I’m a sucker for Christmas books. The week before Christmas, I make it a pact to read only holiday stories. So I grabbed this off Net-galley, as a three for one! Naughty & Nice is a compilation of three stories: Room at the Inn by Ruthie Knox, All I Want for Christmas is You, and One Perfect Christmas by Stephanie Sloane.
Room at the Inn by Ruthie Knox:
My favorite Christmas movie is “It’s a Wonderful Life”. In fact, it may be my favorite movie in general, so Room at the Inn was right up my alley. It was a “what if” modern take on the old Frank Capra classic, complete with the town name Potter Falls.
In It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey always dreamed of traveling the world and building great things, but he never got to shake off the dust of his town to go ahead and do it. Responsibilities, and the woman he loved always kept him in Bedford Falls. But what if George did get to travel?
Carson couldn’t wait to get out of Potter Falls and travel the world and build things. His job with the Army Corps of Engineers allowed him to do just that. But he left his ailing father, and college sweetheart, Julie behind. He would occasionally pop back into town and hook up with her, but not for many years. When he is called back to town for the holidays to help his dad, he is forced to stay in Julie’s Inn, and help her renovate it.
Julie was originally brought to town by Carson. And in the years that followed became a staple in the community of Potter’s Falls, a job Carson’s mother used to have. Though their relationship was rekindled, in every way possible, is it enough to keep Carson in town?
I really loved this story, though it could have been a bit hotter. It was pretty long and satisfying for being part of an anthology, and would have been great on its own.
Rating: 4.5 stars, 3.5 heat
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All I Want For Christmas Is You by Molly O’Keefe
Maddy is about to turn 18. Billy is 20 and a second round draft pick for the NHL. They have been going out for a long time and are very much in love. They plan on getting married on Maddy’s 18th birthday, 2 days after Christmas, and this story centered around them going to Christmas dinner with her parents and announcing their news.
Maybe it’s the mom in me, but I think I was too old for this. It was a short, kind of sweet, almost YA romance with sex. This is a prequel to the Crooked Creek Ranch series. I just couldn’t get past that they were too young.
Rating: 3 stars, 2.75 heat
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One Perfect Christmas by Stephanie Sloane
This was a historical story with a pissed off Donkey. I just couldn’t get into it, and didn’t finish.
All Around Rating: 3.5 stars.
The book is only $1.99. The first story was well worth that for me. The other’s not so much. The cover really didn’t reflect the book well at all, certainly not the historical part!
Purchase Naughty & Nice at Amazon || BN.com || iBooks
Other Christmas book reviews:
- A Kiss for Christmas by CC Wood
- Holiday Bound by Beth Kery
- A Very Naughty Xmas
- Hunk for the Holidays
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