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readlovereviewblog's review against another edition
4.0
This holiday romance was very cliche and had all the holiday things. However, the characters should have hooked me to the story, and they didn't. I was more interested in his secretary and her disabled child than the main characters. I enjoyed the read, but it felt like reading thru a sappy holiday movie that you were more rolling your eyes at than enjoying. The author did a fantastic job with the cover of this book; it made me want to read this story. I was expecting more humor and banter; I didn't get that in this book; there was some, but it faded off quickly. But it was a sweet opposite attract, enemies to lovers, midlife, holiday, second chance romance.
Elias has his sight set on a job promotion but to do that; he needs to secure land for a new data center for his company. He is associated with the target landowner and thinks he can get this deal done. He is grumpy, cold-hearted, and a workaholic.
Isabelle is a small-town farm girl living on her family's farm and helping them with the Christmas tree farm and holiday village. She is committed to keeping this sinking ship afloat, but I admire her pride. She is stubborn, dedicated, and determined. Intriguingly, she has a history with Elias.
Wow, their banter is like a knife fight. The memories seem to haunt him, but his grinch heart is getting cracks as he is exposed to the meaning of Christmas. I love that we get the history from his pov. This book gets steamy. Elias's change of heart, or at least the thawing of his heart, might be a Christmas miracle.
Elias gets a wake-up call about his past and looks at his future. Will this change his decisions or help him sort his feelings? The epilogue and ending of this book are fantastic. I think they were my favorite part of the book.
Elias has his sight set on a job promotion but to do that; he needs to secure land for a new data center for his company. He is associated with the target landowner and thinks he can get this deal done. He is grumpy, cold-hearted, and a workaholic.
Isabelle is a small-town farm girl living on her family's farm and helping them with the Christmas tree farm and holiday village. She is committed to keeping this sinking ship afloat, but I admire her pride. She is stubborn, dedicated, and determined. Intriguingly, she has a history with Elias.
Wow, their banter is like a knife fight. The memories seem to haunt him, but his grinch heart is getting cracks as he is exposed to the meaning of Christmas. I love that we get the history from his pov. This book gets steamy. Elias's change of heart, or at least the thawing of his heart, might be a Christmas miracle.
Elias gets a wake-up call about his past and looks at his future. Will this change his decisions or help him sort his feelings? The epilogue and ending of this book are fantastic. I think they were my favorite part of the book.
exquisite_tragedy's review against another edition
3.0
Tropes/Themes:
-MF contemporary romance
-Christmas romance
-Grump x Sunshine
-Second chance
-Small town
-Dual POV
-Standalone
If you’re looking for a sugary sweet Hallmark romance, I’d recommend picking this one up. Cozy Christmas vibes, lots of hot chocolate, and a grinch hero whose heart grows 3 sizes by the end of the book.
CWs for miscarriage
Story: 3/5
Audiobook: 5/5 (narrated by Stephen Dexter and Samantha Brentmoor)
Length 9h10min
-MF contemporary romance
-Christmas romance
-Grump x Sunshine
-Second chance
-Small town
-Dual POV
-Standalone
If you’re looking for a sugary sweet Hallmark romance, I’d recommend picking this one up. Cozy Christmas vibes, lots of hot chocolate, and a grinch hero whose heart grows 3 sizes by the end of the book.
CWs for miscarriage
Story: 3/5
Audiobook: 5/5 (narrated by Stephen Dexter and Samantha Brentmoor)
Length 9h10min
brittanica_bold's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of my favorite times of the year, because fantastic authors like Claire Kingsley deliver lovey-dovey holiday stories that us devoted readers can gobble up!
This year, Claire allowed us to travel back into Tilikum (home of the Bailey brothers and the Haven heathens) with How the Grump Saved Christmas. Once I saw that red, snow-covered truck with the Bailey Brothers logo I was a goner! I knew I had to get my hands on this small-town romance.
What I liked about the book:
1. Let’s start with the obvious, this setting is to die for! I love Tilikum and I love holidays with snow, so this was a slam dunk for me!
2. I love Grinchy holiday romances! I love watching the person that hates Christmas end up having the best Christmas of all and spreading all kinds of holiday cheer as they save the day. Elias’s transition was so fun to watch, from his care for his assistant’s daughter with cerebral palsy down to his little lumberjack outfits!
3. I liked the MCs enough. I loved that this was a second chance romance and this couple definitely had hard history together.
Isabelle is hardheaded and throws herself into work, to the detriment of the rest of her life. I liked her determination and I liked her rationale for doing this once we found out what it was, but I also thought she was too hardheaded at times when it came to Elias. One moment she was too hard on him and the next she was falling into old habits. I get it, she was conflicted, but it was a little annoying the way it played out at times.
Elias was fun to watch transition from grump with nothing to jolly guy with it all. He was definitely sarcastic and an ass at times, but he had a great heart when he it let it shine. He was good, but he doesn’t have anything on those Baileys!
4. I really liked Elias’s assistant Alice and her daughter Maddie. For me, they really made this story glow. I loved how Alice was one of the only ones Elias would let in, how she gave him shit, but still did a killer job not only in the office but as a single mom to Maddie. Honestly, I wanted so bad to see her end up with a Haven. But that other guy is cool I guess…
Maddie was probably one of my favorite Claire Kingsley characters to date. A little girl full of joy with cerebral palsy that she didn’t let get her down and the brain of a thirty-year-old; it doesn’t get much better than that!
5. The thing I loved the most about this story was how Claire overlapped the timeline with her last book in the Bailey Brothers series Rewriting the Stars. So many of the conversations, events, and moments from Rewriting the Stars were given a new viewpoint and twist in this story, and I loved watching them match up!
What could have been better:
1. This was not spicy at all! Claire doesn’t usually go crazy with graphic sexual situations, but I was expecting something at least! The “spicy” scenes left a lot to be desired, especially for a second chance romance.
Final Thoughts: It’s fun, it’s festive, and it has a lot of heart, just like all other books by Claire.
Final Rating: 4 grumpy stars!
This year, Claire allowed us to travel back into Tilikum (home of the Bailey brothers and the Haven heathens) with How the Grump Saved Christmas. Once I saw that red, snow-covered truck with the Bailey Brothers logo I was a goner! I knew I had to get my hands on this small-town romance.
What I liked about the book:
1. Let’s start with the obvious, this setting is to die for! I love Tilikum and I love holidays with snow, so this was a slam dunk for me!
2. I love Grinchy holiday romances! I love watching the person that hates Christmas end up having the best Christmas of all and spreading all kinds of holiday cheer as they save the day. Elias’s transition was so fun to watch, from his care for his assistant’s daughter with cerebral palsy down to his little lumberjack outfits!
3. I liked the MCs enough. I loved that this was a second chance romance and this couple definitely had hard history together.
Isabelle is hardheaded and throws herself into work, to the detriment of the rest of her life. I liked her determination and I liked her rationale for doing this once we found out what it was, but I also thought she was too hardheaded at times when it came to Elias. One moment she was too hard on him and the next she was falling into old habits. I get it, she was conflicted, but it was a little annoying the way it played out at times.
Elias was fun to watch transition from grump with nothing to jolly guy with it all. He was definitely sarcastic and an ass at times, but he had a great heart when he it let it shine. He was good, but he doesn’t have anything on those Baileys!
4. I really liked Elias’s assistant Alice and her daughter Maddie. For me, they really made this story glow. I loved how Alice was one of the only ones Elias would let in, how she gave him shit, but still did a killer job not only in the office but as a single mom to Maddie. Honestly, I wanted so bad to see her end up with a Haven. But that other guy is cool I guess…
Maddie was probably one of my favorite Claire Kingsley characters to date. A little girl full of joy with cerebral palsy that she didn’t let get her down and the brain of a thirty-year-old; it doesn’t get much better than that!
5. The thing I loved the most about this story was how Claire overlapped the timeline with her last book in the Bailey Brothers series Rewriting the Stars. So many of the conversations, events, and moments from Rewriting the Stars were given a new viewpoint and twist in this story, and I loved watching them match up!
What could have been better:
1. This was not spicy at all! Claire doesn’t usually go crazy with graphic sexual situations, but I was expecting something at least! The “spicy” scenes left a lot to be desired, especially for a second chance romance.
Final Thoughts: It’s fun, it’s festive, and it has a lot of heart, just like all other books by Claire.
Final Rating: 4 grumpy stars!
cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
2.0
It had sold premise but it didn't do anything for me, the cutest book was by the end.
laurentalevski's review against another edition
3.0
This was very cute, I had a great time but I just wasn't full invested in the relationship and felt like that maybe it went on for too long.
reviewingwithv's review against another edition
2.0
This book started off so strong and I was so invested, even though the title already spoils it for you. But once I got to the middle, it all went downhill.
*massssssssive spoilers ahead*
*please don’t read ahead if you intend to read this book*
*if you have read this book, welcome to me venting*
Okay, so I really enjoyed learning about Isabelle and Elias’ history. It was so emotional, especially to those who have been through similar situations. But this book was the cherry on top for my worst nightmare.
Miss. Communication was in the building and she didn’t disappoint. I will never understand how book couples just don’t talk to each other. You both just suffered an incredible loss, whether you were ready to be parents or not. But just up and leaving is the best solution? Okay.
Also, am I the only one that didn’t care about Isabelle’s friends and the fact that one of them is dating a “rival family”?! Who cares. NEXT.
Oh, someone’s son went missing for 3 seconds out of nowhere? NEXT.
OH, and Isabelle’s mom & Elias’ boss used to have a relationship decades ago & he’s still salty that she chose to marry another man? NEXT.
I’m really bummed that this book didn’t do it for me. I’m really bummed I wasted my time on it too.
*massssssssive spoilers ahead*
*please don’t read ahead if you intend to read this book*
*if you have read this book, welcome to me venting*
Okay, so I really enjoyed learning about Isabelle and Elias’ history. It was so emotional, especially to those who have been through similar situations. But this book was the cherry on top for my worst nightmare.
Miss. Communication was in the building and she didn’t disappoint. I will never understand how book couples just don’t talk to each other. You both just suffered an incredible loss, whether you were ready to be parents or not. But just up and leaving is the best solution? Okay.
Also, am I the only one that didn’t care about Isabelle’s friends and the fact that one of them is dating a “rival family”?! Who cares. NEXT.
Oh, someone’s son went missing for 3 seconds out of nowhere? NEXT.
OH, and Isabelle’s mom & Elias’ boss used to have a relationship decades ago & he’s still salty that she chose to marry another man? NEXT.
I’m really bummed that this book didn’t do it for me. I’m really bummed I wasted my time on it too.
meegzreads's review
5.0
*5 Stars*
I love the world that Claire Kingsley has created around Tilikum and its residents. Whilst this one isn't a Bailey Brothers book, it's about two characters we have met in the Bailey Brothers series and it takes no time at all to fall into their world and this small town.
Elias is such a grinch, a guy who seemingly fits his surname of Stoneheart but I loved learning more about him and his past with Isabelle and who he truly is underneath it all. Isabelle is a strong character and I really liked her, her family and her friends. And lets not forget Alice and Maddie, such great characters too!
I enjoyed this one, looked forward to picking it back up each time I had to put it down and I loved it all played out in the end. It's been a while since I've read a book set in this world and it's made me want to just go and grab any of the ones I haven't read yet (the Haven Brothers series).
Highly recommend, and now I must go in search of more Claire Kingsley books hehe.
I love the world that Claire Kingsley has created around Tilikum and its residents. Whilst this one isn't a Bailey Brothers book, it's about two characters we have met in the Bailey Brothers series and it takes no time at all to fall into their world and this small town.
Elias is such a grinch, a guy who seemingly fits his surname of Stoneheart but I loved learning more about him and his past with Isabelle and who he truly is underneath it all. Isabelle is a strong character and I really liked her, her family and her friends. And lets not forget Alice and Maddie, such great characters too!
I enjoyed this one, looked forward to picking it back up each time I had to put it down and I loved it all played out in the end. It's been a while since I've read a book set in this world and it's made me want to just go and grab any of the ones I haven't read yet (the Haven Brothers series).
Highly recommend, and now I must go in search of more Claire Kingsley books hehe.
vivianabana's review against another edition
4.0
It was a cute book about Christmas I really enjoyed it. I’m especially glad that the main characters were able to talk about the past and understand why it happened.