Review: Seasonal Reading
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 19, 2013
After reading this holiday book, I have decided that one of the three stories contained within is pretty good, while the other two are so-so.In Where the Heart Is, the reader finds a contemporary romance between Derek Sumner and Chloe English. Chloe has left home to find herself and a good career, after having experienced a failed engagement and escaping parents who are overbearing. Derek is a sort of member of the Archer family.  Orphaned as a teenager, he was brought into the family and now works in their empire. He has a deep, dark secret in his background that prevents him from accepting the fact that his family house exists in town and that Chloe is renting it.  I read the story of Derek and Chloe's romance, which moved along well, eagerly awaiting the big revelation of Derek's deep, dark secret.  Finally, the secret was out, and I was let down big time. Sure, there was something in his background, but it really was not the big event or whatever the story led me to believe, and there was little development of this event throughout the story.  I did notice that Derek often treats Chloe badly, all because of this big secret, which, because of how it played out, I did not fully understand or believe.  In fact, I found myself wondering how the author could portray such an immature, insensitive guy as the "hero" of the story she did, while Chloe becomes the solid young woman any parent or man could be proud of. If this is a lead in to a new series, as the author states at the end of the book, I certainly hope the author writes the series with better, so the books in the series won't be as flat as this one is.Midwinter Magic is a total change from the first story.  Jack Morgan is a former rich CEO, who, having realized the ruinous effects of his selfish ways, travels to destitute countries in the world at Christmastime to make the peoples' holiday and lives more festive and easier. On this trip he meets Sarah, who is really his guardian angel. Sparks fly immediately between the two. However, how can Sarah allow this to happen (guardian angels never reveal themselves to this person, let alone fall in love with them), and how will Jack accept that Sarah is not only an angel but his guardian angel, with whom he is falling in love? This is a sweet story about the love between two endearing characters and great for the holiday season. The storyline is a great read and can easily put one into the best of holiday spirit. I have not read any other things by this author, but I am hooked on her and will seek out more.In the Cheer in Charming an Earl, this author gives the reader a historical romance. Elinor Conley wants a husband, and has found the perfect candidate in Grantham Wendell, the Earl of Chelford. Elinor takes off to chase down her dream man, leaving home and going to help a sick relative--like people really did that sort of thing during the era of this story. Enroute, due to her devious pre-planning, her carriage has an accident, and she is thrust into Gantham's wild holiday party at his estate. I found it difficult to believe that any good family would allow someone, especially a daughter of marriageable age, to travel alone to a distant town and even stranger that she just falls right into her sought-after man's party, not to mention the way Grantham is immediately taken with Elinor. I guess, the author figured this was the season for romance, and strange things can and do happen, so figured the reader would just accept these events that defy belief and the social customs of the era. The characters are well developed, however, and the story, though a bit far-fetched, is interesting to read.I received this from Library Thing to read and review.