A McClendon Thanksgiving

McClendon Holiday #1

by Sean D. Young

Fashion designer Faith McClendon is back in Chicago to start over. She put her promising career on hold for too long, and she’s ready to get back in the game. She’s not willing to put her heart on the line again—it’s still far too bruised from her failed marriage for that, so when a renewed childhood friendship starts to make her think about second chances at love, she’s more than a little hesitant.

Photographer Michael Montgomery was Faith’s biggest cheerleader when she decided to move to New York City, and he’s been her shoulder to cry on since she came home to Chicago. He’s never been able to tell her how he feels, but maybe now is his chance to make the family portrait in his head—the one with Faith by his side—a reality. First, he’s going to have to break down the walls Faith has around her heart and convince her they can be so much more than friends.

Each book in the McClendon Holiday series is A McClendon Thanksgiving* The Christmas Promise * A Husband by New Year's* Be My Valentine

Genres: Thanksgiving, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Holiday

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2015

Reviews

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up as best friends, this is a delectable story of daring to move on from friends to more when a second chance to do so arrives. It is also about putting past hurts aside to risk rejection in the hope of finding your HEA with the one you love. There are also elements of learning to forgive yourself and moving on in this thoroughly enjoyable romance. It is well written, with plenty of angst and regrets.

Faith McClendon basically gave up her own dreams and her best friend to help her undeserving husband achieve his own goals. Now she’s woken up to reality and got out of that relationship and moved back from New York to Chicago to start again. Michael Montgomery always supported Faith, keeping his more than friends feelings from her. Now he’s going to put his heart on the line and try to win her love but she has other secrets and worries that she’s keeping quiet about and no longer trusts men. Learning not to judge all men because of one bad one is only the start of giving love a chance for these two!

I enjoyed this very family based story, where the bonds between the neighbouring families was key to all that happens. It shows that true love can stand the tests that fate throws at it when the couple are prepared to risk their hearts.

I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

[Tiffany Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith is the main character and she is someone that many women can relate to. She had devoted her life to her husband, helping him to accomplish his career goals to only have him leave her for someone else. She moves back to Chicago to not only be closer to her family, but more importantly to find herself again.

Faith kissed his mouth. "Yes, he did destroy my trust and my faith in men. All that was true, so what you picked up on was correct. But you restored that and I am so happy that you loved me enough to see me through."

This book perfectly showed that there is love after heartbreak. It was beautifully written and was a quick read. Sean Young has a new fan in me!!!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to see another book by Sean. A very touching story of lost lost, love found and forgiveness of ones self. Once you learn to forgive yourself life moves on. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel started off strong and had many cute moments. It was easy to see the depth of the bonds between the two main characters and their family members were relatable as well.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A McClendon Thanksgiving (McClendon Holiday) by Sean D. Young  
I fell in love with the McClendon brood at first book.  Ms. Young extended a ready invitation into the workings of a family.  Despite the flaws and dysfunction, the bond is strong and love permeates the dynamics.  A McClendon Thanksgiving is a friends to lovers story with a new beginning thrown in for good measure.  Big dreams led Faith to NYC, heartache brought her back home.  Will a renewed friendship, bring her the love of a lifetime?  Michael broke his own heart when he lost the girl of his dreams to the temptation of the big city.  Now she's back a little bit wiser and a lot more broken. Can he help heal her broken heart and gain a chance at forever with the woman he loves? Sweet love and second chances are a temptation make a great combination. 

[Ava Smith-forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanksgiving

This is a love story that shows love can last through the test of times. Michael and Faith's love went through bell and high water. Yet it ended with love everlasting.

[Elizabeth Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith, a fashion designer, is ready to put herself first for once, and her failed marriage behind her. She's back in Chicago and ready to start phase two of her life. She's also renewing her friendship with Michael, friends since childhood, they had drifted apart as some do. However, though her heart is off limits, at least that's what she keeps telling herself, it can't help but see Michael in a different light.

Michael, a photographer, had his heart captured by Faith long ago, but they remained friends only. When she wanted to move to New York, though he didn't want to lose her, Michael encouraged her to chase her dreams. And now that's she's home again, he's going to chase his, and that includes a future with her as so much more than friends.

As the two get reacquainted, Michael knows he needs to break through Faith's defenses and show her the reason it didn't work out with her ex-husband because he wasn't the one for her, Michael is. For Faith, yes, she's seeing the possibilities with Michael, but she's scared to get hurt again, knowing if they don't work out it would devastate her.

Will Faith take a chance on forever with Michael? Can Michael prove he's never letting her go again? Is there a HEA for these two?

One-click now and follow along as two friends are reunited, only to find they both want so much more.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

[Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean D. Young has a new fan. I loved Faith and Michael as characters. This story really owned my heart. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

[Tamara Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book about the power of friendship and the ability to become independent. Faith McClendon has recently moved back to Chicago after her marriage ends and is trying to rebuild both her low self esteem and create a new life for herself by starting a business. Her best friend Michael is sad about the end of her marriage yet happy because he has secretly been in love with her since they were teens.

As Faith settles into life in Chicago, her and Michael rekindle their friendship and eventually become romantically involved. Although Faith's boutique business are going well, Michael feels that Faith is hiding something from him regarding her marriage and is not giving her full heart to him.

After Michael asks for permission from Faith's parents to propose to Faith, when he asks her to disclose what happened in her marriage, Faith lashes out a Michael and decides to break up with him. During the weeks leading up to the annual family dinner at the McClendon house, Faith realizes she made a mistake with Michael and how much she really loves him and values his support. After dinner has ended, Faith decides to be forthright with Michael and they are able to resolve their relationship.

While I liked the overall storyline for this book, the authentic dialogue used among the characters, I was annoyed at time by the interactions between Faith and Michael.
I felt that Michael was suffocating Faith at times and I can see how she felt that the relationship was moving too fast considering she hadn't been divorced a full year yet Michael proposes to her. Overall, this was a wonderful book showing that with a positive support system of family and friends, it is possible to find love and create a stable life for yourself.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been looking for great Thanksgiving book. One that I'd want to make a yearly tradition of reading. This isn't it. Pretty typical romance with the ask your best friend what he thinks, get mad when he tells you trope.

Also it could really use some editing. Too much description about mundane things.

[Lorice DeBlanc-Brim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Ilia Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just ok for me. Very little happens in the book and the characters were flat.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith McClendon is returning home after her marriage fell apart. Determined to focus solely on her career as a fashion designer, Faith never imagined she'd have a chance to repair her friendship with her best friend, Michael Montgomery. But when Michael tells Faith how he feels about her, will she give him a chance or will she break his heart all over again like she did when she got married?

This is the first book I've read by this author, and it's a book encompassing the friends to lovers trope; the tight bonds of family; winning back a friendship and having it become so much more; and a couple that face some tough obstacles in hopes of achieving their happy ever after, obstacles including the heroine's fear of losing herself again and whether the heroine's family will approve when it comes to what the hero wants because of his love for Faith. The way this story started had me liking the heroine immediately, as spending time with her sisters is something she needs, especially after all that she's been through that has made her return home to be with her family.

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories, especially that of the heroine, because of what she's been through with her ex that makes her determined to rely only on herself. I also liked how determined she was to get her business up and running and how much success she has once she's opened, which is proven by the deal she's offered. Really, she's resilient and I liked that she took a chance on the hero. Then again, he's always been there for her through thick and thin. So, why did they lose their tight bond when she married? How could she not accept the hero's opinion when it came to her ex when she'd always listened to his opinion? While the hero, he's confident, hard-working when it comes to his career as a photographer, determined to win the heroine's heart and I liked the tight bond he has with his mother that has her offering advice when things don't go according to the plan Michael had for his future with Faith.

Overall, this author has penned a wonderful read in this book where the chemistry between this couple didn't have me feeling their connection at first, because it felt more like friends than the pair being interested in each other, but as the story progresses, the connection definitely grows. The way this story ended had me worried for this couple's happy ever after because of what the heroine is going through. Yet, in saying that, I liked how everything worked out for the best for Michael and Faith, because she certainly deserves a second chance at happy ever after with a man she knows will never let her down. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped things up nicely because of the special day for this couple. I would recommend A McClendon Thanksgiving by Sean. D Young, if you enjoy the friends to lovers trope, holiday romances, or books by authors LE Rico, Sonya Weiss, Robin Bielman and Candace Shaw.

[Regina · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book could have been a good story, but it is poor in so many aspects, it could be used in a writing class for how not to write a romance story. An instructor could use this and task students to write passages over not making the ton of mistakes found in this book. That would be its redeeming value.

The dialogue does not ring true. Telling too much instead of showing. The over use of the word elegant (an example of telling and not showing). Details about mundane things that have no relevance to the story. What does it matter what an unnamed character in a store was wearing, unless the clothes have some meaning, or purpose in the story? Yet, this author explains the clothing in far too much detail for it to be relevant. The vocabulary is too limited and too many useless adjectives. Sometimes I felt the author was just trying to reach a word count number.

Based on the title, I was expecting a climax happening during Thanksgiving. Nothing of note happens. The so-called “surprise” at the end of the final chapter comes out of nowhere. This is such a mistake because in the next to the last chapter, the antagonist character who has been nothing but a memory suddenly appears in the story. This appearance seems like it has some threat attached to it. Then, [spoiler alert] nothing happens. Well, something does happen but it comes out of nowhere. There was no foreshadowing of any of this.

This story is supposed to be a love story about two adults (not teens, not young adults). Yet, the male protagonist goes around talking about marrying the female antagonist to everyone except the female antagonist. This was such a failure because it could have been a good example of a conversation that mature adults contemplating marriage could have.

This book is full of red herrings like the sister’s old flame, the character of Ezell, and even the ex-husband. They were missed opportunities to have some rising tension, and foreshadowing even into a sequel. But the book was out of balance and had no climax or denouement.

It looks like the author is going to try again. I recommend some advice from a more experienced writer to help with it.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing I liked best about this story was the strong family aspect it has on both Faith's side and Michael's side. Both sets of parents were ultra supportive and encouraging while Faith and Michael developed their relationship. It was sweet the way he pursued Faith, refusing to let her slip away again. They had such a natural and real connection from friends to lovers. He was so tender and gentle with Faith, absolutely perfect for what she needed at this time in her life. This was just a beautiful story and has only piqued my interest in the stories of Faith's siblings to come.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.

[Pamela Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith has gone home to Chicago to recover from a disastrous marriage. Her best friend Mike wants to help, but she's not quite ready for the type of help he wants to give her. This is a wonderful friends to lovers story with a real zinger at the end.

What sets this book apart for me is the crisp, detailed writing of Sean D. Young. Her descriptions of food made my mouth water. The gorgeous gowns she described made want to go out an buy them. Her scenes with family members put me right into their midst.

This is the first book by this author I've read, but it will not be the last. If you like a sweet romance, this is the book for you.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story of going home, finding your true self, rekindling old friendships, and finding new love. The story is packed full of emotion and I just fell in love with these characters. Faith's resistance to love again and Michael's determination and patience made for a great combination. This story left me with a smile on my face and hope in my heart. I definitely recommend it to everyone.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh

This was really cute, but at times I felt like the relationship between Michael and Faith took a backseat to the story of Faith reconnecting with her family and opening her store. There's a lot of this book that Faith and Michael weren't together. When they were they had such a close friendship that they dived back into that the relationship didn't show a lot of development. I still think this was a good book.

This is a closed door romance.

[chernice collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more.

This was my second book I read written by this author. I was disappointed. Michael was too much. I skipped at least 30% of the book because it was just rambling throughout.

[Ellowyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book even though it appeared to be a little slow for me. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very mellow sort of read for me.

[Tya C.]

DNF at 23%

It is just soooo long winded. The author describes every single thing in a scene from the color of someone’s shoes to the scuff on the hardwood floors. I can’t. It could’ve been cute😭

[Jewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute clean romance. It was just okay to me. Would not read again. Just not my style.

[Kendra Broomfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was ok, it seemed like it was missing something. Cute but missing that sprinkle.

[Ann L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice and sweet romance between two friends

I received an ARC from Netgalley and voluntarily leave my opinion