No Holly for Christmas - Julie N. Ford

3.5 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK -

A story about how fate will carry us where we need to go whether we are willing passengers or not.

After being jilted not once, but twice by the only woman he’s ever truly loved, Brian McAlister has all but given up on relationships. Then, on special assignment for the DA's office, he steps into the middle of a politically sensitive murder case where he crosses paths with a beautiful ex-socialite-turned-social-worker, Holly Cavanaugh Winter.

Widowed, practically penniless, and reduced to shopping at Walmart, Holly is dreading the approaching holiday season. However, her angst isn't due to her husband's untimely death the previous December 25th, but to a secret that could reveal itself unless she can find a way to avoid the coming Christmas. To make matters worse, she unwittingly stumbles into the throes of Brian’s case and the manhunt for a killer who now has his sights set on her.

His case unraveling, Brian finds himself tasked with keeping Holly and her two daughters safe while bringing an assassin and the powerful man who hired him to justice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

A graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in Political Science, Julie N. Ford also earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama, which has only made her better able to recognize the unhealthy, codependent relationship she has with writing. Professionally, she has worked in teaching and as a marriage and family counselor. She is the author of six women’s fiction novels, including Count Down to Love, a 2011 Whitney Award finalist. When she’s not writing, she entertains delusions of being a master gardener, that is, when she’s not killing the unsuspecting plants in her yard with her good intentions. She lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, two daughters, and the cutest Scottish fold cat you’ve ever seen.

MY THOUGHTS -
Before I begin the actual review - this book was not very "Christmassy", and I was looking for a Christmas book. So it had points against it right from the get go - sorry!  :-(

That aside - it was a fun, good mix of suspense and chick-lit (kind of). Parts were very suspenseful and other parts were snarky and witty. It was a tad slow for me in the beginning.

To be honest I really did not like Brian, the leading man at all! I felt like I should have like him, but I just never fell for him. I did, however like Holly. Which is funny because other people didn't like Holly but liked Brian. I guess I just understood where she was coming from. I was married and had money, but then went to almost nothing after my divorce. As a single mom (by choice) had to live in a one bedroom apt. because that's all I could afford. So I get that she wanted and was trying to get better. 
Kirby, Holly's teen daughter was VERY realistic! I had a typical teen girl (once upon a time) so I know how they are. Bridget, Holly's younger daughter was sweet but I didn't love her as much as Kirby. The book did get better halfway through and I started liking it more.

This was my second book by this author. The first was - With No Regrets. See my review - HERE (I liked it better than this one).

So this was so/so for me, no love but no hate either. I would still read another one by this author based on the other book I have read by her.

I voluntarily posted this review after receiving this book from I'm a Reader Not a Writer. Thank you!

Order your copy from Amazon - HERE