In Alaska, it’s always a white Christmas—but the sparks flying between two reunited friends could turn it red-hot…
If there’s one gift Erika Sheraton does not want for Christmas, it’s a vacation. Ordered to take time off, the workaholic surgeon reluctantly trades in her scrubs for a ski suit and heads to Wild River, Alaska. Her friend Cassie owns a tour company that offers adventures to fit every visitor. But nothing compares to the adrenaline rush Erika feels on being reunited with Cassie’s brother, Reed Reynolds. Gone is the buttoned-up girl Reed remembers.
His sister’s best friend has blossomed into a strong, skilled, confident woman. She’s exactly what his search-and-rescue team needs—and everything he didn’t know he craved. The gulf between his life in Wild River and her big-city career is wide. But it’s no match for a desire powerful enough to melt two stubborn hearts…
ebook, 384 pages
Published September 24th 2019 by HQN Books
Two and a half stars: A book marketed under the guise of being a Christmas read, but this isn’t a holiday book. Instead it is a steamy, winter romance.
Erika Sheraton is a workaholic. She is a talented and dedicated surgeon so much so that she has time for little else in her life. So when her father, the head of the hospital tells her she must take a mandatory two week vacation immediately, Erika is shocked. Even worse, she has no idea where to go or who to spend the time with since she has no life. On a whim, Erika decides to pay a visit to her childhood best friend in Wild River, Alaska. At first, the trip starts out rocky, but Erika quickly reconnects with Cassie and her brother Reed. What Cassie doesn’t expect is to feel sparks of attraction for Reed. She doesn’t have time for love, or does she?
What I Liked:
- An Alaskan Christmas is a tough book for me to review. I picked this up wanting a nice, fluffy holiday read, but this book isn’t that. This is a steamy wintery romance, with a brief mention of the holidays. Still there is stuff to like. I enjoyed the setting, the characters and the search and rescue parts. If you want a winter romance, this is one to try.
- I was fascinated by the search and rescues portions of the story. In the beginning, Reed is introduced while on a rescue mission. I was immediately immersed into this portion of the story. I liked the danger, and the cool head of Reed. Search and Rescue in the wilderness is no joke!
- I adored Reed. He is an all around good guy. He has a big heart. I especially liked seeing him on a rescue. He is all serious and all about saving lives while on a mission. He was an excellent male lead.
- The book after a lot of action and drama, finally ends in a great spot. I liked the way it worked out.
And The Not So Much:
- I picked this up wanting a holiday read. This is not a Christmas book. There is a brief mention of the holidays, but Christmas Day in the book is absolutely dismal. I am not sure why this is being marketed as a holiday book because it really isn’t. This is a winter romance.
- I was not a fan of Erika. She is a tough sell. She has lots of issues, and she comes off as being an ice queen. I struggled throughout with her character. There was some growth, and I did like the way she changed at the end, but I was never a fan.
- The romance was a bit much for me. As I said, I was expecting a light, holiday read. Instead I get this steamy, sexy book. I was put off by the insta love vibe. I also got sick of the lust. I don’t know how many times I read about Reed’s jeans bulging. The latter half of the book has pages and pages of sex scenes that I got tired of and skimmed over. It was too much, especially in what I thought was a holiday book.
An Alaskan Christmas is a book plenty of readers are liking, but it was a miss for me. I specifically wanted a holiday read, and this book is not that. There is a mere mention of Christmas, other than that I would consider this a winter romance. I wasn’t a fan of the insta love, lusty romance, and the main character, Erika, was too much of an ice queen for me. If you want a holiday book, skip this one, but if you want a heated romance for winter, this is one to grab.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.