Narration by Reba Buhr & Will Collyer
Road Trip Romance, Book 1
From the publisher:
Lauren Richmond isn’t a fan of Christmas.
Which is why she rarely makes the trip home to the Midwest for the holidays. After all, she has plenty to keep her busy—namely, her duties as a set decorator on a TV sitcom.
But this December, Lauren‘s brother and his wife are expecting a baby, so her brother arranges a ride home for her with his good friend, Will.
Unfortunately for Lauren, she’s been trying to forget college baseball coach and childhood crush Will Sinclair for more than 10 years.
Now, thanks to her fear of flying, she’s stuck in a car with him from California to Illinois.
She’s circumspect and organized. He’s flirty and spontaneous.
She’s convinced that people don’t change. He’s trying to prove to her (and himself) that he has.
On this cross-country road trip, they’ll both discover that history doesn’t exactly repeat itself…but like any good Christmas carol, it does have a second verse.
Lauren has never been much of a Christmas person. As a busy set decorator for a TV show, she rarely makes it back to her Midwest hometown—especially not during the holidays. But this December is different: her brother and his wife are expecting a baby, and they’re determined to have her there. Knowing she’s terrified of flying, her brother arranges a ride for her with Will, his best friend. It’s a road trip, he promises. It’ll be fun. And since she already knows Will, she reluctantly agrees.
Ever the planner, Lauren maps out a three‑day route complete with hotel stops. But when Will shows up, it’s immediately clear he has no intention of following her itinerary. He’s set on a week‑long adventure and refuses to change course—or let her drive. Frustrated but out of options, Lauren climbs in.
Will’s easygoing nature contrasts sharply with Lauren’s prickly mood, but he takes it in stride. She doesn’t like road trips, and she’s not particularly fond of Will either, yet the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes for her to stay frosty. Along the way, she uncovers a difficult truth about him that shifts her perspective entirely. By the time they reach home, their relationship has transformed. They might even be falling in love.
This closed‑door romance is a charming holiday read, and the narration really brings the characters to life. A great pick for fans of cozy holiday storytelling and Debbie Macomber’s warmhearted romances.
12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
CROSS COUNTRY CHRISTMAS by Courtney Walsh. Narrators: Reba Buhr & Will Collyer. Courtney Walsh. June 13, 2022. Listening Length: 6 hours and 34 minutes.
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