A Christmas in New York: A Romantic Comedy: T’was the Spice Before Christmas

by Emily French

Opposites attract…or so they say. A once-in-a-lifetime job offer takes 28-year-old Emmy Parsons from her family’s home in Los Angeles, to her own apartment in New York City. She’s been hired to bring Ballantyne’s Bakery into the twenty-first century. Outwardly Emmy is bubbly and outgoing. Inwardly she struggles to see her curvy body in positive terms. To make up for her insecurities she’s always nice and likable, even when she doesn’t want to be. And there is one man in NYC who makes her want to strip off her nice Alec Ballantyne Connor. A rude, grumpy, and surly, yet “oh so hot” man. Good thing she’s got a man to love already…Mac, the tiny kitten who slips in through her apartment window one evening and buries his way into Emmy’s heart. 30-year-old Alec hates New York. If it were up to him, his family would sell the bakery, allowing him to leave the city once and for all and move to his cottage in Vermont where he can be a full-time craftsman instead of his family’s bakery and apartment building handyman. No more sidewalks piled high with trash, no more bossy New Yorkers, and no more feeling like a fish out of water against the backdrop of the uber rich. All he needs is for the bakery to fail with the new person at the helm and he may get his wish. Unfortunately, the new person is in the form of one vivacious, curvy, and beautiful Emmy. He tries his best to resist the pull towards her until a blizzard from hell blows through the city, stranding them both in his apartment for Christmas where they let down their guard and give in to their desires. Alec begins to see the city through Emmy’s eyes, as a charming and magical place full of surprise and wonder. Emmy begins to understand Alec’s tough exterior. They soon fall for each other. But his pull to live in Vermont and her love for New York are at odds with a relationship. Can a life together give each of them what they need to be happy? Or are opposites doomed to fail?

A steamy, grumpy/sunshine romantic comedy.

Genres: Romance, Christmas

184 pages, Paperback

Published December 12, 2022

About the author

I previously worked as a divorce attorney in Silicon Valley. I now write about romance and I love it! I am currently living in North Caroline with my husband and our two little dogs. When I'm not writing I love to read, cook, travel, and watch baseball. Thank you for taking the time to read one of my books!

Reviews

[N Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily French is one of my favourite authors, and Christmas books are one of my favourite things - so A Christmas In New York was like heaven for me.

We’ve got some slow burn romance, some sunshine / grumpy, some steam, amazing baking, friendship, family and even an adorable kitten.

Emmy is a wonderful character, so sweet yet with her own spark. She’s curvy and she battles with that and her past. As a curvy girl myself I found it wonderfully written and sat reading with such a big grin!

Alec finds her utterly enthralling and I kinda felt the same way about him! If anyone has a spare Alec, send him my way!

It has everything you need for curling up with a delicious, swoony, festive read.
It ties in with A Christmas In Connecticut (another fab book!) but both can be read as standalones.

[NikiReadsRomance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect holiday read to curl up on the couch with!

Emmy takes a job all the way across the country to do something she loves: baking! She falls in love with New York and all it has to offer.
Alec has mixed feelings about his grandmother hiring Emmy to save his family’s bakery… that is until he meets her and is instantly attracted to EVERYTHING Emmy is. Her positivity, how hard she works, and definitely all of her curves!

What happens when they both give in to their attraction? You should definitely give it a read to find out!

🎄Quick Notes🎄
Holiday love!
Grumpy/Sunshine
FMC Emmy has insecurities about being curvy
Sort of opposites attract, Alec being the super grump who dislikes city life and Emmy being so positive and loving everything that Nee York has to offer
Snowed in on Christmas ❄️❄️❄️
Adorable alert in this one! Mac the kitten will steal the show 🤩
Slow burn
HEA

🎄Rating🎄
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❄️❄️❄️
“You are a beautiful woman Emmy, don’t ever, ever sell yourself short. I only meant that you are full of life. You don’t see the crap around the city or any of its faults and flaws, you only see the beauty and everything magical. Most people aren’t like that. At least the people I’m around. I find you refreshing.” She wiped the corner of her eyes with her napkin. “I’m sorry, I just assume everyone looks at me and sees my weight and nothing else.” “Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said. His voice rough sounding. “Nothing.”
❄️❄️❄️

[emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

i just really could not get into it i am sorry