A Valentine for Christmas by Reese Ryan is the introductory book of the Valentine Vineyards 
series. Chandra Valentine’s father calls all his children to Valentine Vineyards, which he just purchased. In addition to starting up a vineyard, he announces he’s selling the currently family textile business and announces he discovered a family he never knew, as he had been adopted. It’s a lot for Chandra to take in, and she finds herself turning to Dr. Julian Brandon, despite the fact she feels he’s too young for her.
Chandra and Julian met on the flight to Magnolia Lake. Having left years ago after his mother had blamed him for his father’s death, he’s now returning to take over the medical practice in the small town to fulfill a promise he made to the man who paid for his education. What starts out as a fake romance soon becomes real, and Julian is determined to prove to Chandra that age is just a number. But when faced with a choice, will Chandra go back to her life to will she stay in Magnolia Lake and give Julian a chance?
For those that have read this author’s Bourbon Brothers series about the Abbott family, this is a spin-off of that series. Characters from those books do make an appearance in this one. That being said, you do not need to have read that series in order to start this one.
I liked the romance between Julian and Chandra. While it starts out as a fake romance, their actual relationship wasn’t rushed and was well-developed. My biggest issue with the story was that Chandra repeatedly worried about the age difference between her and Julian. She didn’t even know his actual age when she started worrying about it, which seemed a little premature. When I found out it was around ten years, I thought she was blowing it out of proportion, considering he was almost 30. Some of the comments she makes about it are a bit over-the-top, and her constant worry about it left me wondering why she was even considering starting a relationship with Julian if the age difference was such a big deal to her.
Julian and Chandra are also characters readers will feel for. Both have had some bad things happen in their pasts that have led to them to where they are now. I especially felt for Julian and admired the fact that he didn’t let his past and his issues with his mother hold him back. He went out and accomplished his goals, while still being a down-to-earth, easy-going guy with a big heart in spite of what he went through.
The interactions between Chandra and her family are realistic and I enjoyed seeing them all together. It’s clear they are close and protective of one another. I’m looking forward to seeing more of them in future books in the series, along with seeing more interactions with the Abbotts.
Despite the title, this book doesn’t have a lot to do with Christmas, other than being set during the holiday season. If you’re looking for a Christmas book to put you in the Christmas spirit, this isn’t the book for you. If you’re looking for a charming small-town romance with a focus on family, then it would be. I’d also recommend it to readers who enjoy age-gap stories. It’s a good start to the new series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next at the vineyard.
Book Info:
Publication: November 29, 2022 | Harlequin Desire | Valentine Vineyards #1
Dr. Julian Brandon is too charming, too sexy and too young for Chandra Valentine. But after the successful bachelor rescues her—twice—she owes him. Still reeling from life-changing family revelations, Chandra somehow agrees to pose as Julian’s girlfriend. And now the irresistible Julian has plans that start with seduction under the mistletoe and end with their fake relationship erupting into a scorching affair. Now Chandra’s questioning everything she believed about love…
