The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
bridgette22's review
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
melodicfate's review
4.0
I found this story to be both entertaining and touching. Holly was a therapist and single parent, and all she wanted was to help people. Noah was a billionaire with some problems due to his past, as well as his present. He had a lot of issues to work through. He and Holly had a thing for each other, as soon as Noah came to her office for help at the urging of his business partner. For Noah, it was a fling, but Holly's feelings got involved quickly. Noah's did, too, but he ignored them. This story was all about Noah finding it in himself to get help, as well as how to build a true relationship. It was about Holly being strong and overcoming her past enough to go for a new and better future. There was steam, yes, but there were more emotions in this story than anything. I recommend it if you're wanting something quick and set in the Christmas season.
loveinpanels's review against another edition
3.0
Since most of the Christmas romance I read is on the "fluffy" side, I decided to ramp up the angst and try out one of Harlequin's DARE line. While it wasn't overtly Christmassy, it does start shortly before Christmas one year and extend through the next Christmas. Christmas is sort of in the background, which is totally fine, but if that's not what you're looking for, perhaps not the choice for you.
So, what is the book about, if not Christmas? Well, it's about a sexy rich man who can't sleep, and the therapist who's supposed to fix him. Now, before you get squicked out, it's important to note that she never actually becomes his therapist. That's a professional line they both realize won't work once their physical attraction takes hold. So after two unofficial meetings, they start sleeping together and the idea of a therapist-patient relationship is never actualized. This would have been a dealbreaker for me, and I'm SO GLAD it was handled well.
I'm going to pause here for a content warning:
Domestic violence is discussed in this book as it's an integral part of the heroine's backstory. I mention it the review that follows.
The story is set in London, but the hero, Noah, is Australian. He grew up in the foster system, but abuse isn't part of his backstory, just a lack of unconditional love. Holly is a single mom who left a long-term abusive relationship after her ex tried to kill her while she was pregnant. He's in prison for a very long time now, so that's not an issue in this story. The ex's mother has a very good relationship with Holly's daughter, and watches her overnight on weekends.
As the story unfolds, Holly and Noah's physical relationship, which is full of enthusiastic and repeated consent, turns into something emotional. Holly eventually realizes that she can't go any further with Noah unless he addresses the issues he's trying to ignore. She asks him to see a therapist she recommends, and they agree to an unofficial "therapy" session in which she'll try to get him to realize what's really bothering him. This leads to the Big Bad Moment, as you might expect.
What comes next, however, is what saved the book for me. Noah doesn't just "grovel." Holly doesn't magically fix him. Noah puts in the work for nearly a year and they slowly reconnect, without the sex they were using as a distraction. It's quite lovely, honestly. I really appreciated that Connelly took that sort of care with mental health in this book.
All in all, it's a steamy story that doesn't fall for the traps that a lot of "edgy" romances dealing with abuse and mental health do. I'll definitely be reading more from Connelly in the future.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
So, what is the book about, if not Christmas? Well, it's about a sexy rich man who can't sleep, and the therapist who's supposed to fix him. Now, before you get squicked out, it's important to note that she never actually becomes his therapist. That's a professional line they both realize won't work once their physical attraction takes hold. So after two unofficial meetings, they start sleeping together and the idea of a therapist-patient relationship is never actualized. This would have been a dealbreaker for me, and I'm SO GLAD it was handled well.
I'm going to pause here for a content warning:
Domestic violence is discussed in this book as it's an integral part of the heroine's backstory. I mention it the review that follows.
The story is set in London, but the hero, Noah, is Australian. He grew up in the foster system, but abuse isn't part of his backstory, just a lack of unconditional love. Holly is a single mom who left a long-term abusive relationship after her ex tried to kill her while she was pregnant. He's in prison for a very long time now, so that's not an issue in this story. The ex's mother has a very good relationship with Holly's daughter, and watches her overnight on weekends.
As the story unfolds, Holly and Noah's physical relationship, which is full of enthusiastic and repeated consent, turns into something emotional. Holly eventually realizes that she can't go any further with Noah unless he addresses the issues he's trying to ignore. She asks him to see a therapist she recommends, and they agree to an unofficial "therapy" session in which she'll try to get him to realize what's really bothering him. This leads to the Big Bad Moment, as you might expect.
What comes next, however, is what saved the book for me. Noah doesn't just "grovel." Holly doesn't magically fix him. Noah puts in the work for nearly a year and they slowly reconnect, without the sex they were using as a distraction. It's quite lovely, honestly. I really appreciated that Connelly took that sort of care with mental health in this book.
All in all, it's a steamy story that doesn't fall for the traps that a lot of "edgy" romances dealing with abuse and mental health do. I'll definitely be reading more from Connelly in the future.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
llamareads's review
3.0
I’ve been meaning to try out Harlequin’s Dare line, so when I saw this holiday-themed romance show up at my library, I grabbed it! It was definitely much steamier than I’d expected a category romance to be, but the rest of it was not as successful for me.
Holly is a therapist who specializes in trauma disorders, especially veterans with PTSD. Noah, one of the billionaire founders of a big tech company, comes to her for help. She’s intrigued, though, when he insists, even while sitting in her office, that he doesn’t need therapy, he’s just having problems sleeping. Instead, he seems determined to flirt with her instead and Holly is surprised by her reaction to him. After it becomes clear that neither can get the other out of their head, Holly severs any professional ties and they embark on a fling. Holly has her own past, though, and can she keep both it and Noah’s past from ruining their chance at a relationship?
This is a pretty quick and steamy read, with a bit of holiday flair. There’s some of the usual billionaire tropes (trendy condo on the Thames! private jet to Paris!) and lots of steamy sex. I liked the additional focus on mental health (though it felt a bit heavy handed at times) and Holly’s eventual realization that their relationship wasn’t healthy for herself or Noah. While I was conflicted about her relationship with a potential patient, I also realized that the flaw revealed a lot about Holly and her character in general, especially how she handled it once she realized how much Noah’s unresolved issues were suffocating him. I especially loved the last section of the book – basically, Noah’s form of groveling after he screws up – and honestly wish it hadn’t been so rushed. End-of-the-book Noah seemed like almost a different person than the arrogant and forward Noah of earlier in the book. While I liked that he was obviously more solicitous of Holly’s needs, I missed the spark in their relationship. And, besides the whole patient relationship ethical violation, I found it hard to believe that she’d get so involved with this guy who has told her that he doesn’t like kids – to the point of falling in love with him – when her daughter is the center of her non-work life.
Overall, while I had issues with the book, it was still a quick read, and I think I’ll probably try another book by Ms. Connelly in the future, especially if it’s another from the Dare line.
“I force myself to remember several things, and to remember them quickly. He is waging a battle against demons I don’t yet comprehend; he has come to me for help.
And I don’t do this.
I don’t let men, no matter how sexy, make my pulse race and my knees knock.
That kind of thing was a million years ago for me.”
Holly is a therapist who specializes in trauma disorders, especially veterans with PTSD. Noah, one of the billionaire founders of a big tech company, comes to her for help. She’s intrigued, though, when he insists, even while sitting in her office, that he doesn’t need therapy, he’s just having problems sleeping. Instead, he seems determined to flirt with her instead and Holly is surprised by her reaction to him. After it becomes clear that neither can get the other out of their head, Holly severs any professional ties and they embark on a fling. Holly has her own past, though, and can she keep both it and Noah’s past from ruining their chance at a relationship?
‘You’re… Look.’ I shake my head.
‘Yes?’ He’s intense.
‘You’re you,’ I say, shaking my head. ‘Billionaire, famous, and I think you live in a very different world to me.’ My smile is an attempt to soften the rejection.
‘I’m not talking about marrying you,’ he says with a slow, purposeful wink. ‘I’m talking about you, me and all this chemistry…’
This is a pretty quick and steamy read, with a bit of holiday flair. There’s some of the usual billionaire tropes (trendy condo on the Thames! private jet to Paris!) and lots of steamy sex. I liked the additional focus on mental health (though it felt a bit heavy handed at times) and Holly’s eventual realization that their relationship wasn’t healthy for herself or Noah. While I was conflicted about her relationship with a potential patient, I also realized that the flaw revealed a lot about Holly and her character in general, especially how she handled it once she realized how much Noah’s unresolved issues were suffocating him. I especially loved the last section of the book – basically, Noah’s form of groveling after he screws up – and honestly wish it hadn’t been so rushed. End-of-the-book Noah seemed like almost a different person than the arrogant and forward Noah of earlier in the book. While I liked that he was obviously more solicitous of Holly’s needs, I missed the spark in their relationship. And, besides the whole patient relationship ethical violation, I found it hard to believe that she’d get so involved with this guy who has told her that he doesn’t like kids – to the point of falling in love with him – when her daughter is the center of her non-work life.
Overall, while I had issues with the book, it was still a quick read, and I think I’ll probably try another book by Ms. Connelly in the future, especially if it’s another from the Dare line.
More...