Eve's Christmas

by Janet Dailey

Determined to give his son the perfect small-town Christmas, Luck McClure gets some much-needed help from shy music teacher Eve Rowland who gives him the best gift of all, her love. Original.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult

317 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Janet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.

Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.

She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.

Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis was a good easy read.

[Victoria Dempster · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess a nice cute Christmas book. Storyline kept me reading so I’ll give it that. But next time I will just watch a hallmark movie instead of invest time in something like this. Also be prepared that the Christmas portion is actually very small. The book setting begins in April.

Overall - all weird… the main couple is definitely doomed for divorce given they barely know each other. Such an odd concept of a hot and cold relationship with zero communication and resolutions explained! I always find age gaps give me the ick reading about too. I think this was probably a better book in the 80’s that didn’t age well. Lol

[Jenn Mull · Rating 2 out of 5]

When Eve first meets Luck, he is drunk outside a bar. He makes a move on her, and then he keeps referring to her as a brown mouse. Not a great first impression. Then, while he and his son are playing catch, they shatter her car's windshield. Not a great second impression. She's not too upset by this, though; she understands accidents happen. And while discussing how to get the windshield repaired, Luck doesn't recognize Eve at all. So for the next 100 pages, Eve tries to keep Luck from recognizing her. Pretty weird.

Then he does recognize her, they get engaged—way too soon, wait! they're not ready to be engaged . . . They're still in a relationship, but they don't see much of each other. They have the weirdest communication habits. Overall, it feels like a pretty unhealthy situation.

In other news: the main character's name is Luck. No, not Luke, Luck. I just can't stand it! And he's a strange dad-type. His eight-year-old son is serving him breakfast in bed—hangover cure included! And trying to set him up so he can have a mom. And walking in on Luke and Eve gettin' busy on the living room floor. When you're a dad, don't you change your behavior? Wouldn't you take the time to go to the bedroom? Anyway . . .

The writing was a weird style, there were too many typos to simply overlook, and the story was just meh.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eve Rowland is a 26 year old single woman living with her parents. After a few weird run-ins with 36 year old widower Luck McClure and his son Toby, Eve and Luck become romantically linked to each other. Toby is looking for a mother and Luck is looking for a woman to fill a void in his life that has been absent since his wife's death. Will they end up together in the end?

This book really did nothing for me. First off, this book only had a part of the story that occurred during Christmas. Based on the cover and title, I thought it would be exclusively during that time frame so I saved it to read during the holidays. Second, the relationship and its development between Luck and Eve just felt rushed, unnatural and unhealthy at times. I didn't feel that there was any real growth and natural progression throughout the story. Overall, the book was a very quick read, but not my cup of tea.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing Christmasy about the book! Seems to be a trend in books and movies too. Throw in a few lights, buy a few gifts and call it Christmas. I believe people have forgotten what Christmas is. With all that aside, the book was ok.

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Christmas books. This book is about Eve ( a single 26 year old ) and Luck (a 36 year old widower). Luck has a son name Toby and he is wanting a Mother. This is how the three of them became a family.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

one sitting read...

[Rainelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. A bit long on the ending of novel after the two characters finally give in for their interest for one another.

[Peggy Krook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

gr read

[Debra McEathron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice story about a women taking the time to find herself as well as love. Luck has some soul searching to do as well and wants to find love again.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mix of the original book from 1981 and the newness of the 2006 publishing made it weird.

[Carol Fellenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve encounters a handsome gentleman.

[Akina · Rating 2 out of 5]

******** SPOILER ALERT **********
This book started out with a lot of promise but it got stuck in the middle and stayed there. Son of H wants a mom so he matchmakes H and h. Somehow it works. H proposes to h after a handful of dates spread out over several months. Then the h decides she wants to live by herself and she isn't ready to be a mother. The story drones on and that's about it. There's no wedding or marriage or even an epilogue to tie up the loose ends. It's like a car that was pushed over a hill and rolled until it stopped in the middle of the road. No final destination. Gear stuck in neutral. Really Janet? If you have writers block, just wait and come back to it later. You can't possibly be proud of this half-starter.

[Le Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good, gotta love Luck and I enjoyed the way she incorporated the son. He had a part in the story, but did not take anything away from the romance. The thing that bothered me a bit was how Eve did not communicate. Words, everyone uses them and after a year together she should have been able to use them a little better. I was also a bit annoyed with her insecurities, we all have them,but man.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out with such promise, but petered out severely. Nothing but naive girl not sure if she wants to be with the guy for no other reason than I've never been on my own before? They hardly see each other, but then there's a marriage proposal and flowery words of love and adoration?! Then they go back to not seeing much of each other?

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the plot in this was pretty miserable. As far as I could tell, it was all about the relationship and nothing else, and it did not logically hold together very well at that. I was trying this author out as a new author to read, but based on this one, probably not.

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story which does not have to be read at Christmas. I was introduced to Janet Dailey's books in 1993 and have loved the way she writes. I try to find all I can by her.

[Imeelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always be positive, there is always something unique within you. You have to appreciate and love yourself.

[Ashley♥Alexis · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was pretty bad. The story was a bit dry and some things for some odd reason didn't make sense. the writing style was very simple and the story itself wasn't that engaging. i was not a fan.

[Cassandra]

Pretty good, not one of her best, but still good.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little romance story.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is the same as Janet Dailey's With A Little Luck.