This latest offering by the author known as "Christmas Karen" tells the story of a contemporary version of "A Christmas Carol," the Christmas classic by Dickens. Alexis has become a successful businesswoman, at the expense of her own well-being and personal life. She treats her employees as if they are workhorses, without knowing or caring about their personal lives. Visits from the spectres of her deceased parents attempt to teach her lessons about life and the importance of family and friends.

I am sure this story made a great movie, which it was before it became a book, and the book read like a screenplay with a lot of descriptions. I could imagine the movie in my mind as I was reading. It was a fun holiday read with lessons to learn, despite some rather significant plot holes. It is a clean and sweet read without strong language or graphic intimacy or violence.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are mine alone. ( )

Author Karen Schaler has once again penned a Christmas book that I could not put down. This one is a modern-day retelling of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, only this time Scrooge is Alexis, a high-powered businesswoman. That’s right, her only nodding recognition of the holiday is to decorate the public spaces of her Atlanta office building and keep a “must-see” Douglas Fir tree that brings both city residents and tourists inside her tower.

Major characters in the story are very real. You get to know them and their problems. You also learn the sad reason that turned Alexis away from celebrating the holiday.

As a reader I could not dislike Alexis. Instead, I felt sorry for both Alexis and her employees. She has no room in her life for friends or romance as her life is devoted to work. What can her ghosts show her that will help her change?

An old Christmas photo mysteriously appears in her office...and it is the trigger for her ghost visits to begin. Her ghosts are her deceased parents, and as in the Dicken’s story, they take her to the past, present, and future.

If you have ever read the Dickens' book or watched the story on television, then you know how things work out. If not, then I will let you read the book to learn the ending on your own.

I anxiously await Ms. Schaler’s Christmas books each year and am thrilled to say that this one does not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this wonderful story. ( )

I look forward to Karen Schaler’s Christmas book every year. EVERY DAY IS CHRISTMAS is a modern-day retelling of “A Christmas Carol” with Alexis Taylor as a powerful businesswoman living in Atlanta, only interested in money… with no idea she’s turned into a Scrooge. I love the Christmas details in every chapter, from the beautiful Christmas tree in the building foyer to the company employees getting in trouble for their impromptu Christmas party. The book has Christmas carols interspersed throughout, which was a nice touch. When Alexis sees the Christmas party and fumes, she cancels her worker’s Christmas bonuses, which causes mass panic… and the ghosts of Christmas past come in the form of her parents, who were tragically killed on Christmas years before. I liked how the backstory played into her hatred of Christmas. Seeing her scenes with her mother were nice and this modern-day story of a beloved tale was a quick, easy read with all the perfect holiday touches. I love that in any Karen Schaler book, she goes all in with the candy canes and tinsel for Christmas. There’s a romance storyline, but it’s barely there. The main story is about Alexis. There are photos from the movie set and recipes in the back of the book too, and I loved that a gluten free version of the cookies was included! 5/5 stars.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and Hawktale Publishing for review purposes. ( )