HE KNOWS IF YOU’VE BEEN BAD OR GOOD….
Picture-perfect Evergreen, California, nestled on the shores of Reindeer Lake in the snowy Sierras, is the perfect place for a no-strings holiday fling with a gorgeous Latin lover. Workaholic Kimberly Michaels didn’t come to Evergreen only to enjoy herself, though; she’s there to consummate a development deal in which her company will take over the town — whether the town wants it or not. Ricco Maza, whose sister owns the quaint B & B where Kim is staying, may be the hottest man she’s ever met (and the only one who can persuade her to relax enough for an orgasm!) but if he discovers why Kim is in town, she’ll soon be finding more coal and switches than kisses in her Christmas stocking. And as Kim’s frosty winter nights steam up with her sexy Santa, she realizes she’s going to have to make a choice. Is winning the deal truly the most important thing in life, or will this jaded cynic let Santa finally give her a little taste of Christmas magic?
This book was exactly what I was looking for when I picked it up. A contemporary that didn’t have any vampires, werewolves, or murdering sociopaths. It was light and fun Christmas read.
When Kim Michaels has a one-night stand with a stranger at a hotel in Reno, she has no clue that she will be seeing him again. Kim has a job to do in Evergreen, California. A picturesque town in the Sierra mountains, Kim’s boss (and soon-to-be finance) has decided that it would be the perfect place to put in a casino. Sending Kim in made the deal almost a sure thing b/c when she goes after something, she gets it. She didn’t count on the quaintness of the town and the general happiness of the townspeople. She also didn’t count on Ricco Maza, the man that rocked her world, to be so connected to Evergreen.
Ricco and his family owe the town of Evergreen more than they can ever repay. After leaving Oakland with him and his four older sisters, Ricco’s mom ran out of money in Evergreen. The town opened their arms to his family and Ricco has never forgotten it. Every year, Ricco comes to visit and does what he can to help the town. Whether it’s running the snow plow or dressing up as Santa, Ricco will do it.
Ricco is the consummate playboy. He’s never had a problem moving on from a woman before, so his reaction to Kim is something that doesn’t sit too well with him. Though at times he would like to be the man that Kim deserves, he knows that he doesn’t have it in him. He already has too many people depending on him as it is, he’s not looking to add another; especially not a woman. And he hasn’t even found out the real reason Kim is in Evergreen.
Though I really enjoyed the story, there were a few things that I didn’t care for. Ricco’s dad was a real piece of work. Only Ricco knew that he was scamming the family when he told them he was dying. This guy told Kim he would go away for money. He was the scum of the earth. Yet toward the end, it was almost as if Tabke redeemed him. I’m still a little fuzzy on how he could be redeemed.
Of Ricco and Kim, Kim grew the most as a character. Kim was forced to rethink a lot of things. From her career, to her take on relationships, to her parents (not much to rethink there). That girl did a lot of soul searching while she was in Evergreen. When she finally figured out what she wanted, she realized that it might be too late. Ricco is someone that values honesty and for him to forgive her duplicity, it will take a Christmas miracle. (Wasn’t that so corny?)
4 out of 5.
This book is available from Pocket Books. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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