Despite dreams to explore the world, I’ve never been anywhere other than this small harbor town. Single mom, local postmistress, and one-fourth owner of a failing auto repair shop are all the reasons I’ve remained planted where my roots began.
Hideaway Harbor is layered in love for the holidays, enticing visitors to the coastal area for a seasonal respite, so thanks to an unpredicted blizzard, it’s no surprise when a stranger plows into the town’s welcome sign.
What is a surprise is when he’s suddenly—and rather reluctantly by me—an extended-stay guest in my home thanks to no vacancies in town, some pesky matchmaking, and candy cane martinis on a Monday.
There’s something vaguely familiar about this new visitor. The combination of snow and tinsel colored hair. The well-trimmed matching beard. The laugh lines near his coal-colored eyes. How good he looks in the color red. He’s thoughtful and kind, and has a flair for the holiday season, which makes him most likely to make the top of Santa’s good guy (with a hint of bad boy) list.
After some disappointing news concerning the holidays, the hap, hap, happiest time of the year isn’t feeling so spectacular. But my houseguest’s presence builds a snowstorm of emotions in my chest, making my Christmas wish a transfer to the naughty list . . . with him.
Unfortunately, there’s a mystery behind his origins, and he has “not-staying” written all over him. With places to be before the calendar flips to December twenty-fourth, he’ll soon be gone, and I’ve encountered this heartbreaking, lump-of-coal sensation once before. No matter how short or sweet his visit, there’s no doubt about the magic we make together, leaving me to wonder if love is the greatest adventure we take.
Welcome to Hideaway Harbor – where Christmas charm meets small town – and six amazing authors bring you six original holiday romances steeped in heat, heart, and winter quirkiness which can be read as standalones.
Lumi is a single mom struggling with empty-nest syndrome at the holidays. She’s busy with her job at the post office and her second job of keeping the family business afloat so she can’t take the time to travel the world, although that’s what she’s always most in life. Things go from bad to worse when she learns her son won’t be home for Christmas, for the first time ever. She’s struggling to not be a bah humbug about things and begrudgingly allows a stranded stranger a place to stay until he can leave town.
Saint was just passing through when he crashed into a pole, thanks to bad weather and an obstinate St. Bernard. His Aston Martin needs special parts that will take time to get so his baby won’t be repaired quickly. He’s under pressure to get with Christmas fast approaching thanks to his family’s toy business. There are no rooms available in town, but the local matchmaker cajoles Lumi into giving Saint a room.
Lumi is determined to ignore her raging attraction to this devastatingly handsome stranger. After all, she knows better than to give her heart to a man who isn’t sticking around. But there’s something so familiar and comforting about Saint, she may not be able to help herself. This is a sweet, funny holiday story about love later in life in a small town. I loved these characters and everything about their story. I’d like to thank the author and The Author Agency for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
