An unrealized crush and an unexpected kiss. Holly is back in town to apologize for the kiss between him and Lucas, but even though he isn't in any position to start a relationship he can't seem to get enough of Lucas's presence in his life.
From the A Christmas For Holly blurb:
Trapped in a snowstorm, Holly and Lucas find that unresolved feelings from a single, impulsive kiss could spark something deeper, leading them toward the most magical Christmas miracle.
The festive season offers nothing but despair for Paul ‘Holly’ Hollister, the once-proud captain of the Albany Harriers. His glittering hockey career has crumbled, leaving him crippled with anxiety and without a sense of direction. After a stint in rehab, Holly is desperate for peace—something his best friend Kai seems to have found in the snowy town of Wishing Tree. Despite his dislike of the cold, Holly is drawn there by friendship—and by the unsettling dreams of Lucas Haynes, the man he drunkenly kissed at Kai and Bailey’s wedding and hasn’t been able to forget since. The only problem? Lucas is determined to keep him at arm’s length.
Lucas Haynes has never felt a romantic pull toward anyone—until that unexpected kiss with Holly at his brother’s wedding flipped his world upside down. Finding out Holly was already in a relationship afterward only fueled his frustration and his decision to avoid the hockey star. But now that Holly is single and adrift in Wishing Tree, Lucas can’t deny their simmering attraction. When a snowstorm traps them together, Lucas’s sarcasm and distrust slowly crumble under Holly’s vulnerability. As secrets come to light, old wounds reopen, and the undeniable spark between them grows into something more, Lucas wonders if this closeness could be the love he never thought he’d find—and if Holly might get the second chance at happiness he desperately needs.
A Christmas For Holly is an opposites-attract, hurt/comfort Christmas romance featuring a retired hockey captain with crippling anxiety, a guarded gift store owner grappling with unexpected attraction, unresolved tension from a drunken wedding kiss, a charming small town blanketed in snow, meddling but loving family, and a snowstorm that brings honesty and vulnerability to light—leading to a heartwarming holiday happily ever after.
SNik's review:
Second in series (Wishing Tree, Vermont), but can be read as a standalone. Small town. Hurt//comfort. Mental health representation. Demisexual representation. Slow burn. Forced proximity. Dual POV.
For Lucas, there has always been something about Holly, but a year after a quick kiss, Holly is back in town and perhaps here to stay so maybe there’s a chance to see if there could be more. Holly is still struggling with his anxiety, but he needs to apologize to Lucas and find a new way forward in his life, and an unexpected snow storm has them stuck together and allowing for honest conversations.
This story really centers around Holly’s mental health struggle and how he slowly allows Lucas to be someone he can rely on for emotional support. I wish there was more time spent with them learning about each other in a deeper way, but overall it was a sweet build to them becoming a couple. I appreciated that Lucas was committed to having a relationship with Holly and that Holly embraces every second spent with Lucas.
Heather's Review:
Sometimes reaching for and taking what you want in life comes with hurdles and that's the way that this book opens - with Holly's mental health struggles and crippling anxiety that manifests in a way that makes the other person unsure of where they stand.
It's amazing how a little forced proximity can help make the situation better and force two men to confront their feelings and figure out what they really want. I wish that there was a bit more focus on learning about their separate lives, aw well as building their relationship, but it was a sweet and hopeful holiday story that gave this reader a warm, happy holiday feeling.
A Christmas For Holly is currently available as an e-book
A Christmas For Holly is currently available as an e-book
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