Jessica Reynolds hasn’t taken a vacation in five years. But when her tyrant of a boss forces her to take two weeks off—or else—right before Christmas, suddenly visions of beaches and piña coladas are dancing in her head.Unfortunately for Jess, her family has other plans for her vacation. Before she can escape to Bermuda, Jessica’s mom has guilted her into coming home to run her injured sister’s … sister’s booth at a Christmas market. Now, instead of sunshine, cocktails, and scantily-clad cabana boys, Jess finds herself back home in sleepy little Bright, Vermont—with no sun in sight.
After fleeing Bright eleven years ago, the last thing Jess wants is to be stuck shivering for days selling her sister’s nuts—roasted chestnuts, that is. Especially when it becomes clear that her family could have ulterior motives for Jess coming home. Motives that might just include the sinfully attractive, but arrogant newest acquaintance of the family.
But Jess’s family doesn’t know about her struggles at work, struggles that threaten to erupt in Bright. Will Jess dare to reach for the life she’s always wanted, or will this be her final Christmas in Bright?
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I had mixed feelings about “The Season Bright” by K.D. Elizabeth, book #2 of the Bright series. The writing itself was very good, and it was easy for me to empathize with the female lead, Jessica. In fact, she reminded me a lot of myself; I also grew up in a small town, but left for college and never returned because I wanted more opportunities than what my hometown had to offer. I was really bothered by the fact that so many people in this story tried to make Jessica feel that she was wrong to pursue a career and build a life outside of her hometown of Bright. Their message seemed to be that a woman’s only value was as a wife and mother, or at least that her life didn’t truly begin until she was married with children. Her family acted like nothing Jessica did was important, so she should just drop everything and do whatever suited their needs. IMO, Jessica was entitled to make her own choices about where to live and how to spend her time, and while I agree that it was a good idea for her to find a better work-life balance, she didn’t need to live in a small town (or be married) to do that. Her family’s constant nagging on the subject made ME anxious, so it was no wonder it caused Jessica to have panic attacks!
As for the male lead, Ethan, while I can’t say that I actively disliked him, I didn’t exactly like him either because I don’t feel I got to know him at all. I really wish that the story had included Ethan’s POV in addition to Jessica’s, especially because he seemed to be an interesting character when he was briefly introduced in the previous book of this series. Based on Jessica’s perspective alone, I had a tough time believing that Ethan and Jessica even liked each other, much less were in love by the end of the story. (Jessica was strangely obsessed with Ethan’s shoulders, but I wouldn’t consider that to be a good basis for a relationship.) Also, I was very confused as to why Ethan kept coming back to Jessica when she was never nice to him. Was he just a glutton for punishment?
On the bright side, there were some funny parts in this book, particularly involving the costumes Jessica’s sister made for them to wear in their booth at the Christmas market. Despite my issues with some aspects of the story, I would recommend “The Season Bright” for readers who enjoy Hallmark movie-style contemporary romance, though I much preferred the first book in this series. I will still plan to pick up book #3.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
KD Elizabeth is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! Ethan and Jess’ story was an amazing continuation of The Bright Series! I am so in love! FIVE STARS!!
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4 !
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I liked many things about this story, and it was certainly worth the read, but there were a few things that I had some problems with. Mainly, I didn’t care for Jessica’s mother, Martha. I’ve read manipulative parents in other stories, I’ve even known a few, but Martha’s brand of manipulation just irked me to no end. I completely get missing your children, but Martha goes too far in my opinion, and it wasn’t helped that some things about that manipulation were never addressed. Jess just seems to decide to be okay with it all and let it go.
That aside, the romance does have its moments. There were scenes that were absolutely hilarious and a few that were as sweet as the treats they’re selling at the market. At first,. it feels like it’s going to be a slow burn, but then it picks up considerably, especially when you consider the time these two actually spend together. Of course, that is one busy week even without the romance, so even though it happens fast, the author makes it feel like more time has passed – and not in a bad way.
In the end, I did like the romance, and I couldn’t help but like Ethan right from the start. Jess took me a bit longer, but once you see everything she’s been going through, it’s a bit easier to understand some things about her. What it all comes down to is I didn’t love this one, but I did like it, and I don’t want to give it all away, but the ending really pulled this one out for me. It’s hard not to swoon under those circumstances.
One of my new favorite authors! This book involves Ethan, who we meet in the previous novella, and his travels to the US to stay with his mother and run a Christmas business in town. This year, the business he usually partners with has a new worker – Jessica. Jessica is a workaholic who left town years ago with no plans to return. But when she has essentially a breakdown at work and is given required time off, she is guilted back to town by her mother to help run her sister’s business. I can’t lie, I was a little turned off by Jessica’s attitude, but I also understand a pushy parent and being expected to do things for the family like she did. Thankfully, Ethan is extremely patient and finds himself attracted to Jessica, and she feels the same. In the end, Jessica realizes and understands what’s truly important in life and gets her HEA that she has always wanted with him. I liked that this book was a full novel, as with the novella I was a little confused because there was no backstory with the characters. Can’t wait for the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to read about it? I loved the Enemies to Lovers aspect of Ethan and Jess’s relationship. I honestly wasn’t expecting it, so it was quite a nice surprise. When it came to the point where the whole family had a talk, I was in tears. Even though I would have really liked some of the story to be from Ethan’s point of view, and the beginning was a bit slow. The book was still a very good read. The plot of the story was very interesting, and I really like how this book was written. Last but not least I give “The Season Bright” 4.7/5
Note to author: thank you for reaching out to us, as you can tell we really enjoyed this book
The Season Bright is sweet. Jessica and Ethan are adorable together. It’s like watching a Hallmark movie unfold (even if they aren’t crazy about each other at first). The Christmas week market sounds like the perfect magical place to fall in love. A great quick read to get into the holiday spirit with loveable, quirky characters that you’ll be cheering on.
This enemies to lovers Christmas romance was told solely from Jess’ point of view. Jess was my favorite character in this book, from the stress of her job, to the craziness of her family and Ethan’s false expectations drove her to a break down she pulled herself back together. There was a happily ever after for Jess and Ethan with a cute epilogue.
4 Star review of The Season Bright (The Bright Series 1) by KD Elizabeth
K.D. Elizabeth is a relatively new author to me but as I found with the first book, this was well written with characters whose story I could not help but for fall. This is Jessica (Jess) and Ethan’s story and although a quick Christmas novella, I was hooked from the first to the last chapter. I love holiday stories, add in it’s in a small town romance and I was invested. The writing was descriptive and I could easily see myself in Bright, Vermont.
Finding herself back in her small home town is the last thing Jess was expecting for the holidays, after all she has done her best to avoid Bright for years. Even more annoying is that her family appear to have ulterior motives for getting her to come home, in fact plans are afoot to set her and Ethan up; a shame Jess knows nothing about the plans though.
The banter between Jess and Ethan was witty and had me smiling and it was entertaining to watch their relationship develop.
The Season Bright by KD Elizabeth is the second book in The Bright series. This is sweet and steamy enemies to lovers romance that includes family drama, misunderstandings, overcoming first impressions, and surviving the holidays… a funny and enjoyable read
I really love the heck out of this book! Not even kidding. OMG!
This is not your classic Christmas romance, it’s so much more. This will melt the snow off your doorstep yet give you chills. The banter will make you laugh while leave you hanging at the same time. The chemistry will keep you going until you’ve spent all day and night to reach ‘The End’. I couldn’t get enough.
I can’t wait to read more of this new to me author.
This comes highly recommended
This book has all the makings of a Lifetime Christmas Movie.
Angsty family drama and a hot enemies to lovers romance. It’s not always easy to come home but sometimes you’ll find what your heart desires.
The holidays shouldn’t be a stressful time, it’s a time to celebrate with your family. Too bad for Jessica being with her family gives her nothing but stress. When she is guilted out of her Caribbean vacation, Jessica comes home to help her family and her life takes a turn.
Ethan has known about Jessica for years but never thought he would meet her, until this year and his world is turned on its axis.
This is a wonderful story about two people but it’s also a story about family and being there for each other. KD Elizabeth has done an amazing job with this holiday story, it will definitely put you in the holiday spirit!
This was a great enemies to lovers holiday romance. It has a slow burn instead of instant burn, it will make you laugh and it will make you want to reach in and slap someone at some point. The chemistry between Ethan and Jessica may have started off on the wrong foot but ended perfectly.
– https://aliciasbookblog106921670.wordpress.com/2020/11/09/the-season-bright-by-kd-elizabeth-review/
Christmas is always a hectic time of year and somewhat stressful, with trying to fit in shopping and baking with your responsibilities at work. Jessica really needed a vacation, but not one that included snow and cold weather. She would have preferred the sun and sand of a tropical island, where she could relax and forget about life. But her family had other plans for her. Jessica was shocked to learn that her friends and family held it against her that she left her small hometown for Boston, so she could pursue her career. I was surprised at how manipulative and pushy her family was to her, and they never gave her a chance to explain how she really felt. Ethan came on a bit strong and was rude to Jessica when they first met, and I couldn’t figure out why. He didn’t even know her!! The dynamics within the family troubled me and I was uncomfortable with how they ganged up on her. Jessica had her own life and they had no right asking her to move back home. The finger pointing became too much for her and she couldn’t take it anymore. She found herself anxious, nervous and running out of patience.
Will Jessica escape to her tropical paradise or stay and fight for her rightful place in the family?