The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy

The Christmas Wager by Holly Cassidy
Publisher:  G.P. Putnam's Sons
Format:  Softcover
Number of pages:   352 pages
Published:   September 26th, 2023
Source:  Giveaway sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl.  

Opening Line: "Bella, what did you do?"

Sorry the blog has been a little quiet lately, I was away enjoying time with my family, reading and now catching up on my reviews.  I hope everyone had a very nice beginning to their New Year! 

The Christmas Wager was a pleasant surprise to my vacation.  I don't usually read too many contemporary romances, heck I don't watch many Hallmark Christmas movies either (choosing to watch Elf, Home Alone and this year The Holdovers).  But there was just something about that cover that stuck with me, spoke small town with lots of Christmas themed atmosphere.  So, I was even more excited to have won a copy.

Bella Ross is a real estate developer from LA whose been offered a cushy promotion if she can close a deal on the Always Noelle, a Christmas themed store in Maple Falls, Colorado.  Bella's boss has stipulated that she has to purchase the store for less than the asking price in order to get the promotion.  Bella generally loves her career and living in LA, she has aspirations about moving up the corporate ladder.  Convinced that the deal is in the bag, she heads to Colorado, but just as she's about to sign the papers with the owner, his grandson, Jesse steps in putting a wrench in the deal.  

Jesse see's Bella as this pushy woman from LA who's trying to undercut his grandfather.  He feels the store is worth way more than she's offering.  Besides, it's "a place of legacy," not only being a landmark in the community, but it's also a place near and dear to Jesse.  It's his family's store, he grew up here.  Even though the store holds some sad memories for Jesse, he doesn't want him to sell it.  Jesse's grandfather begins to waver about selling, and instead he purposes a wager.  He want's both Bella and Jesse to enter the towns Holiday Games (a five-day series of tasks in strength, ingenuity and creativity) on separate teams.  If Bella's team wins, he will sell the store for the initial price that she offered.  If Jesse's team wins, Bella will have to up the price by $150,000.  The two shake hands and the games begin.  However, their little wager becomes increasingly complicated as the two begin to develop feelings for one another.  Will this end Bella's chances at her promotion and potentially cause her to lose her job for agreeing to the wager without consulting with her boss first?  Or will the real estate company potentially seal the deal and change the look of the store for good?  Will they be able to get past the competition and have a relationship?    

The Christmas Wager was such a delight to read and came at the most perfect time.  I loved the dual point of view of Bella and Jesse and the light bantering.  There's romantic moments and they really are a sweet couple.    I adored the Holiday Games and every single task that the teams competed in sounded like so much fun.  Especially the baking a scene from a movie.  Why isn't this a real thing?  It brings a new meaning to making a gingerbread house.  The story just exudes winter and the spirit of the holidays, with all the feels of Christmas.  Absolutely loved it.  I think it's because I love small little towns and reading about one all decked out was quite fun, festive and cozy.  As a sidenote Holly Cassidy has some holiday themed party game ideas on That Artsy Reader Girl that are well worth taking a look at for next year.

**A huge thank you to Jana for the review copy, I'm defiantly going to be re-reading this again next December**