*hands you a cup of hot chocolate* It's time for another book review!
Back of the book:
Whitney Garrett is preparing to enter culinary school in the spring, but first she has to sell enough homemade pies at the local Christmas markets to pay her tuition. When her oven breaks, Whitney asks Marie Sloan, proprietor of the Red Door Inn, if she can use the inn's kitchen to keep up with her orders. Marie agrees, with a Whitney has to watch the three Sloan children and cook breakfasts for the Red Door in return.The inn is busy with holiday guests--including Aretha Franklin Sloan's perpetually single nephew Daniel and Ruby, a businesswoman in town to purchase Aretha's antiques store. Intent on making a Christmas match for the two, Aretha enlists Whitney's help in her schemes. But the deeper Whitney gets, the more she realizes that Ruby is definitely not the right woman for Daniel--and the more she thinks that she just might be his perfect match.Cuddle up for some warm holiday cheer as New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson explores the unforeseen consequences of meddling with mistletoe when love is on the line
My Review:
⭑⭑⭑⭑⭒
I know, I know, it's not quite fall yet, let alone winter. BUT, when I saw this review book, I knew I must give it a try. Why? Because this is a Red Door Inn Christmas Romance by Liz Johnson. I read the Prince Edward Island Dreams series--wow, was it really five years ago?!--and it was one of my favorite contemporary romances. Where Two Hearts Meet (book 2) was my favorite, so getting to hear more about these characters from the eyes of Caden's student, was pretty neat. Plus, I broke out my leggings and fall flannels today so maybe reading a Christmas book isn't *too* far fetched!
As a designer, I must first comment on the cover. It's fun, modern, festive, and I like the usage of the red door. I'm not a huge fan of the illustration style, but I do like how it resembles the descriptions of the characters well.
Speaking of, the characters were fun. Whitney especially made a positive first impression. (On me as the reader, maybe not for Daniel, lol). She was genuine, and I love characters who are real with themselves. She had a bit of growing to do, but I liked how the author was able to use other characters to speak truth into her life. She thought she wasn't good at anything or could stick with anything. This had her pursuing a career that wasn't really her dream. Once she figured this out, she became so much more happy to pursue a purpose surrounding people, helping kids, etc. Whitney and I can relate in a couple areas, one of which being people pleasers. Poor Whitney didn't know how to say no. This put her in a sticky situation where she somehow got herself the role of matchmaker... only she couldn't help falling for the mark.
Daniel, to be honest, was a dud at first. He was uptight and boring, and grouchy. Thankfully, he realized that all that was very exhausting and having some fun was actually worth it. I like how he was able to heal from a past relationship and I also liked his flashbacks on the lists his mother had taught him with. He did not lack manners or kindness. (I liked his attempts at interacting with Julia Mae). The kids were another fun aspect of this Christmas-y story. Kids in books always lighten the mood because they can say the funniest things.
The plot itself lacked a little bit of creativity. This book read similar to a Hallmark in this way. There was everything a cozy Christmas book or movie would need: Christmas decor, sledding, Christmas lights, paper snowflakes, and copious talk of pies and the scent of cinnamon. There was also the typical scenes that I've come to associate with cheesy hallmarks such as falling off a chair into the male characters arms, or *rolls eyes* the typical accidentally being caught under the mistletoe, and then of course you have the sledding scene. All those things can be a bit too predictable if you ask me, but I suppose if you are in the right mood, they are cutesy sweet moments too.
In the end, the big misunderstanding wasn't so big and the two realized how much they meant to each other. It was a nice ending and I enjoyed this book overall! I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of cheesy romance, small town vibes, and a sweet Christmas story with some depth!
What Christmas books are you planning to read this year?
What is your favorite flavor of pie?
Blessings,
Brooklyne Elysse
