The Christmas Dare: A Twilight, Texas Novel

by Lori Wilde

Overview

A jilted-at-the-altar bride reunites with her high school sweetheart in Lori Wilde’s sensational new Twilight, Texas Christmas novel.

Kelsey James always played by the rules and look where it got her—dumped and half-drunk in a poofy white dress, her Christmas wedding ruined. Then her best friend talks her into going on her “honeymoon” anyway, daring her to a “Christmas of Yes.”  It’s about time she lets loose a little, so Kelsey agrees to say “yes” to fun, to romance, and to adventure! And adventure leads her right smack into the arms of sexy Noah MacGregor.

Noah’s never one to say no to a risk—from leading his NBA team to victory to making Christmas cookies in Twilight, he’s up to the challenge! But a lot has gone on since they were teenagers, and he knows he has to take his time to make Kelsey dare to believe that what they feel is more than just the holiday magic that’s in the air . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062468314
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/22/2019
Series:	Twilight, Texas Series , #10
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	1,091,225
Product dimensions:	4.10(w) x 6.60(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Lori Wilde is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of 97 works of romantic fiction. She’s a three-time Romance Writers’ of America RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Readers’ Choice Award. She has won numerous other awards as well. Her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than seven million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her breakout novel, The First Love Cookie Club, was made into a Hallmark movie titled A Kismet Christmas.

Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University and an MLA from the same university. She holds a certificate in forensics and is also a certified yoga instructor.

A sixth-generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World.

Editorial Reviews

10/07/2019

Holiday spirit pervades this emotional second chance romance, the eleventh in Wilde’s Twilight, Texas series (after The Christmas Key). When Kelsey James’s fiancé leaves her at the altar, her friend Tasha Williams takes her on a trip with the theme “A Christmas of ‘Yes’ ”—for two weeks, Tasha will give Kelsey dares to get her out of her comfort zone. Tasha surprises Kelsey by bringing her to Twilight, Tex., to stay at a boat motel owned by Noah MacGregor, a former NBA player whom Kelsey dated when she was 17. Dodging her narcissistic mother’s incessant demands that she return to Dallas, Kelsey gets reacquainted with Noah, and her broken heart starts to mend. As Tasha’s dares push Kelsey to be bold and sparks fly between her and Noah, Kelsey must work up the courage to break free from her mother’s control and take a chance on love with Noah. Kelsey and Noah’s sizzling chemistry leaps off the page. Plenty of Christmas trimmings will put readers in a festive mood. Agent: Jenny Bent, the Bent Agency. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

A joyful, romantic Christmas read…” — Kirkus Reviews

“…An absolute crowd-pleaser…  The magnetism between Naomi and Mark is breathtaking and real, the magic of Christmas enhances their romance. Readers will cheer for the wounded warrior who may have found a place to call home.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“...Wilde explores the subject of PTSD with great empathy and insight...together with the author’s usual superbly nuanced characters, layers of emotion, and exquisite sexual tension, and you have a heart-wrenching and heartwarming tale that beautifully encapsulates all the love, hope, faith, and forgiveness of the holiday season.” — Booklist (starred review)

“A wonderful story… The ending will leave readers with the desire to make return visits to Jubilee, Texas.” — RT Book Reviews, 4 stars

“Readers craving stories of finding a happily ever after will be thrilled by everything The Christmas Cookie Collection has to offer. [...] It’s a wonderful book to celebrate with.” — RT Book Reviews

“Delicious details, a small town full of memorable characters, great dialogue, and humor all combine to make this a highly enjoyable tale about two people who find healing—and each other.” — Booklist on All of Me

“Lori Wilde has created a rich and wonderful story about the charm of small town life combined with the power and passion of first love. Delicious!” — Robyn Carr

“I love Lori Wilde’s Cupid, Texas series and can’t wait to read this next one.” — Parade Magazine online, Summer Beach Reads pick

“…A a superbly executed contemporary romance. From the book’s richly nuanced characters to its heartwarming small-town setting, each element plays off the others in perfect harmony. And when it comes to striking exactly the right balance between sweet and sexy, Wilde has the equivalent of perfect pitch.” — Booklist

“sweet…balancing intense emotions with heartwarming family moments.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Christmas at Twilight is a wonderful heartwarming story not to be missed. The characters are written with compassion as the love between the couple grows.” — RT Book Reviews (4 Stars)

From the Publisher

Lori Wilde has created a rich and wonderful story about the charm of small town life combined with the power and passion of first love. Delicious!

Robyn Carr

A wonderful story… The ending will leave readers with the desire to make return visits to Jubilee, Texas.

RT Book Reviews

Delicious details, a small town full of memorable characters, great dialogue, and humor all combine to make this a highly enjoyable tale about two people who find healing—and each other.

Booklist on All of Me

…A a superbly executed contemporary romance. From the book’s richly nuanced characters to its heartwarming small-town setting, each element plays off the others in perfect harmony. And when it comes to striking exactly the right balance between sweet and sexy, Wilde has the equivalent of perfect pitch.

Booklist

Christmas at Twilight is a wonderful heartwarming story not to be missed. The characters are written with compassion as the love between the couple grows.

RT Book Reviews (4 Stars)

2019-09-13
A woman completely under the thumb of her mother is jilted by her groom, forcing her to face the fact that she needs to figure out who she is and what she wants.

When Kelsey James is abandoned on her wedding day, she finds herself apologizing to her overbearing mother and taking the blame. It's the culmination of a lifetime of playing it safe and appeasing her mother, who happens to be the mayor of Dallas, and Kelsey has finally had enough. Her best friend, Tasha Williams, dares her to take the next couple of weeks to do a Christmas of Yes, fashioned after Shonda Rhimes' book Year of Yes: "You have to say yes to five challenges that scare you from now until New Year's." Under the influence of a few shots, Kelsey shares the story of her teenage love, Noah MacGregor, whom she's never forgotten. Noah has since joined the NBA, had a career-ending injury, and moved back to his hometown of Twilight, Texas, opening a bed-and-breakfast on a paddleboat. Of course Tasha shuttles Kelsey to Twilight, where she and Noah have a chance to rekindle their love affair. But they each have issues they need to work through, the No. 1 challenge being Kelsey's mother, who actively kept them apart 10 years earlier and is determined to keep Kelsey in her clutches. On the surface, Wilde's newest Twilight title is a fun, sweet holiday read, and we actively root for Kelsey to stand up for herself and find happiness with Noah. However, it's disheartening that Kelsey only rejects her mother's abusive influence after a heartfelt conversation with her father gives her mother a disorder with a label. Given how bright and accomplished Kelsey is, it's disappointing she can't draw those conclusions herself and give herself permission to disengage.

Overall, a joyful, romantic Christmas read with a mostly satisfying, redemptive second-chance arc.

Kirkus Reviews

I love Lori Wilde’s Cupid, Texas series and can’t wait to read this next one.

Parade Magazine online

...Wilde explores the subject of PTSD with great empathy and insight...together with the author’s usual superbly nuanced characters, layers of emotion, and exquisite sexual tension, and you have a heart-wrenching and heartwarming tale that beautifully encapsulates all the love, hope, faith, and forgiveness of the holiday season.

Booklist (starred review)

…A a superbly executed contemporary romance. From the book’s richly nuanced characters to its heartwarming small-town setting, each element plays off the others in perfect harmony. And when it comes to striking exactly the right balance between sweet and sexy, Wilde has the equivalent of perfect pitch.

Booklist