Review: Christmas at Willoughby Close (Return to Willoughby Close Book 3) by Kate Hewitt

 

Belinda ‘Lindy’ Jamison has moved to the Cotswolds for a fresh start and to open a dancing school—her lifelong dream. Pushing forty and still looking for Mr. Right, Lindy is determined to no longer wait for happiness but to reach for it with both hands. So she packs up her life and heads south to Wychwood-on-Lea to start up her school.

Soon Lindy has a motley crew of would-be dancers. But her most intriguing pupil is Roger Wentworth, a fortysomething bachelor with a shy and awkward manner, but a heart of blazing gold. When Lindy decides to showcase her pupils in a Christmas show, Roger is deeply reluctant but finally agrees. Lindy longs to bring Roger out of his shell—but she didn't expect to fall in love with him in the process.

Soon it is Roger teaching her how two lonely hearts might be able to embrace a second chance this Christmas...if they can just believe they're both worthy of love.

 

My Review:

An emotional Christmas romance.

Reading one of the Willoughby Close books always feels like visiting old friends.  The characters really come to life and the picturesque town of Wychwood-on-Lea could almost stand as a character on its own. 

In this book, we meet Lindy, who left her job to open a ballroom dance school, and Roger, who’s dying mother wishes for them to take dance classes together.   Roger has two left feet and Lindy has quite the challenge teaching him, but they become good friends through the lessons.  When a tragedy strikes and Roger insists on being there for Lindy, their friendship becomes stronger.  It took some time as Lindy and Roger to become romantically involved as they both had fears that held them back from it.  But when it finally happened, they gave it everything they had.

This was a fun book read even though it had some emotional parts.  I like the quirkiness of the characters and the friendships they built.  Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-a-lone. 

 

Review: All's Fair in Love and Chocolate (Marietta Chocolate Wars #1) by Amy Andrews

 

 

When it comes to love and chocolate, it’s game on…

When traveling chocolatier Vivian Dawson comes to Marietta to open Delish, a chain chocolate shop, she’s unfazed by angry locals. She’s not looking for friends—she’s the competition, and her target is Sage O’Dell’s Copper Mountain Chocolates. To create marketing buzz and a friendly rivalry, Vivian declares Delish’s hot chocolate the best in town and will prove it at Marietta’s Christmas Stroll. Everyone takes a side, and Vivian hopes a certain deputy will take hers for another unforgettable night.

Sheriff’s deputy Reuben Price can’t believe his luck when the woman he’s been thinking about since a rebound one-night stand opens a shop in town. He’s shocked when Marietta’s normally friendly citizens become hostile, but he’s ready to welcome Vivian with open arms and more.

As Vivian is seduced by the charming town and the sexy deputy, she wonders if she’s finally found a home. But when tragedy strikes before Christmas, will Vivian run like she always has or will her growing feelings convince her to stay?

 

 

My Review:

A steamy hot, friends to lovers story

Vivian and Reuben had a one night fling at a hotel in Bozeman and they were never expected to see each other again.  Months later, when Viv was in Marietta to open a chocolate shop, she ran into Reuben again.  Sparks flew immediately and they decided on a friend with benefits relationship as Viv was only in town six months.  But fate had something else in mind for them. 

I really enjoyed this book.  The author made the characters feel real, flaws and all.  Set in the fictional town of Marietta, Montana, that I have come to love, you had all of the small town feel to the story with characters from past books making an appearance.  The competition between the two competing chocolate shops was a fun addition to the romantic story line.  This is the beginning of a new series and I can’t wait to read the following books.   

 

 

 

Review: Montana Cowboy Christmas (Wyatt Brothers of Montana #2) by Jane Porter

 

 

 

It's almost Christmas and nationally-ranked barrel racer Ivy Wyckoff has returned home to Montana desperate for a miracle. A cowgirl to her bones, she’s always solved her own problems, but when her ex—rodeo champ, Sam Wyatt—shows up offering more than a shoulder to cry on, Ivy’s tempted to grab the safety line he throws.

Sam Wyatt just wrapped his most successful year on the PRCA circuit. After long days and even longer nights, all he wants is a quiet holiday on his family's Paradise Valley ranch...until he sees Ivy again. He can tell she’s in trouble. They may have called it quits two years ago, but she's the one woman he regretted walking away from.

Sam will do anything to keep Ivy safe, including putting a ring on her finger and sharing his name with her this Christmas.

  

My Review:

An emotional second chance love story

Rodeo stars and former lovers Ivy Wyckoff and Sam Wyatt get a second chance at love when Ivy is on the run for her obsessive ex-boyfriend.  She runs to Marietta, Montana, the only place she ever felt safe.

When Sam finds out Ivy is working as a bartender at the Wolf Den, a seedy strip club on the bad side of town, Sam decides he will do everything he can to get Ivy away from there and help her.  But when Sam finds out the real reason Ivy is in town, he plans to protect with everything he’s got. 

I really liked how this story played out.  I was hooked from the start.  I enjoyed seeing Ivy and Sam open up about the reasons they split up, to learn to trust again and finally rekindle their relationship.  Christmas miracles are real and they definitely came through for Ivy and Sam.