ARC Review: A Chance This Christmas by Joanne Rock

Title: A Chance This Christmas

          (Road To Romance 3)

Author: Joanne Rock

Release Date: October 5, 2017 (ARC)

Publisher: Tule Publishing

Category: Contemporary Romance

Type: Digital

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Joanne Rock Website

Blurb:

Growing up in the Christmas-crazed theme town of Yuletide was fun for fashion designer Rachel Chambers until a family scandal made her unwelcome. Eight years later, she’s home for a friend’s wedding and trying to go incognito… until her old flame spots her.

Snowboarder Gavin Blake wants to make things right with Rachel, and smoothing her way back in Yuletide seems like the best way to do just that. Making Rachel his date for a week of pre-wedding parties is sure to bring them closer. Except he underestimated how long a small town can carry a grudge--or how much the memory of a long-ago kiss could tempt him all over again.

As the wedding approaches, Rachel remembers all she loved about her close-knit, Christmas-loving neighbors. But even if she can win over the town again, will she be able to convince her footloose, mogul-shredding wedding date that they can find happiness beyond the holidays?

Favorite Line:

And yet, she’d gotten keyed up just like a high school girl when he’d claimed he wanted her for his “date.” Clearly, time hadn’t made her any wiser.  ~  Rachel

Dialogue Highlight:

“You’re insane,” she accused in a soft grumble, snow muffling her steps as she moved toward him silently. “I thought you were supposed to be leading your friends in a raucous party before Luke ties the knot.”

“I did all the raucous partying I cared to do.” He shrugged. “I’m in training for one thing.” He didn’t take his performance lightly. “And for another, I knew all day that I wanted to try and see you tonight.”

She stared up at him with wide blue eyes, her dark bangs brushing the tops of her eyebrows. “The traditional approach is to arrange a meeting day ahead of time.”

“Which isn’t easy when you don’t answer my calls or texts.”

“So you pelt my windows with snowballs?” She shivered, hugging the cape tighter.

“You used to like sneaking out at night,” he reasoned. “I did it for old time’s sake.” Taking one of her hands, he threaded her fingers through his and huffed a warm breath over her cool skin. “Why don’t we talk in my kitchen so you can warm up? I make a mean hot cocoa.”

She glanced at his house just a few steps away. Thinking.

“You can tell me how I should lay out the first floor when I pitch the revamped house to the town council.” He did have to write the proposal soon so he could start work on the house in the new year.

“I did want to share a crazy idea of my mom’s.” She looked to where he held her hand close to his lips.

He lowered it, not wanting to scare her off. “I have a lot of things I want to talk to you about too, Rachel. And I promise to be a total gentleman.”

She nodded, flustered. Even in the moonlight he could see her blushing. “Of course. I wasn’t worried about that.”

“Good.” Willing himself to let go of her completely, he forced his fingers to uncurl from around hers. “Because I have some of those homemade marshmallows they sell at the bakery. That’s my secret ingredient for the cocoa.”

“Now you’re just not fighting fair,” she accused softly, but she smiled at him in a way that made his chest squeeze tight. “I’d better have a taste or I’ll be dreaming about—”She slid a glance his way. “Er. That. The marshmallows, I mean.”

Excerpt:

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age.

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Kiersten frowned, sighing out her exasperation. “You’re my friend, though. And it’s my wedding day, not hers. I should have stood up for you.”

Rachel set down her mug on the cocktail table nearby, wondering if now maybe she should tell Kiersten about her plans to attend at least one of the pre-wedding festivities. Maybe it would be better to warn her.

“Actually, Gavin made the same sort of comment on the way over here—about how he wished he’d stood up for me eight years ago on that day I’d rather forget.”

“Really?” Kiersten set her shake down and leaned forward in her rocking chair, her messy bun listing to one side. “Do tell. Did he say it in a way that made you think he wished you’d repeat that kiss from eight years ago?”

“No!” That was the problem with close friends. They had way too much dirt on you. “Of course not. He was just saying he felt bad that I didn’t feel comfortable in Yuletide.” She shrugged, downplaying it. But then she realized that wouldn’t be useful when it came to warning Kiersten she might crash the welcome dinner. “Although. Erm…”

“Did he already kiss you?” Kiersten pressed, her overly romantic brain treading down all the wrong paths.

“No!” Her voice went a little crackly just thinking about it though. “I just wanted to warn you that he had an idea for making amends. ”She should have just said no and let Kiersten have her party. “He thinks if he brings me to your welcome dinner—as his date—that he’ll somehow buff away the rough edges of my standing in town.”

For a moment, Kiersten said nothing. Rachel’s stomach dropped. But before she could rush a retraction, Kiersten’s face lit up.

“I think he’s right. Everyone adores Gavin. Even my future in-laws, and they don’t like anyone.” Kiersten reached for her drink again, sipping thoughtfully for a moment. “I’d like to tell Luke ahead of time. Just so—you know. He’s ready.”

“It’s going to be a big headache for him with his parents, isn’t it? And with your mother.” Rachel recalled Katie Garrett’s trembling pom-pom collar and jingling elf bells as she’d battled her indignation last night. “My God, Kiersten. Your mother warned me not to stir up trouble for you.”

“No.” Kiersten set her drink down so hard some sloshed up through the straw, not that she noticed. “This is long overdue. We’ve let the whole thing take on a life of its own. We need to reclaim you.”

Doubts niggled. “If Luke doesn’t want me there—”

“I want you there. And that will be enough for Luke.” Kiersten spoke with the absolute authority of a woman who is well loved by her groom-to-be.

Rachel just hoped she knew enough about the whole dicey Harris-Chambers relations to understand what she was talking about. But she sure wouldn’t gainsay the bride when she was feeling emphatic.

“Okay.” Rachel realized she had just committed herself to facing down a lot of demons. With Gavin Blake at her side. She couldn’t deny that last part made her feel a little fizzy inside, in a good way. “As long as you’re sure.”

“I’m positive. And the party is at my house, so you have to sneak upstairs with me at some point and tell me honestly what you think of the bridesmaid dresses.”

“Of course.” With the wedding less than a week away now, Rachel knew she would lie through her teeth even if they were awful. “I may be glad for the chance to slip away, especially if the villagers start heading toward me with pitchforks and torches.”

“It won’t be nearly that dramatic. Besides, it’s Christmas karaoke. The locals are more apt to take their revenge with off-key renditions of ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’ until you run screaming for home.”

Rachel gulped, knowing perfectly well it wouldn’t be that easy. “I think my hives are coming back.”

Kiersten grinned. “But tomorrow you’ll have Gavin to scratch anywhere you might have an itch.”

Review:

Rachel Chambers is in the last place she ever thought she’d be again. A pact with her best friends has led her back home to clear the air after a disastrous parting. Negative old feelings and a less than happy homecoming is going to make patching things u with her old home town extremely difficult. Add to it that her ex-boyfriend is marrying her best friend, and her old crush is not only going to be in town, he bought the house next door to her mom. In addition, those old sparks don’t take but a second to flame back up. But Rachel has no intention of staying home after the wedding and Gavin is looking to settle down. A future between the two beyond the week she is in town seems impossible. But Christmas miracles could happen – if she can get off the naughty list.

Gavin Blake is a famed snow-boarder and Olympic hero. He’s still in to the life, but starting to think about his future and settling down in his old hometown. When his long-time crush unexpectedly comes home, he starts to entertain thoughts of a future with Rachel – if he can convince her that they can make it work. The wrong place at the wrong time ruined the first glimmer of what could have been a relationship with them eight years ago and Rachel fled. Now he has to figure out how to redeem her in the town’s eyes and keep her from running again.

I have had some really good luck lately with Christmas-themed books by some really talented authors. I am happy to say that this book is just as great as the others. Don’t let the Christmas-theme keep you from reading though – this feel-good book about redemption and second chances will give you the warm fuzzies no matter the time of year. The content may seem a bit serious, but the author maintained a nice balance that keeps it from shadowing over the whole story. A bit of mystery comes to light while a love that couldn’t find it’s way eight years ago, gets a chance to shine. My few complaints involve a few issues, including a couple of things that are not explained much – such as Rachel’s mother involving money and feelings following the discovery of reasons behind circumstances. I know that’s vague and lacking detail but I don’t want to spoil any part of the story. It might have been good to expand just a bit on the town completely flipping attitudes also. While I understand the town’s feelings of betrayal, I find it interesting that they could turn on Rachel so quickly, especially given their obsession with Christmas and the fact that none of the occurrences were her fault. The end happened quickly and wrapped up super fast so details, for me, were somewhat sparse. Throughout, there are few things that are somewhat off. The quick attitude changes are definitely one. What the heck happened with the merry-go-round? And where the heck is Rachel’s Dad anyway? So if you want all of your questions answered by the end of the story, be advised – it won’t happen.

Overall, I enjoyed getting to know Rachel and Gavin, as well as their friends and family members. Mostly, anyway. A couple of the characters were callous and lacked depth beyond anger. However, this book is an entertaining read despite the deficiencies, packed full of scandal, redemption, and yuletide cheer. But don’t let the plot fool you, Yuletide has just as much redemption to obtain as Rachel does.  I could easily see this book made in to a movie that becomes a holiday favorite. What is the channel that plays all the sappy, cute, HEA movies every year? Hallmark, ABC Family, Lifetime? I don’t know, but I watch them and this book would fit in. A Chance This Christmas is the 3^rd in a series, but is easily read as a standalone. Readers looking for a cute HEA with a mess of understanding that causes a local to be cast out, but that gets wrapped up nicely in a cute little bow at the end, are sure to be pleased. 😊

Kindle version provided by NetGalley/Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review.