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    Christmas Camp: A Novel
    Christmas Camp: A Novel
    Christmas Camp: A Novel
    Audiobook8 hours

    Christmas Camp: A Novel

    Written by Karen Schaler

    Narrated by Ann Marie Gideon

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Now a Hallmark Original Movie

    From the screenwriter of the Netflix Original viral hit, A Christmas Prince, comes another heartwarming holiday story about a beautiful Grinch who’s determined to get her dream job even if it means spending a week at a Christmas Camp where she discovers an unexpected love.

    Haley Hanson’s idea of the perfect Christmas is escaping to the Caribbean to work so she can avoid all the traditional Christmas distractions. Over the years, she’s sacrificed her personal life to climb the corporate ladder at a prestigious Boston advertising agency. Now she just needs to land a coveted Christmas toy company account to make partner. But first, her boss, Larry, thinks she needs a holiday attitude adjustment, so he ships her off to a Christmas Camp at Holly Peak Inn to help her find her Christmas spirit.

    Arriving at the charming mountainside inn, Haley meets the owner’s handsome son, Jeff, and feels an instant spark, but resists the attraction, refusing to be distracted from her goal of doing all the required Christmas tasks as fast as possible so she can get back to work.

    At first Haley struggles with all the traditional Christmas Camp activities. It’s not until she finally allows herself to slow down, live in the moment, and let Christmas back into her heart, that she begins to grow closer to Jeff. But when he finds out Haley’s come up with a plan to help his dad save the struggling inn while he’s been trying to convince his dad to sell it, their relationship takes a serious holiday hit. Now it will take the magic of the season to bring these two hearts together.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateOct 16, 2018
    ISBN9780062909312
    Christmas Camp: A Novel
    Author

    Karen Schaler

    Karen Schaler is a three-time Emmy Award–winning storyteller, author, screenwriter, journalist, and national TV host. She has written original screenplays for Netflix, Hallmark, and Lifetime Christmas movies, including the Netflix sensation A Christmas Prince. Karen wrote the Hallmark movie and novel Christmas Camp, and the sequel novella, Christmas Camp Wedding. Traveling to more than sixty-five countries as the creator and host of Travel Therapy TV, Karen is constantly inspired by the diverse people, places, and cultures she encounters. All of Karen’s stories are uplifting, filled with heart and hope.

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    Reviews for Christmas Camp

    4/5

    159 ratings23 reviews

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    • 4/5
      The best part of the book was how Hailie fought getting into Christmas and Jeff, Ben and Max would not give up. The story was heart warming and shows how not to give up. I loved it. Recommend it highly!
    • 5/5
      Never read anything from this author. It was very heart warming.
    • 5/5
      Best Christmas Novel I have ever read. Read it !
    • 4/5
      If you enjoy Hallmark Christmas movies, you'll enjoy this novel and may have viewed it. It's the typical workaholic female learning to achieve a life-work balance scenario. Haley wants to become a partner in her firm, but her boss tells her she must first attend a Christmas camp he attended the prior year. The camp, held at an inn somewhere within driving distance of Boston, allows visitors to experience a traditional Christmas and possibly form new traditions of their own. Haley finds herself drawn to Jeff, the inn owner's son. Jeff views this as his father's last Christmas camp because the inn is losing money. He plans to move his father to a corner apartment in a development he oversees. Can Haley let go enough to enjoy the season? Will her plan to save the inn drive an irreparable wedge between her and Jeff? I really enjoyed this one. I'd expected it to arrive via Overdrive before Christmas. When it arrived in the closing days of the year, I debated whether or not to return it unread or read it. I'm glad I chose to read it. It's probably my favorite Christmas story of those read for the 2019 season (even if it was read entirely in 2020).
    • 5/5
      Where does one start with Christmas Camp? Do I start by telling you it's the perfect Hallmark movie in book form? Do I tell you the girl is relatable and Christmas really does bring magic and love into her overworked life? Or do I tell you it's all thanks to the smart dog? Oh, I tell you all of that? Okay, it's all true! Christmas Camp is the story of Haley Hanson and her desire to make partner at her advertising and marketing firm. Only the challenge has to do with Christmas and Haley's idea of Christmas is being poolside with her family...while still working. Meanwhile Jeff is all about the season, even if he wants his dad to give up the camp and move a little closer. He still believes and he's out to prove to Haley she knows nothing about the true spirit of Christmas. She struggles with the activities, referring to it all as boot camp, but as she learns to slow down she also learns how to open up allowing the unexpected to happen. But is Christmas just for a season or is it a forever feeling?Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler arrived right on time for me. I love the holidays, nothing is better than brisk air, peppermint flavored coffee, and decorations everywhere, but work's had me exhausted lately and my spirit was more Scrooge than even Haley's. This book has everything you could possibly like about Christmas in it. From the decorations to the activities to the sweet, more personal moments, it's exactly like that first, untouched sparkly snowfall. I really connected with Haley's goal to reach the top and her desperate desire to give her parents everything after they had given so much to her. She's lost sight, for sure, but she's got the spirit in her. Jeff is a bit of a tough guy, all handsome and closed off. They bump heads the entire way, but it makes for a funny and cute story that was easy to follow and even easier to fall in love with. Christmas Camp is a feel good story, the kind you'll want to read again and again. It's more than a romance though and I think readers will fall in love with the secondary characters we get to know during Haley's time at camp. It's the perfect book for the season and while I'm excited to see the movie, I'm more excited to read this year after year as the holiday season draws near.
    • 5/5
      Screenwriter and author Karen Schaler puts her own special spin on contemporary holiday romance with the delightful "Christmas Camp". For Haley Hansen, ambitious brand strategist at a premier Boston advertising agency, the perfect Christmas holiday is a working vacation in a tropical destination where she can escape the Ho-Ho-Ho. She has her eye on a prized Christmas toy company's account as a clincher to make her a partner at her firm. However, her boss thinks her holiday attitude need a makeover, and he sends her to Christmas Camp at Holly Peak Inn to soak up some seasonal spirit. The inn is charming, and so is the owner's son, Jeff Jacoby. Haley resists all for as long as she can, but soon the warm atmosphere of celebration and the definite spark of attraction between her and Jeff opens her heart and mind. However, Haley's idea to help Jeff's family hold on to the struggling inn is not at all what Jeff wants--he hopes his family will sell the property. With Haley and Jeff at cross-purposes, will a Christmas miracle bring these two holiday hearts together as one? A very entertaining romance, "Christmas Camp" also offers some sweet treat recipes for readers.Book Copy Gratis William Morrow Books via Library Thing
    • 5/5
      Thoroughly enjoyed this book, even though it was totally predictable and gushy Hallmark stuff ! The idea of someone who is rather a 'scrooge' character coming around to find the Christmas spirit is always uplifting. The setting is easily pictured by the description, and I could almost see the snow and the mountains, all the colorful Christmas decorations, smell the aroma of cookies in the oven. The whole idea of the camp and all the activities makes one wish they could actually go there! The characters were lovable......each with their own back-stories and challenges.... and it was heartwarming to see how they came to care for each other, and become friends, and how Hayley warmed up to them, and in the end, how Christmas Camp made changes in their all of their lives and relationships. The blossoming romance was nice to see unfold, even if it was oh so predictable! Overall a very cozy read......and I loved the escapades and intuitiveness of Max, the dog! He added so much to the story, and always made me smile !
    • 4/5
      A Hallmark Christmas movie --- only better! If you love all of the wonderful, feel-good movies that are on at Christmas time, this book is for you! It has all of the “normal” elements – wonderful setting (mountains – snow – cozy B&B), great characters (a very busy ad agency exec Grinch – hunky guy – families – dog), a good (if predictable) plot line. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes reading Holiday books that make you feel good! I won this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program.
    • 3/5
      From the book jacket: Haley Hanson’s idea of the perfect Christmas is escaping to the Caribbean to work so she can avoid all the traditional Christmas distractions. Over the years, she’s sacrificed her personal life to climb the corporate ladder at a prestigious Boston advertising agency. Now she just needs to land a coveted Christmas toy company account to make partner. But first her boss thinks she needs a holiday attitude adjustment and ships her off to Christmas Camp at Holly Peak Inn to help her find her Christmas spirit.My reactions:As I read this, I kept thinking it was remarkably like a Hallmark TV movie I had seen last week. Then I noticed the author’s note at the end, where she states she wrote the script for the movie first. No matter, really. It seems that all those movies have the same plot. They’re still fun to watch, and the schmaltzy Christmas romance books are fun to read. Total escapism. Now I need some cookies ….
    • 5/5
      Definitely lives up to the Hallmark Special genre. Really enjoyed this light happy tale about a young woman, Hayley, who lost her Christmas Spirit years ago and is forced to attend 'Christmas Camp' at a country inn by her boss in order to be considered for a big promotion. She is quite skeptical at first but soon realizes there is more to life than just work. Who cares if it's predictable, it's fun! And in the spirit of all that's Hallmark I highly recommend this book.
    • 3/5
      I received this book from Librarything's Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review.This book was exactly like a Hallmark Christmas movie! I really enjoyed it. Like many Hallmark Christmas movies, one of the main characters was slightly Scroogish and didn't understand the meaning of christmas... but the Scrooge character had very unselfish motivation for her focus on work that made her miss out on the holidays. Despite the similarities to good Hallmark movies, the main concept of the Christmas Camp was one I have not come across and I really appreciated it's originality. My only criticism was that the love interest was too critical of the main character's too-strong work-ethic, but it didn't effect my enjoyment of this Christmas book too much. This book was all very light, festive and perfect for Christmas time. I would highly recommend it for the holiday season.
    • 4/5
      If you love the Hallmark Christmas movies, be prepared to step right into one when you read this book!Haley is up for a big promotion at her ad agency, but there is a catch. She must land a huge toy account, and her competition for the job is a huge fan of Christmas. She is not. In fact, her boss thinks she's a big 'ol Grinch and sends her to a week-long Christmas Camp so she can find her long lost Christmas spirit. I thought this book was a fun, cozy read. Perfect for reading in front of the tree, sipping hot chocolate.
    • 3/5
      Haley really isn't a Scrooge. She just doesn't have time to be jolly or decorate for Christmas. While others are decorating their offices for the holidays,Nashe is fighting for a big account, which she may get if she goes to Christmas Camp. And Haley will do anything to get this account.Haley got on my nerves with her 'anti-Christmas' attitude. But all in all, it was a fun read.
    • 5/5
      This was a heart warming, feel good holiday story that makes you makes you want to keep reading all night long. I love Hallmark movies and this story would fit into that mold. Although it was somewhat predictable, I loved the story and the characters so much that I didn't care. Haley is a hard charging executive that doesn't have much Christmas spirit. Her boss sends her to Christmas camp to connect with the holiday spirit before he will let her bid on a big account that involves holiday toys. Haley meets Jeff and his father Ben and begins connecting with holiday traditions. Without giving away the story, I'll just say that the characters are fun and the story reminds you of all of the good things about the holidays. Reader received a complimentary copy from Library Thing Early Reviewers.
    • 5/5
      Desperate to become a partner, Haley Hanson has sacrificed everything for her job at an advertising agency. Now she is close to attaining her goal and landing an account with a doll company is what she needs to put her over the top. But she has competition for the account plus her boss thinks she is lacking the Christmas spirit necessary to work the account. To help her, he sends her to Christmas Camp. At first, Haley can’t wait for the week at Christmas Camp to be over, but the longer she stays there the more she begins to fall in love with Christmas Camo and Jeff, the son of the owner of Christmas Camp. The two hit it off, but will Haley’s ambitions get in the way of their growing relationship?“Christmas Camp” is a very cute, very enjoyable Christmas romance. While it can sometimes take me a while to get into romances, this one had me hooked from the very beginning. At first I was afraid I wouldn’t like Haley who was a workaholic, ambitious to the point of sacrificing her personal life, but instead I found her to be a very likable character. Jeff is another likable character – devoted to this father, he wants what is best for Ben, even if what he think is best may not be what Ben wants. Together the two make a nice couple who have a few obstacles to overcome (there is another small delightful romance in the book). While a bit hokey, Christmas Camp is a fun idea – the kind of place that only exists in books but I wish existed in real life. The Camp really brings the spirit of Christmas alive – I felt like decorating my house after reading the book!“Christmas Camp” is a fun Christmas romance.
    • 5/5
      It isn’t that Haley has lost her Christmas spirit, she never really had any. Growing up poor, there wasn’t much money to indulge in a lot of holiday decorations or gifts, so Christmas wasn’t much different from the other days of the year. Now that she had a career and some money to spend, she treated her parents and herself to a Caribbean vacation each year at Christmastime, instead of celebrating the way most people did. But now, wanting a promotion at work and to be put in charge of a toy company’s account, her boss gives her an ultimatum. She must spend a week at a resort’s Christmas Camp, to awaken her nonexistent Christmas spirit, or the plum account would go to her rival. So off Haley goes, determined to quickly ace the assignments at the camp and return to work. But things don’t quite go the way she expected. Author Karen Schaler has penned a delightful light romance that is filled with the Christmas spirit. At the core of the novel is the fresh idea of a Christmas camp, where guests come to interact with fun activities and outings. You might be able to guess how it ends, but likely the journey there will be filled surprising twists. This tale might even inspire its readers to hold their own mini camp, if just for an evening’s fun. In fact, a couple of recipes and a game of Christmas charades is included in the book for just that purpose. This is a fun and entertaining romance, a perfect holiday read.
    • 4/5
      If you need a bit of Christmas energy this story will give it to you. Follow Haley Hanson as she goes from a bit of a Christmas Grinch to True Believer. A sweet story of the holiday spirit and how it can heal peoples soul, bring family together and of course new found love.I think you will fall in love with Max just as I did!Thanks to Author, Karen Schaler, William Morrow Publishing and LibraryThing for the gift of being able to read this ARC. Excited to see the Hallmark Movie.
    • 4/5
      Not my usual sort of read, but an enjoyable holiday-themed story. Think Hallmark/Lifetime movie: girl meets boy, sparks fly, complications arise, and we know it's all going to work out in the end. Haley is a workaholic, and I initially was very turned off to her character. But after her boss sends her to Christmas Camp, although she resists at first, she eventually finds her Christmas spirit. Although the characters cover a range of stereotypes, I found myself rooting for them all. I also now have an insatiable urge to bake cookies. The author does a good job of telling the story and setting the scene. If you enjoy a sweet holiday romance, you'll enjoy this.Thanks to William Morrow for the opportunity to review this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. The opinions expressed are my own.
    • 4/5
      Haley, is a workaholic.  Jeff, is still mourning the loss of his mother and trying to navigate the fragile conversations with his aging father and his failing Inn.  Christmas Camp is the perfect heartwarming, romantic story to get you in the Christmas mood.  Perfectly set for its near future debut as a TV movie, I look forward to enjoying this lighthearted, cheesy Christmas tale during the 25 days of Christmas countdown.   *Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own. 
    • 5/5
      Wow, what can I say about Christmas Camp? Karen Schaler is an incredible story teller. From the time I picked up this book, I did not want to put it down. From her carefully crafted characters so real, they feel like your friends, to her outstanding ability for making a setting come to life. Karen Schaler is one talented writer. Haley Hanson the star, plays a beautiful Grinch in this Christmas story. She doesn't believe in Christmas and has not celebrated it in years. She is sent to Christmas Camp for a week, by her boss, to help her find her Christmas spirit. She is determined to get the Tyler Toys account, which could win her a partnership in the company. If it takes going to a Christmas boot camp to do it, she will. Her normal Christmas tradition is to take her parents to the Caribbean for a week during the Christmas season. She would see a client there and work, while her mom and dad enjoyed the sun and sand. There are three other delightful families attending Christmas Camp the same week as Haley. The owner of the camp Ben and his son Jeff, along with Laura the cook, are the other characters. But let's not forget the real star Max, the beautiful and talented golden retriever. The Holly Peak Inn is a charming resort on a picturesque mountainside. Just down the road is a charming little town with everything Christmas.I loved the Christmas Camps vision of helping families to get away, slow down and remember what the main purpose of Christmas is. To maybe start their own family traditions. The activities Ben planned seemed fun and they really got each person involved. On your first day, you were given a list of all the activities and when they would be. You needed to complete them in order to get a certificate at the end of the week. Haley needed the certificate to show to her boss.I had so many favorite parts, I can not list them. Here are a couple quotes that really got to me.“Hey, I'm the restoration guy, remember. I like a challenge.” When he looked into her eyes, she wasn't sure if he was talking about the house...or her.“You know what they say, life is what happens when you're making other plans.”I totally enjoyed this book and plan on passing it on to my daughter and granddaughter.I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Early Reviewers at LibraryThing. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
    • 3/5
      I'm now ready to bake cookies, wrap gifts and watch Hallmark Christmas movies! Christmas Camp had all the elements for a good Hallmark Christmas movie. Haley, a workaholic who pretty much ignores the holiday season, goes unwillingly to a week of Christmas Camp in order to impress her boss and get a promotion. She gets more than she bargained for after her week at Christmas Camp.Believing in the miracle of Christmas shows Haley that what is important is family and the people you love.Now, can I go to Christmas Camp too? I want to try some of those "secret recipe" sugar cookies!
    • 4/5
      Everyone views Christmas differently. Some can't do enough, other want to run away from it, some are in between.This story matches the first kind with the second and some of the third and finds a common ground.Christmas is a way of thinking and we all need to find what's best for us.
    • 3/5
      Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler is the story of Haley Hansen's attitude adjustment about Christmas, achieved through her boss's requirement that she attend a Christmas camp before he will consider her for a promotion. The plot is like so many Hallmark or Lifetime holiday movies centered around a career-driven woman finding new meaning in the holidays and love in the process. The story is simple, predictable and pleasant.