A Chase for Christmas by Candace Shaw

Welcome Back, Booklovers! It's July and even though the sun is blazing and Christmas is five months away this time is when I get excited for the holidays. I blame the years of seeing department stores bring out their discounted Christmas décor and Hallmark running all the Christmas movies during the time. This is an older title now out of print but it's available on Hoopla and for ebook purchase.

It's getting close to Christmas time and successful video game developer, Preston Chase is putting on a Winter Wonderland event to benefit the local Children's hospital. He enlists help from a local artist who also happens to be his sister's best friend Blythe Ventura. Blythe is balancing holiday sip and paint events but she can't say no when it comes to a good cause. 

I thought this one had the right balance of making it feel like Christmas time without having to have the constant reminders through holiday activity on every page. The setting isn't Christmas Lane, USA instead it's set in Atlanta, Georgia. But that doesn't mean it's devoid of any holiday magic as the two work together to bring hope and joy to sick children. Christmas romance always involves people getting together in a very short window of time so it was interesting that this one had a bit of a slow burn. Preston and Blythe already have an easy chemistry together after a year of flirting and Preston's sister hinting that they should be together. 

Having been burned in the past by a cheating ex boyfriend, Blythe isn't ready to jump into another relationship as she's still overcoming insecurities from the last one. But Preston is cool, confident and ready to convince her to risk it all. It's a quick read with just enough drama and some genuinely funny moments.