A Cross-Country Christmas
Heartwarming
Pure
Sweet

A Cross-Country Christmas

Lauren Richmond isn't a fan of Christmas. Which is why she rarely makes the trip home to the Midwest for the holidays. After all, she has plenty to keep her busy--namely, her duties as a set decorator on a TV sitcom. But this December, Lauren's brother and his wife are expecting a baby, so her brother arranges a ride home for her with his good friend, Will. Unfortunately for Lauren, she's been trying to forget college baseball coach and childhood crush Will Sinclair for more than ten years. Now, thanks to her fear of flying, she's stuck in a car with him from California to Illinois. She's circumspect and organized. He's flirty and spontaneous. She's convinced that people don't change. He's trying to prove to her (and himself) that he has. On this cross-country road trip, they'll both discover that history doesn't exactly repeat itself. . . but like any good Christmas carol, it does have a second verse.
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of Bethany Williamson
Bethany Williamson@readingandrelaxing
5 stars
Dec 7, 2024

Absolutely LOVED!!! So cute and sweet and made me cry a little but also made me Laugh. I read it in 3 sittings. And when i wasn’t reading it i was thinking about it.

+16
Photo of Issabelle :)
Issabelle :)@issabelle13
3.5 stars
Dec 28, 2023

I could not put this book down , it had such a good flow to it! Only reason for my 3.5 star rating is because I found the last few pages cringy but other than that it’s such a beautiful book and it made me teary eyed!

+3
Photo of Lynn Braden
Lynn Braden@ftbooklover
3 stars
Dec 10, 2023

Lauren Richmond never should have agreed to ride with Will Sinclair from California to Illinois for Christmas, but her brother, Spencer and his wife are having their first baby, and he wants her there to share it. After an experience with Will in college that hurt her deeply, Lauren has stayed away from him and any other possibility for relationships. Her fear makes flying out of the question, and she's too late to get a bus or train ticket, so she will have to put up with Will, while hoping she doesn't fall for him again.

A Cross-Country Christmas is a cute, mostly lighthearted romance, but there are some serious issues that both characters are dealing with from the past. The road trip adventure leads the protagonists into some unique and humorous situations that balance the heavier topics raised throughout the story. Unfortunately, the length of the book and nature of the narrative make the characters come across as one dimensional, making connecting with them difficult for the reader. Overall, though, A Cross-Country Christmas is an easy and fun read for the holiday season.

+7
Photo of Anita
Anita@anitareads
4 stars
Dec 15, 2022

4.25⭐️

Photo of kels
kels@kelseysoderberg
2 stars
Dec 5, 2022

wasn’t my favorite. i love road-trip romances but there were too many other tropes that were included that i didn’t like. also there was absolutely no tension or moments that gave me butterflies. at no point did i read something and then “the office camera stare” like i do with other books of this genre. a very PG read and that’s not my vibe. the end of the book also felt rushed which was disappointing

Photo of tish
tish@blackstairs
4 stars
Sep 15, 2022

SO CUTEEE

Photo of nory
nory@tristanmorana
1 star
Aug 16, 2022

why are literally all of the reviews 5 stars did i miss something- i hated this 😭 the second hand embarrassment would not end

Photo of 4
4@mrsslazarevic
4 stars
Aug 13, 2022

“Wow, I really love kissing you,” he said when he pulled away. “I’m going to fall asleep dreaming about it, you know that, right?” She grinned and opened her car door. “Good. My goal is to bewitch you, body and soul.” “Ooh, a Pride and Prejudice deep cut. I like it.” 4.5 stars I liked this book! I know i say that for most of the books i read but it's not my fault i choose what i know i will like. The romance was great and i have to say that Will left quite the impression on me. He really tried, sooooo hard, for her to realize that the old him is gone and the reason i loved him even more is because he was whippeddddd from the start. His POV's where always making me smile (or cry). Now the reason i took half the star of is Lauren's behavior thru certain period of time. Yes i understand she was hurt in the past but still the guy proved himself so Lo chill out!! MY FAV QUOTES WHO MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!! Hey, man, I know you asked me to give your sister a ride home, but I sort of fell for her somewhere between California and New Mexico. You’re cool with that, right? “Maddie, I am trying really hard to hate this man,” Lauren whispered. “Why?” “Because he is a recipe for disaster. A literal recipe. Two cups of charm, three ounces of inappropriate flirting, and a dash of dimples make for a very, very broken heart.” “Please, Lauren,” Will said. “You know you’re not the kind of girl you date.” “Ouch.” He leveled her gaze. “You’re the kind of girl you marry.” “But if the stars align and things work out, the first time I kiss this woman is going to be because I want to—not because some tradition told me I had to.” Worse, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He wanted to be around her. To make her smile. Heck, he’d make a whole career of that if she’d let him—and he knew it wouldn’t be easy, which, honestly, made the idea even more alluring. She’d make him work for every single smirk. “Kind of sounds like you and me,” he said. Her forehead wrinkled. “No. Mr. Darcy was hopelessly in love with Elizabeth and. . .” She trailed off, a blush rising to her cheeks as he slowly raised his eyebrows at her. “She falls hopelessly in love with him?” “I didn’t have anyone,” she confessed. “I spent a lot more time alone. I loved reading, and I know it sounds stupid, but the characters in the books I read became my best friends. The only ones who would never hurt me.” “You’re doing a terrible job of being my friend!” He stood, facing her, only a few inches between them. He met her eyes. “Who says I want to be ‘just your friend?’” Why then, did he reach over and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear? He wanted a better view of her face—but there was no way he was going to say that out loud. “I mean, I like you. Is that so hard to believe?” “Actually, yes.” “Don’t get me wrong, you’re a huge pain, a horrible traveler, and you drive me absolutely crazy.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “But I can’t stop thinking about you. You are who you say you are. You don’t try to be something you’re not or waste time playing games. You’re smart, and you don’t pretend you’re not. You’re beautiful, but you have no idea. You know what you want, and you go for it.” In that moment, Lauren Richmond looked more beautiful than anything Will Sinclair had ever seen. It was a cruel reminder that what he wanted was right in front of him—and still just out of his reach. “Lauren Richmond.” He smiled sweetly at her. “Will you be—” “YES!” She wrapped her arms around Will just in time for him to say a muffled, “—my wife?” He’d given her the best Christmas gift anyone could have—a family, true love, and a reason to believe in miracles.

Photo of Jaclyn
Jaclyn@romancebookbubble
5 stars
Apr 24, 2022

The perfect Christmas story!!!!! Loved this so so much!!!! Highly recommend!!

Photo of Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures
Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures@leahslittlepleasures
5 stars
Jan 18, 2022

This was wonderful ♥️

Photo of Maria
Maria@mersibaq
2 stars
Jan 7, 2022

штош, героиня - овца, герой - полено, сюжет - штамп на штампе, и если ты не умеешь писать witty banter, то и не берись, потому что выглядит это скучно и смешно. отдельно плохи вещи, которые в 2021 году уже считаются красными флажками (героиня на "диете", герой без предупреждения увозит героиню в незапланированное путешествие, пока та спит), а автор, видимо, пока не получила мемо, и считает это нормальным и даже романтичным

Photo of Abigail |
Abigail | @acozyadventurer
4.5 stars
Dec 28, 2021

What an adorably perfect Christmas romance- gave me all the cutesie flutters. 🥰

+2
Photo of Kayla
Kayla @keepingitread
4 stars
Dec 26, 2021

I really enjoyed this book, I wasn't expecting much from a little Christmas read as this was my first time reading a Christmas themed book. This book deals with a lot of different issues like drugs and alcohol use and how it can affect your life. I also enjoyed the aspect of her trying not to fall in love with him the whole time.

This review contains a spoiler
+8
Photo of Genesis (@whisperingchapters)
Genesis (@whisperingchapters)@whisperingchapters
4.5 stars
Dec 22, 2021

This was so stinking cute and fun! It was exactly how I picture a holiday book to be. These characters will grip your heart and won’t let go, especially Will. 😭 Read if you like: • Grumpy heroine-sunshine hero • Road-trip unplanned adventures • Brother’s best friend • One bed

+2
Photo of Hana Thwaites
Hana Thwaites@hanahattie
4 stars
Feb 18, 2024
Photo of mariola
mariola@florsgrogues
2 stars
Dec 18, 2023
+3
Photo of Pooja Mahesh
Pooja Mahesh@pooja
3 stars
Dec 15, 2022
Photo of Olivia Sekelsky
Olivia Sekelsky@livsek
2.5 stars
Dec 13, 2022
Photo of Lisa Weidacher
Lisa Weidacher@liser
4 stars
Dec 10, 2022
Photo of Judit Ribas
Judit Ribas @ribas
1.5 stars
Dec 4, 2022
Photo of Neo Kaya
Neo Kaya@neo__library
3.5 stars
Nov 1, 2022
Photo of Michele Aucutt
Michele Aucutt@michelesbooks
3.5 stars
Mar 16, 2022
Photo of sofia 🥀
sofia 🥀@booksofia
4 stars
Jan 7, 2022
+5
Photo of B
B@8reanna
3 stars
Jan 7, 2024

Highlights

Photo of Kayla
Kayla @keepingitread

“I know,” he shrugged, “I know it’s important. It wasn’t my dream, though. I wanted more, I still do, but it’s way too late for that now. Where I am is where I deserve to be.”

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Kayla
Kayla @keepingitread

He’d given her the best Christmas gift anyone could have—a family, true love, and a reason to believe in miracles.

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Kayla
Kayla @keepingitread

Kathy motioned for Lauren to follow her through the entryway and into a den on the opposite side of the front door. One entire wall was made up of bookshelves, stacked to the ceiling with books. Lauren gasped. “Okay, this is my favorite room, ever.” Kathy smiled. “Oh! Are you a reader?” She nodded in awe. “Huge.” “I knew I liked you.”

Photo of Kayla
Kayla @keepingitread

“Please, Lauren,” Will said. “You know you’re not the kind of girl you date.” “Ouch.” He leveled her gaze. “You’re the kind of girl you marry.”

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Kayla
Kayla @keepingitread

"Because he is a recipe for disaster. A literal recipe. Two cups of charm, three ounces of inappropriate flirting, and a dash of dimples make for a very, very broken heart.”

Photo of Kayla
Kayla @keepingitread

"It wasn’t a fair fight when your opponent didn’t even know he was in the ring."

Love this line, its so true

Photo of Genesis (@whisperingchapters)
Genesis (@whisperingchapters)@whisperingchapters

"Please, Lauren," Will said. "You know you're not the kind of girl you date." "Ouch." He leveled her gaze. "You're the kind of girl you marry"

Page 94

😍😍😍

Photo of Genesis (@whisperingchapters)
Genesis (@whisperingchapters)@whisperingchapters

“Do you know how much you’re missing in the moment by always wishing you were somewhere else?”

Page 61

This book appears on the shelf Cosy

Gator Bait
Gator Bait by Jana DeLeon
Swamp Team 3
Swamp Team 3 by Jana DeLeon
Swamp Sniper
Swamp Sniper by Jana DeLeon
Lethal Bayou Beauty
Lethal Bayou Beauty by Jana DeLeon
Louisiana Longshot
Louisiana Longshot by Jana DeLeon
Soldiers of Fortune
Soldiers of Fortune by Jana DeLeon

This book appears on the shelf Netgalley

Inferno
Inferno by Rachel Grant
Operative 66
Operative 66 by Andy McDermott
Heroes
Heroes by Stephen Fry
The President's Daughter
The President's Daughter by James Patterson
Two Nights
Two Nights by Kathy Reichs
Blood of elves
Blood of elves by Andrzej Sapkowski

This book appears on the shelf Series boxsets

New Beginnings
New Beginnings by A. K. Michaels
Inferno
Inferno by Rachel Grant
Sam's Surrender
Sam's Surrender by Elle James
Manu
Manu by Anna Hackett
Everspell
Everspell by Donna Grant
A Highlander's Return
A Highlander's Return by A. K. Michaels