from amazon.com
Mark Nolan's sister dies in a car accident leaving him as the guardian of her 6 year old daughter Holly. Coming from a dysfunctional family, Mark has no idea how to raise a child, let alone a young daughter. So he begins just by loving her and just follows his instincts. Holly begins to live with both her uncles, Mark and Sam, but she goes through an episode of selective mutism likely due to the trauma of losing her mom at a young age. At a visit to a new toy shop on the island, Holly makes a connection with shop owner, Maggie Conroy, and begins to talk again. Maggie and Mark are attracted to each other but both have issues. Maggie is afraid of attachment after losing her husband to cancer while Mark is dating someone else.
I personally think that the single-dad-who-loves-his-kid/s-so-much type of character is always one of the most attractive heroes in a romance. Mark Nolan may not be the biological father of Holly but you see how much he cares for her when she begins to talk again and when he gets so anxious when she gets sick. Add to that, he owns a coffee roasting business whose coffee, when described in the book, makes me want to chuck my instant sachets and roast some real coffee beans. Maggie Conroy is also a likeable character and she would make a great stepmom. She makes a mean Macaroni and Cheese, 4 cheese, drizzled with buttered bread crumbs. For some reason, this book really made me feel hungry.
The setting, Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands are actually real places found in Washington. The landscapes and the shops were vividly described by the author; it sounds like a real charming place one would want to visit.
If this is going to be your first time to check out Lisa Kleypas, you are better off reading one of the books from her Wallflower series. Her historical romances were much more romantic and endearing. Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor may not be one of Lisa Kleypas' best works but it is still a light and enjoyable read especially during the holiday seasons. Don't forget to check out the rest of the Friday Harbor series: Rainshadow Road, Dream Lake and Crystal Cove (coming in January 2013).
Rating: 4 stars!
No comments:
Post a Comment