Series: N/A
Traits & Tropes: enemies to lovers; coworkers; grumpy hero; fake engagement
Publication Date: 11.08.22
Genre/Setting: Contemporary; Dublin, Ireland/North Pole
Heat Level: 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Upon her dad’s retirement from the family toy company, Lyla Smurfit expects to receive his shares. Instead, she learns of the company’s financial woes and that her father’s shares now belong to ruthless investment banker Mason Klaus, leaving Lyla with no choice but to run the company with him despite her immediate dislike of the callous businessman.
When Mason goes so far as to cancel the company’s annual Christmas party, Lyla throws one anyway, only to have it result in a fire that damages both the building and Lyla’s credibility. With the offices in need of repair anyway, Mason offers Lyla a deal: he’ll forget about her role in this debacle if she comes with him to spend their twelve days of holidays with his family.
When she winds up in the winter wonderland of her dreams, Lyla is keen to discover what other secrets close-lipped Mason has been hiding, and possibly get her control of her company back. But when Mason introduces Lyla to his secret village as his fiancé, she’s horrified to realize that she must go along with it because the consequences of bringing an outsider into their midst are more than she’s prepared to face.
This having been a year of significant loss for my family, I’ve been trying to get myself into the festive spirit by reading winter- and Christmas-set books. When I read the premise of this one, I couldn’t help but grab it and, though I will say I wasn’t prepared to deal with the hero’s grief and how much it reminded me of my own, that aspect was also somehow helpful too. Mason was definitely a grouch, but he turned out to have been hiding a heart of gold the entire time. I really enjoyed seeing little bits of the real him inch out from behind his gruff façade, I only wish we’d gotten more of that sooner. I really wanted to see him absolutely pour his heart out to Lyla and I don’t think that was ever realized as much as I wanted it to be. I also wanted her to have this big epiphany of realizing how truly great of a guy he was, which she did do, but she didn’t really talk much to him about it, and she still doubted him a lot. I still felt like he and Lyla fit, and I definitely felt the chemistry between them, but they kept getting interrupted every time things would start to get good, so I was left at times feeling like there was a lot of build up and not enough resolution. The grand gesture was also not quite all I’d hoped, though I appreciated that the angst was not drawn out, I just wanted maybe one more deep, real conversation between Lyla and Mason that didn’t center on doubts and fears so much.
At times, it was difficult to keep track of the days in this story because it seemed everyone would get up for breakfast and then a few pages later be going to bed again so that threw me off just a bit. I also have to say I was not a fan of the other woman cattiness and I really wanted to see her get a comeuppance that never really came. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this story and its festive setting, and it did help me get into the Christmas spirit. This is a new to me author that I will read again.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/2781563146
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5120613565
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