What do you think?
Rate this book
Season’s Meetings
Could the festive road trip from hell actually lead to love?
Catherine Birch is a lonely workaholic who hates Christmas. This year, she is being forced to celebrate with her best friend’s family in the Highlands of Scotland. Having missed her flight, Catherine reluctantly ventures on a road trip with beautiful stranger Holly Daniels.
Although polar opposites, the intense attraction between them is unmistakable. Just as Catherine begins to think spending Christmas with Holly might not be so bad, a raging snowstorm leaves them stranded in the middle of nowhere. Huddled together, with little chance of rescue, they forge a pact: if they escape, they’ll make this a Christmas to remember. But will it be remembered for the right reasons?
Catherine Birch is a lonely workaholic who hates Christmas. This year, she is being forced to celebrate with her best friend’s family in the Highlands of Scotland. Having missed her flight, Catherine reluctantly ventures on a road trip with beautiful stranger Holly Daniels.
Although polar opposites, the intense attraction between them is unmistakable. Just as Catherine begins to think spending Christmas with Holly might not be so bad, a raging snowstorm leaves them stranded in the middle of nowhere. Huddled together, with little chance of rescue, they forge a pact: if they escape, they’ll make this a Christmas to remember. But will it be remembered for the right reasons?
Audiobook
First published December 15, 2014
7 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Amy Dunne
6 books70 followersAmy was raised in Derbyshire, England. She attended Keele University and graduated in 2007 with a BSc in philosophy and psychology. After graduating, she worked for a while with vulnerable young people until she moved on to deliver training and educational courses. She is currently in the process of setting up her own speech writing business aptly named, Gift of the Gab. She and her lovely partner Lou celebrated their Civil Partnership at the start of this year. They share a love of Dolly Parton and live with their two gorgeous cats and very naughty puppy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 22, 2017
3 Stars for the book + 1 star for Nicola Victoria Vincent's narration. At the moment I am trying to listen to Vincent's narrations. Luckily, most are enjoyable books with the majority by Cari Hunter and Jenny Frame. She can make good books great and so-so books, good and great books even better. (EDIT: I forgot to say, I think Nicola also made it a better reading experience because she handled Catherine's stutter brought on by stress very well. I think reading it myself, it doesn't have the impact of hearing the narrator stutter her lines.)
Workaholic Catherine Birch misses her flight to visit her best friends, Beth and Katie at Christmas. She reluctantly agrees to hitch a ride with Katie's cousin, Holly. She is especially apprehensive after seeing the old car that Holly drives. They get caught in a snowstorm and they wait it out in a small village. This gives them time to acknowledge their attraction to each other, even though they are opposites. As other reviewers have mentioned, Beth is not very likable and self-centered, creating problems for the new couple.
There is a cute and lovable dog & a kid making it a pleasant Christmas read.
Workaholic Catherine Birch misses her flight to visit her best friends, Beth and Katie at Christmas. She reluctantly agrees to hitch a ride with Katie's cousin, Holly. She is especially apprehensive after seeing the old car that Holly drives. They get caught in a snowstorm and they wait it out in a small village. This gives them time to acknowledge their attraction to each other, even though they are opposites. As other reviewers have mentioned, Beth is not very likable and self-centered, creating problems for the new couple.
There is a cute and lovable dog & a kid making it a pleasant Christmas read.
December 23, 2024
Road trip books are a favorite of mine so a Christmas journey caught my attention. I also spotted Nicola Victoria Vincent as the narrator who I absolutely love.
Catherine Birch is Type A Upper Management, no time for anything but work. Between her mega salary and her inheritances, she’s wealthy but very much alone. Her best friends, Katie and Beth, have finally convinced her to spend the holidays up in Scotland with them. But when she misses her flight, Catherine agrees to ride with Katie’s younger cousin, Holly, who is a baker and a ray of sunshine. The drive up is chaotic due to a beater of a car, a snowstorm, and two people who are at odds personality wise. I was immediately invested.
What I love best about this book is how carefully the author builds the characters. Both Holly and Catherine start out as stereotypes but gradually begin to emerge as so much more. Conversations and their actions during crisis paint an in-depth picture of who they both really are and what they want from life. The story has it all, danger, romance, and cuteness overload with Chips the Cairn Terrier. Plenty of humor too.
But unfortunately, the final part of the book does not fit the characters or the storyline. I still recommend this story because the first 80% is outstanding and worth the listen. There is also an HEA and a satisfying epilogue so no worries there.
4.25 stars
Catherine Birch is Type A Upper Management, no time for anything but work. Between her mega salary and her inheritances, she’s wealthy but very much alone. Her best friends, Katie and Beth, have finally convinced her to spend the holidays up in Scotland with them. But when she misses her flight, Catherine agrees to ride with Katie’s younger cousin, Holly, who is a baker and a ray of sunshine. The drive up is chaotic due to a beater of a car, a snowstorm, and two people who are at odds personality wise. I was immediately invested.
What I love best about this book is how carefully the author builds the characters. Both Holly and Catherine start out as stereotypes but gradually begin to emerge as so much more. Conversations and their actions during crisis paint an in-depth picture of who they both really are and what they want from life. The story has it all, danger, romance, and cuteness overload with Chips the Cairn Terrier. Plenty of humor too.
But unfortunately, the final part of the book does not fit the characters or the storyline. I still recommend this story because the first 80% is outstanding and worth the listen. There is also an HEA and a satisfying epilogue so no worries there.
4.25 stars
December 25, 2015
When you care more about the dog than about the couple, you know something's wrong.
It was boring. Too cheesy - I'm not a fan of the 'love at first sight' scenario. Already being hopelessly in love with each other after two weeks? Please.
I know it's supposed to be cheesy, it's a Christmas story after all, but still. I've made it to 75%, which is better than I expected. I wanted to give up after 30%.
It was boring. Too cheesy - I'm not a fan of the 'love at first sight' scenario. Already being hopelessly in love with each other after two weeks? Please.
I know it's supposed to be cheesy, it's a Christmas story after all, but still. I've made it to 75%, which is better than I expected. I wanted to give up after 30%.
December 10, 2022
Loved this book - a real classic Lesbian romance. Highly recommended.
December 22, 2019
Catherine Birch is a lonely workaholic who hates Christmas and would rather stay at home without celebrating it. But her best friend gives Catherine no option but to join her and her family in the Highlands of Scotland. But after missing her flight, Catherine joins the hosts’ cousin Holly Daniels on a road trip from London to Scotland. Both women are opposites in many ways but their chemistry is undeniable. When they get stranded in the middle of a snowstorm with the risk of freezing to death, they forge a pact: if they escape, they’ll make this a Christmas to remember. But will it be remembered for the right reasons?
I liked the premise of this book very much though I have some doubts about its execution. On the positive side, the main characters are well-written, Ms. Dunne builds their chemistry through natural-sounding dialogue and an increasing rapport between them. This is an opposites-attract romance and the differences in the characters’ personalities and life experiences are exploited well. Both main characters make the story shine. It’s impossible for the reader not to feel empathy towards them, most especially Catherine, whose hatred for Christmas is justified.
I found the first part of the book mostly the shared road trip between the mains, realistic, entertaining and, at times, nail-biting. However, in the second half is when the story starts to go south. In my opinion, one particular promise that Catherine made in the distant past was overestimated. While it doesn’t sound completely unrealistic, it definitely sounds forced into the story as a contrived plot device. Unfortunately, its resolution feels forced and rushed too. It’s a pity because the story was very enjoyable up to that point and without it, the final result would have been so much better.
Having read this book a few years ago, I sincerely would have passed the chance to listen to the audiobook except for my 12 Lesbian Audiobooks of Christmas Challenge. Now that would have been a real shame as Nicola Victoria Vincent’s narration is outstanding. Whoever took the decision to call Ms. Vincent to narrate this book should be praised and given a pay rise. This is one of those prime examples where the narration improves the overall result and, in this case, saves the day. While I wouldn’t recommend the written book, the audiobook narration is worth a listen.
Ms. Vincent is hands down one of my favourite lesfic audiobooks narrator and this performance confirms it once more. Her voices of both main characters are not only distinctive but, in my opinion, they are also a reflection of the personalities as written by the author. Holly sounds young and upbeat, while Catherine sounds more mature and sombre. Ms. Vincent’s performance of Catherine’s stutter is formidable providing a realistic effect that brings the character to life. The same happens with the rest of the characters, male or female and don’t get me started with all those thick Scottish accents. Absolutely fantastic. In addition to that, the range of feelings that are part of this story: fear, anger, love, and sadness are convincingly interpreted so the listener gets the whole package of narration heaven. So, if you think you can put up with some forced plot mechanisms in order to enjoy a bit of positive Christmas spirit, this might be an audiobook for you. Unfortunately, it is not available on Audible Escape or Scribd. Duration: 8 hrs and 24 mins.
Overall, a very good lesbian opposites attract Christmas audiobook. 4 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration. Average 4.5 stars.
I liked the premise of this book very much though I have some doubts about its execution. On the positive side, the main characters are well-written, Ms. Dunne builds their chemistry through natural-sounding dialogue and an increasing rapport between them. This is an opposites-attract romance and the differences in the characters’ personalities and life experiences are exploited well. Both main characters make the story shine. It’s impossible for the reader not to feel empathy towards them, most especially Catherine, whose hatred for Christmas is justified.
I found the first part of the book mostly the shared road trip between the mains, realistic, entertaining and, at times, nail-biting. However, in the second half is when the story starts to go south. In my opinion, one particular promise that Catherine made in the distant past was overestimated. While it doesn’t sound completely unrealistic, it definitely sounds forced into the story as a contrived plot device. Unfortunately, its resolution feels forced and rushed too. It’s a pity because the story was very enjoyable up to that point and without it, the final result would have been so much better.
Having read this book a few years ago, I sincerely would have passed the chance to listen to the audiobook except for my 12 Lesbian Audiobooks of Christmas Challenge. Now that would have been a real shame as Nicola Victoria Vincent’s narration is outstanding. Whoever took the decision to call Ms. Vincent to narrate this book should be praised and given a pay rise. This is one of those prime examples where the narration improves the overall result and, in this case, saves the day. While I wouldn’t recommend the written book, the audiobook narration is worth a listen.
Ms. Vincent is hands down one of my favourite lesfic audiobooks narrator and this performance confirms it once more. Her voices of both main characters are not only distinctive but, in my opinion, they are also a reflection of the personalities as written by the author. Holly sounds young and upbeat, while Catherine sounds more mature and sombre. Ms. Vincent’s performance of Catherine’s stutter is formidable providing a realistic effect that brings the character to life. The same happens with the rest of the characters, male or female and don’t get me started with all those thick Scottish accents. Absolutely fantastic. In addition to that, the range of feelings that are part of this story: fear, anger, love, and sadness are convincingly interpreted so the listener gets the whole package of narration heaven. So, if you think you can put up with some forced plot mechanisms in order to enjoy a bit of positive Christmas spirit, this might be an audiobook for you. Unfortunately, it is not available on Audible Escape or Scribd. Duration: 8 hrs and 24 mins.
Overall, a very good lesbian opposites attract Christmas audiobook. 4 stars for the story, 5 stars for the narration. Average 4.5 stars.
December 9, 2014
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley for an honest review.
Honestly, this book has issues. There are positives and enjoyment to be had reading Season's Meeting. The opening chapters where the reader learns about Catherine's (Cat) life are very well done. Her beloved Gran and last living relative has died leaving Cat to throw herself into her work and avoid the social norms of the holiday season.
Cajoled into visiting her old college roommate Beth and her family but too late to catch a flight north, she ends up sharing a ride with Beth's wife's cousin,Holly.
A snowstorm hits and the pair get stranded in their car and so too does the story. After the opening chapters where we are shown a strong and decisive Cat in action, our heroine turns into a helpless and hapless love struck fool.
Maybe I am cynical but I struggled to get past the reasons and concerns Cat had for not pursuing a relationship with Holly. As events unfold the make out, break up and inevitable make up all become too formulaic. Things are going well so this bad thing must happen. Cat's dogged determination to respect an old pact just doesn't ring true.
The romantic town of Athegither is lovingly described. For those readers wishing for a fantasy escape to the perfect (unplanned) holiday getaway this may be enough for you to overlook the many cliche moments between the two women. If like me you need a valid reason to cause a relationship to falter then this might not be the book for you.
2.5 stars
December 23, 2021
3.8 stars
I bought this book last year I think, but do dat read it then, wasn’t in particularly the mood for reading at that time. Now we in The Netherlands are again in a hard lock down but my mood is better than last year. I am doubly vaccinated and had my booster shot, so though socialising is restricted to a few people a day, at least I don’t have too worry too much when I meet my children or my mother or when I am allowed to come to work (still all distanced). As this is the festive season and I was looking for Christmas books I found this on my kindle. I enjoyed reading this romantic story. It was well written with a bit of adventure. I liked the way the lovestory developed, though fast it didn’t feel as too fast for me. Probably because the two leads spent an intense period together where they had lots of opportunity to learn about each other and so the reader had too. I had a little bit of trouble with the friendship between Catherine, one of the MC’s and her best friend Beth, perhaps because it didn’t feel as if they were equals in this friendship. All in all a nice read for Christmas.
I bought this book last year I think, but do dat read it then, wasn’t in particularly the mood for reading at that time. Now we in The Netherlands are again in a hard lock down but my mood is better than last year. I am doubly vaccinated and had my booster shot, so though socialising is restricted to a few people a day, at least I don’t have too worry too much when I meet my children or my mother or when I am allowed to come to work (still all distanced). As this is the festive season and I was looking for Christmas books I found this on my kindle. I enjoyed reading this romantic story. It was well written with a bit of adventure. I liked the way the lovestory developed, though fast it didn’t feel as too fast for me. Probably because the two leads spent an intense period together where they had lots of opportunity to learn about each other and so the reader had too. I had a little bit of trouble with the friendship between Catherine, one of the MC’s and her best friend Beth, perhaps because it didn’t feel as if they were equals in this friendship. All in all a nice read for Christmas.
February 10, 2017
Even by lesbian romance standards this was ridiculously fast. By the end I was struggling to finish it because it was so unbelievable. And the worst part was the relationship between Catherine and Beth. There was no way that those two people could be best friends. They are so unlikable and know each other so little.
September 28, 2018
I fell in love with the dog, just like the main characters! Just got this as an audiobook and liked it much more. The narration was good, with lots of accents and made the characters come alive. Instead of only 3 stars I’d give it 4.5. Beth was an arse!
November 29, 2017
I listened to the audible version of this book. I enjoyed the story and the narration was done well.
January 22, 2015
Started out well, Catherine is cute in a socially awkward, low self-esteem kind of way who is kind of a Grinch and Holly is her complete opposite, outgoing and cheery with a lot of Holiday cheer. It is very sweet the way they grow closer during the snowstorm and then at the cabin. Then it kind of goes down hill for me. Between the reasons for keeping secrets to the overbearing Beth trying to set her up with that...thing, how did Beth know this woman, did she even know this woman, and why on earth would you try to set up your best friend with...it? Also the drama felt a little too familiar and predictable and Holly's reaction had me rolling my eyes. I did, however, love the descriptions of the people and places. Makes me want to visit Scotland again.
November 23, 2014
It's a nice little story to get in da mooooood for Christmas, I liked the main characters a lot but I have two things I didn't like. Beth and the rushed ending. Beth was annoying, her behaviour totally inappropriate, thank God they put Katie on her side and Florence. She was pissed because the main characters had fallen in love and so there could be trouble, or maybe not. it's so none of her business. The ending felt a little rushed and Holly acted un-Holly like and left because of some stupid reason. well, I'd give it 3,5 stars
December 22, 2015
This book will be too sweet for those who like their lesrom angsty - but I'm not one of them. It drifted into tooth achingly sweet on a few occasions but always managed to bring it back just enough.
One of our main characters hates Christmas due to past Christmas trauma but ... if you're thinking you can guess the plot from here you're probably right.
A sweet, happily ever after, easy to read tale that is very well done for what it is.
One of our main characters hates Christmas due to past Christmas trauma but ... if you're thinking you can guess the plot from here you're probably right.
A sweet, happily ever after, easy to read tale that is very well done for what it is.
June 10, 2016
A sweet Christmas story that starts out very well, but decline at the end.
December 10, 2014
This Christmas story includes nail-bitingly thrilling, predominantly charming, and lovingly passionate diverse scenes and people. The two main female characters have distinctive differences, but blend into a solid team as they face somewhat overwhelming and life-threatening situations. The story is set in Great Britain where the opening entails a bit of a treacherous drive during a rapidly worsening snow storm from London to a Scotland National Park that encompasses Aviemore, the final destination. This is a winner. Seasonally spectacular!
Catherine Birch works long hours regularly. She is possibly trying to run away from an assortment of painful memories. In addition, her immediate boss consistently steals her ideas and the limelight, while actively undermining her position and any possible rapport she might develop. The last nail in Catherine's coffin is a vow she made to a long-term friend that proves to be a treacherous stranglehold. Her driver and companion on a thoroughly dubious road trip taking them both toward a Christmas celebration with related friends and family, proves to be the most amazingly bright light and seductive traveling mate ever to have crossed her path. Oh my goodness, this may be an exceptionally extraordinary trip, that may be more amazing than either traveling companion has ever experienced. Stupefying!
Holly Daniels is the driver of—in Catherine's words—a *deathtrap car*. This vehicle is their only means of traversing 500 + miles through a rapidly developing and expanding snow storm of the century. Holly, however, is amazingly confident, effusive, and remarkably sexy. Catherine is startled and enjoyably moved at how physically attracted she is to Holly which Catherine finds in total opposition to her mind-numbing fear. Holly is simply captivating. Curiously, she is totally on the opposite end of the work spectrum. Holly is an accomplished baker and owns her business. The likelihood that Holly and Catherine would have ever met is remote to the extreme. Yet within a few short days, it seems as if they both traverse multiple major life experiences along with the intense highs and lows that often accompany such connections. I was simply blown away by the astounding collection of events, their composite intensity, and wondrous Christmas like angels that miraculously appear along the way. Supremely exhilarating!
For me, this story all by itself, has elevated my Christmas spirit and desire to wish everyone everywhere the most delightful of celebratory seasons. I heartily recommend this gem and revel in the wonder that accompanies this last month of the year. Luminously entertaining and heartwarming!
NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Stokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Catherine Birch works long hours regularly. She is possibly trying to run away from an assortment of painful memories. In addition, her immediate boss consistently steals her ideas and the limelight, while actively undermining her position and any possible rapport she might develop. The last nail in Catherine's coffin is a vow she made to a long-term friend that proves to be a treacherous stranglehold. Her driver and companion on a thoroughly dubious road trip taking them both toward a Christmas celebration with related friends and family, proves to be the most amazingly bright light and seductive traveling mate ever to have crossed her path. Oh my goodness, this may be an exceptionally extraordinary trip, that may be more amazing than either traveling companion has ever experienced. Stupefying!
Holly Daniels is the driver of—in Catherine's words—a *deathtrap car*. This vehicle is their only means of traversing 500 + miles through a rapidly developing and expanding snow storm of the century. Holly, however, is amazingly confident, effusive, and remarkably sexy. Catherine is startled and enjoyably moved at how physically attracted she is to Holly which Catherine finds in total opposition to her mind-numbing fear. Holly is simply captivating. Curiously, she is totally on the opposite end of the work spectrum. Holly is an accomplished baker and owns her business. The likelihood that Holly and Catherine would have ever met is remote to the extreme. Yet within a few short days, it seems as if they both traverse multiple major life experiences along with the intense highs and lows that often accompany such connections. I was simply blown away by the astounding collection of events, their composite intensity, and wondrous Christmas like angels that miraculously appear along the way. Supremely exhilarating!
For me, this story all by itself, has elevated my Christmas spirit and desire to wish everyone everywhere the most delightful of celebratory seasons. I heartily recommend this gem and revel in the wonder that accompanies this last month of the year. Luminously entertaining and heartwarming!
NOTE: This book was provided by Bold Stokes Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 10, 2015
Dull and full of BS clichés.
February 6, 2018
See my review on Lynn Lawler's Book Blog. You don't want to miss this one.
September 15, 2015
This book was provided to me by the publisher via an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. This review also found on my blog at the Far Nerdy Book Review
If you're looking for a heartwarming story about two women finding love during the holiday season, I found this novel to be a great fit.
Braving a winter storm in order to make the Christmas celebration with her closest friends, workaholic Catherine can't seem to catch a break. With work causing her to miss her flight and future flights being cancelled, Catherine ends up having to resort to hitching a ride with a complete stranger in a vehicle one flat tire away from being salvaged. After attempting to make it through the storm despite warnings from weather officials and surrounding folk, the two end up losing control of the car, getting stuck in the cold before a good Samaritan sets them free. They wait out the storm in a small Scottish town, all the while developing feelings for one another, as well as a furry addition to their odd group. As you learn more about these characters and their connection to one another, the story begins to divulge into the nitty-gritty and show how it is possible for opposites to attract.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, especially as I was able to read it while in the holiday season. At first, the characters seemed to be attributed to the specific components that make up type-cast characters, but as the story progressed, the character development for the main cast delved in to the more detailed peculiarities that became their signature associations. The pace of the novel was steady, and I enjoyed how the author took the time to explain certain aspects in detail, such as the layout of certain settings and the emotions surrounding critical scenes. Those details added to the associated flow of the novel, making it more realistic and visually pleasing.
I enjoyed each of the characters in their own way, most especially Holly, as she seemed to represent the more realistic qualities of a "normal" woman today. I didn't enjoy Beth that much, as she seemed overly controlling, overbearing, closed-minded, and self-centered up until practically the last moment, where she has a moment of an epiphany and suddenly sees things as they should be. Having her be the main character Catherine's best friend made me question Catherine's ability to pick quality people in her life. As it's stated throughout the book, Beth has always been that way to Catherine, and I couldn't understand her tolerance of it.
The ending and epilogue of the novel seemed a little too cliché for my tastes, ending exactly as I predicted with certain attributes that didn't seem to fit the characters' personalities and ways of life. Even though the epilogue did state that it took place 2.5 years after the end of the novel itself, it seemed a little too far-fetched that the women would already be in the particular situation they found themselves in, without more growth or development as people themselves. Suddenly, they were the perfect couple, where I originally enjoyed the aspects of them that made them imperfect, and required the need to work on their relationship because it meant something to them to fight for their love.
All in all though, and despite the few grievances I have already mentioned, I did enjoy this book immensely. I finished it quickly (as opposed to my usual pace) and thoroughly appreciated the journey it took me on as I read it page after page. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good holiday novel to keep you warm at night by the fire, as well as to anyone looking for a good way to pass some time with a light read and good story.
If you're looking for a heartwarming story about two women finding love during the holiday season, I found this novel to be a great fit.
Braving a winter storm in order to make the Christmas celebration with her closest friends, workaholic Catherine can't seem to catch a break. With work causing her to miss her flight and future flights being cancelled, Catherine ends up having to resort to hitching a ride with a complete stranger in a vehicle one flat tire away from being salvaged. After attempting to make it through the storm despite warnings from weather officials and surrounding folk, the two end up losing control of the car, getting stuck in the cold before a good Samaritan sets them free. They wait out the storm in a small Scottish town, all the while developing feelings for one another, as well as a furry addition to their odd group. As you learn more about these characters and their connection to one another, the story begins to divulge into the nitty-gritty and show how it is possible for opposites to attract.
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, especially as I was able to read it while in the holiday season. At first, the characters seemed to be attributed to the specific components that make up type-cast characters, but as the story progressed, the character development for the main cast delved in to the more detailed peculiarities that became their signature associations. The pace of the novel was steady, and I enjoyed how the author took the time to explain certain aspects in detail, such as the layout of certain settings and the emotions surrounding critical scenes. Those details added to the associated flow of the novel, making it more realistic and visually pleasing.
I enjoyed each of the characters in their own way, most especially Holly, as she seemed to represent the more realistic qualities of a "normal" woman today. I didn't enjoy Beth that much, as she seemed overly controlling, overbearing, closed-minded, and self-centered up until practically the last moment, where she has a moment of an epiphany and suddenly sees things as they should be. Having her be the main character Catherine's best friend made me question Catherine's ability to pick quality people in her life. As it's stated throughout the book, Beth has always been that way to Catherine, and I couldn't understand her tolerance of it.
The ending and epilogue of the novel seemed a little too cliché for my tastes, ending exactly as I predicted with certain attributes that didn't seem to fit the characters' personalities and ways of life. Even though the epilogue did state that it took place 2.5 years after the end of the novel itself, it seemed a little too far-fetched that the women would already be in the particular situation they found themselves in, without more growth or development as people themselves. Suddenly, they were the perfect couple, where I originally enjoyed the aspects of them that made them imperfect, and required the need to work on their relationship because it meant something to them to fight for their love.
All in all though, and despite the few grievances I have already mentioned, I did enjoy this book immensely. I finished it quickly (as opposed to my usual pace) and thoroughly appreciated the journey it took me on as I read it page after page. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good holiday novel to keep you warm at night by the fire, as well as to anyone looking for a good way to pass some time with a light read and good story.
December 10, 2021
Okay, so the audiobook narration was excellent, but can we please stop this trend of non-Black narrators doing Jamaican accents? I get going for authenticity, but it makes me cringe down to my bones.
Other than that, the narrator was excellent.
As for the book:
Pros:
-cheesy Christmas lesbian romcom
-some of my fav tropes (Only One Bed, snowed in, etc)
-actually addressing some of their own issues rather than glossing over them
-cute
-DOG.
Cons:
-"Mammy"-like assistant 😬 yikes.
-super predictable
-all conflicts could be cleared up in fifteen seconds if they actually communicated
-forced kiss is treated as if it's the victim's fault 😬
I had a hard time trying to assign a star value to this, because I did thoroughly enjoy it in spite of a couple major yikes. So 3 stars for story x50% for yikes + 1 for narration? I don't know. 2.5 stars?
Other than that, the narrator was excellent.
As for the book:
Pros:
-cheesy Christmas lesbian romcom
-some of my fav tropes (Only One Bed, snowed in, etc)
-actually addressing some of their own issues rather than glossing over them
-cute
-DOG.
Cons:
-"Mammy"-like assistant 😬 yikes.
-super predictable
-all conflicts could be cleared up in fifteen seconds if they actually communicated
-forced kiss is treated as if it's the victim's fault 😬
I had a hard time trying to assign a star value to this, because I did thoroughly enjoy it in spite of a couple major yikes. So 3 stars for story x50% for yikes + 1 for narration? I don't know. 2.5 stars?
December 13, 2014
The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year, so I was really excited to dive into Season’s Meetings, a story about two women falling in love during this time of snow, Santa Claus and gingerbread. Upon reading the description of the book, I was expecting something light and whimsical and charming…and it definitely had whimsy and was absolutely charming. But it also had a lot more to it than I’d expected for a holiday romance!
The first thing that grabbed me about this book was the main character, Catherine. Catherine was incredibly well thought out–she’s flawed and, like most people, makes mistakes, but her anxiety is a product of the fact that she hates the holidays because of a terrible tragedy that happened during the holiday season… That story line made her incredibly likable, even though she says and does some harsh things.
Then we meet Holly, who’s offering to drive Catherine up to their friends’ house for Christmas. I loved Holly–she’s vivacious, charming, outgoing, but–like Catherine–she’s flawed, too. I loved how Miss Dunne handled that–it’s so difficult to create a real, likable, but still human character, and both Catherine and Holly were so real that they popped off the page. You loved them fiercely and still wanted to shake them when they were being foolhardy–the mark of an excellent storyteller.
Once Holly and Catherine meet, sparks begin to fly. They’re very different people, but their chemistry is off the charts. There are some tantalizing moments that lead up to miscommunications and delicious, painful “will-they, won’t-they?” tension, but problems are arising. They have a lot to overcome to be together, including their own pride, stubbornness and plain bullheadedness, and the build up was slow, teasing and wonderful. This means that when the romance finally does happen, you’re warm from the inside out, and just as happy as they are that they got together.
There’s so much wonderful about this book, but two major things that stood out to me were the incredible holiday atmosphere of the book, and one of the most adorable and endearing canines to ever appear in literature, Kimmy. I DIED at the descriptions of that cute little pup and all of her antics. As an extreme animal lover, I couldn’t get enough of that sweet dog’s personality, the mischievous pranks she pulled, and how charming she was. I found out that the dog we see on the front cover is none other than the author’s own pup, which added so much to the story. It’s so obvious that Miss Dunne owns and loves a dog with her whole heart, and it was such a joy to read that love radiating off of the page. As to the holiday atmosphere, the book is steeped in it. You can almost smell the Christmas pudding and cookies, the delicious cake and the scent of fresh pine. There’s so much warm and cozy about the story (once they’re out of the danger of freezing to death!), that it was like being wrapped up in a soft blanket–the story is incredibly charming, inviting and soul-soothing.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you’re looking for something to get you in the holiday spirit, infused with romance, love, adorable-puppy-antics and enough Christmas cheer to fill up your heart, you will absolutely love Season’s Meetings by Amy Dunne!
Five stars!
Full disclosure: I was provided with a free copy via NetGalley for an honest review.
The first thing that grabbed me about this book was the main character, Catherine. Catherine was incredibly well thought out–she’s flawed and, like most people, makes mistakes, but her anxiety is a product of the fact that she hates the holidays because of a terrible tragedy that happened during the holiday season… That story line made her incredibly likable, even though she says and does some harsh things.
Then we meet Holly, who’s offering to drive Catherine up to their friends’ house for Christmas. I loved Holly–she’s vivacious, charming, outgoing, but–like Catherine–she’s flawed, too. I loved how Miss Dunne handled that–it’s so difficult to create a real, likable, but still human character, and both Catherine and Holly were so real that they popped off the page. You loved them fiercely and still wanted to shake them when they were being foolhardy–the mark of an excellent storyteller.
Once Holly and Catherine meet, sparks begin to fly. They’re very different people, but their chemistry is off the charts. There are some tantalizing moments that lead up to miscommunications and delicious, painful “will-they, won’t-they?” tension, but problems are arising. They have a lot to overcome to be together, including their own pride, stubbornness and plain bullheadedness, and the build up was slow, teasing and wonderful. This means that when the romance finally does happen, you’re warm from the inside out, and just as happy as they are that they got together.
There’s so much wonderful about this book, but two major things that stood out to me were the incredible holiday atmosphere of the book, and one of the most adorable and endearing canines to ever appear in literature, Kimmy. I DIED at the descriptions of that cute little pup and all of her antics. As an extreme animal lover, I couldn’t get enough of that sweet dog’s personality, the mischievous pranks she pulled, and how charming she was. I found out that the dog we see on the front cover is none other than the author’s own pup, which added so much to the story. It’s so obvious that Miss Dunne owns and loves a dog with her whole heart, and it was such a joy to read that love radiating off of the page. As to the holiday atmosphere, the book is steeped in it. You can almost smell the Christmas pudding and cookies, the delicious cake and the scent of fresh pine. There’s so much warm and cozy about the story (once they’re out of the danger of freezing to death!), that it was like being wrapped up in a soft blanket–the story is incredibly charming, inviting and soul-soothing.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. If you’re looking for something to get you in the holiday spirit, infused with romance, love, adorable-puppy-antics and enough Christmas cheer to fill up your heart, you will absolutely love Season’s Meetings by Amy Dunne!
Five stars!
Full disclosure: I was provided with a free copy via NetGalley for an honest review.
March 10, 2016
I received an ARC of this book from Inked Rainbow Reads in return for an honest review.
Let's face it, I'm a sucker for a good romance. This one was sweet and an easy read. There were a couple things I'm going to mention though. They might be considered spoilers but I'm going to try to talk vaguely enough that it doesn't ruin things for anybody. First, it's integral to the story that Catherine get in the car. I don't think she would. You're talking about someone who has a phobia about driving, about riding in a car, and especially about riding in a car in bad weather. She considers the car a death trap because of the way it looks and the way it sounds. I just don't buy that she'd do something so against what's normal for her just because she thinks Holly is sexy. I suppose that's a matter of opinion, and truly, it doesn't really spoil the story, just makes you realize that it's a little forced.
I love the time they spend together when they get stuck. It was extremely romantic, and interesting how thoughtful they were to each other. Definitely a sign that both were attracted. Things fall apart for me again when they get to Beth and her wife's house. First there's the promise Catherine made to Beth way back in uni. I don't understand why she doesn't just tell Holly about it. Oh, I guess at the end she does tell us that it was more because the speed and intensity scared her, but she was adamant that Beth not know anything about the two of them. I don't blame Holly for being hurt, but her reaction seems a bit over the top.
Then we have the two strangers that Beth has set Catherine and Holly up with. Again, speak up so you don't have to go through with this farce. Not only that, but if Catherine's "date" was so horrendous, and even I thought so based on the description, how could anybody at the house believe Catherine was interested in her. Holly overreacts again, but the way she acted with her "date," I don't exactly understand where she was coming from. She certainly made Catherine jealous but again, the way she acted the next day was kind of extreme. The only good thing about it is that it made Catherine finally wise up that she was going to lose out on something that could be really good.
None of that really interfered with my enjoyment of the story. Just things I think about more as I read books now. It's a sappy holiday romance, and I really enjoy both sappy and romantic.
Let's face it, I'm a sucker for a good romance. This one was sweet and an easy read. There were a couple things I'm going to mention though. They might be considered spoilers but I'm going to try to talk vaguely enough that it doesn't ruin things for anybody. First, it's integral to the story that Catherine get in the car. I don't think she would. You're talking about someone who has a phobia about driving, about riding in a car, and especially about riding in a car in bad weather. She considers the car a death trap because of the way it looks and the way it sounds. I just don't buy that she'd do something so against what's normal for her just because she thinks Holly is sexy. I suppose that's a matter of opinion, and truly, it doesn't really spoil the story, just makes you realize that it's a little forced.
I love the time they spend together when they get stuck. It was extremely romantic, and interesting how thoughtful they were to each other. Definitely a sign that both were attracted. Things fall apart for me again when they get to Beth and her wife's house. First there's the promise Catherine made to Beth way back in uni. I don't understand why she doesn't just tell Holly about it. Oh, I guess at the end she does tell us that it was more because the speed and intensity scared her, but she was adamant that Beth not know anything about the two of them. I don't blame Holly for being hurt, but her reaction seems a bit over the top.
Then we have the two strangers that Beth has set Catherine and Holly up with. Again, speak up so you don't have to go through with this farce. Not only that, but if Catherine's "date" was so horrendous, and even I thought so based on the description, how could anybody at the house believe Catherine was interested in her. Holly overreacts again, but the way she acted with her "date," I don't exactly understand where she was coming from. She certainly made Catherine jealous but again, the way she acted the next day was kind of extreme. The only good thing about it is that it made Catherine finally wise up that she was going to lose out on something that could be really good.
None of that really interfered with my enjoyment of the story. Just things I think about more as I read books now. It's a sappy holiday romance, and I really enjoy both sappy and romantic.
August 7, 2018
A "forced proximity" holiday romance, this story matches Katherine (a workaholic who has buried her feelings after a terrible breakup) with Holly (a vibrant, if stubborn, business owner) on a trek up to the middle-of-nowhere Scotland. Instead of their destination, they end up crashing in Holly's car in the middle-of-even-less-where, and find themselves snowed in at a honeymoon cabin rented in a small town.
Katherine's history with Christmas is such that she doesn't really celebrate, whereas Holly brings her vibrant spark to everything, especially ugly holiday sweaters, baked goods, and general Christmas cheer. But as the two feel sparks that aren't at all due to the ugly wool jumpers, they navigate the reality of their two very different lives, the friends they have in common, and wonder if things are worth the risk.
Katherine's friend Beth was one of the few narrative pieces of this plot that I wished worked out just a little differently (Beth lived through a relationship meltdown that divided her family, and imposed a kind of "Never date within our circle!" rule on Katherine thereafter, a rule which dating Holly would break). Put simply? I'd've happily loved it if Katherine had decked Beth and never spoken to her again. It might have been the audio performance, but there was zero redeeming features in Beth and Katherine's relationship beyond the daughter that Katherine loved, and I wanted her to be much, much clearer in Katherine placing boundaries with Beth. Like, a lot.
That said, it's a tiny slice of what otherwise was a book that charmed me start to finish, and it wasn't out of character for Katherine to be somewhat under the sway of what few close friends she had—being very much alone in life, it made sense for Katherine to value Beth so highly, even if this reader wanted her to cut and run and never look back.
If you're feeling a bit grinchy about the holidays, Season's Meetings is just the audiobook to restore a little bit of faith in the holidays. The performer did a lovely job with range of voice, and accents were spot on, as was the pacing and emotionality.
Katherine's history with Christmas is such that she doesn't really celebrate, whereas Holly brings her vibrant spark to everything, especially ugly holiday sweaters, baked goods, and general Christmas cheer. But as the two feel sparks that aren't at all due to the ugly wool jumpers, they navigate the reality of their two very different lives, the friends they have in common, and wonder if things are worth the risk.
Katherine's friend Beth was one of the few narrative pieces of this plot that I wished worked out just a little differently (Beth lived through a relationship meltdown that divided her family, and imposed a kind of "Never date within our circle!" rule on Katherine thereafter, a rule which dating Holly would break). Put simply? I'd've happily loved it if Katherine had decked Beth and never spoken to her again. It might have been the audio performance, but there was zero redeeming features in Beth and Katherine's relationship beyond the daughter that Katherine loved, and I wanted her to be much, much clearer in Katherine placing boundaries with Beth. Like, a lot.
That said, it's a tiny slice of what otherwise was a book that charmed me start to finish, and it wasn't out of character for Katherine to be somewhat under the sway of what few close friends she had—being very much alone in life, it made sense for Katherine to value Beth so highly, even if this reader wanted her to cut and run and never look back.
If you're feeling a bit grinchy about the holidays, Season's Meetings is just the audiobook to restore a little bit of faith in the holidays. The performer did a lovely job with range of voice, and accents were spot on, as was the pacing and emotionality.
December 13, 2014
Amy Dunne’s second novel, Season’s Meetings, reinforces the writing skills and storytelling ability we saw in her Goldie winning first novel, Secret Lies. This is a gentler, easier read, without the YA angst and issues of abuse and self-harm, falling solidly into the Traditional Romance category. But that doesn’t detract at all from how good a wordsmith Ms Dunne is.
The characters are engaging, well rounded and three-dimensional. From Angus the snowplow driver to the Celtic witch in the tourist shop, every person you meet will resonate. The main characters invite our empathy and our good will, we want then to make it… even the annoying best friend Beth has redeeming traits.
The plot is a sweet and heartwarming seasonal fair, but filled in with a level of detail that makes it more than just a vehicle for a romance. The journey is well done and the juxtaposition of Holly, the tinsel loving, big family traditionalist with the bah-humbug Scrooge, Catherine, gives Dunne a perfect foil to make Christmas something new and exciting.
Intertwined throughout is the theme of family. We see examples from happy global networks and small village life to lost, broken histories that have left a lifetime of pain. Amy Dunne brings them all in to play in the remote Scottish Highlands, and from the mix forges new traditions, and possibly even new families.
No review would be complete without mentioning Kimmy, the orphaned cairn terrier who wriggles her way into Catherine’s heart. Full of character, lovingly drawn, she comes close to stealing the show and will definitely endear herself to all the fur-baby loving readers out there.
Thoroughly enjoyable reading, a great Christmas present and a well-done second novel that firmly establishes Amy Dunne as a talent to be watched.
The characters are engaging, well rounded and three-dimensional. From Angus the snowplow driver to the Celtic witch in the tourist shop, every person you meet will resonate. The main characters invite our empathy and our good will, we want then to make it… even the annoying best friend Beth has redeeming traits.
The plot is a sweet and heartwarming seasonal fair, but filled in with a level of detail that makes it more than just a vehicle for a romance. The journey is well done and the juxtaposition of Holly, the tinsel loving, big family traditionalist with the bah-humbug Scrooge, Catherine, gives Dunne a perfect foil to make Christmas something new and exciting.
Intertwined throughout is the theme of family. We see examples from happy global networks and small village life to lost, broken histories that have left a lifetime of pain. Amy Dunne brings them all in to play in the remote Scottish Highlands, and from the mix forges new traditions, and possibly even new families.
No review would be complete without mentioning Kimmy, the orphaned cairn terrier who wriggles her way into Catherine’s heart. Full of character, lovingly drawn, she comes close to stealing the show and will definitely endear herself to all the fur-baby loving readers out there.
Thoroughly enjoyable reading, a great Christmas present and a well-done second novel that firmly establishes Amy Dunne as a talent to be watched.
November 24, 2021
Slow
Full of limited Christmas experience due to the circumstances. The chemistry and attraction are high. Amy Dunne brought a good holiday novel that is worth a yearly read. The 4 stars are because of too much inner monologue. The book is only from the POV of 1 MC.
Full of limited Christmas experience due to the circumstances. The chemistry and attraction are high. Amy Dunne brought a good holiday novel that is worth a yearly read. The 4 stars are because of too much inner monologue. The book is only from the POV of 1 MC.
October 29, 2015
I was excited for this book from the moment I read the synopsis and it definitely didn’t disappoint! I found Catherine to be an interesting if not somewhat eccentric character from the beginning and couldn’t wait to see what kind of messes she could get herself into. When Holly entered the picture I knew this author had produced a match made in opposites-attracting heaven. From the first meeting this pair left me grinning and shaking my head.
Well written with a good plot the story flowed well and didn’t stall out leaving me bored and wanting the next zing. Punctuated with several ‘oh no!’ moments which left me chewing my lip and praying these two women would get their acts together. I couldn’t put it down. The depth of each character and their individual personalities was wonderful and beautifully developed. I really bonded with them through the story, feeling each and every bump, hurdle and close call right along with them.
Well formatted and easy to follow I would definitely recommend this book to my friends!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads
Well written with a good plot the story flowed well and didn’t stall out leaving me bored and wanting the next zing. Punctuated with several ‘oh no!’ moments which left me chewing my lip and praying these two women would get their acts together. I couldn’t put it down. The depth of each character and their individual personalities was wonderful and beautifully developed. I really bonded with them through the story, feeling each and every bump, hurdle and close call right along with them.
Well formatted and easy to follow I would definitely recommend this book to my friends!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads
February 16, 2015
I liked this heart warming, feel good story. Catherine had some absolutly brilliant comments/thoughts that literally made me giggle out loud.
This is a light romance with enough drama to make you worry about our heros, steamy sex and tender loving moments. We get to see Catherine grow beyond her fears and fight for what she needs. Little Florance is adorable and so funny when she interacted with her Auntie Cat's blind date, what a GREAT scene!!!
I adored the epilogue. I think it is nice to have the final closure, like putting the last gumdrop on the gingerbread house.
Original review With Prism Book Alliance
This is a light romance with enough drama to make you worry about our heros, steamy sex and tender loving moments. We get to see Catherine grow beyond her fears and fight for what she needs. Little Florance is adorable and so funny when she interacted with her Auntie Cat's blind date, what a GREAT scene!!!
I adored the epilogue. I think it is nice to have the final closure, like putting the last gumdrop on the gingerbread house.
Original review With Prism Book Alliance
January 4, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It's very sweet, with very little angst, which is pretty much exactly what I want out of a holiday romance. I can see myself reading this again next holiday season.
December 24, 2021
It's one of those books where a completely dysfunctional relationship is portrayed as something quirky and romantic. I honestly feel for the protagonist: she has terrible friends, and her love interest is a complete diva.
The protagonist doesn't want to openly advertise their 2-day-old relationship to her meddling and honestly disrespectful piece of shit friend. This makes the love interest, Holly, upset and she calls things off. The next day she openly flirts with the next available woman - to make her jealous? All this should show a reasonable person is that she has no respect for her partner's feelings and doesn't even try to understand her very valid point of view. Your relationship is literally days old, and you already have some very valid disagreements about your future... why the hell would want to make things official in front of your family/only friends?
And let's not even talk about the weird sub plot of the protagonist's agreement with her best friend that they wouldn't date family members of each other... decades ago. Especially considering only one of the two people actually HAS any family... why the fuck would you ask for such an agreement with a person who literally only has a grandma in her family? That's kind of one sided, isn't it?
Her so called best friend sets her up on a date with a narcissistic predator who pretty much sexually assaults her (after explicitly saying no multiple times), and is then angry at her for being "rude". Let's not even begin with the gigantic plot hole of setting somebody up with a person in another country, while they are on holiday for no more than a few days... It's stupid, and about the cheapest way the book could've chosen to create conflict.
All of this after the protagonist told her multiple times that she didn't want to be set up with anybody... after being in a fucking car crash just a few days earlier... The amount of disrespect and selfishness made me honestly pretty angry.
If you have "friends" like that in real life: it's not quirky, it's not helpful. It's selfish and you need to find yourself new friends.
I find it really funny, that the book portrays it like you can only be an atheist if you hate Christmas and are immensely cynical. As opposed to atheism just being a religious world view like any other. This kind of thing is especially awkward considering this being a same sex romance and all...
The book went for a light Christmas theme, but that completely fell flat with all the weird constructed drama.
And then obviously the book HAD to shoehorn a dog into the plot somehow, out of nowhere. I suppose so they could have a cute animal on the cover? The dog, as usual, has weirdly humanoid - magical - patterns of behavior, as opposed to being an actual animal. It felt like compete and utter filler to me.
And then, the actual love story isn't a story at all. It's just the usual: love at first sight, sudden drama filled breakup, and equally sudden and drama filled getting back together. The most basic formula you could think of.
This book is weird, inconsistent, features some morally corrupt characters and is definitely not worth anybody's time.
The protagonist doesn't want to openly advertise their 2-day-old relationship to her meddling and honestly disrespectful piece of shit friend. This makes the love interest, Holly, upset and she calls things off. The next day she openly flirts with the next available woman - to make her jealous? All this should show a reasonable person is that she has no respect for her partner's feelings and doesn't even try to understand her very valid point of view. Your relationship is literally days old, and you already have some very valid disagreements about your future... why the hell would want to make things official in front of your family/only friends?
And let's not even talk about the weird sub plot of the protagonist's agreement with her best friend that they wouldn't date family members of each other... decades ago. Especially considering only one of the two people actually HAS any family... why the fuck would you ask for such an agreement with a person who literally only has a grandma in her family? That's kind of one sided, isn't it?
Her so called best friend sets her up on a date with a narcissistic predator who pretty much sexually assaults her (after explicitly saying no multiple times), and is then angry at her for being "rude". Let's not even begin with the gigantic plot hole of setting somebody up with a person in another country, while they are on holiday for no more than a few days... It's stupid, and about the cheapest way the book could've chosen to create conflict.
All of this after the protagonist told her multiple times that she didn't want to be set up with anybody... after being in a fucking car crash just a few days earlier... The amount of disrespect and selfishness made me honestly pretty angry.
If you have "friends" like that in real life: it's not quirky, it's not helpful. It's selfish and you need to find yourself new friends.
I find it really funny, that the book portrays it like you can only be an atheist if you hate Christmas and are immensely cynical. As opposed to atheism just being a religious world view like any other. This kind of thing is especially awkward considering this being a same sex romance and all...
The book went for a light Christmas theme, but that completely fell flat with all the weird constructed drama.
And then obviously the book HAD to shoehorn a dog into the plot somehow, out of nowhere. I suppose so they could have a cute animal on the cover? The dog, as usual, has weirdly humanoid - magical - patterns of behavior, as opposed to being an actual animal. It felt like compete and utter filler to me.
And then, the actual love story isn't a story at all. It's just the usual: love at first sight, sudden drama filled breakup, and equally sudden and drama filled getting back together. The most basic formula you could think of.
This book is weird, inconsistent, features some morally corrupt characters and is definitely not worth anybody's time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2019
This Is A Very Cute Read!
That said, Cathrine was my least favorite person of all time, not because of her past or her adorable stutter that she always tried to hide, but the fact that she was so dense and oblivious! Made me want to pull out my hair in frustration, but she does learn and grow, and by the end of the book she had (somewhat) grown on me.
The pacing was good, her and Holly’s interactions were oh-so-sweet (and at times painfully embarrassing to read lol), and the emotional connection growing between them was exactly what I had been needing... but the sex scene (yes there is only one), was lacking a bit, however that does not take away from the story, but it would have been a nice bonus.
So, great characters that you can love, be annoyed with, and embarrassed by, but ultimately want to get their well deserved happy ending, and a darling pupper who I felt, stole the show right from under Catherine and Holly. Great Christmas read, with cool characters that you get to meet along the way, but the ONE BIG reason this got 3 stars instead of 5 mostly has to do with the very ending.
***SPOILER***
I don’t like children, and had I known that this book was at all going to have talks or mentions of babies/children, I never would have picked it up. That said, still a good book, but with it ending on Catherine pregnant, it kind of soured the true happy ending for me, and thus got 3 stars. *sigh*
***
That said, Cathrine was my least favorite person of all time, not because of her past or her adorable stutter that she always tried to hide, but the fact that she was so dense and oblivious! Made me want to pull out my hair in frustration, but she does learn and grow, and by the end of the book she had (somewhat) grown on me.
The pacing was good, her and Holly’s interactions were oh-so-sweet (and at times painfully embarrassing to read lol), and the emotional connection growing between them was exactly what I had been needing... but the sex scene (yes there is only one), was lacking a bit, however that does not take away from the story, but it would have been a nice bonus.
So, great characters that you can love, be annoyed with, and embarrassed by, but ultimately want to get their well deserved happy ending, and a darling pupper who I felt, stole the show right from under Catherine and Holly. Great Christmas read, with cool characters that you get to meet along the way, but the ONE BIG reason this got 3 stars instead of 5 mostly has to do with the very ending.
***SPOILER***
I don’t like children, and had I known that this book was at all going to have talks or mentions of babies/children, I never would have picked it up. That said, still a good book, but with it ending on Catherine pregnant, it kind of soured the true happy ending for me, and thus got 3 stars. *sigh*
***
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews