No Holly for Christmas By: Julie N. Ford

Widowed, practically penniless, and banished to an Alabama rural community, ex-socialite- turned social worker Holly Cavanaugh Winter is dreading the approaching holiday season.However, her angst is not due to her husband's untimely death last December 25th,but because of a secret, one she keeps locked deep in her heart, that could reveal itself unless she can find a way to avoid Christmas.

On special assignment for the DA, defense attorney, Brian McAlister has all but given up on relationships when his path unavoidably crosses Holly’s. But love at first sight quickly turns frigid when Holly gets pulled into a manhunt for an accused murderer who now has his sights set on her. With his case unraveling, Brian finds himself tasked with keeping Holly and her two daughters safe, while bringing an assassin, and the powerful man who hired him, to justice.

Ok,.... This is a sequel book about a supporting character from 'The Woman he Married'.  I didn't read book two and still understood everything that happened so it reads great as a stand alone novel.

I really grew to love the characters.  At first Holly was someone that I thought I was going to hate.  She was a socialite before her husband died last year and she seemed really obsessed with the clothes that she wore and her manners to appear as the perfect southern belle.  As I read more and got to see into her thoughts and insecurities I was really moved by her.  She was struggling through life and she used outwards perfection as a coping mechanism.  She is a great mother that truly wants the best for her girls and will do anything she can for them.

Brian, at first, seemed to be a rich, successful attorney, playboy that was ok with using and leaving any girl that came along.  He was still stuck on his college sweetheart and was constantly comparing all women to her and making sure they fell short.  But as with Holly the more I got to see into his thoughts I became to love him.  He was unsure of himself and was constantly second-guessing this feelings for Holly.

There is some action and some fight scenes with Brian (he is a black belt in Karate and it comes in handy).  There is also romance, which in my opinion any good book should have romance.  Julie Ford did a great job of conveying passion but not using smut. (thank you!)   There were times that I was frustrated at Brian and Holly and just wanting to sit them down and tell them that they really do love each other so just move on and kiss already but I know that real love is complicated and there was enough humor in this story that I was soon laughing and forgetting my frustration. 

This is definitely a story that I can share with friends and family.  Great read!!

This book can be purchased on Amazon.

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