REVIEW: Welcome Home for Christmas by Annie Rains

Welcome Home for Christmas by Annie Rains: According to her family, Allison has been single for far too long and she gets to hear all about it at this year’s Christmas party. Except, in setting up an auction for a charity Allison finds herself buying a K-9 marine police officer to act as her pretend boyfriend so she doesn’t have to have the interrogation this year.

Troy wants nothing to do with Christmas, his being ruined last year due to a fight with his brother, but spending the evening with the beautiful Allison might not be so bad. And it gets better as they spend more time together, becoming comfortable enough to fool Allison’s mom that they’re actually dating. But what starts as research, becomes something more.

But Allison doesn’t trust her instincts when it comes to men, not when her mom has been analyzing her dates, and been right about them, every time. And she knows Troy is more about a fun time than commitment. Except Troy is finding that he doesn’t want to leave Allison alone, for once he wants to stick around, if only she’ll trust her instincts for once.

Welcome Home for Christmas is a lot of Christmas and cute. A light and fluffy story, with a whole lot of holiday cheer, I can’t say I got to know the characters deeply, but I enjoyed them and the ride they put me on. Troy is a total sweetheart, who wants what’s right and when he knows what he wants he’ll go after it no matter what. Allison got a little on my nerves with her distrust and inability to let go. She felt too strict and I didn’t love that.

While there were definite offshoots, the story remained focused on our couple, which I always appreciate. That said, there was a lot of various story lines going on which were a bit unnecessary. Even so, I highly enjoyed Welcome Home for Christmas.

This is the fourth in a series and can definitely be read as a standalone, but I do recommend reading the others for the fun of it. Rains is an enjoyable author, for those who love the military touch in a light and sexy read.
 

Book Info:

Publication: November 8, 2016 | Loveswept | Hero’s Welcome #4

The bestselling Hero’s Welcome series continues with a juicy Christmas romance, a short novel set in Seaside, North Carolina, where the bustling military base keeps this small town stocked with dedicated, lovable heroes.

Three-hundred-and-sixty-four days a year, Allison Carmichael doesn’t mind being single. It sure beats dating another loser, and it keeps her heart safe. Then there’s that three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth day: Christmas Eve, the traditional time her entire family gathers together—and gangs up on her, demanding to know when she’s going to get married. This year, she swears, is going be different. And that’s why, at a charity auction she’s throwing on-base, she buys herself a man.

Sergeant Troy Matthews insists that he’s not for sale. His time is, though, and he’s happy to donate it. Happier still when he learns the identity of the winning bidder: the redhead with the killer good looks and smart mouth who runs the veteran’s center. Allison needs Troy’s help to fool her family into believing they’re an item, and he’s all too happy to indulge her. But by the time Christmas Eve rolls around, their little charade is working a little too well . . . because Troy’s falling head over heels.