Title: Happy Ever After in Christmas
Author: Debbie Mason
Date Read: July 27th-September 10th, 2016
Date Reviewed: September 11th, 2016
Spoilers Ahead?: Yes!

Introduction: I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. I love a good romance, and Debbie Mason did not let me down! It took me a while to really get into this book since I haven't read the rest of the series, but once I was in I was hooked and couldn't get out!


Quick Summary: Jill Flaherty is almost thirty, and won't admit to herself that she is hopelessly in love with her brother's best friend Sawyer Anderson. Deputy Jill has to hop through some hoops to finally admit her feelings for the bar tender. Jill will have to be quick, because other women's eyes are looking to woo Sawyer...

Evaluations: For a romance novel, this book was incredible! There's no cheesy love triangles, there's nothing that seems out of place or unrealistic. The book focuses on friendships, family, and love. It is definitely worthy of high marks, and I want to read the rest of the books.
Is it cheesy and a total Nora Roberts sort of romance? Yup. Did it say it was anything but that? Nope. The book is exactly what you expect from it, and that's great! Debbie Mason knows how to make a good, realistic romance with a bit of drama, tensions and tiny twists!

Plot: The plot is pretty straight forward - Deputy Jill has to do her job, and admit her feelings for bar tender Sawyer. They find it hard to admit their feelings for each other, but over time they grow and grow. There are some minor hiccups at first, and then a few major ones. These major hiccups make the two grow as a couple, and eventually we get the happily ever after that these characters deserve! Each aspect of the plot are realistic, you can see them happening in real life: issues at a nursing home, custody issues, pregnancy issues, etc. Nothing seems out of place!

Characters: Jill is a strong character who sometimes has her issues as a character, but for a romance novel she fits the trope. She is headstrong and does not let people tell her what to do, but she keeps putting the possible relationship off so many times it's pathetic. In real life, a guy would probably have given up on her by the time her and Sawyer actually get together. But, this is a romance novel and every woman wants a man falling all over her. This might be unrealistic, but it makes for a good book!
Sawyer also seems to not be your typical, everyday guy. He falls for Jill hard, he chases after her, and he even seems to have a bit to close of a relationship with Brandi. I can't place his personality on any of the guys I know, so he isn't totally realistic. But, again, this is a romance novel and he fits the role perfectly.


Themes/Creativity: Family and friendship is a strong theme in this book and you can tell. Family sticks together and friends help each other. Friendship and family always comes first! I like this theme, seeming as there are rarely themes in romance novels. But, this theme is very easy to see!! A on theming in a romance novel Debbie! Great job!

Uniqueness: It's not totally unique for a romance novel. There's your typical love story, headstrong female, man chasing after her, possible love triangle, big issue that sets the couple apart, they get back together, happily ever after. The only uniqueness I can point out is the theming. Other than that, typical romance!

Strengths: Themes. Themes. Themes. Again themes. Have I mentioned the themes enough?
Weaknesses: It's your typical romance. While it's written beautifully, it can easily be compared to other romances.

Score: 5 out of 5. While it is a common romance novel, it was well written and wow-ed me! I was hooked and couldn't put it down, and many romance novels get put down in my household. I love Debbie Mason and I'll be reading the rest of her books as soon as I can get my hands on them!

Recommendations: I would love Debbie Mason to try to write an out of the box romance novel. Her writing is fantastic and clearly she is the expert on the common romance, but I would love to see her try something different!!


I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
( )

Jill wants more than to be the tomboy little sister or just one of the guys. She wants to feel like a sexy woman for a change and knows just the man to help her fulfill that dream. Debbie Mason adds style to her romances. Her Christmas Colorado series mixes small town vibe with sugary sentiment and heated romance. Risking it all Jill offers her heart and body to the one man that personifies all her hopes and fears. Sawyer was fun, sweet and clueless. His actions caused a great deal of heartache and chaos. Unintentionally. I like reading Ms. Mason's Christmas series because at the end, I leave feeling warm and fuzzy. She can cast her spell on me anytime. ( )

Usually I love when I have a new Debbie Mason to read and review but Happy Even After in Christmas had me up-in-arms before I even read it. Part of the reason was that I knew that it was the last book in the series!

Let's take a moment for everyone to be able to yell about that fact!

Now that you got that out of your system lets get back to the review. That's right, it's the last book. I was both happy (that Sawyer and Jill got their story) and heartbroken that I was leaving town and moving away.

Of course I know that sometimes you have to move on and a little part of me can't wait. But I will miss everyone in Christmas!

So let's talk Jill and Sawyer! I wasn't always a big fan of Jill's. It wasn't that I didn't like her, I did. But she sometimes is a little hard on the nerves. On the other hand, sometimes I think the people of Christmas are too hard on her and forget that she does have feelings.

Don't you just love a book that makes you think about things like this? Mason is wonderful at making you not like someone in one book and love them in the next.

Deep down inside, Jill is like the rest of us...a wreck! She has the same worries and insecurities that we all have. Made me like her even more. You also have to feel for a woman that has loved the same man for like...forever!

That would be Sawyer. He is so sweet and hot!!! Of course he's also dense at times and tries to ignore things he really shouldn't...a man all the way!

You will really love the dance that Jill and Sawyer do. These two have a issue getting on the same page, but we all know they are perfect for each other! So often as I read their story I yelled at one or the other because they drove me crazy! They were blind to what was best for each other!

They really should have asked me. :)

If you haven't yet read Mason's Christmas, Colorado series this is the perfect time to do so. All the books are out and with it being summer, they are the perfect beach reads. I'm so happy that I was able to make this journey with Mason. I cried, laughed and in general had a great time in Christmas! Now I look forward to moving to Harmony Harbor!

Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog:
http://romancingthereaders.blogspot.com/2016/07/review-giveaway-happy-ever-after...

Romancing the Readers Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingTheReaders/

ARC received for a honest review ( )

Title: Happy Ever After in Christmas
Author: Debbie Mason
Publisher: Forever
Series: Christmas, Colorado # 7
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Happy Ever After in Christmas" by Debbie Mason

My Thoughts....

This was another beautiful entertaining novels by this author in Christmas, Colorado featuring Jill Flaherty and Sawyer Anderson. What will happen when Jill has feelings for her brother's best friend? I loved how we got to see that all Jill really wanted was a family of her own.

This story really give the reader a good well written read when at times the heroine did have me shaking my head wondering when will she see just what is right in front of her and going after it before it is too late and not letting anyone stop her? I know when the story starts out it we found out that Jill has cared for Sawyer since childhood but now was almost thirty wasn't it time to either ask him out or move on with her life? And what about Sawyer and his best friend Jack[who was somewhat over protective brother]...what were they up to when they started setting Jill up with different guys? Now just what did they expect was to happen? At this point I know the reader is wondering what was wrong with Sawyer that even his best friend Jack didn't want his sister Jill dating him? As this dramatic story continues I liked how this author seemed to bring in many surprises giving the reader quite a few twist and turns before we get to the end. The readers will see many characters from several earlier series and some new ones [Chloe, Easton, Gage, Vivi, Chance, Brandi, Nell & Ty] to name a few that will tie into this story of 'Happy Ever Ever' [which was seventh in this series] however, this can be a standalone read to enjoy!

This will be a story of with lots of drama, humor, misunderstandings, surprises, heartache and even some hot steamy passion. In the end will Deputy Jill Flaherty get the HEA with former Ice player Sawyer Anderson with the help of family and friends on this rough ride? Well, to see how this author brings this all to a end the readers you will have to pick up this good read of a small town romance in Christmas, Colorado. Would I recommend? YES, if you are into romance. ( )