Review ~ Bewitching Winter (The Four Seasons #3) by Serenity Woods

ebook downloaded via Amazon for free.

Release Date: May 2016

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Six years ago, Neve Clark thought she’d found in Rhett Taylor the perfect doubles partner both on and off the badminton court, but their volatile relationship ended with a betrayal she couldn’t forgive. Since then, she’s dated plenty of guys in an attempt to recreate the passion she once felt with the man who broke her heart, but to no avail.

Anxious to put aside her growing despair that she’ll never find someone to replace him, she books herself on a business course in wintry Queenstown, New Zealand, with the aim of concentrating on her career as Marketing Manager for the Four Seasons lingerie company. It’s only when she turns up that she discovers the keynote speaker is her old flame.

After leaving New Zealand to pursue a career as a badminton player at international level, a series of unpredictable events leads Rhett back to the country and to the woman who haunts his dreams. A sizzling chemistry still exists between them, but even though he wants her back, Neve wants nothing to do with him.

Rhett’s not used to losing. Not everyone gets a second chance at both life and love, and this time he’s determined to win her heart…

My Opinion

I was excited to read this book. However, I have to say I found myself struggling to finish it. I did push myself to get to the end, yet it didn't live up to my expectations, which is a shame. 

Neve and Rhett's story just dragged for me. I didn't feel a spark in their relationship and it lost me more as the book went. I wanted to like them, and I'm a big fan of the second chance romance trope, but this book was lacking something for me. It felt there was more detail about the conference and back story than in the moment getting back together. 


Overall I wanted to like this, but I just couldn't get into it. 

3

Review ~ My Christmas Fiancé (Love Comes Later, #1) by Serenity Woods

ebook downloaded for free via Amazon.

Release Date: September 2016

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Meg 

It’s not easy to reinvent yourself, but my thirteen-year-old son and I were ready for a new start. Old Maggie had been a magnet for disaster, but I decided that New Meg was going to be suave, sophisticated… and blonde. I landed a dream job at the other end of New Zealand as PA to three rich directors who spoil me rotten, I found a beautiful new apartment on the waterfront, and I felt reborn. 

Then I wrote an email to a friend describing in vivid detail what I wanted to do to the sexiest of the directors—involving melted chocolate and/or whipped cream—and mistakenly sent it to All Staff. It turns out that New Meg is pretty much just Old Maggie with different packaging. Some things never change. 

Stratton 

I’ve wanted Meg since she first walked into my office with her soft lips and sexy curves, but she wears another man’s ring, so I’ve steered well clear… until now. My mind’s been occupied anyway since I found my girlfriend, Natalie, in bed with another man. She’s desperate to have me back and won’t take no for an answer—so I’ve come up with a brilliant plan, to hire a fake fiancée for Christmas to prove to her that we’re done. 

After sending her hot-as-hell email, Meg confessed the truth about her past, and it’s given me an idea. She’ll make an ideal fiancée, and I can protect her from the guy she’s running from. Sounds like the perfect plan, right? Her teenage son’s no problem because we get on great. Sharing her room? That’s more of a challenge, but I’ve always had excellent self-control. 

Yeah, I know. I keep forgetting about the melted chocolate. What an idiot.

My Opinion

I really enjoyed this read. It was festive, but not traditionally so since its set in Auckland where it's summer.

This book was a hot read and I enjoyed the fake fiancée turned real trope. I thought the chemistry between Stratton and Meg was great, and their relationship built well. There was definitely a spark between them, but I also liked their friendship and banter.

As for the story, I liked it. I didn't feel Meg's past was resolved fully, it fizzled out a bit, but I enjoyed the emotional side of the book enough it didn't really bother me.


Overall, a good read. I'd definitely recommend.

4