REVIEW: Hero for the Holidays by Maisey Yates

Hero for the Holidays by Maisey Yates is the ninth book in the Four Corners Ranch series but can be read as standalone. I haven’t read all the books in the series but didn’t feel like I was missing anything here because of that.

Landry King and Fia Sullivan had a secret romance when they were teenagers. A secret romance that led to a secret daughter. Landry had wanted to keep her, but Fia made a difficult decision to put her up for adoption. Fia tried to move on, but Landry never forgave her for it. Without her knowledge, he let the agency know that if his daughter if wanted to contact him, she could. What he didn’t expect was to become an instant father when her adoptive parents passed away in a tragic accident.

When Fia finds out, she’s angry at Landry all over again, but also wants to get to know her daughter. This means that Landry and Fia need to find a way to work together to help Lila through her grief, adjust to her new life, and to accept her biological parents and their families. Lila isn’t the only one who needs to adjust though; both the King and Sullivan families are shocked to learn of the reason the pair have been at odds all these years, along with the new addition to the family.

I liked the story, but it took me a long time to warm up to Fia. Yes, she ultimately did the right thing for Lila, but it seemed like she didn’t take Landry’s feelings into consideration at the time. Then, after Lila comes to Four Corners, she basically demands to be introduced to Lila as soon as she finds out she’s there, while Landry was still trying to help her adjust to her new life. She doesn’t take into consideration that it might be too much for Lila at that point, nor does she give Landry time to really talk to Lila about it first. What if Lila didn’t want to meet her? It initially seemed to be a lot about what Fia wanted instead of what everyone else did. She eventually become more likeable. While Landry himself was no saint, he does initially come off as a more likeable character.

Neither Landry nor Fia grew up with good examples of parents, and neither wanted to continue the cycle. They strive to be better than the parents they had, and it was great to watch them work together to do what was best for their daughter, even when things between them were unsettled.

Hero for the Holidays is a story about love, family, and second chances, set during the magic of the Christmas season. It would be for readers who enjoy small town romances.

Book Info:

Publication: October 22, 2024 | Canary Street Press | Four Corners Ranch #9

When Landry King shows up at Four Corners Ranch with Lila, the teenage daughter no one ever knew he had, it sets the gossip mill churning. Landry’s daughter has lost her adoptive parents and is in desperate need of a new family. So this Christmas, the untamed cowboy is finally getting the chance to become the father he could never have been when Lila was born. Even if it means dealing with his other biggest regret…

Fia Sullivan hates Landry King. That’s how it’s always been. At least, that’s how it’s been since their dramatic teenage love affair ended in a way that shattered their hearts and left them with wounds that never healed. When Landry dredges up her most agonizing secret, Fia’s devastated…and also overjoyed at the possibility of the new life they could have. But there’s only so long she can be near Landry before their simmering desire reignites. Can they finally overcome their past pain to find new love—and new family—this Christmas?