Today's Special - - Harlequin Holiday Roundup

 

I love Christmas romances and some of my favorite HQN authors have new stories available just in time for this year's holiday reading. Here are a few of my recent reads.

A Princess by Christmas: A Holiday Romance

by Julia London

A Royal Wedding - Book 3

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: October 13, 2020

She’s discovered his secret.
Now the trouble really begins…

After three years of mourning—and turning her dear deceased husband’s gazette into the ton’s sauciest source of fashion and gossip—Hollis Honeycutt feels her life has been strangely bereft of late… Her sister is living abroad, and her best friend moved to the country. What must a young widow of rank and reputation do? Why, transform her society gossip sheets into serious investigative news, starting with a rumored coup…and the rather dashing, mysterious gentleman whom Hollis suspects might be the villain of her first real story, and she is the only one who can write it.

Marek Brendan is investigating terrible rumors of treachery and treason that threaten his home country of Wesloria, but he must proceed with caution. No one can discover the truth. After all, who would ever believe he is Wesloria’s lost crown prince? Only Hollis Honeycutt’s cerulean-blue eyes seem to know more than she’s letting on—and worse, Marek can’t seem to resist her curious charms. But even as betrayal threatens a nation and a throne, nothing is quite so dangerous as the lovely young widow who’s determined to find the truth…and a prince of her own.

PJ's Thoughts:

What a perfect story to lose myself in this holiday season. Julia London's A Princess by Christmas is chock full of charm, mystery, shenanigans, and heart-tugging romance. Marek and Hollis are both complex, engaging characters who captured my heart. I so enjoyed watching the evolution of their relationship as well as the growth of each of them individually. And I appreciated the happily-ever-after London gave them - not the one I expected but the one that was right for them. Tears of joy were shed. 

But Marek and Hollis aren't the only ones who shine in this novel. London has surrounded them with a cast of supporting characters who enrich the story and help bring it to life; endearing characters who are as well-developed as the leads. In particular, my heart was snared by Donovan, Hollis's manservant, confidant, and dear friend. I adored him. If London ever writes a story for him I'll be first in line to buy it. 

This is the third book in London's A Royal Wedding series. While characters from the first two books make appearances, it can easily be enjoyed as a standalone. 

The Last Christmas Cowboy

by Maisey Yates

A Gold Valley Novel - Book 11

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: October 13, 2020

Cowgirl Rose Daniels is determined to play matchmaker to ensure her beloved sister will meet someone under the mistletoe. She enlists the reluctant help of family friend Logan Heath, but his insistence that she doesn’t understand chemistry is exasperating. Until they share one electrifying moment that shows her exactly what chemistry is all about, and it becomes outrageously, irresistibly intriguing…

Logan hates the holidays. They are a painful reminder of the family he lost and a time of year he always wants to spend on his own. But Rose refuses to let him. Logan’s worked for years to keep his attraction to her under wraps—she’s his best friend’s youngest sister and she couldn’t be more off-limits. He’s the last cowboy that innocent Rose should ever kiss, but this Christmas, maybe Logan will become the only cowboy she’ll ever want.

PJ's Thoughts:

The Daniels children lost their parents in a plane crash when Rose was a small child, a crash that also took the life of Logan's mother. The effects of the aftermath of that tragedy have affected each of them in deep and not always visible ways. Now that Rose and Logan are adults, and their feelings for one another are beginning to change, each of them will have to deal with long-buried emotions in order to have the courage to reach for the love they deserve. 

I can always count on Maisey Yates to deliver an emotional roller coaster and this book is no exception. She takes both Rose and Logan through a significant evolution before we reach the end. The journey isn't always easy but the end is always satisfying. I enjoyed watching Rose's siblings continue to move forward with their relationships and am really looking forward to the next book in the series. Fans of the series will enjoy catching up with other characters while those new to Gold Valley should be able to enjoy this story on it's own merits. 

Happily This Christmas

by Susan Mallery

Happily Inc - Book 6

Publisher: HQN

Release Date: September 29, 2020

Wynn Beauchene has a thriving business, a great kid and a mildly embarrassing crush on the guy next door—local cop Garrick McCabe. She’s a strong, independent woman who can’t help dreaming what-if about a man she barely knows. Until he needs her help…

Garrick’s pregnant daughter will be home for Christmas, and his house needs a woman’s touch. Garrick and his little girl were tight once and he’s hoping a small-town Christmas will bring her back to him. But thawing his daughter’s frosty attitude will take more than a few twinkle lights. Maybe sharing the holiday with Wynn and her son will remind her of the joy of family.

As the season works its magic on these wounded souls, Wynn realizes it’s time to stop punishing herself for a painful secret, while Garrick remains haunted by the ghosts of past mistakes. Will he allow Wynn to open the only gift she truly wants—his heart?

PJ's Thoughts:

What a lovely story to put readers in the holiday spirit. Susan Mallery's characters are so realistic and relatable. I could easily imagine being friends and neighbors with both Wynn and Garrick, along with the rest of the town. Wynn and Garrick had great chemistry and developed a sweet friendship, followed by a slow slide into more. I had to laugh at the obstacles to the "more" that kept appearing to sidetrack their plans. Welcome to romance with kids. 

I love how Mallery delves into the everyday challenges within families, guiding characters through issues many of us encounter. I  enjoyed Wynn's relationship with her teenage son. She's a good mom, a good person, but still punishing herself over something that happened fifteen years earlier. Her son's such a great character, even when he messes up. Maybe especially when he messes up as it gives them both the opportunity for growth and forgiveness. Then there's Garrick and his estranged daughter. My heart ached for him. He's such a good man and trying so very hard to be a good father. His daughter wasn't a very likable character at the start but her growth over the course of the book was significant. Their path to understanding was rocky but also poignant, heartwarming, humorous (birthing class), healing, and real. 

The Christmas event that brings them all together was an added, feel-good bonus that had me crying tears of joy. 

Happily This Christmas can be enjoyed as a standalone but a word of warning: by the time you finish, you may have fallen in love with the town and her citizens so much that you immediately buy the first five books in the series. Like I did. 

So those are some of the books I've been reading. What are the holiday romances that are warming your heart?