The House-Sitter's Christmas: A Romantic Fairy Tale

by Jean C. Joachim

At Christmas, Laura Fleming lived her fantasy adventure. Paid to house-sit for the fabulously wealthy financier, C.W. Banley, while he traveled, she eagerly headed for New York City. As mistress of his elegant townhouse, she baked cookies and dressed the old gent’s richly-furnished residence for the holidays. As December rolled around, the lonely, lovely writer eagerly anticipated soaking up the Christmas atmosphere in the grand city. With only the cat for company, she’d turn Banley’s elegant home into a wonderland of sparkling lights, fragrant garland, and shiny tinsel. Every year, she wished, in vain, for a happy ending. Will this be the year that Miss Fleming discovers her dreams can come true, even in a big city, like New York? A sweet, New York City Christmas Fairy Tale novella. As in any fairy tale, there is some violence in this story, and some cursing, as well, but no sex.AwardsWINNER! First Place in Novella Category, National Reader's Choice Awards, Oklahoma Romance Writer's of America - 2017WINNER! Third place (tie) - New England Romance Writer's of America Reader's Choice Award! 2018WINNER! Third place - Mainstream Fiction with Romance Elements, Wisconsin Romance Writer's of America Write Touch contest, 2018

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2017

About the author

I've been making up stories for as long as I can remember. When other kids wanted to be doctors, teachers or firemen, I wanted to be a writer.
As soon as I could read, I began devouring books. I'd read anything I could get my hands on, but Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" and Nancy Drew mysteries were early favorites.
In school, term papers were my favorite homework. While others bemoaned the amount of work involved, I jumped in, burying myself in research and writing the document with care.
Still fiction was my first love. After college and a degree in English, I fell into the world of advertising. After many years in corporate America, I went my own way. Working and raising two kids took all my energy and creativity. But when the youngest went off to school, all the stories ideas in my head came to life. Mac Caldwell and Callie Richards landed in my head and refused to leave. So I told their story. What started as one book has become six. Now I greet my characters every morning at six and jump back into their story, enjoying every minute. I'm blessed to be able to work at something I love. More than 70 books later, I'm still up at the crack of dawn, crafting the tales of the people who live in my head while nursing a cup of tea and a few pieces of black licorice.

Reviews

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Laura and Craig you were clearly meant to be. Oh Craig you are way too unbelievable, but it's a holiday season book so I just plain don't care and love you anyway. Oh George, you craft old manipulator, I know you set this whole thing up and adore you even more for doing so.

Seasonal romance of the finest kind. You just gotta love that resulting "feel good" feeling.

It's a short book, but highly recommended.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

[Sassy Beta Reading & Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a short but sweet, holiday read, this is a good place to start. This was a fun little read. I read this in one sitting.

It's Christmas in New York and Laura is house sitting for C.W. Banley. This is her 3rd year working for Mr. Banley, but things are not what they seem. She uses this opportunity to get away from past, but her past comes back to haunt her. Craig, is away on business and has left Miss Fleming to watch over his house while he is away on business. He has never met Laura before and has a surprise when he checks out the security cameras he has placed throughout his house. She is nothing like the sweet, old lady he thought he'd hired. She's young, she's a rule breaker, she's everything he ever wanted in a woman. Craig falls hard for a woman that he's never met.

Great story line, fantastic description to detail, awesome characters that were easy to fall into like with (was too short to from a stronger relationship with), and engaging dialogue. Written as a multi pov.


All in all, a nice read.

Would I recommend this book? Yes

Would I read more from this author? Yes

Sassy Beta Reading & Review

[Christina Montminy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was offered this ARC by the author for an honest review & I loved it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a quick read that kept me interested until the very end, I didn't want to put it down. We meet house sitter Laura who enjoys the city of New York at Christmas, but what we don't know is what her life's been like until she breaks a few of the rules the home owner has asked of her. This book is very cagey, because it has us thinking as does Laura that the owner is an older gentleman off on business over the holidays. We don't find out who he actually is until he decides to check out the new security system installed. We slowly get to meet C.W. & realize he's nothing like he sounds. When Laura's past comes to find her C.W. moves heaven to get to her to protect the woman who he has surprisingly fallen for, while watching her on his security system. The story was wonderful, with genuinely likeable characters, especially the characters of Ellen the next door neighbour & George the assistant to C.W. Definitely recommend.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a sweet and heartwarming story. It will suck you in with its suspense. It has characters that you will love. It’s an entertaining read. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! Having never actually met the man Laura was house sitting for proves advantageous, in more ways than one, when her past comes for an unwelcome visit. I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This story was originally written as a set of episodes released each day over a month's time. I think I would have gone crazy each day waiting for the next episode to find out what was happening. Having a little bit of suspense in each episode kept me hook through the entire story. I'm so glad I was able to read it all in a day's time. It's an easy read with just enough suspense to keep you reeled in and still be light enough to thouroughly enjoy the story.

[Stefani · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG i absolutely loved this little book. It was a quick read. I couldn't put it down until i was finished.

[Fleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book, the characters are all great and you really feel like you know them, Laura is so sweet and I love how she gets to live in her own wee happy works spending time with the people she has met around the area every Xmas . C.W. is great how he is focused on working and making deals that he has no idea what he is really missing in life. Some great twists, a few lol as well as awe moments and then of course some intense and and what will happen moments. I think you will be surprised by how much is in this book and love it just as much as I did.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Cheryl H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was offered an ARC for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is a charming, fun read with just the right mix of intrigue, suspense and romance. This lovely quick read is ideal for a rainy day or an afternoon with your feet up on the lounge.

[Susanne Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story. Loved it.

This is the perfect holiday story. Two lonely people meet in the most unusual way. When Craig realizes his housesitter may be in danger, he's ready to move Heaven and Earth to help her. Great book.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little Christmas Romance book!! It is a charming tale of Laura and Craig filled with Christmas cheer, some drama and a happy ending. I hope there will be a sequel so I can see what their future holds for them!

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a fun Fairy tale. First of all there is no way any billionaire would hire someone to take care of his house with so many valuables in it while he is away and he has never met her. It also appeared he knew nothing about her & she knew nothing about him. That only happens in the movies and fairy tales! Second a billionaire would not have all this trouble getting a flight back to his home because he would have his own private plane or he would just hire one. It just doesn’t make sense all the trouble he went through to get back to help his house-sitter. It is a little hard to get a grasp at first because it jumps from one thing to another. How did she come to house sit for him in the first place? How did they make the connection for to come into his employment in the first place when they live so far apart? Why all of a sudden after three years did he decide to put in a security system with a camera where he can watch her? Just doesn’t add up. Why all of a sudden after three years does her ex show up in her life again. There are too many question that are unanswered that just show up all of a sudden. I was given this book for an honest opinion.

[Teresa Christianson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. The narrator was great. Like the whole storyline with her coming to the city for Christmas every year to housesit because living in the country in the middle of nowhere gets really lonely. Then her ex finds her and is threating her. She thinks that C.W. is an old man but finds out that the one actually living in the house is his nephew Craig. When he sees (when he checks the security cameras on his phone) that she has broken the rules not once but three times by initing people into the house, he is furious. Then he sees and hears when her ex shows up and he does everything in his power to get home before her ex shows up again. Will he get to her before her ex does? What happens when she finds out that that Craig has been watching her on the security camera and that there is a camera in her bedroom also? Will she stay with him for the holidays or does she leave right away even though she is hurt and needs someone to care for her for a little while until she heals

[Gladys · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a very enjoyable read. The well written story is sweet and quirky. It was super easy to fall for Laura and Craig and to get swept up into their fun story. This is a quick holiday read that is sure to brighten your day and leave you with a smile on your face. This is my elective, candid review.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

We dream of a Knight in shining armor coming to the rescue like in the fairy tales. We get that with this exciting story of 2 lonely people coming together under dangerous circumstances. This is a great read that you won't want to put down.

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet quick read.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this sweet story!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok story

Parts of this story were a bit far fetched which made it hard to get into the story. Not the worst but not the best.

[Sylvie Howick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by this author. It was a cute short story.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book that would have been much more enjoyable if not for the two narrators. The characters in the story are in their 30s. The narrators sound like they’re pushing 60.

[Angel]

This is a novella, so it is a fast read. Laura has been house-sitting for billionaire C. W. Hanley for the last three years over Christmas time. She thinks he is a crochety old man. She always leaves him little gifts suitable for an elderly man, as well as baking. C. W. (Craig) thinks Laura is an older single lady. This year things will change. There’s some twists and a little suspense and a happy ending.
I received an ARC from the author and I’m giving a voluntary review.