Prah, Constantine & Baryeh Reviews: Jingle Bell Harbor by Tracy Brogan #PrahConstantineAndBaryehReviews

Hello one and all! Happy New Year 2017. I trust that you all had a joyous holiday season (hopefully, restful too, but probably not likely). 

Welcome to the first edition of this year's Prah, Constantine and Baryeh Reviews. Over the holidays, we chose a short and sweet holiday romance titled Jingle Bell Harbor (Bell Harbor #3.5) by Tracy Brogan.

Here's the blurb

As assistant buyer for the world’s second-largest Christmas store, Kelsey Parker feels like a holiday

harlot. She’s contractually obligated to promote the yuletide season. All. Year. Long. And it’s taking a toll on her spirit. But when her clueless, self-absorbed boyfriend goes on their long-anticipated romantic vacation—without her!—Kelsey is beyond disappointed to find herself tromping through the Bell Harbor snow instead of lounging on a tropical beach.

Drew Hampton is considered quite a catch among the Bell Harbor bachelorettes, but when his high school dream girl, Kelsey Parker, shows up at his grandfather’s Christmas tree lot complaining about her love life, he decides it’s long past time to get her under the mistletoe himself.

As things heat up between the two, a surprise visitor arrives, making Kelsey an offer she can’t quite believe. Now she must decide what matters most, and she just may discover the key to her happiness.

My Review

For such a short story, Jingle Bell Harbor had a lot to offer - small town charm, Christmas celebrated in a big (and small) way, bachelor auction, naughty grannies, and some memorable lines. One of the first things that struck me was the humour woven into the telling of the story. I found the characters to be believable and very likeable, though I probably liked Kelsey's grandmother the most.  

The one thing I didn't like was the first person narrative, although it was probably necessary for the kind of humour the story is written in (a bit of a catch 22). I recommend this for anyone who wants a sweet holiday romance. I'll be checking out the other Bell Harbor stories as well as Tracy Brogan stories.

Don't forget to check out reviews by Prah and Constantine.