Christmas Bizarre

Summit Springs

by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga

Charlotte Miller is tired of feeling like a failure. She may have gotten herself fired, her love life has imploded…so when she gets the call that the annual Summit Springs Christmas Bazaar, which helps support her family’s farm, is in trouble, she heads home to try to save the day. Maybe her luck will change and she will be happier for the holidays. Too bad her car decides to break down on the way.

Naomi “Lars” Beckett is too busy with the tree farm she runs and Christmastime to worry about a stranded hottie like Charlotte, but when they get snowed in together at an old cabin, she figures that’s what she gets for trying to help. On the surface these two seem to have nothing in common, but opposites do attract, especially with the magic of the season, and they find they have more in common than they think.

Once they’re back in the crazy mix of family, well-meaning town folk, and trying to make things just right for Christmas though, will they be able to make something together that lasts longer than old wrapping paper and holiday leftovers?

Christmas Bizarre is a small town, opposites attract, lesbian romance set in fictional Summit Springs, Colorado.

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2022

About the author

JODI spent too many years in New York and San Francisco stage managing classical plays, edgy fringe work, and the occasional musical. She, therefore, is overdramatic, takes herself way too seriously, and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her men are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after.

For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec and tequila however you pour it. She’s also obsessed with Shakespeare and Broadway musicals. She can be found wearing sock monkey gloves while typing when it’s cold, and on the beach enjoying the sun and the ocean when it’s hot. When she’s not writing and/or vacuuming sand out of her laptop, Jodi mentors queer youth and will drop everything for live music. Jodi lives near New York City with her beautiful wife, and together they are mothers of dragons (cleverly disguised as children) and slaves to an enormous polydactyl cat.

Reviews

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! Charlotte’s life has imploded in Denber and she is heading home to help her brother save the family farm and organize the annual Christmas Bazaar, only to find herself stuck in the snow. Lars and her team of sled dogs wind up finding her and bringing her home. I loved these characters. Lottie has to find her confidence again and step up to help her family, but she finds even more than that in Lars and her dogs. It’s a light holiday story but it is definitely worth a read. These two authors have never disappointed me!

[Malia Winger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book uses the tried and true "Hallmark" formula. Big city girl suffers upsets in the city and returns home to her small town to save the family business finding true love with a local business person along the way. Just because we know the formula doesn't mean that this book isn't magical! Charlotte is on her way home when her rental breaks down and she is stranded during a snow storm. She is rescued by Lars and her dog sled team. They spend a passionate night sheltering from the storm and the next day Charlotte is back on track to save the family farm by planning the annual Christmas Bazaar. All of the tropes are here and done with perfection. I felt like I was enjoying the holiday with them!

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving these stories set in Summit Springs, the small town where everyone who comes get a second chance at building a happy and successful life and finding the person for them. Charlotte may have been having a rough time and lost a job and pretty much everything else in her life, but she's right there coming home to help save the family farm through the annual Christmas Bazaar. Even her attempt at a good deed seemingly goes awry when she has a car accident but a rescue by Lars and her sled dogs, a bit of forced proximity snowed in in a cabin and the magic of the season helps make Charlotte's bad luck turn 180 degrees around. A great addition to the series.

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new F/F from two of my favorite cowboy authors. Charlotte is on the way home to help with the family farm when she gets stranded and meets Naomi. Heat explodes between the two of them and they soon realize they can have more than just their one night. Holiday bazaars, sled dogs, and steamy nights make this a wonderful Christmas romance. I hope I get to read more agonies like this one from these two authors.

[Carolyn G. Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sledding Through the Snow

Charlotte rushed home when her father had a heart attack, her brother broke his arm and her mother needed help with the Christmas Bizarre. Then the car broke down in the middle of a blizzard. Rescued by a lumberjack driving a dog sled is a dream. Lars (Naomi) rubs the Christmas tree farm and is the perfect example of chivalry. A great small town romance.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She feels a failure all the time so she is hoping to help save the fete which helps her family farm. So she travels home to help but she will get into trouble and meet another woman. They are so very different to each other. Will they make a connection? What if they get stranded? See just how they get on

[Maria771 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Charlotte and Naomi, it is part of the Summer Springs Shared Universe series. You don't have to read the books that came before, but do yourself a favour and do. This book is perfect for the holidays. It is written wonderfully with great characters. Definitely recommended.

I received this book as an Arc and I am happily reviewing it voluntarily.

[Sarah Mitcham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Homeward bound.

FF, Small Town, Insta Attract, Opposites Attract, Contemporary, Comedy, Romance. A stand alone read in a Multi author series in a shared universe. Easy to read, fast paced Rom com with great characters. Great banter, lots of humour and heat. An enjoyable read. Guaranteed HEA.

[Denise Burris GremoryKohta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving Summit Springs. Charlotte and Lars had my kindle smoking they were so hot together. Reading these stories made me wish it was a real place. And there were doggies too…sigh. I can’t wait to see what these two authors come up with next.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Low angst. I'm enjoying this multi-author world. (Mostly.)

[Xochitl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga collaborations so this new book in this multiauthor series was a must for me. A very sweet story about 2 strong women, Naomi and Charlotte that went back to home and family and found each other. A sweet and perfect Christmas romance with a little angst, and a lot of heartwarming moments. This is an amazing series, and I enjoyed so much this new addition to it.

[Siddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte is a woman stranded in a dead car, in the snow on a dark night. Lars is a dogsledder who comes to her rescue.
This is an interesting story, about how Lars (also known as Naomi) helps Charlotte with organising the Christmas Bazaar, which was the main reason Charlotte returned to her hometown.
Both Lars and Charlotte are good solid characters, as is Charlotte’s best friend Fern. A light story with no angst, ideal for a winter read.