“CJ Hunt delivers everything I love in small town romance—sexy heroes, sparky heroines and a warm, vibrant community you want to settle into.” ~Dani Collins, USA Today Bestselling AuthorGinger Lewis knows from personal experience that the world is full of dangerous people. She’s been lucky enough to escape her rough past and cherishes her stable work family and lovable bulldog, Max. And she knows … and lovable bulldog, Max. And she knows better than to try to rescue a stranger in a snowstorm. Especially one with a chiselled jaw, perfect stubble, and 1001 secrets behind those icy blue eyes.
Eli Murphy, on the run and temporarily homeless, should be glad to spend the holidays stuck in the woods with no cell reception and no one who knows him. The isolation will allow him to regroup and plan his next move. But between the festive atmosphere, cozy cabin, and tempting fake girlfriend, Eli finds himself fantasizing about a future he doesn’t deserve. As the Reindeer Games draw to a close, he will have to come to terms with his mistakes or risk losing Ginger—and the chance to make a real home in Rivers End.
Come home to Rivers End and fall in love with this sweet, small town, fake-relationship holiday romance.
While all the Rivers End stories can be read as standalones, you may want to read this series in order to preserve any plot surprises and get the full picture of how the characters lives weave together! The following is the suggested reading order:
The MacAllisters of Rivers End
#1 – Silver Bells (Isaac + Jenna, Beginnings)
#2 – Tipsy (Shannon + Lucas)
#3 – Reindeer Games (Ginger + Eli)
#4 – Wedding Bells (Isaac + Jenna, Happily Ever After)
#5 – Elfed (Lindsay + Noah)
more
I absolutely LOVE all of C.J.Hunts books, she is brilliant! I’ve gotta say that I absolutely LOVE the cover of this book, AWE!!! I fell in love with Ginger’s character, she is such a sweet, caring and noble woman with a huge heart. I love that her boss watches over her and that all of Justin’s employees are close. I was kinda skeptical about Eli at first with how he was with his sister, but the more I got to know Eli the more I loved him. He is such an amazing guy in this book and he definitely deserved a second chance. I loved to watch Eli grow from a lost soul to finding what he really wanted; and finding a place he belongs. This book is full of suspense, mystery, friendship and deceit. The chemistry between Eli and Ginger is sweet and adorable. I loved the banter between Max, Eli and Ginger. Their story will make you want to bash Eli and love him at the same time, and laugh so hard it hurts. It’s a great read!
Reindeer Games is a wonderful addition to the River’s End series as well as being a stand-alone book. It is beautifully written with great characters and just the right combination of serious and and humour. The reindeer games themselves are simply brilliant. This is Ginger and Eli’s story but Max is the star of the book for me. I definitely recommend this book, I loved it.
I received an Advance Reader copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I didn’t like Eli from the start because of what he did to his sister. But after his story was revealed I found myself pulling for him to get his happy ever after.
Great addition to the Rivers End storyline.
An enjoyable cute short story with small town healing powers, romance, healing, love, humor, and second chances. Ginger is recovering from being resued from an abusive relationship and now helping others due the same. Eli still running from mob in sister’s stolen car is rescued and welcomed in the town and given a second chance and help working thru his past. Sparks are set on fire between these two as they change each other in ways that were beautiful and funny to watch. Lots of complications and twist to this romance on their way to redemption and a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely love Max the adorable bulldog/cupid! Great writing, a sweet love story about two people in need of a second chance and an adorable bulldog make this a fun entertaining read. I must admit it has been a while since I read the first two books in the series so I reread them before starting Reindeer Games. Although each book can be read as a standalone if you want the full story about Rivers End I highly recommend you read Silver Bells(book 1) and Tipsy(book 2).
I’ve been following this series for a while now and if I’m not mistaken, I’ve read all of the books so far. Or at least I think I have. I’ll have to check later *smiles*
He’s running from his problems, creating bad blood with his sister and all because he tried to do the right thing and ended up being screwed… and because he’s a fool for not telling the truth to the people that he really cared about, like his sister. He was the guy that didn’t believe in hopes and dreams. Why bother when you knew you will end up disappointed in the end? The time he spends on Rivers End will open his eyes and make him take the path to become the better man.
She’s living a good life now, after being able to recover from her own abusive past. It’s been years since she was rescued from an abusive relationship and now she was happy living on her own, with her loyal companion, Max. That little dog was spoiled but it was also the one that helped her thru those rough times. Now she was wary of becoming involved in a relationship with anyone, but Eli… he was a challenge to her control.
Eli and Ginger come together during the holidays and changed each other in ways that were beautiful and funny to watch. What were you expecting when you include a cute little short dog like Max?
The plot was simple but relatable. I have to say that CJ Hunt has a great ability to write stories that touch people in sweet ways, at least she has done it with me. Also, it sometimes feels like you’re watching a movie or reading someone’s journal, especially with the holiday theme surrounding everything.
What I liked the most in this book was the fact that there was no easy way out for Eli’s problems. He will have to work to solve them even though things ended on a happy note for him and Ginger. I don’t see bad weather coming their way but I liked it because it felt realistic.
I would recommend this book and any book from this series so far. I think they are great companions, especially for a cozy night with a hot cup of cocoa and a good book, this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book really held my interest….it was a very enjoyable book….Make sure you grab a copy…you wont’t be sorry
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Eli and Ginger are both a lot alike they both had less then happy childhoods and there not great on trust. But they both handled there early disappointment different Eli makes bad decisions that hurt those closest to him even if this time it was to help someone out and for his trouble hes got some bad people looking for him. Ginger got out of a bad childhood and a even worse relationship and has managed with the help of her friend Anna and the lovable Max her dog to give back and help others in bad situations move forward and out of danger. And then she finds Eli she would like to get to know him but hes keeping secrets. Eli wants to be with Ginger but he doesn’t want to bring his trouble and danger to her doorstep. With some fun Christmas cheer no phone reception and a mischievous but lovable Bulldog Max things could turn around for both Ginger and Eli. I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.
C.J. Hunt does it again! The interactions of Eli, Ginger, and if course Max are great. I love how the author keeps you wondering about Eli until almost the end….is he a dangerous jerk or is there a real teddy bear under that wall he’s built around himself? My only complaint was I wanted more story, lol! Prepare to stay up late with this great read.
It is Christmas. Eli Murphy has a streak of bad luck – and all because he wanted to help his neighbor. When he is asking his sister for help she refuses to help him out.To not make the situation worse for her he “borrows” her car, but in the mountains he loses track and crashes the car. Ginger, on her way to the company Christmas Vacation House, finds him and brings him along, as she cannot leave him behind in the snow.
While playing games and competing against her colleagues they fall hard for each other.
But Ginger holds back, as she knows he keeps a secret and Eli needs to clear the mess before he can really persue Ginger.
Help comes unexpected and leads to the expected happy end.
A fun Christmas story of second chances and redemption. A lovely read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
a drooling bulldog may not be your idea of cupid, especially in a winter wonderland, but this sweetie does her own thing
-until she takes a stroll into the lake to get Eli and Ginger together
turns out he does have a nose for trouble himself, but he really is trying to get himself together – and help a neighbor,
when he lands himself in trouble paying a debt for that neighbor
can he still get the girl, the dog, a job, and maybe a bit of self respect back?
maybe with the help of a few new friends.
fun and challenges in romance and in life
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my honest and unbias opinion of the story. This is a wonderful story to read about a dog. I love reading about animals, I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves animals.
Okay, I can honestly say that I LOVE Max! She is absolutely hilarious! Oh, the rest of the book was great, too. It was actually really good. I loved it. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book in exchange for a free copy.
Max, the adorable dog on the cover, steals the show in this book. Ginger and Eli are both folks who know all about bad family backgrounds, poor choices and hitting rock bottom. Ginger , with the help of the people in Rivers End, claws her way out of the pit. Eli, who is hard to like at first, is still at the bottom and still making bad decisions. When Ginger rescues Eli in a snowstorm and gives him a second chance and more, he starts to learn about the healing power of friends and small towns. Ginger’s “work family” at the gaming company welcome Eli to their Christmas celebration and Reindeer Games. Eli thinks he is competing for the prize money, which he desperately needs The book is full of humor and there is an especially hilarious scene where Max the dog takes Eli on a wild chase on a frozen pond. The book is part of the series about Rivers End but stands alone. You will want to read all the books though and keep up with the wonderful characters. I volunteered to read and review an advanced copy.
A great addition to the series. This story is emotional, heart-warming and exciting which includes a dog. What more could you want.
Highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
CJ Hunt never disappoints. Every Rivers End book works with the one before but can be read as a stand alone. Great characters and that bit of push and pull that keeps you reading to see how it ends.
Excellent addition to the series. I love second chances. Meeting someone and reviewing things and starting again. I liked this one. It is heartwarming, exciting, emotional and so much more. I was given a review copy by booksprout and voluntarily review it.
Ginger helps abused victims to get a fresh start. Eli got himself in a bad spot trying to help his neighbor and her daughter escape an abusive relationship. Before they can move forward with their attraction he has to come clean and settle his problems. It’s an intriguing story,moves quickly and smoothly ,has strong characters and is an enjoyable story.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Cute and touching holiday romance of second chances and bulldog coddling
May 18, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
4.5stars
Of the first three novellas in this MacAllisters at River End series, I enjoyed this the most, maybe thanks to a mischievous, lovingly spoiled bulldog called Max! But the second chance plot for bad boy(?) Eli and the touching abuse backstory for heroine Ginger were at the heart of it and made the romance compelling and the characters really likeable. Their story has its serious moments along with some humor. The ending touch with Eli’s estranged sister Jenna, the heroine of the first story in the series, put an extra glow on a well-earned bright future for the couple.
I really like the short, to-the-point nature of these novellas. CJ Hunt has a concise, easy-to-read writing style that makes the pages fly by. And the author did a service by touching on the all too present abuse of children in the scene with 4-year old Kelsey.
I read a complimentary copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Now I better understand why the “evil brother” in the first book was a pretty nebulous evil. He needed to be redeemed in this one, so he couldn’t be full-out villain. Eli’s running from some bad decisions and his past as a screw-up isn’t doing him any favors. Ginger’s history means she’s more sensitive to bad decisions, it just doesn’t always mean that she makes better ones. I both loved and hated that this book wasn’t the same kind of giggle-fest as the previous books. It has a more serious tone – though it still has plenty of fun moments – which meant I was quickly invested in what was going on with these characters. But I was missing a little of the over-the-top silliness of the earlier stories. I still can’t wait to read more about the quirky inhabitants of Rivers End.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Hidden Gems Books.