bookdrgn's review
5.0
There’s a comfort, in these unfamiliar times, between the pages of a Hallmark romance. You know and anticipate a happy ever after. You know there will be a moment when all seems lost. You know there will be a quirky cast of characters.
You know all this, yet you read anyway because Hallmark knows what they’re doing. And they, and their authors, do it well.
I loved how Danni stood up to her city manager/boyfriend at the beginning. It would have grabbed the book down if she hadn’t.
I loved how the town and its people tend to woo the love weary traveller as he or she falls for the pivotal town character.
Declan is strong, stoic and traumatised. He’s been burned by city women before. This makes him wary of Danni, but unable to resist.
This is a sweet, emotional book worthy of the Hallmark sticker.
I received a complimentary copy of this and all opinions are my own.
You know all this, yet you read anyway because Hallmark knows what they’re doing. And they, and their authors, do it well.
I loved how Danni stood up to her city manager/boyfriend at the beginning. It would have grabbed the book down if she hadn’t.
I loved how the town and its people tend to woo the love weary traveller as he or she falls for the pivotal town character.
Declan is strong, stoic and traumatised. He’s been burned by city women before. This makes him wary of Danni, but unable to resist.
This is a sweet, emotional book worthy of the Hallmark sticker.
I received a complimentary copy of this and all opinions are my own.
shannanh's review
5.0
This was the best holiday small romance and is #1 in my book. I absolutely loved this book, from the way the characters related to each other, as well as others. I also learned somethings I never knew. This was one of the best, heartwarming stories, and truthfully, I did not want to put it down, nor did i want it to end.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
melmo2610's review
5.0
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. It sounded cute and I love a good Hallmark romance but this one was super fun and adorable. I love Declan! It's a quick and easy and enjoyable Christmas romance.
aduchene's review
3.0
It was a cute story with fine characters but was missing a connection for me. While I love all things AK and can recognize that life in SE is very different from mine in NW, I feel like there were some inconsistencies I couldn’t wrap my head around like the way driving to anchorage or fairbanks or routing through fairbanks is discussed. No mention of the ferry system only driving and the road system isn’t that extensive.
Anyway little things like that.
But AK can be hard for people to grasp, even people within AK and I’m for one no expert even within my region.
It was a feel good story staring smart, kind, and funny although not overly complicated characters which led to a nice, light, Christmas read.
Anyway little things like that.
But AK can be hard for people to grasp, even people within AK and I’m for one no expert even within my region.
It was a feel good story staring smart, kind, and funny although not overly complicated characters which led to a nice, light, Christmas read.
julesmareeinsea's review
2.0
Grumpy sunshine is my favorite trope, but woah they sure were in the fast lane in this one, so there wasn't that slow burn that really makes a romance great.
catra121's review
3.0
This is literally a Hallmark movie in book form. Very light and easy to read...but not especially memorable. I enjoyed it well enough but not something that will stick with me or that I will ever feel the need to read again.
ezichinny's review
4.0
3.75 Stars.
This slow burner was a touching story which was made even sweeter by the holiday setting.
Janina Edwards captured the emotion of Declan and the energy of Danni. I would like to say this felt more like women's fiction but still very Hallmark-ish.
Danni has been a nomad most of her adult life as she really struggled get anchored in any place for long. She took a trip to Alaska for her friends' wedding where she met a vet named Declan. Declan lost a leg and suffered from PTSD from his military tour which left him bitter about his chances at romantic love. So the way the author went about building a foundation of friendship between Danni and Declan made their subsequent feelings feel authentic. In addition, the author surrounded the main characters with a close knit community and family.
What I enjoyed most was the careful way the author educated the reader about this Indigenous Alaskan Community as well as the realistic depiction of a wounded vet. There was a lot of emotion and narrator's various voices helped me to feel them as the story unfolded. This wasn't just a romance, it was about healing and learning to navigate life again after a traumatic event. This was just a really touching and well written holiday story.
Special thanks to Netgalley for the audiobook which was given in exchange for an honest review.
This slow burner was a touching story which was made even sweeter by the holiday setting.
Janina Edwards captured the emotion of Declan and the energy of Danni. I would like to say this felt more like women's fiction but still very Hallmark-ish.
Danni has been a nomad most of her adult life as she really struggled get anchored in any place for long. She took a trip to Alaska for her friends' wedding where she met a vet named Declan. Declan lost a leg and suffered from PTSD from his military tour which left him bitter about his chances at romantic love. So the way the author went about building a foundation of friendship between Danni and Declan made their subsequent feelings feel authentic. In addition, the author surrounded the main characters with a close knit community and family.
What I enjoyed most was the careful way the author educated the reader about this Indigenous Alaskan Community as well as the realistic depiction of a wounded vet. There was a lot of emotion and narrator's various voices helped me to feel them as the story unfolded. This wasn't just a romance, it was about healing and learning to navigate life again after a traumatic event. This was just a really touching and well written holiday story.
Special thanks to Netgalley for the audiobook which was given in exchange for an honest review.
rkbezzie's review
2.0
Do you enjoy sweet romances with terrible research about where they take place? You'll love this book.
The love story was so-so. Better than anything I could ever write and that's what kept me from giving this book just one star. Beware though, the last quarter of the book was riddled with typos. Not the professional final draft I'd expect from Hallmark.
The Alaskan backdrop? Incredibly inaccurate on so many levels.
Authors need to realize that when they include Alaska as a setting, that setting is its own silent character. I've read lots of books that take place in Alaska. Ninety percent of the time in fictional towns. This book would have benefitted from that. Alas, the author chose to set it in a quasi-fictional neighborhood in Juneau.
From the weather to geography to the Alaska Native people, this book got too many things wrong to mention.
I tried reading this book at night before I went to bed, but the egregious inaccuracies only riled me up more.
I wouldn't imagine writing a book about a place I knew nothing about. If I did dare to do something like that, I would at least give that place a fictional name so I could play off my gross negligence in research as artistic license.
The love story was so-so. Better than anything I could ever write and that's what kept me from giving this book just one star. Beware though, the last quarter of the book was riddled with typos. Not the professional final draft I'd expect from Hallmark.
The Alaskan backdrop? Incredibly inaccurate on so many levels.
Authors need to realize that when they include Alaska as a setting, that setting is its own silent character. I've read lots of books that take place in Alaska. Ninety percent of the time in fictional towns. This book would have benefitted from that. Alas, the author chose to set it in a quasi-fictional neighborhood in Juneau.
From the weather to geography to the Alaska Native people, this book got too many things wrong to mention.
I tried reading this book at night before I went to bed, but the egregious inaccuracies only riled me up more.
I wouldn't imagine writing a book about a place I knew nothing about. If I did dare to do something like that, I would at least give that place a fictional name so I could play off my gross negligence in research as artistic license.
khoar's review
2.0
After "breaking up" with her boyfriend, Danni decides to leave the comforts of New York City and spend the holidays reconnecting with an old friend in Alaska. She meets Declan, a surly state trooper who has no interest is getting to know her. Declan came home from the war with an injury that cost him his leg ... and his fiancé.
This is a light, opposites attract romance novel that, unfortunately, I just didn't care for. The characters were not fleshed out very well - leaving them and the relationships quite shallow.
I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY ADVANCED READER COPY OF THIS BOOK & AUDIOBOOK THROUGH NETGALLEY. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS REVIEW ARE COMPLETELY MY OWN.
This is a light, opposites attract romance novel that, unfortunately, I just didn't care for. The characters were not fleshed out very well - leaving them and the relationships quite shallow.
I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY ADVANCED READER COPY OF THIS BOOK & AUDIOBOOK THROUGH NETGALLEY. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS REVIEW ARE COMPLETELY MY OWN.