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heroineinabook's review against another edition
2.0
So it seems I’m in the very much the minority on this book.
I did not finish it because it felt like the emphasis was on Nessa’s loins rather than the story of grief, loss, and redemption. Also, the big secret revealed in book one is withheld here with vague comments about Nessa’s “terrible secret.” This is book two of the series, we should have the secret told to us and watch as the ramifications unfold but no, we’re not told what this “terrible secret is in the first 25% of the book, just Nessa’s moaning about it existing.
So the slow burn wasn’t really a slow burn but a pound in your face hot sexy times that began on page 3. this reminded me a lot of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita the Vampire Slayer series where the up to around book eight or nine, we have a paranormal mysteries going on with some romance and sex thrown in, which is what I totally signed up for but in the later books, Antia couldn’t move a foot without banging someone and it got tiresome.
I don’t like tiresome in my sex scenes and unfortunately with Christmas at Rose Bend, that’s what I got which bored me to tears. The ending was also super choppy which was distracting. I’m not sure if it was because what I read was an ebook ARC but I found it took away from the writing.
I saw a conversation on Twitter recently amongst various authors that as a general rule, authors shouldn’t clutch pearls if a reader doesn’t like their book because often times, the reader will read something else by the author that may appeal to them. I find this way with Simone. I found enough in her snark and sass, which I always appreciate, to read her other stuff. But truth be told, this book just didn’t fulfill the promise it offered up.
I did not finish it because it felt like the emphasis was on Nessa’s loins rather than the story of grief, loss, and redemption. Also, the big secret revealed in book one is withheld here with vague comments about Nessa’s “terrible secret.” This is book two of the series, we should have the secret told to us and watch as the ramifications unfold but no, we’re not told what this “terrible secret is in the first 25% of the book, just Nessa’s moaning about it existing.
So the slow burn wasn’t really a slow burn but a pound in your face hot sexy times that began on page 3. this reminded me a lot of Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita the Vampire Slayer series where the up to around book eight or nine, we have a paranormal mysteries going on with some romance and sex thrown in, which is what I totally signed up for but in the later books, Antia couldn’t move a foot without banging someone and it got tiresome.
I don’t like tiresome in my sex scenes and unfortunately with Christmas at Rose Bend, that’s what I got which bored me to tears. The ending was also super choppy which was distracting. I’m not sure if it was because what I read was an ebook ARC but I found it took away from the writing.
I saw a conversation on Twitter recently amongst various authors that as a general rule, authors shouldn’t clutch pearls if a reader doesn’t like their book because often times, the reader will read something else by the author that may appeal to them. I find this way with Simone. I found enough in her snark and sass, which I always appreciate, to read her other stuff. But truth be told, this book just didn’t fulfill the promise it offered up.
andrea_author's review
5.0
Nessa is on a road trip with her adolescent sister following the death of their father. They're spending Christmas in Rose Bend, giving Nessa a much needed break from her job as an ER nurse. The town's Christmas spirit grates on her nerves, but she tolerates it to make her sister happy.
More trying is Wolf, the innkeeper's handsome son. He's just so…nice. And welcoming. And good with his hands. And who needs that, really? Nessa is too busy protecting her heart to make time for a man who's pursuing her for a holiday fling. That could lead to feelings. And wanting things she can't have. She's already experienced enough of that in her life. She doesn't believe in Christmas miracles—but she just might find one anyway.
I love grumpy/sunshine books where the FMC is the grumpy one. Nessa and Wolf both have their dark sides, but he brings her the acceptance and hope she deeply needs. This book is just the right balance Simone's natural edginess and small-town Christmas charm. More, please!
Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
More trying is Wolf, the innkeeper's handsome son. He's just so…nice. And welcoming. And good with his hands. And who needs that, really? Nessa is too busy protecting her heart to make time for a man who's pursuing her for a holiday fling. That could lead to feelings. And wanting things she can't have. She's already experienced enough of that in her life. She doesn't believe in Christmas miracles—but she just might find one anyway.
I love grumpy/sunshine books where the FMC is the grumpy one. Nessa and Wolf both have their dark sides, but he brings her the acceptance and hope she deeply needs. This book is just the right balance Simone's natural edginess and small-town Christmas charm. More, please!
Thanks, Booksprout, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
kdurham2's review against another edition
2.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Nessa Hunt has been grieving for a long time with the recent deaths of her mother and her father figure. When her mother passed away she left Nessa with more questions than answers about the truth of her past, so she goes to a small town in Massachusetts for the holiday season with her half sister to regroup and decide what her next steps are.
Nessa Hunt has been grieving for a long time with the recent deaths of her mother and her father figure. When her mother passed away she left Nessa with more questions than answers about the truth of her past, so she goes to a small town in Massachusetts for the holiday season with her half sister to regroup and decide what her next steps are.
fictionallysam's review
5.0
"I can catch you if you fall, but, baby, you have to be willing to take the leap. You'll never know if you don't try me. I'm begging you to try me."
I'd like to think that Naima Simone watched a Hallmark Christmas movie one day and said "hold my hot chocolate" and then went on to shatter the norm with the beautiful and spellbinding story of finding family, healing, and love during the Christmas season. Christmas in Rose Bend is a feel-good romance about a ER Nurse, Nessa, and her little sister as they take a month long vacation to the small town of Rose Bend. Forced to fulfill the dying wish of her estranged father, Nessa leans into her mantra of "get in and get out". However, what her and her mantra weren't banking on was the smoldering carpenter, Wolf, and his loud and loving family to flip her on her head and show her what its like to take a risk and love again.
I probably did not do this book justice with that synopsis but oh my goodness, this book was everything and more I wanted in a Christmas romance. Nessa and Wolf were dynamic, both caring the weight of such heavy burdens and both being people enough to own up to them and their actions. I loved watching them both peel back the layers of each other as they grew closer and each giving each other the respect to do so at the others pace and time. The communication between them was what chef kisses were made of! I constantly found myself mumbling "this is what a healthy relationship looks like" which brought a whole other level of sexy to the story as a whole. The chemistry between Wolf and Nessa was sizzling form the moment these two met on page and the fire only seemed to burn hotter and bigger with each chapter.
I absolutely adored the entire cast of characters in the story and how you can see each of them leading their own life with each interaction. The story felt so natural and authentic that I never realized I was reading a story instead of living it first hand with these people. Simone does a spectacular job reeling you in and keeping you with her lyrical storytelling and hooking in-depth characters. The only thing I had an issue with (and this is literally just because I wish there was more) was that the ending felt a bit rushed; I wanted more time to see the resolution between certain characters and wishing for more in terms of Nessa and her father. Again though, this is literally me just wanting more because I absolutely fell in love with these characters.
If you are looking for a beautifully written and heart warming story this Christmas season--I highly recommend going and grabbing this one! Honestly, Naima Simone knocked this out of the park, and I'm so excited to dive into her backlist and see what else she has written!
jaimejustreadsromance's review
4.0
This was my first time reading a book from Naima Simone but it will absolutely not be my last!
Nessa and Wold certainly made a great impression on me!! Could Wolf have been any more perfect? The way he waited for Nessa's consent to comfort her, the way he connected with her sister, how loyal and supportive he was to his family and the way he called her BABY? Come on!! And don't even get me started on the carnal connection between him and Nessa. I was NOT expecting that!
I was heartbroken for Nessa and everything she went through with her father. Not only did she have to go through the loss of losing her mother, she had to contend with the secret her mom confessed on her death bed and everything that means to her past and future.
I thought the way that Wolf helped Nessa navigate the emotions of her secret and newly being appointed her sister's guardian was a beautiful journey. Naima Simone was great at world-building and character development and I will for sure be checking out her backlist soon!!
Nessa and Wold certainly made a great impression on me!! Could Wolf have been any more perfect? The way he waited for Nessa's consent to comfort her, the way he connected with her sister, how loyal and supportive he was to his family and the way he called her BABY? Come on!! And don't even get me started on the carnal connection between him and Nessa. I was NOT expecting that!
I was heartbroken for Nessa and everything she went through with her father. Not only did she have to go through the loss of losing her mother, she had to contend with the secret her mom confessed on her death bed and everything that means to her past and future.
I thought the way that Wolf helped Nessa navigate the emotions of her secret and newly being appointed her sister's guardian was a beautiful journey. Naima Simone was great at world-building and character development and I will for sure be checking out her backlist soon!!
wilko's review against another edition
5.0
Your heart breaks for Nessa and Ivy not only as they don't have a close half sister relationship but due to the secret Nessa was told by her Mum just before she passed. Neesa is lost and trying to work through revelations from the past as well as work out how to show Ivy she cares, where to from here for both of them and can she ever return to her job she loved so catching feels for the B&B's son was not something she expected. I just loved Nessa and Wolfgang aka Wolf as as much as they fight how they feel one of them needs to take a stand and fight for the love they have and Wolf needs to be the soft landing as everything slowly falls into place and is revealed, then there is Ivy and as much as she sounds like a snarly preteen she is also finding her way and Rose Bend is cathartic for her as well as. There are soo many emotions you go through with this book, you heart gets torn apart and mended while we see secrets rip people apart, families finally come together, love and laughter as well as tears and happiness but most of all acceptance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
kirstyreviewsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Christmas in Rose Bend - Naima Simone
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Mills & Boon and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Grieving ER nurse Nessa Hunt is on a road trip with her sullen teen half sister, Ivy, and still reeling from her mother’s deathbed confession: Nessa’s dad wasn’t really her dad. Seeking answers, they arrive in Rose Bend to find a small town teeming with the kind of Christmas cheer Nessa usually avoids. But then she meets the innkeeper’s ruggedly sexy son, Wolfgang Dennison.
I was slightly concerned going into this book as I hadn't read the first book in the series, I was worried that I would feel like I was missing important information - this was not the case. This is a fast moving festive romance that is fun to read.
This is a nice, charming book to read this festive season. I especially enjoyed the sound of all of the festivities that take place in Rose Bend.
Rating: 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Mills & Boon and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Grieving ER nurse Nessa Hunt is on a road trip with her sullen teen half sister, Ivy, and still reeling from her mother’s deathbed confession: Nessa’s dad wasn’t really her dad. Seeking answers, they arrive in Rose Bend to find a small town teeming with the kind of Christmas cheer Nessa usually avoids. But then she meets the innkeeper’s ruggedly sexy son, Wolfgang Dennison.
I was slightly concerned going into this book as I hadn't read the first book in the series, I was worried that I would feel like I was missing important information - this was not the case. This is a fast moving festive romance that is fun to read.
This is a nice, charming book to read this festive season. I especially enjoyed the sound of all of the festivities that take place in Rose Bend.
Rating: 4/5
mushmysteriesandmore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mimireadsromance's review
5.0
Family, hope, and love! Christmas in Rose Bend is perfect!
This book-oh my word! It's a Hallmark movie on page, but with more heart and heat than I could have ever hoped for. Naima Simone has officially set the standard for my expectations of holiday romance novels. The emotional depth of these characters is so beautiful. I loved every aspect of this book-from how Nessa and Wolf have to learn to deal with their pasts, to the beautiful story of what makes a family, to the rediscovery of the joy that can be found during the holiday season. This book is a gift! It's the gift of healing, and love, and hope. I cannot thank the author enough for inviting readers along on this beautiful journey.
This book-oh my word! It's a Hallmark movie on page, but with more heart and heat than I could have ever hoped for. Naima Simone has officially set the standard for my expectations of holiday romance novels. The emotional depth of these characters is so beautiful. I loved every aspect of this book-from how Nessa and Wolf have to learn to deal with their pasts, to the beautiful story of what makes a family, to the rediscovery of the joy that can be found during the holiday season. This book is a gift! It's the gift of healing, and love, and hope. I cannot thank the author enough for inviting readers along on this beautiful journey.
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a free copy of Christmas in Rose Bend. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*
Rose Bend is one of my favorite fictional small-towns. It just has this feel-good quality to it, and it feels like miracles are possible there.
Nessa has been dealt a very difficult hand - she's the sole adult in her half sister's Ivy's life, but she also just found out they actually weren't related by blood at all. Searching for clarity after having been forced to take a leave of absence / vacation from her job after a panic attack, she thought Rose Bend would be the place to do it. However, she did not count on Wolf being so everything, or having to deal so fully with her own feelings. She also didn't think she'd be able to navigate Ivy's moodswings and dealing with a teenager who had her own perspective on absolutely everything.
Simone is a master storyteller, her stories have well fleshed-out characters, and I was left wanting more at the end, while strangely feeling satisfied at the same time.
Rose Bend is one of my favorite fictional small-towns. It just has this feel-good quality to it, and it feels like miracles are possible there.
Nessa has been dealt a very difficult hand - she's the sole adult in her half sister's Ivy's life, but she also just found out they actually weren't related by blood at all. Searching for clarity after having been forced to take a leave of absence / vacation from her job after a panic attack, she thought Rose Bend would be the place to do it. However, she did not count on Wolf being so everything, or having to deal so fully with her own feelings. She also didn't think she'd be able to navigate Ivy's moodswings and dealing with a teenager who had her own perspective on absolutely everything.
Simone is a master storyteller, her stories have well fleshed-out characters, and I was left wanting more at the end, while strangely feeling satisfied at the same time.