Category: Romance

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Kimberly reviews Reckless Road by Christine Feehan

TITLE: Reckless Road
SERIES #: Torpedo Ink #5
CHARACTERS: Player & Zyah
AUTHOR: Christine Feehan
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/09/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Refuel your passion with a new installment of the Torpedo Ink series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.

While Gedeon “Player” Lazaroff is one of Torpedo Ink motorcycle club’s roughest members, he’s also one of the calmest. Little rattles Player, except for the times his gift gets the better of him. When that happens, he has to just lie down in the dark and hope for the best. But on a night when he’s on the verge of losing it, he meets a woman who manages to soothe his fractured mind.

Zyah is a striking, ethereal beauty who seduces him with every word and move. Their night together is one of pure, exquisite bliss. But when Player gets confused and thinks their intimate encounter was nothing more than a dream, his careless dismissal leaves her humiliated and angry.

Now, Player will have to devote his every breath to convincing Zyah to give him a second chance. Because she might be the only one who can save him from himself….

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts This is the 5th in the series and, of course, I recommend reading the series but each book can be a stand alone. Feehan is one of my go to authors. I am never disappointed in a Feehan book and this is another example of why.

In this story we read about “Player” and Zyah. One of Feehan loves to do is show the world of “gifts” and Player has a psychic gift that he tries to hide. He has a mind-breaking night and runs into Zyah who somehow calms him. But he does what he knows and breaks her heart. But somehow they get thrown together and Player knows he wants her but also needs her. But will his love for his brothers trump the love for Zyah?

Feehan can get, ummm, let’s say “Sexy” in her books. And Player and Zyah have their moments of bedroom scenes but I enjoyed the relationship coming together for these two. They fit and Feehan knows they need each other and puts together a great couple.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Driven by Rebecca Zanetti

TITLE: Driven
SERIES #: Deep Ops #4
CHARACTERS: Angus & Nari
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/26/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Unswerving: Angus Force is determined to hunt down the serial killer he’d once shot dead–or so he thought. But an anonymous source reports that Lassiter is alive. Force hasn’t slept since, knowing it’s only a matter of time before “the Surgeon” strikes again. And soon, a body is found, bearing Lassiter’s same maniacal MO. It’s just the beginning of a murderous trail blazing through DC and Virginia, right to Force’s backyard…

Unstoppable: Nari Zhang is the shrink for the ragtag Deep Ops Unit, though she isn’t Force’s shrink–which is a very good thing. Because once they’re thrown together on the case, their attraction is explosive and irresistible. They’ll just have to fight that much harder to keep the heat between them from flaming out of control. But things are about to become far more challenging, and deadly, than they could have imagined…

Unhinged: Once the killer catches a glimpse of Nari, she becomes his new obsession. She is now the focus point–for both Force and Lassiter–in a dangerous dance for survival…

REVIEW
4.5 Hearts I have been a fan of Rebecca Zanetti for years now and I swear with each book she gets better and better.

We have been waiting for Nari and Angus’s story from book one. They are part of a team and there is something between Nari and Angus but neither wants to admit it. That is until Nari is the new obsession of the killer and Angus is not going to let anything happen to Nari if it kills him.

I love love love the way Rebecca Zanetti writes. There is something that draws you in from the first page of the story. And as a fan knowing we were finally getting the story we have been waiting for.

Zanetti writes so many genres and writes them all with perfection. This book is as good as her many others but I do suggest reading this whole series so you understand why Zanetti’s fans have been waiting for this book.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Paradise Peak by Janet Dailey

TITLE: Paradise Peak
SERIES #: New Americana #5
CHARACTERS: Travis & Hannah
AUTHOR: Janet Dailey
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/26/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Join America’s First Lady of Romance, Janet Dailey, on a journey to the great state of Tennessee, as a community unites to save a small mountain town from a raging wildfire heading its way…

With a wildfire burning its way toward Paradise Peak, Tennessee, folks are drawing together to save the small mountain community. Times like these can make a hero out of a man–no matter what dark secrets he carries in his heart…

A desire for absolution brought ex-con Travis Alden to Paradise Peak. But when he finds honest work, along with a keen sense of belonging, he shelves his plan to unburden his guilty secret, instead working to rehabilitate a ranch–alongside the very people his transgressions hurt the most. With the chance to create a haven for wildfire refugees, Travis seizes the opportunity to do good, to earn the respect his new boss shows him. Only Travis doesn’t count on his feelings for his boss’ beautiful niece.

Hannah Newsome is a woman with a past as bleak as Travis’–the kind of woman he should protect, not pursue. But once the rugged loner sees her wariness turn to warmth, once he tastes the potent passion between them, all he can think about is having it all right here in Paradise Peak, with Hannah by his side…

REVIEW:
I have been a fan of Janet Dailey for as long as I can remember. I feel she is a kick back to the old romance novels. There is simple romance and difficult women’s lit in one story.

In this story we meet Travis who is coming back from prison and has some amends to make but there are also secrets he is still keeping.

I, yet again, loved the writing of Dailey. The characters are well formed and the setting is beautiful. The romance of Travis and Hannah is not easy but the writing as you turning the page to see what they must overcome next, knowing that together they will.

Any fan of women’s lit will love this story and is probably already a fan of Janet Dailey’s. And this book is while fans have stuck with Dailey for decades.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews Joint Custody by Lauren Baratz-Logsted & Jackie Logsted

TITLE: Joint Custody
CHARACTERS: Gatz (the dog) and his owners
AUTHOR: Lauren Baratz-Logsted & Jackie Logsted
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A mischievous dog takes matters into his own paws when his beloved owners split up in this offbeat romantic comedy.

The Man has custody Monday through Friday, The Woman has custody on the weekends. But that’s not enough for Gatz, who will do anything to bring them back together–even if it kills him. And it almost did. Of course he knows chocolate is bad for him, especially two whole pounds of it, but it’s the risk he’s willing to take to get them back together.

Gatz knows that The Man and The Woman are perfect for each other–how can they not see it too? She is an editor and he’s a writer. She’s a social butterfly and he’s as introverted as a guy can get. After the misguided death-by-chocolate attempt, Gatz thinks he still has time. But when New Man–so handsome, so nice, so perfect–enters The Woman’s life, he realizes he’ll need to step up his game. And you know what they say: drastic times call for drastic doggy measures.

A laugh-out-loud romance that will touch your heart and make you want a furry friend of your own.

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts Ok so I will say I must not like this idea of the story coming from the dogs point of view. I say this because right before reading this book I started to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie with the dog telling the story of it’s family and I had to turn it off. Then bam! I picked up this book to read and I really didn’t want to read it either. I say this because I am reviewing it based on what I didn’t realize I didn’t like when I requested it from NetGalley.

The story is about a dog trying to get his parents back together. Problem is they have joint custody so even though the dog is telling us about his parents lives it is only the life he sees. And while there is a few adorable scenes I just didn’t think the scenes were worth the entire read.

Again that being said I apparently am not a fan of romances (or non-romance with this story) told by the dog. If you are a fan of that type of writing you will enjoy this book very much.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews Neighbors by Danielle Steel

TITLE: Neighbors
CHARACTERS: Meredith & Charles
AUTHOR: Danielle Steel
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In Danielle Steel’s gripping new novel, a reclusive woman opens up her home to her neighbors in the wake of a devastating earthquake, setting off events that reveal secrets, break relationships apart, and bring strangers together to forge powerful new bonds.

Meredith White was one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. But a personal tragedy cut her acting career short and alienated her from her family. For the last fifteen years, Meredith has been living alone in San Francisco with two trusted caretakers. Then, on a muggy late summer day, a massive earthquake strikes Northern California, plunging the Bay Area into chaos. Without a moment’s hesitation, Meredith invites her stunned and shaken neighbors into her mostly undamaged home as the recovery begins.

These people did not even realize that movie star Meredith White was living on their street. Now, they are sharing her mansion, as well as their most closely kept secrets. Without the walls and privacy of their own homes, one by one, new relationships are forged. For every neighbor there is a story, from the doctor whose wife and children fear him, to the beautiful young woman dating a dishonorable man, to the aspiring writer caring for a famous blind musician.

In the heart of the crisis, Meredith finds herself venturing back into the world. And thanks to the suspicions and the dogged detective work of a disaster relief volunteer, a former military officer named Charles, a shocking truth about her own world is exposed. Suddenly Meredith sees her isolation, her estranged family, and even her acting career in a whole new light.

Filled with powerful human dramas, Neighbors is a penetrating look at how our world can be upended in a moment. In a novel of unforgettable characters and stunning twists, acts of love and courage become the most powerful forces of all.

REVIEW:
There is just something about a Danielle Steel book. Especially in winter. Her books are perfect for a cold day in front of the fire with a warm drink and comfy blanket. And that is exactly what I did and read this book pretty much all day.

In Neighbors we meet Meredith. A woman in self isolation (perfect for 2020, right?) who’s life is passing her by while she misses her daughter, is robbed blind by her live-in help and she withers until tragedy strikes. An earthquake hits her neighborhood of San Francisco and while her luxurious mansion is intact her neighbors are not so lucky. So Meredith does the only logical thing and invites them to stay while they get their lives in order.

I found this story so compelling. The characters are so interesting and, well, real. I loved how with every new person Meredith meets she grows some herself. Especially one older gentleman that may bring something a bit more than friendship.

I have always loved Danielle Steel and it is hard to believe this woman still has so many stories in her back pocket.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Forever Girl by Jill Shalvis

TITLE: The Forever Girl
SERIES #: Wildstone #6
CHARACTERS: Maze, Heather, Walker & Caitlyn
AUTHOR: Jill Shlavis
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/12/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis does it once again with a heartfelt story of family, forgiveness, and secrets that have the power to change the course of more than one life.

When Maze returns to Wildstone for the wedding of her estranged bff and the sister of her heart, it’s also a reunion of a once ragtag team of teenagers who had only each other until a tragedy tore them apart and scattered them wide.

Now as adults together again in the lake house, there are secrets and resentments mixed up in all the amazing childhood memories. Unexpectedly, they instantly fall back into their roles: Maze their reckless leader, Cat the den mother, Heather the beloved baby sister, and Walker, a man of mystery.

Life has changed all four of them in immeasurable ways. Maze and Cat must decide if they can rebuild their friendship, and Maze discovers her long-held attraction to Walker hasn’t faded with the years but has only grown stronger.

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I have been a fan of Jill Shalvis’ for years now and this book is a great example as to why.

This story is about the family you choose or more maybe the one handed to you when the biological family wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. Caitlin’s family takes in the others as foster kids. They become “siblings” and inseparable but then things change and everyone goes their own ways.But now Caitlin is getting married and she wants everyone back where they should be… by her side.

There is so much emotion in this story. I am not a crier but a number of times I wanted to. And more than once I laughed or shook my head. The dynamics of these characters is fantastic. I really love each of them.

The Forever Girl takes you on an emotional journey that shows you what is really important. It makes you want to call your best friend/sister and tell her how important she is to you.

A great story by Shalvis and any fan of women’s lit needs to have on your shelves to read again and again.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews All The Colors Of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz

TITLE: All The Colors Of Night
SERIES #: Fogg Lake #2
CHARACTERS: Sierra & North
AUTHOR: Jayne Ann Krentz
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/05/21
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Two psychics plunge into a dark world of deadly secrets in this second installment of the Fogg Lake trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.

North Chastain possesses a paranormal talent that gives him the ability to track down the most dangerous psychic criminals. When his father suddenly falls into a coma, North is convinced it was caused by a deadly artifact traced back to the days of a secret government laboratory known only as the Bluestone Project. North knows his only hope of saving his father is to find the artifact. He is good when it comes to tracking down killers but to locate the relic, he’s going to need help from a psychic who knows the shadowy world of obsessive collectors, deceptive dealers, and ruthless raiders…

With her reputation in ruins after a false accusation, antique expert Sierra Raines is looking for a fresh start. She turns to the murky backwaters of the paranormal artifacts trade, finding and transporting valuable objects with a psychic provenance. When North Chastain approaches her for help, Sierra takes him on as a client, though not without reservations. North represents the mysterious Foundation, the secretive organization established to police the underworld populated by psychic criminals and those, like Sierra, who make a living in the shadows of that world.

North and Sierra soon find themselves at the scene of The Incident that occurred decades ago in Fogg Lake. The town and its residents were forever changed by the disaster in the nearby Bluestone Project labs. The pair unearth shocking truths about what happened that fateful night, but they are playing with fire—someone in town knows what they’ve discovered and will do anything to make sure the secrets stay buried.

REVIEW:
4.75 Hearts As with all of JAK’s books I loved this book. I somehow managed to miss the first in the series but while I will be catching up and reading book one this can be a stand alone.

This book has a bit of paranormal and a good amount of romance. North’s father is dying. Sierra’s job is to find psychic relics and North needs Sierra to find the relic that may save his father.

I loved the main characters. Sierra and North are really interesting characters alone but put them together and they are terrific. As JAK normally does she writes Sierra as a strong independent woman who isn’t looking for a man but when North falls in her lap she is smart enough to know the connection means something. I love how JAK writes women!

North is a good guy too. Not that there isn’t conflict and it is all peaches and cream because it isn’t but the couple works perfectly.

I really enjoyed the story. It was one that I wanted to rush through to read every word but also didn’t want to read too fast because the story would end.

JAK is one of the best and this book is just proof.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal by Heather MCollum

TITLE: The Highlander’s Unexpected Proposal
SERIES #: The Brothers Of Wolf Isle #1
CHARACTERS: Adam & Lark
AUTHOR: Heather MCollum
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/19/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
A lass begging to marry him might top the list of “oddest things to happen,” but Chief Adam Macquarie is desperate. And no matter how much he hates to do it, he’s not above lying to get what he wants. Starting with the fact that he just omitted the truth about the situation back at his home—where there are no women and only a handful of other people. Because he has a secret need for a wife himself, one she won’t be too happy about when she finds out.

Lark Montgomerie is thrilled the brawny chief agrees to save her from her drunken father’s machinations of wedding her off to the first fool that agrees. He’s easy on the eyes and no one can be worse than her current options. Now a new life awaits her, on an exciting Scottish isle no less, and nothing will dampen her spirits. That is, until she arrives in her new homeland and realizes more than a few things are amiss…

REVIEW:
This is a new series from Heather McCollum. I love her Highlander novels so I was excited to begin a new series which I assume will be about the brothers.

In this one, Adam is desperate for a wife and since the Isle has no women any longer he leaves the Isle to find one. Lark is desperate to get away from her father who wants her out of his house so the situation seems perfect to marry the Chief and rule with him. But things are not what they seem.

I truly enjoy the way McCollum writes. I enjoy the romance, intimacy and humor that she puts into each novel. And this is no different. I really liked the brothers and can’t wait to read each of their stories.

Another great book by McCollum!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Kimberly reviews The Haunting Of Brynn Wilder by Wendy Webb

TITLE: The Haunting Of Brynn Wilder
CHARACTERS: Brynn Wilder
AUTHOR: Wendy Webb
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/01/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
After a devastating loss, Brynn Wilder escapes to Wharton, a tourist town on Lake Superior, to reset. Checking into a quaint boardinghouse for the summer, she hopes to put her life into perspective. In her fellow lodgers, she finds a friendly company of strangers: the frail Alice, cared for by a married couple with a heartbreaking story of their own; LuAnn, the eccentric and lovable owner of the inn; and Dominic, an unsettlingly handsome man inked from head to toe in mesmerizing tattoos.

But in this inviting refuge, where a century of souls has passed, a mystery begins to swirl. Alice knows things about Brynn, about all of them, that she shouldn’t. Bad dreams and night whispers lure Brynn to a shuttered room at the end of the hall, a room still heavy with a recent death. And now she’s become irresistibly drawn to Dominic—even in the shadow of rumors that wherever he goes, suspicious death follows.

In this chilling season of love, transformation, and fear, something is calling for Brynn. To settle her past, she may have no choice but to answer.

REVIEW:
I am going straight down the middle for this review. I think this book had a lot of potential. The book has a bit of everything, romance, paranormal, suspense, and more but the writing is what didn’t have the umph that the book could have had.

The story was pretty easy to figure out but then a twist would be put into it with an understanding of why. A couple of the twists have me wondering what it was even about. Seems we got more questions than answers in this book but the biggest question was “Why add that at all?”.

The characters are an interesting bunch of people and again had so much potential.

I wish the author had taken a little more time and hadn’t felt like she needed to throw everything including the kitchen sink into one book.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kelly reviews Jingle All The Slay by Dakota Cassidy

TITLE: Jingle All the Slay
SERIES: Marshmallow Hollow Mystery #1
CHARACTERS: Halliday Valentine
AUTHORS: Dakota Cassidy
PUBLICATION DATE: October 12, 2020
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to Marshmallow Hollow, Maine, a holiday mystery, where it’s all Christmas all the time and murder is hung by the chimney with care…
I’m Halliday Valentine (yep; funny name is funny), a psychic witch who’s recently moved from New York City back to my very human hometown of Marshmallow Hollow, where I run the family factory that caters to all things Christmas. I inherited the factory from Mom, who inherited from Nana Karen, but now it’s just me (kinda…long story), my curmudgeonly British familiar hummingbird, Atticus; one ungrateful rescue cat; my talking reindeer, Karen; and my BFF Stiles (the only human aware of my witchy side).
Oh, and Digby Dainty (known as Hobbs), the tall drink of water who rents my guest cottage. And who I wouldn’t mind getting to know better. We have a lot in common, including a love of true crime. So as macabre as it sounds, when a shady real estate tycoon shows up dead in the middle of the annual ice festival, I’m thrilled to spend time with Hobbs, flexing our amateur sleuthing skills.
Well…not thrilled. I mean, a guy’s dead after all. But he did try to con some businesses right out from under the hard-working locals. In fact, the only thing more surprising than a murder in our charming Christmas town is how many of my friendly, beloved neighbors seemed to want the man dead…

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Welcome to Marshmallow Hollow where everything’s coming up tinsel! Where the hot chocolate is the best, the candy canes are sweet and the murders are….. Who murders someone in Christmas town? But never fear Halliday ‘Hal’ Valentine, her familiar Atticus, her feisty Reindeer Karen and her hunky cottage guest (*dreamy eyes*) are on the case!
This was a great start of a new series for Dakota Cassidy. If you are a fan of her Witchless in Seattle series then you might remember meeting Halliday Valentine. Hal is Stevie’s long lost sister. Jingle All the Slay is a great quick read filled with lots of humor, suspense, and of course Christmas. I loved every minute of this book and am already looking forward to what is next for Hal, Hobbs and the rest of the crew.
If you are a fan of Dakota Cassidy you will love this new gem. If you are new to Dakota this is a great place to start, then you can go back and meet Stevie and her gang.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Dakota Cassidy in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 Hearts

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews A Dog’s Perfect Christmas by W. Bruce Cameron

TITLE: A Dog’s Perfect Christmas
CHARACTERS: The Goss Family
AUTHOR: W. Bruce Cameron
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/20/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The perfect, feel-good holiday gift from W. Bruce Cameron, the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the A Dog’s Purpose series

The problems fracturing the Goss family as Christmas approaches are hardly unique, though perhaps they are handling them a little differently than most people might. But then a true emergency arises, one with the potential to not only ruin Christmas, but everything holding the family together.

Is the arrival of a lost puppy yet another in the string of calamities facing them, or could the little canine be just what they all need?

A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is a beautiful, poignant, delightful tale of what can happen when family members open their hearts to new possibilities. You’ll find love and tears and laughter—the ideal holiday read.

REVIEW:
What a sweet story. Simply put a new puppy is all a family needs to fix their problems. Ok maybe not but I keep telling my husband that…

The Goss family are like so many of us. Life is hard but when the holidays arrive everything seems to be worse. The family is dealing with everyday difficulties when a true emergency hits the family leaving everyone at loose ends. But in comes a ball of fluff that makes everything better and brings out the love the family has for each other.

A very sweet read for the holiday season to remind us that it is the little things that make life and the holidays special.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts

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Winter Romance Wednesday! Kimberly reviews One More For Christmas by Sarah Morgan

TITLE: One More For Christmas
CHARACTERS: The Mitchell Women
AUTHOR: Sarah Morgan
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/06/20
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Christmas Sisters comes this sparkling tale of Christmas redemption. Brimming with Sarah Morgan’s trademark festive cheer, you won’t want to miss it!

For sisters Samantha and Ella Mitchell, Christmas is their most precious time of the year—a time for togetherness, love and celebration. Most of all, it’s about making up for everything their childhood Christmases lacked. But this year, they’ll be buying presents for the most unexpected guest of all—their estranged mother. It’s been five years since they last saw each other. But when their mom calls out of the blue and promises that this Christmas will be different, Samantha and Ella cautiously agree to spend it all together…

Gayle Mitchell is at the top of her career, but her success has come at a price—her relationship with her daughters. She never seemed to say or do the right things. Her tough-love approach was designed to make them stronger, but instead managed to push them away…until a brush with her own mortality forces Gayle to make amends. As the snowflakes fall on their first family celebration in years, the Mitchell women must learn that sometimes facing up to the past is all you need to heal your heart…

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts Samantha and Ella make up for their childhood Christmases each year when they get together for the holiday. But this year their mother shows up who they have not had contact with for 5 years.

This story is not the sappy sweet story of holiday romance. This is a story about family and the drama that comes with the relatives. Gayle wants to make up for all the neglect the girls dealt with in their childhood but the girls aren’t sure what Gayle’s motive is.

This story is about love, family and reconciliation. It is told in each person’s words so you see what each woman is going through and feeling.

Very well written and emotional.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

4 Hearts