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Forever, Texas #9
The Cowboy's Christmas Surprise
The Best Christmas Present
Since the first grade, Holly Johnson has known that Ramon Rodriguez is the only man for her. But the carefree, determinedly single Texas cowboy with the killer smile doesn't have a clue. Until they share a dance and a kiss...and Ray finally sees his best friend for the woman in love she is.
With his brothers racing each other down the aisle, Ray figured he'd be the last bachelor in Forever. That was before the night that changed his life. He can't believe the sexy, beautiful lady who arouses heart-stopping desire is his pal and confidante, and loving aunt to the most adorable little girl. Now that he realizes what he's been missing, Ray plans to make up for lost time...starting with the three little words Holly's waited thirteen years to hear.
Since the first grade, Holly Johnson has known that Ramon Rodriguez is the only man for her. But the carefree, determinedly single Texas cowboy with the killer smile doesn't have a clue. Until they share a dance and a kiss...and Ray finally sees his best friend for the woman in love she is.
With his brothers racing each other down the aisle, Ray figured he'd be the last bachelor in Forever. That was before the night that changed his life. He can't believe the sexy, beautiful lady who arouses heart-stopping desire is his pal and confidante, and loving aunt to the most adorable little girl. Now that he realizes what he's been missing, Ray plans to make up for lost time...starting with the three little words Holly's waited thirteen years to hear.
102 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2013
27 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Marie Ferrarella
1,230 books276 followersMarie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella
Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.
Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.
Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.
After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.
In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 15, 2016
Damn, what was going on here? Ray's brain demanded silently.
This was Holly, right?
He wasn't sure anymore but even so, he was fairly certain that it really couldn't be. This woman didn't dress like Holly, didn't act like Holly, and most of all, she didn't TASTE the way he'd always assumed that Holly would taste if he ever thought to fleetingly sample her lips.
The Holly Johnson he knew would have smelled of soap and tasted like some kind of minty toothpaste. Holly was practical. Holly was grounded. By no stretch of the imagination was she some femme fatale who got his pulse running like the lead car in the Indianapolis 500 and his imagination all fired up - like this woman did.
Color me stunned: This was actually a decent novel.
Upon doing a bit more research, it seems that this is the winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Harlequin American Romance 2013.
It's available as an audiobook AND in Spanish (Sigo esperándote) as a result of this award.
So. Holly Johnson is a waitress in a diner. She also takes care of her mom (who is in a wheelchair) and is raising her four-year-old niece, Molly, since her brother ran off years ago. She's also trying to complete a nursing degree online.
She's been in love with Ramón Rodríguez since the first grade.
Ramón Rodríguez has a different woman in his bed every week. Holly has stood by, broken-hearted, watching him work his way through the female population of Forever, Texas. Ramón just sees Holly as his pal - his tomboy best friends from childhood. He certainly doesn't see her as a woman, even though she desperately wants him to.
That all changes one night when Holly puts on a pretty dress and goes to the local bar at the same time Ramón is going...
...
THE GOOD:
The writing has improved. And I gave books 1-8 either one or two stars. I don't know how or why Ferrarella was suddenly able to write a bit of excitement into her novels, but far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Even though I can't understand a woman pining after a man she met in the first grade, never ever having sex or even dating anyone (she's 30-ish) because she's hoping he'll "wake up," and watching him systematically fuck and then discard every female in town between the ages of 18 and 40 - it makes for a good storyline.
And it makes for good drama. Ramón is finally starting to see her as a woman (read: sexual being) and the reader is worried about this. Sure, Holly is over the moon about it. He's finally paying romantic attention to her. But once they sleep together, then what? Is he going to be like, "Okay, that was great. Thanks, bye!"? Because that would break her heart. And she'd still have to see him every day in her town and in the diner where she works. I mean, I don't think I, personally could take that kind of pain. OMG, so painful. o.O But this worry you have for Holly and her wellbeing is good, because Ferrarella is making you feel something, and that is wildly different from any other book in this series. o.O
There's some cute romance in here, for example, Holly has never seen snow before and she and Ramón go up the mountain together and she gets to experience snow for the first time. This could have been SO romantic, but as it was it was just a smidgen romantic, but I'll take what I can get.
Another romantic part is when Ramón teaches her how to dance a little. That's so cute! <3
Ferrarella could have done better on the romance, but compared to her previous books this is a real improvement.
THE BAD
"You know, Doll, you have to be careful about the kind of signals you send out in a place like this," [the local bar she went to with her girlfriends to see the local band] he warned.
"I wasn't sending out signals," Holly protested indignantly. "I was swaying to the music."
"Palm trees sway," Ray corrected. "You were moving your hips in a very inviting way. That creep took you up on the invitation... Next time be more careful."...
"Right, no swaying," Holly promised."
What the fuck is this shit?
Well, yes, the guy hitting on her was a huge asshole piece of shit who can't take no for an answer and needs some reeducation.
But that's not really my beef here, my beef is that Ray - WHO HAS BEEN HER BEST FRIEND SINCE THE FIRST GRADE -
Knows that she works every day of the week
Knows that she is raising her four-year-old niece
Knows that she lives with and cares for her wheelchair-bound mother
Knows that she NEVER goes out in any kind of social context
- isn't saying "I'm sorry, are you okay? That guy was an asshole. Do you want to sit with me / dance with me / go outside for a moment" or whatever soothing things. He's just like, "Well, you were wearing a dress and you're in a bar and you were kind of swaying to the music and that means you were asking for it."
And I'm like: This is the first day she's taken off in God knows how long.
And then he's like: "Well, if you go out to listen to a band at the local bar, men are going to act like animals and try to rape you - but that's life, what do you expect? If you want to be safe from sexual assault you should keep doing what you were doing and stay at home wearing burlap."
And I'm like WTF? Some best friend. Way to scare her into never ever leaving the house again, asshole. Way to blame her for some creep who is obviously the one in the wrong here. "Yeah, men are animals with no self-control. By being out in public and looking sexy you're just inviting trouble."
And she just accepts it!!!! "Okay. Thanks for telling me. I'll be sure never to wear a dress in a bar ever again." WTF? You have the right to wear a dress and go to the bar to listen to a band WITHOUT expecting that rape will be a consequence of that. You did NOT just tell her that if she HAS to go to a bar, at night, to hear a band, she must wear baggy clothes and stay seated, lest she attract male attention.
Why...? I mean, it's 2015, can we cut this shit out?!!? Why is this 'her fault?' Why is she getting the blame here?
...
How's the sex, Carmen?
This is the first book in the series that features a virgin heroine, and I must say I have to give Ferrarella props for making it through 8 books without having a single virgin heroine. Kudos.
The sex is as vague and uninteresting as usual, but since we feel a bit more for the characters this time, it's at least good for an "Awww!" comment - even if the reader is not going to be able to work up one iota of sexual excitement from Ferrarella's non-descriptions.
...
I like the cover. I enjoying snuggling on the couch with a man, it's a sweet cover.
...
Tl;dr - This is the best book in the Forever, Texas series yet. And it seems it was awarded by the Romantic Times for this. That's good. However, I still feel that I must warn you that the sex is still vague and the book as a whole is pretty tame. The excitement I'm feeling with the plot here could in all likelihood be blamed on suffering through books 1-8. o.O Take this review with a grain of salt.
THREE REAL STARS, THREE ROMANCE STARS
Please see my "five romance stars" shelf for actual high-quality romance books.
This is available in Spanish as Sigo esperándote.
Harlequin American Romance December 2013
This was Holly, right?
He wasn't sure anymore but even so, he was fairly certain that it really couldn't be. This woman didn't dress like Holly, didn't act like Holly, and most of all, she didn't TASTE the way he'd always assumed that Holly would taste if he ever thought to fleetingly sample her lips.
The Holly Johnson he knew would have smelled of soap and tasted like some kind of minty toothpaste. Holly was practical. Holly was grounded. By no stretch of the imagination was she some femme fatale who got his pulse running like the lead car in the Indianapolis 500 and his imagination all fired up - like this woman did.
Color me stunned: This was actually a decent novel.
Upon doing a bit more research, it seems that this is the winner of the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Harlequin American Romance 2013.
It's available as an audiobook AND in Spanish (Sigo esperándote) as a result of this award.
So. Holly Johnson is a waitress in a diner. She also takes care of her mom (who is in a wheelchair) and is raising her four-year-old niece, Molly, since her brother ran off years ago. She's also trying to complete a nursing degree online.
She's been in love with Ramón Rodríguez since the first grade.
Ramón Rodríguez has a different woman in his bed every week. Holly has stood by, broken-hearted, watching him work his way through the female population of Forever, Texas. Ramón just sees Holly as his pal - his tomboy best friends from childhood. He certainly doesn't see her as a woman, even though she desperately wants him to.
That all changes one night when Holly puts on a pretty dress and goes to the local bar at the same time Ramón is going...
...
THE GOOD:
The writing has improved. And I gave books 1-8 either one or two stars. I don't know how or why Ferrarella was suddenly able to write a bit of excitement into her novels, but far be it from me to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Even though I can't understand a woman pining after a man she met in the first grade, never ever having sex or even dating anyone (she's 30-ish) because she's hoping he'll "wake up," and watching him systematically fuck and then discard every female in town between the ages of 18 and 40 - it makes for a good storyline.
And it makes for good drama. Ramón is finally starting to see her as a woman (read: sexual being) and the reader is worried about this. Sure, Holly is over the moon about it. He's finally paying romantic attention to her. But once they sleep together, then what? Is he going to be like, "Okay, that was great. Thanks, bye!"? Because that would break her heart. And she'd still have to see him every day in her town and in the diner where she works. I mean, I don't think I, personally could take that kind of pain. OMG, so painful. o.O But this worry you have for Holly and her wellbeing is good, because Ferrarella is making you feel something, and that is wildly different from any other book in this series. o.O
There's some cute romance in here, for example, Holly has never seen snow before and she and Ramón go up the mountain together and she gets to experience snow for the first time. This could have been SO romantic, but as it was it was just a smidgen romantic, but I'll take what I can get.
Another romantic part is when Ramón teaches her how to dance a little. That's so cute! <3
Ferrarella could have done better on the romance, but compared to her previous books this is a real improvement.
THE BAD
"You know, Doll, you have to be careful about the kind of signals you send out in a place like this," [the local bar she went to with her girlfriends to see the local band] he warned.
"I wasn't sending out signals," Holly protested indignantly. "I was swaying to the music."
"Palm trees sway," Ray corrected. "You were moving your hips in a very inviting way. That creep took you up on the invitation... Next time be more careful."...
"Right, no swaying," Holly promised."
What the fuck is this shit?
Well, yes, the guy hitting on her was a huge asshole piece of shit who can't take no for an answer and needs some reeducation.
But that's not really my beef here, my beef is that Ray - WHO HAS BEEN HER BEST FRIEND SINCE THE FIRST GRADE -
Knows that she works every day of the week
Knows that she is raising her four-year-old niece
Knows that she lives with and cares for her wheelchair-bound mother
Knows that she NEVER goes out in any kind of social context
- isn't saying "I'm sorry, are you okay? That guy was an asshole. Do you want to sit with me / dance with me / go outside for a moment" or whatever soothing things. He's just like, "Well, you were wearing a dress and you're in a bar and you were kind of swaying to the music and that means you were asking for it."
And I'm like: This is the first day she's taken off in God knows how long.
And then he's like: "Well, if you go out to listen to a band at the local bar, men are going to act like animals and try to rape you - but that's life, what do you expect? If you want to be safe from sexual assault you should keep doing what you were doing and stay at home wearing burlap."
And I'm like WTF? Some best friend. Way to scare her into never ever leaving the house again, asshole. Way to blame her for some creep who is obviously the one in the wrong here. "Yeah, men are animals with no self-control. By being out in public and looking sexy you're just inviting trouble."
And she just accepts it!!!! "Okay. Thanks for telling me. I'll be sure never to wear a dress in a bar ever again." WTF? You have the right to wear a dress and go to the bar to listen to a band WITHOUT expecting that rape will be a consequence of that. You did NOT just tell her that if she HAS to go to a bar, at night, to hear a band, she must wear baggy clothes and stay seated, lest she attract male attention.
Why...? I mean, it's 2015, can we cut this shit out?!!? Why is this 'her fault?' Why is she getting the blame here?
...
How's the sex, Carmen?
This is the first book in the series that features a virgin heroine, and I must say I have to give Ferrarella props for making it through 8 books without having a single virgin heroine. Kudos.
The sex is as vague and uninteresting as usual, but since we feel a bit more for the characters this time, it's at least good for an "Awww!" comment - even if the reader is not going to be able to work up one iota of sexual excitement from Ferrarella's non-descriptions.
...
I like the cover. I enjoying snuggling on the couch with a man, it's a sweet cover.
...
Tl;dr - This is the best book in the Forever, Texas series yet. And it seems it was awarded by the Romantic Times for this. That's good. However, I still feel that I must warn you that the sex is still vague and the book as a whole is pretty tame. The excitement I'm feeling with the plot here could in all likelihood be blamed on suffering through books 1-8. o.O Take this review with a grain of salt.
THREE REAL STARS, THREE ROMANCE STARS
Please see my "five romance stars" shelf for actual high-quality romance books.
This is available in Spanish as Sigo esperándote.
Harlequin American Romance December 2013
June 20, 2020
Miss Joan knows that Holly Johnson has been in love Ray Rodriguez since the first grade. Miss Joan knows that Ray Rodriguez is the love-them-and-leave them type and only sees Holly as a friend. Miss Joan thinks that Holly needs to stop burning both ends of the candle and get out and have a little fun, so Miss Joan threatens to sack Holly if she doesn't go out with her colleagues for a girls' night. Miss Joan organises for Ray to pick Holly up instead of her friend, and also sends Holly a dress that makes her all sexy, because Miss Joan just knows this sexy dress will make Ray see Holly in a whole new light.
Miss Joan is a busy woman. She not only runs the local diner, but pretty much the lives of everybody who lives in Forever, Texas. You do not cross Miss Joan. She's in charge of the town's Christmas tree, which everybody decorates. It's a big occasion, especially selecting the tree. Miss Joan ropes Holly and Ray into helping, so that they can spend some time together. She ropes several other townspeople into it as well. Deciding who can come on this tree-picking trip and who can't is worthy of an entire chapter. Miss Joan runs the operation with military-style precision, and all anybody in Forever talks about is Miss Joan and how she runs everybody's lives and you better not stand in her way, no-sir-ee.
Oh, was this supposed to be about the romance between Holly Johnson and Ray Rodriguez?
You could have fooled me.
After all the "Miss Joan this" and "Miss Joan that" - she's often the main point of conversation for our h and H, there was little left over for me to enjoy. There's no real tension to Holly and Ray's developing romance, other than Holly being more than bit creepy with her 15-year-long love obsession with Ray and never once doing anything about it until she wears a sexy dress and Ray suddenly discovers she's hot.
There was plenty that annoyed me. Ray tells Holly she shouldn't sway in that sexy dress in the club, because she's just asking for attention and trouble from persistent jerks, you know? And she just apologises! F**k off with that s**t! Although this was published in 2013, that attitude was already well outdated, because we've had shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit that had been on the air for 14 YEARS by that point, telling us each week that, no, a woman dressing sexy is not asking to be sexually harassed.
There's also the standard, "Oh-no-you're-a-virgin-how-could-you-never-have-told-me-because-now-I've-taken-something-special-from-you." Why are guys in romance land so obsessed with this? Anyway, it seems even more unnecessary because it's swept under the rug and never mentioned again, just like all of the other "conflicts" that arise and are abruptly abandoned. As with other books by Ferrarella, she doesn't bother with paragraphs when changing character perspectives. One minute we're in Holly's head, then Ray's, then Miss Joan's, then Molly, then one of Santa's reindeers. (No, not really, but you get what I mean.) Ray's 107 brother and sisters all pop up at various stages with the reader expected to know who the f**k half of them are.
I wouldn't recommend reading it. Unless Miss Joan is actually real, and she wants you to. Because you better do what Miss Joan says!
Miss Joan is a busy woman. She not only runs the local diner, but pretty much the lives of everybody who lives in Forever, Texas. You do not cross Miss Joan. She's in charge of the town's Christmas tree, which everybody decorates. It's a big occasion, especially selecting the tree. Miss Joan ropes Holly and Ray into helping, so that they can spend some time together. She ropes several other townspeople into it as well. Deciding who can come on this tree-picking trip and who can't is worthy of an entire chapter. Miss Joan runs the operation with military-style precision, and all anybody in Forever talks about is Miss Joan and how she runs everybody's lives and you better not stand in her way, no-sir-ee.
Oh, was this supposed to be about the romance between Holly Johnson and Ray Rodriguez?
You could have fooled me.
After all the "Miss Joan this" and "Miss Joan that" - she's often the main point of conversation for our h and H, there was little left over for me to enjoy. There's no real tension to Holly and Ray's developing romance, other than Holly being more than bit creepy with her 15-year-long love obsession with Ray and never once doing anything about it until she wears a sexy dress and Ray suddenly discovers she's hot.
There was plenty that annoyed me. Ray tells Holly she shouldn't sway in that sexy dress in the club, because she's just asking for attention and trouble from persistent jerks, you know? And she just apologises! F**k off with that s**t! Although this was published in 2013, that attitude was already well outdated, because we've had shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit that had been on the air for 14 YEARS by that point, telling us each week that, no, a woman dressing sexy is not asking to be sexually harassed.
There's also the standard, "Oh-no-you're-a-virgin-how-could-you-never-have-told-me-because-now-I've-taken-something-special-from-you." Why are guys in romance land so obsessed with this? Anyway, it seems even more unnecessary because it's swept under the rug and never mentioned again, just like all of the other "conflicts" that arise and are abruptly abandoned. As with other books by Ferrarella, she doesn't bother with paragraphs when changing character perspectives. One minute we're in Holly's head, then Ray's, then Miss Joan's, then Molly, then one of Santa's reindeers. (No, not really, but you get what I mean.) Ray's 107 brother and sisters all pop up at various stages with the reader expected to know who the f**k half of them are.
I wouldn't recommend reading it. Unless Miss Joan is actually real, and she wants you to. Because you better do what Miss Joan says!
November 27, 2013
And the last Rodriguez man goes down for the count. Holly and Ray have been friends since first grade. She has also been in love with him, but he is clueless. Then his eyes get opened to just what he has been ignoring and he has to figure out how to show Holly just how much he really cares.
I loved Holly. She is a hard worker, putting in long hours at the diner, taking care of her mother and niece and also studying for her nursing degree by taking classes online. This doesn't leave her much time for having fun. Then one night she gets talked into going out with some friends and ends up dancing with Ray. Suddenly he's looking at her in a whole different way and she's not sure how to deal with it. She has spent so long being his friend and hearing about his woman troubles that having him look at her like one of those women is disconcerting. She's not going to complain, she's going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts. She just hopes that their friendship won't be hurt after it's over. I really enjoyed seeing the way that Miss Joan has been able to see what Holly's feelings for Ray are all this time and takes it upon herself to try to move things along. I loved seeing Holly start to enjoy Ray's attentions. I especially loved seeing her go for what she really wanted that night in the diner. Then it became her turn to be clueless the night of Mike and Sam's wedding when she didn't understand what Ray was trying to tell her, thinking that he was going to break up with her. I loved her reaction when she finally got it.
Ray was so much fun to watch. In previous books he had been very much the good time guy, buzzing from woman to woman. He's always been friends with Holly, who he can talk to about anything. She's always just been his good buddy, until the night he rescues her from some unwanted attentions. Suddenly he's seeing her as a sexy woman and he's a little freaked out about it. When he finds himself kissing her, the desire gets a little out of control. I loved seeing him try to reconcile the two Hollys and getting really confused about his feelings. I also loved the way that his longtime friendship with her has enabled him to know her far better than he thought. I loved seeing his confidence in her after she delivered Alma's babies at the diner and how much it meant to her. I really enjoyed his complete confusion about his feelings after he and Holly had made love. I really enjoyed the way his brother Rafe cornered him about his mood and figured out what the problem was. Poor Ray was so shook up the night of the wedding that he wasn't making a whole lot of sense when he was talking to Holly. I loved seeing him finally get it right and his happiness was fantastic.
I loved Holly. She is a hard worker, putting in long hours at the diner, taking care of her mother and niece and also studying for her nursing degree by taking classes online. This doesn't leave her much time for having fun. Then one night she gets talked into going out with some friends and ends up dancing with Ray. Suddenly he's looking at her in a whole different way and she's not sure how to deal with it. She has spent so long being his friend and hearing about his woman troubles that having him look at her like one of those women is disconcerting. She's not going to complain, she's going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts. She just hopes that their friendship won't be hurt after it's over. I really enjoyed seeing the way that Miss Joan has been able to see what Holly's feelings for Ray are all this time and takes it upon herself to try to move things along. I loved seeing Holly start to enjoy Ray's attentions. I especially loved seeing her go for what she really wanted that night in the diner. Then it became her turn to be clueless the night of Mike and Sam's wedding when she didn't understand what Ray was trying to tell her, thinking that he was going to break up with her. I loved her reaction when she finally got it.
Ray was so much fun to watch. In previous books he had been very much the good time guy, buzzing from woman to woman. He's always been friends with Holly, who he can talk to about anything. She's always just been his good buddy, until the night he rescues her from some unwanted attentions. Suddenly he's seeing her as a sexy woman and he's a little freaked out about it. When he finds himself kissing her, the desire gets a little out of control. I loved seeing him try to reconcile the two Hollys and getting really confused about his feelings. I also loved the way that his longtime friendship with her has enabled him to know her far better than he thought. I loved seeing his confidence in her after she delivered Alma's babies at the diner and how much it meant to her. I really enjoyed his complete confusion about his feelings after he and Holly had made love. I really enjoyed the way his brother Rafe cornered him about his mood and figured out what the problem was. Poor Ray was so shook up the night of the wedding that he wasn't making a whole lot of sense when he was talking to Holly. I loved seeing him finally get it right and his happiness was fantastic.
January 9, 2019
Una historia muy tierna. Dos amigos que crecen, uno enamorado de otro sin saberlo. El momento entre Ray y Molly y su regalo de Papá Noel me ha parecido muy tierno.
February 21, 2015
Well, well, well, miren a quién tenemos aquí, Holly una pequeña malhumorada, arisca y muy obsesa camarera y Ray, un chico que se come todo lo que se mueve.
I hate this book. Con todo mi corazón. Me dio más escalofríos que otra cosa. Estoy segurísima de que si Ray se hubiera dejado algún calzón por ahí tirado, Holly lo hubiera inhalado cual adicta en sus tiempos libres (y no tan libres).
El corazón de Holly no late si Ray no está a su alrededor y solo respira el aliento que él le tira. Es horrible leer lo patética que es, que me perdonen.
Ray la ve como una amiga, una amiga asexuada, de hecho en su vida la ha visto como una mujer. Pero Holly the stalker lo ama desde que tiene memoria y siempre ha sido consciente de él.
Son los mejores amigos, pero en mi vida he visto a dos personas entenderse menos. Habrán tenido cinco conversaciones de las cuales cuatro uno no entendía lo que decía el otro. Pero hey, tienen tanto en común.
Odio los personajes secundarios de este libro, por ejemplo, a la señorita Joan, jefa de Holly, una mujer grosera, metida y abusiva o las "amigas" de Holly que la invitan a salir esa primera noche para dejarla tirada porque ya tenían planes con otros tipos.
No pienso hablar del "romance", porque es un chiste y Ray no tiene ni idea de lo que ocurrió hasta que le puso un anillo en el dedo a esa mujer. Juro por Dios que se pasó en una nube y cuando se vio comprometido, de seguro su primer pensamiento fue "¿Qué demonios pasó aquí?"
Lo único que me dejó este libro fue hambre.
I hate this book. Con todo mi corazón. Me dio más escalofríos que otra cosa. Estoy segurísima de que si Ray se hubiera dejado algún calzón por ahí tirado, Holly lo hubiera inhalado cual adicta en sus tiempos libres (y no tan libres).
El corazón de Holly no late si Ray no está a su alrededor y solo respira el aliento que él le tira. Es horrible leer lo patética que es, que me perdonen.
Ray la ve como una amiga, una amiga asexuada, de hecho en su vida la ha visto como una mujer. Pero Holly the stalker lo ama desde que tiene memoria y siempre ha sido consciente de él.
Son los mejores amigos, pero en mi vida he visto a dos personas entenderse menos. Habrán tenido cinco conversaciones de las cuales cuatro uno no entendía lo que decía el otro. Pero hey, tienen tanto en común.
Odio los personajes secundarios de este libro, por ejemplo, a la señorita Joan, jefa de Holly, una mujer grosera, metida y abusiva o las "amigas" de Holly que la invitan a salir esa primera noche para dejarla tirada porque ya tenían planes con otros tipos.
No pienso hablar del "romance", porque es un chiste y Ray no tiene ni idea de lo que ocurrió hasta que le puso un anillo en el dedo a esa mujer. Juro por Dios que se pasó en una nube y cuando se vio comprometido, de seguro su primer pensamiento fue "¿Qué demonios pasó aquí?"
Lo único que me dejó este libro fue hambre.
December 22, 2013
This was a great storyline. I was completely captivated throughout. I couldn’t put it down and once the story was over I couldn’t stop thinking about it. This was a realistic, feel good story that puts you in the Christmas spirit but that would be brilliant any time of the year. Ferrarella’s understated descriptions and mellow storytelling draw you in without ever making you feel out of place.
The characters are very unique and inviting. The main characters are quite well developed. You get to know them as individuals and in their interactions with each other and the rest of their community. The supporting cast is also quite well developed. You get a real sense of community and of family. It’s nice to see a bunch of individuals who can lean upon one another yet still stand on their own.
My only issue at all with this story were the multiple voice overs. It was quite distracting at times. The voices didn’t mesh together properly. It was just enough to knock you out of the flow. That said I’d definitely recommend it to others, both audio format and print/eformat.
The characters are very unique and inviting. The main characters are quite well developed. You get to know them as individuals and in their interactions with each other and the rest of their community. The supporting cast is also quite well developed. You get a real sense of community and of family. It’s nice to see a bunch of individuals who can lean upon one another yet still stand on their own.
My only issue at all with this story were the multiple voice overs. It was quite distracting at times. The voices didn’t mesh together properly. It was just enough to knock you out of the flow. That said I’d definitely recommend it to others, both audio format and print/eformat.
December 31, 2013
I found it boring. Not much story. Miss Joan the cafe owner was incredibly annoying in her military style ordering everyone in the town around. Holly was one dimensional. Really? 24 and ALL she EVER thinks about for the last 13 years is Ray?
January 29, 2014
not my speed.
December 23, 2013
I couldn't finish this book. The big problem is the reader. Yes a reader because it certainly didn't feel like it was being narrated. Ms. Marshall read this book so quickly that I found it imposible to get into the story. I listened to about half of the story and so far there is no Christmas theme, the heroine was painfully immature and the speedy reader was annoying. I was looking for a Christmas romance story but this was a disaster.
March 26, 2015
RT Reviews gave this 4-1/2 stars. I'm glad they liked it, but it didn't do much for me. There's nothing to it. No conflict, bad Texas... The heroine has no self respect. The hero is kind of a doofus. It's just pure fluff and I never did care much for cotton candy. It's a decent little story, I guess, just not particularly to my taste.
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June 30, 2016"TOP PICK! It's a joy to see how life is progressing for all the residents of Forever, Texas as the last of the Rodriguez brothers falls in love. His delightful friends-to-lovers story will make readers feel good." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 1/2 stars
Miniseries: Forever, Texas
Miniseries: Forever, Texas
December 27, 2014
Soy una tonta romantica, que puedo hacer suspiro con cada línea, la ameee!
January 7, 2015
A story of best friends... one who always knew she loved her best friend, and the man who had to figure out who he'd been searching for. Another Forever, Texas book
November 25, 2021
A charming story of two best friends discovering a new level of connection. The characters were relatable and easy to root for. Their connections with their family and the town reminded me a lot of Gilmore Girl's Stars Hollow. While I was amused by Miss Jean's participation in helping the two get together, I did feel like there was too much focus being put on her than the main two characters. It seemed odd for a sudden change in heart from Ray in just a few interactions; I felt like there needed more time for him to realize his feelings. Although the novel's title mentions Christmas, there was surprisingly very little Christmas events mentioned. Overall, it was still an enjoyable fast read.
September 15, 2020
Awful
It makes me give it one star it didn’t deserve that. I couldn’t read past when Miss Joan orders her to go out under threat of her job. If she had any gumption she would have said that okay I guess I will be job hunting Monday.
It makes me give it one star it didn’t deserve that. I couldn’t read past when Miss Joan orders her to go out under threat of her job. If she had any gumption she would have said that okay I guess I will be job hunting Monday.
December 19, 2021
I felt sorry for Holly. I didn't like Miss Joan to give Holly an ultimatum was wrong.
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August 14, 2017I'm not going to rate the book because I'm not the target market. But I felt let down by the writing at times, most notably in this scene. The author is describing the first kiss that occurs on the dance floor at a local dive bar. The main character's feelings in this moment, when she kisses the man whom she's desired secretly since the age of thirteen, are compared with being drunk:
"Holly felt as if she'd imbibed not one but several very potent drinks, rather than leaving her first screwdriver untouched. She felt that light-headed, that inebriated. This was divinely delicious and she intended to savor every single second of it."
"Holly felt as if she'd imbibed not one but several very potent drinks, rather than leaving her first screwdriver untouched. She felt that light-headed, that inebriated. This was divinely delicious and she intended to savor every single second of it."
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