Mistletoe and new memories make this a Christmas she’ll never forget.
When navy SEAL Ronan Sheridan revives a nearly drowned woman, she has no memory of who she is. With Christmas approaching, Ronan offers her refuge in his home, where she’s warmly welcomed by his extended family. Her strength and vulnerability impress Ronan, but despite their growing attraction, he won’t make a move until he’s certain she’s single…or she’s certain!
Lauren Montez does not remember she’s a cutthroat high-powered ad exec. But steeped in the kindhearted life of Charming, Texas, Lauren’s soul knows this is where she belongs. Especially because she’s falling for Ronan—a principled man unlike any of her former entanglements. Her Christmas wish is to remember. But if her memories return, will their love be strong enough to survive her past?
From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
“Overboard For The Holidays” by Heatherly Bell is set in a cozy Christmas town that perfectly captures the festive spirit. The beautifully crafted setting immerses readers in a warm and inviting atmosphere, making them feel as though they are part of the small-town holiday celebrations. This book is part of a series, adding depth and continuity to the charming community and its inhabitants. The characters are fun and relatable, each with their own unique quirks and personalities that make them feel real and endearing. Their interactions and adventures throughout the story add to the cozy and engaging experience, making it a delightful read for anyone looking to embrace the holiday season.
In the beginning of the book Lauren is attending a work party in a yacht when she falls overboard due to her own fault. She goes from a successful woman in advertising who’s man focus is money, status and material things to an amnesiac with nothing.
Ronan rescues a woman from Galveston Bay while unsuccessful trying fishing for the first time. As a hobby, fishing isn’t for him, but it lands him the woman of his dreams. A water rescue isn’t out of the ordinary for a Navy SEAL, but bringing home the woman he rescued sure is.
Ronan names Lauren ‘Elsa’ to replace her Jane Doe status and he brings her home to help her recover her memory. Without her memories, Elsa/Lauren develops friendships with Ronan and his family. When her memory finally returns, she is confronted with who she was in her past and whether she likes that person and changes she wants to make.
Ronan and Lauren fell in love without knowing who she really was, so with the return of her memory they need to take a step back and more slowly build their relationship.
I received a free ARC from the author; and I am voluntarily leaving an unbiased review.
Overboard for the Holiday ~ Charming Texas #9 by Heatherly Bell
Heatherly Bell is one of my favourite authors, and even though I’ve only read two of the previous eight books in the Charming Texas series, I thoroughly enjoyed Overboard for the Holiday. The story stands perfectly well on its own, and Heatherly’s wonderful writing drew me in from the very first page.
The characters truly leap off the page—vivid, warm, and full of personality. The storyline is heartfelt and believable, the kind that keeps you engaged from beginning to end. It’s a beautifully written, satisfying read that reminded me why I enjoy this author so much.
This is the ninth and final book in the small-town Charming, Texas series and it is one of my favorites! I highly recommend this entertaining book that takes place during the holiday season! Lauren (aka Jane Doe and Elsa) Montez is an ambitious workaholic who makes large amounts of money for the Raven Ad Agency (and herself), although she is not generous to others. One night at a party on a luxury yacht, she falls overboard and is recused by Ronan who is out fishing. Ronan Sheridan is a U.S. Navy Seal who is an adrenaline junkie and highly competitive in everything he does. He is considering leaving the military and becoming a civilian. Ronan takes responsibility for her since she has amnesia. The chemistry between them is explosive and I love all the sweet things Ronan did for Lauren! As they become close, they realize they have deep feelings for each other. What happens when Lauren remembers her real life? Will she go back to her previous life, or will she revert to the way she was raised by her grandparents? Fans of small-town series will want to read this to find out if Lauren and Ronan get their happily-ever-after! Thank you to Heatherly Bell for the advanced reader’s copy. This review is my opinion of the book.
Ronan Sheridan is home in Charming, Texas. He is there to decide if he’s going to re-sign for the military. He still has a few years left before he can retire with full benefits or go civilian. His family would love for him to stay. It’s hard because he recently lost his mother. He should have been there for her more often. Something he regrets. He’s been hurt by his ex girlfriend and his ex friend. It’s hard not to be bitter or to be angry. Can he let it go since it’s been years? He will eventually run into them. He went fishing with his uncle and found a beautiful young woman in the water. He saves her life. When Lauren Montez wakes up in the hospital, she can’t remember what happened, or who she is. What will she do? Lauren was raised by her mother, then her grandparents. She was a poor farm girl. She was picked on because of her clothes. She decided that she will be successful and have a good career. She’ll show everyone. Now that she has amnesia, Ronan gives her a room until she gets her memory back. She meets all of his family and they welcome her with open arms. They all help her. Will she remember soon? Will she go back to her old life? She’s starting to care for Ronan. Does she have someone in her life? Will she like who she was? These two characters have trust issues from their past. The both need to forgive and let go of the past to move forward with their futures. Will they? Will she want to continue with the job she loves? Will he re-sign or find a new career? With the Christmas holidays, there can be magic and miracles. Will they get any? I loved this story. I was rooting for them. I didn’t want to put it down. I received this book for my honest review. I give it voluntarily
Changing her ways I love my time spent in Charming, Texas and each book just gets better. This one follows Navy seal, Ronan and Ad-exec, Lauren. Lauren has lost her memory after a boating incident where Ronan rescues her and gives her a place to stay. Both are very attracted to each other but until Lauren regains her memory they can not commit to anything. Lauren does regain her memory and doesn’t like the person she was. Can she change and be the woman that Ronan would be proud of? Can they work through the doubts and have their happy ending? Great characters and storyline. A very enjoyable read.
This book was aptly named because it did remind me of me of the movie Overboard. Obviously there was a lot that was different with the storyline but I enjoyed it just as much. It’s the perfect Christmasy book to read if you like a clean romance where you discover more information about the heroine just as she does. There are also plenty of lovable characters. I highly recommend.
Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
“ I want you to know something first. Even if no one had ever found me, I would have been happy to star all over with you” “ Maybe true love is forgiving each other every day. For a lifetim” A true love story with trust, forgiviness friendship and so much more. Ronan saved Lauren from drowning but also from her meaningless life
Ronan has big decisions to make about his future, but Lauren has her future all planned out. One fateful night rearranges everything for both of them. I really liked the chemistry between these two, and I liked the way they handled the big issues in front of them. This was a lot of fun and very romantic.
A boating accident and a case of amnesia Causes Lauren to experience more than work life again. Ronan a Navy Seal saves her from drowning and helps her till she can remember. There was some laughter, sweetness and a little spice in this book and a great read.
Another amazing read. We’re back in Charming Texas with Ronan and Lauren’s story. I loved the characters and the flying sparks. It’s a fun well written and entertaining holiday read.
OVERBOARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS is the ninth in Heatherly Bell’s Charming, Texas, series. On the recommendation of his uncle, Roman Sheridan is attempting to unwind by fishing. But what he hauls out of the water is not the catch he had been expecting. By all accounts, Lauren Montez should have it made. A successful advertising executive, she’s got all the trappings of success but something is missing. If only she could remember what it is…
Heatherly Bell's story is sweetly satisfying as Lauren's unexpected time with Roman and his family give her a chance to remember who she truly is, and also gives her and Roman some time to get to know each other and explore the pull they feel to the other. Ultimately they find that her truest self was never forgotten, and yes, love does prevail. A terrific addition to this series.
Lauren Montez is enjoying the holiday party by her employer, Raven Advertising. They have gone all out by having it on a huge yacht. It has been a fabulous year for the company and Lauren is looking forward to a substantial bonus. The champagne is flowing and Lauren partakes more than her share of it. When she goes to the upper deck to take a selfie as a remembrance of the night, she slips and falls overboard. She screams for help, but no comes to her assistance. She treads water for what seems like forever. Then she is hit on the head by a hard object and everything goes dark. Ronan Sheridan is out fishing with his uncle. He thinks he has hooked an extra large fish, but it turns out to be a body. He performs CPR and the woman is brought back to life. The reader knows she is Lauren by the description, but she has total amnesia and no ID. Ronan tells her not to worry that he will take care of her hospital bill. By the time she is discharged from the hospital, she still has no memory. Ronan agrees to take her home to stay with his family in Charming, Texas which is near the bay where she was found. All of Ronan's family are warm and welcoming. He hopes this woman he saved can get her memory back. Not only for her sake, but his as he becomes attracted and doesn't want to overstep things if she's already attached. Ronan has to decide if he wants to go back to his military life or become a civilian. When Lauren gets her memory back will she go back to her previous life or stay with the lovely people of Charming? This was an engaging story of amnesia, family and romance. The setting is one I am familiar with from other books in the Charming, Texas series. Each one works well on its own. The two protagonists grow and learn what's really important over the arc of the novel. The author shows her usual ability to craft a tale that will pull you in and leave you feeling warm and uplifted by the end.
Heatherly Bell creates an exciting and unusual love story that she actually writes in two distinct parts.
In the first part of the story, Lauren, who is a rich, well-known, powerful advertising executive, is attending a luxurious party on a huge yacht. While partying, she accidentally falls overboard and almost drowns.
She is discovered by Ronan while fishing with friends. He is a retired military man who lives in Charming, Texas and works in his family’s business. When Ronan rescues Lauren, he finds that she is in bad shape. She has amnesia and cannot remember who she is or anything else about herself.
After a short stay at the hospital, Lauren is sent home to continue recuperating. Since she has no idea where she lives, Ronan, who turns out to be an extremely kind and generous man, invites her to stay at his house while she is recuperating. She is totally dependent on Ronan who will generously do anything, and everything, for her. During this time, the two of them fall madly in love.
In the second part of the story, Lauren’s memory returns. She is ecstatic until she remembers that her family members are all gone. She also realizes that, since she was never very friendly or nice to anyone, she has no friends. Even her colleagues at work don’t know her and are not really friends.
Lauren dislikes her personality so much that she doesn’t feel worthy of being with Ronan or anyone else she has met in Charming. Thus Lauren devises a plan to change her personality and become a better person.
Lauren and Ronan finally get together, but not before the couple have a difficult disagreement that almost completely breaks up their relationship.
Readers will fall in love with Lauren and Ronan in this beautiful, exciting, heartwarming love story.
Very excited to be back in Charming and Ronan has a story for the ages of how on his first fishing trip he ‘caught’ something or someone that would change his life forever. I really loved this story from Lauren and her yacht party to Ronan and his fishing trip to saving Lauren who Ronan has decided to call Elsa to Lauren/Elsa finding a new family with the Sheridan’s to remembering her past and finding out who she was and who she truly wants to be. In my personal opinion, this story was perfect from page one through the end of the story. It was fun watching Ronan and Elsa/Lauren and also how she just fit in with his family and friends. I was a little miffed that nobody realized that she was missing but then when we find out what really happened after Lauren fell off the boat, I get it. I especially liked when everything clicked into place and Lauren remembered her life and her past but was sad when they went back to her place and Drew showed up and pretty much ruined everything for them. Lauren however didn’t like her life the way it was and especially how she had been as a person and she decided to take no prisoners and make some major changes in her life including at work and asking for what she wanted, loved seeing this side of her. It was too funny when she went back and she thought she was being so careful as to not be seen by Ronan when in actuality he knew she was back and just waiting for the right time to make things right. He totally slayed it with his gift to her, totally priceless. Wonderful characters and story. I can’t get enough of this Charming series. Can’t wait to see what story might be headed our way next.
Uptight, self-absorbed and emotionally-guarded Lauren’s life hits a fork in the road after she falls overboard from a luxury yacht during a party. When Ronan, a Navy SEAL, rescues and revives Lauren, she has no memory of her past. After she is released from hospital, Ronan offers her a place to stay with him while she recovers. Both are attracted to each other and their chemistry is intense, but her memory loss serves as a deterrent to taking things further, at least for Roman even as he finds himself falling for her. Lauren doesn’t know if she was in a relationship before her accident, but no one seems to have been missing her, at least not enough to be looking for her. Roman makes Lauren feel safe and cared for, and as each day passes and her memory slowly returns, she grows more certain that she doesn’t want to leave him. His family and friends have made her feel welcome too, as they indulge in a little Christmas Decor competition and celebrate the holiday season. Lauren is a lighter, more open and approachable version of herself with her memory loss, but what will happen when her memories are fully restored?
The small town holiday setting as well as the fascinating and quirky characters make this book an enjoyable read. Ronan is a protective and swoony book boyfriend and Lauren is the heroine you are not sure about at first, but end up rooting for with gusto. I am happy to recommend this gem of a book.
Another very good installment in the Charming, Texas series. Lauren Montez falls overboard during a party and hits her head causing her to experience amnesia. Ronan Sheridan rescues her and takes her in after she leaves the hospital. Lauren has no idea of what her past was, but, at times, she feels like she wasn't a very nice person because she doesn't understand why it seems no one is looking for her. Lauren and Ronan discover a mutual attraction but neither are comfortable moving forward when they don't know the truth about Lauren's past. Did she have a husband and family waiting for her? Lauren and Ronan had good sexual chemistry, which kept me turning pages. This was a perfect Christmas story because it gave off Scrooge feels. The author does an excellent job of showing why Lauren became a materialistic, self-important, driven ad exec, how uncomfortable and ashamed she was of that life, and how determined she was to change when she regained her memory. I loved how Bell turned a snobby, somewhat arrogant woman into a highly likeable one. I definitely recommend you add this book to your Christmas romance TBR pile! I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Another book from the Charming dynasty Lauren and Roman’s story Lauren is a high flyer exec bullied through school , coming from a poor family she learned she had to adapt to be treated as an equal in the boys club she became hardened to those around her and forgot where she came from forgot her roots and what really matters in life Ronan a military man must make a decision to sign on for another 6 years or get out , he’s been wronged cheated on he’s had bereavement, he’s a loyal man and expects everyone to have his standards She falls overboard, he reels her in and saves her life while fishing the problem lauren had amnesia, he falls and falls fast she’s falling too , stolen glances holding hands thr charming community coming together to look out for her and help especially his family Her memories return she doesn’t like the person she was and what she nearly did the night she fell , he judges her on that Will he work things out with help from family what will she do This is a beautiful read I recommend this book 100 %
I love this author’s Charming, Texas series and Ronan and Lauren’s book didn’t disappoint. Lauren is a successful businesswoman at Raven Advertising Company. The CEO’s son and her have been flirting, but nothing has happened. They plan to change that on the yacht, at the party. Big problem they didn’t count on was Drew’s date made a scene when he tried to ditch her and Lauren falls overboard trying to relive a “Titanic” moment. Of course, no one sees her go overboard and the yacht keeps going. Luckily, Ronan was fishing and finds her. Unfortunately she hit her head and has amnesia. Ronan and her are attracted to each other, but he won’t act on his attraction, especially not knowing if she’s available. I love how this story plays out and I absolutely loved Ronan’s big gesture to win Lauren over. No spoilers, so grab your copy and see if you don’t fall for Ronan like I did.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
I have read all of the books Ms. Bell has written about the goings on in Charming Texas. This one was my favorite!
I love a bit of a different angle on a romance. This one had both of the main characters in dilemmas. Ronan was trying to figure out if he should re-up in the Navy and Lauren fell overboard during a company party, hit her head, almost drowned, and ended up with amnesia. Ronan was her rescuer.
So much growth as people for both Lauren and Ronan. Can Lauren continue the transformation into a more caring and open person once her memory returns? Can Ronan get over his issues with loss and be able to be the person he and Lauren want him to be?
Great dialogue. Wonderful story. We also get cameos of other Charming Texas couples we've read about. A very Charming book.
The book started out okay. However, once Ronan and Lauren started calling each other, Babe, things went downhill from there. I just hate that word. Baby is okay, but not Babe.
I did not particular like Lauren. She just seemed a little too materialistic. Yes, she did change in some ways.
When Ronan went to meet his mentor, he said his name was John Mock. Yet, he talked to Authur. So, which is it?
At one point, Declan turn on the TV to watch the Giants vs Padres. Baseball is not played in December.
Lauren bought Declan a leather jacket for Christmas. Whatever happened to it? It was not mentioned on Christmas day.
I enjoyed the other books in this series that I have read, but not so much this one.
Ronan Sheridan, single, Navy SEAL, fished a nearly drowned woman, an ad exec, Lauren Montez, out of the bay. As she has amnesia, he takes her in while she waits for her memories to return. In the meantime, she develops ties with him, his family, and Charming, Texas.
While the main characters are vibrant and engaging, the cameos of Ronan's future nephew and niece are exceptionally delightful. They added brilliant sparks to the story. However, the romantic scoundrel extinguishes light. Overall, this story shares many captivating moments.
Does nearly drowning count as a meet cute? Elsa (Lauren) falls off a ship during a company event. Ronan is out fishing to relax. The only thing he catches is a drowning woman with amnesia. Little by little they build a relationship (and a life) until she finds out who she is. She doesn’t really like that person and sets out to make changes. But a “what if” secret sets off trust issues with Ronan. Can they find their way back to each other? You’ll have to read the book to find out. Great read with lots of ups and downs. I love Charming, TX.
Ronan is in the middle of the biggest decision of his adult life, while Lauren is living her best life. Then fate brings them together and both seem to find the true meaning of living their best lives (in new ways.) Will an amnesiac ‘Elsa’ be able to forgive herself for her selfish past? Will Ronan keep running away to fight for his country? Such a unique play on the overboard niche that works perfectly into Charming, TX. Lots of great cameos from the past couples in Charming and a HEA guaranteed! A wonderful read for the holidays too!
I truly enjoyed reading this book. I loved how the heroine was able to basically reinvent herself by learning to become a better person. The Christmas light rivalry between Ronan and his cousin was fun and the children were adorable. This book is definitely on that I will be putting on my to-be-read-again-and-again shelf. If you liked the movie Overboard, you will definitely like this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ronan is out fishing and finds Lauren in the water. She has fallen from a yacht and with a head injury, suffers amnesia. He is military and acts on his training and honour. She is hard core executive, hard faced in her business dealings. Delving into the unknown, the relationship between these characters is filled with furtive glances, but with so much not known the present and future has yet to unfold. Think of a bit like Overboard with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn