A Very Marian Christmas

Made Marian #7

by Lucy Lennox

12 Marian Men-A-Mating... I mean, A-Meeting
11 Blind Dates-A-Blinding
10 Lords-A-Leaping
9 Ladies Dancing (okay, maybe that's Griff)
8 Kids-A-Complaining
7 Changes-A-Clothing
6 Love Junk Gadgets
5 **DRA-AAG QUEENS**
4 Calling Neighbors
3 Nosy Grannies
2 Men Falling In Love
And a partridge in a pear tree.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Holiday, Contemporary, Christmas, Audiobook, Friends To Lovers

246 pages, ebook

First published November 10, 2017

About the author

I write M/M romance with humor, heart, and heat. Check out my backlist here on GR for a selection of series and standalone or visit www.LucyLennox.com!

I only keep a small list of my very favorite books and series in my bookshelf here. I read A LOT and it's hard to keep the list updated!

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Very Marian Christmas is book seven in the Made Marian series by Lucy Lennox. This was so cute and I loved seeing the whole Marian family together with all the newest additions to their families. But this is Luke and Noah’s story!



Noah Campbell is twenty eight years old. He has just moved to San Francisco from Canada. He is staying with his brother’s best friend, Luke. Noah is a nurse but is waiting for his license for the U.S. to take effect. In the mean time, he needs a job so he takes a sales job, not realizing just what the merchandise is he will be selling! I’ll just leave that alone for now!



Luke Holland is thirty five years old and is a lawyer. He is close friends and works with Pete Marian. Luke is married to his job! He has a regular sex buddy, who just happens to be a world famous male model. But he doesn’t do relationships. Luke has always thought of Noah as sort of a kid brother. Only ever since he moved in with him, he has been having trouble with keeping him in that box so to speak. He thinks about him more than is appropriate. He’s his best friends younger brother so he’s off limits. But parts of his body don’t agree!

Noah has always had a huge crush on Luke so living with him is not easy. As soon as he meets the Marian family, they sort of adopt him and the “Great Holiday Setup” takes effect! It seems like the entire Marian clan is trying to find him his perfect match. Only every date he goes on, with perfectly nice men, seems to pale to his roommate.



This was a super cute and fun book. The only thing that bothered me is the push and pull. The, I want him right now but can’t have him. One step forward and two steps backward. But as I said, it was awesome spending time with all of the Marian characters I love so much.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Meags · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Although this book was sweet, sexy, funny, festive, and for the most part generally entertaining, I’m actually not all that sure what purpose this story served under the bigger umbrella of the Made Marian series?

The previous six novels followed each of the single Marian siblings as they found their forever loves. I enjoyed every book as I read along, each time finishing one brother’s love story and getting thoroughly excited to see what was in store for the next brother. I can honestly say I felt satisfied on a whole when the baby of the family, Dante, had his story told in book six. In that story, Delivering Dante, I felt content with how things were left with all of the prominent characters across the series; everyone’s story felt complete.

Putting it bluntly, I feel like this particular addition to the series felt a little pointless. The main couple – Noah and Luke – essentially popped out of nowhere when it came to the series story arc. Sure, both men had their own peripheral ties to the Marian’s themselves, but they were loose ties, and forced ones at that. The fun of following the rest of the stories in the series was in the fact that one half of each couple came from the same boisterous, loving, and slightly crazy family, and considering Noah nor Luke were related in any way made me fairly disinterested as a rule.

If this had been a standalone or maybe even a spin-off story, I possibly would have liked it a bit more, but as it stands, I actually felt like the moments that qualified this book as a Marian story – those moments featuring all the wacky, sweet, and fun-loving Marian characters – were in fact the moments that detracted from Noah and Luke’s romance. I kept thinking, let’s get back to Noah and Luke, please; no more Aunt Tilly and the lesbian grannies, pleeeease!!! I highly doubt that was the reaction I was meant to have.

My issues won’t be felt by all, if many, but we each have our random book quirks and apparently having a non-Marian couple starring in a Marian story is a weird no-no of mine. Huh.

On the plus side, I still enjoyed Lennox’s writing style and her ability to effortlessly blend humour and drama. I also really liked Noah as a character, too; the guy was super sweet and loveable, and I enjoyed following his journey from friends-to-lovers with Luke – even when Luke was being an idiot.

*************************************

Audio Editon:

Michael Pauley = LEGEND!!!

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read Nov. 22, 2021
*** Cheerful. Funny. Warm. Sexy. ***
Noah, 28, RN from Canada, moved to San Francisco

to stay with his brother's friend, Luke, 35, while he gets his RN credentials approved.
S.F. is the home of the Marian clan, our favorite, huge family of lovable characters. Noah takes a temp job selling sex toys, and the whole happy gang are setting sweet Noah up with dates and taking bets.
Meanwhile, Luke, a lawyer,

and Noah are attracted to each other, but Luke feels guilty. He's supposed to be protecting Noah; he promised the brother.
But feelings, kisses and touches are blooming

in this slow burn lovely romance.


We see the usual sweetness, and the craziness of this big family, and then Noah's brother and Noah's ex show up ! Now what?

Your heart will be warm, happy, and bright, as you unravel this wonderful holiday romance !



Another marvelous story from Lucy Lennox.
Highly recommended ! ENJOY !

=================

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheerful. Funny. Warm. Sexy. Noah, 28, RN from Canada, moved to San Francisco to stay with his brother's friend, Luke, 35, while he gets his RN credentials approved. S.F. is the home of the Marian clan, our favorite, huge family of lovable characters. Noah takes a temp job selling sex toys, and the whole happy gang are setting sweet Noah up with dates and taking bets.
Meanwhile, Luke, a lawyer, and Noah are attracted to each other, but Luke feels guilty. He's supposed to be protecting Noah; he promised the brother. But feelings, kisses and touches are blooming in this slow burn lovely romance. We see the usual sweetness, and the craziness of this big family, and then Noah's brother and Noah's ex show up ! Now what?
Your heart will be warm, happy, and bright, as you unravel this wonderful holiday romance !
Highly recommended ! ENJOY !

[D.L. Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah so I skipped a few … ok a lot to read this holiday book in A Made Marian series but I certainly didn’t miss out on all the Marian’s. I loved that they were all involved in the form of matchmakers to get the new cutie with someone nice.

Noah has always wanted to move to San Francisco, so as soon as he gets his chance he makes the leap from small town Canada. While he’s waiting to get his nursing license in the states he ends up selling sex toys and that’s how he meets the Marians.

He goes on all these maybe lukewarm dates when all along he’s living with the man of his dreams. The problem is Luke is Noah’s brother’s best friend and won’t touch him no matter how much he wants him.

This was cute, which I expected. It was steamy although not as heavily as I expected after reading Borrowing Blue, those two couldn’t stay off each other. I did wish there was more holiday inspired stuff going on but otherwise an enjoyable read.

[Aղցela W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was book 7 in the "Made Marian" series. I love reading this series and this book was funny. Noah Campbell came to the US from Canada after leaving his boyfriend he always wanted to come to San Francisco he takes a job with Sally the Love Junk sales lady while he waits for his Nursing Licenses to transfer. His first time selling was at Dante and AJ's impromptu bachelor party he was shocked and embarrassed, but the Marian family takes him under their wing and make a bet to see who can find him love by setting him up with someone. Luke is a childhood friend and his roommate he is a manwhore his friends with benefits is a model named Victor. Noah has always had a crush on Luke, but he looks at Noah like a little brother and he is afraid of Noah's big brother. Noah is also keeping his sales job a secret from him when Noah begins dating he meets some people that he becomes friends with. Luke doesn't want Noah dating anyone he wants him but he is scared of commitment. Noah has some good dates and some not so good like Jordan who works as a vet with the family he comes on too strong or Josh who we met in book two he still has a thing for Jaime. Jude and Derek fix him up with Baker who he really likes but he is not Luke. When Luke and Noah have sex it is hot and heavy until Noah's brother and his ex show up. I really liked both of these character's one was afraid of commitment and the other couldn't do the whole sex without it. When Noah moves out he moves in with Dante and AJ. While out on a date with Haywood from book five he has an accident and ends up in the hospital with all the Marians at his side. This was a really good book and when Noah gets drunk Luke finds out what he is really selling it was funny or when Tilly tries to fix him with a friends son who turns out to be straight and doing one of his mother's friends it was funny and Granny and Irene trying to hook him up with a leather daddy I laughed so hard I cried. I hope the author writes about Joel and Simone as she tried to fix Noah up with him and he thought he was on a date with her. This book was well written I love this series with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading more about the Marian family and their friends. I listened to this book on audio and it was still funny as hell.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Idk, I didnt really like this much. It started out so good with brother's best friend & roommates. But just ran out of steam towards the end. I liked all the Marian brothers when I read their books - but I didn't really like any of them in this. They all seemed annoying and meddlesome. I think if you removed them from the book it would have been better lol. And for a book about a brother's best friend, the brother is barely even in it.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it ! This was one of my favorite Marion stories ❤️ with every Marion family member setting up dates for the cute and sexy Noah. It felt like an episode of Love Actually. Poor Luke was so smitten with Noah that he didn’t realize what he was feeling was love. This was their journey - it was typically funny, I mean Noah selling party plan sex toys, and it was also beautifully sweet. I stopped my day to read this in one hit - for me, that’s a5🌟

[Bookreader87(Amanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to begin...

3.5 stars
Surprisingly the best parts of the story was when there weren't any Marian's involved. Don't get me wrong I adore most of the Marian's but I think Luke and Noah could of carried this story on their own. In fact the Marian moments were more of an interruption than anything. Overall the story between Noah and Luke was cute and enjoyable.

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this... Lucy Lennox has been a favorite author of mine since I first discovered her with "Borrowing Blue" almost a year ago. She has yet to disappoint, each of her books has been a joy to read and experience. This installment in the Made Marian series was wonderfully populated with the huge Marian clan with all their quirks and eccentricities. The book however is mostly about Pete's coworker Luke and his relationship with Noah. The book is well-paced, the characters if Luke and Noah well-developed and quite lovable. I did get a bit frustrated at times with the stop-go, stop-go of their relationship, however it made sense considering their pasts. All in all a wonderful story and an awesome read!

[Cadiva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great festive catch up with the Marian clan

This is a nice Christmas romance featuring Pete's lawyer friend Luke and his best friend's younger brother Noah.

It's got the usual crazy antics from the madcap Marian family as they each try and set Noah up on a blind date and there's plenty of feel good to be found.

Occasionally it seemed to drift off target though and I wasn't sure where the narrative was going but overall, I enjoyed the little dip back into this extended family.

Luke and Noah tangled things up and made their own lives harder but it was clear they were meant to be together and there's a nice lead in to a new novel from Lucy's writing partner Sloane Kennedy who is going to be featuring Griffin's long lost brother Ben in her Protectors series.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in this series. I would have enjoyed it more if all the Aunt Tilly and Granny sections were cut out. Their craxy antics we're pretty funny at first but now it's just getting ridiculous and unnecessary. Overall I really liked this one!

[Michelle (driftingsong) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally barrelled through the audiobooks for Made Marian 2-6 just so I could get to this one on time for Christmas, and I honestly think it was the best one in the series, which is interesting as it's also the one book where the couple did not involve a Marian in any way whatsoever.

Noah and Luke are so cute though <3___<3 also Canadian love!

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was nice. It's been ages since I read a Made Marian book, and I enjoyed A Very Marian Christmas. I'm not sure where I got the idea that this was a seies of vignettes about the Marian brothers, but it is actually an original story.

The audio is nicely performed by Michael Dean.

[Viz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually the Christmas books in a series is about each couple's or characters's in the series experience of the christmas celebration. I usually read couple of chapter & skip the book.

But way to go Lucy!! She wrote the story of a new couple and the way the rest of Marian Family celebrating Christmas is just part of the story!
Why don't other Authors do the same! :( :(

[Melanie~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

246 pages of Marian craziness. I had dozens of smile-along moments and even a few laugh-out-loud moments while reading and listening to this story. I can't wait for the next story, but can't find any info about when we get to see Griff reunited with his baby brother.

[Elyxyz Elyxyz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
Questo settimo volume della serie “Made Marian” ha un’accattivante sinossi, che però ci svela poco del contenuto e allora andiamo insieme a scoprire cosa nasconde la prima storia natalizia di quest’autunno che ho avuto il piacere di leggere in anteprima.
Il co-protagonista è Luke Holland, un affascinante avvocato trentacinquenne di origine canadese, sposato col proprio lavoro e felice di avere storie senza complicazioni sentimentali, giusto un uomo con cui intrattenersi ogni tanto, e di uomini bellissimi e frivoli ne ha avuti parecchi.
Luke è un caro amico e collega di Pete Marian, il maggiore dei figli Marian, ed è già stato ‘adottato’ a suo tempo dal clan, che adora e teme per le loro strampalate e imprevedibili riunioni.
Quando il suo migliore amico d’infanzia gli chiede di ospitare per un po’ il suo fratellino per aiutarlo ad ambientarsi lontano da casa, nel suo nuovo lavoro e nella sua nuova vita, Luke è ben felice di farlo, ma non è semplice tenere le mani ferme e gli occhi bassi, quando il ventottenne Noah si presenta alla sua porta ed è ben diverso dal bimbetto che ricordava e che conosceva da quando è nato.
Noah è adorabile, sensibile, dolce e bello, quindi capite che mantenere la promessa e non insidiarlo non è semplice per Luke. Ma l’uomo è ben consapevole delle eventuali implicazioni e della portata di qualunque mossa.
Per una serie di casualità anche Noah viene adottato dal club Marian e ne diventa ‘figlio onorario’.
Non appena i Marian scoprono che Noah è da poco fuggito da una storia finita male, fanno a gara per combinargli un sacco di appuntamenti al buio, con amici ed ex, che tornano a farsi vivi. Immaginate che pasticci, sì?
La storia è divertente, irriverente e dolce come tutti i precedenti volumi, col giusto mix di imprevisti, complicazioni e qualche scossone per movimentare un po’ le cose prima del lieto fine.
Tutti i Marian, ma soprattutto le tre vecchine linguacciute, daranno il meglio (il peggio?) di sé, quindi si ridacchierà parecchio, se amate le scenette un po’ sopra le righe.
Anche le parti coccolose e sensuali non mancheranno. Non sono tantissime, ma piacevoli ed esplicite.
Il volume va necessariamente letto dopo i precedenti, in quanto ogni coppia Marian è presente e spuntano anche vecchie conoscenze già viste, quindi si rischierebbe di non capire appieno ogni riferimento. Ammetto che la forza della storia è proprio il suo essere corale e l’affetto che trasmette, anche se a volte tutti questi nomi generano un po’ di confusione e bisogna ricollegare appellativi e parentele, ma l’elenco iniziale è d’aiuto.
Ne consiglio la lettura per continuità verso la serie e per regalarvi una serata piacevole, divertente e dolce.

[Courtney Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am honestly baffled by the person who left a low rating for this book. If you love the Marians - and why would you be reading this if you didn't? - this should be RIGHT up your alley.

The format is fun, with a chapter at the beginning, middle, and end that features all the Marians and their normal craziness, and the rest alternating POV between Noah and his love interest. And the premise is pure gold - the Marians all trying to set up the sweet new guy in town that they met while he was demoing sex products (a job he had thought was selling kitchen gadgets or something). It's a BLAST.

There was a part where I thought I knew exactly how the story was going, but the author avoided the cliche and easy fix, which - even though it wasn't what I was expecting - was really what needed to happen. It made the ending even more joyful and poignant.

And speaking of the ending, it looks like another book is getting set up for a side character, and I can't WAIT for it!!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute, easy to read, but at the same time forgettable...
Luke's and Noah's story was cute, annoying (because they are stupid!!^^)... but cute...

[Rinkyx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow.... This was a good read up until the 45% mark and then went downhill for me. Luke just got on my nerves as he was too much of a lil b*tch imo. Kept making excuses (lame ones) and said one thing and did the other. I get that he has never been in love before but he understood that he cared for Noah (emotionally) and even called him "mine" but ran away with his tail in between his legs and left Noah like a coward. Pissed me off he even let Gord stay in his home and offered the bed he and Noah just had sex in. Got to the 80% mark and got bord afterwards. Skimmed the rest of the book. 2 stars for the first half of the book and before Lucas turned into this insecure mess, when Noah repeatedly told him and showed that he wanted Luke. Luke just pissed me off honestly and that affected my experience in reading this. Im totally in the minority on this though. Oh and Luke i think was 34? And Noah 28 but Luke kept referencing Noah as a "Kid"?? That was annoying as well as he kept handling Noah as some 16 yr old. I honestly thought Noah was a "young kid" in his early 20's from the way Luke talked and acted around Noah until we find out he's fucking 28. I had a wtf moment. I never read any of the other books in this series but It can definitely be read as a standalone IMO though as I was never confused about who the other couples and characters were in this book. That also means that i was not interested in them as well to want to read their story.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

Adorable tale of childhood friends to lovers. I'm not rating it higher because I was unsatisfied with how passive Luke was. I wanted him to really fight for his man.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassandra Gold - per RFS
.
Ben trovate care Fenici, siamo ormai a dicembre e per me vuol dire collezionare in modo compulsivo libri, novelle e racconti vari sul Natale. Provate a vedermi come un elfo narratore di favole liete (o meno). Quelle raccontate intorno a un camino con una bella cioccolata calda, con tanti mashmellow e bastoncini di zucchero colorato.

Cosa c’entra con il libro con questa prefazione? Diciamo che in casa Marian, il Natale è una cosa seria.

La famiglia Marian è molto unita e comprende un universo di situazioni amorose davvero eterogenee, dove al centro di tutto troviamo una meravigliosa armonia che unisce tutti i membri.

Deluso dall’amore, Noah lascia il Canada, i suoi familiari e l’ex fidanzato militare per inseguire i suoi sogni a San Francisco, invece si ritrova alle dipendenze del sexy shop di Sally Marian. Suo malgrado il ragazzo diventa oggetto di una scommessa: chi riuscirà a sistemarlo per Natale con la sua anima gemella sarà il vincitore.

Peccato che il ragazzo abbia già un amore segreto: Luke, suo convivente e amico d’infanzia del fratello. Infatti arrivato a San Francisco, l’uomo lo invita a stare da lui per onorare l’amicizia che da sempre lo lega alla sua famiglia. Basta poco per capire che il piccolo Noah è cresciuto ed è diventato un bellissimo ragazzo adulto e consenziente, completamente pazzo di lui.

Luke, nonostante le iniziali reticenze, scopre che è ancora in grado di amare e non sempre nella vita è più forte chi fugge, ma lo è chi resta e affronta le proprie debolezze, lasciando cadere protezioni e barriere.

Questo libro mi ha davvero entusiasmato dall’inizio alla fine. Nella trama c’è tutto: amore, sesso, un pizzico di mistero, commozione e dramma.

La storia è ben strutturata e scorre fluida sotto le mani del lettore. I personaggi sono ben studiati e sviluppati a tutto tondo. Ogni membro della famiglia dona qualcosa, aprendosi a noi e regalandoci attimi d’intimità.

Il più vero di tutti? Forse Luke, che spicca sullo sfondo come l’ombra nera in tanta dolcezza. Ho adorato questo personaggio fin dall’inizio, la sua vita, i suoi dubbi, le incertezze, la passione e l’amore riscoperto per il suo vecchio amico.

Anche Noah mi ha convinto con il suo essere dolce e aspro insieme, con Luke hanno formato una coppia indimenticabile.

Consiglio questo libro a un pubblico adulto, per le scene di sesso esplicite, ma assolutamente perfette e mai volgari.

Vi auguro buona lettura Fenici, ci vediamo alla locanda intorno al camino a brindare con la famiglia Marian.

[SoCalBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally getting around to listening to this book. Michael Pauley is of course amazing with his narration of all the voices from the Main Characters Luke & Noah, All the gazillion Marians, to Tilly, Granny and Irene.

Great Story. Great Author. Great Narrator.

This book was HILARIOUS!!!! So much fun to listen to and such a great addition to the Marian family story line. I loved how all the Marian's kept setting Noah up on ridiculous dates. LOL. Omg and Noah's sales job... Couldnt. Stop. Laughing. For most of this book.

This is definitely worth checking out even if you haven't met any of the Marian's yet. But, after this one I can guarantee you will want to know everything about every single person in this book.

[xxoabbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect addition to an already amazing series. I didn’t think the series could be topped but than Lucy comes along with this belter of a Book and I once again fall heads over heels in love with the Marian Clan and their tribe.

There’s something heart warming about reading a book that so family focused but let’s you experience the highs and lows that love brings with it.

I enjoyed immensely and can wait to go back and reread the whole series as I will never be able to get enough.

[Pam Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love, Loved this book it was such a sweet bonus to the series.
I think my best part of it was the Nosy Grannies!!
Noah and Luke’s story is one I really enjoyed. I can’t imagine it would be easy to pine for your brothers best friend and he always seeing you as the little kid even when your 30 years old.
Their journey to get to each other wasn’t easy but so worth it.
Sigh, I am sad I am done.

The narration was done well.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun will they won’t they with likable characters with real baggage. The story was a side adventure in a bigger set of books about the Marian family but having read none of those, I found the scenes with the family without either Luke or Noah a distraction. This had great sex scenes. I enjoyed the book but it is uneven.

[Akila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one giant epilogue with all the cameos. You know, wish fulfillment, because you are now so invested in this family and you want to make sure they are all happy and all that? Because, what is another book when you have read a series of 6 already!

[Daniela Tirrito (Tivvys_books_world) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[MsMiz (Tina)]

Love the Marian clan and seeing them in action again. I really enjoyed this new couple, Luke and Noah, and hope that we continue to see gems as this family grows!