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stephfafahh's review
5.0
“He knew her type, soft and alluring on the outside, prickly and unfeeling on the inside. She deserved a shallow, pretentious man like that Doctor What’s-his-name—someone who didn’t give a damn that her stone-cold heart pumped vinegar instead of blood because the exquisiteness on the surface was all that mattered.”
I was so excited to finally pick up the sequel to The Woman He Married - it was good to check in with Josie, but it was sad to see that things haven’t really changed for her.
I’m so happy that Brian and Holly’s happy ending wasn’t a ring on the finger - I felt that Holly’s newly-found independence was a breath of fresh air, and much needed in the genre. This book was full of one liners and sarcasm, and I’d venture to say that this is one of the few contemporary book series where the sequels are better than the first book. I cannot wait for the next one!
Get “No Holly For Christmas” by Julie N. Ford: https://www.amazon.com/Holly-Christmas-Magic-City-Book-ebook/dp/B01MRJVAVW/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=377742EHCKXVRN8GPFXT
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Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited to finally pick up the sequel to The Woman He Married - it was good to check in with Josie, but it was sad to see that things haven’t really changed for her.
I’m so happy that Brian and Holly’s happy ending wasn’t a ring on the finger - I felt that Holly’s newly-found independence was a breath of fresh air, and much needed in the genre. This book was full of one liners and sarcasm, and I’d venture to say that this is one of the few contemporary book series where the sequels are better than the first book. I cannot wait for the next one!
Get “No Holly For Christmas” by Julie N. Ford: https://www.amazon.com/Holly-Christmas-Magic-City-Book-ebook/dp/B01MRJVAVW/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=377742EHCKXVRN8GPFXT
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissTrouble93
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemisstrouble93/
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/littlemisstrouble93
Snapchat: stephfafahh
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/12030777-stephie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephMarinis/
Want to review free ebooks?:http://www.ebooksforreview.com/
Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
sleighbelle's review
4.0
This book was a wonderful read. The characters were easy to like and hate at various times during the story. The author does a great job with the evolution of the main characters and dealing with their various personality quirks and issues. The story does a great job developing the familial relationships as well as the romantic ones. In addition to the romantic and family problems there is just enough intrigue in the plot to make you want to continue to read it. I would recommend this story for a good, quick Christmas read (or really any time of the year).
On a funny note, there were two place in the book where the wrong word was used in place of the correct term that made it a little bit humourous. On page 320, during a conversation about Leonard the book reads "You took down a cereal killer" instead of serial killer. That is what I often do.......kill my cereal every morning LOL.
On page 346 Brian is trying to donate money to a good cause (you will have to read the book to find out the cause), but the book said "Miss, can you tell me where I can leave a momentary donation?"......like he would want it back soon. I found that funny.
Overall, excellent read I would definitely read other books by this author.
On a funny note, there were two place in the book where the wrong word was used in place of the correct term that made it a little bit humourous. On page 320, during a conversation about Leonard the book reads "You took down a cereal killer" instead of serial killer. That is what I often do.......kill my cereal every morning LOL.
On page 346 Brian is trying to donate money to a good cause (you will have to read the book to find out the cause), but the book said "Miss, can you tell me where I can leave a momentary donation?"......like he would want it back soon. I found that funny.
Overall, excellent read I would definitely read other books by this author.
holly2kidsandtired's review
3.0
Holly is just the best name. Seriously. It is. It's not common and it's pretty. Of course, I'm partial to it and a little bit biased and so love stories where the heroine is named Holly.
This is not a typical Christmas story. It's much grittier, with the murder and suspense. I never really did connect to any of the characters and found little depth to any of them. Holly was too much the superficial socialite, even with her moments of compassion. Her "I may be suddenly poor but I'm still better than you" attitude got a bit old and her first experience shopping at Walmart was incredibly stereotypical. I liked her daughters and her sister Margo though. Brian was a typical rich boy attorney who started out with a big pity party over a past love. However, he kind of grew on me as I enjoyed his moments with Holly's daughters. I hate the endearment "Baby" and it was used quite a bit, here. I realize that is my personal preference and other people use that endearment and don't mind it. There was very mild profanity and some sexual situations that were unnecessary and after reading Countdown to Love, a bit disappointing.
This is a sequel to The Woman He Married, which I have not read. When it came to Brian's interactions with Josie, I felt I'd missed a bit not knowing their back story, but the novel seems to stand alone just fine. I had read Julie's first novel, Countdown to Love and enjoyed it. It was funny and clean. So, I was surprised to see such a different story here.
The premise kept me hooked and I read the book in two sittings, but unfortunately, it's not going to be one of my favorites. My review is one of many however and will no doubt be in the minority.
This is not a typical Christmas story. It's much grittier, with the murder and suspense. I never really did connect to any of the characters and found little depth to any of them. Holly was too much the superficial socialite, even with her moments of compassion. Her "I may be suddenly poor but I'm still better than you" attitude got a bit old and her first experience shopping at Walmart was incredibly stereotypical. I liked her daughters and her sister Margo though. Brian was a typical rich boy attorney who started out with a big pity party over a past love. However, he kind of grew on me as I enjoyed his moments with Holly's daughters. I hate the endearment "Baby" and it was used quite a bit, here. I realize that is my personal preference and other people use that endearment and don't mind it. There was very mild profanity and some sexual situations that were unnecessary and after reading Countdown to Love, a bit disappointing.
This is a sequel to The Woman He Married, which I have not read. When it came to Brian's interactions with Josie, I felt I'd missed a bit not knowing their back story, but the novel seems to stand alone just fine. I had read Julie's first novel, Countdown to Love and enjoyed it. It was funny and clean. So, I was surprised to see such a different story here.
The premise kept me hooked and I read the book in two sittings, but unfortunately, it's not going to be one of my favorites. My review is one of many however and will no doubt be in the minority.
susanthebookbag's review
4.0
I love reading Christmas stories this time of year. I am not sure why I just limit myself to reading them in November/December. This one would be good anytime of the year!
No Holly for Christmas is not your typical Christmas story. It is a great suspense romance. Both of the main characters start out as people I didn't like very much and then as I got to know them, I came to understand why they were the way they were.
Then the suspense part of the story took over and kept me up way too late reading, to make sure everything would be okay. Holly and Brian have to rely on each other to make sure they both stay alive. And by being dependent on each other, they learn to open up to each other and see that they really are meant to be together.
I had previously read another of Ford's books, Count Down to Love, (my thoughts about that book are here) and was so excited to read this one. I was not disappointed! A little Christmas, a little romance and a little suspense, all rolled into one - it doesn't get any better than that! Thanks Julie, for making my Christmas reading a lot more fun this year!
No Holly for Christmas is not your typical Christmas story. It is a great suspense romance. Both of the main characters start out as people I didn't like very much and then as I got to know them, I came to understand why they were the way they were.
Then the suspense part of the story took over and kept me up way too late reading, to make sure everything would be okay. Holly and Brian have to rely on each other to make sure they both stay alive. And by being dependent on each other, they learn to open up to each other and see that they really are meant to be together.
I had previously read another of Ford's books, Count Down to Love, (my thoughts about that book are here) and was so excited to read this one. I was not disappointed! A little Christmas, a little romance and a little suspense, all rolled into one - it doesn't get any better than that! Thanks Julie, for making my Christmas reading a lot more fun this year!
saradavcamp's review
3.0
The book was pretty good. More like 3.5 stars, really. There was lots of action, a mystery waiting to be solved. The characters were likeable for the most part. Honestly I didn't like the main character, Holly, until two thirds in. I just couldn't relate to her. She got better, though. The book was sexy, but not explicitly so. Generally I enjoyed it. I hadn't read book one in the series, but it didn't matter. This book was just fine as a stand alone.
bewarethebookwyrm's review
4.0
Brian is a carefree attorney who has been divorced twice because the women never seem to measure up to his first love. Holly is a widowed and the six-digit income life style she was used to is no more and she is forced to raise her two daughters in a less than ideal situation. These two come together through Holly's sister, Margo, who is also an attorney.
Margo and Brian work together and Holly is a social worker working with a murder suspect. Holly is asked to be bait for a criminal which leads to a whirlwind of danger and suspense as Holly and Brian fight for their lives and develop a relationship that neither of them were ready for.
This was such a fun story to read. The characters were realistic and fun. They had their quirks which kept me smiling and the romantic tension between Brian and Holly was well written and never made me uncomfortable. It took everything I had not to yell at my Nook and tell the characters that they were in love with each and to just shut up and kiss her but I held my tongue... mainly because my husband would have thought that I was a nutter. hehe! This really was a fun story and I love that I was able to read it just before the holiday season starts.
To see full review go here http://books4linda.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-holly-for-christmas-by-julie-n-ford.html#more
Margo and Brian work together and Holly is a social worker working with a murder suspect. Holly is asked to be bait for a criminal which leads to a whirlwind of danger and suspense as Holly and Brian fight for their lives and develop a relationship that neither of them were ready for.
This was such a fun story to read. The characters were realistic and fun. They had their quirks which kept me smiling and the romantic tension between Brian and Holly was well written and never made me uncomfortable. It took everything I had not to yell at my Nook and tell the characters that they were in love with each and to just shut up and kiss her but I held my tongue... mainly because my husband would have thought that I was a nutter. hehe! This really was a fun story and I love that I was able to read it just before the holiday season starts.
To see full review go here http://books4linda.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-holly-for-christmas-by-julie-n-ford.html#more
marissa_writes's review
3.0
In No Holly for Christmas, Brian McAlister is struggling to find his way in life, now that his heart is truly broken over Josie's rejection. So he agrees to take on a new case (he's a lawyer) and buries himself in his work. Little does he know that this case will truly change his life.
Holly Cavanaugh Winter is recently widowed and now striving to provide for her girls through her job as a social worker. While she enjoys her work, the life it is providing is not that life she is used to. It is wearing her down, and she is in no mood for the upcoming holiday season. When she somehow manages to get mixed up in a murder case her life is forever changed, and maybe not for the best...
Personal Likes
I enjoyed getting to see Brian again. While I certainly was not a Brian fan in the first book, I felt bad for him. He seemed to always get the short end of all of life's situations. He is certainly an interesting character - not really bad, not really good... very real. Which is the main reason why I keep picking up Ford's books - she has a way of writing realistic characters - people you might know.
I also appreciated the pace of the story... it felt like an actual event in someone's life... while they are extraordinary, to say the least, it was still believable enough.
Stop over at my site to see my full review...
Holly Cavanaugh Winter is recently widowed and now striving to provide for her girls through her job as a social worker. While she enjoys her work, the life it is providing is not that life she is used to. It is wearing her down, and she is in no mood for the upcoming holiday season. When she somehow manages to get mixed up in a murder case her life is forever changed, and maybe not for the best...
Personal Likes
I enjoyed getting to see Brian again. While I certainly was not a Brian fan in the first book, I felt bad for him. He seemed to always get the short end of all of life's situations. He is certainly an interesting character - not really bad, not really good... very real. Which is the main reason why I keep picking up Ford's books - she has a way of writing realistic characters - people you might know.
I also appreciated the pace of the story... it felt like an actual event in someone's life... while they are extraordinary, to say the least, it was still believable enough.
Stop over at my site to see my full review...
ibeforem's review
4.0
No Holly for Christmas is the follow-up to Ford’s The Woman He Married, which I reviewed in April. Brian, who plays the role of the spoiler in the first book, is our leading man in this one. Despite being a well-known defense attorney, he’s been tapped for a special assignment in the DA’s office after his father’s illness. The last thing he expects is to find himself attracted to his partner’s social worker sister.
Holly is having a rough go at it. Her husband’s death has meant that she has to go to work and move her two daughters away from the privileged life they enjoyed to a much more solidly middle-class existence. Not only is she not expecting to be attracted to her sister’s partner, she’s not sure she’s ready to find a love again.
Throw in an escaped murderer and a conspiracy, and you have the perfect recipe for a roller coaster romance. A recipe Holly would love to serve to you on her great-grandmother’s china.
The set-up in this romance is a little more traditional than the last one, but that’s one of the reasons why we read romance and its many sub-genres — we know what to expect. Holly is a little rough around the edges at first, but it doesn’t take long for her to warm up. Holly’s children are nice additions to the story, as well as Brian’s family. I can see real growth in the author, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next!
Holly is having a rough go at it. Her husband’s death has meant that she has to go to work and move her two daughters away from the privileged life they enjoyed to a much more solidly middle-class existence. Not only is she not expecting to be attracted to her sister’s partner, she’s not sure she’s ready to find a love again.
Throw in an escaped murderer and a conspiracy, and you have the perfect recipe for a roller coaster romance. A recipe Holly would love to serve to you on her great-grandmother’s china.
The set-up in this romance is a little more traditional than the last one, but that’s one of the reasons why we read romance and its many sub-genres — we know what to expect. Holly is a little rough around the edges at first, but it doesn’t take long for her to warm up. Holly’s children are nice additions to the story, as well as Brian’s family. I can see real growth in the author, and I look forward to seeing what she writes next!