REVIEW: Christmas in July by Debbie Mason

Christmas in July (Christmas, Colorado #2) by Debbie Mason is a story about love, about guilt, about regrets, about forgiveness, and about new beginnings. I have to say at first I had mixed feelings about reading this book. Even while reading, at times I just wanted to stop because it was and emotional and painful journey with many road blocks and outside forces that stood in Grace and Jack’s way. But I am glad that I continued to read because it really was a heartwarming story.

Grace Flaherty is a military wife with a young son. Her husband, Jack, has been missing in action for 17 months and Grace has finally given up hope that she will ever see him again. On the day that she has decided she has to accept the facts and move on with her life, she receives word that her husband has been rescued. An injury to the head has left Jack wit no memory of his wife or son and his return to town with almost girlfriend, Maria, a newsreporter who was also held captive.

Grace and Jack have a lot of issues to work through and resolve if their marriage is going to survive. Not only the problems with Jack’s memory loss and Maria, but Sawyer, Jack’s best friend, who has stood by Grace through all of the months of worry, has supported her and Little Jack and now finds himself in love with her. Jack’s sister, Jill, who worships her brother as a hero, and turns on Grace when she learns that she was ready to say good bye to Jack and move on with life. Living in the small town of Christmas, Colorado, the community doesn’t let Jack forget that he was the town’s bad boy in his youth.

These characters are well developed, well rounded and realistic. They display many human traits, both positives and negatives, just like we all do. The secondary characters added another delightful level to the book. The small town setting is realistically described, and the setting, combined with the characters, makes me want to go there for at least a visit, if not to live.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written romance. Also to anyone who enjoys a heartwarming, feel good story. I have not read anything written by Debbie Mason before, but now I have to read more of her books because I enjoyed Christmas In July so much. I gave this story 4 shiny Christmas stars.

Book Info:

Published June 24th 2014 by Forever | (Christmas, Colorado #2)

Grace Flaherty had given up hope of ever seeing her husband again. After all, it’d been over a year since he went missing in combat. So when he strides through the door of her bakery in downtown Christmas one sunny afternoon, she can hardly believe her eyes. But her happily-ever-after is going to take some effort – because Jack has no memory of his family.

All Jack Flaherty remembers about Christmas is that he couldn’t wait to leave town. Now he’s a local hero with a wife and son he doesn’t know. Even as he struggles to rekindle the romance with his wife, he knows in his heart what he wants: a second chance at love.