Title: Christmas at Solace Lake
Author: Jana Richards
Genre: Contemporary small town romance, Holiday Romance
Book Blurb:
It’s Christmas time at Solace Lake Lodge, but a series of thefts threatens everyone’s holiday spirit.
An emergency brings Drew Barnes to Solace Lake Lodge, an inn deep in the Minnesota woods owned by his aunt and uncle. He’s sure desperation is the only reason they’d allow him to fill in as their bookkeeper. No one in his family has believed in him since his mistake got him fired from his previous job. Soon after he arrives, Drew is disheartened to discover thefts and financial irregularities. The last thing he wants is to be put in the middle of another crime.
Sous chef Celeste Bishop has made a good life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years she’s worked, and lived, at Solace Lake Lodge. After being unfairly fired, this was the only job she could get, and she’s grateful her gamble on the lodge paid off. The only sticking point is the isolation since she never learned to drive. How can she show her daughter independence when she’s always relying on others?
Drew sees Celeste’s frustration and offers to teach her to drive. A powerful attraction ignites between them, and soon deeper, stronger emotions blossom. Drew is all in, but Celeste resists her feelings. She’s nine years older than Drew. An interracial relationship didn’t work for her parents. And loving Drew feels like a betrayal of her deceased husband.
As Christmas approaches, the thefts escalate. Can Drew stop the thief and redeem himself in his family’s eyes—and his own? And can he convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily ever after this Christmas?
My Review:
Two lonely souls seeking second chances find unexpected love at Solace Lake. Christmas at Solace Lake is a heartwarming tale of second chances, romance, and catching a thief in time for Christmas. I simply adore holiday romances set in small towns. Jana Richards pens a romance with a dash of mystery just in time for Christmas. The narration is immersive. The characters are relatable and will tug at your heartstrings. This book is perfect for those who binge-read contemporary small town holiday romances, like me.
Let’s start with the setting and descriptive narration. The setting is absolutely beautiful with an inn nestled next to a lake in Minnesota. It’s secluded yet stunning. The author writes with such emotion and detail, I couldn’t help but dive in. Her words make the setting a tangible thing, almost like another character.
Then there’s the characters. I connected with both Drew and Celeste. These characters are vibrant and realistic. My heart went out to these people for all they’ve been through. They deserve happiness, love, and of course second chances. The rest of the cast of characters round out the story.
The romance is heartfelt and emotional. There’s a bit of push and pull before they get their happy ending. I found myself rooting for them to get together while reading. The romance moves at a nice even pace. With just enough angst, this romance is my pick for best holiday romance.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Buy it Now:
Free to read on Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CH5DTYNS
The print edition of CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE is now available at Amazon!
Special Giveaways:
Giving away 2 e-copy sets of the first three books in the Love at Solace Lake series (Lies and Solace, Secrets and Solace, Truth and Solace) in winner’s choice of format.
Giving away 5 e-copies of Home to Solace Lake, a prequel to the Love at Solace Lake series.
To be eligible to win the prizes, tell me in the comments about one of your favorite Christmas treats. Winner will be chosen at random from all the comments. Good luck!
Author Biography:
Jana Richards has tried her hand at many writing projects over the years, from magazine articles and short stories to full-length contemporary romance, paranormal suspense and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing more interesting then peeling back the layers of a character to see what makes them tick.
When not writing up a storm or dealing with dust bunnies, Jana can be found pursuing hobbies such as golf (which she plays very badly) or reading (which she does much better).
Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren and two senior cats named Layla and Leelou. You can reach her through her website at http://www.janarichards.com
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Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/janarichards
Amazon UK Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B002DEVWWG
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Reviewed by: Nancy