Tag: Holiday

BOOK REVIEW: Merry Kissmas by Piper Rayne

BOOK REVIEW: Merry Kissmas by Piper RayneMerry Kissmas by Piper Rayne
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Six years ago, he was her one-night stand, and now they’re sharing a villa for the holidays.

I thought I was over him. That his good looks and British accent couldn’t affect me anymore. But the minute our eyes lock across the elevator, all those feelings come roaring back to life.

Then I find out we’re competing for the same job.

Next comes the realization that we have to spend a week together on a ski vacation because of some six-degree-of-separation nonsense.

The real kicker is when I find out the two of us have to share a villa. A very small, very cozy villa.

Needless to say, this Christmas getaway is starting off rockier than the mountains we’ll be skiing down.

I’ve stayed away for years, what’s one week? But I forgot how much easier it is to ignore him with an ocean separating us—especially when he’s determined to win me back.

Review:

Merry Kissmas was a second chance, holiday romance was filled with all the Christmas cheer! With forced proximity, a beautiful found family, and a fun competition set at a gorgeous resort, I fell madly in love with this book! I laughed, cried, and closed the book feeling so happy!

How many times do you get a second chance to right a wrong?

Brynn met Pierce six years ago overseas.  It was a steamy one-night stand and years later she found herself competing for a job against him.  Their meet cute now had me laughing and clapping my hands, they were so awkward and at the same time I loved the tension between them.  And when they figured out that they were going to spend the holidays together, I was screaming and couldn’t stop laughing!  What unfolded was a fun, steamy, heartfelt, beautiful story!

He leans forward before I can stop him, his lips to my cheek. “Merry Christmas, Brynn. I hope Santa brings you whatever you asked for.”
Then he’s gone.
Lost in the throng of people.
But I can still feel the ghost of his lips on my cheek.

I already adored Brynn in Claus and Effect, and was so excited that she was getting her own story.  She told it like it was, and I loved her sassy ways!  And Pierce was so much more than meets the eye.  Yes, he was sweet and caring, but learning about his past cracked my heart and I just wanted to reach into this book and give him a hug.  These two had all the chemistry and sizzled on the pages anytime they were near each other!

“We’re stuck on this holiday together, so let’s just keep our distance from each other.”
“And if I don’t want to?” He arches an eyebrow.
A sound of excitement comes across the aisle, and I look over to see Kenzie staring directly at us. Great, we have an audience.

One of my favorite things was how vocal they were with one another.  They shared their feelings and talked about their issues from the past.  About how they were hurt, or how a situation made them feel.  I love, love, love that they handled their issues in a way that resonated with me.  There was no miscommunication or beating around the bush, I loved it!  Add to the fact that Pierce seemed set to try and win Brynn back…ohhh I was so excited!

She tipped her head back and closed her eyes, letting the droplets rain down on her face.
At that moment, I knew she was one of those people who might come in and out of my life but would never truly leave me. That I’d remember that moment until my dying breath.

This story took us back in time, a few moments here and there, and we got to see Brynn and Pierce six years ago.  From that first moment they met, to their first kiss, to their steamy night together, I loved every minute of it.  It added to their depth.  And in the present, yes there was an emotional aspect to it all.  But at the same time, the Christmas competitions added so much playfulness to this story!  From their Christmas tree, to on the slopes, to Christmas cookies, gingerbread houses, and mistletoe, I adored how festive this book was!  And when their moments together turned steamy, this book truly had it all!

“We both know you aren’t satisfied with your vibrator. The sex between us was something I’ve never experienced before or since. I bet it’s been the same for you. So, I’ll give you a little bit of space, but I have an entire week to prove to you that we belong together. Get ready.”
My chest tightens, and I let out a sarcastic laugh to play off how much his words affect me. “Ready for what?”
“For you to fall in love with me.”

The side characters leapt from the pages!  From Kenzie’s obsession with them at the beginning, that had me cackling with laughter.  To Andrew and Tre melting me by taking care of the new littles in their lives.  To the parents that made me feel like I was home.  To even the sparring that took place between the siblings…I loved it all!  So, while this can definitely be read as a standalone, I can’t recommend Piper Rayne’s previous holiday books enough! You’ll see favorites in this story, and I loved being back with all of them and seeing their updates on life.  If you want to binge them all, then start with Single and Ready to Jingle, then Claus and Effect, then this book. Keeping my fingers crossed for Carter to get his story now.

“I remember how much you liked it last time.” I laugh.
“You do not.”
“Are you testing my memory?” he asks, his cocky smirk turning into a wicked grin.

Merry Kissmas was festive and fun, while also being heartwarming and emotional.  It was impossible to not cry tears or laugh out loud.  This book easily got added to my favorites list and I can’t wait to see what Piper Rayne writes next!

Talk about Christmas magic, there was something in the air that night.

PS I’m right there with Brynn, snowboarding is where it’s at ♥!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY – An Ex for Christmas by Lauren Layne

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - An Ex for Christmas by Lauren Layne

An Ex for Christmas became my new favorite Christmas romance! So check out my 4.5 Star Review below and enter a fabulous giveaway! Enjoy!

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY – An Ex for Christmas by Lauren LayneAn Ex for Christmas (Love Unexpectedly #5)
by Lauren Layne
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

She’s making a list—and checking it twice. But is there a nice guy among all her naughty exes? The New York Times bestselling author of Blurred Lines returns with a charming friends-to-lovers rom-com.

When a psychic tells spunky, superstitious Kelly Byrne that she’s already met her true love, she becomes obsessed with the idea of tracking him down before Christmas. Kelly immediately writes up an “Ex List” and starts contacting old boyfriends to figure out which one is the one. When her college sweetheart rolls into town, Kelly convinces herself that they’re meant to be. The trouble is, sparks are flying with someone she’s never given a chance: her best friend, Mark.

Mark Blakely has watched the guys on Kelly’s list break her heart, and he’s not looking forward to watching them do it all over again. Mark’s always been there for her, but the timing’s never worked out for their relationship to be something more. Now, just as Mark is ready to move on, the sexual tension between them is suddenly off the charts. With Christmas morning around the corner, he just hopes Kelly will wake up and realize that everything she wants has been right in front of her all along.

Review:

If you’re looking for a book that will put you in the perfect Christmas mood, then definitely pick up An Ex for Christmas!  Not only was it fun, flirty and sexy, but I found myself humming Christmas songs for days after I finished that last page.  It was impossible not to since we got to witness them decorating for the holidays, there was Christmas songs playing in the background and the story even took place in a setting that felt like a winter wonderland.  An Ex for Christmas became my favorite Christmas romance, and I hope you end up loving it just as much as I did!

I turn back to Mark’s house and look up at the second floor, even though I know his bedroom window faces the opposite way. As expected, there’s nothing but still darkness, and I can’t stop the sinking sensation that things are somehow changing between us. And I don’t know why, and I don’t know how to stop it.

Kelly Byrne was a character I definitely haven’t met in a book before.  She used Magic 8 balls, horoscopes and tarot cards to help determine where she should go in life.  I liked her quirky, friendly ways, especially since she was a huge ball of happy energy.  On her way home at the train station, a woman beckoned to Kelly that she had news for her.  She told Kelly that she’d already met The One, and he’d come back to her before Christmas.  Taking it as the honest truth, she made a list of her exes and slowly started meeting back up with them.

The last thing I need when I’m trying to hunt down my exes is to start getting sexy thoughts about my BFF.

When Kelly started meeting her exes I was either a laughing, cringing, or desperately needing to cover my face kinda mess.  Oh my gosh, count on being more than entertained each time she met a different ex lol.  I felt bad for her because each time her hopes were so high.  She was always so optimistic!  But then when disaster would strike, she’d be reminded all over again why that man was definitely on her ex list.  Thankfully Kelly always had a constant in her life, no matter how horrific her meet-ups were.  And that was her best friend Mark Blakely.

He doesn’t meet my eyes. Not once. Not until he lowers his hand, his fingertips brushing over my lips at the very moment his gaze lifts to mine.
It feels like an electric shock.
The touch of his fingers on my lips, the heat of his gaze, the weight of his body pinning mine to the ground . . .
Somehow all of those combined is creating the most intense, unexpectedly carnal moment of my life. My eyes flutter in confusion.
No, that can’t be right. “Carnal” isn’t a word I associate with Mark.

Kelly and Mark had been best of friends for the last ten years.  They shared a dog, a backyard and they were extremely comfortable around each other.  Yet I couldn’t help but melt during so many of their interactions.  And the thing was, Kelly started to be affected during some of those moments too.  Which she shouldn’t be, because he was just her bff right?!  Well it didn’t help that gruff, sexy Mark was kinda hard to read.  You see his actions, words or even eyes would come across in an ever so sexy way, but then the next second he’d go back to being just Mark.  So I found myself smiling and sighing out loud a lot of the times when Mark was in the picture.  I was all for Kelly taking that step to see if Mark was into her too.   Yet she didn’t want to risk their friendship and tumble down that path.  I got it, in real life I would have acted the same way that Kelly did, but since this is a book I found myself wanting to bonk her over the head ever so lightly with her Magic 8 Ball and say go after Mark.

He steps even closer, a slight smile playing at his lips. “Kell?”
“What?”
“Shut up.”
He sets a knuckle to the bottom of my chin, tilting my face toward his.
My heart’s still pounding, although now it’s not so much about panic as . . . want.
I want nothing more at this moment than his lips on mine, his hands on my back pulling me close . . .
Mark’s lips brush my cheek.
My cheek.
He pulls back slightly, eyes locking on mine for one heated heartbeat.
And then he steps away . “Night, Kell.” His voice is rough.
“Night.”
He turns and walks into the raging blizzard, leaving me staring after him, mostly oblivious to the snow that’s getting all over my kitchen floor, soaking my borrowed pajama pants.
I’m ignoring the storm outside because I’m too aware of the storm within . . . and the startling realization that I want a do-over on that mistletoe kiss.
Because a part of me wishes it had gone very, very differently.

The way the story ended *happy screaming* awwww it was the best ever!  So if you adore happy quirky females, guys that give off the gruff and sexy vibe, and a cute story line that will give you all the Christmas feels,  then definitely check out this book.  LL did a fabulous job writing this festive and fun Christmas story, and I’m hoping you’ll love it too!

*ARC kindly provided by Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

 
NOW AVAILABLE!
 
 
 
 
About Lauren Layne:
 

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies.  She lives in New York City with her husband.

A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career. She signed with her agent in 2012, and her first book was published in summer of 2013. Since then, she’s written over two dozen books, hitting the USA TODAYNew York Times, iBooks, and Amazon bestseller lists.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon

 

 
Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

© 2024

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑