Stevie‘s review of Welcome Home for Christmas (A Hero’s Welcome, Book 4) by Annie Rains
Contemporary Military Holiday Romance published by Loveswept 08 Nov 16
I’m trying to read more holiday season books this year, and so have dived into more than one series partway through because a Festive Instalment has been released. Such is the case with this new-to-me series and, indeed, author. In an ideal world, of course, we’d have a good selection of books about celebrations other than Christmas as well, but I think I lucked out in that regard last year, since I haven’t see any as yet this time around. Back to the book that’s the subject of this review, however. This is the fourth of a series set in a small town dominated by the military base attached to it, and there’s not much to stop a new reader from jumping in at this point; being a novella, pretty much all the story is focused on the two main characters and their families.
Allison isn’t, strictly speaking, military; she’s a director at the Veteran’s Centre, and she also volunteers in her spare time at the Mercy’s Place centre for military orphans. She loves Christmas, except for the annual family get-together at which she spends her time either fielding questions over why she hasn’t brought a boyfriend or listening to her mother psychoanalyse and criticise any man Allison does decide to bring. This year, however, Allison has a plan to avoid both scenarios; she’s organising the charity auction in which military personnel offer their services – usually yard work and DIY – to the highest bidder. The solution for Allison, then, is to secure a military man for herself, who can be her pretend boyfriend for the dreaded event.
Troy is a military police officer, whose family lives locally, but who is looking forward to seeing them over Christmas even less than Allison is to seeing hers. Last year, he and his brother came to blows over Troy’s refusal to get involved in the family’s many successful business ventures, and Troy wants to avoid a repeat performance. Spending time with Allison’s family instead seems like the perfect solution, especially since he wants to get to know her better anyway – and they need to learn about each other quickly if they’re to convince Allison’s mother they really are a couple.
This is one of those books in which little of note seems to happen, but the characters manage to get themselves worked up over very minor misunderstandings. There’s a secondary plot running through the book regarding a series of break-ins and thefts, which give Troy the opportunity to show off his military police skills and Allison to make herself not at all useful and at times act annoyingly needy. The culprit is pretty obvious to me, although I can see why the characters choose to overlook their identity.
After a slightly rushed romance taking place entirely over the festive season, there is an epilogue set a year later which felt like far too much telling and not enough showing how far the characters (and various others I assume were from previous books in the series) had come since we last saw them. Not an author or series I’ll be troubling myself with again.
Summary:
Three-hundred-and-sixty-four days a year, Allison Carmichael doesn’t mind being single. It sure beats dating another loser, and it keeps her heart safe. Then there’s that three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth day: Christmas Eve, the traditional time her entire family gathers together—and gangs up on her, demanding to know when she’s going to get married. This year, she swears, is going be different. And that’s why, at a charity auction she’s throwing on-base, she buys herself a man.
Sergeant Troy Matthews insists that he’s not for sale. His time is, though, and he’s happy to donate it. Happier still when he learns the identity of the winning bidder: the redhead with the killer good looks and smart mouth who runs the veteran’s center. Allison needs Troy’s help to fool her family into believing they’re an item, and he’s all too happy to indulge her. But by the time Christmas Eve rolls around, their little charade is working a little too well . . . because Troy’s falling head over heels.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
