Picture-Perfect Christmas

by Charlotte Greene

When Nicole Steele left the small mountain town of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, she thought she’d never look back. Almost twenty years later, all she wants is to move home. She’s delighted to be hired to take photographs for Glenwood’s new tourism campaign. Instead of her usual week-long visit, she gets to spend the entire holiday season in town. But there’s a Quinn Zelinski.

Quinn’s working on the tourism project, too, and she and Nicole have a high school rivalry, teenage longing, and one memorable kiss. Then Nicole left for college, Quinn stayed, and except for a few fleeting glimpses, they haven’t seen or spoken to each other since.

Nicole and Quinn can’t avoid each other forever, and the magic of the Christmas season might rekindle the romance between them if they don’t let old hurts and rivalry ruin a picture-perfect reunion.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Queer, Second Chance, LGBT, Enemies To Lovers, Lesbian

Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2022

About the author

Charlotte Greene grew up in the American West in a loving family that supported her earliest creative endeavors. She began writing as a teenager and has never stopped. She now holds a doctorate in English, and she teaches a wide variety of courses in literature and women’s studies at a regional university in the South. When she’s not teaching or writing her next novel, she enjoys playing video games, traveling, and brewing hard cider. Charlotte is a longtime lover and one-time resident of the City of New Orleans. While she no longer lives in NOLA, she visits as often as possible.

Librarian note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[AnnMaree Of Oz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good Festive story of two women getting a second chance at love, after pinning for each other throughout highschool. They are now 36, both photographers and have an attraction but also a slight rivalry to attend to over the course of their re-meeting.

They have to work together for their home-towns tourism campaign, photographing all the magical moments of Christmas and beyond. Bringing them closer, and old feelings and new ones developing.

It's a predictable story, which there's nothing wrong with at all. I did find myself a bit annoyed at a few antagonistic choices, that grated - but that is to be expected in any lesfic, there has to be some drama.

But all's well that ends well, and this Christmas story gives you everything you want from a small town, second chance romance.

[MJSam · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read Greene’s The Wedding Setup last year and found it ok, but I didn’t enjoy this one. The premise was interesting, but the story didn’t live up to it.

The MCs are Nicole and Quinn who grew up in the same small town and were interested in each other in high school but just as they were getting together something happens that causes an argument and Nicole then leaves town and becomes a famous photographer. Quinn is also a photographer and both she and Nicole are hired to shoot an advertising campaign (though I couldn’t work out why they were both needed).

Nicole is back in town for about six weeks as a result and working together of-course forces them back in contact and they become closer. I liked Nicole, but could not warm to Quinn, especially since the ‘issue’ that forced them apart was just her being ridiculous and unfairly blaming Nicole for her issues. The same issue the crops up again in the book, making Quinn even less likeable. The only thing I liked about that part of the book was that everyone, including Quinn’s BFF and other friends, calls her out for this. She then has to make a grand gesture that leads to the HEA but I couldn’t buy into it, Nicole deserved better and the epilogue was too neat for me, especially in regards to Quinn. I also could have lived without the parents side story. 2.5 stars.

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Perfect is a delightful second chance Christmas romance that takes place in beautiful snowy Colorado. When Quinn and Nicole are both hired by the Glenwood Tourism to take pictures for their new website and brochures, neither is certain how it will go considering how they parted eighteen years early. The two quickly come to terms with their past and look towards their future as they work together taking exquisite photographs and spend time with their friends and families. When old wounds rear their heads the two must decide if there will be a future for them.

Colorado’s winters landscape is the perfect backdrop for this story. The scenery and landscapes are filled with sensory language that makes it easy to visualize the beauty of the terrain. Quinn and Nicole are destined to be together but their journey is not always easy. The supporting cast of characters of Quinn’s dad, Nicole’s mom, and Quinn’s friends add a lot to the overall plot. This is a sweet romance filled with wonderful characters and majestic scenery that will keep a reader warm on a cold winter’s night.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Glenwood Springs as the setting because it is a place I have visited and can easily imagine. Nicole is an accomplished professional photographer. She accepts a job at a reduced rate to take photos to promote her home town because it allows her spend several weeks with her mother over the holidays. She doesn’t realize they city split the contract between her and local photographer Quinn. Nicole had a lifelong crush on Quinn that never went anywhere after an awkward evening in during their senior year.

It’s now 18 years later and both women alway felt the other was the one that got away. It is sort of a second chance romance although they were never really together. Quinn stayed local and runs her dad’s novelty photo studio and has earned some recognition for her nature photography. This is all a pretty decent set up having them work together to get the shots for the city. Nicole is very likable as is her supportive mom. The blow-up from the past wasn’t her fault but she was shaken by it. Quinn is harder to like. Insecurity and jealousy is a big obstacle to overcome. I found the original blowup presumptuous on her part for setting it up and then putting the blame on Nicole. And to have history repeat itself as the conflict made me wonder if she’d grown up and owned her own actions.

There is fun filler activities with friends including visiting Doc Holiday’s grave, swimming in the springs and skiing in Aspen. I enjoyed the friend group. But overall I would have traded skating or bird watching for some real conversations that show why these two want each other. The epilogue is nice but throws in extra friends that aren’t part of the story. And I want to know if Quinn got her new job on her own or with help from Nicole.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC in exchange for a review.

[Jo reece · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m ‘on the fence’ with this story. I liked the premise of the book, but things were a little repetitive for me. It’s a story of second chances or in Quinn's case third chances. I think I was just hoping for more, I’ve read a fair few of Charlotte Greene's books, and loved them.. but for me, Picture-perfect Christmas, I couldn’t seem to connect to.

All in all… personally, this will either be a hit or miss with most people.

I've given Picture-perfect Christmas a 2.4 out of 5.

[Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The green monster has a major role in this read. Nicole Steele, talented award winning photographer. Returns to Glenwood Springs to spend more time with her mother Annette and participate in a marketing campaign to increase tourism for the town. Quinn Zelinski is a talented nature photographer, also part of the marketing campaign. She never left town and holds bitterness toward Nicole.

Nicole and Quinn had a mutual crush in high school which was never fully realized and one of the reasons is Nicole's jealousy. The supporting characters are a fantastic addition to the read. Especially Nicole's mother Annette and Quinn's father, Jack. I do enjoy reads with supportive parents. It is a light holiday read which makes you cringe at time and smile at others.

ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NewGalley

[visceralreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 57%

Nicole Steele had just returned to her hometown Glenwood Springs, Colorado, hired to take photographs for a tourism campaign. Instead of her usual week-long visit, she gets to spend the entire holiday season in town. But the problem is being with Quinn Zelinski again, after nearly 20 years. Quinn and Nicole have a tumultuous history: high school rivalry, teenage longing, and one memorable kiss. Then Nicole left for college, Quinn stayed, and except for a few fleeting glimpses, they haven’t seen or spoken to each other since. Nicole and Quinn can’t avoid each other forever, and the magic of the Christmas season might rekindle the romance between them if they don’t let old hurts and rivalry ruin a picture-perfect reunion.

This is a cute Christmas romance, full of longing and second chances. I love the cozy vibes in this, the amazing friendship between Quinn and her friends, cool photography stuff that's fun to visualise. But unfortunately, this book isn't for me. I found the pacing too slow, and while I do love me some queer christmas stuff, Quinn and Nicole fell flat for me. There were a lot of filler scenes and it quickly got boring for me.

The final nail in the coffin for me is whatever's going on with both their parents. THEIR PARENTS ARE DATING AND THAT MEANS QUINN AND NICOLE ARE GONNA BE STEPSISTERS NOW?? I think this is properly addressed/later on in the story but I literally couldn't bring myself to read it anymore, I'm really sorry :(( I tried skimming the parts where they talked about it and I was in the clear for a while, but Nicole and Quinn both brought it up again and encouraged it (I mean, good for their parents ig, but not for them) and I had to put this book down.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC!

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when two young women try to get through highschool, then hopefully going onto university. Even though they were in some classes together neither knew what the other girls' hopes were for the future. Both wanted to make their future all about becoming photographers taking photos around not only their part of the world but also being able to travel the world taking pictures.
Years ago Quinn Zelinski and Nicole Steele wanted the same thing, graduate from highschool and then if possible win a scholarship to university to study photography. While both share secret crushes on the other, only one will win the scholarship. It wasn’t Quinn. Did I mention both had crushes on the other.
Now twenty years later, both make their living taking pictures; it's only Nicole who has had her career take her around the world. Now the small city of Glenwood wants to have a brochure showing off what Glenwood has to offer tourism. It’s not until they meet do they realize the city wants both photographers to work on their project.
They didn’t part on the best of terms so how would they make this project work for both of them. Only time and Ms Greene’s excellent writing will show us the way. Great characters, (even though Quinn acted a little childish at times), good plot and a very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture Perfect Christmas by Charlotte Greene is a really satisfying reunion romance that takes place around the time of year known for reunions and getting together with family and friends. I’ve been having great fun reading new Christmas romances, and this is a good addition to the list.

Photographer Nicole Steele is coming home to visit her mother for the holidays in her hometown of Glenwood, Colorado. She has also taken a job taking photographs for the town’s tourism campaign while she is there. It means she can spend more time with her mother. There is just one problem. She will be working with Quinn Zelinsky, the woman who broke her heart when she was in high school.

While this is definitely a character driven novel, the setting does play a major role in the story because of the photography aspect, and because it is just such a beautiful place, especially this time of year. It is well described by the author and makes the tale more realistic. The characters are well developed, both main and secondary. We get to see the story through the eyes of both Quinn and Nicole, and thankfully, the narrative makes it clear when the reader switches from one to the other. I bonded with Nicole quickly, but I must admit I had some problems with the way Quinn treated Nicole in the story. The author does give us some clues to why Quinn acts this way (it involves something in her childhood), but her actions kept me from connecting with her until later in the story.

I had fun reading this Christmas love story, and whole-heartedly recommend it to readers who love reunion romances.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Becca Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love holiday romances and second chance romances, but this one wasn’t for me. The premise was promising and it wasn’t a bad story but there were some things about the execution that just weren’t quite right for me.

Nicole and Quinn are both photographers who grew up in Glenwood Springs and they have a history. When they both get hired to take photos for the town’s holiday tourism campaign they’re forced to confront their past.

A whole holiday season spent together sounds promising and there are lots of holiday activities that the two participate in. However, I felt like the activities were filler to show that time was passing and they were spending time together rather than directly moving the plot along. The word that keeps sticking in my mind to describe this one is ‘slow’. And not like a slow burn with lots of tension. I also found the format and timing of the flashbacks to be jarring which further impacted the pace of the story.

While the pacing issues were a minor frustration for me, I was really disappointed by the ending. It’s a romance so it should come as no surprise that one of the characters messes up and needs a grand gesture. The description of the grand gesture was vague and told from the perspective of the character making it (Quinn). As a result, I found it completely unbelievable that the apology would be accepted so easily. I would have really loved to understand what was going through Nicole’s mind during it rather than just seeing Quinn’s nerves.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick holiday read, it tells the tale of Nicole and Quinn, two people with high school history having to work together 18 years later.

I really wanted to love this book. I loved the idea of two photographers working together (especially being a photographer myself). The on-shoot scenes were my favourite and well written.

However, I did find the conflict in the end to be a bit tiresome. I just couldn't get into the chemistry between Nicole and Quinn, and wasn't sure I believed in them as a couple with Quinn's actions. The storyline with the parents was a little weird for me too, with the amount of focus dedicated to their relationship. Although in the end I think I was rooting more for the level headed parents than Nicole and Quinn!

It was still an okay read, nice and quick for a weekend on the couch.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

[Remi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars- Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this book in exchange for an honest review! This was a nice quick read, and I loved the Christmas vibes. I read this entire thing in one morning, and *that* one scene was a little bit of a jump scare because I was on the bus but like whatever at least it wasn't the subway.
So, things I liked. Quinn and Nicole were cute together, and I liked the amount of fluff there was. It was a very cozy, fun, wintery read, and the writing is pretty good! I thought Nicole and her mom's relationship was cute too.
Things I didn't like. THE STORYLINE WITH THE PARENTS. WHY. I HATED IT. And what made it worse was the fact that Nicole acknowledged she and Quinn would be like sisters if their parents got together! WHY??????? Also, Quinn was so annoying in both the big conflicts (past and present). I was hoping that the conflict would be something different, not just the past repeated.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, and I could not put the book down. I read this all in basically one go. It was cute, and while there were small parts I didn't enjoy, on the whole, I really liked this book, and I would definitely recommend it!

[Silvia]

I have some mixed feelings about this book. The premise is promising, Nicole and Quinn have a past from their high school days but that was 18 years ago and they haven’t had any contact since. They are now expected to work together on a photography gig. Once they get over the initial meeting their relationship is sweet. And then the parents get involved. With each-other. The repeat of the high school drama is predictable. And the epilogue skipped some important steps like how did Quinn got the job. The book is not bad but not something I connected with, 3.5 stars.
Free ARC via NetGalley.

[KP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest rating and review.

This book was truly a joy to read - start to finish. I really enjoyed the perspectives of both Quinn and Nicole. Seeing them grow and develop from who they were as kids to who they are in their mid-30’s showed great development. Their whole friend group and their adventures were so much fun that I felt like I was out sledding, drinking hot chocolate, and laughing the whole time right along with them. The fact that they were all rooting for Quinn and Nicole’s romance led me to root for them even more. I wasn’t super thrilled with the conflict near the end, but it didn’t take anything away from the book as a whole. I even enjoyed the romance between Quinn’s dad and Nicole’s mom. Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars rounded up. I hope there is a sequel with Quinn and Nicole’s Australian adventures!

[Sloan Stryker · Rating 3 out of 5]

in high school Quinn has a huge crush on Nicole but she didn't seem to feel the same even after a brief encounter. Now years later they have both been hired to photograph their hometown during the holiday season to help boost tourism.
This isn't what the other expected when taking this assignment and the time they spend together isn't all smooth as they are tasked with taking photos of the same events but they're learning to get along as they sort through old feelings.
They find themselves spending even more time together as Nicole's mother and Quinn's father have started dated each other.
This story is a sweet romance that brings the two back together until it is clear the Quinn can't handle the outcome of the town's decision for their photo lay out.
This story in light and quick to read with some turbulence mixed in.

Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks for this ARC

[Kelsey Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a second chance romance, with not really enemies-to-lovers but the two main characters do start a little antagonist due to their history. Overall this book had a fun premise and cast of characters, but I had trouble liking one of the main characters to the point of distraction.

Nicole and Quinn both had major, mutual, crushes on each other in high school but neither one could make the first move. They gravitate around each other, similar friend groups, activties, and mostly an interest in photography without ever really intersecting. When Quinn helps Nicole in the computer lab they are finally on the path to a potential relationship, until Nicole wins a photography scholarship Quinn also wanted and it creates a wedge between the two girls. Years later Nicole is a well established photographer and has returned home to work on a month long tourism campaign for her home town, only to find out her partner on the project is Quinn. Over the course of the holidays the two become reacquainted and realize their crushes are alive and well.

Nicole and Quinn’s relationship is pretty believable, their shared past causes them to be hesitant in the beginning and they do a fairly good job early on confronting their issues in high school. Throughout the story they get closer and seem to be processing pretty well. They start building a strong foundation until Quinn is once again confronted with the idea Nicole might just be a better photographer, and loses it.

I had a lot of trouble liking Quinn. While I do believe the other characters are equally as annoyed with her, and she does get a stern talking to by multiple characters, I hate that she took her insecurities out on Nicole on more than one occasion. They book ends in a good place, but I was left feeling meh about them.

[Nicki | justamomandherbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 54%

Nicole and Quinn attended high school together. Each with a huge crush on the other, but always from afar. When that crush leads to more and more blows up in their faces they part ways. Years later, both photographers are thrown together to complete a marketing campaign. Will being pushed together cause a relationship to finally blossom? Or will it blow up in their faces again?

I tried really hard to love this book. It has all the components of a romance, especially a Christmas romance, that I love. I expected to be in literal book heaven with unrequited love and Christmas in one book. Unfortunately, the book didn’t read like heaven to me at all.

What I liked:
Two Strong Female Leads
Hilarious Supporting Characters
The Plot (at times)

What I disliked:
Dry Narrative/Lack of Voice
Entirety of the storyline being based on a lack of communication that began 16+ years before in high school
The FMCs lack of will to clear the air
Exceptionally slow pace

All-in-all, I was really looking forward to this book, but was left disappointed, It had the potential to be great but with the use of my least favorite tropes, too much fluff, and a written voice I couldn’t connect with, I found this book just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Caitrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicole and Quinn are both photographers that grew up in a small snowy town in Colorado, Glenwood Springs. They liked each other in high school, but that didn’t end well. Now, almost 20 years later, they have both been hired to take pictures for the town’s holiday tourism campaign. Nicole and Quinn are forced to confront their past as they work together to take photos around town. Will their second chance at love be successful this time or will it just end in heartbreak again? Only time will tell.

I really enjoyed the details of the holiday-themed activities that Nicole and Quinn participate in. Their photo shoots were also interesting to read about. Quinn’s friend group was amazing, and I love how welcoming they were to Nicole. At the end of the book, there is a conflict between Nicole and Quinn, one that I saw coming. However, the resolution was just too fast for me, especially since the rest of the book was slower. It would make more sense for the resolution to the conflict to have been longer and told from both characters’ points of view. Other than that, it was a great second-chance holiday romance. I give it 3/5 stars. I would recommend it to anyone that likes sapphic holiday-themed books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slow read for me, mainly because the opening made no sense. We start with the two main characters as teens with crushes on each other, just as things could get interesting, Quin completely falls out with Nicole, for a completely nonsensical reason. If you are going to use the trope of a rupture and repair, it does need to be believable. We meet them again many years later when they are both photographing the snowy mountain regions. I enjoyed the photography sections of the book best of all, the attention to detail here was wonderful. Overall an ok read.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC in return for my honest review.

I love holiday romances and second chance romances, but I just could not warm to this one. The premise was promising and it wasn’t a bad story but execution could have been better. In particular, I was disappointed by the ending. We all know with romances there is a break up/screw up at 80% and then one needs to give a big grand gesture in apology. However, it all felt a little lacking. This may have been because I was not a big fan of Quinn.

I love a small town holiday romance and I was really disappointed that I didn't love this one.

[Nathalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small town second chance romances are always so cute and I get so excited to read them. This book was a good story and had a great start but then I'm not sure what happened.

It felt sudden to me that Quinn had a change of heart and let the green monster take control. It all felt just not right. I figured the 'conflict' was the snow scene but then the added conflict about the photos was just weird.

I loved Nicole as an MC and I loved Quinn as an MC until Quinn did a 180 which felt wrong.

The side characters are amazing and I love the parts they have in this story.

An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

[Elena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. The story felt repetitive, with the characters given far too many chances to resolve the same issues.

Quinn initially came across as a total badass, but her actions didn’t match her persona. Her constant jealousy made her character feel contradictory and unconvincing. Meanwhile, Nicole was too naive and forgiving, which made it hard to fully root for her.

And that "grand gesture"? It fell flat for me. It was neither grand nor satisfying, leaving the climax of the story underwhelming.

Overall, I’d rate this book 2.5/5. It had potential, but it didn’t quite deliver.

[D.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicole and Quinn end up hired to work on a photo project together and they have to figure out how to make this do-able despite their short lived experience of a failed attempt at a relationship when they were teens. This book is well written with boldly drawn main characters. Their story is told with unflinching honesty with both women lucky enough to have the support of a parent each and good friends. I warmed to Nicole quickly but found it more of a challenge to like Quinn and I think it is perhaps for this reason that I felt a little sour and unconvinced by the ending.

[Siddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a slow burn second chance story. Nicole and Quinn had each had a crush on the other for many years. Twenty years earlier they had tried to be together, but jealousy had killed that. Now work is pushing them together again.

We know from what both characters have thought or said, that they have each been with others in the intervening twenty years, but still when they are together they act like lovesick teenagers. This is so endearing and sweet.

Both Quinn and Nicole’s biggest problem is themselves. Even though Nicole is the slightly more outgoing one of the two, neither she nor Quinn has the courage to speak about their feelings and the past. The lack of communication between them is frustrating for the reader, making the slow burn even slower.

However, jealousy still has them in its slimy grip, even after twenty years apart. They have to find a way past the green eyed monster, to find the love once again.

The ending felt a bit rushed, Nicole accepting the apology too easily, but overall a very well written story, with many emotional moments, even some tearful times.