Happy sigh!!! If you’re looking for a Christmas read that’s full of heart, magic, laughter, healing, family, friendship, happily ever afters (yes I meant to imply multiple), pure joy, fully charged chemistry, holiday goodness, and oh so much more, grab this one and become immersed in it all!!! Stefanie Kay is the narrator and she is definitely one of my favorite narrators. I love how she brought this story to life in this audiobook.
Izzy is such a spunky character! I loved her and all her sides that were shown in the first book, The Valentine Inn, but adored her even more in this one as her vulnerable sides and mothering side came out full force. If you haven’t read the first book, I highly recommend it, but you can read this one without reading it. There’s just some backstory for Izzy in the first one that is filled in more by reading it, but the author does a great job of giving enough info to keep the reader in the know if you’re just going to read this book.
We all need an Izzy type sibling, friend, acquaintance in our lives. And boy, oh boy, does Patrick and his kids need her too! I’m just grinning thinking about the backstory scenes with these two as well as their first meeting after not seeing each other for YEARS!!! Oh my heart! So many emotions. Izzy’s sister Charlotte is so good and just ripping the band-aid off and helping with that confrontation…just like Izzy did for Charlotte and Drake in their book. *smirks* These two sisters are just so much fun! I love the dynamics of their relationship. All in for each other no matter what, they’ll always be there!
I love, love, loved all the tension between Patrick and Izzy. Jennifer Peel knows how to write chemistry between characters! And boy oh boy does Patrick know how to just lay it all on the line and say all the words. *heart eyes* As much as I love all the scenes between these two, one of my favorite aspects of this book is watching Izzy reach out and be so loving and caring to Patrick’s children, who are suffering from things in their past (you’ll have to read the book to figure it all out). Those moments just pulled on my heart strings. Izzy’s mothering side is one of my favorite sides of her. She just has a special way to truly connect with others. She’s honest and real and fiercely loyal and loving!
The humor is spot on! I laughed, giggled, possibly snorted once…or twice, and guffawed (seriously I did)! I was up late reading cause I just couldn’t put it down until my eyes wouldn’t open. But as I was laying in my bed, with my whole household snoring away, I read a scene that I just couldn’t help myself, and before I knew what had happened, I guffawed so loud! Quickly followed by me covering my mouth and looking over to make sure I hadn’t woken up my hubby. Ooopsy!!!! He stirred a little but I was safe, he slept on! *giggles*
Enough of me telling you about this book. Just go read it! You’ll thank me later. And I think this just might be one of my favorites written by this author. Which is hard to say because there are so many favorites of hers! I’ve loved them all! But Izzy and Patrick…I adore them!
Content: PG-13. There are innuendos scattered throughout the book that I would say this is for older readers. There are no sex scenes. There’s kissing, some make out scenes but nothing graphic and more than just kisses.
I received a copy from the author. But have also purchased my own copy! All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Listening!!!