If Christmas miracles were real, I never would have left Maple Grove…I’m not the same guy I was when I left Maple Grove twelve years ago. Before, I was broken and betrayed. Now, I’m strong and indifferent. I had one goal coming back to Maple Grove on December 23rd–celebrate at my best friend’s engagement party and get out before sunrise on Christmas Eve. But mother nature had other plans for … nature had other plans for me when a blizzard rolled through that evening and left me stranded with the one woman I can’t be trusted alone in a room with… Paige Williams.
In just 24 hours, Paige manages to flip my life on its head, making me confront my past demons. Paige is the nice to my naughty. The sweet to my spice. But one thing is for sure… she’s put the joy back in Christmas for me. And I’m never going back.
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This was a sweet & sexy novella set around Christmas time in the small town of Maple Grove. I absolutely adore this series and Holiday Intercepted was a perfect addition!
Taylor Wilson is back in town for Cam & Lydia’s engagement party. He has no desire to see or talk to anyone. Except maybe one person…
When he runs into Paige, memories come rushing back and sparks fly between them, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. This author has a talent of making me want to keep turning the pages. And I did.
It’s a heartwarming story of forgiveness with characters you can’t help but love. Definitely a story that left me feeling happy with a smile on my face.
Such a perfect, feel-good Christmas novella!
What a heartwarming and emotional Christmas gift this books was. Holiday Intercepted is about a pro football player (Taylor) who hasn’t been back to his home town of Maple Grove since high school because of a series of life changing drama that happened to him. Paige went to school with Taylor and is now the drama teacher for the local school, she secretly had a crush on Taylor when the two of them were in a high school play, but hasn’t seen him in years until he shows up at one of his best friends engagement party. I loved the vulnerability that Taylor showed, especially with being a football player, you don’t expect to see the emotional side of them. Paige is a homegrown sweetheart that falls in love with Taylor as soon as she sees him again. Loved the chemistry between these two and the emotional situation she helps Taylor through. Short story, but it really doesn’t read like one. Loved it!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.
Great read! I have not yet read any other Maple Grove books, but now I want to. I didn’t feel lost coming into the series with this book. Katana Collins gives enough for this to be a complete standalone. I enjoyed reading about Taylor and Paige. It was a short sweet story that made me laugh, swoon, and fall in love with these two. Even though it was novella the author does a great job at still making it a full story with out it feeling rushed. It’s a great romantic holiday read and I can’t wait to get to know the rest of Maple Grove!
RATING 4.5 STARS
Holiday Intercepted is a novella in the Maple Grove series by Katana Collins. I fell for this book when I first saw the cover. Then I was lucky enough to win a copy in a giveaway. This is my first book by this author. You can completely read this as a stand alone. I do admit though, that at the very beginning, it took me a bit to fit all the characters together. I went back and read the blurbs of the previous books which really helped.
Taylor Wilson grew up in Maple Grove, New Hampshire and was the local football star. During his senior year, though, his life fell apart. He couldn’t get out of town fast enough when he graduated. The only good memory he took with him was a kiss he shared with Paige Williams while performing in the school play. It was a kiss that made all other kisses pale in comparison. A kiss he never forgot. Now he has gone on to be an NFL star and hasn’t returned to Maple Grove for twelve years. It is the engagement party of his friend Cam and he is finally forced to return home two days before Christmas. He’ll show up and make a short appearance. Then he would leave as quickly as possible.
Paige Williams is the drama teacher at the Maple Grove High School. Way back in high school, she had a huge crush on Taylor. And then there was that kiss. A kiss that she has never forgotten. She knows he is finally coming back to town for Cam’s party, which she is also attending. She’s pretty sure he won’t even notice her.
Just being back in Maple Grove is bringing all the anger and disappointment back that Taylor would have rather avoided. But one look at Paige and he can’t stay away. It doesn’t take long for the chemistry between them to start sparking. The past, though, gets in the way. Paige has a way of calming him, of making him listen. Of just being there for him as no one else has been. As the blizzard outside kicks up, so does the attraction between these two and they are both able to fill an emptiness in each other that neither of them thought would ever happen.
“Why her? Why now? And why God, why, did it have to be here?”
With Paige by his side, Taylor is able to face his past and forgive. Taylor’s team lives and plays in Boston, an hour away from Maple Grove. Is it possible that this could work? That they could be a part of each other’s lives? And, what does Paige want in her future? To continue teaching here in Maple Grove, or does she have higher dreams?
“I’d spent so many years being angry and resentful. Not even trying to move beyond that emotion and for what? What good had that done for me in twelve years?”
This was definitely a weekend of Christmas Miracles for both Taylor and Paige. They have a lot to figure out. Trying for a future together is a risk. What if it doesn’t work out? Are they all in, or do they walk away?
I loved this short little book. Both of these characters has experienced so much loss and sacrifice. Together they were better, stronger. They both deserved this happiness, this Christmas Miracle.
This was a great fun quick read. I laughed, cried and fell in love with this town and all the people in it. This is the first book I have read in this series and I am so happy I got to read it. This book is one where you will believe in the power of love, coming home and Christmas Miracles. If you are looking for a quick Christmas read then pick up this book. Though I feel this book is more than just a quick read, it makes me want to read more in this town.
*I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this Christmas novella and just love Taylor and Paige. This is such a sweet heartwarming story about understanding, forgiveness, family and most importantly, love. But also how it is never too late for any of those things, if you truly want them, Taylor and Paige are great together and have such incredible chemistry. They are sexy and certainly steam things up as they help make each other’s dreams come true and lives more fulfilling. We learn so much about these complex and wonderful characters even in this shorter time, that helps explain what makes them who they are and makes you feel what they feel. I’ve come to expect that in Katana’s books and it is what I love about her writing. I was so happy with where this story went in every single way and I loved the ending. This is such a good series and I can’t wait for more!
This was the perfect read to escape with for a couple hours! Taylor has come home, first time in over 10 years, for his best friend’s engagement party with the hope of getting right back out of town early the next morning but the weather has other plans for him. Coming back brings up all the demons of his past, and there are quite a few still plaguing him. Though at the party he runs into Paige, probably the best part of his senior year of high school. They reconnect at the engagement party and the chemistry is something to behold. This is a story of forgiveness, understanding, love, and finding out it is never too late to follow your dreams. Oh and Christmas miracles are real. As I said at the beginning, this was the perfect escape book for a couple hours, it was just the right length to curl up for a afternoon and is a standalone.