Bella works for a real-estate company based in LA, and is given a chance of a promotion and a big raise right before Christmas. She needs to the small town of Maple Falls, Colorado, and try and get 78-year-old Clarence to sell his Christmas shop, Always Noelle, in the days leading up to the holiday. Bella has a deal being signed, for a lower than market price, when Jesse, the grandson of Clarence, shows up and stops the deal. He’s furious with her for trying to take advantage of him. So Clarence makes a proposal, the annual town Christmas games are coming up, and Jesse is the reigning champ. She will partake in the games, and if she wins he will sign for a low figure, and if Jesse wins, it will be for a higher figure. Both Jesse and Bella agree, and as the days go along, they find they like each other, and fall for each other. But Bella is in trouble with her boss, and learns that the plans for Always Noelle are not what she told them they would be. After a fight, and a sabotage during the games, both Jesse and Bella have a lot to think about, and if they can possibly be together. This is a really fun, well-written rom-com, that has everything you would want in this type of book. A good early holiday read.
You can pick up The Christmas Wager in stores on Tuesday, September 26th from Berkley.
