When Christmas Eve leads to disaster of epic proportions, fate should give you a do-over, don’t you think?ShastaA chance encounter with a Harley-riding Santa and a bulging sack of goodies on the worst day of the year turns my world upside down. Too bad I’m on a man diet, especially from silver foxes who give me heart palpitations and hot flashes. I cling to willpower like a starving woman front … willpower like a starving woman front and center at a buffet and say no to each of his swoon-worthy attempts to rekindle the romance I walked away from decades before.
Duke
She’s got so much baggage I’m tripping over it in my efforts to show her how great we could still be together. When she makes an offer most men would jump at, I almost accept. But everything I’ve ever wanted has slipped through my fingers and I won’t let us be another casualty. Just one question: how do you woo a woman who has sworn off all men forever?
Christmas Eve Do-Over is a second-chance romance novella for the over-40 crowd in the Beach Squad series. Read as a stand-alone or at the end of the series. Warning: reading this novella will give you a ’90s song mind virus and make you believe in second chances no matter how badly you’ve been burned.
more
A fantastic ending to the Beach Squad! I loved this entire series and I love the leader of the squad gets her book! A novella that’s a stand a lone, but trust me you’ll want to read the whole series. Loved that it is an older couple that has been through his and downs and it’s a second chance romance. I loved it. Great read
Time passes and people get older but true love never dies. It just takes a back seat to other relationships, heartache and just trying to get by. Sometimes life gets in the way and we make decisions that affect us our entire lives. There is always a rainbow of happiness in a time of despair and second chance love can be beautiful and worth waiting for.
Shasta had been alone for a long time but she liked her freedom and it gave her time to teach self defense classes, mentor and empower young women, and spend time with her best girlfriends, The Beach Squad. The girls may all be younger than her but she cherishes their friendships and they are always there for each other. Not many people know about her unhappy past or about her high school boyfriend that she let slip away.
Duke made her feel special and always made her smile, until she chose someone else and her life became a living hell.
Duke had worked as a lifeguard up and down the California coast and had just moved to Huntington Beach to take a part time job training Junior lifeguards. Duke couldn’t believe that he ran into Shasta at the Christmas parade while he was riding his motorcycle, dressed as Santa. She was even more beautiful and just as sassy, and seeing her again brought back wonderful memories and he knew that this was his chance to get her back. He needed to get to know this Shasta, whose eyes looked sad and wistful and who had sworn off men forever.
The Beach Squad series is very special to me because the books feature women who are strong, work hard and who help each other when times are tough. Shasta thought she would never have her happily ever after then all of a sudden Duke drove into town on his Harley looking sexy as ever, even with a little silver in his beard. I am sorry to see the series end but whenever I want to feel the warm breezes and see the blue ocean, I will pick up one of the books, and turn the page.
This is the seventh book in the Beach Squad Series. A second chance romance for Shasta and Duke. You’ll recognize characters from previous books in the series but it can be read as a standalone. An emotional rollercoaster but no spoilers here. Is Duke able to convince Shasta to break down the walls around her heart and go for a second chance at love. I read a reader copy and voluntarily chose to review.
I found this authors writing style easy to read and interesting. Its the first book i have read by her not realising it was the last in a series. The characters were mostly likable although Shasta was a but prickly to start.
I enjoyed the premis if combining insta love and second chance romance. The idea of exes coming back together and being in love again within a short time was fun.
My two main issues are that the Christmas eve element didnt really factor. The name gives the impression its going to be more of a festive book but Christmas plays very little part.
My second issue is the timeline is way out of sync. They see each other again for the first time Christmas eve, speak properly on Christmas day and go on a date boxing day, ok that all works but then it says its been a few days since the date and he comes to her studio with his lifeguard kids for a weeks training. He then avoids her for the majority of the week so at least 7 days have passed since the date on boxing day yet its then mentioned its 5 days until her friends new years eve wedding?? And then after the wedding she spends the night and they are woken by 5am phone call her other friend is in labour and they get to the hospital and its commented that the car park quiet as its new years eve. No it would be new years day. This really detracts from the story for me.
ONE HEART MELTING READ!!!
Oh man, talk about a spectacular ending. This read is as captivating as it is riveting from beginning to end. All the twists, turns and unpredictable events along with surprising circumstances that really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. You feel everything the characters feels, you hurt, love and cry right along with them. Marika didn’t hold back or pull any punches, she threw it right out there and it all came out brilliantly. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really brings this phenomenal tale to life flawlessly. Remarkable job Marika, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
This is the perfect second-chance story. I loved everything about this book! It was so sweet and romantic. Shasta is such a strong heroine that I thought Duke was the perfect book boyfriend for her. I can’t tell you how much everyone needs to read this book!
I absolutely loved this book!!! It was a phenomenal ending to the Beach Squad series!!! Throughout all the books, I always wondered about Shasta and if she would ever get her happy ending. Well let me tell you, Marika Ray did not disappoint with this novella. This book is about second chances and how sometimes when you least expect it, love will sneak up on you and your life will be changed forever. Shasta and Duke’s story started in high school and it picked up many years later, at a Santa Claus parade. Neither of them expected to see each other again, but sometimes fate has other plans. Their story had some ups and downs, but they fought hard to get to their happy ending. I couldn’t put this book down and all I can say is that I need more Beach Squad books in my life!!!!!
This is a nice end to the Beach Squad series. The author has taken subjects of current importance and incorporated it into a story full of happiness, sadness, warmth, love, healing, strength, friendship, smiles, and hope. This book is full of hope. It’s a tale that shows you in an understated way how to take your power back.
Shasta and Duke are drawn to each other after being a part for many years. Each has their own story to tell and get beyond. That’s where the book really gets interesting. We get to delve into areas of Shasta’s life that we were never previously privy to. Duke has tenacity and persistence to a fault, in a good way! Both have their work cut out for them to get what they want!
It was a touching way to end the series. I’m hoping that maybe these wonderful people will appear in future books. However, if they don’t the author has certainly done her characters justice and given the lives they all deserve. What started out for me as what I thought would be just a fun beach bum, nothing deep series has become so much more. The author taught me not to judge a book by it’s cover or title!
We’ve watched Shasta as the ‘mom’ to the Beach Squad girls and finally we get to know about her story. I loved her but there were so many times I wanted to try to shake some sense into her. Duke was just awesome – everything perfect book boyfriends are made of. I’m very emotional to see the end of this book. Partly because Shasta and Duke’s story has some really big emotional moments in it, but mostly because it contains the series epilog and I am so completely not ready to say goodbye to these amazing characters.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
What a fantastic ending to the Beach Squad series!!! This book is all about 2nd chances and how when, sometimes, you least expect it, love will sneak up on you and your life will be changed forever in the best way . This book can be read as a standalone but having read about the other characters in previous books enhanced the story so well. What the novella is about is Shasta and Duke story– they dated in high school. They sadly broke up in HS and years later fate put them into one another’s path. We watched Shasta learn to love again along with the support of the rest of the Beach Squad and it was so wonderful to watch her learn what she taught others. This is a beautiful 2nd chance at love novella only I am sad that this series is ending. It was great to see all the characters again. This is a sweet over 40 novella and had a good plot. I would definitely recommend this as a book to read.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
The queen mum of the snark squad gets her HEA!!!
Shasta, the unofficial queen mother of the Beach Squad, takes matters into her own hands when it appears that a biker Santa is taking advantage of a parade watcher. Little did she know that the Santa was someone from her past. As the story progresses tragedies from the past are drawn out, stubbornness and snark rule, and a war is waged for the future they should have had. It is a shame that Marika Ray’s Beach Squad had to come to an end. Although I would like to see her maybe branch this out with the kids of the Squad or maybe throwing us a bone with Raina’s story. I absolutely loved all of the snark and sass Ms. Ray packed into this book and series. Reader Discretion advised due to dark subject matter and/or possible triggers discussed.
I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
What a wonderful ending to the Beach Squad series. I enjoyed reading this fun, over 40 novella about Shasta and Duke and their second-chance at love. These are two characters that are relatable and you want them to be able to move past all of the hurt from their pasts so they can both have their deserved hea. Plus, all of the throw back songs to the 90’s were fun to think about as well. We will miss the Beach Squad and their fun loving group of men, Thank you Marika Ray.
3.5
This is my first Marika Ray book. It was a sweet second chance instalove romance. After 2 decades Shasta and Duke reconnect. It all happens during the Christmas season. Shasta’s past made the Christmas season less enjoyable. Duke brought the happiness back to the season and her life. It was a quick read and sweet.