Christmas at Evergreen Inn is warm, sweet, Christmas romance; however it left me feeling as if the romance between Todd and Lainey was left unfinished. ~ Autry, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
Welcome back to Jewell Cove, where this holiday season, there happens to be no room at the inn…
When a December Nor’easter roars up the eastern seaboard, Jewell Cove cop Todd Ricker spends his day off being a Good Samaritan to stranded holiday travelers. But when the roads close and Todd can’t make his way home, he discovers that the Evergreen Inn is full up. Until another Good Samaritan opens her doors and offers him a place to stay…
Lainey Price is not looking forward to Christmas, but just because she’s not filled with the holiday spirit doesn’t mean she’s going to turn Todd out into the stormy night. Even if it means offering the handsome police officer the couch in her tiny cottage. But when the weather takes a turn for the worse, the two are snowed in for a wintry evening by the fire. With Christmas only a few days away, can Todd convince Lainey to open her heart to the season…and love?
Review copy provided for an honest review
The weather has left Todd with no choice but to stay at the Innkeepers cottage. Unfortunately, Lainey wants nothing to do with having the hunky cop sleeping on her couch. Too much pain and hurt are wrapped up in the Christmas season for Lainey to enjoy it. Only when Todd pushes Lainey out of her comfort zone and back into the Christmas spirit does the romance start to really heat up.
Todd has always been one to help wherever he can, and as cop he should. Risking his life to make sure citizens and visitors to the town are safe and warm when a large snowstorm hits the town. The weather strands many of visitors at the Evergreen Inn and it give Todd some time to navigate his feelings for Lainey. This time of year, served as a reminder to Lainey, that everything she once dreamed of came crashed down around her. Seeing all the holiday cheer and families wandering about made it all the harder to resist Todd’s charm.
Christmas at Evergreen Inn maintained a sweet, warm feeling throughout the book, however things never really heated up or drew me into the novel. It was a very light read; there was not a lot of emotional heaviness to the characters. The plot flowed nicely, and the characters had flaws that would make them believable and even relatable, but something was missing that would make me really connect with them. Lainey and Todd were a great couple who faced real life problems and reacted the same way most real life people would. The banter and emotions was spot on for the relationship they were building and hoping to continue. The relationship didn’t seem to take off until about 70% through the book and then it felt as if it was cut short simply because Christmas Day had arrived. I would have liked to see an epilogue, so we could have a glance at where Lainey and Todd ended up. However, if you are searching for a holiday romance that heats up and draws you in, and compels you to finish the novel in one sitting, this is not for you. If you want a light, fun, warm holiday read that can be read at your own pace, this is the novel for you.
Thanks Autry