You Make It Feel Like Christmas

by Francis Ray, Donna Hill

In You Make it Feel Like Christmas , Donna Hill and Francis Ray bring us holiday cheer with two novellas in one Rockin’ Around That Christmas Tree and The Wish .

Rockin’ Around That Christmas Tree by Donna Hill

Denise has always been the faithful wife and dutiful mother for the twenty-plus years she’s been married to Edward. But now, she’s ready to live a few dreams of her own. When Denise drops the bomb at Thanksgiving dinner that she is leaving Edward and selling the house, everyone is stunned, and her announcement opens the door to Morrison Family Dysfunction 101. But Edward is not ready to give up on them. Not only does he plan to be back at home and in their bed, but he also knows that, come Christmas, he and Denise will be rockin’ around that Christmas tree.

The Wish by Francis Ray
Be careful what you wish for. That’s the lesson brokenhearted Nicholas Darling learns when an eccentric old woman grants him a wish for true love―if he doesn’t fail to see it.

Genres: Christmas, Romance

320 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2021

About the author

Francis Ray was a New York Times and USA Today bestselling African-American writer of romance novels. Her literary fiction series – Taggart and Falcon, the Invincible Women, Grayson Family of New Mexico, and Grayson Friends – have consistently made bestseller's lists. She was born in Richland, Texas, and studied nursing, receiving a bachelor's degree from Texas Woman's University in 1967. She began writing in 1987, while continuing to work as a nurse, and had her first book published in 1992.

AWARDS
Romantic Times Career Achievement
EMMA
The Golden Pen
The Atlantic Choice
Romantic Times 2008 Reviewers' Choice Award Winners for AFRICAN-AMERICAN ROMANCE Reviewers' Choice Awards – Best Books Not Even If You Begged, St. Martin's Griffin (February 2008)
Borders 2008 Bestselling Multicultural Romance Award for Nobody but You
Written's 2010 Readers Choice Book of the Year for If You Were My Man

Reviews

[Ty · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two stories (Rockin Around the Christmas Tree & The Wish) were wonderful!! Rockin Around the Christmas Tree was my favorite because it revolved around an older married couple who are going through real life issues after being married for 27yrs. The main character Denise was tired of her husband Edward not treating her like part of the marriage and she decided to teach him a lesson by asking for a divorce. This story was very heart warming and at times hilarious and I loved that it truly felt like Christmas. The Wish was equally entertaining with Nicholas being granted his wish of becoming engaged by Christmas. Parts of this was hilarious as well and I liked the relationship that evolved between Nicholas and Andrea. I just wish this story was a little longer because everything felt very rushed at the end. If you are looking for a holiday romance that will put you in the holiday spirit and give you all the feels, I would highly recommend this!

[Tamara Pierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Rocking Around That Christmas Tree” I rate it 5.
“The Wish” I rate it a 3.

Rocking Around That Christmas Tree felt like I was watching a movie on the LifeTime or Hallmark channel.

I enjoyed the story life w/ such a romantic + lovely ending.

I must say there’s a few life lessons to life from the story.

The Wish was boring, I felt as if I was watching a kids movie. I was very engaged with it.

[Rachel Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute! You Make It Feel Like Christmas is composed of (2) holiday romances. "Rockin' Around That Christmas Tree," I enjoyed for it's perspective on how it feels for a woman to be unappreciated in a marriage. At points the story felt repetitive. I really enjoyed "The Wish," fake dating trope. I loved how the couple met and their interactions. "The Wish," ended to quickly I wanted more of their story.

[Valerie HappiestWhileReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

With a desire to diversify my holiday reading, I borrowed You Make It Feel Like Christmas from the library after seeing it in a publisher's promo email. I didn't realize it's a 2021 repackage of two contemporary romance novellas written in 2003 and 2002, respectively. I have difficulty DNFing books ... but this may have been a contender if I did.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by Donna Hill and Francis Ray is about 200 pages long. I appreciated that the main characters are a wife and husband in middle age who've been married for years, but the basic premise of the plot really bothered me. Denise is tired of being valued only for her skills in the kitchen and bedroom so she asks Edward for a divorce as a wake-up call. Threatening to divorce your partner seems like a really poor tactic and a sign of a much bigger issue in the marriage. This is a Christmas romance so, of course, it has a happy ending. This story also includes a senior citizen couple with a very active sex life, something not included in the romances I've read.

The Wish by Francis Ray is approx. 100 pages long and includes a touch of magical realism. In this story, tall, dark, handsome, single, and successful Nicholas Darling is shopping at a supermarket when an older woman tells him his wish has been fulfilled and he will be engaged by Christmas. This seems pretty unlikely since it's November and he has no interest in dating or marrying anyone. Word of Mrs. Augusta granting his wish quickly spreads and Nicholas's life gets pretty complicated. Then he meets Andrea, Mrs. Augusta's niece who is visiting from NYC. Andrea longs to find Mr. Right but knows he can't be Nicholas, no matter how much she's attracted to him, because her aunt can't grant wishes to family members ... or can she?

The second novella redeemed this collection for me. The first felt its nearly 20-year age. I wonder if the authors would use the same plot if writing the story today.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only Christmas themed story I cared to read. Light and fluffy.

Rockin Around that Christmas Tree

Denise, tired of feeling unneeded in her marriage, she proposes a divorce to her husband Edward of 27-yrs. Determined not to lose her, Ed works to win Denise back in time for a happy family Christmas.

I love that this pair always love each other but had to get to know each other again, most Ed. There were times I felt Denise's heartache and Ed truly starting to see her and all she meant to him.

Features: second chance romance, grown children, quirky extended family, storm, holiday festivities, lighthearted drama

The Wish

Ms.Augusta grants the silent wish of Nicholas in Jubilee, Texas, that he will find his love and be engaged by Christmas. Andrea and Nicholas are drawn together and so their story progresses.

Features: genie-like elements, mild drama

[tre be · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve had this book on my tbr for years and finally got to read it for this Christmas season.

Was it worth the wait? Ehhhh…
I’ll just say that I love the cover 😍

What I learned is that the book is comprised of 2 different stories from the early 2000s, that were repackaged as 2 short stories combined here.

One story is about a couple who have been married for 20+ years and the wife is feeling unappreciated and asks for a divorce. The husband gets to work trying to win back her love in time for a merry Christmas.

The second story is about a wish being granted for a man to be married by Christmas. Trouble is, he didn’t ask for the wish and isn’t even in a relationship.

It’s gotten some pretty good reviews but I just wasn’t too into it. On to my next read…

[Jay Ander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frustrating and good all at the same time. I love a good Christmas story and this one is an easy light read. At first I was thinking this might not be the book for me but as I continued I was drawn in by the point that Denise was trying to make to her husband. There were times when reading this book that I wanted to scream at Denise to just say what it was that she wanted but in thinking about marriage some times we say it over and over again and the message doesn’t get received. That ending though 🥰!

As for the wish, honestly I loved it! I wish there was more to the ending and that it didn’t have to come to a wrap so soon. That’s how much k enjoyed it, I wanted more.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I didn’t fully realize when I purchased the novel that it was two novellas in one novel. I am favoring the first piece about Denise & Edward more because I felt more invested in them & the storyline overall. The second novella was well written but I wasn’t as engaged & my mind wandered every so often.

[Rachel Kahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my genre, I had a lot of issues with the traditional male and female roles in the storylines. But I mean I read the book in a week- so I guess it wasn’t all bad :p

First I’ve read of the authors as well. Both seem accomplished in the romance field. Would read others if I wanted to test the waters again

[Amanda Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was torn between 3 or 4. I don’t necessarily consider these Christmas stores. Around the Christmas tree would be the reason for the 3 star. It was well written but the story really didn’t grab at me. The wish was good though, even tho you all know the ending. It could have had a weird twist to make it longer but it was still good.

[BernieMck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Denise has to resort to drastic measures to make her husband and children stop taking her for granted. I really enjoyed this tale of renewed devotion and appreciation. What a great holiday story.

[Just Read VI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woow! I want more!

Wow! To say I enjoyed this book would be a huge understatement! I loved the romance spirit of love and everything else! Amazing! So thankful for this collab! Awesome!

[Joyce-Anne Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rockin’ Around That Christmas Tree by Donna Hill - 5 Stars
The Wish by Francis Ray - 3 Stars

[Ilia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Absolutely lovely stories about love and relationships set around Christmas.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two sweet short stories about love and romance at Christmas time.

[Shandalyn GodnBooksnThings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the stories were so Christmas cozy. I gave the first story Rockin’ Around That Christmas Tree 3.5 and the second story The Wish 5 brining this book as a whole 5⭐️.

[Sara Weather · Rating 3 out of 5]

#82

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining, fast read. Both stories have that Hallmark movie feeling and are perfect for light, Christmas season reading. Very enjoyable.🎄🎅🏻🤶☃️

[Zhana Cox]

No star rating because my feelings are unknown

‘Rockin’ Around That Christmas Tree’ was okay. Denise is basically feeling unappreciated. Her husband and kids treat her like the help and sis figured “let me fake a divorcé announcement” which had them shook the hell up. The rest is history, as we move through Denise’s journey towards individualism and teaching her love ones how she wishes to be treated moving forward. Edward was rubbing me the wrong way in the beginning but with time he grew on me, turns out an old dog can learn new tricks.

‘This Wish’ is unrealistic af and I don’t like that in romance. Nathan accidentally gets granted a wish by a well respected elder in his town. The wish, to find true love. But the way things unfold, ughhh and I don’t like Nathan, his character seems like a good guy with serial killer tendencies. Idk he gave weird. Then the elder’s niece, she’s the cute, artsy gal who is reserved but is loved by everyone.

I honestly could have did without ‘The Wish’ just to get more of ‘Rockin Around That Christmas Tree’

I will say both author are great at building romantic tension and chemistry between characters. It also didn’t feel like the holidays in either story.