🎄 💕 🏠⚾ “His Hometown Yuletide Vow” (Pacific Cove Romance #4) (2022) ⚾ 🏠💕🎄– Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Pacific Cove Romance (Book #4)
Paperback: 384 Pages
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming (November 30, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1335426515
ISBN-13: 978-1335426512
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“All he wants for Christmas
Is a second chance…
Derrick Bright’s baseball career may be over, but his brother’s is just starting—until a scandal threatens to end things. PR specialist Anne McGrath hasn’t spoken to Derrick since he left her eleven years ago. But she agrees to help for his brother’s sake. Escaping the press in Pacific Cove allows them to reconnect. Will she accept Derrick’s vow and make his Christmas dreams finally come true?”
Thank you in advance to the author, Carol Ross, for providing a complimentary review copy through Prism Book Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
In March of 2020, I read my first book by Carol Ross – a standalone, Second Chance for the Single Dad. What is interesting, book is a standalone with a character who was introduced in the third book of the Pacific Cove Romance series, Keeping Her Close.
This book, His Hometown Yuletide Vow, is the fourth (4th) book in the Pacific Cove romance series. I actually thought it was the first book of a new series. As it turns out, it is book #4.
That said …
It appears NONE of the characters from the previous three books in the series appear in this one. This ties directly into Second Chance for the Single Dad rather than the other books. I didn’t realize that until I started my review and had to refer back to that book.
In Second Chance for the Single Dad, readers met Rhys McGrath’s sister Anne. So, nearly two years later, Anne gets her own story. Rhys, Camile, and Willow will play a prominent role in this book as they help Anne with Easton. As I haven’t read the previous one in close to two (2) years, I can’t really say whether or not there are any creative deviations from it with regard to the characters or their original storylines.
I can say that this, had I not read the other book, this would work quite well as a standalone read as well.
The beginning of this one starts off with a sweet social media reference and it is interesting to see how the writer weaves social media and cancel culture into a story. However, what starts off as a promising and perhaps secondary storyline is abandoned with no further mention. With a beginning that strong, how could there not have been more from it.
Anyway …
The main story centers around Easton Bright who is caught up in a a performance enhancing drug debacle.
Anne gets “wrangled” by former flame and Easton’s brother Derrick, into helping Easton after initially refusing a request from his coach. The problem? Because of her experience with Derrick, Anne doesn’t normally accept athletes as clients. Derrick takes advantage of her “consultation” that he wins during a charity auction.
Obviously there was some hurt and lingering emotions when Derrick Bright chose baseball over Anne McGrath. She hasn’t really forgiven him and Derrick hasn’t forgotten the email she sent to him in which she broke up with him.
Derrick is desperate, rightfully so given how his younger (and oh-so-sweet, really he is) brother is being treated. Anne doesn’t like what Derrick has done, but given her affection for Easton, she reluctantly agrees. Though she is mad at Derrick for manipulating her. I completely agree with why he did it.
There’s also the matter of her current boyfriend, Todd, though even she knows that is not really going anywhere. (As of note, I LOVED the delicious little angle that the author threw in there – keen eyed readers will see it from the beginning).
After meeting with Easton, even Anne’s friend Keira thinks they should represent the kid. Of course, Anne has to make good on the representation when an anonymous source contacts the media and spills the beans. I had a bad feeling about who the source was immediately.
Anne soon finds there is more to the story and wonders how deep Easton is involved. It is clear though that he doesn’t seem like the kind of kid though. He has several interests that are definitely not in line with the scandal he’s found himself in.
In addition to his brother’s issues, Derrick is still trying to find his way after a forced retirement due to an injury. He comes to believe something Anne said in an email. He’s trying to desperately move on from it, and it is heart-breaking to see how he was impacted by not just the injury, but the email.
As luck would have it, Anne and Derrick still care for each other. And, as she works towards proving Easton’s innocence in the matter, Anne and Derrick get closer together. Derrick is more determined to win Anne back once he realizes that she was mistaken about an incident. I like this guy’s tenacity!
But, as usual things don’t go so smoothly either in the “case” or in Anne and Derrick’s relationship until around nearly the end of the book.
The author throws in twists and turns in Easton’s “case” – I was surprised by the ending and “who” was behind the malicious posts that excoriated Easton and tried to “frame” him. Ross’ use of picture manipulation was wonderful and definitely show how certain images can be easily manipulated into getting the “viewer” to see something that isn’t there or not telling the entire story.
I can’t say HOW many photos and videos I see on social media on a daily basis where people comment and literally take it out of context because they don’t know what went on before or after. They only see just THAT moment on social media. I could give quite a few examples from the past 48 hours from Instagram. That’s a HUGE offender right there.
I really loved how the author touched on rushing to judgment and people assuming the worst. Again, refer to what I JUST said.
Anne was just as bad as those she was defending Easton from – rushing to judgment and her lack of forgiveness towards Derrick. For his part, he was definitely a saint.
I really didn’t like Anne at first, Derrick was a doll, and Easton? Such a sweet kid. Granny was interesting and Jack Derry of DerryPop (popcorn company) was a riot right off. I would’ve liked to have seen more of Jack’s story as there seemed to be something there. I would’ve liked more to the #ginnytheninny and her scamming story. Perhaps that would be something the author follows up on in a future book?
As a result, the plot was definitely relevant in today’s social media age and environment. The one picture and example the author used in the story was on point 100%.
The cover is interesting, and I really didn’t see the connection to it and the story, though that cover sure is cozy. The chapters are on the longer length which is average for the series. The author’s writing and fast (but no rapid) pace kept the story flowing and engaging. Had it not been for the holidays, I likely would’ve finished this book in about 2-3 days. It took me three times as long as normal, but that is in NO WAY a reflection on the author.
I loved the lesson about “unattended anger” – “unattended anger, no matter how small, will forever fester in your heart”. That is perhaps one of the best lessons I’ve ever read and learned.
This is definitely one of those reads that will likely force the reader to think twice about what they see from third parties on social media and realize there is always more to a story than what we’re seeing.
As usual, this follows the Harlequin Heartwarming line of being a clean read. There is only a kiss or two in it – no intimate scenes and no offensive language. There are no real Christian or faith themed messages in this.
I definitely look forward to reading the next book by the author. Fans of the line and the author are likely going to enjoy this read.
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)
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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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