Book Review: What Happens at Christmas (Romantic Suspense)

What Happens at Christmas

by 

Evonne Wareham

 
Another Christmas themed book can be crossed off my list and my plan to finish them before Easter (the end of the Easter weekend) is still on track. I have one more book on my list. 

Publisher: Choc Lit
Publication date: 5th December 2017
Pages: 255
Format Read: eBook
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley

 

Best-selling author Andrew Vitruvius knows that any publicity is good publicity. His agent tells him that often, so it must be true. In the run-up to Christmas, she excels herself - talking him into the craziest scheme yet: getting himself kidnapped, live on TV.

But when the plan goes ahead and Drew is unceremoniously thrown in the back of a van before being dragged to a hut in middle of the Brecon Beacons, it all starts to feel a little bit too real.
Meanwhile, not far away, Lori France and her four-year-old niece Misty are settling in to spend the holidays away after unexpected events leave them without a place to stay. Little do they know they’re about to make a shocking discovery and experience a Christmas they’re not likely to forget …

 

Successful author Andrew (Drew) Vitruvius reluctantly agrees to a fake kidnapping on live TV as a publicity stunt. However the kidnapping feels all too real when he is left beaten and chained in an abandoned house with no means of escape.

Lori France, an aspiring writer, is looking forward to a few days off to finish writing her first novel. When her four-year-old niece is unceremoniously dumped on her for the holiday break Lori puts aside her plans and takes her to stay at a friend’s cabin in the Brecon Beacons, determined to give Misty a happy Christmas.

I quite enjoyed this Christmasy romantic suspense with likeable characters and a few twists to keep the reader engrossed. It was a light, easy read and had a compelling mystery behind the slow-burn romance between Lori and Drew.

Drew had a heart-breaking past that he needed to work through before he could give his heart to Lori. Both characters worked through problems that arose with patience and maturity. The inclusion of 4-year-old Misty and Lori’s cat, Griff added a sense of fun and humour to the story.

I am adverse to internal monologue and there is an abundance of that throughout the story but the anguish (which is another of my pet peeves) is kept to a minimum.

What Happens at Christmas is the perfect story for a quick holiday read.

My rating: 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

 

 

Photo Credit: Goodreads

Evonne Wareham was born in South Wales and spent her childhood there. After University she migrated to London, where she worked in local Government, scribbled novels in her spare time and went to the theatre a lot. Now she is back in Wales, living by the sea, writing and studying for a PhD in history. She still loves the theatre, likes staying in hotels and enjoys the company of other authors through her membership of both the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Crime Writers' Association.