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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Ryan Eames is a single mother and police officer in Miramar Bay, California, dealing with an out of season coastal fire. One night, she wakes Ethan Lange, and he manages to escape his house just before the wildfires claim it. When Ethan is deputized to help out with the wildfires, he and Ryan grow close, especially as Ethan draws her son out of his shell.
Graham Winton did a marvelous job narrating the audiobook. Despite the title, I do not think this was really a Christmas book, just a story that happened to take place in December. I liked learning about the hummingbirds, though. I could see this book being turned into a Hallmark movie. The story was sweet, but I never quite connected with the characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
Graham Winton did a marvelous job narrating the audiobook. Despite the title, I do not think this was really a Christmas book, just a story that happened to take place in December. I liked learning about the hummingbirds, though. I could see this book being turned into a Hallmark movie. The story was sweet, but I never quite connected with the characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.
This heart-stirring novel set in Miramar Bay, an idyllic seaside town in California, highlights one of nature’s smallest birds, the hummingbird.
This is my second novel by this author, and I was impressed with his ability to appeal to my emotions while delivering a suspenseful and heartwarming story. While wildfires and the heroes who fight them were a part of this story, Bunn was able to highlight 3 things in his book that parallel lessons I’ve learned from hummingbirds.
Firstly, Bunn drives home the warning to not let perceived limitations hold you back. The hummingbird is so small, yet it can fly backwards, forwards, sideways and upside down. Ryan Eames has a lot on her plate with her career as a police officer and single handedly raising a son who needs extra care and attention. She learns to capitalize on her strengths rather than her limitations. In doing so, she finds love.
Secondly, Bunn shows us the inner strength of his characters as they learn to stand their ground. The hummingbird doesn’t know it’s small so when its territory is invaded it is aggressive. Ryan takes note of this inspiration, and her courageous heart helps her stand up for what she needs for her family and her community. You’ll read about the courage and unconditional acceptance she finds when she surrounds herself with those who understand her. You’ll be rooting for her to find happiness and love. Besides the destruction, Bunn highlights an accompanying negative side of wildfires and evacuations - opportunistic thieves. Like the hummingbird, the police force brought in to protect the vacation homes, stands their ground and serves the community.
Thirdly, Bunn reminds us that staying flexible and ‘going with the flow’ are essential to survival. A hummingbird chooses a variety of food sources and can change their course in an instant. Ethan Lange and his friend Noah are intuitive and are able to adapt to unexpected roadblocks in their journey. You’ll read about how Ethan faces devastation a few weeks before Christmas and admire his flexibility and attitude.
My heart was captured with the sections featuring Liam and Trevor. Sometimes the smallest things take up the biggest room in your heart.
With everyone pulling together, it becomes a wonderful Christmas.
I was gifted this advance copy by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This is my second novel by this author, and I was impressed with his ability to appeal to my emotions while delivering a suspenseful and heartwarming story. While wildfires and the heroes who fight them were a part of this story, Bunn was able to highlight 3 things in his book that parallel lessons I’ve learned from hummingbirds.
Firstly, Bunn drives home the warning to not let perceived limitations hold you back. The hummingbird is so small, yet it can fly backwards, forwards, sideways and upside down. Ryan Eames has a lot on her plate with her career as a police officer and single handedly raising a son who needs extra care and attention. She learns to capitalize on her strengths rather than her limitations. In doing so, she finds love.
Secondly, Bunn shows us the inner strength of his characters as they learn to stand their ground. The hummingbird doesn’t know it’s small so when its territory is invaded it is aggressive. Ryan takes note of this inspiration, and her courageous heart helps her stand up for what she needs for her family and her community. You’ll read about the courage and unconditional acceptance she finds when she surrounds herself with those who understand her. You’ll be rooting for her to find happiness and love. Besides the destruction, Bunn highlights an accompanying negative side of wildfires and evacuations - opportunistic thieves. Like the hummingbird, the police force brought in to protect the vacation homes, stands their ground and serves the community.
Thirdly, Bunn reminds us that staying flexible and ‘going with the flow’ are essential to survival. A hummingbird chooses a variety of food sources and can change their course in an instant. Ethan Lange and his friend Noah are intuitive and are able to adapt to unexpected roadblocks in their journey. You’ll read about how Ethan faces devastation a few weeks before Christmas and admire his flexibility and attitude.
My heart was captured with the sections featuring Liam and Trevor. Sometimes the smallest things take up the biggest room in your heart.
With everyone pulling together, it becomes a wonderful Christmas.
I was gifted this advance copy by Kensington Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well, what did I just read? And why did I read it?
I wanted to dip my toe into the realm of cozy Christmas book. Since they are so popular I wanted to see what the draw was. I chose the wrong book. Not that it wasn’t cozy, it just bit off more than it could chew.
To begin with, it is not a straightforward plot (plots?). Yes, a man meets a woman and romance blooms but there is also a plan to save hummingbirds, the making of a Hollywood book adaptation, a man coaxing a reticent boy out of his shell, wildfires, saving homes from burglaries…did I miss something? Oh yeah, a rescued hummingbird that needs to be fed multiple times a day while all these other plotlines rage on. (Rage, rage against the dying of my interest) This book is only 264 little pages and measures approximately 5”x8”. (Just a little guy) Not a lot of room to make it work.
The dialogue is bland and sappy. (I really hate bashing a book, especially such a little one) Some of the description was also a little confusing and awkwardly worded:
“All of her features, every inch of her frame, were honed down to their very essence.” (Huh?)
Christmas was barely there and seemed like a sales tactic. “Hey, I’ve got some ideas for books: hummingbirds, California fires, a burglary mystery—" “Yeah, yeah, sounds good, jam them all together and we’ll make it will take place during Christmas. We can smack a pretty hummingbird on the cover. Gold.”
I wanted to dip my toe into the realm of cozy Christmas book. Since they are so popular I wanted to see what the draw was. I chose the wrong book. Not that it wasn’t cozy, it just bit off more than it could chew.
To begin with, it is not a straightforward plot (plots?). Yes, a man meets a woman and romance blooms but there is also a plan to save hummingbirds, the making of a Hollywood book adaptation, a man coaxing a reticent boy out of his shell, wildfires, saving homes from burglaries…did I miss something? Oh yeah, a rescued hummingbird that needs to be fed multiple times a day while all these other plotlines rage on. (Rage, rage against the dying of my interest) This book is only 264 little pages and measures approximately 5”x8”. (Just a little guy) Not a lot of room to make it work.
The dialogue is bland and sappy. (I really hate bashing a book, especially such a little one) Some of the description was also a little confusing and awkwardly worded:
“All of her features, every inch of her frame, were honed down to their very essence.” (Huh?)
Christmas was barely there and seemed like a sales tactic. “Hey, I’ve got some ideas for books: hummingbirds, California fires, a burglary mystery—" “Yeah, yeah, sounds good, jam them all together and we’ll make it will take place during Christmas. We can smack a pretty hummingbird on the cover. Gold.”
This book was slow and I hate to say it, boring. I was expecting a feel good Hallmark(ish) book with a Christmas setting. That's not what it is. I feel hoodwinked!
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Ethan Lange is forced to start over when a wildfire in Miramar Bay took everything just days before Christmas. Ryan Eames is a policewoman, divorcee, and mom to a gifted eleven-year-old artist, Liam. Liam hardly speaks but he warms up to Ethan over hummingbirds and art. Meanwhile, Ryan seeks assistance from Ethan over burglaries after the fire.
"The Christmas Hummingbird" is a story about healing and second chance. A heartwarming story with likable characters. I was expecting a bit more festive vibe and strong emotions but didn't quite get that. The hummingbird was the best part for me.
Graham Winton did a fine job with the narration.
Thank you RB Media, Recorded Books, and Netgalley for this DLC.
"The Christmas Hummingbird" is a story about healing and second chance. A heartwarming story with likable characters. I was expecting a bit more festive vibe and strong emotions but didn't quite get that. The hummingbird was the best part for me.
Graham Winton did a fine job with the narration.
Thank you RB Media, Recorded Books, and Netgalley for this DLC.