Title: Snowbound at Christmas by Debbie Mason
Christmas, Colorado Series Book Five
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 341 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Surviving the holidays will take a Christmas miracle . . .
Ex-cop Cat O’Connor is bored working for her sister, Chloe, as a personal assistant on the set of her soap opera. Until Chloe gets an opportunity to audition for the role of a lifetime and asks her identical twin to substitute for her on the soap with no one the wiser. It’s a perfect switch-until Cat attracts the attention of the mysterious Mr. Tall, Dark, and Way-too-handsome leading man.
Grayson Alexander never thought being snowbound in the charming town of Christmas, Colorado, for the holiday would get so hot. But between working with sexy, tough Cat on set and keeping his real reason for being there under wraps, he’s definitely feeling the heat. And if there’s one thing they’ll learn as they bring out the mistletoe, it’s that in this town, true love is always in season…
Review:
Snowbound at Christmas is a sweet, sassy and suspenseful romance by Debbie Mason. The sixth installment in the always fun Christmas, Colorado series is a laugh out loud novel that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.
Cat O’Connor is an ex-Denver police woman now working for her spoiled twin sister Chloe, a popular soap opera actress. Tired of pandering to Chloe’s whims, Cat is ready to quit and return to Colorado when she discovers someone is trying to kill her sister. Unbeknownst to Cat (or anyone else on the set), the show’s newest guest star, Grayson Alexander, is working undercover to investigate the threats on Chloe’s life. Despite the sparks that immediately fly between them, there is little trust between Grayson and Cat since they both suspect the other of being behind the threats on Chloe’s life.
Cat is a strong heroine who pretty much deserves sainthood for putting up with Chloe’s over the top behavior. Cat has had a rough time ever since her ex-boyfriend’s Ponzi scheme was uncovered and everyone thinks (but cannot) prove she knew what he was doing. Working for her sister has worn very thin since Chloe is demanding and spoiled but when Cat discovers someone is trying to kill her, Cat knows she has stay by her side to protect her from harm and uncover the identity of the assailant.
Grayson is about to embark on a much needed vacation when he is unexpectedly saddled with his grandmother Estelle. When he tries to find another relative to take her off his hands, his cousin calls in a favor which means Grayson is not only going undercover but he also must bring his grandmother with him. The number one suspect on his list is Cat and he is dismayed by his attraction to her. He is equally disconcerted when Chloe sets her sights on him and his grandmother decides to try her hand at a little matchmaking.
The supporting cast of characters are well drawn and range from delightfully quirky to downright annoying. Cat’s close friend Ty is a wonderful breath of fresh air and his antics are quite funny. Estelle is also a pretty fun character although her matchmaking attempts are a bit misguided. Chloe is nearly impossible to like and it is extremely frustrating watching her manipulate Cat for much of the story.
For a good part of the novel, the storyline focuses on the ensuing investigation. Grayson and Cat continually butt heads as they pursue various leads and their attraction for one another only complicates things between them. Neither of them trust their instincts at this point since Cat cannot believe she missed what her ex-boyfriend was up to and Grayson completely misjudged someone on his last case. It is not until they, along with the cast and crew of Chloe’s soap opera, relocate to Cat’s hometown in Colorado, that their relationship becomes less adversarial. As Cat and Grayson begin working together on the investigation, their attraction deepens but just as they are considering telling one another the truth about their respective roles in the investigation, Chloe’s latest shenanigans cause problems for them.
With an intriguing storyline, a cast of eclectic characters and a sweet love story, Snowbound at Christmas is a captivating novel that is fast paced and engaging. This latest installment in Debbie Mason’s heartwarming Colorado, Christmas series is an absolutely delightful read that I highly recommend to readers of contemporary romances.
