christmas romance | See Sadie Read

I accepted a review copy of Kate Stewart‘s The Plight Before Christmas for review through Wordsmith Publicity. The book was also on Sadie’s Spotlight, shortly thereafter. When I got the offer, I thought it would be the perfect addition to my Christmas Reading Challenge (not that I was short on books).

Clark Griswold was onto something, at least with his annual holiday meltdown. And since the last three weeks of my life have been riddled with humbug—another breakup, a broken toe, an office promotion I deserved and didn’t get—I’m not at all in the mood to celebrate nor have the happ, happ, happiest Christmas EVER.

When Mom insisted that we all gather at my Grandparent’s ancient cabin for an old school family Christmas, I fully intended to get into the holiday spirit with the help of the three wise men, Johnnie Walker, Jack Daniels, and Jim Beam. But those boys did absolutely nothing to offset the shock or temper the sting of seeing my EX on our doorstep the first day of our holiday soiree.

Apparently, Santa missed the memo, and this elf is pissed.

Stuck for a week with the man who obliterated my heart nearly two decades ago, I did the only thing I could do and put on my game face, thankful for the home advantage.

I knew better than to drink that last cup of eggnog.

I knew better than to get tongue tangled beneath the mistletoe with the only man to ever break my heart.

I knew better than to sleep with Satan’s wingman on the eve of the Lord’s birthday.

I could blame the nog. I could blame the deceitful light blue eyes, thick, angelic hair, and panty evaporating smirk…but mostly, I blame Eli because he always knew exactly which of my buttons to push.

I foolishly thought a family Christmas filled with nostalgia was going to turn my inner Scrooge around, but this year’s festivities went up in flames. Leave it to the ghost of my Christmas past to be the one to light the match.

Fa la la la la, la FML.

I have to admit, I’ve been doing a Christmas Reading Challenge this year. So, I’ve read A LOT of Christmas books recently. A LOT. This was one of my favorites, top three for sure. The writing was sharp and readable. Even though I had an ARC I didn’t notice any editing mishaps. There is real humor here, characters I could relate to, a second chance romance I rooted for, with leads that I enjoyed, and a satisfying ending.

I did have a couple complaints. One of which is a spoiler, so be warned. The non-spoiler is that I think the book is longer than need be. The spoilery complaints are 1) the serendipitous way the couple was brought back together. If I’m to believe he loved her as much as he did for as long as he did, then I have a hard time also believing he never came back for her. It’s very briefly addressed in the book, but it wasn’t enough for me. And 2) the whole birthday bucket list would have enraged me if I’d been in her shoes. Those were her dreams and he went and did the all WITHOUT HER, while she never had the opportunity. I understand what was supposed to be romantic about it, but I would still feel like something had been stolen.

All in all, though, I liked this a lot.

Come back tomorrow. I’ll be reviewing A Hopeful Christmas, by Walker, Bessey, Kelly & Jensen.

Last Blue Christmas, by Rose Prendeville was featured over on Sadie’s Spotlight with R&R Tours. Included in the promo material was a copy of the book. And, honestly, I couldn’t remember if I promised just a spotlight or a book review. But as I happen to be doing a Christmas Reading Challenge at the moment, I decided I didn’t care and gave it a read either way.

The only case they haven’t cracked is how to be together.

Not on Officer Maggie Kyle’s Christmas bingo card:

• A homemade bomb in a bus station locker.
• A child, the prime suspect in the bombing.
• Her partner of ten years abandoning her to solve the case on her own.

Max St. James might be the worst cop in the world—or at least in Toronto:

• He fell in love with his partner.
• He’s the reason she never became a detective.
• He doesn’t much care who planted the bomb.

The IED’s blast ignites years of tension, sending Maggie and Max careening in opposite directions—but opposites still attract.

Can they find a way to come together to solve the case before another bomb goes off?

And will it mean another ten years sacrificing the future they want for the partnership they already have?

I enjoyed this a lot. As I said, I read it as part of a Christmas Reading Challenge. But I’d call it more a book set during Christmastime than an actual Christmas book. I still enjoyed it a lot though.

I thought the characters felt very real and were quite likeable. I appreciated the diversity of the cast and some of the subtly portrayed social flaws. Let them be seen for what they are; all the better if an author can do so without feeling like they’re giving a social justice lecture. Plus, the writing is clean and easily readable.

I did think that, as much as I like the children (and they were well written), they were surely too well behaved and angelic for two little boys who had been traumatized by their last few years of life. Additionally, I found the number of times the narrative was disrupted by the two main characters’ internal thoughts of the other…well, disruptive. There were just too many of them, certainly more than needed to make the point. Luckily this tapered of by the half-way mark.

On a side note—not really related to a review but related to me a reader—as someone who worked in Child and Family Services (what the book calls Child Aid) let me tell you that it is not AT ALL appreciated to purposefully wait until after-hours to call-in a child in need, if you’ve been holding that child since morning or early afternoon, not by the social worker or the eventual foster parent. Nope, not at all appreciated. LOL. But I do also 100% sympathize with Max’s concerns in calling.

All in all, I was impressed and will happily read another Prendeville book.

There also happens to be a giveaway running. For your chance to win a $50 Amazon e-Gift Card, click the link below!

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Other Reviews:

Blog Tour Book Review – R&R Book Tours – Last Blue Christmas by Rose Prendeville – Available 1 December 2021

Come back tomorrow. I’ll be reviewing Christmas Lites II, a Christmas short story collection edited by Amy Eye.

See Sadie Read

Sci-fi, fantasy, UF/PNR & LGBT+

Tag Archives: christmas romance

Book Review: The Plight Before Christmas, by Kate Stewart

Book Review & Giveaway: Last Blue Christmas, by Rose Prendeville