Category: Winter Romance Wednesday

TITLE: Evergreen Springs
SERIES #: Haven Point #3
CHARACTERS: Devin & Cole
AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/29/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Celebrate the magic of Christmas in Haven Point with New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne, where hope, home, and happily-ever-after are as close as your holiday stocking…

Christmas is the last thing Cole Barrett is thinking about this year. He’s barely hanging on trying to care for his two grieving children since his ex-wife died in a tragic accident. For the reclusive Cole, this is no time for gift-giving and celebration—and certainly not for a sunny-natured optimist to blow into his screwed-up life.

In the years since her cancer treatments, physician Devin Shaw has researched the curative powers of Lake Haven’s mineral waters. Unfortunately, the hot springs are on Barrett property, forcing Devin to strike a bargain with the ranch’s attractively gruff owner: she’ll give Cole’s children the magical Christmas they deserve, and Cole will allow her patients access to the springs. But can she work her holiday magic to heal the Barrett family’s battered hearts—and her own?

REVIEW:
3.75 Hearts This is a sweet (sort of) holiday story. I say sort of because parts of it can be pretty heart wrenching. There is so much hurt in the lives of the characters that at times the story can be sad.

Cole is the father of two children whose mother (Cole’s ex) was killed in an accident and he is trying to raise them. He is estranged from his father,, who just moved back on to the property, and his sister has landed on his doorstep after running away from her husband because she is pregnant with twins that she believes he does not want. Plus he is a recovering alcoholic ex-con who can’t get past his own mistakes. Devon is totally the opposite. Devon sees the good in everyone. She had a hard life growing up but has come through it with flying colors, mostly. She is a fixer and Cole and his family are the ultimate fixer-upper. But how will it affect her heart?

As I said this is an enjoyable holiday story but I did have some issues with it. First the children do not talk like children. While the daughter is a little miss know-it-all she still is only 8 but she speaks like she is 15. The son who is only 6 speaks like he is either 10 or 2 depending on the circumstance. But that being said they are both cute children whom the reader ends up liking. The estranged father is a sad old man who I felt really bad for. And I really do not feel like we got a solid ending regarding him.

Cole is a bit of a hard person to like. He does warm up but he can be sweet to his children and sometimes to Devon but mostly he is a bit harsh. And finally, Devon. I liked her even when we met her in the last story about her sister. But I felt she was written a little wanting. She fell in love with the kids before Cole so it almost seems like he was a secondary thought to the children. She seemed a bit needy. Needing love and needing to help/fix the family.

Now all that being said and I did say a lot. I really liked the story. It is a wonderful little holiday story that will get you into the spirit. Sit back with a cup of cocoa and enjoy.

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

TITLE: Snowflake Bay
SERIES #: Brides of Blueberry Cove #2
CHARACTERS: Fiona & Ben
AUTHOR: Donna Kauffman
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/29/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N { http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/snowflake-bay-donna-kauffman/1120552928?ean=9781420137477}

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
There’s no place like seaside Blueberry Cove, Maine, at Christmas—and there’s nothing like a wedding, the warmth of the holidays, and an old crush, to create the perfect new start…

Interior designer Fiona McCrae has left fast-paced Manhattan to move back home to peaceful Blueberry Cove. But she’s barely arrived before she’s hooked into planning her big sister Hannah’s Christmas wedding—in less than seven weeks. The last thing she needs is for her first love, Ben Campbell, to return to neighboring Snowflake Bay…

As kids, Fiona was the bratty little sister Ben mercilessly teased—while pining after Hannah. But Fi never once thought of Ben like a brother. And that hasn’t changed. Except Fi is all grown up. Will Ben notice her now? More importantly, with her life in a jumble, should he? Or might the romance of the occasion, the spirit of the season, and the gifts of time ignite a long-held flame for many Christmases to come…

Something old might just become something new…

Includes a DIY wedding project!

REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this story. In fact I read the first 70% of the book in one sitting and finished it up the next day. I wouldn’t say this will put you in the holiday spirit because other than a couple dozen mentions of Christmas there really isn’t much of the holiday. But it is perfect for a cozy autumn read.

This is the second of the Brides of Blueberry Cove series but we have been to Blueberry Cove a number of times with the Bachelors of Blueberry Cove. We met Fiona in the first book (Sea Glass Cove) of the series when Hannah, Fiona’s older sister, met Calder. But now it is Fiona’s turn. And in comes Ben or should I say here he comes again.

Ben was practically a part of the McCrae family growing up. Ben is Logan’s best friend and while growing up he had a crush on Hannah. But Fiona always had a crush on Ben he just never noticed her for more than Logan’s bratty little sister but now he has seen the grown up Fiona and boy did he notice her. I loved the play between the two of them. They joke so easily together. Fiona is really quick witted which I enjoy and Ben flirts with humor like no other. They are meant for each other but like a typical man he doesn’t see it until years after she does.

There were a couple of little things that I would have changed about the book but not a lot. I wish we had heard Ben already being interested in Fi before seeing her in the “Hall of Fame Knit” because it seemed a bit superficial to be interested in her right after seeing her body. But that is ok. And I wish there had been a scene between Ben and Logan as a follow up at the end of the book because I thought the basketball scene was pretty important at the beginning of the relationship between Fi and Ben. It would have been great to see another conversation where Ben explains his feelings and maybe gets an approval. But again that is ok.

I would recommend this book to anyone. Even if you haven’t read the rest of the series it can be a stand alone but you will get hook by the story and want to backtrack and read them all.

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