Enchanted

Merry Nicholas Duo #2

by Patti Berg

An unmarried, powerful publisher with old-fashioned views on women and an aggressive businesswoman with domestic yearnings are brought together through the angelic intercession of the publisher's new housekeeper, who resembles a certain Mrs. Claus. Original.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Paranormal, Ebooks

253 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

About the author

Always a romantic, Patti Berg spent her childhood dreaming about being whisked away by a knight in shining armor, a devil-may-care swashbuckler, s sheik on a shiny black stallion, or a broad-shouldered cowboy with a Stetson tilted low on his brow. Now she spends her days making up stories where her heroes do whatever she wants them to.
Patti lives in Northern California with her husband, Rob.

Reviews

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merry Nichols was so cute! Fun Christmas fluff book :D

[Mim · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF and here's why. I'm a fan of romance books, but I'm not a big contemporary romance reader. I think this is my first Patti Berg book and I only got this book because it was a free e-book. I've read 40% of the book according to my Kindle and the 40% that I've read was okay: the hero wasn't a big jerk, the heroine is hardworking and relate-able(although I'm wondering how she was able to adopt a child as a single woman in her twenties), the new housekeeper is a bit twee (but this is I think a Christmas story, so it is not unexpected). And then I had to stop reading when I got to this passage at about location 1927, "She didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want to think about it. Why did everyone assume that just because she loved her job and loved to work that she was a feminist? Sure she believed in equal pay for equal work. Sure she felt more women should be at the top in major corporations, but that would come in time. More and more women were rising to the top. Soon things would be on a more even keel. But why did some men think a woman couldn't hold a responsible job and be a wife, a mother, or a lover at the same time?"

OMG and W...T...F?!?!?! What the fuck do you think a feminist is Patti Berg?!?!?! Your heroine is a hard working career woman who is a single mother by choice through adoption. How the fuck do you think that you would even be able to write this character if it hadn't been for the feminists of the past? I couldn't read after this paragraph and I have no respect for Ms. Berg and will not read any more of her garbage.

[Silverana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. The romance between Mac and Merry was nice. I liked the age difference between the two since it made Mac seem vulnerable when he thought he was too old for her. They had feelings for each other for a long time but due to rumors Mac completely tried to ignore what they could have had. I thought that overall it was a very well written romance but there were a few things that made me give the story a 4 rating.

Some SPOILERS************

The first thing is that the magical element was not given too much thought. Mrs. Claus arrives out of nowhere and Mac ends up keeping her without any major thought to the fact that she’s a stranger. I doubt anyone would forget a stranger’s background and readily welcome them to their home. The next thing is the fact that a store appears in the story but after shopping there, the characters don’t think too much of the fact that it has disappeared right after the sale. If you are going to include magic or something similar in the story, it should be explained or given more thought in the story, not a few sentences.

Another thing that was not given more than a sentence or two is that Mac discovers the truth behind the rumors and the person who really started or told him about them but he does not think about how he listened to the wrong person. I think in a story the major issues should be given more explanation or the main character’s more thoughts about what happened so we know how they feel.

[R · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up about half way through. It just seemed as if it was going to have too many plot devices I disliked, in particular a big misunderstanding caused by the other woman, who was obnoxious, grasping, and kind of idiotic.

Also, the hero was nearly as old as my dad, and certainly old enough to be, which felt a bit creepy. I've read books with 40-something heroes before, and it hasn't bothered me, but something about this book did.

And I didn't really like the hero, anyway. I definitely shared some of the heroine's objections to him, but I really wasn't interested enough to invest my time in him. He had cute moments, but mostly he seemed like a chauvinistic creep. And although I'm sure he became somewhat better over the course of the book, I really didn't care enough.

The paranormal elements also seemed a bit random. And really, what kind of super-rich person just lets a stranger take over as house keeper? I mean, if tabloids care enough about him to write articles about his life, doesn't he worry about, I don't know, spies? And what about his personal safety? It just seemed rather dumb. Even perfectly nice seeming little old ladies can be dangerous.

[Beth Cutwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful read! This is one of my favorite Christmas reads of the year! We can all use a little help from a friend now and then and Mac finds his help in the form of housekeeper, Merry Nicholas. He finds his life all twisted and out of control as he falls hopelessly in love with a girl 18 years his junior and who he loved many years previously. The problem, they fight like cats and dogs and no one wants to compromise, lose the power, give in or cave to the other. And the struggle commences! A former love is complication to be dealt with, and grandmother's advice to Kathleen could tear the couple apart unless Mac searches his heart for the right solution. Highly romantic and very much a feel good read as Patti Berg brought this romantic tale to a conclusion, I very much recommend this Christmas read!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! This is the first book I've read by Patti and can't wait to read her other books..Some romance books take forever for the couples to get together and stay together because they don't talk things through and keep walking away from each other and in this book that doesn't happen..It's truly an enchanting book with a little bit of magic..I fell in love with all the characters..I hated for this book to end..Highly recommend it to all romance readers that like a beautifully written story!!

[Jessica Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lighthearted, holiday themed romance. A lady who may be Mrs. Claus, named Merry Nichols comes to be the housekeeper for a magazine publishing magnate. He has been in a dead end relationship for a decade, and Merry has come to shake things up. With a little help from some of her friends from the north pole, Merry helps the gentleman see what has been right in front of him.

This book could be the story for one of the ABC Family or Hallmark holiday movies they show from Thanksgiving till Christmas.

It was a nice read and I would read another book by this author.

[Kirsten Lenius · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not so enchanted by Enchanted. It is not horrible... kind of a combination of "Who's Got Mail" with some odd Christmas in the summer things thrown in for good measure. The man who is involved kind of acts like a douche, not to mention he is nearly twenty years older than the girl. Those are the best parts. Over all, I just wasn't that impressed.

[Cari · Rating 5 out of 5]

WONDERFUL!!! GREAT!!! If your looking for a sweet, charming Christmas read then this is for you! I loved it...Couldn't put it down...I am going to buy the second one now as I can't wait to see what Merry does next!

[Joann Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

this was a very predictable romance story. still I loved Mac and Kath. the descriptions were beautiful and the pace was good. ultimately it is a hot little number that will make you sizzle.

[Chris Brandstatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet book.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable.

[Cecilia (rather barefoot than bookless) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars review coming soon

[L Bongiorno · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a 3.5 star...

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweat book that shows the magic of Christmas can happen even in July!

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story and a sweet concept, can't wait to read some more about Merry Nicholas! Full review to come

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done story about how Mr. and Mrs. Claus spend their summer holidays - helping unknowing people straighten out their lives. Very cute story and I'll be looking forward to the sequels.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

12/17/12
Predictable plot but it gets under your skin. Easy Christmas tale with few surprises but charming in its own way. A good read for over the holidays.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

CEO's a mess
A new housekeeper appears
And his eyes open

Liked characters lots
And hint of Christmas magic
Plot could be tightened

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mac needs a housekeeper. One shows up on his doorstep and her name is Merry Nicholas. Things start to change and at 49, Mac finds love. Christmas themed during the summer.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

With a book subtitled Merry Nicolas (Santa's wife) I was expecting something a little nicer. I was disappointed in the intimacy in the book and had to skip a chapter.

[Marijayne Stegman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dated story, references to technology and even the relationship between the hero and heroine are dated. Stopped for awhile in the middle then decided to push through and finish it.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great love story!!

[Angelica Taggart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Holiday stories, and this was delightful!

[Shh I'm reading! · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly gave it 2 stars because I finished it. None of the characters stuck out to me in any way and none of them were particularly likeable. Just an okay read.

[N. Kuhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a really clever, cute, interesting Christmas romance. It was magical, sweet, and I couldn't put it down. This story is the perfect Holiday Read!

[Necy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part II - Wishes come true

[Cathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was an easy read...cute love story