By Zoe Allison
Star rating: ★★★★☆
Blurb
It’s hard to escape your ex when you’re working together over Christmas in the Scottish Highlands, but being stuck together might be the best possible present in this sparkling new contemporary romance.
Maya Bashir is dreading her drive home for Christmas and having to explain that she's just left her high-paying job and a long-term relationship, so a brief detour to her friend’s festive party doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. Until Maya walks in to find the last person she wants to see. Sam, the boy who broke her heart eight years ago. And he’s serving drinks. Naked.
Sam Holland is working an extra job on the sly to help his friend get by. But little did he expect Maya Bashir to come barrelling back into his life, learning about his secret side-hustle and taking back her old job alongside him at his daytime role as a ski instructor on the slopes of the Scottish Highlands.
As both Sam and Maya realize that their reason for heartbreak so many years ago wasn’t entirely as it seemed, they must learn to stand up for what they want the most…or else miss their second chance at love.
Genre: Contemporary romance
Read if you Like:
☃️ Second chance romance
☃️ Set in Scotland
☃️ Forced proximity
☃️ Best friend's brother
☃️ Biracial heroine
My Thoughts:
I picked this book because I love a ski resort setting for a book in the winter. It provides the winter feel without the heavy boots and travel. However, I was a little surprised that this one was less about the holidays and more about family expectations and problematic relationships. That being said I very much enjoyed the story.
I enjoyed seeing how Maya's family dynamics affected her and her sister differently. Some people internalize pressure and others resent it. I thought she and Sam made a good couple and I liked that she was willing to point out to him when his reactions were unreasonable. You see very few romances where the hero deals with emotional abuse from a former partner (not a parent) and I thought it was a very interesting inclusion.
While I enjoyed this book I don't think it will be for everyone. First, it isn't really a holiday book despite the title. That didn't really bother me, but don't feel the need to read it in time for the holidays. Second, there is significant miscommunication and emotional cheating. While I think it worked in the context of Sam's unhealthy relationship, it will make the book a no go for some people. Finally, in this book the hero works as a naked butler. While I don't think there is anything wrong with that. It is treated differently than it would have been if it was the heroine. There is a passing mention that people are grouping him and it is brushed off with no acknowledgment that it could be upsetting. I do think it's important to be mindful that we aren't acting like men objectifying women is horrible but women objectifying men is just a fun party activity.
Overall, I think this is an enjoyable book, that is being marketed in a less than idea way. For one thing, seeing the US cover I assumed the female main character was white when she is mixed race. Second, the title and description go out of their way to mention the holidays which are a very small part of the story, and do not mention the relationship drama which is a much larger part of the story.
I recommend this one if you enjoy, familial drama, right person wrong time, a Scottish small-town setting and stories about dealing with the aftermath of an emotionally abusive relationship. There is skiing and a great winter setting so this one is a great winter read even if you don't get to it around the holidays.
I listened to the audiobook version of this title and I wouldn't recommend it for a picky audiobook listener. It is single narrator even though the book is dual pov and the narrator has an American accent but then uses Scottish accents for the characters. I prefer books where the narrator and the main character share an accent.
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