REVIEW: The Heart of Christmas by Brenda Novak

In The Heart of Christmas (Whiskey Creek #7) by Brenda Novak, With Eve Harmon’s thirty-fifth birthday looming, she finds herself reflecting on just what she’s done wrong to still be single and childless as this point in her life. She thought she had something special with one of her close friends Ted last year but that failed miserably. So when Eve takes an evening to blow off steam and runs smack dab into the hottest guy she’s ever seen before, who could blame her for tossing aside her goody-two-shoes image and having some fun? But that one night with a handsome stranger passing through town will end up changing her life forever when she gets caught up in the middle of the chaos constantly surrounding him.

‘But if he wanted her so badly, why did he keep trying to push her away? She had no answers. She only knew he was impossible to reach–and equally impossible to resist.’

At this point, Rex isn’t really sure who he is anymore. Hiding out in Whiskey Creek, California, seemed like a good idea until he gets too close to a beautiful woman named Eve. He hasn’t felt so close to anyone in years, and to be quite honest, it scares the hell out of him. Getting emotionally involved could mean harm to not only himself, but to Eve. Rex tries to leave town and to leave her behind for her own safety. But he keeps getting pulled back into her loving, giving arms, wishing he could be the person Eve needs him to be. He can only hope that things will finally go his way for a change and they’ll be given the chance at something real. Even if it’s only for a short time.

“I’m not most men, Eve. I admit it. I can’t give you the home and family you deserve. I can’t give you much of anything–except the next three weeks.” He framed her face with his hands. “But I hope that’ll be enough. That we can at least enjoy the time we’ve got. And I hope you know I’m not dangerous, not when it comes to you.”

The Heart of Christmas was yet another superb novel from one of my go-to authors, Brenda Novak. Eve Harmon finally got her chance at true love, but of course there had to be some twists and turns along the way or it just wouldn’t have been a Whiskey Creek novel!

I look forward to each new installment of the Whiskey Creek series, waiting to see what new drama will unfold. I think the two things that I enjoy most about the stories are the way this group of friends stick together through every dilemma, and of course that Ms. Novak doesn’t shy away from difficult storylines. Her characters earn their HEA, or happily-for-now, as the case may be. To me it seems more realistic that, like in this story, Eve finds the man she can picture herself with for the long run only to learn that he is battling demons that will force him to leave her. It wasn’t an easy path to love. More like a battle fought tooth and nail, but so, so very worth it in the end.

On top of being a fabulous romance, this holiday novel had the small town spirit of the season along with some intrigue and action this time around. I won’t give away too many details, as finding out what Brent/Rex is hiding would spoil the plot, but I was really impressed with the depth of emotions he had concerning not only the events in his past, but his longing to settle down with Eve. That desperate need for ‘human attachment’, as Rex called it, was absolutely palpable. His was a heartwrenching story of how many things had gone wrong in his life and how badly he blamed himself. Eve, being such an honest and genuinely good person, was the perfect balance for Rex. I love it when the good girl falls for the bad-guy-who-has-a-good-heart. And this story proves that this trope works no matter the time or place. (Or season!)

Author Brenda Novak has a real winner here. The Heart of Christmas was filled with holiday magic that only these wonderful characters could make happen. Definitely recommended.

Book Info:

Published October 28th 2014 by Harlequin MIRA | (Whiskey Creek #7)

Just call her Christmas Eve…

Eve Harmon has always enjoyed Christmas, but this year it reminds her of everything she doesn’t have. Almost all her friends are married now, and that’s what Eve wants, too. Love. A husband and kids of her own. But the B and B she manages, and even Whiskey Creek, the small Gold Country town where she was born and raised, suddenly seem…confining.

Eve’s worried that her future will simply be a reflection of her past. There’s no one in the area she could even imagine as a husband—until a handsome stranger comes to town. Eve’s definitely attracted to him, and he seems to have the same reaction to her. But his darkly mysterious past could ruin Eve’s happily ever after—just when it finally seems within reach. And just when she’s counting on the best Christmas of her life!