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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas
I have no idea how to start this review, but to say this book is a very emotional one. I had tears running down my face several times while reading this book. I looked at my husband during one scene and told him how I could not believe Juliana has me crying over fictional characters. I felt their pain though and wanted to comfort both Jake and Raine. I knew it was going to be emotional when Jake and Raine were introduced in the first book. The last chapter of the previous book alone made Jake and Raine’s story not going to be an easy one. Juliana Stone made Jake’s and Raine’s story even more emotional when the truth came out what happened to Raine. (How I felt for her…I just wanted to hug her and tell her I was here for her)
I give this book 5 full moons and highly recommend it to contemporary romance readers out there. Make sure to read the first book though. You will need to know about ALL of these Bad Boys.
I have no idea how to start this review, but to say this book is a very emotional one. I had tears running down my face several times while reading this book. I looked at my husband during one scene and told him how I could not believe Juliana has me crying over fictional characters. I felt their pain though and wanted to comfort both Jake and Raine. I knew it was going to be emotional when Jake and Raine were introduced in the first book. The last chapter of the previous book alone made Jake and Raine’s story not going to be an easy one. Juliana Stone made Jake’s and Raine’s story even more emotional when the truth came out what happened to Raine. (How I felt for her…I just wanted to hug her and tell her I was here for her)
I give this book 5 full moons and highly recommend it to contemporary romance readers out there. Make sure to read the first book though. You will need to know about ALL of these Bad Boys.
Realistic on grief, not sure why I didn't connect more with the characters.
5 Stars
Jake Edwards left home eighteen months ago. The pain was too great. Now it is Thanksgiving and his Dad is fighting cancer, he can’t avoid the pain anymore. He must come home and spend time with his Dad, and see his brother’s widow Raine. Jesse and Jake were twins and part of the town’s “Bad Boys”. They did everything with Raine and it was no shock when Jesse and Raine got married. What no one knew is that Jake loved her too, so when the twins were deployed to Afghanistan and Jesse made Jake promise to look after Raine if he didn’t make it home it was an easy promise to make. He never thought he would have to keep it.
What makes this a fantastic book is that it truly could be set during anytime of the year. Yes it happens in a small town during Thanksgiving and the weeks leading to Christmas, but the entire Christmas theme is just a wonderful snowy backdrop to a great plot and characters of great depth. Jake is suffering; he came home from battle without his twin. He couldn’t save him, and the guilt has kept him away from home. Raine has lost herself. She lost her husband, but then she lost Jake too. One month after the funeral Jake left town and they have barely communicated since, and it is tearing her apart. She barely eats; and rarely leaves her home. Jake and Jesse were always part of her life; they were her family when she had no one else. She loved them both. The words Juliana Stone uses to convey her pain brought tears to my eyes at times. I could feel Raine’s anguish, I just wanted to reach into my Kindle and give her a hug. At the same time I could understand why Jake’s return is not met with open arms by Raine. The two of them walked on egg shells for a period of time, each protecting their hearts, and paying a penance for their deep secrets. When Raine is the first to give into the emotional pull they have and relishes the feeling of finding herself again I beamed with pride. I found this part of their relationship a joy to read, Juliana Stone’s wrote characters who are dealing with complex emotions, issues and regrets. Many authors would shy away from this theme, and never consider it in a Christmas book; Juliana Stone shows great confidence in her story and the depth of her characters to explore this plot on the way to their HEA. Don’t think this book is just filled with lots of pain; there are moments the characters show great personality. There are moments of joy and a few laughs too.
This quaint town is one I would love to go visit. There are secondary characters that have sparked my interest, and I look forward to meeting them again in another book. This is the second book in a series (it can be read as a standalone with NO issues) and I am going back to read book 1 and I will be on the lookout for any future books in this series.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.
Jake Edwards left home eighteen months ago. The pain was too great. Now it is Thanksgiving and his Dad is fighting cancer, he can’t avoid the pain anymore. He must come home and spend time with his Dad, and see his brother’s widow Raine. Jesse and Jake were twins and part of the town’s “Bad Boys”. They did everything with Raine and it was no shock when Jesse and Raine got married. What no one knew is that Jake loved her too, so when the twins were deployed to Afghanistan and Jesse made Jake promise to look after Raine if he didn’t make it home it was an easy promise to make. He never thought he would have to keep it.
What makes this a fantastic book is that it truly could be set during anytime of the year. Yes it happens in a small town during Thanksgiving and the weeks leading to Christmas, but the entire Christmas theme is just a wonderful snowy backdrop to a great plot and characters of great depth. Jake is suffering; he came home from battle without his twin. He couldn’t save him, and the guilt has kept him away from home. Raine has lost herself. She lost her husband, but then she lost Jake too. One month after the funeral Jake left town and they have barely communicated since, and it is tearing her apart. She barely eats; and rarely leaves her home. Jake and Jesse were always part of her life; they were her family when she had no one else. She loved them both. The words Juliana Stone uses to convey her pain brought tears to my eyes at times. I could feel Raine’s anguish, I just wanted to reach into my Kindle and give her a hug. At the same time I could understand why Jake’s return is not met with open arms by Raine. The two of them walked on egg shells for a period of time, each protecting their hearts, and paying a penance for their deep secrets. When Raine is the first to give into the emotional pull they have and relishes the feeling of finding herself again I beamed with pride. I found this part of their relationship a joy to read, Juliana Stone’s wrote characters who are dealing with complex emotions, issues and regrets. Many authors would shy away from this theme, and never consider it in a Christmas book; Juliana Stone shows great confidence in her story and the depth of her characters to explore this plot on the way to their HEA. Don’t think this book is just filled with lots of pain; there are moments the characters show great personality. There are moments of joy and a few laughs too.
This quaint town is one I would love to go visit. There are secondary characters that have sparked my interest, and I look forward to meeting them again in another book. This is the second book in a series (it can be read as a standalone with NO issues) and I am going back to read book 1 and I will be on the lookout for any future books in this series.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.