Wednesday, January 3

Book Review: Homecoming in Christmas Falls by Ciara Knight

Author: Ciara Knight
Title: Homecoming in Christmas Falls (Return to Christmas Falls #1)
Genre: Romance
Pages: ebook
Published: October 2017
Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley)

Eight years after fleeing Christmas Falls because of a high school prank gone wrong, Ashley Brooks receives a mysterious letter from her mentor asking her to come home. She arrives to face all she left behind—her family, her friends, and the rich boy she’d loved who would never date the girl from the wrong side of town. 

Brent Donnelly, high school jock, brainiac, and dutiful son did everything right until the day Ashley returns to Christmas Falls. With one look at the girl who got away he questions all his life choices, including following in his father’s footsteps in the family business. 

Faced with a potentially devastating decline of tourism in their hometown, Brent and Ashley must work together to save the magic of their town, but when Ashley discovers he still has feelings for her best friend she must finally face the real reason she left Christmas Falls—to try to heal her broken heart. 



Starting 2018 with a Christmas book! LOL

The story follows Ashley 8 years after she booked it out of town. She ran away from her family and her friends and started a new life elsewhere. Why? A high school prank gone wrong. She thought everyone hated her and so she ran away thinking that was what they wanted. For some reason, she decided it was time to return and make amends and apologize for that night and for leaving. 

Okay…I get why Ashley ran away…I guess. However, I don’t understand why everyone just forgave her right off the bat. The only person she really had to win over was her mom. There was no real trial for Ashley. She just said sorry for leaving and everyone was all “its okay! No worries!” No…she ran away without a word of goodbye or anything. Coward. 

The story itself was good, but I really didn’t like Ashley because she was such a big coward. It took her 8 years to come to her sense and come back? That is so uncool man. 

I loved Brent. Sure he forgave her for leaving right away, but it took a while for him to let her back into his heart. Good. I would be scared to love her thinking she was going to take off again at any minute. I wish the story was in Brent’s POV. What was going through his mind after being abandoned? What did he do in those last 8 years? All questions I want answers to!

Kuddos to the author for not making this solely a romance. She had Ashley patch things up with her friends and her parents. I really feel that it made this book a touch better because it was about love all around.

Overall, this was a good Christmas book about forgiving and loving each other. I may not have liked Ashley much, but it didn’t stop me from liking the book. I’ll give this….4 stars. 



5 comments:

Melliane said...

Even after Christmas, Christmas books are nice!

Blodeuedd said...

Yay xmas book!

But yes they sure forgave her easily

Carole Rae said...

Melliane, yesss sometimes you need some Xmas cheer

B, yayy! And yes...I was annoyed. They forgave SO easy. She didn't have to do anything.

Rashika said...

I am glad even though you didn't like Ashley, you managed to like the book!!! I feel like that says a lot more about the book and everything else going on if you're still able to enjoy a book even if the main character sucks! Also like, I just requested a Christmas book from the library and it's January 7th, so I feel you! HA!

Carole Rae said...

Rashika, I completely agree! It says something about the story and the writing for sure. And yayy for after Xmas Xmas stories!