Carry Me Through Christmas

Holly Ridge #1

by Rachel Holm

Welcome to Holly Ridge, home of the best Christmas festival in the tri-state area.

When the future of Holly Ridge depends on the success of the Christmas festival, who better to plan it than the former mayor’s daughter, Blaire Greene? Prodigal daughter returns home to save the day, Blaire must work within the state’s guidelines and framework to plan a Christmas festival that will restore the town’s budget and save the town charter.

The guidelines stipulate Cole Thomas, the CFO from rival town Winterberry Glen, must oversee Blaire’s festival planning. Cole hates Christmas and is more comfortable dealing in numbers, control, and emotional detachment. He has finally found a way out of Winterberry Glen, and he doesn’t plan to let anything, or anyone, get in the way of that goal.

Thrown together time and time again to plan the festival, Blaire and Cole begin to learn new things about their towns, themselves, and each other. When the festival draws to a close, what will carry on through Christmas and what will they leave behind?

Carry Me Through Christmas is a small town, rivals-to-lovers novel featuring Christmas references, charismatic townsfolk, endearing friends and family, a few open-door steamy scenes, lots of laughs and even more heart. Happily ever after guaranteed!

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

ebook

First published November 10, 2022

About the author

Rachel grew up in Western PA and found her love of reading early in life, supported by her parents with frequent trips to the library and local bookstores. She stumbled into the bookish world in late 2020 and has embraced the bookish lifestyle whole-heartedly, diving headfirst into the Romance genre, becoming a book reviewer and Bookstagrammer, changing careers and taking a job at a bookstore and undertaking her first official novel-length writing project.

When not immersed in her bookish world, you can find Rachel hanging out with her husband and two cats, spending time with friends in the Washington DC area and rooting for Pittsburgh sports teams.

Reviews

[Courtney | labtestedreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well if you’re looking for a spicier hallmark Christmas movie, look no further than Carry Me Through Christmas.

This book was so fun and the banter was on point! I loved watching Cole’s Christmas spirit grow because of Blaire’s love for it! This book really got me into the holiday spirit and I also want to go to a town that has a month long Christmas festival!

Read if you like:
🎄enemies to lovers
🎅🏻forced proximity
🎄grumpy/sunshine when it comes to Christmas
🎅🏻Christmas cheer/festivals
🎄small town(s)
🎅🏻only one bed

This one is out 11/10 and I HIGHLY suggest adding it to your holiday reading TBR!🥰

Thank you Rachel for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this indie author debut that was full of all the Stars Hollow x Parks & Rec, small town charm you could ever want.

In this slow burn, steamy, enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, dual POV Christmas romance we see Festival event planner Blaire returning to her hometown of Holly Ridge and being forced to work with grinchy Cole, the rival town's CFO who is in charge of approving the Christmas festival budget.

To add extra pressure if Blaire isn’t able to pull off a Christmas miracle and make this festival a success it just might be the last AND the town’s charter is also riding on the outcome.

There was so much to love about this book, from the great banter, the amazing cast of side characters, supportive family members, snowed in with only one bed, grey sweatpants and some epic hot tub sex. If you like Hallmark Holiday movies with some spice this is the perfect book for you.

The short chapters and fast-moving plot made it an easy one day read too. Can't recommend this one enough, especially for fans of BK Borison or Hannah Bonham-Young.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I probably should have read this series prior to Holm's other series, as you can tell when starting that this one is connected to her other work and very much came before, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it any less. I do love me some holiday books.

This is the classic story of girl who loves Christmas and boy who does not. But throw in the drama of girl who is also trying to save her town from being swallowed up by the neighbor town and it's just chaos galore! And I was here for all of it.

If I'm not mistaken, I think this was Holm's first book. I do see definite growth in her writing style between this book and the Brandt siblings series. While I enjoyed this book, I did feel a little disconnect in getting to know the characters. It felt like we barely skimmed the surface of who they were and it was more like just getting from point A to point B, and the romance came on really quickly.

I did really enjoy getting to know more about Holly Ridge and these characters that I briefly met in Holm's other series. And it was nice to immerse myself in Christmas cheer. Ngl, I've always wanted to be in a small town like this one who has town festivals and everything. It just seems like so much fun and a great way to celebrate the season!

[Susan • BryantParkBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m only on my 3rd Christmas novel of the season and I think I may have already found my favorite one! Carry Me Through Christmas was everything I needed from a Christmas book and more.

Each Christmas, the town of Holly Ridge goes all out for their annual holiday festival. It’s a huge town money maker for a town who hasn’t been doing well financially in recent years. Because of this, it’s possibly being merged with the town over, Winterberry Glen. Blaire Greene is the festival planner who has been tasked with making this the best and most lucrative event ever and she has the added fun of having the CFO of Winterberry Glen approving her budget and expenses. Cole is a Christmas curmudgeon who just wants to come in under budget.

The story goes on as they plan the festival all year and Blaire does her best to convince Cole of the magic of Christmas. They get much closer over peppermint mochas and even have a business trip go awry where they have to stay over (only one bed!) This grumpy sunshine story only gets better as the story goes on. It’s the perfect amount of Gilmore Girls quaintness with a good amount of spice and even a lot of laughs! This is a must read this holiday season.

Thank you so much to @readingforamoment for my gifted ARC and congratulations on your debut novel! It’s absolutely wonderful and I’m looking to a lot more of your writing!

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Emma Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Christmas Parks & Rec and I loved every minute of it. You get the warm fuzzies of the holidays, but it's evenly cut with acerbic wit and the festival planning plotline. Oh and a fair amount of steam, OH MY! Even some of the scenes mentioned in passing were giving me heart palpitations. It's balanced so nicely with the Hallmark-y small town vibes and the Holly Ridge/Winterberry Glen rivalry. ANNNND a third act break-up that actually made *sense*. My heart.

Cole reminds me SO much of Ben Wyatt, what with his mad accounting skills and general grouchery, but Blaire is the hero of this story. Her love of Holly Ridge and the holidays as a whole made this grinch's heart grow a few sizes. I'll take a peppermint mocha and sugar cookie to-go please.

*Thank you to Rachel for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*

[Emilija · Rating 1 out of 5]

2024 52 Book Challenge - December Mini Challenge - 1) December Captured On The Cover

If this is what Hallmark Christmas movies are like, I'm glad that I live in the UK and have never seen one.

There is no chemistry between the two main characters and the plot is so boring. I just honestly did not care what happened in this novel.

[Izzy | ilashreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carry Me Home for Christmas is perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies and Parks & Rec (plus banging)

Read for:
🎄rivals to lovers
❄️ small town romance
🎅🏽grumpy x sunshine when it comes to Christmas
🎄Christmas festivals
❄️snarky BFF banter
🥵only one bed

Blaire Greene is returning to her hometown of Holly Ridge to plan their annual Christmas festival. But Blaire soon finds out that she has to raise enough money to save the town…on a budget.

Cole Thomas hates Christmas. He’s the CFO from rival town Winterberry Glen, and is overseeing Blaire’s Holly Ridge Christmas festival project. Cole’s ticket out of Winterberry Glen lies in doing his job well, even if that means fighting his attraction for Blaire.

Glasses fog and tensions rise as the two spend countless planning hours together. But when the festival ends, what will carry on through Christmas and what will they leave behind?

I loved watching this book come together. I swooned as Blaire and Cole fell for each other. I *blushed* when we found out there was only one bed at the inn. I cackled at the banter. I loved that Blaire helped Cole break down his walls, his Grinch heart really did grow three sizes.

Both Blaire and Cole had such great BFFs. I may have immediately begged Rachel to give both Charlotte and Austin their own books as soon as I met them.

Thank you Rachel for trusting me to provide some early feedback and support you as you ventured out into the world of self-publishing! I’m so proud of you!

[Megan Bal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn’t terrible but there were a lot of typos. Also, for a book about Christmas, this book started way before winter. I think it was way back in March? When I pick up a Christmas book, I’m not in the mood to read about sweltering summer heat.
I didn’t really care for either of the characters. Enemies to lovers is usually my favorite trope but I didn’t feel the “enemies” enough
Certain sections of the book dragged for me

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super cute, rival town, Christmas spirit, family issues, enemies to lovers Christmas book. Rival towns have to plan for their big Christmas festivities and Blaire Greene is in charge of her town while Cole Thomas is in charge of his. Blaire has ideas and needs to prove she is someone without her Dad at her back. Cole hasn't had a festive Christmas for years.

With Blaire's ambition and her blazers, Cole and his glasses and forearms have met their match. These two need to work it out and in the meantime, keep the rule that there is no fraternizing in the contract.

It's sweet and light hearted but also took on some real issues. I enjoyed it alot.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted so badly to like this... and it was cute at times, but I felt like I never connected with either of the main characters. Definitely good Parks & Rec vibes though.

[Vanessa (bookscallmyheart) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHOA! Rachel @readingforamoment knocked her debut novel out of the park! This is definitely one of the holiday books you MUST cozy up and read this season!

Carry Me Through Christmas is like being in a Hallmark Christmas movie version of Parks & Rec! I loved how part of it spanned over the months of planning the Christmas festival as well as experiencing the weeks-long Christmas festival. We get to see so many interactions between Blaire and Cole as well as with their friends through emails and text messages and they were SO much fun! There was some enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract with one being a Christmas lover and the other being a Grinch, and we even get one bed! Swoon! It’s the perfect example of a Hallmark-style romance but with some steam which is my absolute fav!

If you want something that is funny, heartfelt, and full of ALL the Christmas vibes, then check this one out! I cannot wait to see what Rachel writes next!

Read if you like:
-Hallmark Movies (but with some steam)
-Parks & Rec
-Christmas Festivals
-Enemies-to-lovers
-Opposites attract: Christmas edition
-Emails & text messages

Thank you so much to the author @readingforamoment for the gifted copy to review!

[Chelsey (a_novel_idea11) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just what I needed for the holidays. I loved that it was adult and not too cheesy. Holm hit it out of the park with the holiday-ish names (Holly Ridge, Cole (COAL!!!), Holland & Hollis, etc.) and a unique plotline.

I always love a good enemies to lovers and Carry Me Through Christmas totally did not disappoint. The party planning and town finance information felt well researched and wasn't something I had read about before which I liked.

There were a lot of fun romance tropes thrown in - enemies to lovers and one bed to name a couple. The steam was HOT and just enough - honestly, very expertly written and one of the better steam scenes I've read in a long while!!

If you enjoy a good holiday book, this needs to go to the top of your list!

[Allie B • Literally Booked Solid · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a steamy, small town holiday romance, look no further than Rachel Holm's debut novel, Carry Me Through Christmas. The book is the perfect combination of Park and Rec mixed with a spicy Hallmark movie feel nestled in the idyllic town of Holly Ridge.

I will forever stan Cole and Blaire. These characters felt so real, I could picture them, plus the town, vividly in my brain. Strong heroine Blaire holds her own, and lives for the organized chaos of events to come to fruition. I love her big blazer energy, which is totally on trend at the moment. Cole hates Christmas, yet his buttoned-up personality is hiding some solid bedroom moves. It was extremely heartwarming when Cole takes charge of situations, both publicly and in private, to protect Blaire.

There are so many things I love and adore about this book. The emails in the interlude chapters. The stick in the mud city council. The relationship between Blaire and her father. The high levels of trust, consent, and vulnerability between the leads. And of course, the origin story of the feud. Any time you can include history in a plot I am completely sold.

I was lucky enough to read an early version of the book and am beyond proud of Rachel for going after her dreams and doing the damn thing!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carry Me Through Christmas was such a fun read! Blaire is in charge of planning the Christmas festival to save the town when she meets Cole who has to oversee her planning. I like books that follow the enemies to lovers storyline which this one does. I enjoyed the characters. I loved that through the book Cole began to find his Christmas Spirit again because of Blaire. I definitely would recommend this book!

Thank you Rachel for the opportunity to receive an ARC copy!

[Mandy Rush _bookstamandy_]

I was eager to start Christmas reads early, however, I think I got a little too ahead of myself with this one. I was about 35% through when I decided to set it aside for the time being. It wasn’t that the story was bad, in fact, I loved the small town feel, but i just wasn’t feeling it. I’m hoping to finish - or restart it - at a later time but unfortunately, I just wasn’t eager to continue at this time.

[k ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was....interesting

i know it was meant to be a hallmark-esque story but you cant have hallmark AND wattpad like pick one. very cringey

everything just felt so rushed from the timeline to the banter i couldn't get into it at all which sucks but it wasn't horrible

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[LAJordan Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

#readpairsharereview

🎄 Update: I almost forgot about the new epilogue. I just read it! It’s 🥵🌶️❤️‍🔥 & perfect! Totally bumped it to 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 for me!


Christmas in July Review

Get this one on your holiday romance book list if you didn’t read it last year.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 (0-5)

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 All the small-town holiday vibes—planning the Holly Ridge town Christmas Festival.
🤩 Workplace romance—those forbidden feels and such a clever plot to be sucked into.
🤩 Blaire and Cole are from rival neighboring small towns thus forced enemies-to-lovers. The back of the book calls it rivals-to-lovers!!
🤩 Cole’s love and care for his mom—goodness I love him.
🤩 Emails and texting chats make it so fun and bingeable.
🤩 Unwanted attraction and secret pining.
🤩 Slow burn and everything first kisses are meant to make the reader feel.
🤩 Blaire’s dad saying “Keep an eye on the weather.” Yessss! Snowed-in is one of my favorite tropes.
🤩 Just one night and slow burn to more.
🤩 Amazing MCs willing to become better versions of themselves (even willingness to try therapy).
🤩 Fabulous side character friends and family.

What I’m Wishing/ Dizzy About:
🤩 I totally believe in their HEA and love the grand gesture so much. But, I’m kinda picky about needing some physical connection (AKA steam) after the drama/time apart to solidify the HEA in my reader heart and to be at a super satisfied spot when I end the book.

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐|4🌶|8% 🌶 frequency

This is such a wonderful and heartwarming story 🥰 I got every possible emotion. I laughed, I cried, I felt 🔥, I got angry, I felt sad.

Being the last hope for the town to stand independent... No, that's nothing anyone would love to be. Not when all eyes are on you, even (or especially) the ones of your enemy 🙈

This Christmas book started in December or November, no, it starts in March 😎 And that's perfect. Blaire has 9 months to organize the Christmas festival. And Cole has 9 months to fall in love with Blaire 🤣

Oh Cole 😍 He is the perfect "numbers dude". But he has such a filthy 👄 😱 He hasn't an easy childhood. Not because he lived (and still lives) on the wrong side of the river 🤣 But because of his father. I felt so sorry for him and his mother 😞 And with it, he started hating Christmas.
But now he has to watch everything Blaire does for the festival planning 🙈

There is so much happening with the festival, the feud, and the forbidden connection between Cole and Blaire. Yes, the connection and tension are huge. If you ask me, they are soulmates. That moment at the community center on the opening day of the festival. Oh, I cried soooo much 😭


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[Kelly (AndKellyReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO CUTE FOR A DEBUT.

The Ben Wyatt / Leslie Knope vibes? On point. The banter? Delightful. Only one bed? Excellent.

This was a really strong start from Holm and I think we’re all in for a treat if she keeps producing novels like this one.


(I did get a copy from the author to review but I honestly thought this was adorable)

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn’t my favorite Christmas based read. A lot of run on sentences that could have been avoided. Some other grammar and spelling errors that could have cleaned up in order to not distract me from the story. I didn’t fully buy into Blaire and Cole’s dislike of one another. This had a lot of unneeded internal monologue - show the audience not tell. Maybe the next book will be better?

[Rebecca]

Unfortunately my ARC was just not good it never went anywhere and I didn’t connect with any of the characters after about 20%

[Lori Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute holiday book

This was a great debut novel v with all the holiday feels! I loved the dual point of views and that everything was centered around the winter festival.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a steamier hallmark movie

[Kala Urban · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8⭐️ Hallmark movie meets Gilmore Girls but with way more spice.

Overall, I liked this Christmas themed book. Even though the spice doesn’t start until halfway through, it was worth the read.

[Adrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

planning, spreadsheets, yummy yummy. i enjoyed this story, although i didn’t feel abundantly connected to the characters.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, heartfelt, and such a mood booster

[Starr Wenzel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seems like something I could write.. not in a good way

[Katyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Katherine Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute. VERY much a hallmark movie in a book but some extra nice spice added in. I’m a sucker for Christmas stories that are hallmark stories I admit but I can’t pass up the warming of the heart and the holiday ❤️