb (son/grandson/teen) move to a Montana to start a new life. It's always been Cam's dream to own and live on a Montana ranch. The family sets up a modern style camp on their Montana ranch intending to have a home to move into by the time the harsh Montana winter hits.
Sam Conacher is the millionaire rancher and his daughter Kirstin are the neighbors to the McLendon ranch. Sam lost his wife six years prior and with her death he became a grouchy old man that's mad at the world. He's intent on keeping Kirstin, his 26 year old daughter, single and on the family ranch. Sam has ruined the life and ran off every man that has attempted to date Kirstin.
Kirstin and Cam meet in a local bar and discover that they really enjoy talking to each other. They find themselves telling each other things they have never told anyone much less someone they just met. There is the one huge issue with them ever trying to further this friendship, Sam, Kirtin's father. Sam already thinks he hates his neighbor, Cam, his hillbilly neighbor that must be an ignorant man to have brought his family to Montana to camp on a Montana ranch. Sam hates and destroys every man that shows interest in Kirstin. Cam and Kirstin find themselves not able to stop thinking of each other. The relationship has got to be impossible though, Maddie, Cam's mom and Sam hate each other before they even meet each other and the feud gets started. Cam and Kirstin sneak around to have time with each other until Kirstin has had enough and tries to set her Dad straight. Tides begin to turn when there is a terrible ranch accident and Sam and Maddie find themselves becoming allies in the aftermath.
A great read with a lesson in not judging people before you get to know them, lessons in forgiveness and giving to others.
Sam Conacher is the millionaire rancher and his daughter Kirstin are the neighbors to the McLendon ranch. Sam lost his wife six years prior and with her death he became a grouchy old man that's mad at the world. He's intent on keeping Kirstin, his 26 year old daughter, single and on the family ranch. Sam has ruined the life and ran off every man that has attempted to date Kirstin.
Kirstin and Cam meet in a local bar and discover that they really enjoy talking to each other. They find themselves telling each other things they have never told anyone much less someone they just met. There is the one huge issue with them ever trying to further this friendship, Sam, Kirtin's father. Sam already thinks he hates his neighbor, Cam, his hillbilly neighbor that must be an ignorant man to have brought his family to Montana to camp on a Montana ranch. Sam hates and destroys every man that shows interest in Kirstin. Cam and Kirstin find themselves not able to stop thinking of each other. The relationship has got to be impossible though, Maddie, Cam's mom and Sam hate each other before they even meet each other and the feud gets started. Cam and Kirstin sneak around to have time with each other until Kirstin has had enough and tries to set her Dad straight. Tides begin to turn when there is a terrible ranch accident and Sam and Maddie find themselves becoming allies in the aftermath.
A great read with a lesson in not judging people before you get to know them, lessons in forgiveness and giving to others.
December 26, 2023
The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson
14h 3m narrated by Susan Bennett, 428 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Family, Holiday > Christmas
Featuring: Montana, Grief, Forbidden Love Trope, Ornery Daddy, Profanity, Ranchers, Author, Feuding, Sex - On Camera - Low Details, All Through the Year, Family Drama
Rating as a movie: R
Songs for the soundtrack: "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand, "Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin, "We've Only Just Begun" by Carpenters, "The First Noel" by Andy Williams, "Jingle Bells" by The Andrews Sisters, "Silent Night" by Reba McEntire
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🎄🐎🐄👢
My thoughts: 📱13% 1:40:06 Ch. 3 - This is going to be the good kind of slow-burn romance, the kind where they are love interests but have meaningful conversations. I am only stopping because this is my filler book for the car.
📱26% 3:15:17 Ch. 5 - Okay, I love it. The dialogue is hilarious and realistic. The romance is still the main story, but it's not front and center, which reminds me of how couples are in real life with true sparks. So far, all of these characters are complex.
I loved this story. I spent Christmas morning with it while cooking, and when I paused it to listen to Christmas music after my daughter joined me, I missed the story. I was able to return to it that evening, and somehow, the emotions grew during my break. The only issue, not for me, it the first 80% of the book is set outside of the holiday season, but some Christmas books do this, and it's only problem when the book isn't good. This is my first Catherine Anderson book, and I'm going to spend 2024 reading the rest of her catalog. This was great.
Recommend to others: Yes. This is a fantastic story; it may be long for some, but I think it's just right, well under 500 pages.
14h 3m narrated by Susan Bennett, 428 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Family, Holiday > Christmas
Featuring: Montana, Grief, Forbidden Love Trope, Ornery Daddy, Profanity, Ranchers, Author, Feuding, Sex - On Camera - Low Details, All Through the Year, Family Drama
Rating as a movie: R
Songs for the soundtrack: "The Way We Were" by Barbra Streisand, "Those Were the Days" by Mary Hopkin, "We've Only Just Begun" by Carpenters, "The First Noel" by Andy Williams, "Jingle Bells" by The Andrews Sisters, "Silent Night" by Reba McEntire
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🎄🐎🐄👢
My thoughts: 📱13% 1:40:06 Ch. 3 - This is going to be the good kind of slow-burn romance, the kind where they are love interests but have meaningful conversations. I am only stopping because this is my filler book for the car.
📱26% 3:15:17 Ch. 5 - Okay, I love it. The dialogue is hilarious and realistic. The romance is still the main story, but it's not front and center, which reminds me of how couples are in real life with true sparks. So far, all of these characters are complex.
I loved this story. I spent Christmas morning with it while cooking, and when I paused it to listen to Christmas music after my daughter joined me, I missed the story. I was able to return to it that evening, and somehow, the emotions grew during my break. The only issue, not for me, it the first 80% of the book is set outside of the holiday season, but some Christmas books do this, and it's only problem when the book isn't good. This is my first Catherine Anderson book, and I'm going to spend 2024 reading the rest of her catalog. This was great.
Recommend to others: Yes. This is a fantastic story; it may be long for some, but I think it's just right, well under 500 pages.
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