Book reviews from the week of December 10th

 

This was a busy week heading into the holidays.  I managed to read three books from my TBR and listen to one holiday novella.

The Christmas Crush by Lyndsey Gallagher is a fun and steamy holiday romance.  I thoroughly enjoyed backing up and reading it after I read Dating for December in November.  I finally got to read the next two books of Swati M.H.'s Elements of Rapture series.  They were angsty good reads that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Ascend's Garrett Meyer just melted me. Finally, I delved into the Audible Plus catalog for a novella to listen to while I baked pepperoni rolls and wrapped presents.  It was perfect length for a day doing holiday tasks and fun and also a well-narrated listen.  You seriously cannot go wrong with Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke.

I am headed out of town for a weekend away with the hubby so I am dropping this a day early.  Until next week, I hope you have a week full of amazing reads and happy endings.

The Christmas Crush by Lyndsey Gallagher

#Holiday #Celebrity #ForcedProximity

5 STARS

This holiday romance can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV. I actually read Dating for December first, but it really made no difference. Both were fine as standalones.

Holly is a young woman at a crossroads. I loved her instantly. I understood her desire to please her parents while attempting to find her way and set boundaries. Her girl gang is stellar and I was so happy that she had friends like Savannah and Ashley that had her back. I loved her natural effervescence and the way she goes into every situation with her whole self. I love that with time alone and time with Nate she finds her real desires in life.

Nate is a movie star who is more than a little surprised when he first sees Holly. I LOVED their meet-cute. I loved how he sees Holly's true being from the beginning. I love their chemistry and their heat. I loved how fast he falls for her. Nate is the real deal. Under the actin hero is a soft hearted man who is looking for love. His protective instincts toward Holly override his fears and insecurities and his love for her allows him to lower the defensive walls he has built to protect himself.

Steamy, swoony, holiday goodness: I can see this book being an annual holiday reread right up there with the movies I watch each Christmas. A thoroughly enjoyable read. I highly recommend.

Ascend by (Elements of Rapture #2) Swati M.H.

#SingleMom #FriendsToLovers #MarriageOfConvenience #LoveAtFirstSight #AgeGap 

5 STARS

Book two in this series can be read as a standalone and ends with a HEA.  It is written in first person in an alternating dual POV.

Garrett my be one of the swooniest (yeah , I said that) heroes of all time.  He falls for Bella the moment he sees her.  Unfortunately, the timing is not right for her.  The man is nothing if not patient.  He is celibate for FOUR YEARS while being there for her, and waiting for the chance to make his move. After living a very playboy lifestyle, this is a BIG DEAL.  He falls for her daughter too.  From the time she is a newborn, Meera has him wrapped around her sassy little finger.  I could talk about Garrett all day.  Dirty mouth, alpha-roll personality, amazing sense of adventure, loyalty to the nines...he's a hero to fall for.

Luckily, Bella does.  It takes a while for her to admit it.  This girl has serious trust and abandonment issues- rightfully so.  Her feelings for Garrett have been present for a while, though her acknowledgement of them has not.  I loved how comfortable she is with him.  I loved the passion and emotion between them,  I love the resolution to choose each other every day.  To say there are hot times and swoony moments in this book would be a gross understatement.  I started reading this author with book one of this series (which I loved) an I am finally getting to read more.  This is one of my favorite marriage of convenience reads ever.  If you love the trope like I do, read it.

Ablaze (Elements of Rapture #3) by Swati M.H.

#SlowBurn #BrothersBestFriend #FriendsToLovers #Firefighter #FirstResponder

 5 STARS

Book three in the Elements Of Rapture Series gives readers the story of Dean and Mala.  It can be read as a standalone and ends in a HEA.  It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.

Going into this book I knew that this would be an angsty story. The author even warned me as we discussed the book that I would want to throw the book against the wall.  I am not  book abuser, but I thoroughly understood that sentiment while reading.  This book details nine years of their relationship.  From the way they initially meet, through becoming best friends, through all the ups and downs in their lives over that time. There is a time when their friendship is fractured, and it is excruciating.  When they finally found their way back to each other and revealed their long-held mutual feelings, I could feel their joy and happiness.  Told through time jumps and flash backs, readers are given the full evolution of their relationship to ponder.

I loved the friendship they shared, though it was frustrating to me that they failed to communicate on the most important levels.  Miscommunications lead to second-guessing each other's feelings and intentions.  It is always a recipe for disaster.  Dean, well, he's a little slow to pay attention to what his heart has tried to tell him.  Of the three brothers I had the hardest time liking him.  Mala is a fierce woman with a traumatic past and some insecurities.  She pines, and pines, and pines for Dean.  I felt bad for her.  Their physical relationship (when it FINALLY happens) is hot and emotional; as it was always going to be more than physical between them. 

This was an angsty read with some heat and a little humor thrown in.  Star ratings are tough for me.  I always come back to if I want to read it again then it is definitely five stars.  This was a well-written and gripping read.  Yet it was also painful and frustrating because failure to communicate wasted so much time.  I don't think I could put myself through that again.

How To Lose A Guy Before Christmas by A.J. Pine

Narrated by Andi Arndt and Jason Clarke

#Holiday #Audiobook #Novella #OneNightStand #ForcedProximity #RoadTrip

4 STARS

Written in third person from an alternating dual POV, this standalone holiday novella ends in a HEA.  The audiobook is well-narrated and perfectly enveloped me in this fun holiday romance.  

Lucy and Eric can't help running into each other after a hook up app one night stand.  Their adventure is full of serendipity, humor, steam, and a little magic.  There are numerous funny moments on their road trip that allows them to actually get to know each other. 

A tiny bit of angst and a lot of fun, this novella audiobook is the perfect listen during holiday baking and wrapping.