Book Summary: 

Breanna Henderson lives by lists, strict schedules, and preparations galore. Being pregnant while climbing up a ladder into her best friend Billy’s bedroom was definitely NOT part of the plan. This Christmas, everything has changed, and Breanna’s meticulous agenda has disappeared out the tinsel-trimmed window.

Billy Carmichael loves the festive season: his family descending on the Christmas tree farm, long days among the pines, and long nights between the sheets with his best-friend-with-benefits, Breanna. But Billy soon discovers that this year, unwrapping his favourite present won’t be so easy.

A flirty TV car show host, a celebrity home stylist, and a meddling clan of kilt-loving lumberjacks threaten everything they knew. And then there’s the truth about Bre’s baby daddy.

Billy and Breanna don’t just need a Plan B. They need … A Merry Little Christmas Contingency.

My Review:

Finished just in time for the holidays, Moonshine fans have the chance to head out of town to the local Carmichael Christmas Tree Farm as they gear up for one of the two most talked-about events of the year (you’ll have to read “Meet Me In Moonshine” for the other!). In the fourth book of the series, we jump back in time to finally uncover the story we’ve been waiting for – Breanna and Billy. Get ready to enjoy a new twist on Christmas as Brooklyn brings the heat in more ways than one, along with a little Christmas cheer, in this sweet holiday tale.

Breanna “Bruce” Henderson has always been one of the guys! She knows how to keep the four Carmichael boys and her brother Seth in check. Women don’t get her, men fear her, and those who cross her learn quickly not to try it again. She knows what she wants, has a plan, and is freaking out! An accidental pregnancy was not part of her life plan! What was part of it? Having her beloved 1943 Ford Coupe Utility on Crank Shaft, spending her days during Christmas on the tree farm with her true family, and her nights in bed with Billy Carmichael – not dealing with being six months pregnant, hiding the father’s identity, coping with insane pregnancy hormones, and being treated like a porcelain doll. All she wants is for everything to remain the same, but the life growing inside her has other plans. As her agenda and plans are slowly stripped from her, Breanna must decide whether to accept the new life ahead or risk her sanity (and her baby) to keep things as they are.

There is nothing that brings a brighter smile to my face than the Carmichael Crew! Holly, Nick, Liam, Connor, Billy, and Graham are the family you wish you had the pleasure of knowing. Throw in Grandpa Richard and his little quips, and you couldn’t ask for more. I stand corrected – Breanna’s brother Seth was one of my favorite characters. To have that man’s confidence would be a dream! I loved how the Carmichaels treated Breanna and Seth as if they were two of their own – especially when you meet their actual mother and father. The perspective of the Montagues and Capulets spoke volumes when you learned of the antics of Elanor Henderson. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Piers “Revv” Ryder and his counterbalance, Sharee DeLuca. The host of characters, along with favorites from the previous books, made revisiting the town of Moonshine and the Carmichael Christmas Tree Farm a delightful treat.

Having lived in the northern hemisphere my entire life, it was mind-boggling to read a Christmas tale set during a heat wave where people were still picking out Christmas trees! Not sure why, as it’s 74 degrees in Florida on December 23rd, but still, it was an interesting shift in perspective after reading so many holiday stories set in the snow. Add in the Christmas Pickle hunt and gorgeous men in kilts, and you have a wonderfully unexpected experience.

There were a few things in this one that pulled me away from the book. For starters, Breanna, for lack of a better term, irked a nerve for the first 40% of the book. While I grew to understand her character more, especially when Reece spoke to her, initially the games she was playing with Billy were very off-putting. You can’t show up for a late night “rendezvous”, reveal that you are six months pregnant, not state who the father is, and keep saying that you want everything to be the same. Each time she said that, I could feel the eye roll. Billy had the patience of a saint, and as he reassured her about their friendship and everything she needed to feel secure, I grew increasingly frustrated with her avoidance. However, as we learn more about Breanna’s character, I became less protective of Billy and more understanding of Breanna’s struggle to hold onto “Bruce,” her persona of strength and resilience. Being pregnant meant she was fragile and vulnerable. It also created cracks in her veneer that gave voice to her mother Elanor’s criticisms. 

Another aspect that pulled me out of the book was the redundancy. Having read the prior books, I knew about Billy’s right arm and its history. It was enlightening to be in his mind and see how this disability didn’t hold him back, but at times left him wanting. Initially, the mention of what he wished he could do with his right hand added depth and emotion – especially for first time readers; however, by the end, it was brought up so frequently that you found yourself saying, “yes, we get it!” The same goes for Breanna’s need for control and resistance to change – these inner thoughts felt repetitive and didn’t seem to evolve until the end. There were also grammatical, spelling, and reference errors, which may have been addressed in editing. If not, they add to the sense that this one felt a bit rushed to publication.

I will credit Brooklyn to her creative approach with the spice in this book. It gives the illusion it was going to be steamy but held back. These two had a Christmas tradition of being together at the farm, and yet, with the change of events, you found them constantly circling one another, wanting, needing but not giving in. There were heated scenes, intimate moments, but only one was fully ignited. Again, Billy should win an award for self-control and patience!

Dr. Reece coming on the scene is what really tied everything together. When he began discussing Bre’s history of dealing with panic attacks, anxiety, and overall mental health, you finally felt like you understood her character. While Bre always spoke her mind, there was a lot she didn’t say and didn’t want others to see. Reece became the filter through all the noise, allowing us to see Breanna beyond Billy, Seth, and even her mother.

Speaking of the person behind the mask, we also had the chance to get to know Billy beyond the façade, grunts, and minimalistic conversations. We saw how much he truly loved Breanna and what he was willing to do to keep her in his life. A new perspective emerged with Piers’s ableist behavior around the family, highlighting what Billy endured. It put a beautifully positive spin on his attitude and his disability. Yes, we are aware that Billy’s presence commanded attention, and those familiar with him and his family knew better. For an outsider without a filter, however, you suddenly saw why Billy was determined to be who he was and excel in life, not being held back by the limitations of the missing remainder of his right arm. It was truly awe-inspiring.

While it was a slow start, once “A Merry Little Christmas Contingency” got going, it became an absolute joy to read. As a bonus, we get a sneak peek into Reece’s story, “Fake Dating Dr. Darcy,” with the first two chapters, and I cannot wait! Having also gotten to know Seth Henderson, my one hope is that we see more of him in the future (or less – still can’t get that Chapter Three out of my head!).