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Home for Christmas
She left everything familiar behind-but love found her anyway. A story from The Perfect Gift. Sophia is determined to spend Christmas on her own terms this year. Her daughter will be spending the holidays with her boyfriend's family, and Sophia has no intention of staying home alone with her memories. She knows Ethan would be more than happy to keep her company. But he's her business partner-and her late husband's best friend. It's past time to stop leaning on him and learn to stand on her own two feet. A cruise to the Caribbean might be just the ticket to discovering who she is now, and what she really wants.
Ethan is stunned to discover that Sophia has decided to go on a cruise for Christmas-alone. He'd thought something more was finally developing between the two of them. If she's ready to move on after the loss of her husband, he'll be damned if he lets her move on without him!
On the spur of the moment, Ethan books a stateroom, determined to prove to Sophia that what they have goes far beyond friendship. The romantic atmosphere of the cruise sparks a passion the two had only dreamed of before-but can their fledgling relationship survive beyond the vacation of a lifetime?
Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language (but don't tell my mom).
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2007
35 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
December 29, 2012
Everything about this moved too fast. Our heroine was married for at least 20 years but after 2 is already comfortable enough to move on. The shipboard romance with her husbands best friend - while entirely possible - didn't feel right. The sex happened WAY too quickly and I won't even go into the ILY's. I know that everyone grieves at a different pace. I've been married 18 years and if, God forbid, my husband died tomorrow - I know for a fact I would need more time than this. It simply did not feel right to me and certainly didn't leave me wanting more. 1.5 stars
November 21, 2011
Home For Christmas by Kate Davies
This was a freebie, and started out with a lot of potential. I love stories that have characters who are in their forties. This one has a widow and her late husband's business partner heading off on a romantic cruise. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver. It felt like a bad Harly novel....superficial, no real emotional connection between the H/h, flat sex scenes, and an abrupt ending. Big bummer.
Grade: 3 Limp Candy Canes (C+)
This was a freebie, and started out with a lot of potential. I love stories that have characters who are in their forties. This one has a widow and her late husband's business partner heading off on a romantic cruise. Unfortunately, it didn't deliver. It felt like a bad Harly novel....superficial, no real emotional connection between the H/h, flat sex scenes, and an abrupt ending. Big bummer.
Grade: 3 Limp Candy Canes (C+)
November 29, 2011
This short story had a lot of potential. Sophia is a widow. Ethan was Sophia's late husband's best friend and business partner who stepped in and became a close friend to Sophia and her daughter (Samantha) when Sophia's husband died two years earlier. Sophia and Ethan are both in their 40's. A few months prior to when the story starts, they each start to feel something toward the other one that is more than friendship though they keep those feelings to themselves for obvious reasons.
So far, so good.
It's Christmas time. Sophia doesn't want to go through the motions at home so she books a cruise. Sam will be gone with her new boyfriend for the holidays so there is no reason for Sophia to stay home alone.
Still good at that point.
So what happened? Sam is a selfish brat. She won't be home with her mother for the holiday but yet she criticizes Sophia for wanting to go on a cruise. I guess it's always better for someone to spend a sad holiday at home ALL ALONE than to go out and do something you would enjoy and to take your mind off things? (sorry... sarcasm) And why the fear of telling Ethan if he is her friend? I'm thinking a forty-something-year-old, unattached woman should not feel the need to be scared of saying she's going on a cruise. Nor should she have to ask her daughter permission to do so. Her life, right?
Then Ethan shows up unannounced on the cruise. What if Sophia wanted to have a holiday fling? Nothing wrong with that.
I know this was a short story but everything simply happened too fast. The sex happened too fast. The friends to lovers thing ....... while I normally love this type of story ........... was WAY too fast. No discussions or anything. Just jump into bed.
Okay, I'm done with my rant. I would be extremely upset had I paid for this book. Most of what was on my Kindle were excerpts from other stories. I don't normally read excerpts so I didn't read these.
So far, so good.
It's Christmas time. Sophia doesn't want to go through the motions at home so she books a cruise. Sam will be gone with her new boyfriend for the holidays so there is no reason for Sophia to stay home alone.
Still good at that point.
So what happened? Sam is a selfish brat. She won't be home with her mother for the holiday but yet she criticizes Sophia for wanting to go on a cruise. I guess it's always better for someone to spend a sad holiday at home ALL ALONE than to go out and do something you would enjoy and to take your mind off things? (sorry... sarcasm) And why the fear of telling Ethan if he is her friend? I'm thinking a forty-something-year-old, unattached woman should not feel the need to be scared of saying she's going on a cruise. Nor should she have to ask her daughter permission to do so. Her life, right?
Then Ethan shows up unannounced on the cruise. What if Sophia wanted to have a holiday fling? Nothing wrong with that.
I know this was a short story but everything simply happened too fast. The sex happened too fast. The friends to lovers thing ....... while I normally love this type of story ........... was WAY too fast. No discussions or anything. Just jump into bed.
Okay, I'm done with my rant. I would be extremely upset had I paid for this book. Most of what was on my Kindle were excerpts from other stories. I don't normally read excerpts so I didn't read these.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2011
First of all, this was misnamed. Nobody was "home" for Christmas. A widow decides to go on a cruise and she is followed by her deceased husband's business partner. If you want to stretch it quite a bit I suppose you could say they found their "home" with each other.
This was free for my Kindle. There wasn't much to recommend it but I've read worse.
This was free for my Kindle. There wasn't much to recommend it but I've read worse.
November 14, 2012
I did not finish this book. I think this could have been a good book. I liked the idea behind the storyline. BUT right off there were a lot of curse words included that weren't necessary. Then by the second or third chapter the hero and heroine were headed to bed with TMI included about their intimacy. At that point, even though I like the storyline, I quit reading.
December 2, 2013
Another short novella to bring Christmas cheer. This story is about a widow and empty nester Mother, finding her feet again. While too short of a story, I felt a connection to the heroine a bit more because I understand her need to not sit and mope around during the holidays. Short and sweet.
January 1, 2021
A super short sweet romance about new beginnings, taking risks and finding happiness.
January 9, 2021
Good short story
A bit predictable. Would have liked more character development, but what the heck. Cute enough for a little story. Liked the suite idea.
A bit predictable. Would have liked more character development, but what the heck. Cute enough for a little story. Liked the suite idea.
December 10, 2011
A shortish story about a widow in her mid-forties and her husband's best friend/business partner. Sophia and Ethan had no feelings for each other until after Sophia's husband died and Sophia and Ethan were sort of forced to spend more time together. Slowly, their feelings toward each other grew, but neither one knew how the other felt.
This is Sophia's second Christmas without her husband, and her daughter has other plans this year as well, and rather than force holiday cheer, Sophia has decided to take a Christmas cruise by herself. She doesn't even tell Ethan her plans. When Ethan shows up just as she's leaving, he's surprised, and somehow he figures out her plans and joins her on the cruise.
I agree that there wasn't a whole lot of build up between the two characters. We didn't even really get to feel much chemistry. And the sex scenes were only barely there.
It was still a sweet story with a sweet HEA, but nothing really to write home about.
This is Sophia's second Christmas without her husband, and her daughter has other plans this year as well, and rather than force holiday cheer, Sophia has decided to take a Christmas cruise by herself. She doesn't even tell Ethan her plans. When Ethan shows up just as she's leaving, he's surprised, and somehow he figures out her plans and joins her on the cruise.
I agree that there wasn't a whole lot of build up between the two characters. We didn't even really get to feel much chemistry. And the sex scenes were only barely there.
It was still a sweet story with a sweet HEA, but nothing really to write home about.
December 16, 2011
This was a sweet little romance between a widow and her family friend and business partner.
Sofie's husband died almost two years ago. Last Christmas was unbearable while the family tried to uphold their regular traditions. Ethan, a close family friend and business partner has looked out for Sofie ever since the death of his best friend and Sofie's husband.
Sofie surprises her family and Ethan by making other plans this holiday. She doesn't want her loved ones babysitting her this year. She wants to do something completely different, so she is going on a cruise alone. What is even more surprising to Sofie is when Ethan shows up aboard ship, and he's there for her.
Sofie's husband died almost two years ago. Last Christmas was unbearable while the family tried to uphold their regular traditions. Ethan, a close family friend and business partner has looked out for Sofie ever since the death of his best friend and Sofie's husband.
Sofie surprises her family and Ethan by making other plans this holiday. She doesn't want her loved ones babysitting her this year. She wants to do something completely different, so she is going on a cruise alone. What is even more surprising to Sofie is when Ethan shows up aboard ship, and he's there for her.
December 21, 2011
It was okay. I liked the idea of an "older" -- older by romance book standards -- couple being the focus of a story. The story itself was a bit uneven in the telling. The jump from anxiety over whether they should share their feelings for each other to I-love-you-let's-make-this-permanent seemed a bit abrupt.
I know it was a short story and that's what I was looking for, I just think a few more pages or a little better use of the pages used would have made it a better story.
I know it was a short story and that's what I was looking for, I just think a few more pages or a little better use of the pages used would have made it a better story.
November 21, 2011
In this book, it is refreshing to see characters in their mid-forties finding love again. Most love stories are of youth or young adults, where the older aged characters that still have lots of life left in them seem to be forgotten.
Even though it was a quick read, I compare it to a thin slice of cake, just enough to get a taste without overindulging.
A good read.
Even though it was a quick read, I compare it to a thin slice of cake, just enough to get a taste without overindulging.
A good read.
August 23, 2023
A very short story, i was surprised when it ended so soon. Cute story about a woman who wants to spend Christmas on her own on a cruise that she gives to herself. Her husband had died the year before and her daughter was visiting with her boyfriend's family out of town. She is surprised who joins her on the cruise and leads to a steamy romance. Quick read.
November 27, 2011
This was a wonderful short story.
I absolutely loved the characters and the fact that they were in their 40's made it even better.
I most certainly want to find this suite Ethan had on my next cruise!
December 9, 2012
Cute Christmas novella. For a novella I thought she did well developing the characters and their background. However, I did think that the H and h went to bed a little too quickly without a little more time getting to know each other on a more personal level.
April 30, 2013
This was a cute, short, easy to read story. It is perfect for when a
person wants to read something light and happy. Not much else to say.
Reminds me of the old movies I used to see as a child.....always were
"light" and had a happy ending!
person wants to read something light and happy. Not much else to say.
Reminds me of the old movies I used to see as a child.....always were
"light" and had a happy ending!
October 30, 2010
a cute short story
November 16, 2011
an unusual romance involving people OVER 40! sweet
November 17, 2011
A sweet short story!
Read
March 11, 2012this book was just ok. it was a quick short story which was good for me because it was so predictable.
November 26, 2011
Free...you get what you pay for?
Desperate to meet my challenge!
Don't judge me, Mallory.
Desperate to meet my challenge!
Don't judge me, Mallory.
November 26, 2011
A freebie short read. I think the best part of this was the fact the main characters are in their 40's.
November 26, 2011
Cute story. Pretty short, so not as deep a look into the characters as I usually enjoy, but still, a good little story. Just too quick!
November 28, 2011
This was a nice book.
Sophia is a widower, Ethan is her husbands best friend.
Cruise, love, the end.
It ended ubruptly.
Sophia is a widower, Ethan is her husbands best friend.
Cruise, love, the end.
It ended ubruptly.
November 30, 2011
Nice little story just wished it lasted a little longer. I wanted to know what her daughter thought. : (
November 30, 2011
It was free.
It put me one book closer to my goal...sue me. ;)
It put me one book closer to my goal...sue me. ;)
December 2, 2011
Much too simple and formula
December 1, 2011
Very short freebie holiday story. Very predictable and not much festivity either. Widow finds love with her best friend on board a holiday cruise.
December 3, 2011
short good read
December 4, 2011
What could be better than a Christmas cruise? Short and sweet story about new love after losing the love of your life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews