This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Inspirational Romance
Published by Love Inspired
Released on October 1, 2020
Pages: 224
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
The Delight
Her diner is in serious trouble and she’s counting on her childhood best friend to help her find a way to keep her dad’s dream alive while he left town to hide a secret from her and now must finally tell her the truth. Love, family, forgiveness, and friends to lovers culminate in this delightful story.
Review
Alaskan Christmas Redemption is the third of the Home to Owl Creek series of standalone romances. I had no trouble reading it out of order though previous books’ characters are strong secondary characters.
Piper Miller inherited the family diner when her dad died and was excited to carry on his dream by running the diner. Only, a series of expensive mishaps along with financial struggles have her at her wit’s end on finding a way to bring in fresh revenue and stay open. She refuses to share her burden with her mom and older brother, but does hope that her best friend, now that he’s back in town, will help her find a way. Meanwhile, Piper love Christmas, but it also reminds her of her loss so she fights grief and the feeling that she might want to exchange friend status for something more with Braden.
Braden North counted Piper as his closest friend until the day her world fell apart and he sees himself as responsible. He hid what he knew about her dad’s death and left town because his guilt overwhelmed him. He’s back and still trying to avoid Piper and the past, but her great need pulls him in and he starts to feel for her as someone more than a friend. The hard part is getting past the protective barrier around her heart from him because he left her once.
A gentle, sugary friends to lovers romance, emphasis on family, faith, and forgiveness, and set in a cozy Alaskan smalltown. The story has no sharp edges and it doesn’t try to dig too deep. There are secrets and small twists when the truth comes out. But, for the most part, it swept me up in the spirit of Christmas and the feels.
I had a couple small distractions like not really agreeing with Piper about keeping her situation a secret from her family and definitely not agreeing with Braden about hoarding that secret well beyond it’s use-by date. I felt the urge to lock the pair in a closet and make them talk it all out.
That said, they had to come to terms with their friendship was morphing even while they were great as friends and had a rich and full shared history. I loved them together and loved seeing them work to save the diner even while the season in the small town was celebrated beautifully.
All in all, my first visit with the author’s writing and this series has me interested in future books, but also the two earlier Owl Creek books particularly Hank and Sage’s story. Inspirational romance and sweet contemporary romance fans should definitely give this Christmas confection a taste.
My thanks to Harlequin for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Challenges Met
New Release #186
HoHoHoRAT #4
About the Book
ALASKAN CHRISTMAS REDEMPTION BY BELLE CALHOUNE
Some secrets are meant to be shared.
Before he gives his heart…
he’ll have to forgive himself.
Returning to Owl Creek after years away, Braden North’s determined to help his best friend, Piper Miller, save her failing diner. But as they work to revitalize her business, Braden’s convinced he must hide the truth about a tragedy from their past…or risk losing Piper for good. If he can find the courage, might telling her everything make this Christmas a time for healing and forgiveness?
Preview
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This book sounds like it has all the elements of a romance I enjoy the most and friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes to read. Glad this was a win for you Sophia!
I have a love of the same elements so this was right up my alley, Renee. 🙂
I struggle with stories where the drama is all thing they just need to be adults and discuss. That’s probably why some second chance romances don’t work as well for me.
Yes, exactly! I want to lock them in a room and force them to talk. 🙂
Alaskan smalltown? So fun!
Oh yes!
I do like a sweeter romance from time to time. This sounds like a nice light read.
It really was. They were good friends and I really wanted them to get through the grief and misunderstandings in the past. 🙂
I do love small town romances and the friends-to-lovers troupe. Yeah, I’d probably want to lock them in the closet and have them hash it out or knock their heads together, lol! Sounds like a sweet romance overall. 🙂
Haha, I sometimes get the urge when I can tell an honest conversation would go a long way toward solving the issues. 🙂