Thursday, April 26, 2012

Contemp Review: Holly Lane: A Destiny Novel [Mass Market Paperback]


I've finished "Holly Lane" the 4th book in her Destiny series by Toni Blake.

Product Description

The weather outside is frightful, but kisses by the fire are so delightful . . .

Sue Ann Simpkins is working hard to rebuild her life and find some holiday spirit. A weekend away from Destiny in a cabin on nearby Bear Lake seems like the perfect Christmas gift to herself — until her ex's best friend, Adam Becker, shows up at the door, claiming the cabin is his! And if that's not trouble enough, how had she never noticed how gorgeous he was?

Alone for the holidays and forced to play a reindeer at the local department store, Adam's been feeling rather Scrooge-ish himself. But finding the smart, sexy woman he's admired since elementary school waiting in the house he rented is helping to brighten his humbug mood. And when a sudden snowstorm strands them together in very close quarters, leading to one very hot night together, Adam soon realizes that what he really wants for Christmas is a second chance at love. Now all he has to do is convince Sue Ann . . .

About the Author

Toni Blake's lifelong love of writing began when she won an essay contest in the fifth grade. Soon after, she penned her first novel — nineteen notebook pages long. Since then, Toni has become a multi-published, RITA - nominated author of contemporary romance novels that are both sexy and heartwarming. Toni lives with her husband in the Midwest and, when not writing, she enjoys traveling, quilting, and scrapbooking.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon; Original edition (October 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062024604
ISBN-13: 978-0062024602


My Review:

Sue Ann Thompson was the happily married friend of Jenny from One Reckless Summer so I was very surprised she is the heroine of this story.

Sue Ann's husband Jeff has left her for another woman who he quickly married and now wants children.  She decides to take some time by herself at a remote cabin when her ex-husband's best friend Adam Becker arrives saying it's his cabin for the whole week.  Sue and Adam have been friends since childhood but it takes a night snowed in for them to see each other in a new light.

Adam Becker is in a grouchy mood because his ex-wife's parents have taken his boys for the whole month of December.  Instead of taken out his frustrations on his workers he heads up to the cabin he rents every year.  He never expected to find Sue in the cabin but it's a nice surprise since they have always been friends.

They are still attracted to each other back in town but Sue Ann is wary about starting another relationship with another man especially one connected to her ex Jeff.  Adam is willing to do anything to convince Sue to change her mind but he is torn when Jeff asks him to be a character witness in his petition to stop paying alimony to Sue.  She is hurt that he would consider testifying and he is keeping an enormous secret about why his marriage dissolved.

I really liked Adam except when he was snapping at his workers but I'm glad he realized that he was in the wrong and made it up to them with Christmas gifts.  I really liked him with Sue though at times she was irritating when she was pushing him away.  He's a man of action by making Sue's daughter Christmas wish come true, dressing up as Santa, pretending to be a reindeer and he's a very nice guy.

The conflict between Jenny and Mick was very interesting because Jenny knew at the beginning that Mick didn't want children.  At first she wasn't interested in children but seeing Sue with her daughter she really wants one now knowing how Mick feels.  I thought the outcome was resolved very quickly and I don't know if that would happen in real life.

3/5

Other books in series:

1.  One Reckless Summer
2.  Sugar Creek
3.  Whisper Falls
4.  Willow Springs - June 26, 2012

1 comment:

Jane said...

I am a fan of the Destiny series, but I haven't picked up this book yet because of all the bad reviews. It seems that Sue Ann and Adam were thrown together and it was weird since Sue Ann was happily married in the previous books.

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