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Mini Reviews: Hot Toy by Jennifer Crusie and Saving Grace by Kristen Proby



Blurb from Goodreads:
Mayhem ensues under the mistletoe as a determined shopper grabs the very last hot toy action figure off the shelf, only to find herself plunged into the middle of a real-life spy game and in the arms of a sexy secret agent...
My Review:
 
I love Jennifer Crusie but this story felt so dated (and it is from 2006).  Maybe if I had first read it back then, I would have liked it more but reading it today just seemed kind of sad.  While I do typically enjoy Crusie's references to pop culture in her book and her female friendships (in this story, it's sisters), the surprise spy game just seemed odd.  This was a cute idea about the lengths we go to make our children's Christmas over the top but  the spy aspect seemed poorly planned a bit confusing in its reveal.
She threaded her way through the crowd, heading for the back of the store.  Above her, Madonna cooed "Santa Baby," the ancient store speakers making the carol to sex and greed sound a little tinny.  Whatever had happened to "The Little Drummer Boy"?  That had been annoying, too, but in a traditional way, like fruitcake.  She'd be happy to hear a "rum-pa-pum-pum" again, anything that didn't make Christmas sound like it was about getting stuff.

Saving Grace (Love Under the Big Sky #2.5) by Kristen Proby


Blurb from Goodreads:
Sparks fly like snowflakes when a klutzy but gorgeous novice crosses skis with a hot resort owner in this tempting tie-in to New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby’s popular Love Under the Big Sky series!

Grace Douglas is on a practice run for her friend Cara Donovan’s bachelorette party ski weekend in Aspen. The problem is, despite living in rugged and picturesque Cunningham Falls, Montana, Grace is the clumsiest person ever born. To prepare for the trip, she is taking lessons at a local ski resort. She just prays that they have an ambulance on standby.

Sexy hotelier Jacob Baxter is ready to play ski instructor, but he quickly discovers that the best place on the mountain for Grace is in the lodge with a hot toddy. Her sense of humor and easy laugh quickly pull him in, and soon he’s determined to help her get off the bunny slope for a fun vacation with her friends. He just didn’t expect their steamy chemistry to trigger an avalanche of desire straight to his heart.
My Review:
  
Oh man, this was really, really bad.  I was rolling my eyes the entire time, and I think at some point I posted a GR status that said something to the effect of "Good thing this is short since it is pretty terrible."  The best thing I can say about this one is that it was short.  While I really liked the first book in this series, I didn't finish the second book and didn't really like the third book.  That being said, this story of insta-love of some of the background characters was definitely not necessary.  The Montana setting has such potential but this one was just so cliche (billionaire ski resort owner hides his true identity to just randomly give ski lessons to a woman he sees in the lodge . . . hi-jinx and insta-love ensue including ridiculous extravagance and an epilogue with a proposal).
"What are your plans for the rest of the evening?" he asks.  
"Yoga pants and a Lifetime movie," I reply.  
"Can I talk you into doing those things in my suite?"

Comments

  1. Yeah that second one doesn't sound like it would be good. At leas was short!! The first one sounds cute - Shame it didn't work that well!

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