Tag Archives: HelenKay Dimon

It’s Hotter at Christmas by HelenKay Dimon

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: It’s Hotter at Christmas
Author: HelenKay Dimon
In: Kissing Santa Claus (Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

Thoughts

I didn’t mind this story, and even though it’s technically part of a series, the not minding means that I’m counting this as a standalone. Not a bad story, but not one that had me overly keen to dive into anymore of Dimon’s writing. I think the thing about this that I loved the most was the idea of celebrating Christmas in Hawaii. It was definitely a lot more similar to the kinds of Christmases that I’m used to. Hot, sunny and filled with joy.

As someone who lives in a bit of a tourist region, I totally get Ted’s hesitation on welcoming Marissa into his life. It doesn’t matter where you live, there are still the same everyday concerns. Plus, tourist regions are more expensive. I loved how straight to the point he was about this. And how his hesitation to committing to Marissa was based in reality. But, he was also refusing to consider the exception to the norm when he laid down the law.

Marissa is somewhat feisty. But in a kind of awkward way. It feels very point on and just… loud. Not the kind of feisty heroine that I tend to prefer. Probably part of the reason that I’m not completely obsessed with this story like I wish I was.

<- Bah, Handsome!Kissing Santa Claus ->

Image source: Amazon

Kissing Santa Claus by Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview

Title: Kissing Santa Claus
Author: Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon
In: Kissing Santa Claus (Donna Kauffman, Jill Shalvis & HelenKay Dimon)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary romance, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2009

Thoughts

Kissing Santa Claus was a fun anthology to read at Christmas time. It was three fun novellas placed in wildly different settings. But, all with the undertones of Christmas and love in the festive season. Each and every story had a feeling of moving on and new beginnings, all emphasising the turn of the season and the start of a new year. It was fun, light and a wonderfully easy read. Just the thing for someone who was really struggling to get into the whole idea of Christmas this year.

Even though I enjoyed this anthology, it definitely wasn’t my favourite set of Christmas novellas. It started really strong and I seriously loved Kauffman’s story, Lock, Stock and Jingle Bells. But then it just got weaker and weaker until ultimately I wasn’t even that fussed about finishing the final novella in this anthology. Yet, it was still a fun set of stories, and not one I would necessarily delete off of my shelves.

As much as I didn’t love this anthology, it was still a great way to get into the Christmas mood. It was also really nice, and somewhat rare, to read a Christmas story that was not based in the snow. It was nice to have a Christmas tale that was a whole lot more familiar than the idea of a White Christmas. Or just any kind of snow and cold really…

<- It’s Hotter at ChristmasLock, Stock and Jingle Bells ->

Image source: Amazon