Get Christmas all year long… working on my next article. That was until I received a call from an old friend, who made me a proposition I couldn’t afford to refuse.
So this year, I was spending Christmas with the insanely rich Christmases. When I arrived at the famous mansion, Bryn, the one who invited me, was nowhere to be found. It was her older brother, Jasper who welcomed me with un-opened arms.
Jasper Christmas was a beautiful but dark angel. He was an intense, brooding man with a tortured soul. Danger dripped from his pores.
So soon Bryn’s proposition would put me at odds with this mysterious and alluring creature, who guarded their family’s secrets with his flaming sword. Sources warned me to stay away from him, but the more I tried, the more impossible he made it. Now, I’m worried our encounters will make me betray the reason I was invited to the great Christmas family estate in the first place. Or, was that his intention all along?
more
If you have read any of my previous reviews by now you know that there are something’s I really dislike in a novel. For instance more sex then plot. Or too much reality without a happily ever after. But I especially dislike cliffhangers! And if I have to wait months or a year to get the next book I become extremely agitated. Intrigued by Z.L. Arkadie is part of a trilogy so a cliffhanger was anticipated. But by the time I got to the end of the book I was so intrigued (pun intended) with the mystery that I screamed in frustration when I reached the cliff! After I got my household to settle down, I realized the rest of the series was already available, so all is not lost. My only problem now is my overflowing To Be Read Shelf and reaching the limit of this month’s book allowance. Oh to be as rich as the Christmases in Z.L. Arkadie’s Intrigued!
So putting cliffhangers aside let’s discuss what I liked about this novel. There is plenty of hot panty melting sex but it is very well blended in the plot. In fact who is involved with whom is a large part of the intrigue. The other part of the mystery is whether or not the sex is consensual as well as the hint of a dominant-submissive theme. The characters are developed over time, naturally as the main character, Holly Henderson, renowned investigative reporter, gets to know them , as a guest of the Christmases over the holidays. This again adds to the suspense as you become aware that not everyone is as straight forward as they seem. I especially loved Harper Christmas the main male character. Harper has that Gothic hero/villain vibe to him. In fact the whole family mansion at the holidays With a group of family and outsiders has that Gothic historical novel feel to it. I loved those novels as a kid so maybe that’s why I got so caught up in this novel. The suspense gave me that spine tingling feeling of excitement as I was drawn further and further into the story. And as I said before, even knowing, the author was going to leave me hanging from the side of a cliff, I was so absorbed in the story, I never saw it coming until I turned the last page. The wait to read the second book may just kill me! Ok so I was never good with delayed gratification! You can bet your bottom dollar , I will finish the Jasper Christmas trilogy, sooner rather than later!
The Christmas secrets
—>>> Holly does not make any friends in an exclusive college, just one, really, and she nets very-well-to-do Bryn as a roommate, who mysteriously disappears after their first year together. Bryn appears back in her life and invites Holly to spend Christmas with her family, but does not get a very warm welcome from Bryn’s brothers, especially the oldest, Jasper. However, their attraction to each other is instant and magnetic, and they simply cannot keep away from each other. But it is the warnings from everyone around her during her stay at the manor which has her not knowing whom to trust, as Holly is warned away from even from Bryn herself.
Intriguing family with seemingly very dark secrets and many other types of skeletons in their closets (complete with hidden passageways, too)! Looking forward to learning the answers to all the questions raised, because there were certainly a lot of bits and details revealed!
Jasper and Holly draws you in to this intriguing story. She is invited by a friend to spend the holidays with the Christmas’s family. She and Jasper do not hit it off and that is where their journey begins. He is drawn to Holly but knows it is not a good idea to have her close to his family and their secrets. She is at the top of her game as an investigative reporter and Jasper is one shrewdly manipulative person and has met his match in Holly. I can’t wait to see how this ends!
He is the power behind his family name and he knows as soon as he sees her, she is trouble. He should have sent her away but he did not and now he needs to keep his hands off her. What if he cannot? Will she get what she needs to? See how it all ends
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
It’s a good story with a cliff hanger. I haven’t bought the second book yet, I wasn’t going to but the way the book ends has left too many questions for me.
Bought sequel, could’t had to know ending.
I recieved a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I find the story interesting. It is filled with secrets and intrigue. I was really enjoying the story and was looking forward to the exciting ending when all the secrets were revealed but the story ended with cliffhanger and realise that it is a trilogy. I would need to buy too more books the get to the conclusion. I was so disappointed.
Really enjoyed it lot!!!
Everyone wants their friend to have a brother liked Jasper. Moody, dark, hot, Jasper is that guy you go after because you’re the one who can find a way in. When Jasper finally grabs the girl, you’re all in.
Creepy- no lead in or real development of a relationship, just all of the sudden sex and possession. Quit reading, so would not recommend
Love this whole series and each sibling story gets better.
Would anyone really want more money than God and know how to NOT use it? Try this on for size.
Great book!! I couldn’t put it down!! I can’t wait to read the next book so I can find out what happen with Jasper!!
This is part 1 of a 3 part series. The cliff hanger was insufficient to make me want to buy the other 2. Writing is somewhat like shades of grey in that mixed with the intrigue is a whole lot of lusty sex that borders on BDSM The over the top writing is lightened by character names: Holly, Christmas, Valentine.
I enjoyed this book though I’m not a big fan of cliff hangers which this book ended on
Kept me coming back for more. Would like to continue their story in the next book.
Story line was different but kept you reading.
Mr. Money bags left me breathless, alas, I grew bored.
I was so hooked I ended up buying the other 2 books!
After reading this book, I had to have the rest to see where they went