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honeybeegirl's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ash_reads_romance's review against another edition
5.0
This was the perfect holiday read! I was hooked from the hilarious meetcute right through all the charming banter and sizzling chemistry between hockey-has been Court and his "sunny faced latte man" Ivan who also happens to be the town goth. Honestly I couldn't put this one down! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
thatswhatdeeread's review against another edition
5.0
Court and Ivan's romance is one that shows the power of shifting your perspective. Court finally has an opportunity with his crush and it makes for a magical holiday romance.
theimportanceofbooks's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This one for me just fell completely flat. The first 70 - 80% was a bit of a snoozefest and I didn’t feel the chemistry at all. I didn’t understand why these two specifically had to fall in love. It felt like, for Court at least, he got with Ivan, because he was there and available. There was nothing really about Ivan that made me think, ‘yeah, he should definitely give it all up for this guy and be with him, he’s his soulmate.’
Court was just a generic, bland, vanilla character who could have been literally anyone. I find it hard to recall his name when I put the book down.
And Ivan, well, I liked him at first, and I definitely liked him when he was a side-character in the other books, but that’s what he felt like for me, a side-character. A side-character with a load of quirks. Like having a black Christmas tree up year round and being a goth in school and loving Christmas and making ugly latte art. These traits are good side-character traits, but not MC material.
I also think he was a bit of a dick sometimes. He engaged in town gossip, but actually found it boring, he was fine about his pregnant friend selling her share of the buisness, but not really. He was spending time with Court for weeks and never once asked him how his training at the rink was going until someone brought it up and he thought, well shit maybe I should ask. Then the way he took an interest was by watching hockey and putting on some weird hockey fan stereotype act?
From the 80% mark, I got really annoyed with the story, the characters, the whole lot. I didn’t want them to get together. I didn’t believe that these two people could only fall for each other and no one else in the whole wide world. I didn’t believe they were soulmates. I needed to know, what is it about this person in particular that compliments your life so perfectly? What do they offer you that no one else can? What is it about their personality that is so unique?
If it’s just because you have great sex, well then, shit, you can have that with a lot of people if you look hard enough (especially if your as hot as these two people apparently are).
I think the glossing over important scenes and telling rather than showing contributes to a lot of this. The tension is lost when we skip forward too much and being told that their relationship is ‘this’ and that this person is ‘that’ rather than us seeing that for ourselves makes it feel a bit inauthentic and unrealistic.
romanticread's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this story and read it in less than a day. It’s perfect as a holiday read, full of winter cheer & fun with minimal drama.
Ivan is a delight, with his mix of brashness, charm, and awkwardness. He’s a proud romantic and embraces everything about the holidays. Court on the other hand doesn’t really want anything to do with the season, especially now that he’s at loose ends. But a few run-ins with Ivan soon has him embracing what Elmwood has to offer. Especially the sexy barista.
Court already accepts his bisexuality, which helps keep the angst to a minimum. I don’t mind a bi-awakening, they can be interesting and full of emotion (like Next Season). But here our main characters get to move straight into getting to know each other again … and getting to KNOW each other. It’s steamy but also playful and sweet. The first book, You Again, might not have been quite my thing, but everything else by Hayes has been a delight and Holiday Crush is no different. I’m so ready for what she delivers next.
(Although this is book three in the series, I feel like it can be read as a stand alone. There are returning characters, and Ivan & JC’s amusingly unusual friendship was a highlight in book two, there’s not anything that would have directly impacted this story.)
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Ivan is a delight, with his mix of brashness, charm, and awkwardness. He’s a proud romantic and embraces everything about the holidays. Court on the other hand doesn’t really want anything to do with the season, especially now that he’s at loose ends. But a few run-ins with Ivan soon has him embracing what Elmwood has to offer. Especially the sexy barista.
Court already accepts his bisexuality, which helps keep the angst to a minimum. I don’t mind a bi-awakening, they can be interesting and full of emotion (like Next Season). But here our main characters get to move straight into getting to know each other again … and getting to KNOW each other. It’s steamy but also playful and sweet. The first book, You Again, might not have been quite my thing, but everything else by Hayes has been a delight and Holiday Crush is no different. I’m so ready for what she delivers next.
(Although this is book three in the series, I feel like it can be read as a stand alone. There are returning characters, and Ivan & JC’s amusingly unusual friendship was a highlight in book two, there’s not anything that would have directly impacted this story.)
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
tdekorte's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
swissmiss329's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
sharshell's review against another edition
4.0
HOLIDAY CRUSH is the third book in the Elmwood Stories series. It can be read as a standalone without issue (I have not yet read the first two and had no issue with this read).
Court Henderson just lost his job and fired his agent, with no one beating down his door to add them to another team his only thing to do is go home and figure out his next steps. Working with a few former hockey players at the local rink seems like his best idea. It'll keep him on the ice and working on his skills what he doesn't expect is working with small kids being fun for him. Running into Ivan who owns the coffee shop next to his family's bakery. He finds himself enjoying the time he spends with Ivan and wants more from him.
Ivan has had a crush on Court for as long as he could remember. Having him back in town and finding out he's bi-sexual is more than Ivan ever expected. Spending time with Court is everything he's ever wanted but he knows his time is short lived because Court will get signed to another team.
I was so invested in this holiday read. Court and Ivan were so cute together and had so much chemistry. I can't wait to go back and read the first two books in this series.
I was given a free copy of this book.
Court Henderson just lost his job and fired his agent, with no one beating down his door to add them to another team his only thing to do is go home and figure out his next steps. Working with a few former hockey players at the local rink seems like his best idea. It'll keep him on the ice and working on his skills what he doesn't expect is working with small kids being fun for him. Running into Ivan who owns the coffee shop next to his family's bakery. He finds himself enjoying the time he spends with Ivan and wants more from him.
Ivan has had a crush on Court for as long as he could remember. Having him back in town and finding out he's bi-sexual is more than Ivan ever expected. Spending time with Court is everything he's ever wanted but he knows his time is short lived because Court will get signed to another team.
I was so invested in this holiday read. Court and Ivan were so cute together and had so much chemistry. I can't wait to go back and read the first two books in this series.
I was given a free copy of this book.
brittanymeeks's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75