Christmas With a Crank by Courtney Walsh: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

A second chance with your first crush.

Doesn’t happen often.

For Liam Fisher, that first crush was his next door neighbor, Olive Witherby.

Childhood was lazy summers, treehouse stargazing, and endless games of hide and seek at Pine Creek, the Christmas tree farm that’s been in Liam’s family for generations.

When Liam moves away, he and Olive say goodbye the only way they know how—with a fumbling first kiss neither of them will ever forget.

Even though twelve-year olds’ promises of keeping in touch feel eternal, time and distance eventually make Olive and Liam practically strangers.

Twenty years later, Liam’s parents announce they’re retiring and selling the tree farm.

Twenty years later, Pine Creek is the last place grown-up Liam wants to be. Inherit this legacy? Not on your life.

And twenty years later, grown-up Olive is stuck.

Her work life is a lot like her love life—floundering. After a humiliating business failure, loads of debt, and one too many laughable first dates, she’s in no hurry to put herself out there again, in business or in romance.

When Olive is hired by Liam’s parents to rekindle the lost magic of the farm one final time before it’s sold, she sets out to make this the last, best Pine Creek Christmas, for the town and for a very cranky, not-so-talkative, surprisingly attractive Liam.

Part of her mission? Convince the crank to fall in love with Christmas.

The other part? Not fall head over heels in the process.

Christmas With a Crank is a grumpy/sunshine, childhood crush, opposites attract romance with plenty of sizzle but none of the steam.

The Author

Courtney Walsh is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of sixteen novels. She writes small town romance and women's fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns and runs with her husband. Courtney is a Carol award winner and Christy Award finalist who has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.

Connect with Courtney online at her website (courtneywalshwrites.com) or on any of these social media platforms:

Facebook.com/courtneywalshwrites

Instagram.com/courtneywalsh

Twitter.com/courtney_walsh

Book Review

Oh, how I adored this book! There is just something about a childhood best friend and/or first crush that I cannot help but love... and this one did that so well with Liam and Olive. I loved their sweet relationship as children and their first innocent sweet kiss. They lost that connection after his family moved to take over the tree farm, but as they work together to make it the best, last season at the farm they can before his parents sell it, it doesn't take long for the chemistry to pick up... stronger and deeper than ever. That history made seeing them get that chance at love all that much sweeter and I just couldn't get enough of the two of them. It's no secret that Courtney Walsh is one of my very favorites, and this book is a prime example of why! It's the perfect blend of those sweet, romantic moments that will make you swoon and humorous moments that kept me smiling throughout the story... with all the Christmas cheer added in, of course! There was such a feeling of warmth and home within this story... truly like a warm hug from a friend! Just the type of story that I love during the holidays! 

Christmas with a Crank is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4fm99gj