HER HOLIDAY MAN

HER HOLIDAY MAN                                   SHANNON STACEY
Posted:  Nov. 22, 2014

Christina Forrester is starting over. After a financial scandal sent her ex-husband to prison, she's left raising her young son without any of the comforts of their old life. Budgets, coupons, lawn care—you name it, she's learning to do it all on her own. Well, almost on her own—she'd be lost without Gail Broughton, the kind widow across the street. But when Gail's son comes home, Christina's vow to never trust a man again is put to the test.

Will Broughton left town because he was tired of being "that poor man" who lost his wife and unborn child in a tragic accident. But years have passed and, with his dad gone and his mom alone, it's time to go home. Only his mother's not alone. She's taken Christina under her wing, and the beautiful and determined single mother awakens something in Will he thought was buried forever.

As Will and Christina are forced to spend more time together, feelings that are more than neighborly grow between them. And with Christmas coming and a child filling both houses with holiday cheer, it becomes nearly impossible not to embrace the joy—and the love—in their lives. 

MY REVIEW:

     When your life has been completely turned upside down of everything you lived in you become jaded.  Right from wrong, good and evil, and all that lays in between.

     You see Christina Forrester is in her late twenties a single mother of Nathaniel, 7.  She came from a family of great wealth as well as her ex, which she married into.  That all went down the drain when her husband was arrested for a financial scandal and the government ceased everything.  She divorced him and now lives in New Hampshire.  Across the street from Gail Broughton.

     Gail would stop into the gas station where Christina works often and they would chat if Christina wasn’t busy.  Christina asked if she knew of anyone renting because the motel and preschool were eating up her paycheck.  Gail’s neighbor’s had just become “Snow Birds” and really didn’t want to sell their home until they knew if they really like being birds in Florida.  Then Gail offered to watch Nathaniel after school for her.

     Then after Gail’s husband suddenly passes away and two trips from Ohio Will Broughton felt guilty and decided it was time to come home and face the past memories.  Leaving his mom alone with her grief was not an option he knew the price it cost a soul.  You see he knows what that’s like 8 years ago this coming Christmas season his wife Emily and their unborn daughter were killed by a drunk driver.  So, coming home and finding out his mom is regularly sitting for the neighbor is making him cranky.

     Watch and see how this author weaves a story of what dreadful pain can do to people.  Yet, see also with a little help or with your own tenacity can make the worse situation better.  Nathaniel steals your heart in every way.  I just loved his character.  I give this story 5 stars. Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com  

JUST A LITTLE CRUSH

JUST A LITTLE CRUSH                               RENITA PIZZITOLA
Posted:  Nov. 22, 2014

Brinley Dawson doesn’t drink, she studies—and despite the accusations of her alcoholic mother, she’s still a virgin. But if Brinley’s life is so put together, why is she freaking out to be going to college with the gorgeous, green-eyed jerk she kissed on a stupid dare in high school? Ryder Briggs can have any girl he wants . . . and the rumors say that he does. So why, after publicly embarrassing Brinley four years ago, is he suddenly acting like he’s interested?
 
Ryder never forgot Brinley. In fact, those perfect seven minutes permanently raised the bar for what a kiss could be. The truth is, Ryder doesn’t dare get too close to anyone. He knows how that worked out for his parents. But when his roommate takes a shot at Brinley, Ryder can’t contain his jealousy. Now he must do the hardest thing he’s ever done: forget about sex and convince Brinley his feelings are real.
 
Brinley isn’t sure whether she believes Ryder, but for the first time, her body isn’t playing by the rules. Then she discovers that she’s an unwilling part of a cruel game, humiliating her all over again—and Ryder might be to blame. Has Brinley’s little crush turned into a huge mistake . . . or has she found the one guy worth trusting with her heart?

MY REVIEW:

     So are you that one in a million person that plays spin the bottle and nothing ever happens?  Well, for Brinley Dawson and Ryder Briggs that was 7 minutes of sheer love at first kiss.  But at 15 years old, 7 minutes of heaven can turn into a place you never wanted to go later when you get all flustered.

     In their think session during the time they were locked in the bathroom together for this make out session during that 7 minutes.  Ryder gives her many different options to make a cover story that may work as to what happened in the bathroom but in the end that 7 minutes in the bathroom with Ryder, Brinley figures out nothing is going to go for her.  She will come out with a bad label.  Everything she had always tried to avoid since she had a crush on Ryder she says let’s go for it and kiss.  She was getting into it they both were but then she gets pulled in closer to him and feels just how much Ryder really is liking that kiss from her and she freaks goes running from the bathroom trips and falls into the pool.

     The next thing Ryder knows this girl he was really enjoying a kiss from bolts out of the bathroom out the house tripping over stuff and falls into the pool and everyone laughing at her.  Saying to Ryder, “You got her so hot she had to cool off.”  Everyone laughed harder and Ryder makes eye contact with her turns to his pal who was Hi 5ing him.  He saw the eyes of hate in her eyes from then on.

     At that point Mason a guy she had met that day came to her aid became her best friend.  Defended and fending off all guys and bitchy girls too.  Now both going to the same college together made life perfect.  So, he wanted her to get out for the night so he takes her to this guy Noah’s Party.  Noah was all on her wanting to get her alone wanting to get her to drink when she turns and sees Ryder watching a girl being turned upside down at the kegs he turns and sees her too.  Then he sees who she’s with and his eyes become heated.  She and Noah leave to the kitchen, when he suggest going out on the stairs to talk.  So, they could talk and get to know one another, but the door locks behind them making her nervous.  She has her phone though, which gives her some comfort.

     They barely start talking when the door slams open and the rock that holds it is put in place.  There stands Ryder in all his glory.  He makes eye contact with her and says your guy friend is looking for you.  Then he looks at Noah so harshly she shivered.  Before we can move his girl toy comes over to him cozying up and he whispers something and she goes back inside.  Noah says something under his breath about that’s why he wants you in he would be needing the spot.  Now, Brinley is pissed.  She goes in and finds Mason he seems relieved to find her and Ryder walks by and tells him basically, “You don’t bring a girl like her to a party like this and leave her alone.”

     Now Brinley is pissed she leaves in a huff and the madness begins.  Will it be like high school or did she learn from that experience?  Ryder is a mysterious character who is like an onion unfolding in this short.  It is a very intriguing short you don’t want to put down until you’re done.  5 stars.

Provided by Net Galley.  Follow us at:

www.1rad-readerreviews.com