4.5 stars
I broke my own rule when I read Unexpectedly Yours. Come to think of it, I did the same thing last year when I read Unwrapped, so it must be only for Melody that I will do this. As a general rule, I avoid holiday-themed books. I'm such a Scrooge. They just don't do anything for me. But, these books in the Beachwood Bay series seem to be my exception. Because, I loved this quickie novella.
Sophie, not having grown up in a home where the holidays were special, has her ideal of the perfect Christmas in her head. When that dream is destroyed on Christmas Eve, Austin makes it his personal mission to make it up to her. That doesn't make any sense to him, since he's definitely a love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy. But, there's something about Sophie that just gets to him.
I loved absolutely everything about this book. It has everything I've come to expect from Melody Grace. There's a guy and a girl who, at first glance, don't appear to have anything in common. Unforeseen circumstances cause them to be thrust together, and they find so many wonderful things to love in each other. There's lots of steamy, sexy scenes and a deliciously wonderful ending. Just because this book is a third the length of her regular books doesn't mean it packs any less of a punch.
At first, I didn't care much for Austin. He was an elitist jerk who goes through women like he does tissues. But, when all his usual booty calls abandon him on Christmas Eve, he tries to use his usual lines on Sophie in the bar of their hotel. Her boyfriend has dumped her, and she's feeling a bit raw. I LOVED that she actually laughed in Austin's face when he hit on her. That was awesome. And, it broke through Austin's usually icy heart too.
He makes it his mission to make Sophie's perfect Christmas happen for her, in spite of her douchey ex flaking on her. And, the things he does - OMG. I never had him pegged as the romantic, thoughtful type. But, wow. The lengths he goes to to make Sophie's Christmas perfect made me love him. HARD.
Except, Austin fails to tell Sophie that he's in a world-famous rock band and filthy rich. And, when a misunderstanding sends her to Beachwood Bay to seek solace with her BFF, Teagan, she thinks her New Years is sunk. But, Austin finds a way to make that holiday perfect too.
This 100-page novella packs a powerful punch. Not only do you get a whole story that is sure to make you swoon, but you also get to catch up with your favorite Callahans - Dex and Teagan. AND, there's a great set-up at the very end for the next full-length book, which will be about Blake and Zoey. I can't wait!