This book did a little too much “telling” and not a great job at “showing” for certain things (mainly how different Skylar is from Alec’s ex-wife, and Alec is from Skylar’s ex-boyfriend). I also do not believe the women in the story pass the Bechtel Test. The amount of times Skylar’s friends assured her she would find a man in due time were ridiculous. I know this is a romance novel but damn. Life is about more than finding a husband! Anyway. A good story, but I had some issues with the execution.

Loved this!

I picked up this book after seeing it was on sale through Bookbub. How could I pass up the chance to read a holiday/winter romance in July?!?

This was a a really great read. I loved the slow but steady burn of attraction between Skylar and Alec. The time they spent with family and friends and really getting to know each other was my favorite part and gave me the warm fuzzies.

The worst part about this book is that now I’ve just added the rest of the series to my TBR, which is already out of control!

Why is this book so hard to get in the States? I loved it. Absolutely loved it. Okay, there were some parts that stretched my suspension of disbelief and there were one or two spots that were a teeny bit slow but overall I liked Skylar and Alec together. Yes, the seemingly dreamy jewelry designer and the crazy explorer/TV personality actually work well together. First Alec has to get past some misconceptions about Sky (because she looked so much like his ex-wife, he assumed she was just like her) and Sky had to recover from the realization that the man she had been in a relationship for the last year was not who she thought he was. But when Alec rescues Sky after a breakup mishap (her ex doesn't hit her but she falls when he threatens to and he doesn't stop to check and see if her massively bleeding head wound maybe needs some attention) they start to learn a little bit more about each other. Alec ends up taking Sky to his family Christmas (which they are celebrating early; love that their family is more concerned with being together than celebrating on The Day) and seeing how much she fits in. Sky starts to realize that Alec is aloof because of past hurts. The two decide to spend Christmas together on Puffin Island where, when Sky realizes that her feelings have changed, that they're getting deeper then the fling they agreed upon, she doesn't throw a hissy fit because his haven't. Instead, she decides to remove herself quietly. Like an adult. Now, she should have talked to him about it but this is still a step up from some other (ahem) romances that I've read.

One of the best holiday themed books I've read. Definitely looking into more books by this author.

Lovely palate-cleanser - a predictable (they think they hate each other but...) but fun romance novel, with a cozy Christmas setting and a pretty healthy outlook. Just right for my mood, a good escapist read with carols playing and a cake in the oven.

I gave in and read my first Christmas book of the year

Since it’s been snowing, it felt the perfect time to dive into Sky and Alec’s story. I feel a little guilty that I skipped Brittany and Zach’s but, what can I say, I’m a rebel.

Skylar is such a lovely, warm character and I thoroughly enjoyed spending this book with her as the main character, seeing her grow and develop.

I wished I could have seen some of the issues she had resolved in actual scenes rather than be told about them happening “off stage”, but I can’t complain that the majority of the word count was dedicated to seeing how Alec and Sky’s relationship evolved.

There was also lots of snow, two Christmases, an introduction to Alec’s wonderful family and a return to Puffin Island. Alec grew on me as he showed his better self more and more. Another thoroughly enjoyable story by Sarah Morgan I loved escaping into.