THREE STORIES. THREE COUPLES. ONE HOLIDAY.
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Pretty Near Perfect
by Jolene Perry
The last thing Norah needs is to be attracted to anyone – especially in her deceased fiancé's parents' home. Collin’s starting a new career, and has no business getting involved – especially while staying with his roommate’s family, who very kindly offered to take him in for the holidays. Unfortunately, you just don’t always pick the most convenient time and place to fall for someone.
Six Days of Christmas
by Kaylee Baldwin
When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother - someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.
Twist of Fate
by Rachael Anderson
When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all.
- File Size: 745 KB
- Print Length: 279 pages
- Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1480115231
- Publisher: HEA Publishing (October 14, 2012)
- Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
Pretty Near Perfect
by Jolene Perry
The last thing Norah needs is to be attracted to anyone – especially in her deceased fiancé's parents' home. Collin’s starting a new career, and has no business getting involved – especially while staying with his roommate’s family, who very kindly offered to take him in for the holidays. Unfortunately, you just don’t always pick the most convenient time and place to fall for someone.
Six Days of Christmas
by Kaylee Baldwin
When Natalie goes home with her best friend for Christmas, she expects plenty of quiet time to work on a winning ad so she can turn her dream internship into her dream job. Instead, she gets time-consuming Christmas festivities, a house full of children, and Jimmy, her best friend’s brother - someone who makes her question everything she’s always thought she wanted.
Twist of Fate
by Rachael Anderson
When a postcard meant for Kenzie winds up in Ty's mailbox, Ty's faced with a decision. Should he tell her that her fiancé is breaking up with her and let it ruin her favorite holiday, or should he do what he’s wanted to do since he met her - make a move and hope that he can win her over before she discovers there won’t be a wedding after all.
Review:
All three of these stories are delightful and fit lovely together. In each one the guy is pursing the girl who isn’t completely available when the story starts. Each girl discovers by Christmas what - or who - they really want. All three contain warm characters, cute plots and very real, natural dialogue.
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In Pretty Near Perfect Norah visits her deceased fiance’s family at Christmas time. The year before she and Jacob had announced their engagement, but a few months later he was killed in a sports accident. Norah loved his family too and hopes to bring some closure to thier loss by the holiday visit. She just doesn’t expect to run smack dab into a new fellow who is visiting with Jacob’s brother. Both Norah and Collin are startled by their immediate attraction. As the family celebrates the holiday and remembers the past, Norah and Collin struggle not to respond to each other... but love has a magical way of its own.
The writing on this flows really well and I especially liked the characters of Norah and Collin. My only disappointment was that I wanted the story to continue when it ended. Guess I’ll have to find some other stories by Ms. Perry to read. (Separate rating 4.25)
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Ms. Baldwin builds a delightful family celebration in Six Days of Christmas. Natalie has a ‘successful’ life planned out with her equally career-driven boyfriend Grant. He is pursuing a promotion in the legal department as she works on a project to launch her intern position into full time in the marketing department. Natalie is accustomed to order and control and is a bit dismayed that the project she has to work on over the holidays is a children’s toy, magnetic blocks.
Natalie agrees to travel to the home of her best friend for Christmas where she is faced with teasing from her best friend’s younger brother, Jimmy, who has now grown up into a handsome man with a degree in architecture. Natalie’s work is interrupted as she becomes caught up in the family’s celebrations of six different country traditions leading up to Christmas.
Jimmy manages to spur Natalie to enjoy the fun and as the week passes she begins to wonder if strict order is all it’s cracked up to be or if maybe some spontaneity, as provided by Jimmy and his family, is a better goal.
Ms. Baldwin creates wonderful characters in this story, including not just Natalie and Jimmy but Jimmy’s whole family. The idea of different cultural celebrations each day is great fun. The story is warm and delightful and comes to good closing. (Separate rating 4.5)
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Twist of Fate is fun from the get go with the characters sharing names in opposite order (Mackenzie Tyler and Tyler McKenzie). This leads to mail mix ups that allow Kenzie to read Ty’s letters from his mother and results in Ty getting the “Dear John” postcard meant for Kenzie. Kenzie is expecting her fiancé to return from Madagascar shortly after Christmas in time to prepare for their late January wedding.
Tyler has been interested in Kenzie for the year they have lived in the same apartment complex. Can he somehow spend time with her over the weeks leading up to Christmas and get her to fall for him before she suffers the heartbreak of her broken wedding plans?
Tyler has been refusing to read or respond to letters from his controlling mother. He has also been a bit of ‘grinch’ about Christmas. Kenzie thinks she is doing a good deed when she invites his mother to visit before the holidays. Although Tyler is appalled, suddenly he discovers that having his mother there is allowing him opportunities to spend time with Kenzie. But how will Kenzie feel when she discovers he hid the postcard from her?
I really enjoyed how Ms. Anderson created the contrasting characters - Kenzie’s bright, happy personality and Ty’s rather geeky, dark personality that seeks her brightness and color. I also enjoyed the strong warmth of the story and the fun comparisons to the Grinch, computer programs and happy Christmases. This story also comes to a warm, happy ending. (Separate rating 4.5)
I received this eBook from the Authors for an honest review; part of BookBlast tour.
Please visit the guest post from Kaylee Baldwin.
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