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3.19 AVERAGE
3.19 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“I’d come to appreciate the sounds of silence. I’d grown accustomed to the stillness of Ponder, where one could hear the snow being blown off the tree limbs by the wind, the distant cry of a caribou, and the crackle of the Northern Lights.”
My first Debbie Macomber book! I saw the word holiday and was excited for a Christmas read... this was more like a winter read and skipped over the holiday, BUT it captured Alaska so well that I think it was still a good read despite the title.
Anyone who spends an extended period of time in Alaska can appreciate how well written the description of life there felt, Debbie Macomber did an incredible job of helping the reader fall for Alaska at the same time as Josie, our FMC, was.
Just as Josie Avery is finishing her last day cooking in a lodge in Ponder, Alaska before taking a prestigious job for a chef in Seattle, Palmer Saxon is trying to find a way to get her to stay in Alaska and marry him. Josie is blindsided by the proposal, and accidentally missing the last ferry out for the season, stranding her on her "Alaskan Holiday" where she comes to appreciate the town and its lovable inhabitants even more than she did during her summer job.
When she finally is able to leave and get to her job in Seattle, everything is not as she dreamed. Palmer tries to keep their relationship alive, while Josie deals with a diva of a chef.
The staff stood stiff and uncertain as I calmly talked down Chef Anton. From previous experience, they knew I was the only one capable of reasoning with him. He seemed unable to handle even the smallest kitchen crisis. How he’d reached the position of executive chef and to acquire his own string of restaurants was a mystery to me, especially given his temper and his inability to manage emergencies. (67%)
Josie's handling of the unhealthy job in Seattle and her finding a place for her passion of cooking was so well done, a true girl finds her place doing what she loves moment, and I LOVED that.
“Pride is important to a man, but it isn’t everything. When it comes to the right woman, a man needs to be willing to swallow his ego every now and then.”
The romance was awkward but endearing, and it was cute to watch Palmer Saxon, our MMC, grow as a romantic partner throughout the book. I loved how their relationship evolved and how healthy boundaries were drawn for them both.
“Is it true what they say about men from Alaska?” Lizzy asked, blatantly flirtatious. “I wouldn’t know,” Palmer said, practically ignoring her. I could have kissed him right smack on the lips. Just the way he looked at me told Lizzy he had no interest in her. (70%)
I was rather indifferent to Palmer as a partner throughout the book, but when he only had eyes for Josie, I really started to appreciate him. I was constantly worried how far his anger towards Josie's boss would be taken due to how much it was brought up, but I actually found the resolution in that to be very healthy and thoughtful.
The biggest ick for me in this book was Jack Corcoran, I felt like he was helpful and caring, but he felt more like comedic relief that wasn't entirely needed and detracted from the story a little bit.
Overall, cute book with a great description of Alaska and a cute, clean romance. I would read this book again if I was looking for something lighthearted and sweet.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't like it, the characters were caricatures and they were not even funny.
Non mi é proprio piaciuto, i personaggi sembravano delle caricature e non erano nemmeno divertenti.
Non mi é proprio piaciuto, i personaggi sembravano delle caricature e non erano nemmeno divertenti.
My Christmas reading has begun. Although this story did not have a large focus on Christmas it was fun and a light read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It won’t win any literary awards, but this is exactly what it says on the tin, and exactly what I felt I needed - a nice, light-hearted (slightly cheesy) romance.
4 quaint and cozy stars to Alaskan Holiday! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Sometimes you just need an easy, cozy story and an inviting setting is a bonus!
My husband and I honeymooned in Alaska. If you’ve been there, too, you know why I’m drawn to anything that brings back a memory of it. Macomber’s Alaskan Holiday takes place in a remote and rustic lodge on a lake.
Josie Avery is a sous chef, and she’s been hired to work at a fancy Seattle restaurant, but just before she starts, she decides to spend a summer cooking at a lodge in Alaska. There she makes friends with two men, Jack Corcoran and Palmer Saxon.
She and Palmer grow especially close, but Josie keeps in the back of her mind she’ll be leaving soon. Palmer has other plans and wants to marry her.
Josie is not able to return to Seattle because of poor timing for the last boat out before winter, and she may lose her dream job.
The holidays are extra magical in this small Alaskan town and a sweet story evolves for Josie and Palmer.
Easy, breezy writing, a cozy and warm setting, the magical time of Christmas, and a couple looking to find love; Alaskan Holiday is a charming story from one of the most reliable authors out there, and this was just the type of palate cleanser I needed before I jump back in to some heavier reads.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Sometimes you just need an easy, cozy story and an inviting setting is a bonus!
My husband and I honeymooned in Alaska. If you’ve been there, too, you know why I’m drawn to anything that brings back a memory of it. Macomber’s Alaskan Holiday takes place in a remote and rustic lodge on a lake.
Josie Avery is a sous chef, and she’s been hired to work at a fancy Seattle restaurant, but just before she starts, she decides to spend a summer cooking at a lodge in Alaska. There she makes friends with two men, Jack Corcoran and Palmer Saxon.
She and Palmer grow especially close, but Josie keeps in the back of her mind she’ll be leaving soon. Palmer has other plans and wants to marry her.
Josie is not able to return to Seattle because of poor timing for the last boat out before winter, and she may lose her dream job.
The holidays are extra magical in this small Alaskan town and a sweet story evolves for Josie and Palmer.
Easy, breezy writing, a cozy and warm setting, the magical time of Christmas, and a couple looking to find love; Alaskan Holiday is a charming story from one of the most reliable authors out there, and this was just the type of palate cleanser I needed before I jump back in to some heavier reads.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
This was on okay book, nothing special and not particularly emotional either.