Tabs’ review of His Christmas Gift (Montana Born Christmas, Book 2) by Sarah Mayberry
Contemporary Romance published by Tule Publishing 31 Oct 15
The Montana Born Christmas series follows a pair of siblings who find romance during the holiday season. They overlap but not in an annoying “I’ve already READ THIS” kind of way. Kat Latham’s book is an enemies-to-lovers romance featuring Lacey Gallagher. Sarah Mayberry’s book is a meet-cute/forced-proximity romance that features Lacey’s taciturn brother, Sawyer Gallagher, and her awesome pro bono lawyer. I will be honest and say that this book had a lot to live up to because I loved the first book in the series. Luckily, this one is delightful as well.
Sawyer is a great hero. He’s vulnerable and sweet and just all-around lovely. He’s such an older brother that he still blames himself for not saving his sister from herself. He’s also a giant, gruff, shy lumberjack. I know, I already read the book and even I swooned a little at that. The heroine, Jenna, is witty and endearing in her own right. She’s a good lawyer, but she finds her primary job unsatisfying and can’t resist taking on more pro bono cases than her firm would like. They’re what she feels passionate about.
This story has a nice twist on the forced proximity trope. Usually, a holiday romance would use snow to trap the hero and heroine together. Mayberry, to buck tradition, instead uses a broken limb and an infectious disease. Phew, I might have passed out from all the sexiness just typing that. But truthfully, the romance is totally adorable. There’s really no angst between them. They both are almost immediately attracted to one another and once they realize that the attraction is mutual… well, it’s pretty much on like Donkey Kong.
“Any time. And I mean that. I love telling six-foot-two guys built like tree trunks how wrong they are. Gives me a thrill.”
There is some angst in the form of Jenna’s past and strained familial relationship, but it feels like a real issue that a real person might have. Also, the conflict involves Sawyer making a decision that he knows could end one of two ways, but he makes it fully knowing the possible consequences and is prepared to deal with them. How awesome is that?
This is a quiet holiday romance in which two likable characters meet, get stricken with unfortunate medical calamities, watch a whole bunch of Terminator movies, and fall in love. It’s great. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Another win for Mayberry, in my book.
Grade: A-
Summary:
Since tragedy estranged defense attorney Jenna Macintosh from her family, she’s done her best to pretend Christmas doesn’t exist. Not so easy this year when she needs to work with client Lacey Gallagher, who is living on her brother Sawyer’s Christmas tree farm. All those fragrant pines dripping with twinkling lights are bad enough, but when disaster strikes, Jenna is stuck alone in a wooded cabin with Sawyer, the hottest man she’s ever met.
Experience has taught Sawyer Gallagher that smart city women like Jenna don’t want men like him, but when Jenna falls ill, he must abandon his plan to keep his distance and soon he’s trying to work out ways to make her his—and not just for Christmas.
Other books in this series:
