Merry & Bright {A Book Review}

There is something about the holiday season that makes me want to curl up on my sofa, wrapped up in a blanket, and read my heart out. Of course my life makes it nearly impossible to do that as often as I would like, so when the opportunity arises I do it without hesitation. The only thing that makes reading in the winter even better is when I am reading a Christmas book. I adore Christmas, the anticipation in the air, and the all around cheerfulness that hugs the air. 

I recently got the opportunity to read Merry & Bright thanks to Chick Lit Plus. Merry & Bright is a collection of six short stories with one theme in common; they are all about Christmas cheer! I loved this book. If I am honest, I cannot think of a single instance in my life where I read a book filled with short stories. I have no idea why I have not, but now that I have? I definitely will more often! The stories were the right length to squeeze in reading time throughout my day and before I knew it I would be done with a story. 

If you are in the mood for some happiness and a read that will warm your heart, then this is your book. I highly recommend it to all of my book loving friends and family. Read it and you will be happy that you did (even if you aren't quite in the holiday spirit, this book will lift your spirits as it did mine). 

I have to give Merry & Bright five out of five stars--I adored it (and the authors' talented writing). Gift it to yourself and read it while you are curled up next to your Christmas tree.

About the Book

Sip your eggnog, linger under the mistletoe, and make a Christmas wish. Merry & Bright brings you six tales of Christmas cheer, featuring stories of budding romances, Southern charm, lost loves, heaps of humor, and lots of pie by authors Isabella Louise Anderson, Cindy Arora, Laura Chapman, Lauren Clark, Libby Mercer, and Nancy Scrofano. From sunny Los Angeles to the Rocky Mountains to the Deep South, Merry & Bright will take you on a heartwarming adventure you’ll love to visit again and again. Wrap yourself in holiday mirth and prepare to be swept off your feet.

About the Authors

Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark writes contemporary novels sprinkled with sunshine, suspense, and secrets. She is the author of Dancing Naked in Dixie, Stay Tuned, Stardust Summer, and Pie Girls. A former TV news anchor, Lauren adores flavored coffee, local bookstores, and anywhere she can stick her toes in the sand. Her big loves are her family, paying it forward, and true-blue friends. Lauren is a member of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, the Mobile Writers Guild, and a regular contributor to Parents & Kids Magazine's Mississippi Gulf Coast Edition. Check out her website at www.laurenclarkbooks.com.

Cindy Arora

Cindy Arora was a staff writer at The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, The Orange County Register and Sacramento Magazine. She’s been published in Saveur, Tasting Table, Orange Coast Magazine, and Fodor’s.  Her debut novel, Heartbreak Cake, was released November 2013 by Simon and Fig and her novella, “Cake Therapy”, appeared in the anthology Petit Four: Four Stories, Frosted with Love in November 2014. She’s also mama to an adorable little boy, a feminist, a whiskey enthusiast, and proud to call herself a Chick Lit author. To learn more about Cindy, please visit her website at www.cindyarora.com.

Nancy Scrofano

Nancy Scrofano grew up watching classic television shows, classic movies, and listening to oldies, all of which she still adores today. Nancy has a penchant for the fifties, mostly because of her favorite show, I Love Lucy. She has seen every episode countless times and will happily share the trivia she knows with anyone who will listen. Nancy worked as an editor and a journalist for her college newspaper, then went on to develop sociology textbooks for an academic publisher. She has a master’s degree in media psychology, as well as undergraduate degrees in communication, radio and television, and liberal arts. Nancy is a freelance writer and the author of True Love Way, Cupid on Deck, and American Honey.

Additionally, she is the founder and managing editor of Fictionella, a book blog that promotes and celebrates women’s fiction. Nancy lives in southern California where she is at work on her next novel. For more about Nancy, please visit her website at www.nancyscrofano.com.

Isabella Louise Anderson

Isabella Louise Anderson grew up with a book in her hand, and to this day nothing has changed. At the young age of ten, she was reading everything from Judy Blume to Danielle Steel, so in 2010, Isabella signed up for a creative writing course, deciding it was time to turn her passion for writing and books into a career. A year later, Isabella finished writing her first book, Redefined Dreams. Her second book, The Right Design, was published in 2014. Her website, Chick Lit Goddess, features books and other Chick Lit and Romance authors, along with sharing book reviews. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and has been featured on several blogs. Isabella lives in Dallas with her husband and cat. If she’s not eating spicy Mexican food and drinking margaritas, she can be found spending time with family and friends, cheering on the Texas Rangers, and reading books, often two at a time. For more about Isabella, please visit www.chicklitgoddess.com.

Libby Mercer

Born and raised in the Heartland of America, Libby Mercer's adventurous spirit kicked in after graduating from high school and she's since lived in Boston, NYC and London. San Francisco is the city that she currently calls home. For several years, Libby worked in fashion—first as a journalist and then as a shopkeeper, and for a while she dabbled in design. Libby is the author of Fashioning a Romance, Unmasking Maya, and The Karmic Connection. To learn more about Libby, please visit http://libby-mercer.blogspot.com.

Laura Chapman

Laura Chapman found a way to mix her love of romance and humor as a women’s fiction blogger and author. A 2008 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Laura studied journalism, English and history. She spent four years traveling the country as a writer/photographer, and currently works in communications. Born and raised in Nebraska—in a city, not on a farm—she is a devoted fan of football, British period drama, writing in bars, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Her debut novel, Hard Hats and Doormats, was released in December 2013. For more about Laura, please visit her website  www.laurachapmanbooks.com.

Lucie Simone (Editor of Merry & Bright)

Lucie Simone has a passion for travel, romance and all things Chick Lit. She also has a degree in Journalism and a Master of Fine Arts in Television Production. She is the author of the novels, Picture Perfect and Hollywood Ending. Her short story, “Aprez Vous,” is featured in the anthology, Petit Four: Four Stories Frosted with Love. Lucie lives, loves and writes in the City of Angeles. For more about Lucie, please visit her website at www.luciesimone.com.

Where to Purchase

Are you in the mood to dive headfirst and absorb Merry & Bright? You can purchase your own copy at the following places:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

A huge thank you to Chick Lit Plus & the lovely authors of this book for allowing me to read and give my honest review. No other compensation was given, and I received one epub copy in order to provide my honest review.