acornell's review
2.0
I gave this one two stars because the emotional story ties to 9/11 are the only things that kept me reading.
The main character, Elena, is incredibly unlikable, and not in a good way. The romantic parts were so cliche I found myself actually rolling my eyes.
The main character, Elena, is incredibly unlikable, and not in a good way. The romantic parts were so cliche I found myself actually rolling my eyes.
kate2440's review
5.0
The last in the Christmas in New York series which was given to me in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
Another cover that's similar to the rest in the series but with new images which look cute and heart warming but I don't think that the couple at the top are fitting for the couple in the story.
This was definitely saved the best until last as this book was amazing and the only thing I could say against it was that I wished it was longer just so I could get more. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride which kicked off from the moment I started it, I was crying by chapter two and towards the end I was in floods of tears. I like it when a book can make me feel emotions as I feel as though the author has taken me completely into the world that they had created. Out of all the books that I have read in this series this one is by far my favourite story as the romance part of the story was beautifully written but also there was more to the story as it was also about the way in which they where coping with grief. The use of signs was a great addition as I like to believe that there are signs out there we just need to know how to notice them. I loved the ending as it was so cute and heart warming and then the little epilogue at the end was a great way to end the series with hope that there is another one to come as I would love to see Kara get her Happy Ever After.
I adored the characters every single one of them. Elena was one of the girls that wasn't in many of the other books like the other girls so I was looking forward to get to know her. She had a lot of issues to deal with but apart from that I thought she was a great character. Lucas was amazing and like Elena thought I too thought he was too good to be true but the more we got know him the more that we find out why he is the way he is which did shock me but I still couldn't help but love him. I loved that we got to see more of the girls from the previous books but there was also more of Kara which was nice to see and we also got introduced to new characters and I loved them just as much as the main characters especially Al.
Overall this was an amazing story and I would highly recommend it. This is my first Patty Blount book that I have read and with her sensitive and beautiful story I know I will have to read more from her as this was an amazing book.
Another cover that's similar to the rest in the series but with new images which look cute and heart warming but I don't think that the couple at the top are fitting for the couple in the story.
This was definitely saved the best until last as this book was amazing and the only thing I could say against it was that I wished it was longer just so I could get more. I felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride which kicked off from the moment I started it, I was crying by chapter two and towards the end I was in floods of tears. I like it when a book can make me feel emotions as I feel as though the author has taken me completely into the world that they had created. Out of all the books that I have read in this series this one is by far my favourite story as the romance part of the story was beautifully written but also there was more to the story as it was also about the way in which they where coping with grief. The use of signs was a great addition as I like to believe that there are signs out there we just need to know how to notice them. I loved the ending as it was so cute and heart warming and then the little epilogue at the end was a great way to end the series with hope that there is another one to come as I would love to see Kara get her Happy Ever After.
I adored the characters every single one of them. Elena was one of the girls that wasn't in many of the other books like the other girls so I was looking forward to get to know her. She had a lot of issues to deal with but apart from that I thought she was a great character. Lucas was amazing and like Elena thought I too thought he was too good to be true but the more we got know him the more that we find out why he is the way he is which did shock me but I still couldn't help but love him. I loved that we got to see more of the girls from the previous books but there was also more of Kara which was nice to see and we also got introduced to new characters and I loved them just as much as the main characters especially Al.
Overall this was an amazing story and I would highly recommend it. This is my first Patty Blount book that I have read and with her sensitive and beautiful story I know I will have to read more from her as this was an amazing book.
gerd_d's review
3.0
It's for most a charming if at times slow read, filled with drama and tragedy, family and romance... a quaint Christmas story with lots of reason to get sentimental and shed a tear or two.
However, there's a part towards the end that threw me because there's so much talk of God and Faith in the whole passage that it leaves a bitter taste how Al phrases his own unbelieve in religion:
I admit, I have no clear idea where the Muslim faith stands on questions of Heaven and Hell, but for Al to make this sort of non-sequitur of saying "I’m not very religious. I was raised Muslim..." sounds like an unrealistic thing to say, for both a muslim or an atheist.
One wouldn't go round and say "I'm not very religious. I was raised Christian..."
It simply makes no sense to announce that you're not believing in a religion and then continue with pointing out which religion you was raised in anyways - not in this context at least.
I assume, because the author appears quite respectful in her twitter messages, that it was a simple writing lapse, a case of missing to put in "But I was raised Muslim..." the same way one may point out that "I do not believe in Christ, but I was raised with Christian values..."
I realize that this must sound terribly nitpicking, but the whole story revolves at large aound the attacks on 9/11 and the resulting personal tragedies from it, and this terrible day has been so deeply interwoven with our felt understanding of terrorism and other religions that I can't help but feel a need to point out this particular inconsistency.
However, there's a part towards the end that threw me because there's so much talk of God and Faith in the whole passage that it leaves a bitter taste how Al phrases his own unbelieve in religion:
“Elena, you’re asking me if there’s a God, if there’s a Heaven, if there’s a life after this one, and I can’t answer that. Nobody can. It’s either something you believe in or you don’t.” He played with his cup. “I’m not very religious. I was raised Muslim and there are some things that even I—with my lack of faith—believe."
I admit, I have no clear idea where the Muslim faith stands on questions of Heaven and Hell, but for Al to make this sort of non-sequitur of saying "I’m not very religious. I was raised Muslim..." sounds like an unrealistic thing to say, for both a muslim or an atheist.
One wouldn't go round and say "I'm not very religious. I was raised Christian..."
It simply makes no sense to announce that you're not believing in a religion and then continue with pointing out which religion you was raised in anyways - not in this context at least.
I assume, because the author appears quite respectful in her twitter messages, that it was a simple writing lapse, a case of missing to put in "But I was raised Muslim..." the same way one may point out that "I do not believe in Christ, but I was raised with Christian values..."
I realize that this must sound terribly nitpicking, but the whole story revolves at large aound the attacks on 9/11 and the resulting personal tragedies from it, and this terrible day has been so deeply interwoven with our felt understanding of terrorism and other religions that I can't help but feel a need to point out this particular inconsistency.
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