Change-Up

Barlow Sisters #3.5

by Jordan Ford

She's counting sleeps until she can spend Christmas with her boyfriend. But can she find him the perfect gift to make up for the fact her parents won’t even let him in the house?
Rahn and Roman are in love.
Her parents? Not so much. The last thing they want is their daughter dating a bad boy from the wrong side of town.
For the first time in her life, Rahn is willing to stand up to her family and fight for what she really wants.
But is she strong enough to combat her parents' vehement disapproval?

Roman wishes he could be a better person for Rahn.
He wishes he could leave his checkered past behind, but he just can’t seem to shake it.
He wants to give Rahn the perfect Christmas, but when she takes off without telling him only four days before the big day, he’s convinced he’s lost the girl he loves.

Can he find out why Rahn left? And where she’s hiding?
Can he convince her to come home in time for Christmas?

If you like sweet romance and relatable characters then you’ll love this addition to the Barlow Sisters trilogy.

Get The Christmas Gift? for your front-row seat to this surprising Christmas romance.


All Barlow Sisters novels available on Amazon:
Curveball
Strike Out
Foul Play

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, Novella

138 pages, ebook

Published November 10, 2018

About the author

Jordan Ford is a teen and young-adult romance author. She loves to write romance novels filled with angst, mystery, danger and first love. If you're looking for heartfelt romance, loyal friendships, thrilling drama and characters you can fall in love with, then you're in the right place.

“Writing romance brings me the greatest joy. My heart bubbles, my insides zing, and I am at my happiest when immersed in a great scene with characters who have become real to me.”

To stay up-to-date with Jordan's latest news, you can sign up for her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/JF_book...
You'll also get a free introduction to her Ryder Bay series.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Website: www.jordanfordbooks.com
Email: jordan@jordanfordbooks.com

Reviews

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas Gift? is a sweet addition to the Barlow Sisters books. In this one, we get to know Rahn and Roman. Rahn is Chloe's best friend, and Roman is the drummer in Cairo's band. We've met both of them in previous books, and both were characters I wanted to see more of.

Rahn and Roman both have their own histories to deal with, as do every single couple EVER! These two also have different cultures though, which can add a bit more difficulty to the mix. One thing that is clear from the start is just how much these two mean to each other. The problem is pretty much self-explanatory, but it is written exceedingly well. Nothing about it is glossed over, or diminished. I would love to see just how these two get on, and with the next set of books due to come soon, I am hoping for a crossover - even if it's only a little one!

Well written, with no editing or grammatical errors, this was one sweet read. You may need to visit the dentist afterwards! Definitely recommended by me.

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 12, 2018

[Lenore Kosinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://celebrityreaders.com/2018/11/...

I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4 stars — OMG, I loved Rahn and Roman…they were so cute together. I love sweet characters, and both Rahn and Roman fit that bill. I just wanted to hug them both, and I LOVED the way they loved each other.

I did NOT expect the storyline at all! It threw me totally off-guard, though I did guess before it was confirmed, I just wasn’t expecting that particular conflict. I also thought it was an interesting look at the difficulties Christians can have with their beliefs leading to judgements…and that it dealt with that really well, not making religious people look bad, just flawed…but not without hope to be better. Without giving away spoilers, I can’t really get into much more. But I thought that the subject matters it tackled were dealt with fairly well, trying to show the difficulties of reality a bit.

And I loved seeing cameos of all our favourite characters from the series! They didn’t take over the story, but were there enough to satisfy Barlow sister fans. I especially loved seeing the Hales again…those are some good parents.

So yeah, I loved this little Christmas novella. I was one of the fans that wanted to see Rahn get a story, and it was just made better that her beau was Roman. <3

[Juliana Ignácio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story and to be able to see again the characters in this series.
Rahn is Chloe's best friend, and Roman is Caleb's best friend. They remained in the city, while most of their friends went to college elsewhere. They come together during the summer and soon start dating.
Their relationship is perfect, since they love each other endlessly, but Rahn's parents don't like him very much, since his past is not so good.
They are eager to spend Christmas together, but when Rahn disappears without telling anyone, everyone gets worried, especially Roman. And when Chloe find her and everyone goes to her rescue, the surprise she holds may affect them for life.
I loved the ending, it was perfect for these characters.
I recommend the reading.

[Paz Vivanco (Taylor's Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story!

The ending was so perfect! I'm a crying mess right now while writing this review.

It was so lovely to see Rahn's story, she was a cute character, and getting to know her side of a love story was absolutely amazing! She's so strong and believes so much in true love with Roman that made my heart feel so many emotions while reading.

It was the perfect story to start the Christmas season. Highly recommend!

[Chicken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This was a cute novella for the end of the series. I liked seeing characters I knew from the books before. It was a great story and a wonderful wrap up for this series. I’m excited to read more books by this author.

I received a review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rahn and Roman. It's the classic tale of a girl falling in love with the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, the one with a spotty past, the one every parent dislikes. But Roman is no longer that boy. He's legit, going to college, and no one could love Rahn better. She's his perfect girl, his dream, his sunshine. Then Rahn takes off four days before Christmas without saying a word to him and lying to her family and Chloe. Has she figured out that he's not good enough for her and can't figure out how to break his heart or is she in trouble? Where is she hiding? What is she hiding? Can he finds her and fix what's wrong before Christmas?

The Christmas Gift is a spin-off novella of the Barlow Sister Trilogy. Always happy adorable Rahn, best friend of Chloe Barlow has fallen in love with complicated, quiet Roman, the drummer of Cairo's band. Her parents don't approve but they don't know him. He's everything to her. They are young but very much in love. This is a book about how life doesn't follow a set list of rules. It doesn't always go the way we plan, how we can be thrown for a loop, disappoint those we love. Life is unpredictable, messy, and scary. But the main message is that when there is love, there is a way.

I loved getting a glimpse of the Barlow universe again and Rahn and Roman are wonderful together. I would have preferred more. This gave us a plan but nothing more. I would have liked a future epilogue set down the road with all of the changes in place. Maybe one day? I did love that final scene. Perfect. Merry Christmas!

[Nana Pickrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was privileged enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book from the author for a voluntary and honest review.

A very well written short story that has a great storyline and plot. Characters likeable and well described. Rahn and Roman deserve their HEA.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

I was excited to return back to the Barlow Sisters series for a bit with this sweet holiday novella. The Christmas Gift tells the story of Roman and Rahn, two side characters from the trilogy. They already are in a relationship now and this novella is about their first Christmas together. It's a sweet novella with a bit of holiday cheer and a surprising gift.

This was a fun read, it's pretty sweet and Roman and Rahn make for a great couple. I liked the start and how they struggled because Rahn's parents didn't approve, I felt for them and it was so obvious they were good together I felt sad Rahn's parents didn't see that. Then Rahn leaves and there is a bit of mystery/ tension when you wait to find out why.

At first I couldn't understand why she left, especially as even from her point of view you don't find out the truth, which was a bit frustrating, but it makes sense once the truth comes out. I hadn't expected that twist. I don't really care about the topic and had some troubles relating to Rahn and Roman's emotions, but I think it was lovely to see how they both handled it.

I enjoyed being back in this series for a bit again, even tough it was only a novella. It was fun seeing the familiar characters again. We see most of the main characters from the trilogy and there are quite some scenes with them in it. I just found this novella a bit short, it definitely is long enough for the story it wants to tell, but I would've loved to see how they fell in love instead as now that felt a bit missing as all the novels cover that part of each characters relationship.

Rahn and Roman were both great characters. And while we don't get to see as much about them as I would've liked, it was a great read and I liked spending time with them. The focus is on their struggles, Rahn leaving and their Christmas. It's about how they fight for their future and how good and sweet they are together. I remember Rahn more from the main books, but it took me a bit more time to remember who Roman was. I liked seeing Rahn's uplifting, open minded and happy personality and also from her perspective her friendship with Chloe. I felt a bit sad how Roman thought he wasn't good enough for her, but he sure proved that he was perfect for her.

This novella also serves as a bit of a set-up of the author's newest series. Rahn observes some surfers when she's at the beach and the location seemed like a great setting for the author's next series and I am excited to read that.

To summarize: this was a fun and sweet holiday novella. It was fun to return to the world of the Barlow Sisters for a while and I liked seeing familiar characters again. It also serves a bit as a sort of introduction to a new series the author is writing. I liked Rah and Roman and they are great together. The focus is on their romance and their struggles, which works great and it also has a bit of a Christmas theme. I wasn't quite sure what the Christmas gift would be be, but I was surprised by the twist. It isn't my favorite topic to read about, so that part caught my attention a bit less. The ending is great and I liked how it ended on a happy, but also realistic tone. And I am excited for the author's next series!

[Bobo's Book Bank · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE CHRISTMAS GIFT? is a novella set in the Barlow Sisters series. No worries if you haven't read any previous books, though, this is a standalone.

We've met both Rahn and Roman in the original series. Rahn is Chloe's best friend (Foul Play Book 3). Roman is best friends with Cairo (Strike Out Book 2). This is the quintessential opposites attract; boy from the wrong side of the tracks gets the good girl story. Rahn is struggling with her parents' disdain for Roman. Roman is battling with the feeling of not being good enough for Rahn. When another complication is thrown into the mix, Roman and Rahn find themselves on the brink of breakup. Is their relationship strong enough to withstand this huge obstacle?

I read and loved the entire Barlow Sisters series and I'm super happy that Roman and Rahn find their happy ever after in this sweet, light drama. Yes, there's a twist in the story that threatens to tear these two apart but it's also plain to see how much Rahn and Roman adore each other. Novellas are always tricky for me because I often find myself trying to connect to the characters. This one? Nope! I had no problem at all relating to both of these incredibly sweet and REAL individuals. I loved being able to see Rahn and Roman's strengths as well as their vulnerabilities. Things weren't easy for them but they preserved together and I enjoyed their journey.

This is an hour or two diversion if you're looking for a well written story about two young but committed lovers and how they overcome diversity and personal hurdles. Told from dual POVs with a happy, Christmas miracle ending. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet Rahn and Roman in earlier Barlow sisters books, and given she is Chloe's best friend, I definitely wanted to see her get her own HEA. This was a little more than I expected, but still one of those stories that mimics what happens in life more often than not. The parents who don't approve of the bad boy who isn't good enough for their daughter, the sweet guy who wishes his past wasn't what it was and that he is actually good enough for the girl, and the obedient girl who finally does something for herself, but pays a heavy price for it.

Rahn is loyal, protective, kind, just an all-around nice girl who finally lands the guy of her dreams. Yep, Roman isn't a church-going guy, nor does he share the same culture and ethnicity as Rahn, but he loves her. Loves her enough to be the best guy he can be even if he doesn't come from much, and can't promise her that all will be perfect. When they find themselves facing the ultimate challenge young people still in school and living at home face, well, things get rocky. She runs, he worries, the cavalry comes in and things eventually turn out ok. Not that all is perfect in their world, but better and hopefully, something we'll learn more about in future books.

A sweet book, with real life challenges that are sure to tug at your heartstrings.

[Kitlina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for this wonderful Christmas gift :)
I really liked how Roman loved Rahn. And how Rahn loved him back.
I was a little confused about the Tanaka family since they were supposed to be Japanese but were Christians. Japanese people are not usually Christians. And in fact Roman should have been a Catholic Christian since he is of Hispanic descent.
Anyway, it was very lovely. I hate that they have to struggle so much to make it but at least they have a plan and lots of support.
To tell the truth it's not that easy a thing to happen, especially if you are as careful as Rahn said they were. But for the story's sake let's give them the benefit of the doubt. It still sounded like a plot device to me.
But the thing I liked most were the relationships between the characters and that we got to see most of the cast from the previous books.
And now I'm super excited about the surfer/skateboarder girl. I want to know her story so bad. And Ms. Ford promised she will deliver starting January 2019. I can't wait.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's almost Christmas and Rahn and Roman are looking forward to seeing friends that are attending colleges in different states. Even though they went to high school with those mutual friends, Rahn and Roman have only been dating for six months. Because of his past, Rahn's parents do not approve of their relationship, but they are in love and determined to stay together. Christmas is just a couple of days away when Rahn tells Roman about their unexpected gift.
Rahn and Roman are beautifully written and sweet characters that I was familiar with, and I am so glad that they get to have their own story. Fantastic book with an unexpected twist. I loved it!

I am voluntarily leaving an honest and non-incentivized review of this ARC.

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This kind of story makes me believe in love when the reality of it barely makes much sense. I want to believe that there are real love stories like this and I hope that one day, I'll get to experience it too.

I went into this story with a mindset of how light and sweet this story will be but yes, the romance was all there yet it was so much more than that. The characters talked about life, hardships and ups and downs. We all experience that and just the thought of them thinking and talking about it, makes me want to shut down and just think about the unknown future of our lives. It's scary and dark but we have to go onwards no matter what.

This is a story of the reality of life, the affection between family members and we must remember that no matter what comes our way, they will always be there by your side.

[Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was short and sweet and I really want to know what happens to these characters next. These two young characters were meant for each other. From different cultures it was never going to be easy. His past and her parents, will these issues stand in their way? I could see what was coming, it was relatable, so young and their lives about to change...for better or worse, you be the judge. I enjoyed it and recommend this series for the lives of the other characters.

[Sophie Koufes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Christmas Gift is A Barlow Sisters Novella that features supporting character's Rahn (Chloe's best friend) and Roman who are from different cultures & ethnicities. A sweet romance with unexpected twists. A perfect Christmastime novella that packs a punch in a short time. I loved seeing the other characters in The Barlow Sisters series and catching up with them. A perfect dose of Christmas cheer. A beautiful novella wrapped up into a perfect package.

[Amanda Hoerth-timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️

Im never disappointed when I read a Jordan Ford book and the same goes for her newest addition. Getting to see the Barlow sisters and their overprotective better half's was a wonderful Christmas treat.

[Paula Genereau · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story. I loved it. Was great to see some old characters

[Latifa Morrisette · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Met Rahn early on in the Barlow sisters books and she's also Chloe's best friend. Along with Chloe is Roman her boyfriend, who her parents disapprove of. In this book we see past characters and an unexpected twist that you will love. I'm excited for what is next from this author and I hope you will be too.

[Secretly Adorkable Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly sweet ya romance with a continuation of Roman & Rahns book. It is a great Christmas read

[CARLA · Rating 2 out of 5]

https://celebrityreaders.com/2018/12/...

Ok, this book made me so mad! I know, I know, I shouldn’t judge unless I’ve been in her shoes, but guess what? I have. And I took a different path but I am absolutely judging over here. Honestly, this book was just a little too close to home and I think they were all very immature and just plain stupid. I mean, you ran away? Really? Then you had your girl join you because you didn’t know what to do? Putting her in a difficult situation herself? I found that especially selfish on her part.

Look, I’m sorry but if you were old enough to have the sex, you should have been old enough to deal with what could have happened. And I know I’m all preachy over here and her parents were grade A douchebags but ugh. It is not really so dramatic as it was made to sound. Five pages for us to learn her big bad secret! And its not even that big of a deal. At least it wasn’t when I was a kid. But I may have just been brought up differently.

Then the engagement. ROTFL. For a book that is so ‘real’ this was just plain laughable. I’m gonna stop now because I’ll just work myself up. Suffice it so say if these were my kids… you know what, nevermind, they aren’t. Thank god.

Incredibly dissappointed in this and don’t think I will be reading anymore in this series.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rahn & Roman's sweet Christmas story is a great addition to the Barlow Sisters Trilogy. It was fun catching up with all of the characters, especially Vincent and Chloe. Vincent Mancini is still my favorite!

I loved getting a glimpse of the characters for Jordan Ford's next series. I can't wait to meet the surfers in the Ryder Bay series!

[Lindsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest this is not what I was expecting for Rahn and Romans story. I was hoping for more of them getting together and falling in love. Not them already being together for 4 months and then finding out that they weren’t as careful as they thought.
Rahn’s parents are church goers and don’t believe in sex before marriage. They also don’t approve of Roman even though he has changed.
Rahn finds out something unexpected and doesn’t know how to deal with it. Unfortunately she doesn’t handle it well and disappeared for a few days without telling anyone where she went. She freaks everyone out but thankfully answers Chloe’s phone call.
I loved that Roman stepped up and these two obviously love each other. I just wish that we could have gotten more of them being together instead of worrying about everything.
I loved this series though and will miss these characters.

[KatyaRath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return to the world of the Barlow sisters with this charming holiday novella featuring Rahn, Chloe’s bestie, and Roman, the drummer in Cairo’s band. This read will touch your heart and remind you, that for all of the strains of life, the are just as many joys. And sometimes the surprise curveballs are the greatest gift of all. A great companion to the Barlow trilogy, The Christmas Gift is sweet and heart-warming and well worth the read, whether or not you’ve met the Barlow girls yet or not.

Rahn and Roman have a great love for each other, and the only damper on their relationship is that Rahn’s parents disapprove of Roman and refuse to give him a chance.
Well, that was their only problem. Until they try to make plans for Christmas and are thwarted at every turn. And then Rahn disappears. Despite how much he loves her, Roman is convinced that she’s finally bowing to her parent’s wishes and dumping his butt. But the real reason—it’s a doozy—just might end up the greatest gift they couldn’t have planned on.

[kathryne Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barlow sisters must read

I truly enjoyed this Series , I went into the book feeling it was not for me as it’s about teenagers and though it would not hold my attention for long but I was so surprised at how well written it is and how I just wanted To keep turning the Page to see what would happen next. Once I had Finished the books I was Disappointed as I wanted more I do hope there will be more Of these feisty sisters live once they graduate College and move into their adult lives do they marry these young Men from troubled backgrounds and how. Do their pasts affect their future. I want to know more I also look forward to reading more by this author. A great read for all romance lovers.

[Bri Lind · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily leave an honest review of this Advanced Readers Copy.

I really enjoyed reading this story of Rahn and Roman. Their story against all odds was so romantic and loving. Despite her parents not allowing her to see Roman, Rahn stood tall and found ways to see him anyway. To me, that speaks of true love. Roman has such a love for Rahn that he would do anything for her.

The Christmas Gift is such a great part of this series and continues the story of a part of Chaos member's lives. I love how this story included the other band members when they realized that something was meant to be and when things were down in the dumps for Roman. They came together to help him out when all else seemed like it wasn't going to work out and that kind of friendship is a rare find.

[Michelle Odland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little love story about two young people in love. While this novella is short, it packs a story big enough for a novel without feeling too rushed. The author has a comfortable writing style and it is an easy read. I found myself rooting for the two of them whether they were enjoying chicken sandwiches or sitting together at the beach. This novella is part of a series that I have not read but I didn’t feel that the history was missing in this story.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Christmas Gift is a short, cute novella about Rahn and Roman from the Barlow Sisters trilogy. I loved seeing these two as a couple and the surprise that happens around their first Christmas. This was the perfect little story to keep me entertained and in the Christmas spirit. If you loved the Barlow Sisters, then you will love this glimpse into Rahn and Roman’s lives.

[Sherry Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet romance about a young couple who are in love and discover that they are pregnant. This book is totally believable. You can understand the anxiety of the couple and the disappointment of the parents. But, most of all, you feel the love Rahn and Roman have for each other.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It's wonderfully written and just an enjoyable read. I really loved visiting the Barlow sisters again. They are some of my favorite characters and I loved getting a chance to see them again. If your looking for an exciting, fun, heartwarming book, I'd recommend reading this book or any Jordan Ford book in fact!!

[Tammy Criswell Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyable story! Jordan Ford never disappoints