Month of Love Review and Giveaway: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
Author: Lisa Kleypas
Book: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
Release: October 2010
Reviewer: Lil
Source: Author
Purchase: Amazon – Book DepositoryONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY
One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.
ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE
The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow.
SOMETIMES, IT TAKES A LITTLE MAGIC…
Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after losing her husband of one year. But she does believe in the magic of imagination. As the owner of a toy shop, she lives what she loves. And when she meets Holly Nolan, she sees a little girl in desperate need of a little magic.
…TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE
Three lonely people. Three lives at the crossroads. Three people who are about to discover that Christmas is the time of year when anything is possible, and when wishes have a way of finding the path home…
I am a fan of Lisa Klaypas. When people hear this statement they automatically assume I mean her historical romances. I haven’t read them. What hooked my on Lisa’s writing were the Travis family.
A trilogy set in Texas, it is chalk full of of alpha males and strong female roles. Lisa Kleypas has a way of pulling you into a story from the first sentence and when you inhale her words a need to start from the beginning one more time. I was really hoping after waiting for months I would get the same quality read with Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor. Ms. Kleypas did not disappoint.
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is an introduction to the long awaited contemporary romance series from Lisa. Set on the island of San Juan in Washington state the book opens the door to the town of Friday Harbor and the Nolan Family. Now before I go throwing spoilers all around let me tell you what I thought…. Oh wait that’s right I don’t spoil. :)
I genuinely enjoyed this book. I had some pretty high expectations for Friday Harbor and Ms. Kleypas delivered. I was a little surprised when I downloaded it to find it was more a novella length then novel but each page is packed with good solid writing.
True emotion flows through this book. I laughed and I admit I choked up once… or thrice. Lisa Kleypas captured a snapshot of a couple falling in love amidst the pain of loves lost and prior commitments. The only thing this book was lacking was about 100 pages of more really well scripted scenes.
As much as I loved this book it left me hungry for a more in depth look into the romance of Mark and Maggie. If I was giving this book a start rating it would be 4 out of 5 for the story telling. I think to sum up this book I would say it was poignant, funny, along with a little push and pull angst along with some great well written dialogue. I think that is one thing about a Kleypas book we can all rely on.
Okay now on to the really fun stuff!
I am one of “Lisa’s Divas” – a group of select fans who share info & content related to Lisa’s novels and get sneak peeks & swag in return!
And I get to share my swag and special deliveries with my book loving friends. So to celebrate Month of Love I am giving away a hard cover copy of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor!
And even better starting February 18th and running through February 28th everyone is encouraged to join in some fun! Corsets, Kisses and Kleypas Blog Hop
Hosted by Under the Covers and Lisa’s Divas. Here at the Paperback Dolls you will get to participate in a survey crafted by your’s truly and get to enter for a grand prize including a hard cover copy of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor AND a E format of the winners choice of the first full length book in the Friday Harbor series Rainshadow Road!
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Thanks for the awesome post and giveaway! I’ve always loved Jennifer Crusie, Lani Diane Rich, Kristen Higgins, Susan Elizabeth Phillips… I haven’t read this author yet, so I know I’m missing out :)
[...] Originally posted here: Month of Love Review and Giveaway: Christmas Eve at Friday … [...]
I love the Travis family books so much that I regularly reread them. I am so looking forward to Rainshadow Road and the Friday Harbor books!
My favortie contemporary romance author is Jennifer Crusie. Thanks for the giveaway!
Just wanted to say I Loved this book – can’t wait for Rainshadow Road!
(ps I’m a Diva too).
I absolutely love Lisa Kleypas!!!! She could write on a cereal box and I’d read it. Her characters are always well defined and their stories make me laugh, cry, and angst over them. I can’t wait to read this one, too.
Lisa Kleypas maybe a HR author, but I love her contemporary as well. Since the Travis Family series, and this Nolan Brothers. Can’t wait for Rainshadow Road! :D
And I do like Debbie MacComber’s stories, they’re so sweet.
So many but I love Lisa’s books, then Kristen Higgins, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and more. I love Comtemporary Romance..
Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.
Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com
There are so many cool authors that fit that description, but I absolutely love Jennifer Crusie and Susan Elizabeth Phillips!! I’ve been reading them both for a while now and they never disappoint:D
I first got introduced to Lisa Kleypas’ work with the Travis family books, too! I have recommended them to so many people. They are great! I would love the chance to read this book.
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Elizabeth Lowell
I like Rachel Gibson… Thanks for the giveaway!
A Copy of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas? I wouldn’t miss it, definitely. Oh, I really really really love Lisa Kleypas. Thank you so much for this giveaway! And now I just can’t wait for Rainshadow Road! ^^
My favorite contemporary romance author is Nicholas Sparks.
I can’t say that I have a contemporary romance author that I like. I like Nora Roberts and Nicolas Sparks, but of the two I’d definitely read a Nora Roberts book before Nicolas Sparks.
I would have to say Olivia Cunning. Is she considered contemporary? I am not even sure but I do love her!
Mary
I read the first book in this new series and look forward to reading Rainshadow Road.
JD Robb/Nora Roberts
I would say Julie James is a favorite of mine.
Its hard to pick, but it might be Kleypas! Wish she did more contemporaries :)
I´ve got too many favorites!! =) I love to read HEA with a bit of smut, so Maya Banks, Lisa Kleypas, Janet Evanovich, Jayne Ann Krentz, Shayla Black just to mention a few.
best wishes, Linda xo
I have so many fav’s, but my top ones are Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Susan Andersen and Rachel Gibson, Carly Phillips and Kristin Higgins
Looks you have refreshing blog site! I visited your blog for the first time and became your fan. :) Would like to read this book so excited, It looks interesting to me. Thank you!
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