Audio Book Review: Bring Me Home for Christmas by Robyn Carr

This is a nice Christmas Romance; reliable Robyn Carr.
Bring Me Home for Christmas
Written By: Robyn Carr
Narrated By: Therese Plummer

Publisher: Recorded Books
Date: October 2011
Duration: 7 hours 34 minutes
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction, Small Town
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

This year, Becca Timm knows the number one item on her Christmas wish list: getting over Denny Cutler. Three years ago Denny broke her heart before heading off to war. It’s time she got over her silly college relationship and moved on.
So she takes matters into her own hands and heads up to Virgin River, the rugged little mountain town that Denny calls home, as an uninvited guest on her brother’s men-only hunting weekend. But when an accident turns her impromptu visit into an extended stay, Becca finds herself stranded in Virgin River. With Denny. In very close quarters.
As the power of Christmas envelops the little town, Becca discovers that the boy she once loved has become a strong and confident man. And the most delicious Christmas present she can imagine.

Review:
Becca and Denny were young lovers when she was in college and he set off to be a Marine. Denny’s mother died and he broke off his relationship with Becca and reenlisted, leaving her devastated. It has been three years and Becca is wondering if she can commit to her boyfriend of the past six months. She suspects that she has unresolved issues with her first love.

Becca knows her twin brother, Rich, is heading out to Virgin River to meet with his service buddies, including Denny. Becca shows up at the last minute to invite herself to the hunting and fishing trip.

The tension is immediate when Denny sees Becca walk in behind Rich. He had asked for a second chance after his confused mistake but she shot him down cold. Why in the world would she show up now at a men’s hunting weekend? The sniping between the two ends up with Becca suffering an accident which means she is stuck in town with Denny taking care of her. Can they stop their defensive bickering long enough to admit their true feelings? And how would they resolve the distance between Becca’s home and family in San Diego and Denny’s chosen life in rustic Virgin River?

It may have taken me a little time to warm up to Becca but her attitude is realistic in light of the hurt that she suffered when Denny dumped her. It was fairly evident that Denny never stopped caring for her but he didn’t want to be hurt again either.

It is charming to see how the town members support each other and are ready to fold Becca into their community family. Author Carr has this special ability to present real characters and a warm small town community. Becca’s care and concern for the local children adds an additional sweet element along with the town members caring for the less fortunate among them. I have read a few of the early books in this series and this easy, cheery read works fine as a nice holiday stand alone. I recommend this to fans of Robyn Carr and fans of small town romances.

Audio Notes: Therese Plummer is a consistently reliable narrator for this series. Her clear character voices and emotional portrayal add depth to an already strong story. The audio makes this a plus listen for me.

Source: December 2018 Audiobooks.com deal. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals and #HoHoHoRat.

#NetGalley Book Review: Forever in a Moment by Charlotte O'Shay

This is an enjoyable, light romance.
Forever in a Moment
by Charlotte O'Shay

File Size: 3791 KB
Print Length: 114 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (April 10, 2019)
ASIN: B07Q5Q4XWW
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Fiction, Holiday Romance,
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

A stormy encounter...
Samantha DeMartino's Christmas wedding is two weeks away when her fiancé calls the whole thing off. Word on the street: his cold feet are being heated by an old flame. With her well-ordered world in complete disarray, Sam's friends convince her to go on her honeymoon—alone. A week at a charming Vermont inn away from the city and her demanding corporate career could be just what she needs to figure out her next steps.
Between his twenty-four seven work schedule on his family's dairy farm and teaching tourists to ski, Jed Armstrong's too busy to think about how lonely he is...until Sam sings her way into his life during a Christmas blizzard. Now he has to figure out a way to convince her to stay.
Can a vivacious city girl find forever with a reclusive farmer?
Will her secret keep her from trying?

Review:
Samantha’s friends convince her that she needs to take her ‘wedding’ trip as a break away after her fiancé cancels their wedding. Her week in Vermont starts with her car breaking down in a snowstorm, leaving her to be rescued by a local dairy farmer. Samantha is skeptical of her quick attraction to this stranger and finds herself being pulled along as she discovers he is her ski instructor.

Jed has a full work schedule on his family’s dairy farm and taking turns as a ski instructor. He had set aside his own personal life after a set back from a prior romance and an unexpected death in his family. Now he has found a snow angel by the side of the road. How can he convince her to give him/them a chance?

The cover is an immediate draw and the story set-up sounds like a Hallmark romance scenario … and it is. The very likeable primary characters are well developed with natural relationship fears and a conflict that will require strengths to take a chance. I enjoyed the local Inn desk manager who nudges Sam towards a relationship with Jed and the local pub owner who gives Sam the evil challenge eye.

The descriptions and dialogue are clean, crisp and engaging. I found this to be a quick, easy, feel good read. This would be a perfect holiday read but it is a nice warm romance for anytime. I recommend this to readers who enjoy light, clean, easy romance.

Source: 2019 NetGalley. This qualifies for 2019NetGalley goal.