A DASH OF CHRISTMAS by Samantha Chase-Review & Excerpt tour

A DASH OF CHRISTMAS (the Montgomery Brothers #9) by Samantha Chase-Review & Excerpt tour

 

A DASH OF CHRISTMAS
The Montgomery Brothers #9
by Samantha Chase
Release Date: September 24, 2019
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play / iBooks

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 24, 2019

With a dash of Christmas magic…
Two people who have spent most of their lives being rivals…
Learn a little something about following their hearts…

Carter Montgomery broke the family mold when he went to culinary school. Now a successful restaurateur, he’s at a crossroads: should he continue on his successful path or look for a new challenge? What he needs is time alone to think things through. But his matchmaking family has other ideas…

Emery Monaghan’s no-good fiancé has embroiled her in scandal and she needs a way out. When mentor Eliza Montgomery offers her a refuge, she’s relieved―until she realizes that the deal means rubbing elbows with Eliza’s son Carter―Emery’s childhood nemesis.

•••••••••

REVIEW: A DASH OF CHRISTMAS by Samantha Chase is the ninth and final instalment in the author’s contemporary, adult THE MONTGOMERY BROTHERS romance series focusing on the Montgomery siblings and cousins. This is chef and restaurateur Carter Montgomery, and Emery Monaghan’s story line. A DASH OF CHRISTMAS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Carter and Emery) with an introductory chapter from sisters-in-law Eliza and Monica Montgomery A DASH OF CHRISTMAS focuses on Eliza and Monica’s attempts to find a love interest for Eliza’s son Carter Montgomery. When her fiancé with political aspirations is caught, on numerous occasions, with his proverbial pants down, Emery Monaghan’s finds herself seeking shelter, far away, for the paparazzi and unsupportive family who are defending her obnoxious ex. With an offer to help write and edit a Montgomery cookbook for the upcoming holiday season, Emery will come face to face with her childhood nemesis, in the guise of chef and restaurateur Carter Montgomery. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Carter and Emery as they are forced to live together while they work on the book, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes to a close.

Emery Monaghan was all but forced into the relationship with Congressman Derek Whitman, a relationship that her parents supported and adored but Emery knew Derek had been unfaithful, and the sh*t was about to hit the fan. A formerly independent woman, Emery found herself floundering in a world of embarrassment and heart break when the news broke about Derek’s affairs. When Eliza Montgomery offered Emery a chance to ‘hide away’ from prying eyes, Emery jumped at the chance but was caught unaware when Carter Montgomery was pulled back into her life. Carter Montgomery had no idea he would be working with Emery Monoghan, the young woman who saw Carter as nothing more than the antagonizing boy who upset her life but Carter hid his affections for our story line heroine, affections he was hoping to bring to into the present.

The relationship between Carter and Emery is an enemies to lovers; an opposites attract, acrimonious childhood friendship that disguised Carter’s attraction to the little girl he would grow to love. The $ex scenes are passionate but mostly implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including many of the previous story line couples. We are briefly introduced to Emery’s ex fiancé Derek Whitman, and her social climbing parents who are willing to turn a blind eye to Derek’s behavior.

A DASH OF CHRISTMAS is a story of family, friendship, second chances, and love; an enjoyable and sweet tale of one man’s professional struggle, and one woman’s spirited attempts to make it on her own. The premise is spirited and emotional; the romance is tender; the characters are energetic and inspiring.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

 

She motioned to the table. “Let’s eat!”
He joined her and found it hard to focus on the food in front of him—he was still in awe of the transformation of the house. “I can’t believe you pulled this off.”
She smiled and picked up her burger. “I’m extremely organized and efficient. In other words, I had a plan.”
Picking up his own burger, he looked at her and saw how pleased she was, unsure if it was because of a job well-done or the greasy treat she was eating. His stomach growled, and he needed to ignore how unhealthy the meal was and just…go for it. “Well, color me impressed,” he said, referring to her, but realized it could also have meant the meal.
It was surprisingly good.
And satisfying.
When neither had spoken for several minutes because they were too busy eating, Emery leaned over and said, “Welcome to the Dark Side. We have empty calories.”
Carter almost choked on his food but managed to swallow it down before reaching for his drink. Her sense of humor was something he was finding to be utterly charming.
Add that to the list.
There was no time to dwell on it, however, because he was almost done with his burger and was seriously enjoying it.
Now that deserved some dwelling.
“Admit it,” Emery said from beside him, leaning back in her chair. “You enjoyed it.”
“Never.”
She laughed, husky and sexy, and…he seriously needed a distraction.
Reaching over, she looked in the second bag and then gave him a knowing glance. “Who are these chicken nuggets for?”
“Oh, um… I thought you might like them,” he said, not wanting to look at her. Carter busied himself with finishing his fries—which were salted to perfection.
“Hmm. I don’t know if I could eat them right now.” He heard her rummaging around in the bag again. “And what about this? Is this some sort of apple pie?”
Busted!
“Maybe.”
She laughed again—loud and hearty. “Carter Montgomery, you better admit right now that you bought all of this for you because you remember what it’s like to eat like a normal person!”
He lost the battle with his own laughter. “I will do no such thing.”
Standing, Emery took the bag with the extra food and made her way across the kitchen. “Well then, as much as I appreciate the thought, I’m way too full to eat another bite, so…I’ll just throw this out.”
“Wait…what?” he cried, coming to his feet. “Why would you do that?”
With a careless shrug, she replied, “These things never reheat well, so it’s pointless to save it. Besides, what do you care? I can give you the five bucks they cost you, if you’d like.” The bag was dangling over the trash pail, and the look on her face was full of challenge.
And amusement.
“Emery,” he began as he took a step toward her. “Just…put the bag down.”
“And nobody gets hurt?” she teased before letting out a very feminine giggle.
Deciding to stall, Carter studied her. “I just hate to see food go to waste.”
“All you have to do is admit you got it for you. Just say the words and I’ll put the food back on the table.” She shook the bag for good measure. “Come on. I dare you.”
Those were fighting words.
Before he could question it, he lunged for her and Emery let out a high-pitched squeal before taking off around the kitchen island. By their third time around, Carter caught her around the waist and spun her while she cried out, “Uncle! Uncle!” They were both laughing hysterically by the time he collapsed back in his chair with her in his lap. It took several minutes for them to calm down.
“Man, you just cannot stand to be proven wrong,” she said, but made no attempt to move from the circle of his arms.
This was dangerous territory. He knew that. It felt far too good to hold her. Turning his head, he inhaled the smell of her shampoo, daring to lean in further until his lips were touching her ear.
Softly, he murmured, “Just give me the apple pie, and nobody gets hurt.”
It was meant to be funny—a small joke to go along with all the teasing they’d been doing—but it didn’t feel so funny when Emery let out a low moan at his words.
“Make me,” she whispered, and—holy crap. It was all Carter could do not to haul her over his shoulder and take her inside to his bedroom.
Her name came out as a plea as Carter ran his tongue along the shell of her ear. Emery trembled in his arms as they tightened around her. The bag fell to the floor and she shifted ever so slightly so they were nose to nose. Then it was her turn to sigh his name. Her hand came up and cupped his cheek, and for a moment, he was afraid to move. Afraid to breathe. He didn’t want to risk doing anything to break the spell or ruin the moment.
It would kill him.
Reaching up, he mimicked her pose by cupping her cheek. He owed it to her to be honest.
“This isn’t about making either of us stop talking,” he said gruffly. “This is about me kissing you because I have to.”
Slowly, Emery licked her lips. “Good.”
It was as if everything happened in slow motion from there—like they were being drawn together by forces beyond their control, and when their lips touched, they both sighed and eased into it.
All Carter could think was how this was possibly his sweetest victory ever with Emery—knowing she wanted his kiss just as much as he needed to kiss her.

 

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Samantha ChaseNew York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan’s Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40’s to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well.

 

When she’s not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in NorthCarolina.

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