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Holidays with the Wongs #4
A Big Surprise for Valentine's Day
Listening length 3 hours 25 minutes
Amber Wong has landed her dream job at the Stratford Festival, and life is looking good. Sure, she hasn’t had sex in so long that her condoms have expired, but she’ll just pick up some new ones, along with some discounted Christmas chocolate, at the grocery store.
And that’s where she runs into Dr. Sebastian Lam, the son of her parents’ close friends, whom she hasn’t seen in years. He’s moved back to Ontario, newly single, and… Oh my God. He’s really hot.
The attraction is mutual and no-strings-attached sex is the perfect arrangement for both of them, since Amber has sworn off dating after a string of terrible boyfriends.
But what if their families find out they’re spending time together and start interfering in their lives? That would be a disaster.
Even worse? If they develop feelings for each other, given a relationship is the last thing Amber wants right now…
Amber Wong has landed her dream job at the Stratford Festival, and life is looking good. Sure, she hasn’t had sex in so long that her condoms have expired, but she’ll just pick up some new ones, along with some discounted Christmas chocolate, at the grocery store.
And that’s where she runs into Dr. Sebastian Lam, the son of her parents’ close friends, whom she hasn’t seen in years. He’s moved back to Ontario, newly single, and… Oh my God. He’s really hot.
The attraction is mutual and no-strings-attached sex is the perfect arrangement for both of them, since Amber has sworn off dating after a string of terrible boyfriends.
But what if their families find out they’re spending time together and start interfering in their lives? That would be a disaster.
Even worse? If they develop feelings for each other, given a relationship is the last thing Amber wants right now…
3 pages, Audio CD
First published February 4, 2020
22 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Lau
39 books864 followersJackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
February 3, 2022
this whole series was really delightful
perfect short holiday read
perfect short holiday read
March 1, 2021
I have really liked both books I've read in this "Holiday" series. The Wongs are a funny family, especially the Grandmother! =) This is Amber's romance with Sebastian. She has 3 older brothers and is the only girl in the family. Amber is a fun character and I really enjoyed reading about her. Amber and Sebastian have known each other since they were children, and their families know each other. Although she hasn't seen him in many years, they meet up by accident in the Grocery store. They start up a "friend with benefits" arrangement and it just goes from there. Loving this series!
June 9, 2020
This was so good! Between the awkward sex, the sex toys, and the hero telling his mom off, I was fully on board with this. Definitely recommend.
February 16, 2020
A fun and sexy read!
Find a few thoughts/quotes I shared while reading this one: https://twitter.com/The_Book_Queen/st...
Find a few thoughts/quotes I shared while reading this one: https://twitter.com/The_Book_Queen/st...
February 1, 2022
I was rooting for this pair from their meet cute buying condoms. Lau is playing with some opposites attract, although we discover that they aren’t all that opposite, in addition to her other tropes of the aforementioned Older Brother’s Friend and Friends with Benefits. Amber is taking steps to correct missteps in her past, Sebastian is letting himself discover what he wants his life to be, and they are each working on healthy boundaries with their families while staying connected (something that can be difficult even under the best of circumstances). They are also hot for each other, and kind. These novellas have never wanted on the Steamy front, but Lau puts the peddle down on this one and keeps going for its crisp hundred pages.
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
re-read review, 2022: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
full review: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
re-read review, 2022: https://faintingviolet.wordpress.com/...
July 14, 2024
Kobo + Contemporary Romance Challenge 2024. The last book in the series about the Wongs. Tropes: RomCom, Canadian Romance, Ethnic -Chinese Canadian, Matchmaker.
MC's Amber Wong and Sebastian Lam.
The four couples that Ya Mah says she matched: Greg and Tasha, Nick and Lily, Zach and Jo, Amber & Sebastian.
Amber and Sebastian met in the Drugstore in their city Stratford. They have known each other since childhood and their parents are friends. Amber works as a Social Media Advertiser for the Stratford Festival ( her dream job). Sebastian moved back to Ontario and opened his first Medical Practice in Stratford close to his folks but not too close. Amber's #1 Rule is no dating, as she has failed big time in the love department. She is interested in just hooking up with someone for sex only. Sebastian and Amber are both buying condoms. She is picking regular ones and he is picking large ones. He puts the large ones in her basket and gives her his cell number and tells her to call him.They hook up but make sure their families don't find out until they do. Very humorous with lots of sex. I gave this 3.5 stars out of 5. The epilogues is great.
MC's Amber Wong and Sebastian Lam.
The four couples that Ya Mah says she matched: Greg and Tasha, Nick and Lily, Zach and Jo, Amber & Sebastian.
Amber and Sebastian met in the Drugstore in their city Stratford. They have known each other since childhood and their parents are friends. Amber works as a Social Media Advertiser for the Stratford Festival ( her dream job). Sebastian moved back to Ontario and opened his first Medical Practice in Stratford close to his folks but not too close. Amber's #1 Rule is no dating, as she has failed big time in the love department. She is interested in just hooking up with someone for sex only. Sebastian and Amber are both buying condoms. She is picking regular ones and he is picking large ones. He puts the large ones in her basket and gives her his cell number and tells her to call him.They hook up but make sure their families don't find out until they do. Very humorous with lots of sex. I gave this 3.5 stars out of 5. The epilogues is great.
November 2, 2020
Un corto libro de romance en el que un hombre y una mujer deciden ser amigos con beneficios y empiezan a enamorarse. Me pareció muy linda la historia ya que tenemos a 2 personas que están disfrutando su relación y deciden explorar algo más. Lo único que no me gusta de los libros de esta autora es que los personajes se dan cuenta de forma muy abrupta que están enamorados y meh
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February 28, 2020
Jackie Lau’s lighthearted romantic comedy series Holidays with the Wongs concludes with A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day. I’ve enjoyed all the titles in the series as each of the Wong siblings has found a partner and now it’s youngest sibling Amber’s turn.
For more of this review please visit All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
For more of this review please visit All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
A copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
January 22, 2020
It is no secret that I have become a fan of Jackie Lau in the past year. I reviewed 8 of her books last year and am looking forward to reading and reviewing more in the future. I received A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day as an arc from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve enjoyed the entire Holidays with the Wong series. Lau set out to write a series that ticked a lot of boxes – small town romance, holiday romance, racially diverse romance, low stakes and playing with tropes. I think she makes it all work. Amber Wong and Sebastian Lam may be my favorite of her pairings since Chloe and Drew in Ice Cream Lover.
In the first book of the series, the Wong matriarchs, Rosemary and Ah Ma, decide the Wong siblings aren’t doing enough to find significant others. Utilizing romance novel tropes they arrange blind dates for Canadian Thanksgiving dinner: Opposites Attract, Second Chance at Love, Friend’s Younger Sister, and a fourth one that I can’t remember. None of the original pairings were successful, because families shouldn’t interfere in each other’s lives uninvited. The series continues to play with tropes. In A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day, we get Older Brother’s Friend and Booty Call to True Love. Though the original act of mass match-making sets the stage for each of the Wong siblings to find their true loves, the act itself breaks some of the trust in the family. The family is close, but each of the kids makes sure that they aren’t too close and maintain healthy boundaries.
Amber is the baby of the Wong family and the only girl. She has a reputation in her family and in Mosquito Bay, the tiny town in which she grew up, as being a bit wild. She doesn’t think she was any more wild than her older brother Zach. She stopped dating about a year ago because she kept dating the worst boyfriends. She even made herself a cross-stitch sampler that says “Queen of the Bad Boyfriends.”One of Zach’s good friends was Sebastian Lam. Sebastian was a good boy who got good grades and went to medical school. He and his long time girlfriend broke up when he decided to move back to Ontario. Amber and Sebastian meet in the grocery store buying condoms. They flirt and Sebastian puts some condoms and lube in Amber’s basket and gives her his phone number. They agree to be no strings attached sex buddies, but of course they develop feelings for each other.
Right now Lau is really cornering the low conflict + smoking hot sex corner of the romance market. Sebastian is, as Amber says, “thoughtful and considerate in the bedroom…in a totally ungentlemanly way.” In classic Lau fashion, Amber and Sebastian are kind to one another, go out of their way to share things they enjoy, appreciate each other for who they are. Another hallmark of a Lau romance is good food well described. If your lover isn’t garnishing your morning after breakfast with strawberries, consider getting a new lover.
A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day is out February 4. The whole series is lovely, but if you can only read one, this is the one.
I’ve enjoyed the entire Holidays with the Wong series. Lau set out to write a series that ticked a lot of boxes – small town romance, holiday romance, racially diverse romance, low stakes and playing with tropes. I think she makes it all work. Amber Wong and Sebastian Lam may be my favorite of her pairings since Chloe and Drew in Ice Cream Lover.
In the first book of the series, the Wong matriarchs, Rosemary and Ah Ma, decide the Wong siblings aren’t doing enough to find significant others. Utilizing romance novel tropes they arrange blind dates for Canadian Thanksgiving dinner: Opposites Attract, Second Chance at Love, Friend’s Younger Sister, and a fourth one that I can’t remember. None of the original pairings were successful, because families shouldn’t interfere in each other’s lives uninvited. The series continues to play with tropes. In A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day, we get Older Brother’s Friend and Booty Call to True Love. Though the original act of mass match-making sets the stage for each of the Wong siblings to find their true loves, the act itself breaks some of the trust in the family. The family is close, but each of the kids makes sure that they aren’t too close and maintain healthy boundaries.
Amber is the baby of the Wong family and the only girl. She has a reputation in her family and in Mosquito Bay, the tiny town in which she grew up, as being a bit wild. She doesn’t think she was any more wild than her older brother Zach. She stopped dating about a year ago because she kept dating the worst boyfriends. She even made herself a cross-stitch sampler that says “Queen of the Bad Boyfriends.”One of Zach’s good friends was Sebastian Lam. Sebastian was a good boy who got good grades and went to medical school. He and his long time girlfriend broke up when he decided to move back to Ontario. Amber and Sebastian meet in the grocery store buying condoms. They flirt and Sebastian puts some condoms and lube in Amber’s basket and gives her his phone number. They agree to be no strings attached sex buddies, but of course they develop feelings for each other.
Right now Lau is really cornering the low conflict + smoking hot sex corner of the romance market. Sebastian is, as Amber says, “thoughtful and considerate in the bedroom…in a totally ungentlemanly way.” In classic Lau fashion, Amber and Sebastian are kind to one another, go out of their way to share things they enjoy, appreciate each other for who they are. Another hallmark of a Lau romance is good food well described. If your lover isn’t garnishing your morning after breakfast with strawberries, consider getting a new lover.
A Big Surprise for Valentine’s Day is out February 4. The whole series is lovely, but if you can only read one, this is the one.
January 29, 2020
Amber Wong has given up dating for almost a year, but she's really missing sex. Deciding she's ready to take on some casual flings, she goes to the pharmacy to replace her expired condoms and runs into her old family friend Dr. Sebastian Lam. Awkward. Or is it? Dr. Lam has glowed up into a fine specimen and some flirting leads to him throwing Magnum condoms into her basket, with a promise that yes, he actually does need them.
They agree to try out a sex-only relationship and their families absolutely cannot know. But as Valentine's Day draws near and despite a slight hiccup with Sebastian's dick actually almost being TOO BIG, they find themselves actually dating. And having feelings.
Dick donuts, sex toys, and waist coasts used as lingerie, this is a fun and steamy holiday novella.
I did find myself looking for a bit more character development, especially in Sebastian's case. I wanted to get a bit more of his personality besides being a "perfect son" He's obviously very into Amber but I wanted to get to know him more. Amber's family is a hoot and I love them.
*I received a free ARC for review from the author, thank you!
They agree to try out a sex-only relationship and their families absolutely cannot know. But as Valentine's Day draws near and despite a slight hiccup with Sebastian's dick actually almost being TOO BIG, they find themselves actually dating. And having feelings.
Dick donuts, sex toys, and waist coasts used as lingerie, this is a fun and steamy holiday novella.
I did find myself looking for a bit more character development, especially in Sebastian's case. I wanted to get a bit more of his personality besides being a "perfect son" He's obviously very into Amber but I wanted to get to know him more. Amber's family is a hoot and I love them.
*I received a free ARC for review from the author, thank you!
October 29, 2021
I loved the way this book focused on a heroine who is very sex-positive and looking for sex to satisfy her needs while she deals with working through some of her relationship issues before entering another one. I struggled, though, with the power imbalance of her then starting a sex friendship with a guy who quickly falls in love with her while she doesn't want to be in anything serious (although, again, I love the rep of it being the heroine rather than the hero in this position here). This book also leans a little closer to the erotica side of romance than I prefer, but it's still a sweet story and a good ending to the series.
February 12, 2022
As a whole, this series of holiday novellas featuring the Wong family is so much fun and a great time. While this book wasn’t my favorite in the series, it still had its moments. Amber has had the worst luck at dating and has been on a self-enforced time out from dating for the past year. But she is missing the physical side of a relationship and while deciding to be prepared by stocking up on condoms at the grocery store, right along with adding discounted Christmas chocolates to her cart, she runs into Sebastian. Sebastian’s family is good friends with hers and he was one of her brother’s close friends growing up. Having not seen one another in the past decade they both kind of see one another in a new light, in the condom aisle. 😆 They quickly decide to jump into a friends with benefits situation, where dating is off the table but sex toys and kinky fun with food are on the table. These two were hilarious together and I enjoyed the moments with her family as well.
February 15, 2022
A great end to the Holidays with the Wongs holiday romance series! Amber and Sebastian meet in a grocery store in Stratford and agree to try out a no-strings attached arrangement. Very STEAMY and full of fun family antics. This was a great read. Definitely recommend this whole series. I especially love all the local references!
August 31, 2024
This is another great book in the Holiday with the Wongs series. It was a lot of fun, and quite spicy. I loved all the southern Ontario references.
Want to read
January 7, 2020pre-order from Amazon.
January 27, 2020
I am probably one of the last people to discover the Lunar New Year romance readathon on Twitter (#lnyreadathon20) and yes, what a fantastic way to kick off the new year. My Chinese New Year resolution is read more romance, specifically more Asian romances and more Asian authors, so this is totally on point. This steamy Valentine's Day romp is perfect for the readathon, even for people
who are anti-Valentine's Day.
4.25 stars
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this eARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
who are anti-Valentine's Day.
Amber Wong was the Queen of Bad Boyfriends. She even had a cross-stitch that said so.As the only daughter with three brothers, Amber is smart, feisty, confident and ... has terrible taste in boyfriends. So armed with a "Rule #1: No Dating" cross-stitch and a fabulous sex positive attitude, Amber embarks on a year of sex only, no relationships. Too bad for her plans, Amber runs straight into the very serious, very over achieving, very off limits family friend Sebastian Lam.
Sebastian had always been a good kid. His mother had bragged about him constantly, much to Amber’s annoyance. He’d been a great student, excellent piano player, and then he’d gone to med school. Holy shit, when had Mr. Perfect Son gotten so hot?I loved their awkward meet-again-cute when Amber tries to call Sebastian out for having Magnum condoms in his grocery basket. . And especially how Sebastian, in the most awkward-suave move, makes his play:
He swallowed. “How about this. I’ll give you my number, and if you decide you want to find out whether I actually need those condoms...” He glanced meaningfully at the box he’d put in her basket. “Send me a text, okay?”Filthy fun ensues, with donuts, sex toys, grapefruit, sexting, and even a peek at Amber's family's dirty Pictionary night (from brother Zach's book A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year). Even with Sebastian's disapproving parents, it becomes impossible for Sebastian and Amber not to fall in love.
It was unfair, really, that he got to be Mr. Perfect Son and be so good at sex.One final and very important note: not only did Jackie Lau give us a sexually confident Asian heroine, she also gave us her perfect Asian hero to match. Size queen jokes aside, the realistic descriptions of Sebastian ensuring Amber's comfort and pleasure showed what a "real man" he really was. No over the top macho alpha posturing about his anatomy, Sebastian was every bit as "kind and filthy and enthusiastic" as Amber described him.
4.25 stars
Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this eARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2021
A Big Surprise for Valentine's Day was a delightful read featuring a romance that starts as a no-strings-attached affair that quickly turns into more.
Amber Wong's life is looking up, she's landed her dream job and is enjoying living in Ontario. Unfortunately her sex life isn't going as well and she hasn't had sex in so long that her condoms have expired. When Amber goes to the grocery store to pick up some discounted Christmas chocolates, she decides to grab some new condoms. While there she runs into Sebastian Lam, the son of her parents' friends, whom she hasn't seen in years. The attraction between them is instantaneous and they decide no-strings-attached sex is the perfect arrangement as long as they can keep from developing feelings for each other. But if their families find out about their arrangement, they're sure to interfere in their lives.
Amber and Sebastian's meet cute in the family planning aisle of the grocery store was quite funny and perfectly sets the tone for the pair's romance. They begin their no-strings relationship fairly quickly after that but their first time doesn't go quite as planned when Sebastian literally doesn't fit. The two end up getting creative and the scene was quite steamy as are the others in the book. This book is fairly explicit which is how I prefer my romances, so I was happy on that front. While the two are having their no-strings sex, they form a great friendship which provided a nice foundation when their relationship becomes something more. Amber was hesitant to admit she developed feelings for Sebastian, but her reasoning for that made sense so I wasn't too frustrated by that. Overall I was very happy with the pair's romance.
The Wong family is one of my favorites in contemporary romance series and they continued to be just as fantastic in this installment as the previous ones. One of my favorite scenes was a brunch between Amber, her mother, and her grandmother wherein her grandmother proceeded to get very drunk off of piña coladas which was hilarious. I love the family's meddling, so if you enjoy super involved families in your romances then this series is perfect for that.
Overall A Big Surprise for Valentine's Day was an amazing conclusion to the series and I highly recommend these books if you're looking for some fun holiday themed romances.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Amber Wong's life is looking up, she's landed her dream job and is enjoying living in Ontario. Unfortunately her sex life isn't going as well and she hasn't had sex in so long that her condoms have expired. When Amber goes to the grocery store to pick up some discounted Christmas chocolates, she decides to grab some new condoms. While there she runs into Sebastian Lam, the son of her parents' friends, whom she hasn't seen in years. The attraction between them is instantaneous and they decide no-strings-attached sex is the perfect arrangement as long as they can keep from developing feelings for each other. But if their families find out about their arrangement, they're sure to interfere in their lives.
Amber and Sebastian's meet cute in the family planning aisle of the grocery store was quite funny and perfectly sets the tone for the pair's romance. They begin their no-strings relationship fairly quickly after that but their first time doesn't go quite as planned when Sebastian literally doesn't fit. The two end up getting creative and the scene was quite steamy as are the others in the book. This book is fairly explicit which is how I prefer my romances, so I was happy on that front. While the two are having their no-strings sex, they form a great friendship which provided a nice foundation when their relationship becomes something more. Amber was hesitant to admit she developed feelings for Sebastian, but her reasoning for that made sense so I wasn't too frustrated by that. Overall I was very happy with the pair's romance.
The Wong family is one of my favorites in contemporary romance series and they continued to be just as fantastic in this installment as the previous ones. One of my favorite scenes was a brunch between Amber, her mother, and her grandmother wherein her grandmother proceeded to get very drunk off of piña coladas which was hilarious. I love the family's meddling, so if you enjoy super involved families in your romances then this series is perfect for that.
Overall A Big Surprise for Valentine's Day was an amazing conclusion to the series and I highly recommend these books if you're looking for some fun holiday themed romances.
**I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
November 28, 2024
A Big Surprise for Valentine's Day by Jackie Lau
Holidays with the Wongs #4
3h 26m narrated by Kristine Rivière, 139 pages
Genre: Romance > Contemporary Romance; Cultural > Canada, Asian; Holiday > Valentine's Day, Humor
Featuring: Stratford, Waterloo, and London, Ontario, Canada; Biracial MC, Family Friends, Multigenerational Family Drama, Sex- Detailed, Chinese Canadians, Secret Hookups, January, Vancouver, February, Denial, Chinese New Year, Easter, Macrophallic
Rating as a movie: XXx for strong sexual content
Songs for the soundtrack: "Lonely" by Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco
Books & Authors mentioned: William Shakespeare,
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😯😲💝☕️🍩🌹💌
My thoughts: This was very good. It starts where the last book ends and then recaps, so it's still set mostly in January and it was fun to see other Ontario cities.
Recommend to others?: Yes. This was a nice series.
Holidays with the Wongs
1. A Match Made for Thanksgiving (2019)
2. A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas (2019)
3. A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year (2020)
4. A Big Surprise for Valentine's Day (2020)
Holidays with the Wongs #4
3h 26m narrated by Kristine Rivière, 139 pages
Genre: Romance > Contemporary Romance; Cultural > Canada, Asian; Holiday > Valentine's Day, Humor
Featuring: Stratford, Waterloo, and London, Ontario, Canada; Biracial MC, Family Friends, Multigenerational Family Drama, Sex- Detailed, Chinese Canadians, Secret Hookups, January, Vancouver, February, Denial, Chinese New Year, Easter, Macrophallic
Rating as a movie: XXx for strong sexual content
Songs for the soundtrack: "Lonely" by Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco
Books & Authors mentioned: William Shakespeare,
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😯😲💝☕️🍩🌹💌
My thoughts: This was very good. It starts where the last book ends and then recaps, so it's still set mostly in January and it was fun to see other Ontario cities.
Recommend to others?: Yes. This was a nice series.
Holidays with the Wongs
1. A Match Made for Thanksgiving (2019)
2. A Second Chance Road Trip for Christmas (2019)
3. A Fake Girlfriend for Chinese New Year (2020)
4. A Big Surprise for Valentine's Day (2020)
June 11, 2020
3.5
Another fun entry in Lau's category-length series about the Wong siblings, all of whom are facing pressure from their mixed-race Canadian family to find suitable romantic partners. Youngest sibling Amber has a reputation as a wild child, one largely unearned and not really applicable now that she's a mature 26. So when she begins a friends-with-benefits only relationship with Sebastian, a friend of her older brother's whom she hasn't seen in nine years, both she and he know to keep things on the low-down when it comes to their families. Lots of surprisingly hot sex later (Sebastian has always been a good immigrant son, and now works as a doctor, so Amber had her doubts), both Sebastian and Amber are enjoying each other immensely. So much that each is starting to catch feels. An unexpected family visit throws their budding relationship into doubt, but without much angst ties are reestablished, and affection (and sexy times) flourish.
Lau laughs at the hijinks of interfering families, and cultural collisions between old culture and new in the elder, first-generation immigrant relations, but her laughter is always affectionate, never condescending.
Another fun entry in Lau's category-length series about the Wong siblings, all of whom are facing pressure from their mixed-race Canadian family to find suitable romantic partners. Youngest sibling Amber has a reputation as a wild child, one largely unearned and not really applicable now that she's a mature 26. So when she begins a friends-with-benefits only relationship with Sebastian, a friend of her older brother's whom she hasn't seen in nine years, both she and he know to keep things on the low-down when it comes to their families. Lots of surprisingly hot sex later (Sebastian has always been a good immigrant son, and now works as a doctor, so Amber had her doubts), both Sebastian and Amber are enjoying each other immensely. So much that each is starting to catch feels. An unexpected family visit throws their budding relationship into doubt, but without much angst ties are reestablished, and affection (and sexy times) flourish.
Lau laughs at the hijinks of interfering families, and cultural collisions between old culture and new in the elder, first-generation immigrant relations, but her laughter is always affectionate, never condescending.
January 13, 2023
This was the last of the four holiday novellas Lau released, and I thought this whole series was really fun.
That said, A Big Surprise was probably my least favorite of the four - but I gave all three other books either four or five stars, so a 3.5 is still pretty decent. There were a lot of things I really liked about this one, but a few things that gave me pause.
The meet-cute in the grocery store and the openness and banter about buying condoms: A+
BUT, there was not a lot of character development for Sebastian. Though it was great that he stood up to his parents when it came to not disparaging Amber.
Lau's books are generally pretty open-door when it comes to sex, BUT because this one was about Amber wanting a sex buddy and not a boyfriend, there is a LOT more (very explicit) sex than in other Lau books I've read. Take that as you will.
Great communication, low-angst, heroine has hobbies and interests and friends outside the relationship - all A+.
That said, A Big Surprise was probably my least favorite of the four - but I gave all three other books either four or five stars, so a 3.5 is still pretty decent. There were a lot of things I really liked about this one, but a few things that gave me pause.
The meet-cute in the grocery store and the openness and banter about buying condoms: A+
BUT, there was not a lot of character development for Sebastian. Though it was great that he stood up to his parents when it came to not disparaging Amber.
Lau's books are generally pretty open-door when it comes to sex, BUT because this one was about Amber wanting a sex buddy and not a boyfriend, there is a LOT more (very explicit) sex than in other Lau books I've read. Take that as you will.
Great communication, low-angst, heroine has hobbies and interests and friends outside the relationship - all A+.
February 10, 2020
rep: Chinese Canadian mcs, f/f side couple, Black Canadian side character, Japanese Canadian side character
I'm surprised that I have not read this book on its publishing date as I always do. This concludes the series of Holiday with the Wongs in a nice way. Even though it's good at what it wants to deliver, it was not my favorite series Jackie Lau has written. I'm still excited to see what she will do next.
But I did like the friendship Amber had with her best friends and how supportive they are. I really want to see that kind of friendship in books.
Tropes:
• age gap (she's 26, he's 30. He's her older brother's friend)
• artistic mc (she loves to cook, crochet and embroidery)
• food used in a way I was not prepared for
• sex buddy
I'm surprised that I have not read this book on its publishing date as I always do. This concludes the series of Holiday with the Wongs in a nice way. Even though it's good at what it wants to deliver, it was not my favorite series Jackie Lau has written. I'm still excited to see what she will do next.
But I did like the friendship Amber had with her best friends and how supportive they are. I really want to see that kind of friendship in books.
Tropes:
• age gap (she's 26, he's 30. He's her older brother's friend)
• artistic mc (she loves to cook, crochet and embroidery)
• food used in a way I was not prepared for
• sex buddy
February 13, 2023
The final installment in a series of sweet and sometimes very racy novellas about the Wong siblings and the well-meaning but interfering family. This one was especially spicy and features the youngest of the siblings, Amber, who tries a friends with benefits arrangement with the son of family friends. Everyone is really likeable, the stakes are believable, and the southern Ontario setting had my heart.
February 16, 2024
CAWPILE Rating: 5.71
Characters: 6.5
Ambient / Worldbuilding: 2
Writing style: 6.5
Plot: 6
Intrigue: 6.5
Logic / Relationships: 6
Enjoyment: 6.5
This story is not as immersed in Valentine's Day mood as I expected. It's a romance, that's all. It was a little too spicy at times, but it was justified by the characters and the plot, I think.
Amber was a good character, and I would have liked to learn more about her,
Characters: 6.5
Ambient / Worldbuilding: 2
Writing style: 6.5
Plot: 6
Intrigue: 6.5
Logic / Relationships: 6
Enjoyment: 6.5
This story is not as immersed in Valentine's Day mood as I expected. It's a romance, that's all. It was a little too spicy at times, but it was justified by the characters and the plot, I think.
Amber was a good character, and I would have liked to learn more about her,
March 26, 2020
STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING THIS WAS THE BEST BOOK IN THE SERIES.
December 16, 2020
Hilarious, hot, and all over a great romance. I loved the entire series!
January 23, 2021
I thought this was such a fun novella. I really liked Amber. Even though the writing style didn't always work for me (I don't think this is Lau's best writing, tbh), the characters were still great.
December 23, 2021
This was like a warm hug. Def a fan of Lau's romances now.
February 4, 2023
These books are always steamier than I’m expecting. I don’t like food with sex. But a very enjoyable read. Took me a few years but I have completed the series. 🥰
January 11, 2024
This one was not as good as the last few…
January 18, 2022
*chefs kiss* wonderful! Although...I think we need a book about ah yeh and his amazon addiction, just saying...
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