REVIEW: Christmas With His Ballerina by Jessica Gilmore

Christmas With His Ballerina by Jessica Gilmore: Rebecca is on her way to a respite she has been pushed into by one of her best friends. She has the use of her friend’s cabin in a secluded area of Vermont until Christmas when her two good friends will come to celebrate with her. Rebecca had been embroiled in a divorce that took two years to settle and now her ex is bad mouthing her in the press. The whole ordeal had become untenable so she is happy to have some time on her own. She is a workaholic which was part of the reason for the divorce, but it wasn’t all her fault. Ivan knew when he married her she was the Artistic Director for a ballet company that she had grown up in. She started out in children’s parts and worked up to prima ballerina with hard work and determination. Even though she is now forty and is no longer an active dancer, the ballet company is her whole life.

Rebecca doesn’t have an easy entrance into her holiday cabin when her car conks out. While she is waiting in the cold for the towing service, she meets her new next door neighbor, Joshua Pearson. He helps her out with hot coffee and a blanket while she is waiting.

Joshua tells Rebecca he will introduce her to the many fun activities in the Vermont area in exchange for her help in getting his cabin ready for his son and daughter coming for Christmas for the first time in three years. There is lots of hard work to get the cabin refurbished, but Rebecca thrives on it and keeps everything organized and moving right along. The two also spend lots of exhilarating time together exploring activities that are new to Rebecca, especially skiing.

Both Rebecca and Joshua are middle aged and have been through a lot. Rebecca had a marriage that didn’t work and ended on a bad note. Joshua lost the love of his life and doesn’t know if he is ready for a second chance. I love this latest story of more mature heroes and heroines. I have really been captivated by this recent trend. The reader can relate to the trauma they have gone through in life. None of us go through life unbruised.

It felt as through I was in winter wonderland as I read about all the amazing fun Rebecca and Joshua had during their time working together. Joshua knew all about hospitality with his job as head of Grand York Hotel Group. He may have been a CEO, but he was down to earth and had done every job imaginable as he worked his way up.

This is the final book in the Five-Star Family Reunion continuity series. Each author has done an amazing job of bringing the story forward and author Jessica Gilmore brings it all to a perfect conclusion. It was cute to me that she is apparently not American. She uses “s” where American would use a “z”. Also she uses “car park” instead of parking lot. I have read a huge amount of British novels over many years so it all felt quite natural.

This book does okay as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the trilogy in order for better enjoyment of this lovely holiday tale.

Book Info:

Publication: November 29, 2022 | Harlequin Romance | Five-Star Family #3

In this final story of A Five-Star Family Reunion series, wrapped up in a cabin in Vermont, will this couple rediscover love? Find out in the latest Harlequin Romance by Jessica Gilmore.

It’s never too late…

…to find forever!

Widower Joshua is excited for his first family Christmas in years with his grown children. While getting his Vermont cabin festive-ready, he meets his temporary neighbor, ex-ballerina Rebecca. Escaping from the press, Rebecca needs a distraction from her high-profile divorce and offers to help. Romance is not on either of their agendas, yet they find something completely unexpected in one another… This Christmas, will they discover love—again?

From Harlequin Romance: Be swept away by glamorous and heartfelt love stories.

A Five-Star Family Reunion

Book 1: Wearing His Ring till Christmas by Nina Singh
Book 2: One-Night Baby to Christmas Proposal by Susan Meier
Book 3: Christmas with His Ballerina by Jessica Gilmore