From the bestselling Canadian author of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch comes a second-chance romance about a woman returning to Wilder Ranch for Christmas, where she first found love.
She hasn’t been in love in ten years, but she’s about to get back in the saddle.
With the holidays around the corner and her father recently imprisoned for financial fraud, disgraced journalist Emory Oakes doesn’t know where to turn. She’s only certain of one thing: She needs to get away.
Fate takes the wheel, leaving her stranded in snowy Evergreen, the picturesque town where she spent her happiest Christmas as a teen—and chronicled every moment in her journal as she fell in love with handsome local, Tate Wilder, at his family’s idyllic horse ranch—until it all went wrong.
Emory isn’t ready to face Tate, but kismet and Christmas magic have other ideas. As the love they’ve denied for a decade rekindles, the betrayals that kept them apart resurface, as does Emory’s family scandal. Yet Tate Wilder and his ranch feel more like home than anywhere ever has. Will Emory and Tate’s alchemy fizzle or will their Christmas wishes come true?
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One of: - CBC Books "24 Canadian holiday romance books to read before Christmas" - Global News' "11 best books to read over the holidays" - Mary Taggart's "Must-read Book Club Picks" - 49th Shelf's "Most Anticipated for Fall 2025" - Southern Living's "6 New Books Everyone Will Be Reading This November" - Brit+Co's "15 "Merry" Christmas Rom-Com Books We're Excited About In 2025"
PRAISE FOR CHRISTMAS AT THE RANCH
Swoony Christmas cowboy magic! This second chance love story crackles with chemistry and holiday cheer." —Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of Summer Romance “Scandals, betrayals, snowy horse rides, hot chocolate, and even hotter kisses—Christmas at the Ranch is a complicated love story, and the perfect holiday escape.” —Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters “Escapist, chemistry-fueled and with the perfect amount of Christmas magic, Christmas at the Ranch is the perfect book to whisk you away this holiday season.” —Emily Stone, author of Always, in December
“If you’re looking for a second chance holiday romance filled with heart, soul, and a sexy cowboy hero, look no further! You’ll want to bust this baby out every year.” —Codi Hall, author of There’s Something About Merry
“Christmas at the Ranch is an emotional and romantic, snow-kissed love story about rediscovering your first love when it matters the most.” —Heidi McLaughlin, New York Times bestselling author of Forever My Girl “Tender, transporting, and impossible to put down. Christmas at the Ranch is a heartwarming holiday escape filled with snow-dusted second chances, soulful romance, and the kind of magic that only comes when you return to the place that once held your heart. Julia McKay writes with so much charm—and this book is a winter dream.” —Chantel Guertin, bestselling author of It Happened One Christmas
“Julia McKay sets a swoony second-chance romance against the fairytale backdrop of a small town horse ranch in winter. With plenty of chemistry and charm, as well as a cast of quirky locals, Christmas at the Ranch is a funny, warm, and cosy holiday read.” —Jennifer Whiteford, author of Make Me a Mixtape
Overall rating: 4.5 / 5 from 4 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Summary topics
Review topics: ["storyline","prose","read"].
Review highlights
Reviews
Perfect
"I thought it had the perfect mix of cheesy romance with some girth to the story to keep it interesting. Flew threw it!"
— Jane (5/5)
.
"Absolutely fantastic!! A quick captivating storyline with so much detail and character development! Such an easy read and a GREAT read for the winter/christmas time!"
— Unknown (5/5)
Lighthearted
"Easy and lighthearted storyline for all romantics, predictable and somewhat like a Christmas Hallmark movie."
— Angela (4/5)
Bighearted, uplifting, and festive!
"𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐇 is a magical, heartwarming tale set in Evergreen, Ontario, that takes us into the life of the independent, sharp-witted Emory Oakes who, after her father is arrested for fraud, returns to the small town that shaped her youth, while trying to stay under the radar of both her father’s potential victims and the man who once broke her heart. The prose is charming and fluid. The characters are layered, scarred, and stubborn. And the story unfolds into a sweet, engaging tale about life, love, family, friendship, trust, compassion, community, healing, self-discovery, and the beauty of second chances. Overall, 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐇 is a cosy, tender, delightful novel by McKay that reminds us life is complicated, choices have consequences, and while letting others in can feel risky, love is always worth the fight. "
— Zoe C. (4/5)
Q&A
Published date: Sep 23, 2025
Language: English
No. of Pages: 320
Publisher: Penguin Canada
ISBN: 9780735248120
Dimensions:
5.16" W x
0.7" L x
7.98" H
Julia McKay is the pen name of Marissa Stapley, a New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Reese’s Book Club pick Lucky, soon to be an Apple TV+ limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy. She has also co-written several bestselling holiday romances, including The Holiday Swap and Three Holidays and a Wedding. She divides her time between city life in Toronto and lake life in Haliburton, where she writes about love, second chances, and the magic of the holidays.
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