The Eggnog Chronicles

by Carly Alexander

THEY VE MADE THEIR LISTS...

As the celeb obituary writer for the New York Herald, Jane Conner can sum up a person's life in three hundred words. She could sum up her love life in even less: Great sex=great time. Commitment=annoyance overload. Maybe it has something to do with being "overly critical," as her boss, the short-sighted idiot, put it. Being "discerning" has at least kept Jane from making the same relationship mistakes as her sister Ricki and best friend Emma. Hasn't it? Now, with the holidays bearing down like a freight train from You Screwed Up-ville, Jane's about to get a second chance she never expected...

...CHECKED 'EM TWICE...

Ricki Conner has run her life on signs from the universe, and right now, she's looking for guidance about her boyfriend, Nate, a.k.a Mr. Mixed Signals. He keeps reassuring her that his divorce will be final by Christmas. So why is there still no ring on Ricki's finger?

...BUT WHO SAYS "NAUGHTY" CAN'T BE NICE?

When the pregnancy test turns pink, it's a good sign...unless you've had wild ex-sex with your former boyfriend while the current one was out of town. This is not exactly the holiday gift Emma Dee had hoped for. It's bad enough that her career track at the bank has been derailed. Now, she gets to spend the season ladling eggnog to her friends and saying, oh by the way, I'm pregnant with another man's baby -- drink up, everybody! Oh well, at least things can't get any worse...right?

Christmas. It's a time for going into debt, neuroses-gone-wild, dates from hell, seriously spiked eggnog, and maybe even a miracle or two. And for three women on the verge of what seems like certain holiday disaster, it just may be the season to toast the best times of their lives...

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Chick Lit, Fiction, Holiday, Ebooks

299 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Nancy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. At first, I wasn't sure if it was just one of those stories featuring a whiny, self-obsessed character, but as it turned out, the characters were great. They were very human and very real, with problems that young women frequently face as they try to sort out their lives in the midst of health scares, nasty boyfriends, and weak moments that lead to difficult decisions. It is a very readable book that ultimately shines the spotlight on friendship and love and the important things in life.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is actually three stories woven into one. Each section follows a different character, but all of the characters are friends and make appearances in the stories of the other 2. I really liked this style. I expected the book to be light chick lit. It was actually a bit deeper while still being a fun read. I found the characters to be relatable and interesting. For the most part they were likable though I found Emma to be a bit whiny and melodramatic at times. I really liked the author's sense of humor and will look for more books by Carly Alexander in the future.

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't love this book, when all was said and done. I felt like it was a combo of 3 other chick lit story lines I've probably heard before. Cute, and it was a quick read, I had it done in 2 days. But, not something I'd run out and buy if you are going to read it. Hit the library for it!

[Judy Zimbelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet romp for 3 women trying to find themselves and may be a soul mate along the way. The last story was the shortest but maybe the best plot. As this girl up roots to another state with a married man and the promise of marriage. 3 years later and no divorce but she has found her place and eventually recognizes her community really loves her.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a self-indulgent, guilty pleasure holiday read. Of the three intertwining stories, I liked the second the best, with Ricki as the protagonist. Jane was annoying and Emma somewhat dull.

[Kathy Randall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first of the 3 collected stories. Too much oh-I’m-incomplete-without-a-man. Not enough sex

[Rebekah Hays · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels like we could have done without the super racist accent in that last part?

[Jennifer Eckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! Fun Christmas read!

[Antof9 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A charming little piece of lighthearted chick lit only slightly spoiled by the totally unnecessary and very descriptive sex scenes in each of the three vignettes.

This book is about 3 women -- 2 sisters and a great friend. The sisters, Ricki and Jane, lost both parents -- first their dad to a heart attack, and then their mom to cancer.

The relationship between the sisters is just beautiful. I love the description when Jane calls to give Ricki some upsetting news

"Oh, Janey. . . ." Her voice was fraught with that familiar catch, the flicker of pain that I'd come to recognize over the years when girls in the third grade were making fun of her, when she'd skinned her knee in the park, when a teenage boy had lied to talk her into having sex, when our father had fallen to the table with chest pains and never recovered. It was my job to keep that sound from Ricki's voice, my job to protect her.

In Ricki's story, there is a great description about God:

I don't completely subscribe to the notion that God is only prsent in churches, but when your heel scrapes along the stone floor of a cathedral, the air thick with incense and watery light sifted through stained glass, it's clear that God is there. ...so I'd knelt down and prayed to the God who is bigger than any cathedral to (spoiler words removed).

In my notes to myself, I wrote the following, along with the information for the publisher and the author's name. I guess I thought I should write to the publisher?

The sex scenes were so random and unnecessary. It's not like it's a book about sex. This writer is better than that, and I was a bit disappointed. Where did that come from?

Weird.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read, if you have time to dedicate to reading it - I was reading it in the midst of some holiday madness so it took a few days.
I really loved the writing in this book. I found myself writing down quotes from it quite often. I am not sure this is really romance, the focus is more on the women's lives with men as a background piece. I loved Jane's story, a celebrity obit writer trying to find herself and her place in the newspaper world. Ricki's story, a year after Jane's, is full of Christmas spirit, wonderful friends on the OBX (a favorite place of mine); it looks at letting go of things not working to let in the possibilities that are out there.
Emma's story I could have done without and is the reason for 4 stars instead of 5. I hate any story line regarding cheating, especially when followed by deceit. So part of my dislike is personal dislike for that. It also was much shorter than Jane and Ricki's story and I felt like it wasn't really necessary to include it; I also didn't feel at peace with the "conclusion" on who the father was.
I always appreciate an epilogue, to see how things turned out for the characters.

[Cari Schaeffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing, editing, and proofreading are sound, but I didn't like this book much. There's foul language (which always knocks one star off for me) and the characters are just so...slutty, unfocused, shallow, directionless. It's a shame. I couldn't really root for any of them.

The author created characters that all treat sex like it's no more important than a good work out at the gym to relieve stress. In the real world, they would all have STDs and broken hearts along with broken spirits. So sad.

I am just thankful that the one individual who ended up pregnant (not knowing who the father was??? Ew!!) did not kill her baby. I would have slammed the book shut at that point.

[Sherri Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story that is actually three stories in one. Each story features a different central character each facing a very difficult situation. I really liked that even though each story is uniquely different, they all flow together.

Each character, Jane, Rikki and Emma are all desperately in need of a Christmas miracle and I loved how each character faces their dilemma head on.

Readers looking for the perfect Christmas theme book will enjoy this story that brings the magic and joy of Christmas alive.

[Cris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't bother. The book is divided into three parts, for each one of three friends. Only one of the characters is likable, the other two are just silly women who keep getting strung along by a-hole men. And each story ends before there's really a conclusion so it's more like three short stories with bad endings.

[Mary Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than most of the trite Christmas books. There were some meaningful nuggets-how Jane dealt with her demise and Randy's comment that it isn't our job as parents to give our kids everything they want but rather to give them what they need. I was hoping for the eggnog recipe that filtered its way through the book.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great holiday novel set from the point-of-views of three heroines, Jane, Ricki, and Emma, who are all connected. Their stories are told in an almost short story form which allows enough time to get to know each character without the confusion of figuring out whose point-of-view you are reading.

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was actually surprised that I enjoyed the stories up until the end of each. The endings seemed rushed and cliched. I wasn't expecting too much from this book, but it was entertaining and got me into the Christmas spirit, which is what I wanted!

[Tara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worthy of the pages it is printed on. This book does not deserve to live. Absolute shite. Got to about page 30 and I could not go on. Would have thrown it out, yes, thrown it out, but did not want to pay for the library fine.


Characters were stick figures obsessed with shoes.

[casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who wants to read a book about Christmas that would life your spirits... this is it. This is a very funny book about a couple of friends and sibblings.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun, short, book to read around the holidays!

[Genevieve Boarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light, fun book perfectly fit for vacation. Nothing intellectual, just good girly reading.

[Turtlegirl00 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is entertaining,quick easy reading. It is predictable-yet humorous and offers a good perspective on the holidays! Glad to have read it as they are rapidly approaching!

[April · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took a long time to get into the book. Slow read until the end. A story about a woman and finding herself and what she really needs to be happy.

[Kelly Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay book but certainly nothing special. There are 3 different perspectives that the story is told from. I only really enjoyed one of them.

[Anissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

funny and worth the read, but more like three short stories. Not melded together well at all. Left me wanting more details.

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual, mindless, read-for-fun novel when you don't want to think, yet be entertained at the same time.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Each of the 3 sections focuses on a different character & story, yet they are entwined. I didn't really like Jane or Emma, so that leaves Ricki & the middle section for entertainment.

[Dona · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chick lit at its weakest ..... If you have a few hours to spend with nothing better to do go for it!

[Jocelyn Montalvo Cullum]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11832286

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly fluff chick lit kinda book, but was slightly entertaining.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

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