Bluestone Christmas

Review:

A little sweet and a little boring.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628376/bluestone-christmas

Unwrapping Noel

Review:

Noel has been divorced from Dave for a year. They were married for 13 years before that. Dave's an asshole and was cheating on her. Then he was diagnosed with cancer, and being the nice person she is, Noel moved back in with him and helped him through his treatments. 
This was a good story of a doormat, who finds her self-worth again. And someone who loves her. Just. As. She. Is. Nice that Leon is Noel spelled backwards.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628373/unwrapping-noel

Worth the Shot

Review:

Definitely insta-love, but I enjoyed every second! Bane's on his way to St Louis. He is being traded to the NHL team there. He meets and connects with a woman on the flight. And she with him. Unbeknownst to both of them, her father is the team's coach. Enjoyable, good chemistry. Would have liked more at the end.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628368/worth-the-shot

Finding True's Love

Review:

Just didn't work for me. I didn't find this believable.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628367/finding-true-s-love

Prince of the Press

Review:

I found myself a bit ambivalent about this one. I really didn't like Marcus and felt he was too pushy and immature (considering Renee worked for his brother). But the more it went on, he grew on me. I liked about he was supportive of her brother David. Renee had so much on her plate, but it did get better. Nice ending; I liked knowing how the mom and brother were doing.
I really did like Derek.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628351/prince-of-the-press

Yours for the Holidays

Review:

I enjoyed the flip flop- Alanna was bid on at a charity auction. She was surprised as the auction had been only men who volunteered. She's known Blake her whole life, being best friends with his sister. She's also been in love with him. Blake with her as well, but didn't handle it well when they were younger, so Alanna's always felt he hated her. So, Blake uses this auction to try win her over. Nice frenemies to lovers story. I liked the end and the close knit families.

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628350/yours-for-the-holidays

Close to the Mistletoe

Review:

Holly goes out to support her newly divorced friend. She meets Nick. He helps her out of an embarrassing situation. They share a steamy kiss. Holly is the art and music teacher. Nick is a carpenter who moved in to help his brother, Noel, out. Noel's wife died leaving him a single father to Callie. Noel is military and will be called to active duty at any time. Nick is there to step in when that happens.
What started out as cute, turned into more annoying. I liked Holly, I liked Nick. But, really, the stalker element?! That was unnecessary and did not add anything to the plot. It also started with the way Holly was dressed. Just no. Make that fuck no. Also Callie was called Cassie at one point.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628281/close-to-the-mistletoe

Icing On The Date

Review:

Owen is a hockey player that is in trouble often. He and Gabby meet in the women's restroom of a hotel during an event that Gabby is catering. She rescues him. Gabby is hard working and wants her bakery to one of the most popular ones. Owen remembers the name of the bakery and looks her up the next day. To thank her, he helps her for the day. And thus begins their relationship.
I didn't think I'd like this as much as I did. Owen is a drunken mess when they first meet. As I got to know Owen, I realized he was rarely like that. He was angry at himself that some of his (and his brother Bane's shared) behavior on the ice got Bane traded. I also liked Gabby. What brought this down for me was a secondary character- Justin, Gabby's brother. Gabby is a doormat when it comes to him, enabling him each and every time. See, Gabby as the eldest had sheltered and taken care of her younger brother Justin. They grew up with an abusive step-father. Justin gets drunk and into fights. He gets arrested and/or needs to go to the ER. Gabby then is the one who bails him out. In fact, the book opens with her having to do just that. It's implied that she's had to do it before. Then, later, after they went to a hockey game, they (Gabby, Owen, and Justin) go to a bar. Owen buys Justin a beer; smart, let's have the alcoholic have alcohol. It will come as a shock to all that later Justin got into a fight and needed to go to the ER! This would have been 4* if Gabby had held Justin accountable at all or changed her behavior. Or if it was even acknowledged that Justin was an alcoholic.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628280/icing-on-the-date

When You Open Your Eyes

Review:

Gabe and Ellie were childhood sweethearts. Both enlisted in the USMC with a 4 year contract and planned to get married when done. They each had bad things happen during their military service, leaving both physical and emotional wounds. 
This was a novella that really packed a punch. I liked the alternating points of view. It really worked in this novella, to be able to read what both with thinking. I was teary at the end.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1628117/when-you-open-your-eyes