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Christmas, Colorado #5

Snowbound at Christmas

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Surviving the holidays will take a Christmas miracle...

Ex-cop Cat O'Connor is bored working for her sister, Chloe, as a personal assistant on the set of her soap opera. Until Chloe gets an opportunity to audition for the role of a lifetime and asks her identical twin to substitute for her on the soap with no one the wiser. It's a perfect switch—until Cat attracts the attention of the mysterious Mr. Tall, Dark, and Way-too-handsome leading man.

Grayson Alexander never thought being snowbound in the charming town of Christmas, Colorado, for the holiday would get so hot. But between working with sexy, tough Cat on set and keeping his real reason for being there under wraps, he's definitely feeling the heat. And if there's one thing they'll learn as they bring out the mistletoe, it's that in this town, true love is always in season...

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 29, 2015

201 people are currently reading
1852 people want to read

About the author

Debbie Mason

38 books1,695 followers

Debbie Mason is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series and the Harmony Harbor series. The first book in her Christmas, Colorado series, “The Trouble with Christmas,” was the inspiration for Hallmark’s “Welcome to Christmas.” Her books have been praised by RT Book Reviews for their “likable characters, clever dialogue, and juicy plots.” When Debbie isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family in Ottawa, Canada.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 183 reviews
Profile Image for ☕️Kimberly  (Caffeinated Reviewer).
3,587 reviews785 followers
December 14, 2015
I went into Snowbound at Christmas blind. I did not realize it was part of a series and had no idea I was going to find myself in the middle of a mystery with suspense, danger and shenanigans. I accepted the title because of the lovely holiday cover. I am a sucker for doors and the color red. What can I say?

We meet ex-cop Cat (playful referred to as Kit-Kat by her sister) working as an assistant to her soap opera star sister Chloe. The two are twins and complete opposites. When they switch places, trouble ensues. Grayson Alexander soon finds himself posing as a British actor and trying to do his job with his vibrant troublesome Grandmother acting as his manager. The setup for the tale was delightful and I quickly settle in. Mason provided a colorful cast of characters from actors, stage crew and townsfolk. I love when even secondary characters have depth and Mason made them all memorable.

While the tale starts in the city, we soon find ourselves in Christmas, Colorado at the family ranch of Chloe and Cat O’Conner. I loved the ranch and I am quite sure characters we met played roles in the earlier books for this series, but I never felt out-of-place.

The characters in Snowbound for Christmas are wonderfully fleshed out and unique. Chloe is the spoiled actor whose neck you will want to ring. Seriously, I kept waiting for someone to slap her. Cat has had her confidence shaken, but she is graceful, kind and surely headed for sainthood. How she has not throttled Chloe is beyond me. Grayson is swoon-worthy; levelheaded and definitely Mr. Tall, Dark and Mysterious. Ty, the makeup artist was delicious, and made me laugh at every turn. Grayson’s grandmother was a trip and her meddling added to the tale. Secondary characters from actors to townsfolk helped balance the tale, and created red herrings.

While the mystery was the focus, Mason weaved in a sweet romance that will satisfy readers. Character growth and a tightly woven plot kept me engaged. Mason weaved in a familiar Christmas Classic before closing lose threads and provided a solid ending. I closed Snowbound for Christmas with a smile.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Profile Image for Susan.
1,495 reviews206 followers
October 14, 2015
SNOWBOUND AT CHRISTMAS is filled with mystery, but it is always fun and light hearted. I found myself giggling out loud at many of the situations with Cat and Grayson. I've read Debbie Mason before and have always enjoyed her stories. I truly thought I knew who was behind the murder lot of Chloe but I was totally off base. I love reading about Christmas, Colorado and I'm looking forward to continuing this wonderful series. I finished this one with a huge smile on my face and that is why I always rush to pick up Debbie Mason's books when they come out, they are just that good.


Received from Net galley for an honest review.
Profile Image for Anna's Herding Cats.
1,274 reviews319 followers
September 28, 2016


Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NwVvHZ

Loved. It. Snowbound at Christmas was an absolute delight! Hot hunky hero, stellar heroine, the magic of Christmas and danger around every corner. The perfect read to snuggle down with on a cold day with a hot cup of chocolate in hand.

The quick of it is that someone is trying to kill Cat's sister Chloe who is an actress. And Cat's determined to find out who's behind all the "accidents" her twin keeps having. Everyone is a suspect. Including the hottie British actor who's suddenly come to town and is now working with her sister. He's hiding some secrets that's for sure but maybe not the one's Cat thinks...

I freaking LOVED Cat. Mason writes the best heroines. They're strong, kick ass, reasonable and just plain likable women. Cat's a former police offer who's had a rough go lately and has been working for her sister who is...difficult. I loved everything about her. How patient and determined she was. How much she loved her people. That she could apologize when she was wrong and keep on moving forward. She was just the type of woman you could look up to and respect.

And Grayson? Pretty sexy guy. I enjoyed him quite a bit but the star of this one for me was most definitely Cat.

I really liked these two together. They go a little slow since they don't really trust each other right off the bat. But it worked. I liked seeing them get to know each other day by day as they dealt with the threats against Chloe and their nutty families. And whew their families were cah-ra-zy. Her sister. Lordy. I'm telling ya. I was totally on board with the Santa float in the Christmas parade running her ass over. Annoying crazy tart! How Cat stood her. I just. Whew! Anyways. They really were a charming pair.

The suspense of who was out for Cat's sister was nicely done. I kinda figured it out but at the same time was kept guessing long enough for it to really work and have me questioning my suspicions more than once.

The only thing I would have asked for more of in this one would be heat. There's some nice chemistry and tension happening between these two but actual heat and sexy bits...not so much. Very very light and mostly off page.

All in all, Snowbound at Christmas was a beautiful Christmas read. A little danger and action, heart, romance, small town spirit. Christmas, Colorado totally won me over. If you haven't met this quirky little town and the people who call it home yet you're so missing out.
Profile Image for Julie.
156 reviews19 followers
December 5, 2019
This was cute. Admittedly, I doubt I enjoyed SNOWBOUND AT CHRISTMAS as much as a reader who really resonates with rom-coms would, so my rating of three stars should probably be taken with a grain of salt considering the overall high ratings this book has received. But three stars from me isn't a criticism, really. It just means that while I didn't adore the book, it was one that I still consider to be good and enjoyable.

So what's going on in SNOWBOUND AT CHRISTMAS? Cat and Chloe, who are not only sisters but identical twins, both happen to be falling for the same "tall, dark, and a hundred tons of pure gorgeousness" man (yep, can't make that up-- that's a direct quote from the book). But, for those out there who aren't romance lovers, don't worry: there's an element of mystery framing the entire story, which is really what kept me reading and turning pages. Chloe is a famous actress on a popular daytime soap opera, and it seems that a killer is after her. Fortunately for Chloe, the same handsome man who happens to show up on her set is an undercover FBI agent that's there to help keep her safe and find her would-be killer. From there, we get lots of drama, and the story itself feels like a soap opera as Chloe's self-absorbed, dramatic antics have a tendency to infiltrate her actual life. Everyone is rich, all the characters are gorgeous, and the events are completely unrealistic, but even so, I wasn't put off by this. I realized that the story was meant to be fun and entertaining, and it never attempted to be a police procedural despite drawing on a few of the conventions of that genre every now and then.

When I bought this book (I had $12 to spend in CVS coupons, so this book and some caramel M&Ms were the resulting purchases), I didn't realize it was part of a series. Overall, however, it really didn't seem to make much of a difference in my reading experience. The past events that were referenced were fleshed out enough that I didn't feel I missed out on anything not having read the previous novels in the series. I guess if I have any beef with the story, it seemed like the Christmas season theme was played down despite the very Christmassy cover, which is really what drew me to the book in the first place. While there's tons of romance and mystery, there's just a dash of Christmas, so it wasn't one of those reads that really put me in the holiday spirit.

My final thought? If you love rom-coms, if you want something that's a little Christmassy, if you're looking for a PG-13 romance novel, then SNOWBOUND AT CHRISTMAS just might be your ticket to some fun reading this yuletide season.
Profile Image for Oceana Reads Co..
953 reviews2,360 followers
December 24, 2021
This was super funny and enjoyable.
A lot of sexual tension though and one closed door scene. I still enjoyed it and laughed a lot!
Profile Image for Amy.
2,642 reviews2,022 followers
December 16, 2020
2.5/5

So then I skipped to book five, Snowbound at Christmas and that may have been a mistake on my part. I didn’t connect to the characters in this nearly as much as I did in the first book. It follows Cat who has a twin sister, Chloe who is a soap opera actress. Chloe convinces Cat to act like her in her soap job so she can go audition for another role elsewhere. Grayson is undercover posing as an actor on the soap and I think maybe the fact that both lead characters were acting like other people may have played a part in why I didn’t like this one very much. It was hard to get to know them when they were both pretending. Also the whole plot was kinda silly anyway so I just wasn’t sold here.
Profile Image for Cyndi.
2,450 reviews123 followers
June 24, 2024
I liked this book. Although I thought the twin should have said no to her sister a bit more, I guess there wouldn't be a story if she had.
Our heroine gets roped in to standing in for her sister on the set of a soap. Although she's an okay actress, she doesn't like it. Meanwhile she meets a new actor who is there mysteriously. I don't want to give too much away, but I like the twist.
Profile Image for 1-Click Addict Support Group.
3,749 reviews490 followers
October 1, 2015
This is another clever installment in a delightful small town series. I love Christmas, it's the perfect small town setting for romance. I loved getting to "bump into" past characters, seeing them in the coffee shop, hearing them on a phone call. That really has to be one of my favorite things about this type of series, and Debbie Mason does it oh, so well. Some of the secondary characters really gave this book its shine. Ty, the hairdresser, and his nicknames for the sexy men in town had me cracking up. GG, the meddling, snobby grandmother was an eccentric old hoot, and I loved her scenes.

The problem I had with the story stemmed from just how despicable Cat's twin, Chloe was. I had a hard time caring if she was murdered because Chloe was an absolute terror, beyond self-centered and horribly manipulative. Also, Cat was such a tough bodyguard, but she let everyone walk all over her—she spent much of the book being Chloe's doormat and that was a little difficult to believe coming from a woman who was otherwise so smart and strong.

There were also a few scenes where something was brought up in detail as if it had importance, then there was no scene for it. For example, Cat and Grayson are going tree chopping, and there is an entire scene of getting armed, preparing for the cold, discussing how surely they wouldn't be in danger but just in case... Then, on the next page, they're already home and around the fire talking about something else. There were a few of these build-ups just to have it seem as if a scene had been cut and I found myself flipping back a page to make sure I hadn't missed anything.

Having said that, I did love the initial confusion for Grayson, when the sisters switched places, and that he learned how to tell them apart even though so many others never could. His and Cat’s relationship was sweet and sexy and I loved them as a couple. I also really appreciated the finale, when the main characters refused to let an old busybody (even if she is persistent and charming) dictate a timeline for their happily ever after. The whodunit was nicely played, and the suspense was just enough to cast a shadow and help dictate the story, but not so over the top that the book was too dark. I like this happy medium, and appreciate when an author finds it.

Despite a few weak spots to navigate through while reading, I can honestly say I enjoyed this book. It wasn't my favorite of the series, but it is a perfectly good addition to what has been a pretty strong series. I'm still hopeful the next one will blow me away a little more though, like previous editions have. ~ George, 3.5 stars
Profile Image for Dorine.
632 reviews35 followers
January 23, 2016
Twin sisters who couldn't be less alike are caught up in several murder attempts on a soap opera set. Another actor, who isn't who he pretends to be, increases the tension between the sisters. Can they find the culprit before they all end up dead or injured?

Cat O'Connor loses her job with the FBI and gets stuck playing bodyguard for her daytime soap opera star sister, Chloe. Even worse than being the sister of a soap star is to be the twin of this drama queen whose life is being threatened. Will Cat be able to save her sister or will they both be in danger?

Special Agent Grayson Alexander goes undercover as a British actor as a favor. Forced to take his retirement-home-escapee grandmother as his agent to aid his disguise, Grayson has more than one problem to resolve. Due to Cat's suspected nefarious professional history, Grayson is sent in to prove she's the one trying to kill her sister. It doesn't take long for Grayson to guess Cat has nothing to do with the murder attempts and to fall for her instead.

A cute concept for a story but the actress Chloe kept me wondering why her twin put up with her eccentricities and spoiled attitude. For a supposedly smart woman, Cat seemed led too frequently by her sister's whims. Cat was supposed to be Chloe's bodyguard but Chloe treated her like her servant for every need. I was ready to shake Chloe by the end of the book and I'm surprised Cat was so patient with her. Grayson and his grandmother were funny, often causing Cat more stress in dealing with her sister. There were some other over-the-top secondary characters that added to the mayhem.

I chose this book to review by the cover and because it was a Christmas story. I didn't realize it was the fifth book in a series. I'm sure the fans of this series will enjoy the visit to Christmas, Colorado, but it didn't work as well for me. I seemed to be missing the point with several of the characters and not making the connection. If you love soap operas or comedic murder mysteries then you'll get a kick out of this zany story about twin sisters who are exact opposites.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Print copy provided by the publisher.
Profile Image for Brianda.
191 reviews
November 29, 2018
YES, I did give it 2 stars, but that does not mean I did not enjoy this book. I enjoyed it in the same way I enjoy a Hallmark movie. It was a nice casual read, but I am probably only going to recommend it if you are looking for an easy read that gives you Christmas feelings.
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,009 reviews33 followers
December 9, 2019
REVIEW
Stayed up practically the whole night finishing this book.

Christmas Colorado #5, Originally published in 2015 this reissue has a nice new cover. This is a great series from Debbie Mason, I've only read 3 out of the 7, not including the novellas, but each book I've read is so great. I love her writing, Christmas, Colorado seems so real in my head with all it's quirky residents and idyllic scenery.

Cat O'Connor loves her hometown she loves her family's ranch especially the people who go out of their way to help and then there is her sister Chloe, pampered and protected since she was an unhealthy baby who grew up into an entitled and selfish actress for a daytime soap. Cat became a police officer until she fell for the wrong man and it ruined her career. Needing to get out of Colorado she moves to LA to work as her sister's.... well everything. After some time Cat realized she was ready to go back home she already told Chloe she was leaving when an "accident" happened. Cat knew one thing for sure it was no accident someone just tried to kill her sister and she wasn't going to leave her sister alone until she found out who.

Grayson Alexander was on a well deserved vacation when his cousin recruited him for a job working undercover on a daytime soap to find out who is trying to kill the lead actress. Unfortunately his grandmother got kicked out of another nursing home and he was stuck with her posing as his manager; a great actress back in her day she fit right in with everyone. Gray himself posing as Lord Harry Halstead a new leading man, opposite Chloe. First off he assumes Cat is the primary suspect until he meets them and after talking to the crew his suspect list grows pushing Cat farther down the list. The more time he spends with them the more he likes Cat but Chloe is under the delusion that Lord Harry and her are a couple. Things don't any easier when they move the shooting to their hometown it just gives the would be killer more opportunity to go after Chloe.

This is my favorite so far. Overall it was a great read it had several laugh out loud moments and the characters were so amusing. It was fun seeing the process of how Cat and Gray finally got together. Chloe, loved to hate her I so wanted to smack her upside the head. Ty is hysterical along with some of the other Christmas, Colorado residents. Such a fun Christmas Rom-Com I recommend to my book loving friends.


The copy was received via Forever Romance, this review is Honestly and Voluntarily Given
description
1,137 reviews3 followers
April 13, 2018
Cat and Chloe O'Connor are identical twins. Chloe is an actress and Cat was a police Detective. Since the loss of her job she had been protecting her sister. Now it appears someone is trying to kill Chloe and Cat vows to figure out who it is. After several attempts on Chloe's life Cat becomes the prime suspect.
37 reviews2 followers
November 17, 2018
Enjoyed this book very much. Experienced a few moments where I actually laughed out loud at the humor! Interesting and comical characters.
315 reviews4 followers
May 23, 2025
Loved the book. Gave it a 4 star because I did not like what Chloe did with Cat’s boyfriend.
Profile Image for Karen.
390 reviews
January 12, 2022
A little bit of comedy, romance, and mystery thrown together to create an enjoyable easy and fun read.
Profile Image for Kathy .
3,805 reviews3 followers
October 8, 2015
Snowbound at Christmas is a sweet, sassy and suspenseful romance by Debbie Mason. The sixth installment in the always fun Christmas, Colorado series is a laugh out loud novel that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

Cat O'Connor is an ex-Denver police woman now working for her spoiled twin sister Chloe, a popular soap opera actress. Tired of pandering to Chloe's whims, Cat is ready to quit and return to Colorado when she discovers someone is trying to kill her sister. Unbeknownst to Cat (or anyone else on the set), the show's newest guest star, Grayson Alexander, is working undercover to investigate the threats on Chloe's life. Despite the sparks that immediately fly between them, there is little trust between Grayson and Cat since they both suspect the other of being behind the threats on Chloe's life.

Cat is a strong heroine who pretty much deserves sainthood for putting up with Chloe's over the top behavior. Cat has had a rough time ever since her ex-boyfriend's Ponzi scheme was uncovered and everyone thinks (but cannot) prove she knew what he was doing. Working for her sister has worn very thin since Chloe is demanding and spoiled but when Cat discovers someone is trying to kill her, Cat knows she has stay by her side to protect her from harm and uncover the identity of the assailant.

Grayson is about to embark on a much needed vacation when he is unexpectedly saddled with his grandmother Estelle. When he tries to find another relative to take her off his hands, his cousin calls in a favor which means Grayson is not only going undercover but he also must bring his grandmother with him. The number one suspect on his list is Cat and he is dismayed by his attraction to her. He is equally disconcerted when Chloe sets her sights on him and his grandmother decides to try her hand at a little matchmaking.

The supporting cast of characters are well drawn and range from delightfully quirky to downright annoying. Cat's close friend Ty is a wonderful breath of fresh air and his antics are quite funny. Estelle is also a pretty fun character although her matchmaking attempts are a bit misguided. Chloe is nearly impossible to like and it is extremely frustrating watching her manipulate Cat for much of the story.

For a good part of the novel, the storyline focuses on the ensuing investigation. Grayson and Cat continually butt heads as they pursue various leads and their attraction for one another only complicates things between them. Neither of them trust their instincts at this point since Cat cannot believe she missed what her ex-boyfriend was up to and Grayson completely misjudged someone on his last case. It is not until they, along with the cast and crew of Chloe's soap opera, relocate to Cat's hometown in Colorado, that their relationship becomes less adversarial. As Cat and Grayson begin working together on the investigation, their attraction deepens but just as they are considering telling one another the truth about their respective roles in the investigation, Chloe's latest shenanigans cause problems for them.

With an intriguing storyline, a cast of eclectic characters and a sweet love story, Snowbound at Christmas is a captivating novel that is fast paced and engaging. This latest installment in Debbie Mason's heartwarming Colorado, Christmas series is an absolutely delightful read that I highly recommend to readers of contemporary romances.
Profile Image for MasterSal.
2,463 reviews21 followers
February 19, 2023
A low-stress read over a Sunday which was exactly what I was looking for. For transparency I have not read from this series or this author before. This was a completely random pick-up from the library - mostly because I was already missing Christmas and holidays.

While I had the physical book I listened to most of this on audio which I would recommend. There was something pretty comforting about listening to the book with its small town romance vibe. Plus, I liked the narrators accent for our hero. I did try a few chapters as a physical read only and that didn't work as well for me.

A fun cute read which could have been better if we got less of the sister of the heroine. She really really (really!!) annoyed me. She is the focus of the main mystery plot of the book (she is the target for a killer and is an actress etc etc). But she was so annoying that I really wanted the killer to get her. I would have been fine with that - except that our heroine would have been sad and I liked her.

As it was Chloe kind of pulled down the book in general and the romance in specific. We got too much of her for this book to be more than a fun tale. The first half was much stronger but because of her the second half dragged as the plot focus shifted to the mystery.

3 stars overall
Profile Image for OpenBookSociety.com .
4,104 reviews135 followers
January 7, 2016
http://openbooksociety.com/article/sn...

Snowbound at Christmas
by Debbie Mason
IBSN: 9781455588039
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Una


DESCRIPTION:

Surviving the holidays will take a Christmas miracle . . .
Ex-cop Cat O’Connor is bored working for her sister, Chloe, as a personal assistant on the set of her soap opera. Until Chloe gets an opportunity to audition for the role of a lifetime and asks her identical twin to substitute for her on the soap with no one the wiser. It’s a perfect switch-until Cat attracts the attention of the mysterious Mr. Tall, Dark, and Way-too-handsome leading man.

Grayson Alexander never thought being snowbound in the charming town of Christmas, Colorado, for the holiday would get so hot. But between working with sexy, tough Cat on set and keeping his real reason for being there under wraps, he’s definitely feeling the heat. And if there’s one thing they’ll learn as they bring out the mistletoe, it’s that in this town, true love is always in season . . .

REVIEW:

This is a nice light Christmas or anytime read and Debbie Mason has given the reader enough romance, intrigue and excitement to keep the reader turning pages.

I loved the character of Cat. Being a personal assistant to a spoiled brat of her twin must have driven her to insanity at times. Chloe is a Diva who is used to getting everything she wants before she wants it, however, her life is being threatened and Cat must protect her. Chloe also for some unknown reason feels she has to compete with Cat as she has always had this idea that no one appreciates what she does as an actress. When Grayson Alexander comes on scene Chloe is determined to win over the aristocrat before he becomes enamored with Cat, however when she asks Cat to double for her things change and not for the better. Chloe wonders if she will ever be able to prove her worth to everyone. Cat’s police instincts go into hyper drive when Grayson arrives on set. Aristocratic he is not and she truly doubts he is an actor. The chemistry between them is real and she finds herself attracted to the man she is just beginning to know.

Grayson has been asked to find out who is trying to kill Chloe. Going under cover as a handsome leading man who is also a British aristocrat, he is the catch of the scene but he finds himself attracted and wanting Cat the other twin. As the mystery unfolds Grayson soon realizes that Cat may be in danger too. Working with Cat he hopes that they will be able to solve the mystery and perhaps being stuck in Christmas won’t be so bad after all.

This novel has everything I like in a book….a great story, comedy, an amazing plot, great characters and drama. It is a book I will definitely recommend to my friends and fellow readers and perhaps it will find its way into someone’s Christmas stocking!
97 reviews10 followers
September 17, 2015
Cat O'Connor is an ex-cop who now works as assistant/bodyguard to her twin sister on Chloe's soap opera, a job that Cat is finding pretty boring until there are some attempts on Chloe's life. Being identical twins, the two have occasionally changed places and it does come in handy when Chloe wants to audition for a life changing role and can't be gone from the soap set. The two exchange identities and keep it secret so Chloe's not violating her contract.

No matter if Cat is playing herself or her sister, she feels a zing of electricity whenever she's around the mysterious new Brit co-star, Grayson Alexander, who's really an undercover FBI agent. And Chloe is in heaven when he and his "agent", British actress Dame Alexander show up, what with her Anglophile addiction and Gray being 98th in line to the British throne!

Various mishaps ensue on the set, with mysterious notes and accidents, until the whole cast ends up filming in the girls' hometown of Christmas, Colorado, just in time for the holiday season. Cat still can't figure out who might be interested in hurting her sister, and she doesn't want Chloe to know that someone might be stalking her because, let's face it, Chloe is dramatic enough without any added inspiration.

With everyone staying on the big and beautiful O'Connor ranch, snow-filled days and warm and cozy fire-lit nights, not to mention decorating for the holidays, is it any wonder that snuggling leads to romance between Gray and Cat? But there's still the matter of who and why someone is trying to hurt Chloe they need to solve.

This is the first Debbie Mason book I've read and it was a frisky, fun, Christmasy caper. It stands alone just fine, but I would like to check out the previous books in this series -- I think there are a lot of fabulous stories in Christmas, Colorado!

Received this as an ARC from NetGalley.

More reviews at http://ladieswholunchreviews.wordpres... .

Profile Image for Jasmine.
498 reviews17 followers
December 12, 2019
*I was sent a finished copy of this book from Forever in exchange for an honest review.

I always have mixed feelings upon finishing a Debbie Mason book. As I get into any of her stories, I'm usually annoyed by most of the characters. But once I finish, I'm somewhat satisfied by the eventual outcome (characters I especially didn't like get what they deserve).

Debbie Mason's idea of characterization seems to be to develop characters who are flawed to the point of quirkiness. Cat O'Connor is a pushover ex-cop who allows her twin sister Chloe--an unbearably obnoxious tv actress--to abuse her because she can't let go of the fact that Chloe has self-esteem issues stemming from her ugly duckling childhood. Grayson is a secret agent sent to protect Chloe and falls for Cat, but very rarely stands up for Cat when her sister is being abusive and domineering (a fact which is conveniently justified by the fact that Cat does not want Chloe to know that they're looking for a murderer, so she wants to keep everything--including their feelings for each other--as secretive as possible).

This all sets up for a very comical but frustrating story during which readers are forced to endure Cat's role as a doormat and accept it because she's doing it all for her sister--a sister who is not just a pain in the ass, but self-absorbed and melodramatic. The rest of the characters are just as irritating, though some are endearing, such as Cat's friend Ty who sheds some light on his own difficult childhood growing up gay.

Overall, this story is funny, but in a very "made only for tv" kind of way. If you find the characters as annoying as I did, you might have just as difficult a time getting through it. Obviously, I was just rooting for Cat to get the ending she deserves (though I still think her sister deserves more punishment).
Profile Image for Danielle.
1,339 reviews51 followers
August 7, 2015
This is the first book I have read in this series and I had some mixed feelings. I enjoyed this book had a little bit of the mystery of who was after Chloe but the romance wasn't what I thought it would be.

I enjoyed the plot and majority of the characters. The plot was different with Cat being an ex cop who was turned assistant to her sister. I liked Grayson but I could have done without the British thing. I just thought that was a little over the top for an undercover FBI agent pretending to be an actor.

Cat had her strong points in this story but she let Chloe walk all over her through the whole story. And I found Chloe to be absolutely the most annoying character I have come across so far this year. I did like at the end how she wanted to redeem herself and be a better person but I asked myself can she change because it sounds like she has been like that forever.

The story did keep me interested in finding out what would happen and who the bad guys were. I loved the growing chemistry and the romance between Cat and Grayson. I wish they would have had more time for the romance but Grayson was undercover so I understand.

The ending was sweet how they all came together and spent Christmas with one another. I also was pleased it ended with Grayson willing to relocate and them not just jumping into marriage and babies.

I would love to go back and start at the beginning and get to know the other characters in the story a little better since they all seem so close.

If you love a take charge FBI agent as much I do and the Christmas season this is the book for you.
Profile Image for Jaime Fiction Fangirls.
1,664 reviews153 followers
September 28, 2015
I finished this book at 1am and immediately went looking on Amazon to download the rest of the books in this series. I really, really liked this story. There was an air of mystery to it but it was also lighthearted and fun. Honestly I spent a good part of the book hoping that somehow Chloe would actually end up dead. She was that annoying and even worse everyone around her let her get away with it. It was infuriating but at the same time it was one of the best parts of the story.

I loved Grayson, except when he completely let his paranoia about his past interfere with his feelings and instincts about Cat. I like Cat the most when she stood up for herself but her protectiveness of Chloe was sort of endearing.

In the beginning of the story I thought that Estelle was going to be the entertainment and match-maker in the story, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I think that Chloe and her are probably soulmates, although I'm pretty sure that I can guess who Chloe will end up with eventually.

This story has me super hyper for so early in the morning/late at night. It's not a story that will leave you an emotional wreck or with your heart bursting from all the feels but it's a great story with little angst but a whole lot of drama. I imagine this will make it on my list of yearly holiday rereads.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Alice.
1,852 reviews
December 31, 2016
It was enjoyable not to have to think too hard to read this light novel, but I made a bit of a mistake! I had recently read a Debbie Macomber Christmas novel that I had picked up for about 20 cents when I also picked up this book. I made a bit of a mistake, however. As I started reading it I thought Debbie is a little more forward in describing her characters desires toward the other characters. About half way through I finally noticed that this book was not by Debbie MACOMBER! It is by Debbie Mason! I was lucky that it was still a clean romance, but the language was definitely not my style!!!

It was funny too because the previous reader had corrected the grammatical errors as they read! That should have been my first clue that it wasn't the more prolific/popular Macomber! Also, the author kept going back and forth calling characters first by their first name then switching to their surname when we didn't even know what it was till she did that! I was constantly having to figure out who people were!
Profile Image for Nicole.
4,250 reviews52 followers
September 25, 2015
I was a little skeptical to see where this book was going to go, but boy did I enjoy this book. The quirky characters especially Grayson's grandmother are a hoot. Ty was one of my favorite characters. I just loved his reactions to meeting the McBride men. Even though this book is a story of Grayson and Cat I liked watching the maturity of Cat's twin sister Chloe. I believe that added to the book. Now onto Cat and Grayson. Loved Cat she's this tough woman, but she has such a sweet heart. For everything life dealt her and the way her sister treats her she's is still right there to protect and serve. Grasyon is the perfect man for Cat how can he not be when he thinks Cat holding a gun is sexy. I liked the who done it aspect to the story. It had me guessing who could be behind the murder plot. The ending couldn't have gone down any better for this story. It fit so perfectly and has me in the holiday spirit.
1,475 reviews19 followers
October 4, 2015
Cat and Chloe are identical twins. While Chloe is an actress Cat is a former cop who is now Chloe's manager and protector because someone is trying to kill Chloe. Unfortunately Chloe is an extreme diva and makes sure that everyone knows that all her problems are Cat's doing while Cat still tries to love her sister with all her might.

In walks Harry Halstead aka Grayson Alexander, an FBI agent, undercover to find who might be threatening Chloe's life. While Grayson falls for Cat he has to maintain his cover and continue to make it look like he is quite attentive to Chloe who, of course, presumes he is in love with her.

As the web tightens and the threats continue no one suspects what is really going on.

While I liked the characters quite well, Chloe got very tiresome as she was supposed to do. I guess that makes her an extremely good actress!
Profile Image for Eva • All Books Considered.
427 reviews73 followers
March 18, 2016
Review originally posted at All Books Considered: 2 STARS

Unfortunately, I didn't like this one as much as I like the Bramble series. I would be interested in reading other books in the series because of the potential for a Colorado Christmas setting (which was in this book although the set-up turned me off!). First, you have Grayson who pretend to be an actor and British royalty, and then you have Cat, who is pretending to be her twin sister, acting on soap opera. Nothing felt real because of all this pretending . . . and I was bored by the soap opera dramatics and antics. While I usually love romantic suspense, this one fell flat for me.
Profile Image for Shelleen Toland.
1,475 reviews72 followers
November 25, 2016
This was a quick and fun read. Cat O'Connor is an ex cop and works for her spoiled self centered sister who is an actress. Her sister treats her like a servant instead of a sister. Chloe works on a soap opera and then she gets an opportunity for an audition for a chance of a lifetime role.Cat and Chloe are twins and so they pretend to be each other and it works great until someone is trying to kill Chloe. Now Grayson is brought in under cover as a soap actor to find out what is going on. As they go to the town Christmas more things happen and is someone really after Chloe or are they after Cat. This also has a cute love story going. I received this from Net Galley for a review.
1,035 reviews1 follower
October 10, 2015
What a fun read. Crazy, sexy, ex cop, nut case grandma characters. Lots of mystery with several characters that had me guessing "who did it" You think you understand the "why" but you are so wrong!

Love the triangle between Chloe, Cat and Grayson. Sweet how Grayson and GG are a team, even thou he doesn't want that. Chloe's character is a little hard to take, you can understand why she is the target of someone's hate.

all 317 pages made for a wonderful read Five stars!
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