🎅🏻🤶🏻🎄🎁 "The Secret Santa Project" (Seasons of Alaska #8) (2021) 🎁🎄🤶🏻🎅🏻 - Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

Series: Seasons of Alaska (Book #8)
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming (July 27, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335426353
ISBN-13: 978- 1335426352
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“A gift he wasn’t expecting…

 

A special Christmas wish

 

Working with his best friend’s sister isn't how Cricket Blackburn had planned to spend his holidays. He’d tried to forget about sweet, beautiful Hazel James for ten whole years and now she's back, closer to him than ever. They have a Christmas charity to run—certainly that will keep Cricket’s mind off what might have been. Perhaps if he tells Santa his secrets, his ultimate wish might come true.”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Carol Ross, for providing a complimentary review copy of the book through Prism Book Tours. A positive review was definitely not required or requested in any way; all words are my own.

 

I love Christmas. And, I love it ANY time of the year. So, if a book has SOME kind of Christmas going on – I’ll read it. This cover definitely makes me want to grab this, a cup of hot chocolate, a blanket and snuggle on the couch. Of course, in 100° (F)+ heat – two of those things are NOT going to happen. But, the cover does put me in the Christmas mood.

 

This not the first book I’ve read by the author. I read her standalone, Second Chance for the Single Dad. And, I was previously introduced to this series when I read Catching Mr. Right. I absolutely LOVED that book. And, this book is definitely connected.

 

While this could be a standalone, readers would likely benefit from reading the previous books in the series.

This book features Cricket Blackburn (who made an appearance in the previous book) along with Hazel James – Seth and Iris’ triplet. Seth, Victoria, and Scarlett (Catching Mr. Right) visit Alaska, and the events of that book are referenced to, including an incident between Hazel and Cricket in this sweet (and sometimes frustrating) “friends to more” kind of romance that had a Hallmark movie vibe to it. I loved the origin of Cricket’s name – and I had to laugh as it was definitely unique (think Disney).

Other members of Hazel’s family, presumably from other novels, return or are mentioned.

I loved the fact that Cricket was a bit older than Hazel (10 years). It definitely made the “relationship” make sense as well as his attitude towards her.

There is a LOT going on in this book – Hazel’s mom’s charity, Cricket’s business, Cricket’s incarcerated father and brother, and an eventual slight mystery surrounding a theft.

 

I definitely enjoyed the slightly short chapters. This is a thing with me – I LOVE short chapters. I can keep reading and reading. Longer ones tend to become tedious and I don’t keep my attention span, sort of why as much as I enjoy the Heartwarming line, it isn’t a top favorite for me.

 

This begins, obviously after the events in Catching Mr. Right. Cricket is trying to get through to Hazel who wants to ignore him. And, like obviously before – he comes to “rescue” her. This is important as it refers to an incident outside of the book, and it becomes a theme later on in this book.

 

Try as she might, Hazel can’t “get over” Cricket despite thinking she is. And, he’s keeping her at arm’s length because of his “brotherly” connection to her. Everyone is giving off the wrong vibes here, and some family members can spot their perfection as a couple a mile away – or more. One thing that complicates Hazel’s plan is her mother’s secret Santa project along with Hazel working with Cricket and her brother Tag.

 

Cricket is lucky to draw Hazel as her Secret Santa, though it is comical (and not) that she thinks it is Kai, her guide from Utah who wants a change of pace from the Southwest (me too!). Poor Kai draws Cricket’s name and has NO idea what to get for him. Thankfully Hazel is there to help.

 

Cricket can’t really stand Kai, worse when he thinks he and Hazel are a “couple”. There is a HILARIOUS moment on page 105 when he thinks about locking Kai in a closet with his phone. Even though I knew what was going on, I still had to laugh and silently cheered for Cricket.

 

One thing is clear – Cricket isn’t over Hazel.

 

At around the 61% mark; Cricket’s brother Lee shows up. And, I really had a bad feeling about it. Of course, Lee says he is “reformed” (sure, right).

 

It isn’t long after that when Cricket and Hazel let the family know they’re a couple after deciding to let their feelings out. The whole family is okay with it – Tag isn’t and is quite vocal. And, it is a bit of an ugly moment. Of course, it is understandable given that Cricket is part of the family so a break-up could be disastrous. Worse because Tag and Cricket are business partners. Of course there is a cute quip about Cricket being the James’ sibling’s parents favorite kit.

 

And, something disastrous does happen when Hazel is tasked with a delivery of items for the Christmas charity.

 

I had a few suspects in mind – and I was definitely wrong. I liked that Ross kept it going up until almost the end, same as the “romance.” After chapter 18, I definitely couldn’t stop reading it.

 

As I said, there is a lot going on in the novel, and somehow rather than being cluttered – Ross makes it work and superbly connects everything in place.

Ross’ descriptive writing moves the story along without stagnating in one place.

 

She also walks the reader through something not typically found in a “romance” – visitations at a prison. This is a fairly interesting read and had I not been so busy, definitely a 2-day read.

 

In addition, Hazel’s job is one we see a lot if we’re online, but don’t think much of it offline – travel blogger. How many times have we turned online to research something and VIOLA! There is a travel blog. But, I also loved the reality of the dangers involved. Not that I loved it being dangerous – I loved the author including the reality aspect of it so as not to glamorize it.

 

I deeply loved the idea and concept of family in this book. They may fight, but make up and love each other, something that Cricket wasn’t used to.

 

In the beginning when Cricket is trying to get ahold of Hazel and she is exploring some caves in Utah, there is a mention of stalactites and stalagmites. Instantly upon reading that my heart fluttered to the Calico Mine Ride at Knott’s Berry Farm and the stalactite and stalagmite room. Despite being simulated, it is a GORGEOUS reproduction (the picture below was taken our last trip - December 29, 2019).

There was also a UNLV (Las Vegas) or UNR (Reno) reference in this book as well. It wasn’t made clear which university, but it was interesting to read since both have a decades old rivalry.

 

This is definitely a clean read with no offensive language or even “intimate” scenes without any Christian or faith-themed elements. Fans of author and those who’ve read the previous books won’t want to miss this book. Fans of clean and wholesome reads are sure to love it as well.

 

I definitely want to read the other books in the series. And, I can’t wait to read the author’s next book.

 

 

 

RATING:

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – BookBub

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

Other Books in the series:

Seasons of Alaska:

 

Book 1: Mountains Apart

Book 2: A Case for Forgiveness

Book 3: If Not for a Bee

Book 4: A Family Like Hannah's

Book 5: Bachelor Remedy

Book 6: In the Doctor's Arms

Book 7: Catching Mr. Right

Book 8: The Secret Santa Project

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Carol Ross lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two dogs. She is a graduate of Washington State. When not writing, or thinking about writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, skiing, travelling, and making plans for the next adventure to subject her sometimes reluctant but always fun-loving family to. 

 

 

You can find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolrossauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolross__/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_CarolRoss

 

 

 

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