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agrutle's review
5.0
Thanks to Harlequin and Netgally for the book in exchange for a honest review.
Once again, I'm back with the Bravos. I'll admit that at first I wasn't really enjoying Carter. He seemed cocky and emotionally cut off, which he was. He told Paige about her love for him in jest and it hit her like a lightening bolt, that he was right!
Paige and Carter have been best friends for a long time. They just get each other. He helps her with her sister, and they are business partners. Carter doesn't believe in love. He watched his mom throw out his dad over and over again, and yet claim to love him more than anything. How can love exist if that's the example he had for it? It was also pointed out that Carter and Paige are perfect for each other, everyone already thinks they're together, that starts things moving around his head too. It takes longer for it to come to him but he's comfortable with Paige, he likes her and her sister. They work well together why not transition that in to a marriage. It'd just be adding benefits *wink*.
Paige is comfortable with Carter, being friends for as long as they have been how could she not be? While waiting for a meeting he does a silly quiz about love and your best friend and answers all the questions the way she would. It sparks something in her and she starts thinking too much and realizes that she is in fact in love with Carter and he HATES love. It's fake and over-used. When he proposes that they make their business relationship more, a marriage, she says yes because she does love him and she figures she can live with the fact that he'd be devoted to her but not love her. The only question she keeps having is can she live with the fact that her husband will never love her the way she loves him.
Like I said I had a hard time enjoying Carter at first. He was a little off putting. In the end he redeemed himself quite nicely. I liked Paige and her sister Dawn. It's always nice to see other characters from the books before. If you're a fan of the Bravos and a fan of Christine Rimmer, you'll enjoy this one too. Leave the author love in the form of a review.
Once again, I'm back with the Bravos. I'll admit that at first I wasn't really enjoying Carter. He seemed cocky and emotionally cut off, which he was. He told Paige about her love for him in jest and it hit her like a lightening bolt, that he was right!
Paige and Carter have been best friends for a long time. They just get each other. He helps her with her sister, and they are business partners. Carter doesn't believe in love. He watched his mom throw out his dad over and over again, and yet claim to love him more than anything. How can love exist if that's the example he had for it? It was also pointed out that Carter and Paige are perfect for each other, everyone already thinks they're together, that starts things moving around his head too. It takes longer for it to come to him but he's comfortable with Paige, he likes her and her sister. They work well together why not transition that in to a marriage. It'd just be adding benefits *wink*.
Paige is comfortable with Carter, being friends for as long as they have been how could she not be? While waiting for a meeting he does a silly quiz about love and your best friend and answers all the questions the way she would. It sparks something in her and she starts thinking too much and realizes that she is in fact in love with Carter and he HATES love. It's fake and over-used. When he proposes that they make their business relationship more, a marriage, she says yes because she does love him and she figures she can live with the fact that he'd be devoted to her but not love her. The only question she keeps having is can she live with the fact that her husband will never love her the way she loves him.
Like I said I had a hard time enjoying Carter at first. He was a little off putting. In the end he redeemed himself quite nicely. I liked Paige and her sister Dawn. It's always nice to see other characters from the books before. If you're a fan of the Bravos and a fan of Christine Rimmer, you'll enjoy this one too. Leave the author love in the form of a review.
booksuperpower's review
5.0
Carter Bravo's Christmas Bride by Christine Rimmer is a 2015 Harlequin Special Edition publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a charming read and just the right kind of story to kick off your holiday reading.
Carter and Paige are best friends and business partners and up until now, it's never occurred to them to test the waters of a deeper kind of relationship…. Or so they claim.
But, when a magazine quiz plants the seed in their minds, on top of the manipulations of a meddling relative, Carter becomes convinced it is time to settle down and get married, AND decides Paige is the logical choice. But, Paige is not exactly blown away by his proposal. Can he convince her to marry him even though he loves her, but has never said anything about being IN love with her?
Paige is now raising her younger sister after the death of their parents, and is trying to move on from a bitter break-up. Carter's proposal is tempting, especially since she IS in love with Carter. But, is Paige willing to settle for a one sided love affair? Or can she manage get Carter to fall in love with her too?
This is a delightful friends to lovers story, but it's an extra special romance due to the holiday setting and the very cool way the couple manages to work out their feelings. I don't want to say too much, but don't be too hard on Carter. He's clueless, and his motives might be little suspect, but I got the impression there was something kind of mischievous about him. Of course he has some things to work out before he can be what Paige needs him to be, but Paige's character also saw some character growth as she too discovered a little soul searching was in order.
The secondary characters were also a big part of this story, with Paige's younger sister stealing a few scenes along the way.
I really enjoyed this installment in the series and with the holiday atmosphere adding a touch of warmth, it's an especially sweet story.
4.5 stars
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