Nina Milne

Good conclusion to the series. When the three Kendall sisters' parents suddenly decided to go on a cruise rather than do the family's traditional Christmas, they were shocked and dismayed. But they rallied to support their parents' dream and challenged each other to do something different for the holiday. Each one spent two weeks in a surprise location picked by her other two sisters. Thea was sent to Japan.

Thea is an unrepentant workaholic, determined to become a partner in her law firm. She has put everything else aside—from social life to ideas of a family of her own. She is convinced that she doesn't have the temperament to handle a family. Even though she is half a world away from her office, she continues to devote time to work rather than the fun and relaxation her sisters intended. Even her venture onto a higher-level ski slope is motivated by the desire to impress a possible client.

Imagine Thea's surprise when she literally collides with her childhood friend, Zayne, on the ski slope. They were practically inseparable as children, with Thea spending a lot of time escaping her stressful home life by hanging out with his family. When they were teenagers and experimented with a kiss, their ease with each other changed, and things were never quite the same. They haven't seen each other since they went off to different colleges. Now, Thea is a successful lawyer, and Zayne made a name for himself with his tech-savvy businesses.

I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Those early sparks of attraction are still there, and the intensity freaks out Thea. The last thing she wants is anything distracting her from her goals. Zayne is also surprised by the resurgence of those sparks and wants to spend some time with Thea. Neither is looking for a relationship, but resuming their friendship is a possibility. But can they ignore the sparks?

I liked watching Thea and Zayne get to know each other again. Zayne looks at Thea and sees the beautiful woman she has become but doesn't understand her belief that she is too selfish to have a family. He thinks that all she needs is a better work-life balance to see that she can have it all. He offers to help her have the fun her sisters expect her to experience, as well as help her prepare for her upcoming client meeting. Thea is wary but can't resist spending time with him. Zayne is at a crossroads in his life. He sold his business for bunches of money and doesn't know what he wants to do next. He asks Thea to help him figure out his next steps so he can spend more time with her.

I liked seeing them get to know each other as adults. There are some terrific scenes of them opening up to each other about their fears and other issues that have haunted them. I ached for Zayne and the guilt he felt over his father's death. I liked how Thea helped him look at things from a different perspective. Thea has a few rough moments when Zayne calls her out on her tunnel vision about having a family. An unexpected blizzard throws a monkey wrench into Thea's work plans, and she doesn't react well, putting her new rapport with Zayne at risk. It takes some self-examination for each of them to realize love is the most important thing.

I enjoyed the glimpses of Japan and the Japanese culture the author included in this book. The descriptions were so vivid I felt as though I was there.… (más)

Good book. Nathan and Poppy connected and became friends in college because of their similar misfit personalities. They were just very good friends, but Poppy pulled back from their friendship when Nathan married, leaving Nathan wondering what happened. Ten years later, Nathan is a self-made billionaire, and Poppy's dreams of a fashion career have evolved into work as a wedding planner.

When Poppy's business gets into trouble because of her partner's actions, she can only think of one way to save it. She visits Nathan for the first time in a decade and asks for his help in convincing his business partner to use her business for his upcoming wedding. Nathan, who still feels hurt and betrayed by what he sees as Poppy's abandonment, is reluctant but agrees. He doesn't expect his partner to require that Nathan be part of the process.

I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship between Nathan and Poppy. The first thing they have to do is deal with the past. I ached for both as the reason for their estrangement was revealed. Nathan carries a lot of guilt over the memories of his late wife and their marriage, while Poppy did what she thought was best at the time. Neither expected the attraction that came along with their revitalized friendship.

I loved their time together in Copenhagen, researching wedding venues and activities. They got to know each other as they are now and discovered they still have much in common. I loved seeing Nathan learn to have fun as they experienced various activities. I also loved how Nathan boosted Poppy's confidence in her fashion designing and his suggestion on how to blend her designing with her business.

But when their growing feelings for each other cause a re-emergence of insecurities and guilt, Poppy and Nathan must decide if their love is worth fighting for. Luckily, they have people ready to give them the advice and push they need to overcome their issues. The ending was sweet and emotional, with an excellent epilogue. I loved Nathan's surprise for Poppy.… (más)

Terrific Cinderella story. Gabi first made her appearance in the first book of the series, Cinderella's Prince Under the Mistletoe, as the heroine's best friend. At that time, Gabi was struggling, but no one knew why. When Gabi's aunt and uncle died, she discovered that her mother had been married to a king, making Gabi the heir to the throne of Casavalle. At the beginning of this book, Gabi is still adjusting to her new role and feeling woefully out of her depth. Seeking comfort in the stables, she runs into a handsome and kind stranger who stirs something in her.

Cesar, Prince of Aguilarez, is the third son of his family and the diplomat in the family "business." Even as a child he knew that there was no love or passion between his parents; that duty ruled over everything they did. He believes that love has no place in his life, and is content with brief affairs. He has no plans to marry until his parents call him home from his latest ambassador post and inform him that he is to woo and wed Princess Gabriella. Cesar isn't happy but knows his duty. He arrives at the palace with plans to meet her unofficially but doesn't expect to find her in the stables in the middle of the night. When she mistakes him for staff, he uses the error to spend some anonymous time with her.

I liked the first meeting between Gabi and Cesar. The sparks are immediate, and neither one knows quite how to handle them. Gabi is aware of her position but enjoys talking to someone who seems so understanding. Cesar is taken aback by the fire she stirs in him, and by the protectiveness he feels toward her. I liked the way that he showed such confidence in her abilities. I appreciated that he felt guilty over the deception and tried to make it right before their official meeting the next night. Gabi's hurt and anger were understandable, but she also took Cesar's advice to heart.

I enjoyed the development of Gabi and Cesar's relationship. Both are aware of their duty, though Gabi has a harder time with it. I liked Cesar's honesty as he told her that marriage between them would be beneficial for their countries, that he would be a good and faithful husband, but that love was not in the cards. I ached for Gabi, who still had the hope of love living in a corner of her heart. I liked seeing the two of them get to know each other. There were some emotional scenes as they shared events of their pasts that had influenced who they were now. There were also some delightful scenes as Cesar found activities that would make Gabi happy. It was fun to see Gabi work her way into his heart without him realizing it. Though neither one spoke of love, it was easy to see the caring that was between them, so when Cesar proposed, she said yes. Things looked so promising until their wedding reception when part of Cesar's past came calling. I hurt for Gabi because what she heard reinforced all of her fears. Cesar's big moment at the end was sweet and powerful as he opened himself up to all the emotions he had denied for so long. The epilogue was great. I especially loved seeing the gifts they picked out for their family members.… (más)