A beachside Christmas
Brings unexpected gifts!
A second chance. That’s what former navy SEAL Damon Woods asks for when Zuri Habib comes to Turtleback Beach with a nephew who looks just like him. After her sister’s death, Zuri believes Caden deserves to know his father—even if he did break her teenage heart. Can Damon and Zuri forgive each other and give a grieving boy the family he needs this Christmas?
USA TODAY Bestselling Author
Turtleback Beach series:
Book 1: Almost a Bride
Book 2: Caught by the Sheriff
Book 3: Second Chance Christmas
Review:
Second Chance Christmas is a sweet, holiday-themed romance. The “second chance” label is right there in the title, but it’s really more a of secret baby (secret twelve-year-old? Doesn’t quite have the same ring, I guess….) story–and the mother of the baby isn’t even in the picture, since she’s died of cancer before the book begins. She and Damon, the hero, had a one night stand thirteenish years ago after they went to the prom together. Zuri, Caden’s aunt and guardian, had asked Damon out back then (she’d been his tutor) but he turned her down–so their “second chance” is really more of a chance for him to finally do things right rather than a true second chance.
But I digress. 😉
Zuri is taking the Christmas holiday to do what her sister never did–let Damon know that he has a son, and let Caden know who his father is. Hurt feelings abound–she’s hurt over what Damon did to her in high school, he’s livid that no one thought to tell him he had a son, and Caden is upset that his mom and aunt knew who his father was all this time and never told him. Fortunately everyone gets over the bad feelings rather painlessly, because goodness knows there’s all kinds of other issues to iron out–especially the can this group somehow become a family? one.
(The answer, of course, is going to be yes–it’s a Harlequin Heartwarming romance! But naturally Ms Sinara will make all of them work for it ;))
I enjoyed Zuri, Damon, and Caden’s story. It was my third trip to Turtleback Beach ( Almost a Bride and Caught by the Sheriff ), but I would have been just fine reading this one without having read the others. Zuri and Caden are new to town, and the brief introductions they get are more than enough to get readers new to the series caught up. (Though chances are good you’re going to want to know the stories behind their quick explanations, so consider yourself warned!) Ms Sinara really made the setting a part of the story here, as Damon is the head of the Ocean Rescue and Beach Patrol and Zuri’s current focus as an environmental scientist is exploring the environmental impact of water pollution and climate–could there be a better place for her to examine that than the Outer Banks? The small town setting is as charming as ever, with the Christmas season’s extra sparkle making everything seem brighter, even when the main character’s lives feel upended.
I especially enjoyed the portions from Caden’s POV–watching the hurting pre-teen find a family (and his own first love!) was very sweet. Seeing the epilogue from his viewpoint really wrapped up this contemporary romance nicely, and I turned off my ereader with a happy sigh.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.