First Chapter Review: Unexpected Gifts by Joyce Brennan

This book is free today, so I decided to give it a try. Unexpected Gifts by Joyce Brennan is part of the Christmas Valley series.

BLURB: Traumatized by a bitter divorce, Elizabeth Dennison leaves her high profile real estate job in San Francisco to take over a tea and souvenir shop near a ski resort in Driftwood Springs, Colorado. She is not ready for another relationship, but handsome rancher, Morgan Hart sweeps her off her feet. Is she ready to put the past behind her and re-marry?

Seasonable snowstorms play havoc in the couple’s lives, and present them with many startling challenges. Surprises and unexpected gifts give new meaning to the couple’s future

COVER: It would be hard for me not to like a seasonal cover depicting my favorite holiday, but this one is especially nice with its red and blue packages and all that gold shimmer.

FIRST CHAPTER: Elizabeth Dennison was shocked by her bitter divorce from Brent. She should have seen the signs, but was too much in love. When her childhood friend Jess calls from Colorado with a plea for help, Elizabeth packs up and leaves San Francisco behind.

A tempting offer makes Elizabeth consider a permanent move to the small town of Driftwood Springs, but would she miss the fast-paced life of the big city? A top-notch real estate couldn't have much of a future in a little Colorado town, could she?

KEEP READING: This first chapter opens what appears to be a great story, but I have to admit my head is spinning. So much happens in Chapter One: Elizabeth leaves San Francisco, she arrives in Driftwood Springs, Jess makes her an offer, and Elizabeth begins her trial period to see how she likes life in town. That doesn't even cover the changes going on in Jess's life that creates this opportunity for Elizabeth in the first place. It's just a lot to swallow right off. I would have preferred a shorter opening chapter with a little less going on.

Brennan does a fine job of creating likable characters whose lives you want to get involved in. You empathize with Elizabeth's plight and understand how confused she is at this point in her life. Jess and her husband Eric don't seem like they will be a major part of the storyline, but I hope I'm wrong. I really like them.

The male and female leads don't meet in the first chapter, but I'm okay with that. A sneak peek at Chapter Two shows Morgan Hart appearing there, so we know it's not long before he and Elizabeth meet up. I would definitely keep reading to see how that turns out.


File Size: 583 KB
Print Length: 214 pages
Publisher: Snowy Creek BooksTM an Imprint of Loucks-Christenson Publishing; 2 edition (January 4, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B006V42CGY

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I downloaded this book for free from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

First Chapter Review: Unexpected Gifts by Elena Aitken

Maybe you're thinking I better reconcile myself to the fact that the holiday season is over and start reading something else, but I'm not quite there yet. I have tons of books set during different time periods once I'm ready, though.

TITLE: Unexpected Gifts

AUTHOR: Elena Aitken

BLURB: Let it snow! Cozy up to the Castle Mountain Lodge in the middle of the remote Canadian Rockies for Unexpected Gifts.

Christmas represents everything Andi Williams is supposed to have, and doesn't. Running away to a remote mountain lodge in the Canadian Rockies, sounds like the perfect way to escape, until a mix-up finds her sharing a villa with sexy, rough around the edges, Colin Hartford.

Colin's determination to enjoy the holiday he’s missed for the last five years, sweeps Andi into a season of joy that she’s not sure she’s ready for. Can Andi open herself up to everything the holidays have to offer...including love?

COVER:  Not bad. You can definitely tell it's a seasonal story. It doesn't, however, tell me it's a romance novel. If you don't want to put a couple in a romantic setting on the cover, then why not a snow-covered log cabin nestled in the woods with smoke filtering out of the chimney. This would indicate not only the setting, but the smoke reminds you of warmth and the people who might be snuggling up by the fireplace. For a romance novel, this cover is kind of cold.

FIRST CHAPTER:  The reader meets Andi Williams and her business partner, Eva. They run a party planning business, which is doing so well they have hired two girls to help out. This makes it easier on Andi, who is dealing with a recent tragedy that has left her feeling miserable. She just wants Christmas to be over. An unexpected change in plans has her heading to the Castle Mountain Lodge to spend the holidays by herself curled up with a good book in front of the fire.

KEEP READING:  Sure. The scene has been set for what we know is to come--Andi meeting with "sexy, rough around the edges, Colin Hartford." You don't know yet how they are going to meet and what the immediate result will be, but you're certainly interested. The tragedy that changed Andi's life makes her a sympathetic character who you want to see find happiness.

Eva is funny and beautiful. She genuinely cares about Andi and hopes things will get better for her, which is why she suggests the free invitation from the lodge as a way to escape it all. This breaks the mold in that the female and male lead haven't met in the first chapter, but it is done so well that you are already captivated by the story and are eager for Andi and Colin to catch first sight of each other.


Publisher: Ink Blot Communications (November 11, 2011)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
Language: English
ASIN: B0066HBGCM
SRP: $2.99

I downloaded a free copy of this book to my Kindle. I received no monetary compensation for this review.