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Love in Montana #2
Blame The Mistletoe
Liz Flowers has never enjoyed Christmas, but this one is shaping up to be the worst by far. She let her ex take her daughter to Mexico while she stays behind in a strange town, sitting her former mother-in-law’s high strung little dog. It’s an opportunity to meet new people, but this California girl doesn’t have much in common with the ranchers in small town Marietta.
Blake Canon perks up with male interest when he sees a new face at his friend’s Christmas cocktail party. His son is away and a light affair would take his mind off his financial troubles. Then he realizes he knows Liz. She was once married to the brother of his ex-wife.
Their children might be cousins, but Blake and Liz do the kissing—under the mistletoe. It’s the beginning of a new view of Christmas for Liz, but when their children arrive home unexpectedly, and family secrets are revealed, Liz isn’t sure she’ll stay in Marietta for Christmas after all.
2014 Montana Born Christmas Series Book 1
**Follows HOMETOWN HERO, by Dani Collins, Montana Born ebook, Sep 29 2014**
Blake Canon perks up with male interest when he sees a new face at his friend’s Christmas cocktail party. His son is away and a light affair would take his mind off his financial troubles. Then he realizes he knows Liz. She was once married to the brother of his ex-wife.
Their children might be cousins, but Blake and Liz do the kissing—under the mistletoe. It’s the beginning of a new view of Christmas for Liz, but when their children arrive home unexpectedly, and family secrets are revealed, Liz isn’t sure she’ll stay in Marietta for Christmas after all.
2014 Montana Born Christmas Series Book 1
**Follows HOMETOWN HERO, by Dani Collins, Montana Born ebook, Sep 29 2014**
Unknown Binding
First published October 13, 2014
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About the author
Dani Collins
590books1,158followersUSA Today Bestselling author Dani Collins thrives on giving readers emotional, compelling, heart-soaring romance with laughter and heat, just like real life.
Mostly she writes contemporary romance, but she has branched into Historical Western and erotic short stories under Anonymous.
Join Dani's VIP list and receive her starter library including two full length novels and three short stories.
Mostly she writes contemporary romance, but she has branched into Historical Western and erotic short stories under Anonymous.
Join Dani's VIP list and receive her starter library including two full length novels and three short stories.
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October 18, 2014
Blame the Mistletoe by Dani Collins is book one in the Montana Born Christmas series. Christmas books and Christmas movies. Two of my favorite things in the world. So I decided to start my holiday reading a little early this year.
This is a short book but plenty of time to get attached to these characters. Liz Flowers has agreed to spend Christmas house and dog sitting for her ex-mother in law in Marietta, Montana. Her teenage daughter is spending Christmas this year with her father and his new wife and kids. Christmas was never great growing up and without her daughter, she figured she might as well accept.
Blake Connor is also divorced and has a teenage son. His son is also spending Christmas with his mother. The thing is, Blake and Liz’s ex’s are brother and sister. So although they are not blood related, their children are cousins.
Blake and Liz both had horrible marriages and divorces. Blake especially got raked over the coals. Neither has dated since. Liz hesitantly agreed to attend a cocktail party to get out of the house although she feels uncomfortable not knowing anyone except the hostess. But then she sees Blake and remembers him from his wedding. They begin talking and end up spending the evening together, Blake making sure she feels comfortable and introducing her around. And of course, the inevitable mistletoe prompts their first kiss.
The attraction between these two is immediate. But more importantly, both of them are so lonely. They find something in each other they both needed and wanted. And Blake takes it upon himself to show Liz that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, especially in Marietta. From attending a small town Christmas celebration to riding horseback and chopping down their own Christmas tree, their time together couldn’t have been more perfect. And Liz is falling in love with this beautiful town and countryside, and maybe even with Blake.
“Was this a sexy holiday fling? Or, something real and big and lasting?�
But their perfect little cocoon is interrupted when both of their children show up unexpectedly. They are forced to go public with their feelings and perhaps admit to each other what they are feeling and where they think this might go. Liz and her daughter live in California. A ranch in small town Montana is a long way from what they are used to. And would their children ever accept their relationship, or their families?
“Take me. Keep me. Make me yours. Be mine.�
I really did get attached to these two and wanted them to find the happiness they deserved. My only complaint was that I got a little confused trying to keep all the relatives and friends straight. But it didn’t take away from my feelings for the main characters. The scenery was so easy to imagine in my head. This was a perfect start into my holiday reading.
Thank you so much to Dani Collins, Tule Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
January 13, 2016
This is a novella. It seems, to me, to be a wrong place/wrong time type of story, at least from their original first encounter some 15 years earlier. The two main characters, Liz and Blake, are quasi-related; they married a brother/sister and have since divorced said spouses. Liz meets Blake by accident at the Christmas party of one of her ex-mother-in-law's neighbors. They realize that they kind of look familiar to each other and then it clicks. It was a cute, sexy story where the main characters have about a month alone together to play out their feelings and desires as each of their children are spending time with the "exes" family. I like Liz's attitudes towards life and how she approached things and that she admits to knowing that she is "passive/aggressive". Blake loves all of Liz's idiosyncracies and Liz is falling in love with him and his home. A wonderful, quick, seasonal story that transports you to Marietta, Montana.
January 9, 2018
My edition was two books in one, including Taken by the Raider. Therein lies the problem. I would give the mistletoe book four stars but the raider one only two. Lumped together it becomes three stars.
The mistletoe tale occurs in a farming community over winter when many folks are out of town and those who are left firmly insist on getting together over Christmas. Everyone welcome. This throws together a pair of people from a blended family who are now free again and can gripe about their respective divorces. There not being much else for entertainment, they start making love and wonder if they should make plans (not being actually related).
What jarred for me was that if these two barely know each other and haven't spoken in many years, how come their teen kids are best friends and travelling companions? Otherwise I like the storytelling and atmosphere.
The second story was a mixup of sex, office politics and sexual harassment in the workplace. A man is buying up a company or two to strip and sell, including one that just invents medical devices. The lady whose firm he buys has a relationship or two with him over the years and tries to insist that she is his equal in the boardroom although he always has the money and the control. If the man likes her he has a funny way of showing it. Just control freakery. I disliked a lot about this tale. However, at least the lady is not a secretary.
Adult scenes and some strong language.
I availed of a free download offer. This is an unbiased review.
The mistletoe tale occurs in a farming community over winter when many folks are out of town and those who are left firmly insist on getting together over Christmas. Everyone welcome. This throws together a pair of people from a blended family who are now free again and can gripe about their respective divorces. There not being much else for entertainment, they start making love and wonder if they should make plans (not being actually related).
What jarred for me was that if these two barely know each other and haven't spoken in many years, how come their teen kids are best friends and travelling companions? Otherwise I like the storytelling and atmosphere.
The second story was a mixup of sex, office politics and sexual harassment in the workplace. A man is buying up a company or two to strip and sell, including one that just invents medical devices. The lady whose firm he buys has a relationship or two with him over the years and tries to insist that she is his equal in the boardroom although he always has the money and the control. If the man likes her he has a funny way of showing it. Just control freakery. I disliked a lot about this tale. However, at least the lady is not a secretary.
Adult scenes and some strong language.
I availed of a free download offer. This is an unbiased review.
July 23, 2022
Liz and Blake’s romance is a whirlwind of attraction, second chances and family drama as the former in-laws cause all kinds of consternation when their romantic relationship is discovered. I loved the Christmas theme, the Marietta, Montana setting, the ranch life I would love to have and his son and her daughter who are wonderful friends as well as cousins. Their story is romantic, entertaining and emotionally satisfying!
Read
November 16, 2014Follows Hometown Hero
December 22, 2016
Short, sweet festive romance. Good for a quick read. Threw me a couple of times when the POV switched between one paragraph and the next.
December 23, 2016
The beginning of the book was promising, but then because too sexually graphic for my taste.
January 21, 2019
Things to note before reading my review:
This is a novella, so it's short, sweet, and to the point.
This is part of a series I came to learn while reading, but at no point did I feel I was missing anything by this being a book two. These seem to be standalone titles.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
This author is new to me so as with all new authors, I never know where I'm going to fall on the stories when I start them, but this one hit all my markers. Especially as it pertains to novellas and romances in general.
I felt by the time the story was complete that I knew these characters, well, as well as I could know them given that they're fictional. I understood their motivations and also what drew them to one another, aside from the obvious connection stated within the story. I felt for their romance, believed in it, even with the shortness of the story itself. I loved the blended family dynamic as well as the jump ahead to the future at the end.
Now, most people know that I don't care one way or the other for sexual scenes in my romance. Like, I'm cool if you lead me in and shut the door and let my mind go to what would obviously happen next, and I'm also cool with some steamy scenes when they fit, but this was another area where what the author wrote, worked for me.
The moments they shared as a couple were shown and were steamy, but the way it was done, it was an added bonus to the story and not just scenes to fill pages. I felt their connection from those moments and honestly, in fiction as of late, I haven't been feeling that way with most of the scenes and stories I've been reading. I did here though, so my hats off to the author for that.
Overall, this was one of those freebies that I was overjoyed to have found and I'm really interested in picking up some more titles by this author and seeing what else she's got in store for her characters.
Great read.
This is a novella, so it's short, sweet, and to the point.
This is part of a series I came to learn while reading, but at no point did I feel I was missing anything by this being a book two. These seem to be standalone titles.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
This author is new to me so as with all new authors, I never know where I'm going to fall on the stories when I start them, but this one hit all my markers. Especially as it pertains to novellas and romances in general.
I felt by the time the story was complete that I knew these characters, well, as well as I could know them given that they're fictional. I understood their motivations and also what drew them to one another, aside from the obvious connection stated within the story. I felt for their romance, believed in it, even with the shortness of the story itself. I loved the blended family dynamic as well as the jump ahead to the future at the end.
Now, most people know that I don't care one way or the other for sexual scenes in my romance. Like, I'm cool if you lead me in and shut the door and let my mind go to what would obviously happen next, and I'm also cool with some steamy scenes when they fit, but this was another area where what the author wrote, worked for me.
The moments they shared as a couple were shown and were steamy, but the way it was done, it was an added bonus to the story and not just scenes to fill pages. I felt their connection from those moments and honestly, in fiction as of late, I haven't been feeling that way with most of the scenes and stories I've been reading. I did here though, so my hats off to the author for that.
Overall, this was one of those freebies that I was overjoyed to have found and I'm really interested in picking up some more titles by this author and seeing what else she's got in store for her characters.
Great read.
November 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this story despite it having so many of my personal (and unreasonable) triggers 😂
Trigger # 1 - keeping it in the family. I don’t like awkward family situations. The Hero and heroine weren’t exactly related. Their ex-spouses were brother and sister whom they’ve both been divorced from for years. In fact they hardly had any interaction with each other since they only met at the wedding and soon after both their marriages went on the rocks so there weren’t “en famille� gatherings where they interacted. In fact they didn’t recognize each other immediately.
Trigger # 2 - kids from different spouses. Just not my favorite thing. In this instance their kids are first cousins who get along well.
Trigger # 3 - it’s and older heroine (I know... I’m weird that way) I normally don’t really like it when the heroine is way past 30. In this instance she is 38.
Trigger # 4 - AND she is older than the Hero who is 35... but not by much so she’s not exactly a cougar.
Despite all my romance book hang-ups (strangely, I don’t have these hang ups reading other genres) I really loved the story.
The Hero and heroine were such nice and. Decent people who had been taken advantage of their spouses (who are siblings) and they really deserved their chance at happiness. I’m glad that the kids saw it right away and were so n to their parents getting together. They made the perfect blended family.
P.s. although the kids catching them out made for an extremely awkward read. 😬 cringe 😝
Trigger # 1 - keeping it in the family. I don’t like awkward family situations. The Hero and heroine weren’t exactly related. Their ex-spouses were brother and sister whom they’ve both been divorced from for years. In fact they hardly had any interaction with each other since they only met at the wedding and soon after both their marriages went on the rocks so there weren’t “en famille� gatherings where they interacted. In fact they didn’t recognize each other immediately.
Trigger # 2 - kids from different spouses. Just not my favorite thing. In this instance their kids are first cousins who get along well.
Trigger # 3 - it’s and older heroine (I know... I’m weird that way) I normally don’t really like it when the heroine is way past 30. In this instance she is 38.
Trigger # 4 - AND she is older than the Hero who is 35... but not by much so she’s not exactly a cougar.
Despite all my romance book hang-ups (strangely, I don’t have these hang ups reading other genres) I really loved the story.
The Hero and heroine were such nice and. Decent people who had been taken advantage of their spouses (who are siblings) and they really deserved their chance at happiness. I’m glad that the kids saw it right away and were so n to their parents getting together. They made the perfect blended family.
P.s. although the kids catching them out made for an extremely awkward read. 😬 cringe 😝
November 15, 2017
Author:
First published: 2014
Length: 147 pages, 1772 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. Marietta, Montana.
Sex: Explicit. Frequent.
Hero: Rancher
Heroine: Beauty therapist/manager
Includes: Excerpt from .
Bonus:
A romance for the older couple. Rapid. Lust-y. Explicit. But also Christmas'y and happy.
Enjoyable.
Love in Montana by
Book 1 - Skye Woolcott and Chase Goodwin
Book 2 - Liz Flowers and Balke Canon
Book 3 by - Meg Canon and Linc Brady
Book 4 - Piper Tierney and Sebastian Bloom
Book 5 - Quincy Ryan and Nicki Darren
A Marietta Christmas:
Book 1 by - Liz Flowers and Balke Canon
Book 2 by - Meg Redstone and Tyler Murphy
Book 3 by - Ivy Bishop and Rhett Dixon
Book 4 by - Trey Scott and Lucy DeMarco
Book 5 by - Trey Sheenan and McKenna Douglas
Book 6 by - Melinda Sweet and Austin Sweet
Book 7 by - Jenna Macintosh and Lacey Gallagher
References:
On Marietta, Montana: /places/1560...
Author's website:
[ISBN 9781942240082]
-CR-
First published: 2014
Length: 147 pages, 1772 kindle locations
Setting: Contemporary. Marietta, Montana.
Sex: Explicit. Frequent.
Hero: Rancher
Heroine: Beauty therapist/manager
Includes: Excerpt from .
Bonus:
A romance for the older couple. Rapid. Lust-y. Explicit. But also Christmas'y and happy.
Enjoyable.
Love in Montana by
Book 1 - Skye Woolcott and Chase Goodwin
Book 2 - Liz Flowers and Balke Canon
Book 3 by - Meg Canon and Linc Brady
Book 4 - Piper Tierney and Sebastian Bloom
Book 5 - Quincy Ryan and Nicki Darren
A Marietta Christmas:
Book 1 by - Liz Flowers and Balke Canon
Book 2 by - Meg Redstone and Tyler Murphy
Book 3 by - Ivy Bishop and Rhett Dixon
Book 4 by - Trey Scott and Lucy DeMarco
Book 5 by - Trey Sheenan and McKenna Douglas
Book 6 by - Melinda Sweet and Austin Sweet
Book 7 by - Jenna Macintosh and Lacey Gallagher
References:
On Marietta, Montana: /places/1560...
Author's website:
[ISBN 9781942240082]
-CR-
December 13, 2016
Reviewed by Gemini
Blame the Mistletoe was a very interesting Christmas read. In fact, interesting probably isn’t the right word. It was complicated. It’s the story of Liz Flowers and Blake Canon. They have no business being together but they can’t seem to fight their attraction. Liz is only in Marietta because her daughter Petra is on a trip to Mexico with Liz’s ex-husband. Blake actually lives in Marietta and his son is also on a trip to Mexico with Blake’s ex-wife. The crazy thing is that Blake’s ex-wife and Liz’s ex-husband are siblings. Liz wasn’t supposed to be staying in Marietta for Christmas but was ambushed by the Flowers family to dogsit instead. Liz gets invited to a party and bumps into Blake who she doesn’t really know all that well. The rest is Holiday History.
In short, Liz and Blake start a fling that they really haven’t quite thought through. In their defense, they both had terrible divorces and both despise their common enemy, The Flowers Family. Blake is dead broke due to issues related to his ex-wife and he is trying to hold on to his family farm. Liz is a successful manager of a string of salons owned by her mother and she lives in California. It’s hard to believe that Liz and Blake could have a happy ending but it’s Christmas time so anything is possible. They definitely have great chemistry in bed. Plus, they bring out the best in each other in other ways too. Of course, the bomb goes off when the Flowers Family inadvertently finds out about their affair.
I actually enjoyed the book although it’s such an unbelievable love story. Liz and Blake are easy to root for and they have some rather amazing children. It doesn’t hurt that it was easy to hate their not-in-laws.
*Reviewed a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed the book.*
Blame the Mistletoe was a very interesting Christmas read. In fact, interesting probably isn’t the right word. It was complicated. It’s the story of Liz Flowers and Blake Canon. They have no business being together but they can’t seem to fight their attraction. Liz is only in Marietta because her daughter Petra is on a trip to Mexico with Liz’s ex-husband. Blake actually lives in Marietta and his son is also on a trip to Mexico with Blake’s ex-wife. The crazy thing is that Blake’s ex-wife and Liz’s ex-husband are siblings. Liz wasn’t supposed to be staying in Marietta for Christmas but was ambushed by the Flowers family to dogsit instead. Liz gets invited to a party and bumps into Blake who she doesn’t really know all that well. The rest is Holiday History.
In short, Liz and Blake start a fling that they really haven’t quite thought through. In their defense, they both had terrible divorces and both despise their common enemy, The Flowers Family. Blake is dead broke due to issues related to his ex-wife and he is trying to hold on to his family farm. Liz is a successful manager of a string of salons owned by her mother and she lives in California. It’s hard to believe that Liz and Blake could have a happy ending but it’s Christmas time so anything is possible. They definitely have great chemistry in bed. Plus, they bring out the best in each other in other ways too. Of course, the bomb goes off when the Flowers Family inadvertently finds out about their affair.
I actually enjoyed the book although it’s such an unbelievable love story. Liz and Blake are easy to root for and they have some rather amazing children. It doesn’t hurt that it was easy to hate their not-in-laws.
*Reviewed a copy of the book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed the book.*
January 10, 2017
Blame the Mistletoe: Love in Montana, Book 2 is by Dani Collins. It is a cute book about love.
Liz Flowers had found herself in Marietta housesitting for her ex-Mother-in-Law while the family flew to a tropical wedding. She had divorced her husband and she and her mother ran a series of salons in California. She was in management so could take time off. She had brought her daughter Petra to Montana to attend her Father’s tropical wedding and found herself housesitting over Christmas. Now she was at a party with people she really didn’t know. Then a man comes up to her and calls her “Auntie Liz� and she recognizes him as her nephew’s father. Blake Canon had married Liz’s ex-husband’s sister and they were now divorced too. Blake had a ranch near the Flower’s house and had let his son, Ethan, go to the tropics with the wedding party for the month of December. With Blake’s help introducing her to people, she had a good time. When it came time to leave, the hostess gave her lots of leftovers to take home. Liz protested as she was walking home. Blake offered to give her a ride so she could take her share of the leftovers and besides, it was snowing. Thus, they began spending time together and were eventually snowed in during a blizzard. Can they take time out of their lives to have a fling that no one would know about?
Liz Flowers had found herself in Marietta housesitting for her ex-Mother-in-Law while the family flew to a tropical wedding. She had divorced her husband and she and her mother ran a series of salons in California. She was in management so could take time off. She had brought her daughter Petra to Montana to attend her Father’s tropical wedding and found herself housesitting over Christmas. Now she was at a party with people she really didn’t know. Then a man comes up to her and calls her “Auntie Liz� and she recognizes him as her nephew’s father. Blake Canon had married Liz’s ex-husband’s sister and they were now divorced too. Blake had a ranch near the Flower’s house and had let his son, Ethan, go to the tropics with the wedding party for the month of December. With Blake’s help introducing her to people, she had a good time. When it came time to leave, the hostess gave her lots of leftovers to take home. Liz protested as she was walking home. Blake offered to give her a ride so she could take her share of the leftovers and besides, it was snowing. Thus, they began spending time together and were eventually snowed in during a blizzard. Can they take time out of their lives to have a fling that no one would know about?
December 13, 2016
This is not a sweet romance. It is x-rated and trashy, including some curse bombs. If you still plan to read it, then I'll say I give the author credit for being able to write well. Except for the fluctuations in POV without any warning, she can write scenes, dialogue, tension, humor. The characters were pretty three dimensional except their motivations were weird. The female mc house-sits for her ex-mother-in-law whom she hates. Her reason? It's on her terms. Really? It's a pretty contrived reason to get her to stay in this small town. The romance is with her ex-sister-in-law's ex-husband. Eww. It isn't love at first sight if all you can think about is getting the girl into bed with you. That's something else. Looks like she's found another controlling, self-centered man in her life. Here comes the big spoiler: So within a few days of heated sex, they "fall in love." During the turning point, they must decide if they will pursue a relationship despite the opposition, so they have sex hoping to get pregnant. The mc even says she planned it to spite her ex and seal the deal. Looks like the male mc has found another manipulative tramp to marry. And they all lived happily ever after.
June 10, 2018
4 stars
I purchased Blame The Mistletoe (Love in Montana #2; A Marietta Christmas #1 ) which contains the novella Taken by the Raider by Dani Collins and this review was given freely.
California nail salon owner and single parent Liz attends a Christmas party at the engaged Skye and Chase's house in Montana finally allowing her to experience the family Christmas she had always wanted while also reuniting her with the man who used to be her sister in law's husband, the rancher Blake. This is a steamy and erotic novella with two single parents finding happiness while trying to navigate through uncaring controlling families, being unexpectedly found together by their children, figuring out how to keep the ranch , and showing each other and the children what love and family really means.
5 stars
I received a free copy of the short story Taken by the Raider in the Book Blame the Mistletoe by Dani Collins and this review was given freely
Ruthless Corporate Raider Griffen buys the company Aubrey is working for in an attempt to bring her back into his ife and his bed. Fast paced and steamy with lots of conflict but a happy ending.
I purchased Blame The Mistletoe (Love in Montana #2; A Marietta Christmas #1 ) which contains the novella Taken by the Raider by Dani Collins and this review was given freely.
California nail salon owner and single parent Liz attends a Christmas party at the engaged Skye and Chase's house in Montana finally allowing her to experience the family Christmas she had always wanted while also reuniting her with the man who used to be her sister in law's husband, the rancher Blake. This is a steamy and erotic novella with two single parents finding happiness while trying to navigate through uncaring controlling families, being unexpectedly found together by their children, figuring out how to keep the ranch , and showing each other and the children what love and family really means.
5 stars
I received a free copy of the short story Taken by the Raider in the Book Blame the Mistletoe by Dani Collins and this review was given freely
Ruthless Corporate Raider Griffen buys the company Aubrey is working for in an attempt to bring her back into his ife and his bed. Fast paced and steamy with lots of conflict but a happy ending.
November 5, 2014
This is a sweet and warm story about finding love, when you least expect it. Because it is a holiday romance, it makes it even more sweet and romantic.
Liz is dog sitting in Montana and the real events start from the cocktail party she attends, where she meets Blake, who she met at his wedding.Their children are cousins and not being completely strangers they hit it off relatively easily. They spend more and more time together, slowly falling for each other. They are not sure where their romance will take them, but they know that being together is what feels right.
I liked their chemistry between Liz and Blake and also how quick-witted and smart their children were. My favorite moments were definitely when they went to the snowy forest to pick out the Christmas tree and also the ending couldn’t be more lovely.
It’s short, but thoroughly enjoyable and eligible winter/Christmastime story.
Liz is dog sitting in Montana and the real events start from the cocktail party she attends, where she meets Blake, who she met at his wedding.Their children are cousins and not being completely strangers they hit it off relatively easily. They spend more and more time together, slowly falling for each other. They are not sure where their romance will take them, but they know that being together is what feels right.
I liked their chemistry between Liz and Blake and also how quick-witted and smart their children were. My favorite moments were definitely when they went to the snowy forest to pick out the Christmas tree and also the ending couldn’t be more lovely.
It’s short, but thoroughly enjoyable and eligible winter/Christmastime story.
December 31, 2017
This was a short, quick romance story. Liz and Blake were both once married to "Flowers" a sister and brother, but have both divorced. They both have one child from the marriage and both end up at the same party in Marietta Montana while the Flower family, including their children are gone for a month to a tropical island for a wedding. They have not seen each other in 15 years, but when the meet at the party there is a spark. Of course they end up in bed together and the descriptions of this time together is a bit more than I like, but it was not too bad. When their children come home early and find them together what is going to happen? I really like the characters of Liz and Blake. They were real and were both good parents. They spoke their mind and felt emotions deeply. This was a quick Christmas read that I enjoyed.
September 1, 2016
This wasn’t a bad story, but for some reason I had a hard time connecting with the two main characters, particularly Liz. I just could never really understand why on Earth she would house and dog sit for her ex mother-in-law. It just made no sense, considering she really didn’t have like the best relationship with her ex and family.
Hell, no. That’s what she should’ve said.
As for the rest, Blake wasn’t bad, I just saw these two more as friends than anything more. Mostly linked by the share past they have.
It still had some sweet moments, and in the end, it was an enjoyable short story.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.*
Hell, no. That’s what she should’ve said.
As for the rest, Blake wasn’t bad, I just saw these two more as friends than anything more. Mostly linked by the share past they have.
It still had some sweet moments, and in the end, it was an enjoyable short story.
*Thanks to NetGalley for providing the ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.*
November 4, 2015
The first time she said " Dean made me stop doing nails" I almost stopped reading this book but thought, its really not a bad read so just let it go and keep reading. Then she said it again." Dean wouldn't let me keep doing nails" Let you? Made You? What kind of women lets her husband tell her what she is allowed to do for a career? But at that point, I was almost finished so I completed the book. Now, insta-love doesn't really bother me. I believe that you can meet a new person and instantly have strong feelings for them. But when these two deicide that they are in love and getting married and having babies all in a couple days, its just way to fast to be believable.
December 26, 2018
This is a bit of an 'advertising' book. Says it's 260pgs, but it's really 130pgs, with some advertising tacked on, a preview of another book in the series, and it actually has another short book in there too.
Both books are pretty good. Nothing earth shattering, but not standard plots either. There no real world building, so they are bare bones stories with no added fluff. Nice easy reads.
Both books are pretty good. Nothing earth shattering, but not standard plots either. There no real world building, so they are bare bones stories with no added fluff. Nice easy reads.
December 31, 2018
Another book that finishes far too early on the kindle. This is only 9 chapters and ends at 53%. There is then a bonus story of 7 chapters. I didn't read that as it was this book I was interested in. It was an ok read but very predictable as I expected.
April 12, 2018
4/12/18 Forgot that I'd already read this til a chapter or two in. Liked it enough to finish the re-read.
November 28, 2018
This is very cutesy but its not capturing my attention properly and fully.
April 14, 2021
Very slow start then a very abrupt ending.
November 14, 2018
I want to start this review by saying if you're looking for a super sweet and clean Christmas romance, this is not the book for you. This is a super sexy, hot apple cider spicy kind of romance. Don't get me wrong, it's super sweet too, but there is plenty of sexy time. With that out of the way, let me say, I LOVED Liz and Blake's story! Both of them are older (35 and 38) and have kids and ex's to deal with. It was so realistic in terms of how blended families work, and how often kids get caught up in the trials and tribulations of adults relationships. It was nice to see a female character who could stand on her own two feet and give as good as she got. It was also nice to see a male character who wasn't a billionaire and everything revolved around how much money he had. All in all, I found their story to be sweet, (sexy), loving, realistic, quick, and a romantic Christmas read for the season! I would definitely sit by the fire with a glass of hot cocoa (okay, we all know it would be coffee) and devour this book start to finish.
*While the book looks long when you download it, it's actually only about 130 pages (It is a full story) with an excerpt of the next book and a bonus story included after that. I didn't read either of those, so I cannot comment or review them.*
*While the book looks long when you download it, it's actually only about 130 pages (It is a full story) with an excerpt of the next book and a bonus story included after that. I didn't read either of those, so I cannot comment or review them.*
February 10, 2024
I straight away realised that I had read a story with Blake before this novella and the town of Marietta has been the setting of many books I have read before. The story was about his 1st wife and son, so I was quickly hooked into this one to see what was happening next with these characters.
The novella's plot revolves around the romance between Liz and Blake, who are both at a party during the holidays. Although Blake is from Marietta, Liz is only there to house-sit for her ex-mother-in-law's house and dog. The two characters are both child-free, as the rest of their respective families have gone away together.
Despite the family history between them, Liz and Blake feel a strong attraction to each other. The novella explores their journey towards accepting their feelings for each other and overcoming the challenges that come with their history. Will holiday magic help Liz and Blake find a happy ending?
The novella's plot revolves around the romance between Liz and Blake, who are both at a party during the holidays. Although Blake is from Marietta, Liz is only there to house-sit for her ex-mother-in-law's house and dog. The two characters are both child-free, as the rest of their respective families have gone away together.
Despite the family history between them, Liz and Blake feel a strong attraction to each other. The novella explores their journey towards accepting their feelings for each other and overcoming the challenges that come with their history. Will holiday magic help Liz and Blake find a happy ending?
November 29, 2016
What a beautiful story of how love gone wrong can eventually lead you to true love. Both Liz and Blake have been through the wringer and back thanks to their exes, brother and sister team of Dean and Crystal. On a chance meeting at a holiday party thrown by Liz's new friend and Blake's neighbour Skye, they get re-aquainted, quickly taking their friendship to a new level, as both of their children are with their respective parents in the tropics with the rest of the Flowers' family, attending Dean's wedding. Left alone, they quickly fall into a familiar routine, almost as if they were an old married couple themselves. But an early return wreaks havoc in their fairy tale relationship. Will all end well? or will they find themselves all alone once again?
A beautifully written story that will warm your heart and have you believing in Christmas miracles all over again.
A beautifully written story that will warm your heart and have you believing in Christmas miracles all over again.
December 16, 2018
I would have loved this more if it didn't end at around 50% of the Kindle book! Really enjoyed this different story about a blended family. Blake's ex-wife was Liz's ex-husband's brother, so Blake and Liz were related through marriage. While their kids are both together on a trip to one of the ex's, Auntie Liz and Uncle Blake run into each other at a party and sparks fly. Liz is only in the small town of Marietta to dog-sit, and Blake is in danger of losing the family farm. Neither has any interest in a committed relationship after their respective heartbreaks - both to members of the same family. This was a really good story, funny and sweet. Wish it had been full length.
December 9, 2020
Short, sweet, with lots of feels. Dani Collins packed a lot into this story. Even though it went really quickly I didn't feel the story was rushed. Liz and Blake are not strangers, but they really don't know one another that well. They married into the same family and what they know of each other is through the family grapevine. Their exes are nasty people (they are siblings, Liz and Blake are the outlaws) and they cause some trouble. The only reason this didn't get a higher rating is because of the length. But then for a Christmas story, I guess you really don't need to have a really long story.
December 25, 2020
This is a Christmas themed romance set in a small town between a city girl, Liz Flowers, and a rancher, Blake Canon. I liked the plot twist of Liz's ex-husband being the brother of Blake's ex-wife, so this couple has some loose family connections to accompany their sexual and emotional attraction to each other.
The copy of this book also included the short story, "Taken by the Raider" featuring a semi-hostile business and bedroom takeover of Aubrey Hargrave's company by Griffen Wooklock. A simple plot with some interesting points about families and women in business, but half of the story involves compromising positions.
The copy of this book also included the short story, "Taken by the Raider" featuring a semi-hostile business and bedroom takeover of Aubrey Hargrave's company by Griffen Wooklock. A simple plot with some interesting points about families and women in business, but half of the story involves compromising positions.
December 23, 2021
Liz Flowers doesn't enjoy Christmas but this one is even worse. Her kids are going to Mexico for Christmas and a wedding. Liz is staying in Marietta to babysitter a family members dog. At a Christmas party Liz bumps into her exes sisters ex and sparks start to fly. Liz and Blake start hanging out and enjoy their budding relationship. Then a wrench is thrown into their plans when their children show up at Blakes ranch. Can the convoluted family relations and past secret allow Blake and Liz to find happiness or will they be split apart
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