Customer Reviews

A Rare Gift

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

1.5 stars. I had to DNF this one at 35%. While the writing was decent enough, the story was just too contrived and predictable for my tastes. The heroine was too obtuse (needing every minute detail of every little thing explained to her led to a couple "Wtf? Did this chick just fall off the turnip truck?!" moments) and immature for my liking and Wyatt just wasn't impressing me much in the amount of time I spent in the story. I'll have to try something else from this author though, because I did enjoy the voice.

Can I tell you how much I loved this story? I really felt like the characters had time to circle around each other. I didn't feel like their romantic progression was rushed. And can I just tell you how cute this romantic progression is? Calliope is a quirky girl who knows what she wants and sets out to get him. The potential awkwardness that could result from a woman dating her sister's ex-husband is dispersed by Calliope's enthusiasm. Just watching Wyatt's bear-like nature melt under Calliope's love and attention was lovely Too cute. I wanted to eat this story up. It was so good, I need to stop myself now before I continue to gush...One of the best of the book for sure.

My Review:
Rating: B
Overall, this was a fun little read. I had some personal issues with Wyatt just because I felt like he hung onto his bitterness over his failed marriage for entirely too long...(PS. Calliope agreed with me.) I absolutely adored Calliope's character and how ballsy she is! She is awesome!! Here is just the perfect taste of what I am talking about:
"I can't believe a big tough guy like you is afraid of a little think like me, Wyatt." Then she stepped back, her gaze traveling halfway down and staring at the part of him she had no business staring at. When she lifted her gaze again, she grinned.

"I know you have balls in there. Why don't you try to find them? When you do, it's your turn to come ask me out."

I love her character. It takes a pretty self-confident girl to go after her sister's ex-husband and Calliope owns that she is that girl...never apologizing for it especially in light of the fact that she knows that Wyatt needs to get past her sister Cassie. This was just a really enjoyable book.

I read this story with the collection Holiday Kisses: A Rare Gift\Mistletoe and Margaritas\It's Not Christmas Without You\This Time Next Year, a collection of 4 short romantic stories set during the most wonderful time of the year.

Wyatt Kent has spent the 3 years since his divorce angry, closed-off, and alone. When his ex-wife's little sister Calliope Andrews hires him to build an addition onto her day care center, Wyatt can't help but notice how completely different she is than her horrible big sister. Calliope has crushed on Wyatt since big sis brought him home to meet the family and sees this as an opportunity to get Wyatt out of her fantasies and into her bed. She's determined to prove that they are perfect for each other. Wyatt is attracted to Calliope but can't get past the fact that she's his ex-wife's sister.

This story is a sequel to last year's Christmas Story All She Wants For Christmas about Wyatt's brother. And in comparison, this one wasn't as rounded as the first.

I had a hard time with this story because Calliope IS the sister of his ex-wife. It just grossed me out. The author did do a good job in helping me get over it and be okay with it for a few minutes until I put it down and thought about it again and was grossed out about it again. Besides that, I really liked Calliope's cheerfulness and stubbornness. She really was a perfect match to Wyatt who we watched as his shell cracked and started to pull away.

Wyatt knows that building an addition onto a day care center owned by his ex-wife's sister is not the smartest thing he has ever done, but he refuses to let his competition best him. Since his divorce three years ago from Cassandra, Wyatt has become a recluse in his small town, refusing to let go of the anger that came with the bitter end of their marriage. Calliope, Cassandra's sister and said day care owner, has always had a crush on Wyatt, never understanding what Cassandra and Wyatt ever had in common. Calliope is nothing like Cassandra, and when Wyatt starts construction on the addition, and she gets to see him every day, she makes sure to remind him that she is her own person. She pushes through his defenses, but is she ready to take him on?

This story has the best sexual tension and chemistry between Wyatt and Calliope. Wyatt is so angry, cranky and just kind of rude. But Calliope will have none of it. She knows she wants him, and she tramples over all of his deflections until she wears him down. Calliope is pushy, but she has such a wonderful attitude and sense of humor that she never comes across as annoying. She is quite charming and warm, and I adored watching her chip some of the ice off of Wyatt. Great romance scenes make this one very sexy and intense in the bedroom. Loved it.

In a pinch, I cannot get over the unfortunate choice of theme by the author. Being intimate with your ex's sister...hmmmmmmm pass, thanks. That spoiled the book for me right off the bat.