Book Review and Giveaway: Merry Ex-Mas by Sheila Roberts

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Synopsis: Cass Wilkes, owner of the Gingerbread Haus bakery, was looking forward to her daughter Danielle’s wedding—until Dani announced that she wants her father, Cass’s ex, to walk her down the aisle. Seriously? Even worse, it appears that he, his trophy wife and their yappy little dog will be staying with Cass….

Her friend Charlene Albach arrives at their weekly chick-flick night in shock. She’s just seen the ghost of Christmas past: her ex-husband, Richard, who left a year ago when he ran off with the hostess from her restaurant, Zelda’s. Now the hostess is history and he wants to kiss and make up. Hide the mistletoe!

And bring out the hot buttered rum, because the holidays aren’t easy for Ella O’Brien, either. Ella, newly divorced, is still sharing the house with her ex while they wait for the place to sell. The love is gone. Isn’t it?

But watch as Christmas brings all kinds of surprises….

Merry Ex-mas, ladies!

Review: As always, Sheila gives another great romantic book! I hate to call a book 'predictable', but by half way through, I had pretty much determined how it was going to end up with all the characters. But it doesn't matter, it is still a great little story, very applicable to the upcoming holiday season! I did finish it in under 2 hours, so it is a quick read!

Sheila does a great job in bringing the characters Christianity into the story in a realistic and honest way. The animosity between Cass and her ex, will ring very true and familiar to alot of women, and I applaud Sheila for having Cass resolve the matter peacefully. Though I have to admit, you may read the book and have alot of 'oh come on' moments (like when Cass' ex says to her 'that her bad attitude was responsible for their break-up, not his always being away from home'), where internally you know you would have handled things differently, if you were that character. But that is a good thing- if a writer gets the reader that involved in the story! But I do wish, like other reviewers, that her women characters had a little more backbone when they SHOULD have it. (you can read a funny Letter to Santa, from Cass, by the author HERE, as part of Literally Speaking's Dear Santa Series)

I liked how Sheila included a bunch of cupcake recipes from the 'wedding' at the back of the book- it helped to bring the story to life. But be prepared, they aren't the simplest/quickest of recipes!

Sheila gives us a very modern tale, and by the end of the book you will wish you could visit Icicle Falls and go to all the shops! Sheila will be continuing writing about the town in her next book, with different characters! The previous book, Better Than Chocolate (Life in Icicle Falls), shares the story of Samantha and her chocolate shoppe, from this book.If you like Sheila's books, you are bound to like this one.


How about something different?
A song from the book made into a video! Check it out!



About the Author: Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. Her books have been printed in several different languages and have been chosen for book clubs such as Doubleday as well as for Readers Digest Condensed books. Her best-selling novel ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS was made into a movie and appeared on the Lifetime Movie Network. Her novel ANGEL LANE was named one of Amazon’s Top Ten Romances for 2009.
When she’s not making public appearances or playing with her friends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.You can visit the author’s website at www.sheilasplace.com.

Check out her Guest Blogging stops and upcoming tour stops:
 Wednesday, November 7
Thursday, November 8
Book Review & Guest  Blogging at Always With a Book
Friday, November 9
Guest Blogging & Book Giveaway at Book Review Club 
 Tuesday, November 13
 Book Review & Guest Blogging at Jersey Girl Book Reviews

Friday, November 23
Book Review at Hanging Off the Wire
Monday, November 26
Book Review at My Devotional Thoughts
Friday, November 30
Book Review at The Christmas Spirit


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Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book for review purposes, free of charge, from the author, via the Pump Up Your Book! No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it.




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