GRR Reviews A Whyte Christmas by Michele Brouder

Kate may act like she's enjoying the Holidays, with flashing Christmas tree earrings and a lot of (fake) cheer, but she's secretly grieving over a lot of things. Her father had passed away, her engagement is toast, and her copywriter career is kaput, as she'd been let go and rehired as the receptionist. Then she found that her ex (the one who cheated) was hired as the creative lead (instead of promoting the existing senior creative)  When the ad company's biggest client decided to come and micromanage, what can you do but smile and say "yessir"? // Gavin Whyte knew why this (incompetent) firm was picked to run the drug company's ad campaign... The owner is a cousin of boss's wife or something like that. But with his own promotion on the line, he'll babysit the campaign himself. He was a little surprised when the boss offered up Kate as his companion, to "show him the sights". But let's just say Kate is a bit of a klutz, and Gavin, with his blue eyes and Irish accent, is a panty melter. But Gavin doesn't really have time to woo Kate, and he's leaving eventually, right?

Oooh, nice mix of tropes and full character arcs for both main characters. Add a set of quirky characters and some old tropes (like the tone-deaf but "inspirational" boss, much like the one in Dilbert) and minions ready to backstab each other, and it's a good Holiday tale. 5/5

GRR Reviews This Christmas by Michelle Brouder

Jeff is a bit too helpful... except to himself. As a young and handsome firefighter, he should have no problem getting dates. With his mother always trying to set him up on dates, and nobody wanted to go on a second date with him or accept his dog, he's resigned to living alone. Then Holly moved into the other unit in his duplex. // Holly trusted a man once... her fiancee then proceed to steal all her money to feed his gambling addiction, saddled her with huge amount of debt, despite liquidating everything she owned, then pulled a disappearing act, leaving her to pay BOTH portions (it'll cost more to fight bills when she's already on a court-ordered repayment plan) by working multiple jobs as both a schoolteacher and a waitress. // When Jeff met Holly, they realized they have met a long time ago, back in college, just once. They are hesitant in exploring this lingering attraction they have for each other. But when Jeff suffered a health scare, and Holly found a clue to her ex's whereabouts, can they help resolve each other's problem before the Holidays?

Sweet, romance, about two hurt people finally found each other. I think the earlier meeting scene didn't add much to the story, IMHO.

Category: Contemporary

Overall Rating: 4/5

NOTE: Tropes are now in the "Labels" below.