Dinca’s review of Christmas at Candlebark Farm by Michelle Douglas
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Romance 30 Nov 10
Usually I can read forever. I fell asleep twice reading this book. And I made it through two chapters before giving up on Christmas at Candlebark Farm. I can’t believe I am giving a Christmas story a “did not finish” grade.
I need my heroes to have a few basic social skills. Luke Hillier does not believe his 15-year-old son needs to help him on the farm but needed to be hanging out with his friends. Jason hasn’t moved away from the TV yet, but he has offered to help his dad, who keeps turning his offers away. He feels a friendly gesture from Keire to bring him and his son together is charity. Their whole existence on the farm and with each other is dysfunctional.
Keire Keely is only 24 and has gone to a fertility clinic. If she is having problems with her ovaries, she should have stored her eggs and given a normal life a chance. She has never had a steady male presence in her life. She supposedly has come to this town and rented a room in Luke’s house to secure her future for her baby, but she hasn’t done anything but go to the store, cook, and have morning sickness.
There’s no chemistry between the hero and heroine. The pacing is much too slow to keep a reader’s attention, hence my ability to fall asleep twice in two chapters. Between his lack of social skills and her lack of common sense and no rapport between them, there’s no reason to continue reading.
Grade: DNF
Summary:
Pregnant Keira Keely is lodging at beautiful Candlebark Farm this holiday season, whilst she organizes a place of her own.
Grumpy owner Luke Hillier seems too caught up in his own troubles to worry about anyone else’s. But when Keira has a crisis Luke is amazingly supportive.
Keira’s shocked that she actually likes being looked after by gorgeous, gruff Luke. Maybe now he’ll let her help him, too…. As fairy lights sparkle and Christmas approaches, could Keira have found her perfect home?
Read an excerpt.
