The Christmas Secret

More secrets in Cherry lake, oh how I love this series. Lil's ex fiance is getting married, on the day that they were supposed to be married so she has decided to hole herself up in the family cabin. Not expecting anyone, but Casey shows up stranded. He is her ex fiance's brother. Whom she had a summer fling with a few years back. They soon find out that they still have feelings for each other, a bit of miscommunication and wild times from years back. Loved how they reconnected and how boys really do grow up and change. I recommend this book. I received this book from netgalley for an honest review.

2.5 stars — This one was very mediocre for me. I didn’t connect with the characters, they fell flat for me. And honestly the story felt shallow and surface-like, if that makes any sense. I had a hard time empathizing with Lil’s motivations from when she was younger and broke it off…and I had a hard time with how she hung on to some of those things. I sort of got how her father’s behavior affected her, but it just…wasn’t enough? Or something. I don’t know. I was annoyed with the witchy way she interacted with Casey as well. I enjoyed Casey a bit more…I felt his hurt, I understood his reactions. I still didn’t connect with him that strongly, but definitely moreso than Lil. As for the romance? The antagonism lasted a bit long, so it made it hard to dive into their chemistry. In the end I just wasn’t that invested in them. I prefer characters with a bit more fire and pizzazz…I prefer romance with more emotion… And on top of those things, parts of the story were repetitive. Like Casey would think something about his dealings with his father…and then in the next chapter he would say the same thing as though he hadn’t already thought it. It happened more than once. So yeah. Bummer. Ah well, I think that’s the risk with these Christmas stories sometimes…

Nice story in a good setting, but it was like you were told much of the book and just read the ending. Could have been so much more.