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bexbookrex's review
5.0
Christmas for Keeps by Ryan & Josh is a lovely story about second chances, fear & feelings, and developing a strong relationship. Zach & Connor we're perfectly imperfect characters and their love jumped off the page! Ryan & Josh wrote a realistic portrayal of real love. There were some ups & downs, romance & steam, laughter & tears! Beautiful book!
Romance - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Steam -
Romance - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Steam -
kjnrose's review
5.0
So this book is a follow-up of Zach and Connor from the book Swimming Against the Tide, which if you haven't read yet I recommend. I was so sad to see they didn't make it, but to bring them back together was wonderful. This is a great forced proximity, second chance book.
bookpimpfairy's review
5.0
When we first fell for Zach and Connor in Swimming Against the Tide, you knew they had something special. Then life got in the way, and two boys were not quite ready for the big life decisions, and they did what so many of us have they let their own insecurities hinder them from happiness.
Fate decided to give these two a second shot at happiness when they literally crashed into each other on a trip in Vermont. They learn you must communicate to make life work, you can not let your past dictate your future, and sometimes fate gives you a second chance for the holidays.
Another great holiday read from this married writing duo where it feels more real.
Fate decided to give these two a second shot at happiness when they literally crashed into each other on a trip in Vermont. They learn you must communicate to make life work, you can not let your past dictate your future, and sometimes fate gives you a second chance for the holidays.
Another great holiday read from this married writing duo where it feels more real.
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review
4.0
Sometimes it takes an act of God to bring two souls back together and in the case of Zach and Connor it is a blizzard that will reunite the two. Between the sparks that they both still feel and the open lines of communication that finally have time to be heard they realize what the other really want. No better time to have snow turn into reunited love and a future looking bright. It was great to revisit a favorite couple and finally get their HEA.
duchessmerry's review
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Although not quite yet the Holiday season I got my first taste of all the romantic holiday stories that are coming my way.
I needed more Connor & Zach after I finished Swimming Against the Tide and I finally got my wish. Christmas for Keeps picks up years after Swimming Against the Tide concluded; Connor & Zach have been through a lot since we last fell in love right alongside them.
Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood have written some of my most favorite meet cutes on the planet. This is no exception and it feels apropos for these two characters. Always messy, but kinda perfect.
This is their second chance to try and make this relationship wreviwork and some might call it fate or maybe even destiny. As a reader who needed more of these two it was hard to see what they’ve gone through separately as well as what they went through together. It was heartbreakingly beautiful to watch their love unfold again.
I adored how their emotional maturity showed how each character had changed over the years, but also they were never perfect and still are not. They made each other a priority and this is what made the story bring tears to my eyes.
Thank you to the authors for the way you painted Stowe with words was almost as beautiful as listening to Connor describe Zach’s paintings. I now have another bucket list place to visit.
I needed more Connor & Zach after I finished Swimming Against the Tide and I finally got my wish. Christmas for Keeps picks up years after Swimming Against the Tide concluded; Connor & Zach have been through a lot since we last fell in love right alongside them.
Ryan Taylor & Joshua Harwood have written some of my most favorite meet cutes on the planet. This is no exception and it feels apropos for these two characters. Always messy, but kinda perfect.
This is their second chance to try and make this relationship wreviwork and some might call it fate or maybe even destiny. As a reader who needed more of these two it was hard to see what they’ve gone through separately as well as what they went through together. It was heartbreakingly beautiful to watch their love unfold again.
I adored how their emotional maturity showed how each character had changed over the years, but also they were never perfect and still are not. They made each other a priority and this is what made the story bring tears to my eyes.
Thank you to the authors for the way you painted Stowe with words was almost as beautiful as listening to Connor describe Zach’s paintings. I now have another bucket list place to visit.
stephreviewsbooks's review
4.0
You really need to have read swimming against the tide, which is the prelude to this book. You will then understand the depth of Zach and Connor's love for one another. This book tells us that the HEA of Swimming against the tide to end, didn't happen. It is almost like a new story, the characters have grown up and had grown apart and we take it feom there. Zach is a likeable character, willing to help anyone and this is seen straight away when he helps Connor. He is a problem solver and this is why he struggled when Connor pushed him away because he couldn't do his caretaking.
I really tried to like Connor, when he was with Zach he was definitely more likeable but his moods were quite variable. I get he suffers with depression, but this seemed to be his character rather than the mental health aspect. It seemed quite a safe book, everything working out easily until it was rocked and the reaction from Connor was a bit unexpected, he really became a different person. The way he treated Zach when he made accusations seemed to come from nowhere and I applaud Zach for forgiving so easily. This is a relatively short book and takes place over a week until the final chapters jump us ahead several months, which does give us the HEA. These husband authors are great at sweet love stories so if you like lots of love declarations then you will enjoy this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really tried to like Connor, when he was with Zach he was definitely more likeable but his moods were quite variable. I get he suffers with depression, but this seemed to be his character rather than the mental health aspect. It seemed quite a safe book, everything working out easily until it was rocked and the reaction from Connor was a bit unexpected, he really became a different person. The way he treated Zach when he made accusations seemed to come from nowhere and I applaud Zach for forgiving so easily. This is a relatively short book and takes place over a week until the final chapters jump us ahead several months, which does give us the HEA. These husband authors are great at sweet love stories so if you like lots of love declarations then you will enjoy this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
regent_rando's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Absolutely adorable second chance holiday fic. The love between Zach and Connor was so clear and their pain palpable. After reading My Perfect Screwup I was pretty sure I'd love this and I did. The third act drama seemed a bit overblown and maybe even unnecessary, but otherwise this was a sweet and spicy holiday read. I'm definitely gonna be going back to read the first part of their story in the new year.
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