No Holly for Christmas

A story about how fate will carry us where we need to go whether we are willing passengers or not.

After being jilted not once, but twice by the only woman he’s ever truly loved, Brian McAlister has all but given up on relationships. Then, on special assignment for the DA’s office, he steps into the middle of a politically sensitive murder case where he crosses paths with a beautiful ex-socialite-turned-social-worker, Holly Cavanaugh Winter.

Widowed, practically penniless, and reduced to shopping at Walmart, Holly is dreading the approaching holiday season. However, her angst isn’t due to her husband’s untimely death the previous December 25th, but to a secret that could reveal itself unless she can find a way to avoid the coming Christmas. To make matters worse, she unwittingly stumbles into the throes of Brian’s case and the manhunt for a killer who now has his sights set on her.

His case unraveling, Brian finds himself tasked with keeping Holly and her two daughters safe while bringing an assassin and the powerful man who hired him to justice.

This is the first book I have read by Julie N. Ford and will I read more in the future. This story is a romance mixed with a bit of suspense. I was given this ebook in exchange for an honest review and here it is:

Holly’s never been in love, and Brian has not only been in love, he’s been hurt by it more than once. Holly’s a recent widow, her marriage had been about to end; Brian’s twice-divorced and still mooning over the loss of the special lady that’s dumped him twice for the same man. Neither is looking for love and yet the instant chemistry between them is undeniable. But Brian’s never gotten over Josie, and Holly’s practically engaged to Gavin, and the two are working together to bring in a criminal involved in a murder, so there couldn’t be less romantic potential… and yet love doesn’t always arrive at a convenient time.

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I was looking for a very Christmas-y reading, and ended up with this instead. It was awesome, I’m so glad. To be honest, I was interested in this book because of the title (and I planned to read it before Christmas) and then because of the plot, which seemed interesting. About the first reason, I was expecting something more like in the mood for the holidays, and even if it wasn’t (just the setting), it was excellent. About the second reason, I will repeat myself: it was excellent. I loved how the author combined the winter setting, the romance, and murder. Yes, I was amused and then intrigued on how the story would develop and end. Loved it.