Name: mariola's review of A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh
Item: A Cross-Country Christmas
Rating: 2
Author: mariola

Courtney Walsh

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.

A Cross-Country Christmas

Kayla 

Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

mariola

Jordan

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. 

Bethany Williamson

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!

Issabelle :)

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.

Lynn Braden

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.

Anita

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

kels

tish

nory

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

“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.

Jaclyn

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

Leah | @LeahsLittlePleasures

Maria

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

Abigail | 

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

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 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

mariola &
A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

mariola &A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh

Reviews

Highlights

Join the club

mariola &
A Cross-Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh