Holly‘s review of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY
One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.
ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE
The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.
SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC…
Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.
…TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE
Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home…
I wish I knew why St. Martin’s insists on releasing these short hardbacks for so much money. While this was a sweet story, it isn’t worth paying $16.99 for. Not by a long shot.
When Maggie’s husband died, she wondered if she’d ever be able to go on. Now, two years later, she’s put her life back together and is happily settled in Friday Harbor, running a toy shop. When she meets Mark she’s surprised at the amount of attraction between them. She thinks Mark is safe, because he’s in a relationship. So she enjoys the attraction, knowing it won’t go very far.
Mark has never really understood the concept of family. His parents didn’t set an example to live by and only his sister seemed to know what to do to keep their family together. When she’s killed in a car accident, Mark is shocked to learn that he’s been left the sole guardian of his niece, Holly. He suckers his brother, Sam, into helping him raise her, but it isn’t easy. Especially since she no longer talks. She hasn’t spoken a word since the day he told her her mother had died. The last thing on his mind is a relationship, until he finds a Christmas note from Holly, asking Santa for a new mom. Then he’s determined to give her just that. The logical choice is his current girlfriend. She’s calm, steady and seems to care about Holly. But it’s the owner of the toy shop he can’t get off his mind.
I really liked both main characters. Both Mark and Maggie were struggling to deal with baggage from their pasts. Neither was willing to commit, but for different reasons. I liked that it wasn’t just one or the other who struggled with their relationship. They both did. Maggie was loving and strong, with enough vulnerability to make her a truly sympathetic character. My heart broke for her as she tried to learn to move on and live life again. And though Mark was sometimes gruff, he was an honest, hardworking, caring man. The way he was with Holly just melted me sometimes.
Holly, Mark’s niece, was at the center of the story.I liked how she was central to the story but didn’t take over. She was a sweet, undemanding child, but it was obvious she had everyone wrapped around her finger. It was cute watching all three Nolan brothers tripping over themselves for her. I also liked Mark’s brothers. I’m curious about both Sam and Alex, and hope LK has plans to release their books quickly.
Overall a sweet, emotional novella about second chances and finding love in unexpected places. But not worth paying $17 for. And I’m saying this with all the love in my Kleypas-obsessed heart.
4 out of 5
FYI: Lisa has said she’ll be taking a break and not releasing anything in 2011. So we have to wait at least a full year before we see anything new from her. I’m totally bummed, especially since I’m ready to read more from this series.
This book is available from St. Martin’s Press. You can buy it here
Is it bad to say that I wish they hadn’t released this book yet, given that she isn’t releasing anything in 2011? I hate having my appetite whetted for something, and then having to wait for-freaking-ever for the next book to come out.
Why didn’t they wait and release this book NEXT October so the wait wouldn’t be so interminable for Kleypas fans??
But I agree, Holly, I did like this book. I bought it in eBook format, and it was $9.99, which I was OK with. I actually just re-read it yesterday, and I think I’m going to end up really liking this series.
I just hate that it’s going to be more than a year before I get to read more. What was St. Martin’s thinking?!?!
It’s even worse Holly when you see the paperback copy. Then, you realize what a rip-off it was… I saw the Wallflower Christmas paperback, which was released in HC last year… and seriously, it’s sooooo thin!!
Awww, too bad that Ms Kleypas is taking a break.
This sounds like a sweet book, but I’m definitively going to wait for the library copy.
I too am a total Kleypas lover! I usually save money by checking out her books from the library and then buy them when they come out in paperback.
I can’t believe there will be nothing new out in the next year! Maybe they are planning year of re-releases? Things do tend to change, so maybe that will change too. We just have to keep our fingers crossed!
@Kati – I’m with you. I wish they’d waited as well. It doesn’t make sense to release this as a teaser when the next novel won’t be available for well over a year. I’m kind of disappointed in LK, if I’m being honest.
@Nath – I know, I saw the paperback too. What a joke. This are category length stories; something Harlequin would sell for $4.99. St Martin’s needs to get with the program.
@Chanpreet – It might be the year of re-releases for her, but that won’t help me out much since I already own all her books. lol
I really liked the story – and was bummed when I heard there wouldn’t be anything new for 2011 (Though I think I also heard the next books will be released quickly one after another, need to check the source though.).
I really liked the dynamics between the three brothers, you can tell they are suckers for Holly even though they have no idea of how to be a proper family.
And I agree it’s too much to pay for a short hardback. I borrowed it from my library at school, and it was a short book. Same was with the Wallflowers Christmas, I thought I would just wait until they are out on PB to get them.