Monday, December 31, 2018

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber




Publication: October 2, 2018
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Source: Publisher

Synopsis:

An uplifting Christmas tale, set in the Alaskan wilderness, about finding love where it's least expected--from the #1 New York Times bestselling author who's one of America's most beloved storytellers. 

Before beginning her new job as sous chef at one of Seattle's finest restaurants, Josie Stewart takes on a six-month position cooking at a lodge in an Alaskan lake town. It's only temporary--or so she thinks, as she becomes a valued part of the local community, falling in love with the people who call the Klutina Lake home. But one man, in particular, stands out among Josie's new friends: Palmer Saxon, a quiet, intense sword craftsman, whose very existence forces her to question whether her heart wants to return to Washington at all.

******

Palmer, a master swordsmith who lives in Ponder Alaska is contemplating settling down. He is quickly approaching his thirties and feels that the time might be right to finally find himself a wife. Luckily for him he meets Josie, a sous chef at The Caribou Lake Lodge. However Josie is a native of Seattle and her job in Alaska is temporary an ending soon when the lodge closes for the winter.

Josie is independent and is very dedicated to her work. She loves to cook and is great at taking charge. She manages to score a job working for a very famous chef in Seattle, but while she is waiting to start that job, she’s been in Ponder for six months working at the lodge.

Even though Josie and Palmer seemed cute together, I didn't feel connected to the characters. I would have loved to watch their relationship bloom from their first meeting up until the end of the story. I think because I never got the chance to see the relationship grow, that hindered me from feeling connected to the characters and also from being invested in their relationship/outcome. The romance was okay but it just didn't make me swoon. The author made it seem like Palmer was a little socially awkward, however seeing his interactions with not only Josie but Jack and other townspeople as well, I didn't get that feeling. So the way he proposed to Josie at the beginning of the story seemed slightly out of character, even if he isn't a “romantic". But by the end Palmer redeemed himself in my eyes. Everyone got their happy ending and I was happy. The Epilogue was perfect!

Interesting thing about this story is that it didn't feel very holiday-ish or Christmassy, despite the name. I wouldn't call it a Christmas romance since the holidays are a little glossed over in this story, but it does take place during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Alaskan Holiday is a light and fluffy contemporary romance perfect for readers who enjoy their love stories with HEA endings.




RATING: 2½-3 out of 5.



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