Customer Reviews

Together by Christmas (Harlequin Superromance No. 1095)

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

 

 

Toronto videographer Miranda James returns to her Saskatchewan hometown to get a video biography of former classmate Warren Addison who's gained fame as the author of a bestseller.

Still more than half in love with her best friend Chad, Miranda is shocked to hear he's newly separated from his wife. As she penetrates Warren's defenses, she also tries to help Chad's ailing marriage, unaware that she may be doing more harm than good. She enjoys being around Warren, acknowledges there's a chemistry between them, but she is unable to shake her childhood fantasy that focuses on Chad. And Warren, who has loved the beautiful Miranda since high school, struggles to win her before Chad's marriage is forever destroyed and his own heart is broken all over again.

C.J. Carmichael pens a story of deep emotions and flawed character, especially in the complex Miranda. Chad's wife Bernie, with whom many will sympathize, is also well depicted. Ms. Carmichael provides just the right amount of angst and ties up the ending in a wonderful way that won't leave you disappointed. Highly recommended.

Video biographer Miranda James heads to her hometown in hope of obtaining an interview from reclusive author Warren Addison, someone she went to high school with. Trying to meet Warren reminds Miranda of her dreams of Chad English, a person she had a crush on back in school.

Because he wants time with Miranda who he loved as a teen, Warren, breaking his strict rules of media avoidance, agrees to be interviewed by her. However, as he falls in love with the biographer, he remains disappointed that Miranda does not to see how much he cherishes his old schoolmate because she still pines for Chad, separated from his wife.

The key to C. J. Carmichael's warm romance, TOGETHER BY CHRISTMAS, is the complex Miranda, a person with a great deal of professional success and acclaim, and an outer beauty who still feels all alone and insecure, mindful in a sense of Richard Cory (before the bullet). Though the rest of the cast, especially Chad, pale next to Miranda, her struggles with the awareness of loving someone else, s her fanciful dreams along with her obvious flaws make her seem human with foibles. She turns Ms. Carmichael's tale into a wonderful Yuletide romantic spin.

Harriet Klausner

My first was "Secrets Between Them". Horrible. Nick and Jennifer were dreadfully dull, and so were all Jen's friends. The "twist" was awful, like who cares?

My second was "A Little Secret Between Friends". Good, but could have been better.

My third was "Small-Town Girl". It was okay, but I didn't like the character of Julie. She was such a selfish person and you know your book is in trouble when you'd rather have the hero end up with his old girlfriend than his own wife. I also don't care for love stories that start off with the couple already being married. I like the "and so they lived happily ever after" kind of endings.

I suppose this is more of a review of the author thus far, but Ms. Carmichael's books are not very consistent in quality. This one, however, surpassed all the rest. I really enjoyed all the characters in this one.

The character of Chad is just like this guy I used to know, which is why I didn't much care for him and thought Miranda too good for him, and, like Chad, he married a plain girl. In this case, Bernie (I assume it's short for Bernice?). I did feel a wee bit sorry for Bernie, though I really liked Miranda. She was so pretty and nice--I agreed with Bernie that it really was hard to hate her, but then, readers aren't supposed to hate the heroine.

Truthfully, I think Bernie was too good for Chad, as well, though I couldn't root for the break-up of a family.

I was annoyed that Ms. Carmichael just had to mention that Miranda had lost her virginity (what purpose did that serve?) to a man she didn't even love (I am really tired of reading about women who sleep with men they don't love, though I do commend Miranda for not sleeping with Chad while he was still married, and helping him realize that perhaps he was only using her to make Bernie jealous). I know Miranda is thirty-two and for her to still be a virgin would be unrealistic, but why not just leave her sexual history to the reader's imagination, hmmm?

Though this book was really more about Miranda realizing she and Chad didn't really belong together than about her falling in love with Warren (their romance was more of a secondary plot, or subplot), it was still a really good book. I like a book that has more going on than just the romance between the hero and heroine (which is why I prefer the Superromance line over the lackluster Special Editions anyday).

For another good Superromance, read "The Other Woman" by Brenda Novak. The character of Liz is so sympathetic and real, and the story reads more like regular romance fiction than just a category/series romance.

Video biographer Miranda James promises to bring back the goods on the illusive Warren Addison, author of WHERE IT BEGAN. They grew up together, although Miranda's high school fantasies centered on another boy by the name of Chad English. The quest for interviews for the biography with Warren leads to a return to her small hometown of Chatsworth. An enigma, Warren proves to be better than ever at creating uncomfortable, unsettled feelings in Miranda. And after seeing him again, her enthusiasm for the project increased exponentially.

Against his better judgment, Warren agrees to be interviewed if only to spend time with Miranda. She has no idea how he fantasized about her when they were teenagers. But Warren cannot help feeling a twinge of disappointment that Miranda comes not to see her old schoolmate, but to see Warren Addison, the famous author. Nevertheless, Warren sees extraordinary qualities in Miranda, things she does not even recognize in herself, and he cannot resist her allure even when he knows she has feelings for someone else.

C. J. Carmichael pens a marvelous character driven romance in TOGETHER BY CHRISTMAS. With her characteristic flair for tackling difficult, emotion-laden issues, Carmichael presents Miranda with a difficult choice between the man of her fantasies and new opportunities. On the surface, Miranda leads a successful life, but beneath the surface she feels terribly lonely. Her beauty and style conceal a woman who still struggles with insecurities and fear of failure. Yet she is a strong, powerful woman who works hard for what she wants. Further, the only man she ever wanted married someone else.

The emotional complexities of TOGETHER BY CHRISTMAS an endearing honesty. Every character is likeable, flawed, and appealing at their best or at their worst. Indeed, Carmichael maintains a careful control with the narrative, gracefully examining the painful emotional complications of olds flames and new loves without allow angst to spin out of control. A delicate balancing act indeed! TOGETHER BY CHRISTMAS comes very highly recommended.