Twelve Days of Christmas

September 5, 2016
Christmas is approaching in bestseller Macomber’s latest holiday contemporary (after Dashing Through the Snow), and Julia Padden has barely enough time for all her holiday activities: she’s working full-time at Macy’s, she volunteers at a Boys and Girls Club, and she has just begun her first blog in an attempt to get a job at a Seattle software company. In the midst of all this bustle, she keeps running into her grumpy next-door neighbor, Cain Maddox, and she is disappointed by his eye-rolling avoidance of her sociable overtures. At the suggestion of her best friend, Julia decides to devote her blog to her daily “kindness campaign,” in which she chronicles her overtures to Cain and his response. The blog becomes wildly popular, as readers are entranced by Julia’s efforts to befriend Cain, support her ongoing efforts, and cheer on their growing intimacy. But the spirit of Christmas doesn’t have much time to work lasting magic on the reserved Cain before he learns he’s being portrayed as Scrooge on Julia’s blog. Macomber’s celebrated warmth and flair for storytelling make this a fun holiday frolic despite the overly perky heroine and predictable plot. Agent: Theresa Park, Park Literary & Media.

Friendly Julia Padden can't stand her grumpy neighbor, Cain Maddox, but when her best friend goads her to kill him with kindness for the Christmas season, both their lives begin to change for the better--until he discovers she's chronicling the experiment on a blog.Julia's life isn't perfect, but she has a job at Macy's that pays her bills while she's looking for a marketing position. She also volunteers at her church and at the Boys and Girls Club, which helps her stay in the holiday mood even when she can't get back to visit her family because of her hectic retail schedule. She tries hard to keep a positive attitude, so perhaps that's why her neighbor across the hall in her apartment building is so vexing. He seems to go out of his way to be unpleasant. But when she's complaining about the man, her best friend challenges her to be even kinder, in the true spirit of the season--and encourages her to use the experience as blog fodder, since Julia is in the running for a corporate social media position and her success depends on her ability to create a successful audience. So she begins, 12 days before Christmas, but as the days pass, she discovers that her kind acts have softened not only Cain's demeanor, but her heart as well--and created a huge blog following. The two become friends, and Julia learns how painful Cain's life has been and exactly why he keeps himself at arm's length. Just when it looks like they'll be hanging stockings together, Cain discovers Julia's blog--which pushes every abandonment and trust button he has. Time is running out, but Julia knows that a job and a blog are nothing compared to the forever happiness just beyond their grasp, and making it right will be the best Christmas gift ever, if she can just figure out how. Another heartwarming seasonal Macomber tale, which fans will find as bright and cozy as a blazing fire on Christmas Eve. COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

May 15, 2016

Julia Padden's neighbor Cain surely is handsome--and he's also a veritable Scrooge, irritable, arrogant, and ready to pick an argument at a moment's notice. But Julia doesn't plot revenge. Instead, she decides to be holiday sweetness itself and to document the results on a blog. The blog is a hit, her readers are full of suggestions, and maybe icy Cain is beginning to melt.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2016

Julia Padden is vying for a social media job at a software company--whoever generates the largest online following in the month of December gets the position. So far Julia's blog isn't stirring much interest, but when her infuriating Scrooge of a neighbor, Cain Maddox, steals her newspaper, she's inspired to write a new post about killing him with kindness for the next 12 days until Christmas. The piece takes off and Cain seems to be responding to her efforts. But what will happen to their burgeoning relationship when Cain finds out about the blog? VERDICT Macomber's annual holiday novel (Dashing Through the Snow) is a sweet, feel-good romance that may even inspire you to kill someone with kindness during the hectic Christmas season. [See Prepub Alert, 4/18/16.]

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.