Review: Wonderful Christmas Novella!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 9, 2013
"It's you" Daniel tells me, with a tender smile that makes my heart sing. I feel dizzy, light-headed, like this is alll just a dream, but no; he's here..."I don't know how, but...I couldn't just walk away." - DanielThis story, a novella no less, definitely threw me for a loop, and in the best of ways!Before I start, I'd like to say that this is the third story in the Beachwood Bay series and I recommend reading the ones before it (especially Unbroken), so you can get a better feel of the situation and characters. With that, there might be slight spoilers to those stories in my review, so be warnedThe premise of this story revolves around the fact that Juliet and Emerson are getting married in Beachwood Bay, on Christmas Day no less. Though Lacey, Juliet's best friend, is the maid of honor, she's had to do all the planning via phone or internet, because she lives a coast away, in L.A.. On the day before Christmas, she's rushing to catch the last flight out, when she bumps into who else, but Daniel...Juliet's ex and the one she dumped to be with Emerson. To her surprise, they're sharing seats on the same flight, and when the plane has to land early due to a sudden blizzard, Lacey once again has no choice but to share the last available hotel room with Daniel...the guy she's always kind of had feelings for.Now here's where I'd like to pause and point out how much I love it when authors can do what Melody Grace did here. When we first met Daniel in Unbroken, he wasn't necessarily a bad guy, but more along the lines of conceited, a little boring, and not at all aware of Juliet's wants or feeling. Suffice to say, I didn't like his character (and I also much preferred Juliet with Emerson). When I read the synopsis to this novella, I was worried how it would play out. Not only was Daniel not all that likable in Unbroken, but Lacey would be going after her friend's ex, which could get awkward. So the question is, did it work?I won't spoil more the plot to you, except to say this story was really good. Though I enjoyed Lacey's character just fine (some of her insecurities could be a bit grating), Daniel definitely stole the show for me! Under that controlled facade was a passionate man who wanted to love and be loved. And the things he would say to Lacey...oh, that boy could make me *swoon*.Unlike the other stories in the series, this is a novella, so it's quite short. Most of the action occurs over the course of almost a day and a half, and while that might seem like not enough time for a relationship to develop, we have to remember that these characters have known each other for years. In that time, they've been bottling up feelings they both weren't even aware they had, and when they finally let them loose, their chemistry was intense! To top it off, that final scene was really quite sweet!Added to Daniel and Lacey's story, we get to see some of other favorites couples, like Brit and Hunter, while at the same time, we finally get to experience Juliet and Emerson's wedding. It was fun to see everyone find their peace and happy, especially after everything they've all been through. As always, Melody Grace is a spot on writer! Her Beachwood series will probably always be my favorite of hers, if simply because of the beautiful settings and great characters. Added to this Christmas story, we also get so see how some other characters (who I at all did no see coming together, but am now so excited to read their story) might be getting their own happily ever after in Unconditional.All in all, this a great read to spice up your holiday list, and if you love this series, then it's a definite must read!