Romance Roundup: December
Welcome to “Romance Roundup” where I share mini-reviews of 3 to 4 romance novels I’ve recently read. This month’s edition includes a story about a blast from the past, a ballerina performer, and a holiday romance.
You Make it Feel Like Christmas by Francis Ray, Donna Hill (2021)
Rockin’ Around That Christmas Tree by Donna Hill
Denise has always been the faithful wife and dutiful mother for the twenty-plus years she’s been married to Edward. But now, she’s ready to live a few dreams of her own. When Denise drops the bomb at Thanksgiving dinner that she is leaving Edward and selling the house, everyone is stunned, and her announcement opens the door to Morrison Family Dysfunction 101. But Edward is not ready to give up on them. Not only does he plan to be back at home and in their bed, but he also knows that, come Christmas, he and Denise will be rockin’ around that Christmas tree.
The Wish by Francis Ray
Be careful what you wish for. That’s the lesson brokenhearted Nicholas Darling learns when an eccentric old woman grants him a wish for true love—if he doesn’t fail to see it.
Review: I already chatted about The Wish before since I read it in the holiday romance anthology novel Gettin’ Merry. So for this mini-review, I will focus on Rockin’ Around That Christmas Tree. I went into this story a bit iffy about its synopsis but ended up loving it. It follows a married middle-aged couple who is so stuck in their lives and when one of them decides to do something shocking it’s a wake-up call for their relationship.
This story reminded me to truly cherish the ones around us. Everyone from Denise’s husband to her kids is solely dependent on her and she’s never had a chance to truly have space on her own. It’s a story about rekindling a spark that is lost in a relationship and learning how to be a better partner. Paired with the festive background setting, it’s a heartwarming story for the holidays.
Final Verdict:
One Spark of Magic by Iris Bolling (2016)
A dream leads dancer Paige Cartwright to a plane ride that will change her life. The man in the seat across from her sent a spark through her heart. It was him. She knew it without a doubt. She knew her grand mere’s dream had sent her to meet the man she was to marry.
Jarrett Bryson is a star. Not just on the baseball field, but in life as well. He has it all, money, fame, and women. Yet, there was something about the woman in the seat across from him.
Love and laughter enter their lives, but jealousy rears its ugly head in ways neither anticipates. Will Jarrett and Paige survive? It all comes down to One Spark of Magic.
Review: One Spark of Magic is a fast-paced romance between a star baseball player and a rising star of a ballerina. Once Paige and Jarrett first meet they have a deep connection that jumpstarts their relationship. They work to try to navigate these newfound “soulmate” feelings and wonder if their two lives will collide for the better.
To be honest, Paige got on my nerves as the main character. Though confident and strong she has this overwhelming aloofness that heightened her naive nature. It was like she would purposely ignore every red flag and it kept getting her into tricky situations. Besides that, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and even the villains (which were so well written). It has many elements of suspense which will take the reader by surprise.
Final Verdict:
No Ordinary Christmas by Talia Hunter (2020)
Three things even worse than Christmas:
1. Returning to my hated home town.
2. Getting arrested.
3. Realizing the arresting officer is the boy I ran out on in high school.
Luke Penn may look spectacular in a cop’s uniform, but I never wanted to see him again. He witnessed The Incident, otherwise known as the most embarrassing thing to happen to any high school student ever. So as soon as I make it through my sister’s Christmas wedding, I’ll pack up my elf costume and catch the first sleigh out of town.
But when Luke rescues me from a terrible mistletoe accident (don’t ask!) things take an unexpectedly sexy turn.
Now I need to make an impossible choice:
Escape my cringe-worthy past?
Or take a chance on a Luke-alicious future?
Review: A cute romantic comedy novella that was way too short! As soon as the story started to get good, it comes to an end. Luckily the characters are a part of a current series, so I may check out those books in the future. No Ordinary Christmas follows the trope of friends-to-lovers and gives the two main leads a chance to pick up where they last left off during holiday/wedding chaos.
This novella is fun and flirty with the banter between the main characters and the wacky hijinks that occur throughout the novel. It’s a story that’s sure to put a smile on your face especially with those classic rom-com secondhand embarrassment moments. There’s a bit of steam in this romance novella, but most of it is just lighthearted and entertaining.
Final Verdict:
What romance novels have you read lately? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you have any recommendations, feel free to share those as well.
