From enemies to lovers two lonely hearts become one with a heart warming twist…Not Just For Christmas is book #2 of the Romance in The City series of stand-alone, novella length, romantic, steamy stories set in fast paced cities all around the world. Readers are taken on a romantic journey set in London, during the festive season following two characters originally opposed to each other fall in … other fall in love. There’s enough warmth and sensuality to keep readers warm at any time of year.
As Christmas draws near thirty five year old social worker Ava Green, finds herself desperate to not be alone at her favourite time of year. Following the break up of her engagement earlier in the year, Ava has spent ten months on a mission to get over her ex. With the support of her two of her closest girlfriends Tasha and Marie, Ava makes a bold move that surprises her girlfriends in order to find a companion for the festive season. Ava’s path crosses with tall dark and handsome Detective Jerome Samuels, an older man and a divorcee in search of love, the sad thing is Ava can’t stand him. Once their paths cross after a few bumps along the way there’s no turning back, these two characters are caught up in a whirlwind of sensual and heart warming romance, once they settle their differences. A love affair that Detective Jerome Samuels hopes is not just for Christmas, he’s on a mission to claim his lady Ava.
more
I thought this was a great, sweet and romantic read. You have two people who have been hurt as well as learned things from past relationships. Both are tired of being lonely on Christmas. Ava takes her friends advise, after several failed dating attempts, and places an advent. It’s suppose to be just a way to get through Christmas without being lonely. Jerome who is ready for another relationship looks over the advent every week. He stubbles upon Ava’s, not knowing it’s her. Ava and Jerome work together. She doesn’t like his alpha male attitude and he admire her. As they email back n forth he finds out who she is. She’s non the wiser. He sets forth the romancing. They find they have a lot in common but when she finds out it’s actually her coworker she’s been emailing will she still go out on their date or back out? Can she get past her failed relationships?
I felt it was about time to read something with a Christmas theme and saw this bright festive cover, read the blurb and knew I wanted to read it. I have seen three different covers for this novella book but have to admit I love this one with the red bauble the most!
The main female character is Ava Green who is a social worker. Ava has recently split up with her fiancé when she found him cheating on her! As Christmas is fast approaching, Ava becomes sad and down hearted about the thought of spending Christmas alone. On an evening out with her two female best friends they come up with a plan to find Ava someone to spend Christmas with. Marie & Tasha help her create an advert and draw up a contract for a “no-strings” Christmas fling.
Whilst Ava is waiting for replies to her advert, she finds herself looking for potential Christmas fling material around her at work. There isn’t really anyone she would want to spend the time with. She notices the rather handsome Detective who she sometimes works with her on her child protection, social work cases. The detective has all the characteristics that Ava likes, he is tall, dark and he can be quite sharp and surly, so no he isn’t suitable boyfriend or boyfriend just for Christmas material at all.
Ava does get answers to her adverts but they don’t work out and she is just about to resign herself to having Christmas alone when she gets another potential Christmas “friend”. This time she takes it slower, not suggesting meeting up, she wants to know more about this guy she may decide to spend Christmas with. At the same time as all this something strange seems to have come over Detective Samuels at work, he has suddenly become Mr Happy Sunshine, not his usual moody, cynical self at all. He actually has a bit of a chat with her now. Ava doesn’t understand the sudden change in his attitude. Ava soon puts the Detective to the back of her mind as her new email “just for Christmas” boyfriend sends her beautiful flowers to her work place, then chocolates. Ava is impressed he really seems to know how to spoil a woman.
So, who does Ava end up with at Christmas? Alone? With a just for Christmas boyfriend? or a maybe more permanent boyfriend?
I really liked the character of Ava, she secretly still wants all the romance of a relationship, but feels like there isn’t enough time to build that type of relationship before Christmas, so she has decided she will compromise and make a simple contract for a “no strings boyfriend for Christmas” she is willing to do all the work of making the Christmas Dinner so long as she doesn’t have to eat it alone.
I also loved the characters of Detective Samuels, who initially comes across as being a serious, all work man, not interested in romance, and happy to be in his own company and alone. Then as we learn more about him, his situation is explained, and you see past the tough exterior façade that he presents when at work.
I really enjoyed this Christmas themed novella. It was a different kind of romance. When Ava gives up on getting a normal boyfriend in time for the festive season, she comes up with the quirky idea of have a “no strings, boyfriend for Christmas”. Her two best friends not only support her idea, they help her draw up a legally binding contract containing what she does and doesn’t want along with how far she wishes the romance to go.
This was a sweet, romantic with a festive feel too. I guess the moral within this novella could be never give up on what you really want. Or perhaps be prepared to approach things from a different angle if one way of finding love isn’t working.
To sum up, I really did enjoy reading this feel good, festive romance. Would be interested in checking out more by this author.
She doesn’t want to be alone over Christmas so she places and advert and starts to get to know this intriguing man Little does she know that it is Jerome Samuels a detective she has clashed with before as her job as a social worker. She is damaged by a past relationship and he swore never again after a marriage that ended in divorce as they get to know one another by email how will they react when they finally meet and see who they have been falling for.