Review: Hot, Sweet, and... Formulaic?
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 13, 2013
I liked the Mackenzie family, a happy, horny, noisy family all gathered together for the holidays. I can also relate to Grant, who felt a little overwhelmed by the noise and togetherness, and the idea that everyone else is paired off.He goes off for a solitary tramp in the snow, and is in the nick of time to rescue Annabeth Martin, who's gone out for a solitary skate, and falls through the thin ice when she is distracted by Grant's presence.I liked this, but at the same time, I felt like all the boxes were being ticked off. Hot hero and heroine - check. Both secretly in love with each other? Check. Perfectly reasonable excuse to get them both naked and in bed together? Check. Engagement ring at the end? Check. Family support and approval? Check.There were unique author touches, such as the dilemma when Annabeth needed to get out of bed to pee - thank you! Real women do need to use the bathroom at inconvenient times.But personally, I am coming to loathe the "close with an engagement ring" meme. I know for a lot of readers this makes whatever went before okay, because our couple is going to get married! I believe that even the hottest sexual chemistry does not necessarily translate into a happy marriage, and it does marriage a disservice to suggest so. I want to see dating, conflicts, problem-solving, not just burning up the sheets, before The Ring appears. In a sexy novella, especially one this short, there isn't time to get into all of that - and I understand that, but (IMO) it's too soon to suggest a Happily Ever After.In Real Life, moving a relationship too fast is one of the warning signs of a pyschopath; I just don't think romance authors should suggest it's a sign of True Love.  *steps down off soapbox*