What readers are saying about Code Red Christmas
~ While I’ve liked all the books in the series. I think this is my favorite ( of course I said the same about all the others also). ~
~ I really love this series and Darby and Cal’s story didn’t disappoint. ~
~ Kristy gives us another great read! All the books in this series are page turners. Once you pick it up you won’t want to put it down. ~
you won’t want to put it down. ~
This book is the fifth in the Coach’s Boys series. Because of the mystery involving a secondary character, the books should be read in order.
When she promised ‘until death do us part,’ she meant it…
When Darby O’Hara believed in something, she believed in it forever, and her marriage rated at the top of that list. But she hadn’t counted on a husband who devoted most of his life to his business. As the years passed, and he spent more and more hours away from home, her dreams of becoming a mother seemed to be just that – a dream. One that would never be fulfilled. Being patient hadn’t worked. Talking hadn’t either, and one day she decided she’d had enough. It was time to make a new life for herself. Maybe with the handsome and attentive Dylan.
Achieving success had always been important to him…
No one had ever loved their wife more than Cal O’Hara loved his, but he’d never figured out how to balance his personal life and his business. And then came the day she announced her intention to divorce him. In that moment he knew he’d do anything to win her back. When a holiday reprieve comes his way, he knows he’s got one chance to make some serious changes. He’s willing to give everything he has to win Darby back. The question is … will everything be enough to make her want to stay?
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Amazing fifth book in the Coach’s Boys Series. It was also by far the hardest book to read. Cal and Darby are both deeply wounded by their present and their past. Darby has finally reached the end of her patience with Cal. She’s done waiting for him to make her a priority. Eight years of neglect, eight years of promises that they would start a family, eight years of apologies for coming home late and eight years of his job coming first. She faces Cal with the declaration that she’s done with their marriage. Cal’s heart is broken, he never thought that he could lose Darby. He loves her. I liked that Cal acknowledged the errors and neglect that led them to the breaking point. He doesn’t bury his head or point fingers. He takes responsibility and seeks help. He wants Darby to come back to him, for love. The changes he makes to his life are for himself and in doing so he draws her back to him. It was incredible to see the rest of the Coach’s boys circle around lending support and strength. Loving each other enough to speak hard truth and give brotherly advice. The ending is truly heartwarming.
Highly recommended series and author
At first, while reading Code Red Christmas, I was a little frustrated with Darby and Cal. They both have some areas that they needed to work on and they needed to figure out how to communicate with each a little better about their individual struggles. Thankfully, after seeing the changes they each need to make and coming to some realizations about themselves and each other, things in their marriage are on their way to improving.
**Spoiler Alert** Darby starts out the book, talking with a male co-worker and expressing interest in him. Throughout the book, she insists that she’s not having an affair with him (mainly by saying that she hadn’t even kissed him), but you don’t have to kiss someone to already be having an “emotional affair” with someone—putting that person over your spouse, talking to them about your problems, and doing things to facilitate an emotional connection that should be reserved for your spouse. Her attitude about this really bothered me. While she may not have kissed him, she was actively choosing to spend time with him (often over spending time with her husband) while still married, knowing that he wanted more and that she did, too. Not okay in my book and the start of an affair because affairs go much deeper than physical affection. She was already starting the process of making her heart available to him while still being married and that really bothers me (especially that she never seemed to see it that way-in her mind, it was all okay because she hadn’t ever kissed him). With that being said, I am still very glad about the outcome of the book and that Cal and Darby realized their marriage is worth fighting for and that they need to put forth the effort to fix their relationship.
Ed’s stalker—Oh my goodness! Things finally come to a head with the stalker and it will be quite a surprise to see just what’s been happening. I can’t wait to see how the rest of this part of the story line goes in the next book.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*