Book Review: “Christmas in Rose Bend”(Rose Bend #2) by Naima Simone

“Christmas in Rose Bend”(Rose Bend #2) by Naima Simone (2021)

Genre: Holiday, Romance, Fiction

Page Length: 416 pages (electronic review edition)

Synopsis:

Grieving ER nurse Nessa Hunt is on a road trip with her sullen teen half sister, Ivy, and still reeling from her mother’s deathbed confession: Nessa’s dad wasn’t really her dad. Seeking answers, they arrive in Rose Bend to find a small town teeming with the kind of Christmas cheer Nessa usually avoids. But then she meets the innkeeper’s ruggedly sexy son, Wolfgang Dennison.

Wolf’s big, boisterous family is like a picture-perfect holiday card. Nessa has too much weighing on her to feel like she fits—even though the heat between her and Wolf is undeniable. And the merriment bringing an overdue smile to Ivy’s face is almost enough to make Nessa believe in the Christmas spirit. But with all her parental baggage, including lingering questions about her birth father, is there room in Nessa’s life for happy holidays and happily-ever-after? (description from Goodreads)

Review:

Reading Christmas In Rose Bend instantly gave me all the holiday feels from the beginning of the story. The reader will feel as if they’ve been transported into a Hallmark movie as Rose Bend is a quaint little town full of festive vibes. It is a place where the magic of Christmas shines with its numerous decorations and fun holiday-themed activities for the town to celebrate. Nessa and Ivy get off to a rough start to their bonding trip. Both are struggling to reconnect but heavy feelings of grief and resentment prevent them from opening up to each other. You can feel the heavy tension between the two and hope they can start to mend things once and for all.

While Holiday Romances can be full of happily ever afters and many fun festive moments it’s also a time where most of us reflect on the past. We think of loved ones who are no longer with us, strained familial relationships, and traditions lost. Though the loss of their father racks Nessa and Ivy with grief he wanted to try to make up for lost time and become a real family through experiencing Rose Bend. The tight-knit community of town has such welcoming arms and a cozy feeling that makes anyone feel at home. This magic of the town is what helps the sisters slowly break down their barriers and confront their fears. It’s also a chance for them to open up about the things that are weighing them down.

The romance between Nessa and Wolf is equally sweet and steamy throughout the course of the story. I loved watching the two instantly connect and how they lean on each other to work through obstacles. There is some angst in their relationship and generally throughout the story, but Simone does an excellent job balancing out the festive mood by having her characters deal with some very real things that readers can relate to. It’s a cozy book that I highly recommend for the holiday season and I can’t wait to revisit Rose Bend in other books.

Final Verdict:

FTC Disclaimer: I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.