🎃🍂🍁💕 "The Single Dad's Holiday Match" (Smoky Mountains First Responder #1) (2021) 💕🍁🍂🎃 - Bookstagram + Review Tour
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Single Dad's Holiday Match
Author: Tanya Agler
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Release Date: September 28, 2021
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
'Tis the season…For unexpected love!
Officer Jonathan Maxwell is just as devoted to his job as he is to his two young daughters, leaving zero time for a social life. Until he meets Brooke Novak. The newly hired community center director is a single parent, too, and also part of his latest investigation. Jonathan needs Brooke’s help if he's going to close his case by Thanksgiving…but she might be the biggest distraction from keeping his mind on his job.
Smoky Mountain First Responders
Book 1: The Single Dad's Holiday Match
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | BookBub
MY REVIEW
Thank you in advance to author, Tanya Agler, for providing a complimentary review copy of the book through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was definitely not required or requested in any way; all words are my own.
It seems like just yesterday Agler was making her debut with The Sheriff’s Second Chance which started off the Hollydale Heroines series.
The Single Dad’s Holiday Match is the first in a new series, Smoky Mountain First Responders, which is still set in Hollydale so the familiar faces from the previous series will make significant appearances. Oh, and Hyacinth and Belinda – the pie ladies – are back!!
While it isn’t required to read the previous series, I definitely would recommend reading them before this one as there are some “spoilers” regarding a few characters from the previous books, particularly the last book – The Soldier’s Unexpected Family.
And, it will help readers get the entire feel for Hollydale. And, that cover is definitely a warm-up for the fall season.
Like her previous series, Agler creates characters that are very realistic and heartwarming. Brooke Novak and Jonathan Maxwell are no different than the other characters from Hollydale. In addition, her writing is vivid and descriptive as she brings Hollydale to life and seemingly transports the reader to the fictional North Carolina town.
Newcomer Brooke Novak is a single mom of a teenage boy, Colin. And, her job is dependent on bringing the community center up to par, which is made more difficult with a police case that is directed back to the center.
Jonathan Maxwell is one of the police department’s oldest rookies after being a Detective in Atlanta. Yet, Hollydale is closer to his family (his cousin Caleb and his wife Lucie – “A Ranger for the Twins”). In addition, he is a widowed single dad of two daughters – Isabella “Izzy” and Vanessa. He is definitely over-qualified for the job given his degree and previous employment.
Jonathan is working a case of fake IDs that directs back to the community center. Of course, that’s where he meets Brooke. And, the investigation is the LAST thing she needs in her job.
A detective position is available due to a budget increase. That would give him what he wants most – stability, holidays off with the girls, and a pay raise. There is a catch – the job has to be posted. And, Jonathan faces competition – the District Attorney’s niece who is awaiting the results of her detective’s test. Closing this investigation would help him on top of his qualifications.
Sheriff Mike Harrison (from the author’s debut book) asks if Jonathan will be okay after an accident – Mike knows about Anne’s death some five years earlier. Jonathan was one of the first on the scene.
One of the IDs turns up at a gas station run by Mo (incidentally he is a member of Mensa). And, like the one from the accident – the ID steers right back to the community center. The office equipment there isn’t enough to duplicate the IDs. Brooke is concerned – the implications could damage her chances of keeping her job. There is no direct evidence – yet.
Meanwhile Brooke has a great idea for some of the ladies – Masterpieces and Mimosas. This will definitely take a turn for a laugh. And, I can honestly see this as another series from the writer.
Another fake ID shows up at the local bar and grill.
Mo’s description of the kid is a dead ringer for Brooke’s son who Jonathan meets at the pumpkin patch. Jonathan gets a picture of Caleb to show Mo who isn’t certain which kid it is.
Note: this is a very realistic scene as eyewitness testimony is often unreliable. Quick story about that at the end of the review.
The pumpkin patch visit also puts Jonathan’s girls together with Brooke and Colin. Where Vanessa is excited and warms up to the two, Izzy is protective of her father.
Brooke makes a discovery and brings in Jonathan. Jonathan learns there are three people who will make the decision on the promotion – Mike, the D.A (Stuart Everson), and … Aiden Murphy, City Manager. Readers will recognize him from The Soldier’s Unexpected Family.
The older gals (Hyacinth, Belinda, Tina, Fabiana, and Brooke’s Aunt Mitzi), knowing Brooke is single, try to set her up. Thus begins the Matchmaking Mimosas. See where that is going?
And, of course it looks like Colin might be involved. Even worse after a phone call.
Someone is also telling Mr. Whitley about Jonathan’s visits which also doesn’t bode well.
In addition to the investigation is a “will they, won’t they, ooops they aren’t, will they ever” romance between Jonathan and Brooke. Also, Vanessa as well as Isabella learn that liking Brooke doesn’t mean they’re forgetting or replacing their mom.
Agler pleasantly surprised me with the ending and who was involved and how. I had a list of suspects and I was 100% WRONG. She definitely kept me guessing and reading. And, although the ending was predictable, I really enjoyed it. I also like seeing characters from the previous series and what they were up to.
One thing that shocked me, but didn’t – how Aiden conducted his interview of Jonathan. It was a unique approach, and honestly? I like that kind of approach. I would’ve liked to see more of the other candidate – to get to know her and she what she is like.
I loved the idea of Brooke’s TRUNK OR TREAT program which Jonathan takes his daughters to. In my opinion, it is a much safer option for kids.
I understood Brooke when it came to people doing nice things. I’ve not seen much of it myself growing up or when I was younger. I’m definitely uncomfortable letting people in, and I am a huge proponent of upcycling as much as I can and am capable of.
I had to giggle at the names of two characters – one was officer Jillian Edwards (my last name), and Betty had a friend by the name of … Marie (my first name).
Like her previous books, Agler knows how to draw out the story without it plodding along, yet she doesn’t rush it either. The Single Dad’s Holiday Match is definitely characteristic of the Heartwarming line and is also emotional, heart-breaking, humorous, and inspirational.
I was hooked by the middle of the first chapter and really didn’t want to put this down for any length of time. I will say by page 290, it really picked up and the chapters seemed to shorten in length (for the line).
Heartwarming is one of the “clean reads” lines so there is no foul language, no real “barn” language either. Intimacy is kept to kissing, hugging, and handholding.
I can’t wait to make another visit to Hollydale and am eagerly awaiting the next book of the SMOKY MOUNTAIN FIRST RESPONDERS. Fans of the HOLLYDALE HEROINES are definitely going to want this story.
NOTE: Regarding “eyewitness” testimony – I went to an event 12 times in a row (2005-2016). I have pictures over the 3-4 days I went to the events, I also have my tickets which have the dates on them. In a social media post regarding bad weather and the event’s date, I ran across people who said the following about the events I went to:
** I went from 2004-2015, it rained every single time I went. The first year (2005) I got a sunburn, second year it snowed (2006), 1 day was rained out of a 3-day weekend, 1 event had a Sunday sandstorm (2016), majority? MILD, CLEAR WEATHER.
** I went from 2006-2017, it was always sunny and warm – never any bad weather at all (see above)
** The event was NEVER held in February (it was held entirely at the end of February in 2010; in 1998 one “race” was held on 2/28, the second day a race was on 3/1; there is also a way to check prior dates on the venue’s website)
As you can tell – the witnesses varied in their
accounts of the events. Thus, Mo’s recollection that he couldn’t recall which
kid he saw is VERY realistic.
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)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TOUR GIVEAWAY
Giveaway – (1) winner will receive a signed print copy of the book, $20 Kindle gift card, & clip-on reading light. (print US only, ebook international. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on October 5, 2021.)
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