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Hometown Heartbreakers #5
Mistelzweig und Weihnachtsküsse
Nach "Der 48-Stunden-Mann" endlich ein weiterer Hometown Heartbreaker! Zum ersten Mal in voller Länge übersetzt!
Von wegen "Oh du fröhliche"! Die Adventsstimmung ist Feuerwehr-Captain Jordan Haynes gründlich verhagelt. Denn bei dem Versuch, eine Katze zu retten, hat er sich so übel verletzt, dass er das Bett hüten muss. Immerhin hat die kratzbürstige Mistletoe überlebt, und ihre ebenso dankbare wie hübsche Besitzerin Holly tut alles, um ihm den Krankenstand mit Keksen und netten Plauderstunden zu versüßen. Der geborene Herzensbrecher ist bezaubert von ihrer offensichtlichen Unerfahrenheit im Umgang mit Männern und nimmt sich fest vor, Holly nicht zu nahe zu treten. Wie sich herausstellt, ist das aber leichter gesagt als getan. Und bald flammt heiße Leidenschaft zwischen ihnen auf …
Von wegen "Oh du fröhliche"! Die Adventsstimmung ist Feuerwehr-Captain Jordan Haynes gründlich verhagelt. Denn bei dem Versuch, eine Katze zu retten, hat er sich so übel verletzt, dass er das Bett hüten muss. Immerhin hat die kratzbürstige Mistletoe überlebt, und ihre ebenso dankbare wie hübsche Besitzerin Holly tut alles, um ihm den Krankenstand mit Keksen und netten Plauderstunden zu versüßen. Der geborene Herzensbrecher ist bezaubert von ihrer offensichtlichen Unerfahrenheit im Umgang mit Männern und nimmt sich fest vor, Holly nicht zu nahe zu treten. Wie sich herausstellt, ist das aber leichter gesagt als getan. Und bald flammt heiße Leidenschaft zwischen ihnen auf …
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1996
578 people are currently reading
986 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
862 books15.4k followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
December 4, 2017
This could have been a middle-of-the-road, fairly unobjectionable Christmas romance, but then it went off the rails. The main character, Holly, is so ridiculously, over-the-top, unbelievably naive that the only explanation for her ignorance (and genuine stupidity) was that she was not in her twenties but was actually a five-year-old child. And that is how I kept seeing her, which made the "love" scenes beyond creepy.
If you can get beyond the feeling of pedophilia, which I couldn't, there was still her "Oh gosh, how can you want me, I'm sooooo fat!" because she's FIFTEEN pounds overweight?! Seriously, America, get over yourself. I can gain fifteen pounds in a week! Can we stop minimizing the real problems of people with real weight issues by having characters obsess over having a perfectly normal, healthy body instead of one that looks like a scarecrow? Authors do it for one of two reasons. Either they themselves are a size 00 and think anyone over size two must feel like a fat pig, or they want to make their characters "relatable" and "humble" by thinking they're fat and ugly when they are actually beautiful and sexy. I'm sick of it, either way, and just want women to own their bodies and stop apologizing for them.
Can you tell I didn't like this book? At all? I need a feature in Goodreads to slap me every time I forget that I hate an author so I never read a second book by one who has bugged me this much. Yes, I'm also looking at you, Jennifer Crusie. Romances shouldn't be this offensive.
If you can get beyond the feeling of pedophilia, which I couldn't, there was still her "Oh gosh, how can you want me, I'm sooooo fat!" because she's FIFTEEN pounds overweight?! Seriously, America, get over yourself. I can gain fifteen pounds in a week! Can we stop minimizing the real problems of people with real weight issues by having characters obsess over having a perfectly normal, healthy body instead of one that looks like a scarecrow? Authors do it for one of two reasons. Either they themselves are a size 00 and think anyone over size two must feel like a fat pig, or they want to make their characters "relatable" and "humble" by thinking they're fat and ugly when they are actually beautiful and sexy. I'm sick of it, either way, and just want women to own their bodies and stop apologizing for them.
Can you tell I didn't like this book? At all? I need a feature in Goodreads to slap me every time I forget that I hate an author so I never read a second book by one who has bugged me this much. Yes, I'm also looking at you, Jennifer Crusie. Romances shouldn't be this offensive.
December 22, 2015
Christmas romance with an overly naive, shy, innocent female lead named Holly. She meets firefighter Jordan when he saves her beloved cat Mistletoe from her apartment fire. Jordan injured himself while doing this and Holly being sweet natured visits him. They have an instant attraction and things move forward from there. Pretty sweet story but Holly's extreme naïveté was a definitely detracting from the storyline. It's hard to believe someone in the 90s could be quite as innocent as Holly. I did like other aspects of the story, so hence the 3 star rating. A few steamy scenes are included.
FYI- This was a kindle release in 2015 of a book she wrote in the 90s.
FYI- This was a kindle release in 2015 of a book she wrote in the 90s.
January 14, 2013
I hate virgins.
I really do.
I mean, sure, if you're 16, save it, etc. 16 is too young. But I'm getting sick of the Regency Romances where all of the women are expected to be pure and chaste, and the men are rakes. But this takes the cake - a 28-year old virgin?? Basically, her mom is sick for so long she didn't have time?!?!?
And it's not only that she is a virgin, she's so annoying - "oh, I have an extra 15 pounds, oh, why would you ever like me?" Get some self-esteem and then call me!
This book was so bland and boring - I realize the "Hometown Heartbreakers" isn't Mallery's best series, and that it was written in the 90's, but zzzzzzzzz! I took the chance at not reading all of the other books in the series before this one (which is like book 5 or 6) and I see I've not missed anything!
I really do.
I mean, sure, if you're 16, save it, etc. 16 is too young. But I'm getting sick of the Regency Romances where all of the women are expected to be pure and chaste, and the men are rakes. But this takes the cake - a 28-year old virgin?? Basically, her mom is sick for so long she didn't have time?!?!?
And it's not only that she is a virgin, she's so annoying - "oh, I have an extra 15 pounds, oh, why would you ever like me?" Get some self-esteem and then call me!
This book was so bland and boring - I realize the "Hometown Heartbreakers" isn't Mallery's best series, and that it was written in the 90's, but zzzzzzzzz! I took the chance at not reading all of the other books in the series before this one (which is like book 5 or 6) and I see I've not missed anything!
December 26, 2013
This book was just silly and unbelievable and i hated the end.
December 27, 2014
Two-haiku review:
He rescues her cat
She visits in hospital
Homeless, stays with him
A few flaws, but good
SM writes great chemistry
Better with series
He rescues her cat
She visits in hospital
Homeless, stays with him
A few flaws, but good
SM writes great chemistry
Better with series
December 31, 2020
Minu arvamuse leiab https://triinuraamatud.wordpress.com/...
August 9, 2020
Book 6 of the Hometown Hearbreakers tells a complete story and could be read alone. There is an open thread at the end of the book which is the subject of a later book. I regret that I have read this series totally out of order and recommend trying to do it in order.
This book stretches credibility even a little more than others in the series. For one thing, Holly is a virtually impossible character - she is naive beyond belief. Yet once I suspended that objection I enjoyed her innocence. It is fun to see situations through eyes that have never experienced them and can be awed by them. On the other hand, Holly's refusal to trust anyone gets annoying after a while since it is repeated constantly. It shouldn't have taken her long to see that this extended family was something beyond her experience and might indeed be worth trusting. Much of the charm of this book is in the family relationships of all the Haynes clan.
Holly's constant obsession with being fat is annoying, but unlike many reviewers, I can actually picture this since I have known actual women who complained about being fat when they were obviously the opposite.
At times I didn't like Jordan. Like Austin, to whom he is compared more than once, Jordan is self-absorbed. I thought his actions were a little too close to taking advantage of Holly's innocence and his attitude toward Louise was stubborn and unfair.
The story is pretty straightforward with a predictable outcome with the exception of the secret between Jordan and Louise. Reading the series out of order spoiled this surprise for me
SM seems to reuse plot elements and at least a couple of them are a little unusual. We already saw the element where the invalid needing care forces the leads to live in the same house. We will see another unbelievably innocent maiden again in a later book. The hangup about not trusting recurs often.
Some nit picky logistical questions for those who like me crave at least a little reality: where did Holly get the money to survive for basically 10 years of on and off cancer treatment for her mother, not to mention loss of income? How did the store not get run down after years of neglect, again due to the cancer? When you are put of an apartment due to natural disaster, don't you get your deposit back? Holly is so naive in so many ways, where did this 28 year old who spent 10 years caring for her mother and knows nothing about men learn so much about antiques and Victorian houses and restoration? Jordan is very young to be a fire Captain. Going back in for a cat is enough to get suspended or fired in the real world and for a Captain to do it?
Mature themes: I thought some love scenes were even more explicit in this book than most of the other books. There is backstory reference to a father beating women and children.
This book stretches credibility even a little more than others in the series. For one thing, Holly is a virtually impossible character - she is naive beyond belief. Yet once I suspended that objection I enjoyed her innocence. It is fun to see situations through eyes that have never experienced them and can be awed by them. On the other hand, Holly's refusal to trust anyone gets annoying after a while since it is repeated constantly. It shouldn't have taken her long to see that this extended family was something beyond her experience and might indeed be worth trusting. Much of the charm of this book is in the family relationships of all the Haynes clan.
Holly's constant obsession with being fat is annoying, but unlike many reviewers, I can actually picture this since I have known actual women who complained about being fat when they were obviously the opposite.
At times I didn't like Jordan. Like Austin, to whom he is compared more than once, Jordan is self-absorbed. I thought his actions were a little too close to taking advantage of Holly's innocence and his attitude toward Louise was stubborn and unfair.
The story is pretty straightforward with a predictable outcome with the exception of the secret between Jordan and Louise. Reading the series out of order spoiled this surprise for me
SM seems to reuse plot elements and at least a couple of them are a little unusual. We already saw the element where the invalid needing care forces the leads to live in the same house. We will see another unbelievably innocent maiden again in a later book. The hangup about not trusting recurs often.
Some nit picky logistical questions for those who like me crave at least a little reality: where did Holly get the money to survive for basically 10 years of on and off cancer treatment for her mother, not to mention loss of income? How did the store not get run down after years of neglect, again due to the cancer? When you are put of an apartment due to natural disaster, don't you get your deposit back? Holly is so naive in so many ways, where did this 28 year old who spent 10 years caring for her mother and knows nothing about men learn so much about antiques and Victorian houses and restoration? Jordan is very young to be a fire Captain. Going back in for a cat is enough to get suspended or fired in the real world and for a Captain to do it?
Mature themes: I thought some love scenes were even more explicit in this book than most of the other books. There is backstory reference to a father beating women and children.
January 5, 2016
This book was not on my Christmas Reading List, but picked it up nevertheless, because it was in season. It's not a recent book, it was published over three years ago, but since I've read other books by Susan Mallery lately and enjoyed them, I thought I could fit it in anyway. Well, to be honest, I was a bit disappointed. In my opinion this is one of those books where the synopsis sounds a lot better than the story actually is.
It started out OK, but them a lot of details failed to add up. Jordan is injured when he falls from a balcony while rescuing Holly's cat. We never get to know the extent of his injuries. There's nothing broken, but he's bed ridden for a couple of weeks. Somehow, I fail to see a man like him bed ridden for just muscular issues. He's half-naked on the rented hospital-issue bed on the ground floor of his home because he can't get upstairs but there's no mention of any wounds. Not even bruises. And then he develops a high fever (twice). From what? Sorry, not convincing me. For the plot to work, Holly had to be in Jordan's house taking care of him, but I still feel his situation could have been portrayed a bit more realistically. Even a broken leg would have made more sense than having an alpha male in bed with sore muscles and a little fever...
And Holly? She's twenty eight, running a business by her own. She dealt with her mother's illness and had to assume a lot of responsibilities at an early age, and I liked her for it, but at times she sounded just like...well, just plain ignorant. It's not because she's a virgin at 28. That's a combination of her personal choices and all the setbacks life threw her way and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. I can't even put a finger on it, but she was really annoying at times. I expected a woman with her history to have a bot more backbone, and all the time she kept repeating she was fat, plain and totally out of Jordan's league and therefore not worthy of him.
My favorite character was the cat, Mistletoe. I can't resist a cute cat, especially one with kittens, but unfortunately that does not shine a positive light on the rest of the characters.
So, all in all, if you have nothing better to do, if you have a free afternoon and no other books to read, have a look at this one. Reviews at Amazon and Goodreads are a solid four stars, so other people clearly enjoyed the book more than I did. I know I'm a sucker for details and even though I love romance novels, I like stories to make sense from beginning to end, so maybe I'm biased there.
It started out OK, but them a lot of details failed to add up. Jordan is injured when he falls from a balcony while rescuing Holly's cat. We never get to know the extent of his injuries. There's nothing broken, but he's bed ridden for a couple of weeks. Somehow, I fail to see a man like him bed ridden for just muscular issues. He's half-naked on the rented hospital-issue bed on the ground floor of his home because he can't get upstairs but there's no mention of any wounds. Not even bruises. And then he develops a high fever (twice). From what? Sorry, not convincing me. For the plot to work, Holly had to be in Jordan's house taking care of him, but I still feel his situation could have been portrayed a bit more realistically. Even a broken leg would have made more sense than having an alpha male in bed with sore muscles and a little fever...
And Holly? She's twenty eight, running a business by her own. She dealt with her mother's illness and had to assume a lot of responsibilities at an early age, and I liked her for it, but at times she sounded just like...well, just plain ignorant. It's not because she's a virgin at 28. That's a combination of her personal choices and all the setbacks life threw her way and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. I can't even put a finger on it, but she was really annoying at times. I expected a woman with her history to have a bot more backbone, and all the time she kept repeating she was fat, plain and totally out of Jordan's league and therefore not worthy of him.
My favorite character was the cat, Mistletoe. I can't resist a cute cat, especially one with kittens, but unfortunately that does not shine a positive light on the rest of the characters.
So, all in all, if you have nothing better to do, if you have a free afternoon and no other books to read, have a look at this one. Reviews at Amazon and Goodreads are a solid four stars, so other people clearly enjoyed the book more than I did. I know I'm a sucker for details and even though I love romance novels, I like stories to make sense from beginning to end, so maybe I'm biased there.
April 20, 2013
A storm had claimed her apartment and now Holly Garrett was without a home for the holidays. But just when she couldn't see a 'merry' Christmas the handsome firefighter who'd saved her and her cat--and who'd injured himself in the rescue--was now asking her for help. Flat on his back for more than a month, he was inviting her to live with him, and could cook and keep him company, and be his nursemaid.
Jordan Haynes couldn't let Holly be alone for Christmas--not when she brought out his every protective instinct. No, he could play the needy patient as well as anyone...and just maybe he could convince her to keep him company at least through the holidays.
Holly is all alone in life. Her only family, her mother, died a year ago of breast cancer, after taking care of her for 10 years, since she was 15 years old. Now 25, and not 'familiar' with men and their ways, she was not trusting.
Jordan, having 4 brothers, and 4 sister in laws, had all the family he could take. His father, and mother, left when he was younger, and he has a problem with trust himself. But love, that was a dirty word. It only brought pain.
I really 'felt' for both of the main characters. I could understand where they were both coming from. But you had to get back on the proverbial horse! Right? I found that it was easy for all people to trust again, and/or love again. 5 stars!!!!!!!
Jordan Haynes couldn't let Holly be alone for Christmas--not when she brought out his every protective instinct. No, he could play the needy patient as well as anyone...and just maybe he could convince her to keep him company at least through the holidays.
Holly is all alone in life. Her only family, her mother, died a year ago of breast cancer, after taking care of her for 10 years, since she was 15 years old. Now 25, and not 'familiar' with men and their ways, she was not trusting.
Jordan, having 4 brothers, and 4 sister in laws, had all the family he could take. His father, and mother, left when he was younger, and he has a problem with trust himself. But love, that was a dirty word. It only brought pain.
I really 'felt' for both of the main characters. I could understand where they were both coming from. But you had to get back on the proverbial horse! Right? I found that it was easy for all people to trust again, and/or love again. 5 stars!!!!!!!
February 6, 2011
There are moments btwn Jordan and Molly sweet as cotton candy, in a good way.
The problem is you're never allowed to forget that this is part of a series, cause the darn family members keep showing up EVERYWHERE. Constantly meddling, making glib references to their own romances, or brow beating the main characters ( Tell her you love her why dont cha! Whatever you say, just don't break his heart....dun dun dun dun. You'll nevah evah evah find another like ___ ( insert name and prerequisite sassy finger snapping here)!). It was like one of those sorry ass country songs lol. The whole time I was reading the love scene, I was subconsciously waiting for one of them to climb in through the window playing the violin ala Lady and the Tramp.
The problem is you're never allowed to forget that this is part of a series, cause the darn family members keep showing up EVERYWHERE. Constantly meddling, making glib references to their own romances, or brow beating the main characters ( Tell her you love her why dont cha! Whatever you say, just don't break his heart....dun dun dun dun. You'll nevah evah evah find another like ___ ( insert name and prerequisite sassy finger snapping here)!). It was like one of those sorry ass country songs lol. The whole time I was reading the love scene, I was subconsciously waiting for one of them to climb in through the window playing the violin ala Lady and the Tramp.
December 5, 2013
A little slow to start, but a great finish! Nice Christmas story.
December 9, 2021
I don't even know what rating to give this book. Let me explain, it's a sweet Christmas book that for the most part I really enjoyed except one thing.
Holly is a virgin. Oh how I hate virgin books. Its too bad this book was so good because I would have flung it in the donation box half a dozen times. Is any woman ever as much of a virgin as this woman was? He had to tell her to wrap her arms around his neck when they were kissing. So she never saw any movie, TV show or music video? He asks her to take off her shirt and she with honest confusion says, " why?". It is so rediculous I am starting to wonder if women don't have some weird virgin kink and stuff like this gets them going.
Ok enough of that. The story. Holly's apartment is being destroyed by flood water and she is rescued but not her cat Mistletoe ( who is grey but she got her at Christmas so I'll allow it) Jordan the firefighter goes back in yo a building that is collapsing to save her. Once they are on the balcony the contrary cat fights with him and he goes over the railing to the ground below.
Now Jordan is bedridden for two weeks to mend. He either bunks with one of his brothers at holiday time or lets Louise a family friend that he despises stay with him and play nursemaid. He chooses the second. A little bit later Holly comes by with cookies to thank him. She offers to sit with him while Louise goes to evening classes.
Thus begins a beautiful love story of two people who are terrified of love and trust but grow closer regardless. All of the non virgin scenes are very sweet. The book could have been mostly the same without her being a virgin.
The secret of Louise is what truly brings every aspect of the story together. It helps bring a lot of closure to pain that all the Haynes boys have carried.
I dunno. 3.5? Rounded up to 4 because Christmas.
Holly is a virgin. Oh how I hate virgin books. Its too bad this book was so good because I would have flung it in the donation box half a dozen times. Is any woman ever as much of a virgin as this woman was? He had to tell her to wrap her arms around his neck when they were kissing. So she never saw any movie, TV show or music video? He asks her to take off her shirt and she with honest confusion says, " why?". It is so rediculous I am starting to wonder if women don't have some weird virgin kink and stuff like this gets them going.
Ok enough of that. The story. Holly's apartment is being destroyed by flood water and she is rescued but not her cat Mistletoe ( who is grey but she got her at Christmas so I'll allow it) Jordan the firefighter goes back in yo a building that is collapsing to save her. Once they are on the balcony the contrary cat fights with him and he goes over the railing to the ground below.
Now Jordan is bedridden for two weeks to mend. He either bunks with one of his brothers at holiday time or lets Louise a family friend that he despises stay with him and play nursemaid. He chooses the second. A little bit later Holly comes by with cookies to thank him. She offers to sit with him while Louise goes to evening classes.
Thus begins a beautiful love story of two people who are terrified of love and trust but grow closer regardless. All of the non virgin scenes are very sweet. The book could have been mostly the same without her being a virgin.
The secret of Louise is what truly brings every aspect of the story together. It helps bring a lot of closure to pain that all the Haynes boys have carried.
I dunno. 3.5? Rounded up to 4 because Christmas.
December 14, 2023
I had fun reading this but not for good reasons. I do like that Holly is so passionate about her job and interest in restoring Victorian houses.
Okay, now here are some issues I didn't like....
-It is set in the nineties but Holly acts like she is a 12 year old girl raised in a convent....??? Her extreme naivete is truly baffling for a 28 year old woman. She says she's only seen a man without a shirt on in tv and magazines...has she never been to a pool or beach?
- every few pages the author needs to remind us that Holly is no more and no less than exactly 15 pounds overweight and this is a major factor in why she has no confidence at all......boo, I hated this. It does seem on brand for the mid 2000s though unfortunately.
-always using male/female instead of man/woman....I thought that was a new fantasy genre thing but I guess it was popular back on 2005 as well. Gross.
-Louise is the housekeeper/nanny for the extended family. She's only 45 but she and the other characters act as though she's 90 years old...I don't understand.
-Trying not to spoil anything...but there's a character who has an affair at age 17 with a married adult man and everyone is blaming her and not calling out the man for being a pedophile?!
-the romance isn't that convincing
-the spice scenes are not good but I did have a lot of laughs
-I wish the cat Mistletoe played a more prominent role.
Okay, now here are some issues I didn't like....
-It is set in the nineties but Holly acts like she is a 12 year old girl raised in a convent....??? Her extreme naivete is truly baffling for a 28 year old woman. She says she's only seen a man without a shirt on in tv and magazines...has she never been to a pool or beach?
- every few pages the author needs to remind us that Holly is no more and no less than exactly 15 pounds overweight and this is a major factor in why she has no confidence at all......boo, I hated this. It does seem on brand for the mid 2000s though unfortunately.
-always using male/female instead of man/woman....I thought that was a new fantasy genre thing but I guess it was popular back on 2005 as well. Gross.
-Louise is the housekeeper/nanny for the extended family. She's only 45 but she and the other characters act as though she's 90 years old...I don't understand.
-Trying not to spoil anything...but there's a character who has an affair at age 17 with a married adult man and everyone is blaming her and not calling out the man for being a pedophile?!
-the romance isn't that convincing
-the spice scenes are not good but I did have a lot of laughs
-I wish the cat Mistletoe played a more prominent role.
February 12, 2019
A contemporary romance between a firefighter who is afraid to love and a young woman who has trust issues is this offering from Susan Mallery.
Holly meets Jordan when a storm destroys her apartment, and he rescues her cat Mistletoe, but in so doing, he is injured. Feeling guilty for his injury, she does her best to visit and do minor nursing care for him. When he finds out she is living in her store at night, he invites her to stay with him (chaperoned, of course...she is, after all, a virgin, and he, a gentleman) until after Christmas and her new place is ready.
A slow https://juleslongerstrandsofgems.word... romance with heart and some spicy scenes makes for smiles. Can she learn to trust Jordan? Can he let go of his fear of love? Will they have a happily ever after, or will their issues doom this couple?
Mistletoe is a welcome change from novels tending to feature dogs. His brothers and their families make for an upbeat holiday romance.
4.5 stars
Holly meets Jordan when a storm destroys her apartment, and he rescues her cat Mistletoe, but in so doing, he is injured. Feeling guilty for his injury, she does her best to visit and do minor nursing care for him. When he finds out she is living in her store at night, he invites her to stay with him (chaperoned, of course...she is, after all, a virgin, and he, a gentleman) until after Christmas and her new place is ready.
A slow https://juleslongerstrandsofgems.word... romance with heart and some spicy scenes makes for smiles. Can she learn to trust Jordan? Can he let go of his fear of love? Will they have a happily ever after, or will their issues doom this couple?
Mistletoe is a welcome change from novels tending to feature dogs. His brothers and their families make for an upbeat holiday romance.
4.5 stars
December 25, 2022
WTF? Even if this was written in the 90ies, nobody could actually be that naive. Holly is so naive that it hurts - but it is depicted as shy and innocent which makes everything worse, especially the sex scenes (which themselves were written well and since I had missed them in the last book I've written by Susan, I would have been glad to have them included if Holly would have been less naive). And the plot itself, I get sick of man thinking they are doomed to be exactly like their asshole fathers. Actually, I'm sick of all the people excusing their own stupid behaviour because some supposedly trauma in the past - this is downplaying real trauma. So, as sad as it is - and I hope I will remember next Christmas - no more Susan Mallery novels for me.
December 22, 2020
This was part of a Christmas anthology but I feel it's also part of a series which I haven't read so I felt like I should know about the characters before I read it. However, it is fine as a standalone, and background details are given which inform the reading, even if at times it makes the book a bit longer than it could be. At times also it was a bit repetitive, and Holly was not the greatest heroine, she was far too naive and it made me roll my eyes at her ridiculously inept ways with Jordan. But it had a decent Christmas feel and the traditional big family in a big house trope was followed, and there was a snarky cat so it was okay.
December 16, 2019
Another great read by Ms. Mallery. Holly is alone with her cat Mistletoe when her apartment burns and Jordan is the one to rescue her and her cat. He is hurt in the fire and she finds herself living in his old Victorian house and nursing him back to health. He has vowed never to fall in love because of what his parents done to him and his brothers and she thinks she will never trust again. Of course, they are both wrong. Truly enjoyed this series.
February 5, 2022
Innocent Holly’s apartment has been damaged by a tree in a storm, and firefighter Jordan rescues her cat, Mistletoe. He suffers a fall in the process and is laid up at home for weeks. Holly goes to thank him, and ends up staying in his large home, keeping him company, and as you’d expect, falling for him. But does Jordan want to become involved with a shy young woman like Holly? Cute Christmas read.
January 5, 2023
Read as a Xmas read that has dragged into the New Year. As per the previous book in this collection, I struggled with the over the top will they / won't they aspect, while enjoying other parts of the storyline. A 28 year old virgin who has never even apparently seen a condom in her life nor had an orgasm before? A man so scarred from his childhood he has vowed never to love but is apparently also the perfect gentleman and lover? Hmmm... having said that, I still read it to the end.
November 1, 2025
Rated on romance scale.
There's a reason I haven't re-read this one in years when I've reread several others in the series regularly (Craig's and the half sister's - blanking on her name). It's fine, but Jordan gets over his loathing of Louise way too quickly, and Holly gets over her fear of trusting someone. The cat being mad at Jordan adds interest, and it's always good to check in with the Haynes family!
There's a reason I haven't re-read this one in years when I've reread several others in the series regularly (Craig's and the half sister's - blanking on her name). It's fine, but Jordan gets over his loathing of Louise way too quickly, and Holly gets over her fear of trusting someone. The cat being mad at Jordan adds interest, and it's always good to check in with the Haynes family!
January 23, 2020
This was a sweet little romance. Jordan was a firefighter who save Holly‘a cat after a storm destroyed her home! He was injured and Holly went to stay with him and help take care of him. She was innocent never having been with a man and he was very cynical about love because of his father. I enjoyed the sweetness of it. Guess I was just in the mood for sweet and innocent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2020
I’m a Susan Mallery fan, but this was clearly not a story I would recommend. I didn’t realize it was written in the 90’s until I opened it up to read....knowing that, I can usually reset my mental timetable of expectations...having done that, I still rated this as a 2 when really it is probably more of a high 1 star story.
January 6, 2025
Story between a Firefighter male lead, which visibly displays his characteristics. Basically, He's strong. And a gullible virgin of a female lead, you can tell how this story is gonna take us. I liked the romance between the two but the this book is like tradition, made her storyline innocent and all gullible like shes already in her 30's, you can be a virgin but know some things.
December 29, 2017
Great book. Light hearted and laugh out loud funny. This is number six in the series but it the first one I have read and I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading the first Five. Looking forward to reading the others. Great read.
December 31, 2021
Heartbreaker No. 5
The continuation of the Haynes brothers, as the fourth brother finally takes a chance in love was great. Sometimes, it seemed a little slow but as you read on it was worth waiting for the sweet conclusion.
The continuation of the Haynes brothers, as the fourth brother finally takes a chance in love was great. Sometimes, it seemed a little slow but as you read on it was worth waiting for the sweet conclusion.
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January 8, 2022
Habe schon einige Susan Mallery Romane gelesen, hier war ich allerdings enttäuscht. Der Schreibstil und die Story waren längst nicht so pfiffig und flüssig wie gewohnt und erwartet.
Seicht genug zum Abschalten, aber längst nicht so fesselnd wie andere Mallery-Romane
Seicht genug zum Abschalten, aber längst nicht so fesselnd wie andere Mallery-Romane
November 24, 2022
Leder hat mir das Hörbuch nicht so gut gefallen, wie ihre anderen Geschichten.
Mit Weihnachten hatte diese Geschichte herrlich wenig zu tun. Aber ach die Protagonisten fand ich sehr unglaubwürdig und de ganze Story sehr an den Haaren herbei gezogen
Mit Weihnachten hatte diese Geschichte herrlich wenig zu tun. Aber ach die Protagonisten fand ich sehr unglaubwürdig und de ganze Story sehr an den Haaren herbei gezogen
November 16, 2017
3.5 stars
November 20, 2017
Amusing, but not much substance.
December 12, 2017
Somewhat slow without much going on
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