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Port Provident: Holiday Hearts #2
The Right Resolution
Love Was a Resolution They Didn’t Plan on Making
Eve Larson arranged a solitary New Year’s celebration at her mother’s beach house to give herself the space to evaluate her recent hurts—the death of her mother and a broken engagement. She wants nothing more than to put them behind her and make a fresh start on January 1. When her ex-fiance’s brother, Spencer Canley, shows up with one final demand from her past, Eve worries her plans are sinking like a ship off her beloved Texas coast. Circumstances keep Spencer at the beach longer than either of them initially want, but the delay gives each of them the opportunity to see the other in a different light. As Spencer makes a decision that changes everything about his upcoming year, he realizes he doesn't want to repeat his brother’s mistake of pushing Eve away. A year ago, the changing of the calendar brought news that changed Eve’s whole life. Could this new year bring love back?
The Holiday Hearts Series: Heartwarming Stories of Finding Love on the Most Special Days of the Year
Please Note: New Year's Eve is a clean/sweet contemporary romance novella with a word count of 22,000 words and a PG-level heat rating.
Eve Larson arranged a solitary New Year’s celebration at her mother’s beach house to give herself the space to evaluate her recent hurts—the death of her mother and a broken engagement. She wants nothing more than to put them behind her and make a fresh start on January 1. When her ex-fiance’s brother, Spencer Canley, shows up with one final demand from her past, Eve worries her plans are sinking like a ship off her beloved Texas coast. Circumstances keep Spencer at the beach longer than either of them initially want, but the delay gives each of them the opportunity to see the other in a different light. As Spencer makes a decision that changes everything about his upcoming year, he realizes he doesn't want to repeat his brother’s mistake of pushing Eve away. A year ago, the changing of the calendar brought news that changed Eve’s whole life. Could this new year bring love back?
The Holiday Hearts Series: Heartwarming Stories of Finding Love on the Most Special Days of the Year
Please Note: New Year's Eve is a clean/sweet contemporary romance novella with a word count of 22,000 words and a PG-level heat rating.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 24, 2014
184 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Ethridge
53 books450 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Kristen Ethridge loves watching waves at the beach, eating the perfect taco, and reading books that leave her with a smile. Some would say her superpower is keeping alive one husband, three children, and six guinea pigs during their adventures across Texas--but that's not entirely true. She actually earned her sparkly cape for writing her signature style of Sweet Escape Romances--stories with hope, heart and happily-ever-after--for Harlequin's Love Inspired line, Hallmark Publishing, and Laurel Lock Publishing. One reader (who wasn't her mother) called Kristen's books "very good escape fiction" and that's pretty much the nicest thing anyone's ever said to her.
Kristen always wants to make new book best friends. Receive an exclusive free story by joining her mailing list at www.kristenethridge.com/newsletter. You can also follow her adventures in writing at www.facebook.com/kristenethridgebooks.
Kristen always wants to make new book best friends. Receive an exclusive free story by joining her mailing list at www.kristenethridge.com/newsletter. You can also follow her adventures in writing at www.facebook.com/kristenethridgebooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 20, 2015
Sweet romance novella, nothing deep but an okay way to spend half an hour or so. It's generally well-written. I had two beefs with the writing style: The viewpoint switched back and forth between the main characters too often, with no page breaks or anything to alert you to the switch. There were also a couple of plot lines--one about a medical issue and another about shopping for a necklace--that were introduced and then quickly dropped, for no discernible reason (what author Sherwood Smith calls "creeping dust-motism"). This would have been a 3-star review, but I'm knocking off another star for issues with the lawyer's behavior in this story, for reasons I explain in the spoiler below.
The basis of the plot is a very expensive engagement ring whose return is being legally demanded by the ex-fiancé's lawyer brother, a nice guy (for a lawyer) named Spencer. Since his brother broke off the engagement, this demand was making the lawyer in me holler loudly enough to disturb my enjoyment of the story. Thankfully the legal rules regarding engagement ring ownership were addressed before the story's end. HOWEVER, then we immediately run into problems with legal ethics, and this is bugging me more and more, the longer I think about it.
So here's the big problem: Attorney conflicts of interest rules would always prevent a lawyer from representing a party to a dispute in a matter where he previously represented the opposing party. No way could Spencer tell his brother unless he's an idiot about legal ethics. Which leads me to another legal ethics problem: Spencer would run into some serious professional problems because, . As a lawyer, you just can't do that. He should have told Eve to go talk to another lawyer although, of course, that wouldn't have been nearly as dramatic. I hope Spencer has an alternative career path in mind, because his actions in this story could very well get him disbarred (lose his license to practice law).
Read this for fun if you must, just keep in mind that it's uninformed and worse than useless as reliable information about the practice of law.
The basis of the plot is a very expensive engagement ring whose return is being legally demanded by the ex-fiancé's lawyer brother, a nice guy (for a lawyer) named Spencer. Since his brother broke off the engagement, this demand was making the lawyer in me holler loudly enough to disturb my enjoyment of the story. Thankfully the legal rules regarding engagement ring ownership were addressed before the story's end. HOWEVER, then we immediately run into problems with legal ethics, and this is bugging me more and more, the longer I think about it.
So here's the big problem: Attorney conflicts of interest rules would always prevent a lawyer from representing a party to a dispute in a matter where he previously represented the opposing party. No way could Spencer tell his brother unless he's an idiot about legal ethics. Which leads me to another legal ethics problem: Spencer would run into some serious professional problems because, . As a lawyer, you just can't do that. He should have told Eve to go talk to another lawyer although, of course, that wouldn't have been nearly as dramatic. I hope Spencer has an alternative career path in mind, because his actions in this story could very well get him disbarred (lose his license to practice law).
Read this for fun if you must, just keep in mind that it's uninformed and worse than useless as reliable information about the practice of law.
April 9, 2021
This is a reunion type romance, and there are things I loved about this story. I enjoyed the back story of the couple and how they end up falling in love. I also enjoyed the growth that they both had, but I had a hard time getting past some weird descriptions and comparisons in this story. I know I've mentioned this kind of thing in other reviews, but it's a real pet peeve of mine. Maybe I should start calling it the "Paolini syndrome" because Christopher Paolini is the first author I really noticed do this. Poor Christopher. He just can't catch a break from me! One example from this story would be this sentence:
"Spencer shifted and dropped his finger, then pulled his arm back to himself, the cotton of his borrowed sleeve sliding across the thin knit of her own cotton shirt like the glide of a ballroom dance, deceiving in carefully choreographed simplicity."
Ok, first why are we focusing so much on things like their shirts? Their shirt fabrics sliding together are being compared to a ballroom dance. That's kind of weird, and there is too much emphasis being put on something that doesn't matter. If it was his touch on her skin it would have been better, but this mostly just distracted me from the story. There are a few other examples of this in the story, but I think you can get the point.
That being said, overall I still liked this book and found the story compelling. Eve and Spencer were both easy to like and I could feel the grief that Eve was feeling over the loss of her mother. I also appreciated the inspirational parts of the story.
After reading some other reviews of this one it appears that this is a retooled version of the story. I'm not completely sure, but it sounds like there are some elements that other reviewers had problems with that seem to no longer be the same. Like in the original version the love interest was a lawyer maybe? But he isn't in this version. And apparently there are health problems that are addressed more in this version. It also looks like the author is retooling the whole series, as there are two versions of the series. In one version this is the second book and in the newest version this is the first book.
"Spencer shifted and dropped his finger, then pulled his arm back to himself, the cotton of his borrowed sleeve sliding across the thin knit of her own cotton shirt like the glide of a ballroom dance, deceiving in carefully choreographed simplicity."
Ok, first why are we focusing so much on things like their shirts? Their shirt fabrics sliding together are being compared to a ballroom dance. That's kind of weird, and there is too much emphasis being put on something that doesn't matter. If it was his touch on her skin it would have been better, but this mostly just distracted me from the story. There are a few other examples of this in the story, but I think you can get the point.
That being said, overall I still liked this book and found the story compelling. Eve and Spencer were both easy to like and I could feel the grief that Eve was feeling over the loss of her mother. I also appreciated the inspirational parts of the story.
After reading some other reviews of this one it appears that this is a retooled version of the story. I'm not completely sure, but it sounds like there are some elements that other reviewers had problems with that seem to no longer be the same. Like in the original version the love interest was a lawyer maybe? But he isn't in this version. And apparently there are health problems that are addressed more in this version. It also looks like the author is retooling the whole series, as there are two versions of the series. In one version this is the second book and in the newest version this is the first book.
March 19, 2021
You did well by me-Book Funnel and Kristen Ethridge, thank you for the opportunity to write a review for you. This short story was enjoyable, very interesting how a brother of Eve's former fiancee arrived to get the engagement ring back and a whole new life for the heroine unfolds. Spencer, has health problems, but his character is beautiful inside and out. I loved his spirituality and the fact he shared his love of God with Eve. It is encouraging to think that we can actually pursue our dreams and actually be happy and hopeful.
January 29, 2014
A friend recommended this book, and I'm glad she did. The story was short but sweet. The characters were likable and the story was believeable. Clean, wholesome romance.
January 30, 2023
This book was sweet.
Set in Texas, on the water.
I love the trope where the chick was dating a guy, but he turned out to be horrible, and she ends up falling in love with his brother, who is an amazing person..!!
This book was truly sweet and worth the read. It was short, too! Only took about 1hr 38min to read!
This book is really redundant when it comes to Eve's past troubles, but that's okay!
Some minor problems in the story:
1. Spencer's last words were, "I love you, Evie. Loving you was the best New Year's resolution I ever made." But Spencer actually never made a resolution to LOVE Eve. He only made resolutions to get to know Eve better, make Eve's eyes light up, and kiss Eve before they rang in the new year.
2. The author spends time on this scene of Eve and Spencer shopping and spotting a gorgeous turquoise necklace, but then that never amounts to anything or has any significance later. (You think that Spencer will buy it for her later as a surprise, but they never mention the necklace again). Poor writing. 🤷🏻♂️
3. In Chapter 8, Eve mentions that she and Spencer have NOT talked about love at all with each other, but in Chapter 7, Spencer said, "You already have love, Eve. I love you. There's no doubt in my mind, or in my heart", so that was false. They HAD already talked about love! 🤣
4. I love when he called her Evie (no one had ever called her that before, and she loved hearing it from him), but then he overused it throughout the rest of the book. 😂
(These problems aren't a big deal, but they are just honorable mentions)
A part I liked:
"This was the moment she'd been waiting for this whole past year. Not the physical shift of time and the flip of the calendar.
Eve knew that now.
She'd been waiting for the chance to connect with someone. Someone who cared what she thought, what she said, what she did.
She'd been waiting for the fireworks-not in the sky, but in her bruised and battered heart."
Kissing scenes and the other small romantic moments were written in well!
Spencer and Eve are great characters and this story is a page turner.
♥️
Set in Texas, on the water.
I love the trope where the chick was dating a guy, but he turned out to be horrible, and she ends up falling in love with his brother, who is an amazing person..!!
This book was truly sweet and worth the read. It was short, too! Only took about 1hr 38min to read!
This book is really redundant when it comes to Eve's past troubles, but that's okay!
Some minor problems in the story:
1. Spencer's last words were, "I love you, Evie. Loving you was the best New Year's resolution I ever made." But Spencer actually never made a resolution to LOVE Eve. He only made resolutions to get to know Eve better, make Eve's eyes light up, and kiss Eve before they rang in the new year.
2. The author spends time on this scene of Eve and Spencer shopping and spotting a gorgeous turquoise necklace, but then that never amounts to anything or has any significance later. (You think that Spencer will buy it for her later as a surprise, but they never mention the necklace again). Poor writing. 🤷🏻♂️
3. In Chapter 8, Eve mentions that she and Spencer have NOT talked about love at all with each other, but in Chapter 7, Spencer said, "You already have love, Eve. I love you. There's no doubt in my mind, or in my heart", so that was false. They HAD already talked about love! 🤣
4. I love when he called her Evie (no one had ever called her that before, and she loved hearing it from him), but then he overused it throughout the rest of the book. 😂
(These problems aren't a big deal, but they are just honorable mentions)
A part I liked:
"This was the moment she'd been waiting for this whole past year. Not the physical shift of time and the flip of the calendar.
Eve knew that now.
She'd been waiting for the chance to connect with someone. Someone who cared what she thought, what she said, what she did.
She'd been waiting for the fireworks-not in the sky, but in her bruised and battered heart."
Kissing scenes and the other small romantic moments were written in well!
Spencer and Eve are great characters and this story is a page turner.
♥️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2021
Eve Larson came to her mother’s beach house on Provident Island to find herself again and start anew with the beginning of the new year. After losing her mother to cancer and her fiancé to his over-the-top ambition, Eve’s life has been less than ideal. The last thing she wanted at that moment was company, especially company that reminded her of her losses. So, when Spencer Canley, her once future brother-in-law, shows up at the beach she is less than thrilled. Spencer came on an unpleasant errand for his brother, who happens to also be his boss. As luck would have it, a thunderstorm struck during his visit and the resulting flood stalled out his car. Forced to prolong his visit, Eve gets the chance to get to know Spencer better. Is it possible that all the Canley’s are not cut from the same mold after all?
Wow! We need more Spencers out there. I really liked his character. It was also good to see Matt and Annie from a previous book in this story.
I thought the author did an amazing job with the transition from awkward history to friendship and then love. I truly believe that the best love stories begin with friendship. I was a bit worried how Spencer and Eve would get there with their troubled history, but Ms. Ethridge pulled it off beautifully.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean romance.
Wow! We need more Spencers out there. I really liked his character. It was also good to see Matt and Annie from a previous book in this story.
I thought the author did an amazing job with the transition from awkward history to friendship and then love. I truly believe that the best love stories begin with friendship. I was a bit worried how Spencer and Eve would get there with their troubled history, but Ms. Ethridge pulled it off beautifully.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean romance.
January 30, 2022
I just love Love!
This is such a sweet story of moving past tragedy, hurt, disappointment and bitterness into a New Year and a new life. Stepping out in hard-learned faith and trust to find a new direction for hopes, dreams and life.
Eve and Spencer each had a lot of negative history with each other, as his brother, Mark -- her ex-fiance -- used him as a proxy for anything that might be unpleasant in his life, personal and professional. Dealing with the residue of the Mark-mess meant cutting ties with him, difficult when your brother is your boss, and a totally ego-centric jerk.
Eve has had too much tragedy to bear in the previous year: losing her mother, and then her fiance breaking the relationship by sending a patsy to do his dirty work for him. New Year's Eve is such a notable event for a task such as rebuilding one's life nearly from scratch. Doing it with a supportive friend who understands where the changes come from, that is a gift from Heaven.
I have recieved an ARC copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily offering my honest review.
This is such a sweet story of moving past tragedy, hurt, disappointment and bitterness into a New Year and a new life. Stepping out in hard-learned faith and trust to find a new direction for hopes, dreams and life.
Eve and Spencer each had a lot of negative history with each other, as his brother, Mark -- her ex-fiance -- used him as a proxy for anything that might be unpleasant in his life, personal and professional. Dealing with the residue of the Mark-mess meant cutting ties with him, difficult when your brother is your boss, and a totally ego-centric jerk.
Eve has had too much tragedy to bear in the previous year: losing her mother, and then her fiance breaking the relationship by sending a patsy to do his dirty work for him. New Year's Eve is such a notable event for a task such as rebuilding one's life nearly from scratch. Doing it with a supportive friend who understands where the changes come from, that is a gift from Heaven.
I have recieved an ARC copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily offering my honest review.
February 1, 2022
A lovely port in Texas. A town with hope and faith rebuilding after a devastating hurricane that’s the beginning of this journey. This is a book from the holiday hearts series. This book can be a stand alone. It is a wonderful story of friendship,community,respect and love. This story only gets better with the threads from the other books so my recommendation is to read all of the books. They aren’t just stories, they are paintings of this rich town and it’s people, these 2 people have a past a history of sorts. They are brought back by ugly circumstances and then it begins. Through faith and fate and a little help from god it will be all right. A love built on respect,understanding,laughter and a community. Oooh this is such a feel good story . I read it in one night. I so recommend this story. We all could use some of magic right now. Lisa
March 16, 2021
Eve found it hard to trust Spencer because he was the deliverer of bad news from his brother Mark--first he came to tell Eve that Mark was breaking his engagement with her and then a year later at New Year's Eve when she was trying to get her life together, Spencer arrived with papers from Mark's lawyers stating that she must surrender her engagement ring back to Mark. Meanwhile, Spencer is tired of letting his shady businessman jerk of a brother control his life and he wishes he could do something to make things better for Eve who has been treated terribly. How in the world will this couple ever become friends much less more? Somehow the author made it happen in a believable way in this delightful novella! I recommend it!
March 5, 2021
Read as The Right Resolution
The Right Resolution, the first book in the Port Provident: Holiday Hearts series, is an engaging, inspiring story. The character-driven plot flows at a steady pace with a few twists. The characters are believable and relatable. I love Eve and Spencer and the way their romantic relationship develops despite their complex past. Also, I appreciate the faith element and interesting bits of history woven into the narrative. If you are looking for a quick, easy-to-read, romantic story; check this one out!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in e-book form from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Right Resolution, the first book in the Port Provident: Holiday Hearts series, is an engaging, inspiring story. The character-driven plot flows at a steady pace with a few twists. The characters are believable and relatable. I love Eve and Spencer and the way their romantic relationship develops despite their complex past. Also, I appreciate the faith element and interesting bits of history woven into the narrative. If you are looking for a quick, easy-to-read, romantic story; check this one out!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in e-book form from the author/publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 22, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I read it as a part of the Sweet & Sassy Anthology. It was my first time reading a book by Ms. Ethridge.
I loved the story line. Eve's character was so relatable. I loved watching her grow and refund herself after some pretty big life punches.
Spencer was a good guy in heart and wrestled to let that good guy find his place while keeping his family happy.
I love how the two of them found things they weren't looking and then had to fight to get what they wanted. They took a bad, heartbreaking situation and tuned it into something beautiful!
I can't wait to read another book by Ms. Ethridge.
I loved the story line. Eve's character was so relatable. I loved watching her grow and refund herself after some pretty big life punches.
Spencer was a good guy in heart and wrestled to let that good guy find his place while keeping his family happy.
I love how the two of them found things they weren't looking and then had to fight to get what they wanted. They took a bad, heartbreaking situation and tuned it into something beautiful!
I can't wait to read another book by Ms. Ethridge.
April 5, 2019
Trust In God
Mark broke his engagement to Eve by having his brother Spencer notify her. Eve has lost her Mother to cancer, her engagement and dreams. So she decides to return to the island to start over. Spencer returns to deliver a letter from Mark. Spencer wants to make changes in his life. Will these lost souls find their way? Well written story with strong and believable characters.
Mark broke his engagement to Eve by having his brother Spencer notify her. Eve has lost her Mother to cancer, her engagement and dreams. So she decides to return to the island to start over. Spencer returns to deliver a letter from Mark. Spencer wants to make changes in his life. Will these lost souls find their way? Well written story with strong and believable characters.
March 26, 2021
Very nice story about a hero with a narcissitic brother who finally has enough and a heroine who, thankfully, was dumped by this brother. They meet, become friends and then fall in love after overcoming the 'ewww' of their previous relationships with said brother. Great writing, excellent editing and very enjoyable story line.
April 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this fun, romantic story of hope, light, and faith. I was so glad that when one door closed for Eve another one opened with Spencer. One of my favorite lines in the book was "Maybe this would be the year she found sonething she never knew she needed!" I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
May 17, 2021
I’m not like my brother
With many hurdles to jump after being left in the wake of Spenser’s brother and Eve’s former fiancé, Mark, these two grow close as friends, depending on and trusting one another. That trust challenges each of them, and they grow closer yet, until Marks last hit. Will their love faulted or grow? Read on...
With many hurdles to jump after being left in the wake of Spenser’s brother and Eve’s former fiancé, Mark, these two grow close as friends, depending on and trusting one another. That trust challenges each of them, and they grow closer yet, until Marks last hit. Will their love faulted or grow? Read on...
September 18, 2023
Two sad hearts intersect as the year is coming to an end. Easy and likable characters -you want to see them have a happy ending. But there’s one huge barrier to a budding romance and that is who Spencer is related to. Can Eve trust him? Why would she even want to? Can Spencer be that different from his boss? Eve has every reason to strong dislike Spencer and his boss.
March 8, 2021
Kristen Ethridge outdone herself with this book!! The story will keep you riveted as you want to know are Eve and Spencer going to find love or are their rather peculier history going to destroy their future? What an awesome story that inspire hope!! A not to be missed book!!
March 10, 2021
I love this book I give it 5 stars,
I love how Ece and Spencer make something good out if something bad.
I would tell everyone to read and buy this book.
Sincerely
Barbara R Cardin
I love how Ece and Spencer make something good out if something bad.
I would tell everyone to read and buy this book.
Sincerely
Barbara R Cardin
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2021
Wonderful story!
Eve and Spencer have a great love story to share. Yes it starts off with emotional pain, doubts and lots of questions. But as it continues you do see God has a plan for them.
Eve and Spencer have a great love story to share. Yes it starts off with emotional pain, doubts and lots of questions. But as it continues you do see God has a plan for them.
January 24, 2022
This book has beautifully written characters. The author is remarkable! I enjoyed every page. The storyline is unique. The description of human moments is masterful. It's a sweet romance, and though I prefer romantic suspense, this was a great read.
February 12, 2022
This is a clean book, with an element of Christianity. Eve doesn't believe in God after the last year she has had. Spencer does believe that God guides us in where we are supposed to be, when we are supposed to be. Can they overcome their past and find a future? A great read.
February 21, 2022
A simple love story between a woman and her former fiancée's brother. It had a few inconsistencies, and I felt it could have been done a little better to show their chemistry and such. Became a little bit heavy on the faith towards the end.
May 30, 2022
A Feel-Good Story with a Happy Ending
I always love a good, clean love story. This doesn’t disappoint. And I love island life! Sprinkle some faith in there and and all my boxes are checked!
I always love a good, clean love story. This doesn’t disappoint. And I love island life! Sprinkle some faith in there and and all my boxes are checked!
April 8, 2021
What do you do when your fiancee dumps you via his brother? You resolve to move on. A beautiful story of finding strength and a new life.
April 20, 2021
Short and sweet. This is a fun quick feel good story. I loved their chemistry and the happily ever after. This is a sweet, clean romance.
April 26, 2021
Perseverance is known to be challenging and worthy—Spencer made great effort to save a failing.
May 16, 2021
Feel good romance
Positive goals and a lot of regained faith in this story. Reminds a person that you need to keep your faith and remember that there are good people out there.
Positive goals and a lot of regained faith in this story. Reminds a person that you need to keep your faith and remember that there are good people out there.
July 20, 2021
Exciting
It was a most interesting read of many for me recently! I found it to be exciting with many twist and turns! I recommend this for sure👍❤️
It was a most interesting read of many for me recently! I found it to be exciting with many twist and turns! I recommend this for sure👍❤️
August 11, 2021
this was just ok. until it suddenly becomes religious in one chapter and the end drags too long
August 20, 2021
Sweet read
Evie and Spence are adorable. A cute story of finding themselves and each other, moving on from their pasts. A quick read.
Evie and Spence are adorable. A cute story of finding themselves and each other, moving on from their pasts. A quick read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews