The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
meezcarrie's review
4.0
Tis the season for holiday travel, and let’s just say we all hope our travel plans don’t turn out like Rory and Colt’s...
Rory is a delightfully layered character whom I honestly expected to be difficult for me to relate to. She is a supermodel, after all. And I am the polar opposite of a supermodel lol. But surprisingly I think we would be great friends. The combination of her vulnerabilty and strength make her so much than she appears at first glance. For that matter, Colt too. He seems at first to have little redeeming qualities – a typical playboy with a chip on his shoulder and one thing on his mind. But as the story progresses, we learn there is more to him than meets the eye too.
Rory and Colt don’t immediately hit it off, which makes for some great snark. The conditions in which they find themselves are unusual circumstances (fortunately) so emotions are already running high. As a result, once they do hit it off? Just go ahead and climb into the freezer for the remainder of your reading time. I should mention here that, while this is absolutely a ‘clean’ romance, it gets pretty steamy.
Christmas at Gate 18 is a little bit of romcom and a little bit of Hallmark Christmas movie all wrapped up into one, with a little extra heat added (because it’s cold outside, y’all!).
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
Rory is a delightfully layered character whom I honestly expected to be difficult for me to relate to. She is a supermodel, after all. And I am the polar opposite of a supermodel lol. But surprisingly I think we would be great friends. The combination of her vulnerabilty and strength make her so much than she appears at first glance. For that matter, Colt too. He seems at first to have little redeeming qualities – a typical playboy with a chip on his shoulder and one thing on his mind. But as the story progresses, we learn there is more to him than meets the eye too.
Rory and Colt don’t immediately hit it off, which makes for some great snark. The conditions in which they find themselves are unusual circumstances (fortunately) so emotions are already running high. As a result, once they do hit it off? Just go ahead and climb into the freezer for the remainder of your reading time. I should mention here that, while this is absolutely a ‘clean’ romance, it gets pretty steamy.
Christmas at Gate 18 is a little bit of romcom and a little bit of Hallmark Christmas movie all wrapped up into one, with a little extra heat added (because it’s cold outside, y’all!).
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first seen at Reading Is My SuperPower
betherin02's review
4.0
I enjoyed this holiday travel disaster romance novella! The author provides plenty of humor and heat to keep readers hanging on every word and the characters are deliciously complex and authentic. Although the romance aspect occasionally flirts with the naughty list (compared to my usual reading selections), it's all in good clean taste while the story tackles certain prejudices based on body image and/or wealth. Overall, I count this as another of the many entertaining and encouraging reads from Amy Matayo!
I requested the opportunity to read and review this book through the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
I requested the opportunity to read and review this book through the author. The opinions expressed are my own.
cctblog's review
4.0
Christmas at Gate 18 is a fun Christmas novella that can be read in a couple hours—and once you start reading it, you won't want to stop until you've finished it! Rory is a fascinating character—I never would've guessed I'd become so fond of a supermodel so quickly!—and her backstory was both intriguing and heartbreaking. I do wish we'd gotten to know Colt better; he remained a mystery until the very end of the novella, even though half of the novella was written from his perspective.
I've read a lot of Amy Matayo's books, and I'd say that Christmas at Gate 18 falls somewhere between The Whys Have It and The Thirteenth Chance in tone. The Whys Have It is very intense and emotional, while The Thirteenth Chance is light and fun. Christmas at Gate 18 isn't nearly as deep and dark as The Whys Have It, but it's also not the light romp of The Thirteenth Chance. It's a great mix of fun and serious, and, of course, it features a toe-curling romance and the great banter that's a hallmark of Matayo's writing.
This is the type of novella that would make a great Lifetime Christmas movie. (I say Lifetime instead of Hallmark because this isn't as light and squeaky-clean as a Hallmark movie, but it seems suited for Lifetime.) It's romantic, intriguing, and full of Christmas cheer—perfect for a cold winter night! 4-1/2 stars.
Note: I'd classify Amy Matayo romances as "sweet with heat." What I mean by that is there's never any sexual content that goes beyond kissing, but those kisses get pretty heated. Just FYI.
Disclosure of material connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author. All opinions in this review are my own.
I've read a lot of Amy Matayo's books, and I'd say that Christmas at Gate 18 falls somewhere between The Whys Have It and The Thirteenth Chance in tone. The Whys Have It is very intense and emotional, while The Thirteenth Chance is light and fun. Christmas at Gate 18 isn't nearly as deep and dark as The Whys Have It, but it's also not the light romp of The Thirteenth Chance. It's a great mix of fun and serious, and, of course, it features a toe-curling romance and the great banter that's a hallmark of Matayo's writing.
This is the type of novella that would make a great Lifetime Christmas movie. (I say Lifetime instead of Hallmark because this isn't as light and squeaky-clean as a Hallmark movie, but it seems suited for Lifetime.) It's romantic, intriguing, and full of Christmas cheer—perfect for a cold winter night! 4-1/2 stars.
Note: I'd classify Amy Matayo romances as "sweet with heat." What I mean by that is there's never any sexual content that goes beyond kissing, but those kisses get pretty heated. Just FYI.
Disclosure of material connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author. All opinions in this review are my own.
marylinfurumasu's review
5.0
Christmas should be a time of joy and celebration, but for Rory it’s been a lonely time and this year is turning out to be even worse. Throw in a canceled flight, hurricane, missing luggage, no place to sleep, no toothpaste, an irritating guy who can’t keep his feet off your bag, and you have the makings of a VERY humbug of a Christmas. Tack on to all this, the continued pain from the loss of a cherished Grand-dad and you can just guess the mood Rory is in this year. Yet, even through all this, we have a very fun and crazy story of two people who just need to know they matter to someone.
Amy Matayo has put together a sweet Christmas romance with lots of humor, drama, and wonderful verbal banter between the two main characters.
There’s even some deep thoughts throughout this book. Here’s a couple quotes I find captures the whole message in this book. “We all need to find a way to keep living and moving forward no matter what life hands us….Life moves forward with or without us. It’s our choice whether to hang back and let it leave or buckle ourselves in and enjoy the ride.”
I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend everyone to read it!
I was given this book by the author for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
Amy Matayo has put together a sweet Christmas romance with lots of humor, drama, and wonderful verbal banter between the two main characters.
There’s even some deep thoughts throughout this book. Here’s a couple quotes I find captures the whole message in this book. “We all need to find a way to keep living and moving forward no matter what life hands us….Life moves forward with or without us. It’s our choice whether to hang back and let it leave or buckle ourselves in and enjoy the ride.”
I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend everyone to read it!
I was given this book by the author for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
emmybird86's review
5.0
This was a quick fun Christmas read. I really enjoyed it. I laughed out loud with the characters.
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