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The Date Before Christmas
Like any other waitress, Dina Lee has big dreams. She wants a new life, a better life—she wants romantic adventure, especially since her last two relationships were disasters.
When, out of the blue, she receives an anonymous gift to travel first class to three of the most exciting and exotic cities in the world during the Christmas season, she is stunned, conflicted and skeptical.
Who would give her such a gift? What would they want in return? Is it too good to be true?
Dina is assured by her benefactor’s representative that it is indeed true, and that Dina’s anonymous patron wants nothing from Dina in return.
Dina’s best friend finally convinces her to accept the gift, and Dina is soon on her way to Paris, Rome and New York. Her adventures are far beyond what she could have ever imagined—beyond her wildest dreams. On one of her first exhilarating days, she has an unexpected encounter with a handsome mystery man.
The days and nights are magical and she finds herself falling in love with the alluring, enigmatic man who, she believes, is also falling in love with her.
Will Dina learn who her mystery benefactor is? Can the love she feels for the illusive man continue after she returns home—when her Cinderella moment is over? And will Dina give the miracle of love a chance when she learns the truth?
When, out of the blue, she receives an anonymous gift to travel first class to three of the most exciting and exotic cities in the world during the Christmas season, she is stunned, conflicted and skeptical.
Who would give her such a gift? What would they want in return? Is it too good to be true?
Dina is assured by her benefactor’s representative that it is indeed true, and that Dina’s anonymous patron wants nothing from Dina in return.
Dina’s best friend finally convinces her to accept the gift, and Dina is soon on her way to Paris, Rome and New York. Her adventures are far beyond what she could have ever imagined—beyond her wildest dreams. On one of her first exhilarating days, she has an unexpected encounter with a handsome mystery man.
The days and nights are magical and she finds herself falling in love with the alluring, enigmatic man who, she believes, is also falling in love with her.
Will Dina learn who her mystery benefactor is? Can the love she feels for the illusive man continue after she returns home—when her Cinderella moment is over? And will Dina give the miracle of love a chance when she learns the truth?
- GenresChristmas
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2017
48 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Elyse Douglas
47Ìýbooks308ÌýfollowersElyse Douglas is the pen name for the husband and wife writing team of Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse began writing poems and short stories at an early age and graduated with a Master's Degree in English Literature. Douglas grew up in a family of musicians, astrologers, and avid readers. Some of Elyse Douglas' novels include: "Time Change," The Summer Letters," "Daring Summer," The Christmas Eve Series" and "Time Stranger." They reside in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 28, 2017
If this book doesn't put you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will!
Small-town waitress Dina gets the chance of a lifetime -- an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris, Rome, and New York City. All she has to do is sign a contract and her mysterious benefactor will take care of everything.
I loved "touring the world" in this book and seeing all the sights and smelling all the great food that Dina was able to experience. She did seem a little naive and innocent, but the story kept my attention and I constantly wondered what was going to happen next.
"We're not strangers. We don't kiss like strangers and we don't make love like strangers."
Falling in love (in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, no less!) was not supposed to happen -- it wasn't in the original plan, and Dina has been burned before. A handsome, dark-eyed man appears on the scene and treats Dina like a princess, becoming a sort of tour guide... not just in Paris, but also in Rome and New York. However, Dina would love to know the secrets in his eyes and for him to reveal his past to her.
This book reads just like a movie, and the closing epilogue is wonderfully written. It was fun to review this.
"Makes you want to believe in Santa again, doesn't it?"
Small-town waitress Dina gets the chance of a lifetime -- an all-expenses-paid trip to Paris, Rome, and New York City. All she has to do is sign a contract and her mysterious benefactor will take care of everything.
I loved "touring the world" in this book and seeing all the sights and smelling all the great food that Dina was able to experience. She did seem a little naive and innocent, but the story kept my attention and I constantly wondered what was going to happen next.
"We're not strangers. We don't kiss like strangers and we don't make love like strangers."
Falling in love (in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre, no less!) was not supposed to happen -- it wasn't in the original plan, and Dina has been burned before. A handsome, dark-eyed man appears on the scene and treats Dina like a princess, becoming a sort of tour guide... not just in Paris, but also in Rome and New York. However, Dina would love to know the secrets in his eyes and for him to reveal his past to her.
This book reads just like a movie, and the closing epilogue is wonderfully written. It was fun to review this.
"Makes you want to believe in Santa again, doesn't it?"
October 10, 2017
The premise started out well, with a bit of a different twist. Dina Lee is a well-liked and very capable waitress who never seems to crack under pressure, always wearing a smile. A mysterious benefactor appreciates this and offers her an anonymous gift of a free-of-charge 10-day trip to London, Paris, and NYC, plus $10,000 a day. Unfortunately the execution lacked precision. Dina was supposed to have $10,000 a day to spend, which would mean she'd spend most of her time shopping for the clothes she'd wear that night to dinner and getting her hair done, etc. What a colossal waste of time when she only had a few days in each city to enjoy the sights and sounds. She traveled with an aide, but she seemed more like a jailer than a friend. And when Paul finally appeared (and boy was he bumbling and uncertain even though he's supposedly the head of a large international company), I felt there was way too much time spent building the sexual and romantic tension. It took too long to get there, so the story got bogged down and didn't progress. All that being said, I didn't dislike this book. There were a lot of sweet moments, and I enjoyed reading the brief excerpts about various tourist sites and activities they enjoyed together. The touch of Christmas magic was fun--the gift certificate to the psychic as well as Santa's prediction, although I didn't quite "get" how it fit with the whole scenario since the trip was obviously provided by an actual man. Mixed thoughts, for sure, but generally a pleasant book to set the mood for the holiday season and some Christmas magic.
October 24, 2017
4 stars
This was an enjoyable story. Dina was offered a one in a million chance to go on the vacation of her dreams by an unknown benefactor. It was a scary proposition but one that was not easily passed up.
The beginning of the story had a magical feel to it with street Santas and a sweet old psychic. The rest of the story followed Dina on her journey through Paris and Rome and New York City. She met lovely people along the way including a Mr. Paul Smith whom she fell in love with. Who wouldn’t with all that glorious romance and Christmas cheer happening all around her?
In the end she had to come to terms with who and why she received her vacation.
It was a nicely written story, not too exciting but interesting to see the cities through our heroine's eyes and to fall in love with her. It felt a little longer than it actually did to read maybe because it didn’t have any real excitement but it would be a good read on a cold winter's day while sipping hot chocolate in front of a fire.
This was an enjoyable story. Dina was offered a one in a million chance to go on the vacation of her dreams by an unknown benefactor. It was a scary proposition but one that was not easily passed up.
The beginning of the story had a magical feel to it with street Santas and a sweet old psychic. The rest of the story followed Dina on her journey through Paris and Rome and New York City. She met lovely people along the way including a Mr. Paul Smith whom she fell in love with. Who wouldn’t with all that glorious romance and Christmas cheer happening all around her?
In the end she had to come to terms with who and why she received her vacation.
It was a nicely written story, not too exciting but interesting to see the cities through our heroine's eyes and to fall in love with her. It felt a little longer than it actually did to read maybe because it didn’t have any real excitement but it would be a good read on a cold winter's day while sipping hot chocolate in front of a fire.
October 6, 2017
I loved the romance of this book. The entire book from start to finish makes me wish that I had a secret Santa. When hard working, energetic, kind, and lovely Dina waits on tables one busy night, who knew that it would lead to so many changes in her life? Dina is offered an all expense paid trip to several areas in the world, will she say yes and experience the magic or will she turn down the offer because of the unknown? As the story progresses you follow Dina as she learns that not all men are untrustworthy, and Paul as he realizes that everything was not lost years ago. Their emotional journey and connection is fantastic to read about and experience. Thank you for allowing me to read this book and write a honest review.
June 26, 2019
A wonderful Christmas story
Dina Lee is a waitress at Gallagher’s and her customers love her. Paul Alexander has dinner there one night and can’t get over her genuine smile and her care of her customers. Dina is gifted an unexpected Christmas gift of a ten day, all expenses paid visit to Paris, Rome, and New York. She also gets a ten thousand dollar spending allowance each day. Will Dina accept this wonderful gift? Yes, she does. Grab your copy and see what happens on her adventure. You will fell as if you’re traveling with Dina from the descriptions in this book. No spoilers, so grab your copy and get ready for a wonderful holiday read.
Dina Lee is a waitress at Gallagher’s and her customers love her. Paul Alexander has dinner there one night and can’t get over her genuine smile and her care of her customers. Dina is gifted an unexpected Christmas gift of a ten day, all expenses paid visit to Paris, Rome, and New York. She also gets a ten thousand dollar spending allowance each day. Will Dina accept this wonderful gift? Yes, she does. Grab your copy and see what happens on her adventure. You will fell as if you’re traveling with Dina from the descriptions in this book. No spoilers, so grab your copy and get ready for a wonderful holiday read.
October 5, 2017
One of those books that makes you smile from the outset and gives you warm fuzzy feelings. I loved the gentle feelgood Christmassy story. The plot was true escapism that bordered on a little cheesy in places but the magical trip and romance between Dina and Paul made up for it. A perfect book for a wintry night.
January 21, 2021
Heartwarming!
This book was truly heart-warming! If you like a story that has an air of mystery with romance and some Christmas magic, then you will enjoy this book! You get caught up in the vivid descriptions & enjoy the trip as much as the main character, Dina, (or I did)! Fabulous story!
This book was truly heart-warming! If you like a story that has an air of mystery with romance and some Christmas magic, then you will enjoy this book! You get caught up in the vivid descriptions & enjoy the trip as much as the main character, Dina, (or I did)! Fabulous story!
August 31, 2018
Great Read
This book grabbed me from the beginning. This is a fairy tale come true. Dream vacation with all expenses paid and spending money too! Another hit in my opinion. Keep them coming!
This book grabbed me from the beginning. This is a fairy tale come true. Dream vacation with all expenses paid and spending money too! Another hit in my opinion. Keep them coming!
August 28, 2021
Loved this book. Love the books ! have read. This one has a bit of a mystery in it concerning the male character that intrigued me as to what tragedy had happened to him. Great romantic novel. Descriptions of cities in this book make you long to visit them.
September 23, 2017
Such fun! Loved the characters, the travel and the story. Will read again before Christmas.
November 6, 2017
Great story about a women who took a leap of faith and accepted a trip before Christmas from an admirer and ends up meeting him when she should not have. Great feel good story
December 9, 2019
Very fine book
A very warm and enjoyable read. Made me want to be Dina and have a vacation like that. I’m very blessed in my life but still like a good fantasy.
A very warm and enjoyable read. Made me want to be Dina and have a vacation like that. I’m very blessed in my life but still like a good fantasy.
June 22, 2020
Fun read..... felt like I was traveling with the characters! I loved it!
February 15, 2021
A Lovely Story
A delightful fantasy for a hard working waitress who ends up having that fantasy become a reality. A lovely read for a cold winter's weekend.
A delightful fantasy for a hard working waitress who ends up having that fantasy become a reality. A lovely read for a cold winter's weekend.
May 7, 2022
Great book
November 10, 2023
Ameerika koduperenaise helesinine unistus, kirjutatud 7. klassi koolikirjandi vormis
December 20, 2023
Super cute and upbeat. Adorable Christmasy feel.
December 30, 2021
I loved this book! This is a romantic holiday read that has just the right amount of romance & story. It even has a bit of magick in it, which this author excels at. If you want a holiday book that won’t disappoint & will hold your interest to the last page, give this one a try. This is not the longest book, but just long enough.
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