e-Audio, 04:58:31
Narrated by: Jasmin Walker
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Published by: Recorded Books, Inc.
Read from: September 30,2024
Stand-alone
Source: Library’s Libby (I received an e-ARC from Netgalley as well. This did nothing to influence my review)
Content Warning: Abandonment
For Readers Interested In: Romance, Holidaze, Adult, Sparkly Covers, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Black), Realistic Fiction, Religious, SportsWhen two high school sweethearts reunite, will they take another chance at love or let life sideline them at Christmas?
Benched with a career-ending injury, NFL wide receiver Jahleel Walker is forced to return to his hometown of Peachwood Bay, Georgia, during the holidays to heal, despite his rocky relationship with his father. Nothing shocks him more than running into Lucille “Bebe” Gordon.
Bebe Gordon came home to Peachwood Bay three years ago with a divorce certificate and her daughter. When Jahleel returns–for the first time in eight years–all the memories of the past come rushing back. The connection between them is still strong, but Jahleel has no plans to stay in Peachwood Bay, and Bebe won’t risk him leaving her again. As their hometown’s Christmas festivities bring them together, Jahleel must decide if he’s only home for the holidays or if the Christmas spirit that brought them together will last all through the year.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I’m not a huge fan of Christian fiction, but I’ve come to realize when it comes to holiday romances, it doesn’t quite matter. I will pick it up and smile about it. And that’s exactly what happened with this one.
I usually stay away from Christian fiction because its hard to be preached at. But when it’s surrounding a holiday, sometimes it doesn’t get too preachy. I read Shiloh’s other Christmas book last year and thought it did a good job separating it, so I decided to give this one a try too. This one worked as well. It focused more on the asking forgiveness for herself and himself. I liked that the preachy part and the moral lessons part was contained within the story. It didn’t seem that she was forcing any lessons on people as they read. It was more so she was teaching the characters. If that makes any sense at all.
The book is also a sports romance. He is injured in the very beginning and tears something in his knee. He is sent back to his old home to recover since they were there at the time. That’s really where the sports part ends. They do talk about his knee other times throughout the story, but it’s only to talk about how he’s recovering, so I guess it depends on how you define sports romance.
The romance was cute tho. This is Christian Fiction, so there is no spice, if anyone is wondering. But they do have a great relationship with their God and they do pray for each other and they prey for other things in their life as well. Both together and apart.
The only thing I didn’t love was the way everything lined up so completely perfect. It was like one thing after the other. I just thought there should have been some kind of conflict. It was just too easy for them. And yeah I get it, it’s fiction, but in all books there’s a main conflict in them. This one didn’t and that’s what made it weird.
This could most definitely be described as one of those Hallmark movies. But dare I say this one was better? The diversity makes it 100x’s better than those movies lol Going back to a small town and can’t remember why you ever left. And now you’re in love and can’t think about going back. The ending changes this a bit, but still, very on point. And I’d still prefer this one over the the same ones we see on Hallmark. I promise, if you pick this one up, you will too.
Overall, I give this
