By 

S. Barrett (Santa Cruz, CA) –

  

  

Becca Timm desperately needs to get over ancient flame Denny Cutler if she’s going to go on with her life and marry her current boyfriend. Three years ago Denny broke her heart before heading off to war, and even though she’s told herself it’s over, deep inside, she’s not so sure. She decides to find out in an unorthodox manner-by arriving on her twin brother Rich’s step with a packed bag. He’s one of Denny’s Marine buddies and the guys are plotting a hunting and fishing trip in Virgin Waterway. Rich can’t say no, so Becca hitches a ride.

Things do not go well. Denny isn’t pleased to see her, and she’s sure she’s made a huge mistake. Then she breaks her ankle and is confined to quarters with a way too handsome Denny in attendance. What’s a girl to do?

Bring Me Home for Christmas brings back many of the delightful Virgin Waterway characters we know and like. Amid the charming and caring town, Becca reevaluates her life and what she really needs. This is a wonderful Christmas tale featuring caring public and causes, but it’s also a coming of age tale for Becca and Denny and what they want for the future. It is also a heartwarming tale of Becca’s rediscovering her like of teaching and a healing of the rift between her and her mother. Highly recommended.

Help additional customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment

Where else would you rather be for Thanksgiving and Christmas than Virgin Waterway? This latest installment in the series, just in time for the holidays, reminds us of the right spirit of the season.

Becca Trimm surprises her brother Rich on the daylight of his scheduled departure for a hunting trip in Virgin Waterway with his ex-Marine buddies for the Thanksgiving holiday. She is going with him and is prepared and ready. Rich has no time to reflect it through and allows her to accompany him but knows he should be worried: Denny Cutler, Becca’s ex, is their host and this is sure to be a problem. She wants to make certain her feelings for Denny are in the past before she takes the next step with her current boyfriend but Becca tells everybody she just wants to learn how to hunt and fish. Yeah, right.

Becca and Denny didn’t part ways on fantastic terms so her life in Virgin Waterway is awkward for all. When one of Rich and Denny’s friends show interest in Becca, matters get even stickier. But, Denny, who hasn’t gotten over Becca, has to assert himself more than he’d like to keep things from moving further in the ill-treat direction.

Becca ends up in a situation beyond her control that causes her to extend her stay in Virgin Waterway for several weeks. During that time, she and Denny have a chance to finally talk about the demise of their relationship and come to terms with their feelings for each additional.

One of the most compelling aspects of this series is the spirit of community in Virgin Waterway. We get to see it in action through Becca’s eyes as the residents prepare to help out needy families for the holidays and reach out to those stranded when a snow storm hits ahead of schedule. Becca’s opinion of the town is transformed as she watches the public in action. While there aren’t many subplots in this tale, many of our favorites are part of the main tale.

Denny and Becca’s tale is woven brilliantly with those involving the holiday season. It’s heartwarming and you grow to like Denny even more if that’s possible. Becca is also a talented and fascinating force who finds herself conflicted as she contemplates her two relationships. Family themes run strong, those biological and extended, as both consider what a commitment would mean.

This tale is a wonderful addition to the series, especially right before the holidays. I would have preferred to have had more tale lines in play as that is another one of the appeals of the books but it doesn’t detract from it still life well written and compelling.

(NetGalley ARC)

Help additional customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment

Oh I’m enjoying Robyn Carr’s writing so much more these days, and the Virgin Waterway series – which in the past entertained and frustrated in equal measures – has really come back to life for me.

Robyn Carr’s writing is charming, full of fantastic humour, and steamy when it needs to be. I’ve been wanting a pleased ending for Denny – who first appeared a few books ago – for some time, because there’re few characters who deserve one more. BRING ME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS is the kind of Christmas book I like – the cheese is absent, and yet it is heartwarming.

Denny and Becca are a fantastic couple. Their problems are real, lacking any Huge Misunderstandings, and you’ll be cheering them both on from start to end.

The best thing about Virgin Waterway these days is that Carr has toned down the health lectures. The characters don’t sit down for a ten page conversation about birth control before each sex scene (not that I don’t want safe sex in my books, but honestly, I felt like I was conception a medical textbook!), and Mel doesn’t deliver a baby every additional page.
Mel – one of the series’ less well loved heroines, and someone who completely overtook the tales in the past – is still thankfully in the background in this one. But I’m still tiresome to figure out why the author has nearly completely written series originals Mike and Brie right out of town!

This was nearly a five star read for me, but I found the storyline just a tad too simple compared to some of the additional books in the series.
I’m so glad that after a few lacklustre years, the Virgin Waterway series has sprung completely back to life, and I’m really looking forward to the new instalments. This is one I’d certainly recommend.

Help additional customers find the most helpful reviews 

Was this review helpful to you? 

|

 Comment (1)