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The Bright Series #3
Christmas of White
It’s three days now that the boy hasn’t worn a winter coat.
As his teacher, it’s my job to make sure he’s safe.
But after multiple calls to his family’s phone number, I still haven’t made contact.
So I take him home myself.
Big mistake.
Because one little problem?
Cole’s father is single.
And outrageously tall.
And wickedly broad-shouldered.
But Buck Hayes is NOT happy I’ve brought his son home to him.
At all.
Too bad for him, I don’t care.
Too bad for me, I have a car accident after we fight about his son.
Too bad for us, I’m now staying at their house for the weekend.
… Right?
Christmas of White is a steamy standalone, enemies-to-lovers, single dad romance. It's not necessary to read the other books before this one.
As his teacher, it’s my job to make sure he’s safe.
But after multiple calls to his family’s phone number, I still haven’t made contact.
So I take him home myself.
Big mistake.
Because one little problem?
Cole’s father is single.
And outrageously tall.
And wickedly broad-shouldered.
But Buck Hayes is NOT happy I’ve brought his son home to him.
At all.
Too bad for him, I don’t care.
Too bad for me, I have a car accident after we fight about his son.
Too bad for us, I’m now staying at their house for the weekend.
… Right?
Christmas of White is a steamy standalone, enemies-to-lovers, single dad romance. It's not necessary to read the other books before this one.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 7, 2020
62 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
December 7, 2020
This one is difficult for me to rate. The writing is good and flowed easily. I just had problems with the story. Julia is Cole's second grade teacher and she sees him without a winter jacket multiple times, so she takes it upon herself to go to take Cole home one day and confront his father. On her way home after confronting Buck, Cole's father, she gets in a car accident.
When Buck learns of her accident, he insists that she stay the weekend with him and Cole so he can make sure she is okay. What?! Ummm, no. I don' t think any teacher would or should stay with a student and his single father. (who seemed very grumpy and bully-like) Plus, in the short timeline of A WEEKEND, Julia and Buck go from zero to sixty in terms of their relationship. I didn't buy into the short timeline at all for what feelings were supposed to be happening. And then when the "I love you" was thrown in a week or so later, my eyes were rolling.
It must be me, because I have seen very high ratings from others regarding this book. For me, it was a hard sell.
Thank you for the complementary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
When Buck learns of her accident, he insists that she stay the weekend with him and Cole so he can make sure she is okay. What?! Ummm, no. I don' t think any teacher would or should stay with a student and his single father. (who seemed very grumpy and bully-like) Plus, in the short timeline of A WEEKEND, Julia and Buck go from zero to sixty in terms of their relationship. I didn't buy into the short timeline at all for what feelings were supposed to be happening. And then when the "I love you" was thrown in a week or so later, my eyes were rolling.
It must be me, because I have seen very high ratings from others regarding this book. For me, it was a hard sell.
Thank you for the complementary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2020
Christmas of White
(The Bright Series, Book 3)
Written by: K. D. Elizabeth
Everyone loves Christmas romances, throw in a little boy, a single father, a Grade 2 teacher who really cares about her little school friends and a small town in Vermont just before the holidays and you have the makings for all the holiday feels.
Teacher Julia Elton has had enough! Three days in a row Cole Hayes has come to school with no winter coat. That along with the fact his parents never bothered to show up for parent/teacher interviews or the school spring concert. What the, well you know! However, when she drives Cole home that night she finds out everything she has thought about Cole’s parents is 100% opposite to all of her negative thoughts. Of course that doesn’t stop her from going of on Cole’s irresistibly handsome father, who happens to have a very bad attitude.
Buck Hayes is very overprotective when it comes to Cole and he lives a very private life. So no, he didn’t go to the parent/teacher interview or the school concert but he had reasons. He also wasn’t prepared when he found out Cole was being bullied. He tried so hard to polite but he and Julia still ended up yelling as each other just before she left to drive home in the snowstorm. It’s like the storm ended up tying Buck, Cole and Julia together.
After a car accident, which Buck is sure he caused because of the disagreement he and Julia had, Buck and Cole convince Julia to spend a few days at their house letting Buck keep an eye on her. She needed someone to keep an eye on her because of her concussion and was covered in bruises, so she gave in. Between these two adults who have very high walls built around their hearts we have the most adorable, seven year old boy who loves the added attention of his teacher who he has a huge crush on. Can Buck and Julia can open up and share their history with each other? Will small town whispers threaten any budding relationship? Well, I’m going to suggest that you add Christmas of White to your Holiday reading list.
K. D. Elizabeth keeps the reader involved in this story from beginning to end, gives us lots of feels and as I have said, the cutest seven year old boy who might just be one of Santa’s Elves when it comes to helping his dad and his teacher learn about love, life, loss and Christmas.
(The Bright Series, Book 3)
Written by: K. D. Elizabeth
Everyone loves Christmas romances, throw in a little boy, a single father, a Grade 2 teacher who really cares about her little school friends and a small town in Vermont just before the holidays and you have the makings for all the holiday feels.
Teacher Julia Elton has had enough! Three days in a row Cole Hayes has come to school with no winter coat. That along with the fact his parents never bothered to show up for parent/teacher interviews or the school spring concert. What the, well you know! However, when she drives Cole home that night she finds out everything she has thought about Cole’s parents is 100% opposite to all of her negative thoughts. Of course that doesn’t stop her from going of on Cole’s irresistibly handsome father, who happens to have a very bad attitude.
Buck Hayes is very overprotective when it comes to Cole and he lives a very private life. So no, he didn’t go to the parent/teacher interview or the school concert but he had reasons. He also wasn’t prepared when he found out Cole was being bullied. He tried so hard to polite but he and Julia still ended up yelling as each other just before she left to drive home in the snowstorm. It’s like the storm ended up tying Buck, Cole and Julia together.
After a car accident, which Buck is sure he caused because of the disagreement he and Julia had, Buck and Cole convince Julia to spend a few days at their house letting Buck keep an eye on her. She needed someone to keep an eye on her because of her concussion and was covered in bruises, so she gave in. Between these two adults who have very high walls built around their hearts we have the most adorable, seven year old boy who loves the added attention of his teacher who he has a huge crush on. Can Buck and Julia can open up and share their history with each other? Will small town whispers threaten any budding relationship? Well, I’m going to suggest that you add Christmas of White to your Holiday reading list.
K. D. Elizabeth keeps the reader involved in this story from beginning to end, gives us lots of feels and as I have said, the cutest seven year old boy who might just be one of Santa’s Elves when it comes to helping his dad and his teacher learn about love, life, loss and Christmas.
December 1, 2020
Though it was evidence of their attraction towards each other from the beginning, there was an ominous tone underlying the story. There’s a sadness that kept me from fully appreciating the chemistry brewing between them. I didn’t like how rocky this relationship remained. There was a lot of hate brewing between the lines and it was really hard to swallow the harsh words and unkind actions.
Buck is stewing in scars from the past which affect his actions in his present. I had a hard time with the bipolar emotions towards Julia. He refused to give her the benefit of a doubt even though she is a school teacher and knows exactly how to handle children of Cole's age. He belittles her with his words and honestly it was hard to see how this relationship could progress in a healthy way. I did appreciate how the author handled his character development and self realization. A lot of people, including myself, have trouble emotionally dealing with hurtful actions of others. It was refreshing, but difficult to see Buck attempt to move past old wounds.
I was rooting for Julia and Buck, but honestly I couldn’t fully get behind them as a couple. I didn’t feel the initial spark or get the butterflies leading up to their first kiss. The pace of the story felt too fast and their actions felt out of place at times and I couldn’t realistically see their development. Over the span of four days, they developed a relationship and connection that in reality would have taken months.
Overall this was a cute Christmas read, but I did have trouble with the pace of the story. The characters were interesting, but some of their actions did feel out of place for the story. This was my first book by this author and though I didn’t fully connect with this story I am curious to see other books she has written.
Buck is stewing in scars from the past which affect his actions in his present. I had a hard time with the bipolar emotions towards Julia. He refused to give her the benefit of a doubt even though she is a school teacher and knows exactly how to handle children of Cole's age. He belittles her with his words and honestly it was hard to see how this relationship could progress in a healthy way. I did appreciate how the author handled his character development and self realization. A lot of people, including myself, have trouble emotionally dealing with hurtful actions of others. It was refreshing, but difficult to see Buck attempt to move past old wounds.
I was rooting for Julia and Buck, but honestly I couldn’t fully get behind them as a couple. I didn’t feel the initial spark or get the butterflies leading up to their first kiss. The pace of the story felt too fast and their actions felt out of place at times and I couldn’t realistically see their development. Over the span of four days, they developed a relationship and connection that in reality would have taken months.
Overall this was a cute Christmas read, but I did have trouble with the pace of the story. The characters were interesting, but some of their actions did feel out of place for the story. This was my first book by this author and though I didn’t fully connect with this story I am curious to see other books she has written.
December 9, 2020
A cosy holiday romance, set in a seasonally snowy location. Christmas of White is an emotional read that deals with loss, grief, bullying and family dynamic, all while taking place over the holidays and bringing it with the swoony steam!
The story takes off with Julia trying to find out why one of her second-grade students is coming to school without a winter coat. As his teacher, she feels it's her duty to make sure Cole is ok. So when she arrives at his house to discuss with his parents, the last thing she expects is to come face to face with a handsome, broody and overprotective single dad. They start off on the wrong foot, with Buck acting like a troll and misjudging Julia's character and her running out of his house and getting into a car accident. But the moment he realises how wrong he was, Buck swoops Julia away to his house for the weekend, to look after her while she recovers, and things change irrevocably for both of them.
Julia and Buck made an interesting couple. They've both been hurt in the past, they've been heartbroken and have dealt with loss. So it was sweet to see them open up to each other and learn to trust again. From the first time they met, there's been this insane chemistry and undeniable attraction between them, and the more they tried to deny it, the more they felt drawn to each other. Their relationship progressed a bit fast and there were some moments when I wanted to smack Buck over the head because he overreacted, but the moment he stopped being a rude caveman and showed his vulnerable side, it was impossible not to love him. Also, his son Cole was adorable, and the way he bonded with Julia was heartwarming.
The story is told in dual POV, with fairly paced action that leaves room for character development. There was a bit of drama, but everything resolved quickly and the epilogue was delightfully sweet and swoony. Christmas of White is one of those books you can easily read over the festive period between gift wrapping. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author!
The story takes off with Julia trying to find out why one of her second-grade students is coming to school without a winter coat. As his teacher, she feels it's her duty to make sure Cole is ok. So when she arrives at his house to discuss with his parents, the last thing she expects is to come face to face with a handsome, broody and overprotective single dad. They start off on the wrong foot, with Buck acting like a troll and misjudging Julia's character and her running out of his house and getting into a car accident. But the moment he realises how wrong he was, Buck swoops Julia away to his house for the weekend, to look after her while she recovers, and things change irrevocably for both of them.
Julia and Buck made an interesting couple. They've both been hurt in the past, they've been heartbroken and have dealt with loss. So it was sweet to see them open up to each other and learn to trust again. From the first time they met, there's been this insane chemistry and undeniable attraction between them, and the more they tried to deny it, the more they felt drawn to each other. Their relationship progressed a bit fast and there were some moments when I wanted to smack Buck over the head because he overreacted, but the moment he stopped being a rude caveman and showed his vulnerable side, it was impossible not to love him. Also, his son Cole was adorable, and the way he bonded with Julia was heartwarming.
The story is told in dual POV, with fairly paced action that leaves room for character development. There was a bit of drama, but everything resolved quickly and the epilogue was delightfully sweet and swoony. Christmas of White is one of those books you can easily read over the festive period between gift wrapping. I'm looking forward to reading more from the author!
December 7, 2020
⭐️Christmas of White⭐️
.
💫 KD Elizabeth 💫
.
📚Book 163 of 2020📚
.
I have read A LOT of Christmas books and this one does not disappoint. Steamy and filled with heart and emotion that packs a punch i immediately became invested in these characters.
.
Julia is concerned that Cole’s parents don’t participate in school activities, attend parent teacher conferences or answer phone calls. On day 3 of him shivering without a coat on she decides to take matters into her own hands. She drives him home herself to confront his parents but she doesn’t find parents. She finds Buck, A single dad and nothing is at all what she expected.
.
In a whirlwind of a week she goes from hating Christmas to her life changing. There is so much to this book then just a whirlwind romance. Buck’s son Cole will simply melt your heart and you are rooting for this couple the entire time.
.
This has the perfect epilogue that leaves you wanting for nothing more. Huge thank you to @kdewrites for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
.
#quarantine#foffimreading#bookclub#bookblog#bookreviewblog#bookaddict#bookcommunity#goodreads#bookishbounds#dec2020#bookishladiesclub#overbooked#kdelizabeth#christmasofwhite
.
💫 KD Elizabeth 💫
.
📚Book 163 of 2020📚
.
I have read A LOT of Christmas books and this one does not disappoint. Steamy and filled with heart and emotion that packs a punch i immediately became invested in these characters.
.
Julia is concerned that Cole’s parents don’t participate in school activities, attend parent teacher conferences or answer phone calls. On day 3 of him shivering without a coat on she decides to take matters into her own hands. She drives him home herself to confront his parents but she doesn’t find parents. She finds Buck, A single dad and nothing is at all what she expected.
.
In a whirlwind of a week she goes from hating Christmas to her life changing. There is so much to this book then just a whirlwind romance. Buck’s son Cole will simply melt your heart and you are rooting for this couple the entire time.
.
This has the perfect epilogue that leaves you wanting for nothing more. Huge thank you to @kdewrites for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
.
#quarantine#foffimreading#bookclub#bookblog#bookreviewblog#bookaddict#bookcommunity#goodreads#bookishbounds#dec2020#bookishladiesclub#overbooked#kdelizabeth#christmasofwhite
December 23, 2020
I absolutely loved everything about this book. It was really such a beautiful story. Julia, second grade teacher of Cole , confronts her student’s dad because of a misunderstanding. The path it takes her is only the beginning .
This is nothing short of a cozy up near the Christmas tree and fall in love with this story type book. I fell in love with the characters.
I am so glad I got this book in before the end of this season!
5 brightly shining Christmas 🌟!
.
.
Three days now that the boy hasn’t worn a winter coat.
As his teacher, it’s my job to make sure he’s safe.
But after multiple calls to his family’s phone number, I still haven’t made contact.
So I take him home myself.
Big mistake.
Because one little problem?
Cole’s father is single.
And outrageously tall.
And wickedly broad-shouldered.
But Buck Hayes is NOT happy I’ve brought his son home to him.
At all.
Too bad for him, I don’t care.
Too bad for me, I have a car accident after we fight about his son.
Too bad for us, I’m now staying at their house for the weekend.
… Right?
This is nothing short of a cozy up near the Christmas tree and fall in love with this story type book. I fell in love with the characters.
I am so glad I got this book in before the end of this season!
5 brightly shining Christmas 🌟!
.
.
Three days now that the boy hasn’t worn a winter coat.
As his teacher, it’s my job to make sure he’s safe.
But after multiple calls to his family’s phone number, I still haven’t made contact.
So I take him home myself.
Big mistake.
Because one little problem?
Cole’s father is single.
And outrageously tall.
And wickedly broad-shouldered.
But Buck Hayes is NOT happy I’ve brought his son home to him.
At all.
Too bad for him, I don’t care.
Too bad for me, I have a car accident after we fight about his son.
Too bad for us, I’m now staying at their house for the weekend.
… Right?
December 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this festive story.
”His gaze snags on my mouth. Something hot flickers across his face for the briefest of instants.”
Julia Elton loves her job and really cares about her little students. When Cole Hayes turns up once again to school without a winter coat, she’s incensed enough to take him home and confront his father. After an unpleasant exchange, she shoots off into a stormy, snowy night…only to wind up in hospital. When Cole’s father, Buck, turns up at the school to speak to her again, he’s shocked to find her in such a bad way and insists on having her stay at his house to recuperate. Even though he’s determined to think ill of her, there’s no denying the burning attraction between them, but they both have trust issues to overcome.
”Don’t do that...Don’t tempt me with that luscious mouth of yours. Every time you bite that lip, I want to sink my teeth into it myself.”
This was a really great story. Buck was a bear of a guy but I loved how Julia handled him. The tension between them was palpable and I loved that Buck really didn’t care what people thought of him and his intentions towards Julia. She was a really caring woman who was dealing with a lot of pain, but I loved how much Buck wanted to take care of her and show her that she was no longer alone. Sexy, heartfelt and heartwarming read!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
”His gaze snags on my mouth. Something hot flickers across his face for the briefest of instants.”
Julia Elton loves her job and really cares about her little students. When Cole Hayes turns up once again to school without a winter coat, she’s incensed enough to take him home and confront his father. After an unpleasant exchange, she shoots off into a stormy, snowy night…only to wind up in hospital. When Cole’s father, Buck, turns up at the school to speak to her again, he’s shocked to find her in such a bad way and insists on having her stay at his house to recuperate. Even though he’s determined to think ill of her, there’s no denying the burning attraction between them, but they both have trust issues to overcome.
”Don’t do that...Don’t tempt me with that luscious mouth of yours. Every time you bite that lip, I want to sink my teeth into it myself.”
This was a really great story. Buck was a bear of a guy but I loved how Julia handled him. The tension between them was palpable and I loved that Buck really didn’t care what people thought of him and his intentions towards Julia. She was a really caring woman who was dealing with a lot of pain, but I loved how much Buck wanted to take care of her and show her that she was no longer alone. Sexy, heartfelt and heartwarming read!
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...
November 28, 2020
I LOVE this book. Buck Hayes is seriously one of my favorite characters I've ever written. I hope you enjoy meeting him, Julia, and Cole!
December 2, 2020
*Single Parent
*Enemies to lovers
This is a sweet Christmas read. I enjoyed the storyline however I couldn't fully get on board with Julia and Buck's relationship. Julia is Bucks sons teacher. When a week goes by and Cole is still not wearing a winter coat, she takes it upon herself to speak to his parents. When she first arrives at Cole's house, she is met by Coles rude yet handsome father.
I liked the storyline and I can clearly see where the author was taking the characters however in my opinion things were too intense. It went from one extreme to the next very quickly. One minute they were arguing about Cole and the next minute, Buck was inviting Julia to stay over. There was no middle ground. Was the time frame realistic? No, not in my opinion.
That being said when Julia and Buck did get along, it was sweet and very swoon-worthy. Cole is also a very bright kid, I loved his relationship with them both.
I really enjoyed the character development, each character has their past experiences, in which they owned and learnt from.
Overall I did enjoy this book and I believe it has the potential to be a 5star read.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
*Enemies to lovers
This is a sweet Christmas read. I enjoyed the storyline however I couldn't fully get on board with Julia and Buck's relationship. Julia is Bucks sons teacher. When a week goes by and Cole is still not wearing a winter coat, she takes it upon herself to speak to his parents. When she first arrives at Cole's house, she is met by Coles rude yet handsome father.
I liked the storyline and I can clearly see where the author was taking the characters however in my opinion things were too intense. It went from one extreme to the next very quickly. One minute they were arguing about Cole and the next minute, Buck was inviting Julia to stay over. There was no middle ground. Was the time frame realistic? No, not in my opinion.
That being said when Julia and Buck did get along, it was sweet and very swoon-worthy. Cole is also a very bright kid, I loved his relationship with them both.
I really enjoyed the character development, each character has their past experiences, in which they owned and learnt from.
Overall I did enjoy this book and I believe it has the potential to be a 5star read.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2020
One thing I have learned and appreciated about Christmas stories is that everything happens in a very short period of time. The story literally flies along and I like that. There's just something about Christmas time that heightens every feeling and emotion.
This book centers around Julia and Buck. Julia becomes concerned over her second grade student, Cole, when he appears to class yet again without a coat. She worries that he is being neglected by his parents so she offers to drive him home and that way she can confront his parents about his coatless appearance. She comes face to face with Cole's very single father Buck. Buck for obvious reasons immediately dislikes Julia and her accusations but for reasons unknown are both extremely attracted to each other. They argue, Julia leaves in a huff and ends up in a car crash. Buck blaming himself, offers but more like commands Julia to stay over his house for the weekend so she can heal and have himself and Cole look after her. This is when the sparks fly.
Julia and Buck have instant chemistry. Their scenes just sizzled. They both are stuck in the past though. Buck is very distrustful of women seeing as his ex-wife pretty much abandoned him and Cole when he was a baby. Julia also has abandonment issues because everyone she has ever loved has left her and is scared to let anyone in for fear of them leaving her. Once they let themselves give in to their feelings it was hot. Buck turned into another person and I was here for it. Yes, he was still the gruff man we first meet but he just turns into this sexy, charismatic bear of a man and there was no way Julia could resist him. Julia was a little more hesitant but again, there was no way she can stay away from Buck. The feelings were so intense and instantly believe that they were it for each other. It was magical.
I have to say this book had a lot of depth. I feel it dealt with Cole's sensitivity towards his mother and the questions he has over her with care. Julia was very caring in her answers and I just loved her relationship with him. Same with Buck. I loved his relationship with Cole. He truly cares for his son and shows constant affection towards him. He worries about his mental health and well being. It was truly touching to read. I also really loved how Cole was written. He was written like a mischievous, innocent, caring child and it was extremely believable.
This was just a great Christmas read and I would like to thank KD Elizabeth for giving me the opportunity to read and review and her book. It was wonderful and I loved reading Julia and Buck's love story along with putting one in the mood to do all things Christmasy.
This book centers around Julia and Buck. Julia becomes concerned over her second grade student, Cole, when he appears to class yet again without a coat. She worries that he is being neglected by his parents so she offers to drive him home and that way she can confront his parents about his coatless appearance. She comes face to face with Cole's very single father Buck. Buck for obvious reasons immediately dislikes Julia and her accusations but for reasons unknown are both extremely attracted to each other. They argue, Julia leaves in a huff and ends up in a car crash. Buck blaming himself, offers but more like commands Julia to stay over his house for the weekend so she can heal and have himself and Cole look after her. This is when the sparks fly.
Julia and Buck have instant chemistry. Their scenes just sizzled. They both are stuck in the past though. Buck is very distrustful of women seeing as his ex-wife pretty much abandoned him and Cole when he was a baby. Julia also has abandonment issues because everyone she has ever loved has left her and is scared to let anyone in for fear of them leaving her. Once they let themselves give in to their feelings it was hot. Buck turned into another person and I was here for it. Yes, he was still the gruff man we first meet but he just turns into this sexy, charismatic bear of a man and there was no way Julia could resist him. Julia was a little more hesitant but again, there was no way she can stay away from Buck. The feelings were so intense and instantly believe that they were it for each other. It was magical.
I have to say this book had a lot of depth. I feel it dealt with Cole's sensitivity towards his mother and the questions he has over her with care. Julia was very caring in her answers and I just loved her relationship with him. Same with Buck. I loved his relationship with Cole. He truly cares for his son and shows constant affection towards him. He worries about his mental health and well being. It was truly touching to read. I also really loved how Cole was written. He was written like a mischievous, innocent, caring child and it was extremely believable.
This was just a great Christmas read and I would like to thank KD Elizabeth for giving me the opportunity to read and review and her book. It was wonderful and I loved reading Julia and Buck's love story along with putting one in the mood to do all things Christmasy.
December 6, 2020
Single Dad/Small Town/Holiday Romance
This was my first book by this author, but I will certainly be reading more. This holiday book is written in first person from a dual POV.
Julia is a second-grade teacher in the small town of Bright, Vermont. When she grows concerned about one of her students, she decides to confront his parents. When she does, a passionate argument ensues between her and the boy’s single father When she ends up in a car accident, The boy’s father, Buck insists that she spent the weekend at his house to recover.
Buck and Julia both have some baggage that makes it difficult for them to get close to other people. When they meet there is a mutual and intense physical attraction. Buck is a big, bear of a man and Julia goes toe to toe with him. When they spend more time together, it does not take Buck long to figure out that Julia is a person who cares deeply and has spunk. He makes some mistakes along the way and there are some external factors that attempt to keep them apart but ultimately fail. The HEA for this couple is sweet and sexy.
The small-town atmosphere is perfectly captured in this book. Julia is a likable character who sometimes reacts in a naïve manner. Buck is a softy under a gruff shell. Once he allows his armor to crumble, he is a lovable guy. I love the affection and expectations he has for his son, Cole. Cole is absolutely adorable, and he completely stole my heart as well as Julia’s. The book is well-written, and the pace is on-point. Buck and Julia share an insta-lust that becomes insta-love. It is like they are connected on a deeper level and their subconscious minds draw them together. I love that the book takes place over the holidays and addresses the role that grief can play into how a person responds to the normal joy of the season. There is a depth to the book that I did not expect and it was a joy to read. I will be returning to this author again very soon to read more of her work.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance review copy of this book.
This was my first book by this author, but I will certainly be reading more. This holiday book is written in first person from a dual POV.
Julia is a second-grade teacher in the small town of Bright, Vermont. When she grows concerned about one of her students, she decides to confront his parents. When she does, a passionate argument ensues between her and the boy’s single father When she ends up in a car accident, The boy’s father, Buck insists that she spent the weekend at his house to recover.
Buck and Julia both have some baggage that makes it difficult for them to get close to other people. When they meet there is a mutual and intense physical attraction. Buck is a big, bear of a man and Julia goes toe to toe with him. When they spend more time together, it does not take Buck long to figure out that Julia is a person who cares deeply and has spunk. He makes some mistakes along the way and there are some external factors that attempt to keep them apart but ultimately fail. The HEA for this couple is sweet and sexy.
The small-town atmosphere is perfectly captured in this book. Julia is a likable character who sometimes reacts in a naïve manner. Buck is a softy under a gruff shell. Once he allows his armor to crumble, he is a lovable guy. I love the affection and expectations he has for his son, Cole. Cole is absolutely adorable, and he completely stole my heart as well as Julia’s. The book is well-written, and the pace is on-point. Buck and Julia share an insta-lust that becomes insta-love. It is like they are connected on a deeper level and their subconscious minds draw them together. I love that the book takes place over the holidays and addresses the role that grief can play into how a person responds to the normal joy of the season. There is a depth to the book that I did not expect and it was a joy to read. I will be returning to this author again very soon to read more of her work.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance review copy of this book.
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December 10, 2020
The moment I started this book I completely fell in love with the story.
Julia is a second grade teacher and is concerned about one of her students, Cole. When she drove him home and had a not so great interaction with the boys father, Buck. Things escalated from there.
I loved Julia. She is hardworking, she is a great teacher and she is strong. She went through a lot at a young age and she does still struggles. I also really loved Buck. He is protective, especially when it comes to his son. He is somewhat closed off, but it’s understandable given what has happened in the past. The moment Julia and Buck met there was a connection and chemistry between them, however, they both really fought it. I loved how Julie and Cole connected and bonded throughout the story. There was something sweet about the relationship they formed.
Christmas of White has a little drama that throws a wrench in Julia and Buck’s relationship. I loved the banter in the beginning between Julia and Buck, the sweet moments between them, the steamy moments, the father and son moments between Cole and Buck that will absolutely make you swoon, and the moments between Julia and Cole that were extremely sweet and sometimes emotional.
If you’re looking for an enemies to lovers, single dad, holiday romance Christmas of White is a MUST READ!
Julia is a second grade teacher and is concerned about one of her students, Cole. When she drove him home and had a not so great interaction with the boys father, Buck. Things escalated from there.
I loved Julia. She is hardworking, she is a great teacher and she is strong. She went through a lot at a young age and she does still struggles. I also really loved Buck. He is protective, especially when it comes to his son. He is somewhat closed off, but it’s understandable given what has happened in the past. The moment Julia and Buck met there was a connection and chemistry between them, however, they both really fought it. I loved how Julie and Cole connected and bonded throughout the story. There was something sweet about the relationship they formed.
Christmas of White has a little drama that throws a wrench in Julia and Buck’s relationship. I loved the banter in the beginning between Julia and Buck, the sweet moments between them, the steamy moments, the father and son moments between Cole and Buck that will absolutely make you swoon, and the moments between Julia and Cole that were extremely sweet and sometimes emotional.
If you’re looking for an enemies to lovers, single dad, holiday romance Christmas of White is a MUST READ!
December 6, 2020
Sigh. Swoon. Awwww
All the sounds coming from me as I read Christmas of White.
Julia takes her job very seriously... so when she sees her student Cole multiple times at school in the freezing cold with NO coat.... she's ready to take matters into her own hands.
KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK
Time to face Cole's very private, very GROUCHY (yet handsome) dad, Buck Hayes.
After a not so great encounter, Julia leaves in a hurry to find herself in a wreck and taking care of herself.
With the guilt of sending Julia away in a storm, Buck is ready to make things right and spend the weekend carrying for his son's teacher.
With a little banter, relatable backstories, and a love for Cole, these two stubborn souls just might find each other, and heal ❤️.
What I loved:
- Buck and Julia's relationship, it was soooooo cute!
-the romance was steamy yet tasteful
- Cole, what a good boy
-the small town of Bright, Vermont... extra hallmarky and just what I needed
-all the Holiday feels made it the perfect December read
What I knocked off a star for me:
-the authors overuse of capitulate.... everyone has a favorite word I guess but it almost became distracting
-the beginning felt bumpy... this could be me and my mood, or the fact that I don't have children so it was a bit odd for me the chaos of the situation
Thank you KD for the ARC. I loved it and can't wait to read more.
Rating:
story- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
romance- enemies to lovers
theme- happy holidays
steam- I think Santa put them on the naughty list...🔥
All the sounds coming from me as I read Christmas of White.
Julia takes her job very seriously... so when she sees her student Cole multiple times at school in the freezing cold with NO coat.... she's ready to take matters into her own hands.
KNOCK*KNOCK*KNOCK
Time to face Cole's very private, very GROUCHY (yet handsome) dad, Buck Hayes.
After a not so great encounter, Julia leaves in a hurry to find herself in a wreck and taking care of herself.
With the guilt of sending Julia away in a storm, Buck is ready to make things right and spend the weekend carrying for his son's teacher.
With a little banter, relatable backstories, and a love for Cole, these two stubborn souls just might find each other, and heal ❤️.
What I loved:
- Buck and Julia's relationship, it was soooooo cute!
-the romance was steamy yet tasteful
- Cole, what a good boy
-the small town of Bright, Vermont... extra hallmarky and just what I needed
-all the Holiday feels made it the perfect December read
What I knocked off a star for me:
-the authors overuse of capitulate.... everyone has a favorite word I guess but it almost became distracting
-the beginning felt bumpy... this could be me and my mood, or the fact that I don't have children so it was a bit odd for me the chaos of the situation
Thank you KD for the ARC. I loved it and can't wait to read more.
Rating:
story- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
romance- enemies to lovers
theme- happy holidays
steam- I think Santa put them on the naughty list...🔥
December 9, 2020
I went into A Christmas of White with no expectation really, I didn’t even read the blurb until I was a couple of chapters in and realize I had not read the blurb. This was just one of those books that I picked up because was looking for a fun Christmas time book and I had previously read and liked the author. But after a couple of chapters, when I had officially met Julia, Buck and the sweet and adorable Cole…. I was hooked!! Oh man from the start there were spark between Buck and Julia, the butted heads instantly and it was so much fun to read!! I loved their chemistry and how well they got along… once they got along with each other. Buck’s hot headedness was an amazing balance to Julia’s calm, until she wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong, Julia has a fire within her, but the way she could “handle” Buck was so amazing. I loved their dynamic together. A Bit of an insta love when you consider the whole story is spread out over a few days, however the way the story is written and the amount of care and detail that is put into the story, I never felt like the story was rushed. Julia just clicked into place with Buck and his son Cole. They were meant to find each other and find a family with each other.
-Mackenzie Bibliophile
-Mackenzie Bibliophile
December 8, 2020
Teacher Julia Elton knows she should not cross a line with driving her student Cole Hayes home, but she has tried relentlessly to get ahold of his father and is concerned. Its the start of winter and close to Christmas break and the air is crisp, the problem is that Cole has no coat to wear. Julia shows up with Cole in tow to go face to face with Buck Hayes, the father.
Buck always puts his son first, when he finds out that Cole has been bullied, he wants answers. Julia is a distraction though and he baseless claims about his parenting are not warranted. Buck quickly realizes that Julia's heart was in the right place and that Cole needs to learn how to deal with bullies. When he seeks Julia out again he realizes she has no one to lean on and is in need of some care As they get close though old wounds are hard to let go, can Buck and Julia trust one another to build something together or is it doomed to fail.
This was entertaining. I thought the chemistry was there between the couple right away. A bit angsty but overall a delightful holiday romance.
Buck always puts his son first, when he finds out that Cole has been bullied, he wants answers. Julia is a distraction though and he baseless claims about his parenting are not warranted. Buck quickly realizes that Julia's heart was in the right place and that Cole needs to learn how to deal with bullies. When he seeks Julia out again he realizes she has no one to lean on and is in need of some care As they get close though old wounds are hard to let go, can Buck and Julia trust one another to build something together or is it doomed to fail.
This was entertaining. I thought the chemistry was there between the couple right away. A bit angsty but overall a delightful holiday romance.
December 8, 2020
If you're looking for a romantic and steamy Christmas story, with a hot and grumpy guy who will make you warm in all the right places, this is your book!
It has sadness but it also has humor, a sassy heroine and a funny kid and all of this make Christmas of White a wonderful story to read not just around Christmas, but anytime!
It has sadness but it also has humor, a sassy heroine and a funny kid and all of this make Christmas of White a wonderful story to read not just around Christmas, but anytime!
December 8, 2020
I’m such a sucker for single dad romances and this is no exception. The whole book was a rollercoaster ride and it’ll keep you on the tips of your toes the entire time. It’s a beautiful slow burn!
December 6, 2021
This book is sweet and swoony, but also dramatic and exciting.
Buck is a grumpy and skeptical man.
His life is his son and all other emotions have no place in his life.
Julia is a beautiful, but lonely woman from a small town.
Her life is her job and other emotions are banned from her existence.
Yes, they both have a painful past and can't forget it or maybe don't want to?
What happens when two people who struggle with loneliness and distrust toward other people meet each other?
This book is much more than Christmas story. It's an amazing love romance that includes a single father, a teacher and a really amazing boy.
Buck is a grumpy and skeptical man.
His life is his son and all other emotions have no place in his life.
Julia is a beautiful, but lonely woman from a small town.
Her life is her job and other emotions are banned from her existence.
Yes, they both have a painful past and can't forget it or maybe don't want to?
What happens when two people who struggle with loneliness and distrust toward other people meet each other?
This book is much more than Christmas story. It's an amazing love romance that includes a single father, a teacher and a really amazing boy.
November 28, 2020
Christmas of White • The Bright Series Book 3
*ARC Review*
@kdewrites
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Y'all, this is THE sweetest story! Julia & her student, Cole, bond over their mutual loss of their mothers at a young age. Their relationship is just so perfect. It will melt your heart. Cole's dad, Buck, is closed off because he was burned by his ex, but then Julia comes along. Kelsey paints a beautiful story of overcoming your painful past & learning to open up your heart again. Plus, Buck is fineeee 😏 The chemistry & slow burn of their relationship is hot, hot, hot! Definitely recommend this book! My favorite of the series, for sure!
*ARC Review*
@kdewrites
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Y'all, this is THE sweetest story! Julia & her student, Cole, bond over their mutual loss of their mothers at a young age. Their relationship is just so perfect. It will melt your heart. Cole's dad, Buck, is closed off because he was burned by his ex, but then Julia comes along. Kelsey paints a beautiful story of overcoming your painful past & learning to open up your heart again. Plus, Buck is fineeee 😏 The chemistry & slow burn of their relationship is hot, hot, hot! Definitely recommend this book! My favorite of the series, for sure!
January 28, 2021
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this adorable Christmas romance story.
This was my first book by this author and I did enjoy the way she wrote. It was easy to read and she was very good at describing in how the characters were feeling so you really could feel a connection to the story.
This story follows Julia - an elementary school teacher - who brings her to meet Buck Hayes - a child in her class’ father. Buck and Julia don’t get along at first as Buck assumes Julia is telling her how to raise his son, but soon discovers that Julia just truly cares for his son, Cole.
Buck then sees Julia in a different light and automatically feels attracted and connected with her, with Julia feeling the same. They fight their connection at first but destiny has other ideas and they find themselves not being able to keep their hands off of each other. Which of course brings dismay within this small town with Julia hooking up with one of her students parents.
Even though this was a slow burn romance at first, Julia and Buck jump so quickly and are telling each other they love each other within a couple of weeks of knowing each other and this didn’t sit well with me. Especially with how angst Buck was towards Julia at first. He went from not wanting to know her to - I love this woman - in a 24 hour period!
I felt the first half of the book was slow then the last half was written rushed and I do wish we got to see them more as a couple (and I personally needed more steamy scenes).
However, this was a perfect Christmas romance story which was right for the current season! And I loved how the author wrote about the connection between Julia and Cole (Buck’s son).
This was my first book by this author and I did enjoy the way she wrote. It was easy to read and she was very good at describing in how the characters were feeling so you really could feel a connection to the story.
This story follows Julia - an elementary school teacher - who brings her to meet Buck Hayes - a child in her class’ father. Buck and Julia don’t get along at first as Buck assumes Julia is telling her how to raise his son, but soon discovers that Julia just truly cares for his son, Cole.
Buck then sees Julia in a different light and automatically feels attracted and connected with her, with Julia feeling the same. They fight their connection at first but destiny has other ideas and they find themselves not being able to keep their hands off of each other. Which of course brings dismay within this small town with Julia hooking up with one of her students parents.
Even though this was a slow burn romance at first, Julia and Buck jump so quickly and are telling each other they love each other within a couple of weeks of knowing each other and this didn’t sit well with me. Especially with how angst Buck was towards Julia at first. He went from not wanting to know her to - I love this woman - in a 24 hour period!
I felt the first half of the book was slow then the last half was written rushed and I do wish we got to see them more as a couple (and I personally needed more steamy scenes).
However, this was a perfect Christmas romance story which was right for the current season! And I loved how the author wrote about the connection between Julia and Cole (Buck’s son).
December 10, 2020
So this story has kind of put me in a holiday mood. And I loved every moment of it. And usually, I am not a huge fan of children on the page but I fell in love with Cole. He was just this charming little fella who when he cared about someone his entire heart was in it. But I'm going to come back to my little buddy.
Julia is the type of teacher anyone should hope for. Her kids safety and well being where always her top priorities. And that was made know on the first page. Her worry for the little boy who was coming to school with out a coat, so taking it upon her self to confront his parents and little did she know that with that greeting she would find the family she was missing/ lost. And once she confronted Buck aka Pooh Bear ( yes I gave him a nickname.) She was someone who was not only was she heart sick at this time of year, but she was so damn strong that she tried to not let the hurt and sadness she was feeling define her relationship with Buck. Because when push came to shove, she wasn't going to let anyone force her to run from those she has grown to love.
Buck, Buck, Buck, big growly, soft cuddly bear. Single dad and nerdy hotness all rolled into one. From the moment he was on page I was here for him. I loved that he could go from protective father to who is the attractive woman and back to father mode in a blink of an eye. And his protective nature spread over to Julia the moment he learned that she had been hurt after leaving his home. Taking it upon himself to take care of her and show his son how to own up when you are in the wrong. That even went into him teaching Cole how to stand up for himself. That was something I loved him letting Cole handle his bullies on his own semi, bus he did kind of chop the head of the snake. But he wanted him to know he was strong enough to defend himself and other, but still know there was no shame in ask for help. My favorite conversation had to be when Buck and Cole made their waffle breakfast and Cole let his dad know it was okay to be happy and that he loved Julia. And the first kiss between him and Julia was so swoon-worthy. made me want to go to the Christmas festival.
And as much as I loved the romance between Julia and Buck, Cole was the MVP for me. He was the glue that brought his father and Julia together. Between his bonding with Julia over the way both their mothers left them. To standing up to his bullies. He was a normal little kid who would find either away to get around the rules or avoid them. But he also knew from his dad how to own up. And I have so many favorite moments from him alone, but my top one had to be when he took his class break to go to the bathroom and call Julia to make sure she was okay after being alone on the anniversary of her fathers death. Like how could you not love him after that.
Recommendation:
please pick this up. It is a great holiday read, with snow and sexy times. Cookie baking and snowman making all rolled into one. Pick it up for the Grumpy Pooh bear that is Buck.
Julia is the type of teacher anyone should hope for. Her kids safety and well being where always her top priorities. And that was made know on the first page. Her worry for the little boy who was coming to school with out a coat, so taking it upon her self to confront his parents and little did she know that with that greeting she would find the family she was missing/ lost. And once she confronted Buck aka Pooh Bear ( yes I gave him a nickname.) She was someone who was not only was she heart sick at this time of year, but she was so damn strong that she tried to not let the hurt and sadness she was feeling define her relationship with Buck. Because when push came to shove, she wasn't going to let anyone force her to run from those she has grown to love.
Buck, Buck, Buck, big growly, soft cuddly bear. Single dad and nerdy hotness all rolled into one. From the moment he was on page I was here for him. I loved that he could go from protective father to who is the attractive woman and back to father mode in a blink of an eye. And his protective nature spread over to Julia the moment he learned that she had been hurt after leaving his home. Taking it upon himself to take care of her and show his son how to own up when you are in the wrong. That even went into him teaching Cole how to stand up for himself. That was something I loved him letting Cole handle his bullies on his own semi, bus he did kind of chop the head of the snake. But he wanted him to know he was strong enough to defend himself and other, but still know there was no shame in ask for help. My favorite conversation had to be when Buck and Cole made their waffle breakfast and Cole let his dad know it was okay to be happy and that he loved Julia. And the first kiss between him and Julia was so swoon-worthy. made me want to go to the Christmas festival.
And as much as I loved the romance between Julia and Buck, Cole was the MVP for me. He was the glue that brought his father and Julia together. Between his bonding with Julia over the way both their mothers left them. To standing up to his bullies. He was a normal little kid who would find either away to get around the rules or avoid them. But he also knew from his dad how to own up. And I have so many favorite moments from him alone, but my top one had to be when he took his class break to go to the bathroom and call Julia to make sure she was okay after being alone on the anniversary of her fathers death. Like how could you not love him after that.
Recommendation:
please pick this up. It is a great holiday read, with snow and sexy times. Cookie baking and snowman making all rolled into one. Pick it up for the Grumpy Pooh bear that is Buck.
December 17, 2020
Christmas of White was another amazing story in her Bright Series, this being the third one, and I think might be my favorite of the series. This is the story of small-town teacher Julia Elton who teaches second grade. One of her students Cole, has been coming to school for a few days without his winter coat during snow season and she’s a little concerned about how he’s being parented. Never having met Cole’s family, she makes it a point to take him home one day after school to approach the family about his well being.
But what she finds is a very well put together single father whose only focus is on the well being of his son. There is an immediate confrontation between Buck (Cole’s father) and Julia. While being instantly attracted to one another, their argument gets out of control throwing blame this way and that and she leaves. As she’s leaving his home she has a car accident and is hurt. When Buck finds out that their argument ended in this way, he makes it a point to convince her to stay with them for the weekend since she lives all alone and after a car accident of that nature she should be monitored.
These events all lead into the full story of how two people overcome the awkwardness of immediate attraction and how they navigate having a relationship when there might be a conflict of interest because Julia is Buck’s sons teacher.
Regardless of details what you’ll want to know is that this story feels deeply and intensely REAL. All of the characters are magnificently fleshed out, detailed and you feel for them. The loss that everyone in this story has experienced that creates a synchronicity between them all was so well written I found myself lost in their world completely.
Buck is protective and caring about those close to him, Julia is scared to let anyone close because everyone in her life has either passed away or left her. Then you have Cole at the center of their relationship who brings them both back to the reality of their situation and keeps them focused on how happy they could all be.
It’s the perfect mixture of all of the feelings you want to experience around the holidays and remembering what’s important in life.
But what she finds is a very well put together single father whose only focus is on the well being of his son. There is an immediate confrontation between Buck (Cole’s father) and Julia. While being instantly attracted to one another, their argument gets out of control throwing blame this way and that and she leaves. As she’s leaving his home she has a car accident and is hurt. When Buck finds out that their argument ended in this way, he makes it a point to convince her to stay with them for the weekend since she lives all alone and after a car accident of that nature she should be monitored.
These events all lead into the full story of how two people overcome the awkwardness of immediate attraction and how they navigate having a relationship when there might be a conflict of interest because Julia is Buck’s sons teacher.
Regardless of details what you’ll want to know is that this story feels deeply and intensely REAL. All of the characters are magnificently fleshed out, detailed and you feel for them. The loss that everyone in this story has experienced that creates a synchronicity between them all was so well written I found myself lost in their world completely.
Buck is protective and caring about those close to him, Julia is scared to let anyone close because everyone in her life has either passed away or left her. Then you have Cole at the center of their relationship who brings them both back to the reality of their situation and keeps them focused on how happy they could all be.
It’s the perfect mixture of all of the feelings you want to experience around the holidays and remembering what’s important in life.
January 5, 2021
As with the previous book in this series, I had mixed feelings about "Christmas of White" by K.D. Elizabeth. I liked the story itself and found it to be generally well-written, but I wasn't a big fan of the main characters, Buck and Julia. In the beginning, Buck was super grumpy, and while I mostly liked that (grumpy heroes are my favorite kind!), there were several times when he came across as just plain mean. To his credit, Buck usually realized pretty quickly when he was wrong, apologized, and made an effort to change his behavior going forward. Also, Buck's concerns were generally valid and understandable, apart from his intense dislike of women based on a bad experience with only one (his ex-wife).
About halfway through the book, Buck's personality abruptly changed and he suddenly turned into Mr. Seductive when he decided that he owed it to his son, Cole, to try dating so that Cole wouldn't grow up to hate women too. This was apparently only a temporary personality shift, however, because Buck's anger was back in full force by the end of the book, when he started throwing temper tantrums and threatening everyone when he didn't get his way. Bottom line, I never quite figured Buck out; was he really the grump with a heart of gold the author seemed to want him to be, or was actually he a man with anger issues who needed professional help? It really could have gone either way IMO.
Buck's love interest, his son Cole's teacher Julia, wasn't much better. She was very pushy at times and seemed determined to tell Buck how to raise his son even after he clearly told her that he didn't want her advice. While she did have some good insight to offer, IMO she could have been nicer in her approach to the situation. Julia also seemed to have a martyr complex, which I found to be incredibly annoying. Her reasoning for breaking up with Buck near the end of the story didn't make much sense to me because it was based on things that could possibly happen in the future if other (far-fetched) scenarios came to pass, and it drove me crazy that she refused to talk to him about any of it. She subsequently changed her mind and decided that she wanted to be with Buck after all, so she went out and did several (kind of crazy) things to make that happen, again without talking to him. While I understand that Julia was used to handling things on her own, she really needed to learn how to communicate!
On the positive side, Julia and Buck's chemistry was excellent, and their attraction was obvious from the start. Further, Buck's son Cole was a very cute kid, and I enjoyed seeing the three of them come together as a family. Finally, it was nice to catch up with Jessica and Ethan, the main characters of the previous book in this series. I wasn't completely sold on their relationship by the end of their book, but they certainly seemed happy here, which I appreciated. They added some much-needed lightness and humor to what was at times a rather weighty story.
Overall, despite the aspects of this story that bothered me, I would recommend "Christmas of White" because of its enjoyable holiday feel and the cute family moments between Buck, Julia, and Cole. My favorite of the series remains book #1, however.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
About halfway through the book, Buck's personality abruptly changed and he suddenly turned into Mr. Seductive when he decided that he owed it to his son, Cole, to try dating so that Cole wouldn't grow up to hate women too. This was apparently only a temporary personality shift, however, because Buck's anger was back in full force by the end of the book, when he started throwing temper tantrums and threatening everyone when he didn't get his way. Bottom line, I never quite figured Buck out; was he really the grump with a heart of gold the author seemed to want him to be, or was actually he a man with anger issues who needed professional help? It really could have gone either way IMO.
Buck's love interest, his son Cole's teacher Julia, wasn't much better. She was very pushy at times and seemed determined to tell Buck how to raise his son even after he clearly told her that he didn't want her advice. While she did have some good insight to offer, IMO she could have been nicer in her approach to the situation. Julia also seemed to have a martyr complex, which I found to be incredibly annoying. Her reasoning for breaking up with Buck near the end of the story didn't make much sense to me because it was based on things that could possibly happen in the future if other (far-fetched) scenarios came to pass, and it drove me crazy that she refused to talk to him about any of it. She subsequently changed her mind and decided that she wanted to be with Buck after all, so she went out and did several (kind of crazy) things to make that happen, again without talking to him. While I understand that Julia was used to handling things on her own, she really needed to learn how to communicate!
On the positive side, Julia and Buck's chemistry was excellent, and their attraction was obvious from the start. Further, Buck's son Cole was a very cute kid, and I enjoyed seeing the three of them come together as a family. Finally, it was nice to catch up with Jessica and Ethan, the main characters of the previous book in this series. I wasn't completely sold on their relationship by the end of their book, but they certainly seemed happy here, which I appreciated. They added some much-needed lightness and humor to what was at times a rather weighty story.
Overall, despite the aspects of this story that bothered me, I would recommend "Christmas of White" because of its enjoyable holiday feel and the cute family moments between Buck, Julia, and Cole. My favorite of the series remains book #1, however.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 9, 2020
Huge thank you to the author, KD Elizabeth, for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
(A bit of a TRIGGER WARNING: mentions death, bullying, and abandonment that may be a trigger for some readers)
“Resolving the past is the only way to focus clearly on the future.”
Julia is a second grade teacher with the purest intention for the kids she teaches. She is very accommodating, warm, patient, and full of love to give.
“There will be many people who will come into your life and leave it just as quickly.”
Buck is a single father to his son, Cole, who has trust issues especially with women. He was so hurt and wounded that he swore he’d never be with anyone and just focus on his son until he met Julia, Cole’s second grade teacher. The characters were relatable to me, especially Buck Hayes. His story was basically my story too when it comes to being a single parent and not the instalove trope. He is a good, nurturing, and focused man that only wants what’s best for his son and the people he loves. He is all about protection and safety.
“Part of life is figuring out who is good and who is bad”
This story falls under the instalove trope. Honestly, I am not a huge fan of the said trope mainly because I like reading books that, even though fictional, has a touch of reality in it. I was kind of disappointed that this was the chosen trope of the author because the story turned out to be good in the end.
I would be honest that the first half of this book was not that promising, but when I got to about 65% of it towards the end, the story picked up and it turned out to be pretty good. It became emotional and the characters felt raw to me which I absolutely loved.
Overall, I would recommend this book because the story was great, the characters were amazing, and the lessons to learn are full of heart. It’s a good read especially during this holiday season, so you might want to grab a copy while it’s still December! Happy reading, bookworms!
(A bit of a TRIGGER WARNING: mentions death, bullying, and abandonment that may be a trigger for some readers)
“Resolving the past is the only way to focus clearly on the future.”
Julia is a second grade teacher with the purest intention for the kids she teaches. She is very accommodating, warm, patient, and full of love to give.
“There will be many people who will come into your life and leave it just as quickly.”
Buck is a single father to his son, Cole, who has trust issues especially with women. He was so hurt and wounded that he swore he’d never be with anyone and just focus on his son until he met Julia, Cole’s second grade teacher. The characters were relatable to me, especially Buck Hayes. His story was basically my story too when it comes to being a single parent and not the instalove trope. He is a good, nurturing, and focused man that only wants what’s best for his son and the people he loves. He is all about protection and safety.
“Part of life is figuring out who is good and who is bad”
This story falls under the instalove trope. Honestly, I am not a huge fan of the said trope mainly because I like reading books that, even though fictional, has a touch of reality in it. I was kind of disappointed that this was the chosen trope of the author because the story turned out to be good in the end.
I would be honest that the first half of this book was not that promising, but when I got to about 65% of it towards the end, the story picked up and it turned out to be pretty good. It became emotional and the characters felt raw to me which I absolutely loved.
Overall, I would recommend this book because the story was great, the characters were amazing, and the lessons to learn are full of heart. It’s a good read especially during this holiday season, so you might want to grab a copy while it’s still December! Happy reading, bookworms!
December 5, 2020
Oh my gosh, get ready to wicked swoon! Buck will have your heart melting. There is something about a man who is an amazing Dad. Who fights hard for his kid to make sure said kid, succeeds. And this is totally Buck in a nutshell. Strong, rugged, hot Dad who fights everyone and anyone to make sure his kid, Cole is taken care of and is made to feel important and loved at all times.
Julia, Cole’s teacher wants that for Cole too. Coincidental how both Julia and Buck want what is best for Cole. Julia sets out to put Buck in his right place because Cole comes to school multiple times with no coat on. Living in a cold environment, a coat is an essential item. Little does either Julia or Buck know, there is so much more to Cole not wearing his jacket.
Something happens, pushing Julia and Buck together. But though they both can’t stand each other at first and their conversations are explosive with one another, it makes the heat between the two them, that much hotter!
This book had me wicked swooning. This is the third Christmas book I have read of K.D. Elizabeth’s and holy wonderful, can this author write an INCREDIBLE Christmas romance!!! This book had my heart beating with its mild twists and turns of where will the story go. It had me questioning, will they get together? Can these two get together? Or won’t they be together. But mostly it warmed my heart at how beautiful the story is. Buck was an amazing character. He had my heart racing at his love for his kid, but also how much he cares for Julia. This book, though centered around Christmas, can be read anytime. It is absolutely amazing and a definite must read book!!!
Julia, Cole’s teacher wants that for Cole too. Coincidental how both Julia and Buck want what is best for Cole. Julia sets out to put Buck in his right place because Cole comes to school multiple times with no coat on. Living in a cold environment, a coat is an essential item. Little does either Julia or Buck know, there is so much more to Cole not wearing his jacket.
Something happens, pushing Julia and Buck together. But though they both can’t stand each other at first and their conversations are explosive with one another, it makes the heat between the two them, that much hotter!
This book had me wicked swooning. This is the third Christmas book I have read of K.D. Elizabeth’s and holy wonderful, can this author write an INCREDIBLE Christmas romance!!! This book had my heart beating with its mild twists and turns of where will the story go. It had me questioning, will they get together? Can these two get together? Or won’t they be together. But mostly it warmed my heart at how beautiful the story is. Buck was an amazing character. He had my heart racing at his love for his kid, but also how much he cares for Julia. This book, though centered around Christmas, can be read anytime. It is absolutely amazing and a definite must read book!!!
December 12, 2020
Christmas, scandal, romance… oh my!
Disgruntled, brooding, single dad. A school teacher on a mission. The sweetest little boy EVER. These are the three components that make this Christmas story too sweet for words.
Also, it might’ve brought back my reading mojo.
I didn’t quite know what to expect when I started this story. All I knew from the premise is that a father no one has even seen, to a boy wearing practically nothing in the midst of snowy winter, is being faced with the boy’s teacher who’s refusing to see him without a coat a day longer.
And what I got is the sweetest, most kitcsh-infused story I’ve read in a while, and it’s just what I needed.
Buck (heck of a name) is the father, Cole’s father, and he does come across as very rude, especially when confronted with Julia, Cole’s teacher. But when Julia has an accident leaving their place after accusing him for not caring that his son is shivering with no warm coat, out in the middle of winter, Buck is determined to care for her.
Sure, it’s mostly misguided guilt, but it’s the opening for their undeniable physical attraction and insane chemistry.
When Buck learns that Julia has Cole’s best interest at heart and is not a reckless teacher, he opens up a little. And when Julia learns Buck has a valid reason for his attitude, she changes her way of dealing with him.
I realize, people fall madly in lust very fast, and madly in love that fast (mostly) only in books and movies, but it worked for this story.
Throw in the fact that boys will be boys, bullies are obnoxious and ruin everything for everyone, and a small scandal and you have a very engaging story.
It was very enjoyable for me, anyway.
Disgruntled, brooding, single dad. A school teacher on a mission. The sweetest little boy EVER. These are the three components that make this Christmas story too sweet for words.
Also, it might’ve brought back my reading mojo.
I didn’t quite know what to expect when I started this story. All I knew from the premise is that a father no one has even seen, to a boy wearing practically nothing in the midst of snowy winter, is being faced with the boy’s teacher who’s refusing to see him without a coat a day longer.
And what I got is the sweetest, most kitcsh-infused story I’ve read in a while, and it’s just what I needed.
Buck (heck of a name) is the father, Cole’s father, and he does come across as very rude, especially when confronted with Julia, Cole’s teacher. But when Julia has an accident leaving their place after accusing him for not caring that his son is shivering with no warm coat, out in the middle of winter, Buck is determined to care for her.
Sure, it’s mostly misguided guilt, but it’s the opening for their undeniable physical attraction and insane chemistry.
When Buck learns that Julia has Cole’s best interest at heart and is not a reckless teacher, he opens up a little. And when Julia learns Buck has a valid reason for his attitude, she changes her way of dealing with him.
I realize, people fall madly in lust very fast, and madly in love that fast (mostly) only in books and movies, but it worked for this story.
Throw in the fact that boys will be boys, bullies are obnoxious and ruin everything for everyone, and a small scandal and you have a very engaging story.
It was very enjoyable for me, anyway.
December 8, 2020
Christmas of White introducs us to Julia, second grade teacher who has been seeing one of her students going to school without a winter jacket for days. After trying to contact his parents and receiving zero answers, she decide to take Cole at home and finally talk to his family. Turns out she faces Buck, a single dad who definitely has money enough to provide his kid cozy clothes and has no idea what's happening. After that, everything goes with the flow. We have the initial fight between the two characters, things are going not well, something happens and when you see, they are spending days stuck at the same house. Yes, I LOVE books with single dad, they're always SO devoted to their kids. Buck loves Cole with all of his heart and soul. Besides that, the connection between Cole and Julia is so beautiful, even though it's a connection to something so sad they've in common. I loved Cole and Buck scenes but Cole and Julia moments melted my heart. I missed more steamy scenes but I have to say that I liked reading it especially because focused on their bond, the three of them. At the end, I was shocked to realize the timeline starts and ends in less than a month. To be honest, it really didn't catch my attention at all. Yes it may be too rushed for some people but in my heart I totally accepted they were meant to be and Santa has done his job to help them to figure it out faster.
Thank you to the author for giving me the chance to participate of this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
Thank you to the author for giving me the chance to participate of this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
February 3, 2021
MY OPINION
------------
After swooning♥ at page 218 about the book - the drama part happened, which I didn`t liked a lot, because she didn`t talk to him and then it was so easy solved.
The drama part made me really angry
The ending was nice again.
Such a shame, it really was on a 4 star course or even more - but I`m happy that this is according to Goodreads the 3rd book in a series, so I`ll look at the other series books.
THE STORY
----------
Vermont, winter.....
Teacher Julia Elton had a enough, as the little boy comes again without a winter coat to school, like the last 2 days. She takes him home to confront his parent with it, who hadn`t appeared to teacher/parent school interviews before.
Buck Hayes - Coles single father isn`t very happy about it. An accident happens and he decides Julia has to stay with them for the weekend :)
MY OPINION - Part 2
-----------------------
The first part was breathtaking nice. Attraction level high from the beginneng.
Word fights, Julia has her own mind, you get it all :)
Only his decision for staying the weekend with them maybe was a bit too alpha and unrealistic but somehow also nice.
The lovestory was really beautiful, dizzling attraction, flirting, really great.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Like I mentioned only the drama part was my problem. The drama was nasty, but when she solved it felt too easy for my taste, too easy for her contact-breaking actions.
3.5 stars
------------
After swooning♥ at page 218 about the book - the drama part happened, which I didn`t liked a lot, because she didn`t talk to him and then it was so easy solved.
The drama part made me really angry
The ending was nice again.
Such a shame, it really was on a 4 star course or even more - but I`m happy that this is according to Goodreads the 3rd book in a series, so I`ll look at the other series books.
THE STORY
----------
Vermont, winter.....
Teacher Julia Elton had a enough, as the little boy comes again without a winter coat to school, like the last 2 days. She takes him home to confront his parent with it, who hadn`t appeared to teacher/parent school interviews before.
Buck Hayes - Coles single father isn`t very happy about it. An accident happens and he decides Julia has to stay with them for the weekend :)
MY OPINION - Part 2
-----------------------
The first part was breathtaking nice. Attraction level high from the beginneng.
Word fights, Julia has her own mind, you get it all :)
Only his decision for staying the weekend with them maybe was a bit too alpha and unrealistic but somehow also nice.
The lovestory was really beautiful, dizzling attraction, flirting, really great.
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Like I mentioned only the drama part was my problem. The drama was nasty, but when she solved it felt too easy for my taste, too easy for her contact-breaking actions.
3.5 stars
December 8, 2020
Thank you to the author, K.D. Elizabeth, for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars.
This was a fun Christmas/holiday read! There were some moments that Julia and Buck shared with Cole that made me smile and remember my own childhood memories of doing those things (especially sledding!) which made it really fun for me to read.
While there were lots of fun moments like this, the theme of loss is also heavily explored in this one. There is a lot of sadness and grief in the book, and it can become quite heavy.
The plot was a little bit far fetched, but the chemistry between the characters worked really well. Buck was an alpha-male type of guy who wanted to protect Julia and Cole from everything, but when he got called out on it he would evaluate and reassess his actions which I liked to see. There were a couple of moments where he made me feel a little uneasy with the way he went about getting what he wanted, but while he might have been pushy (quite a bit at times) he did wait for consent from Julia before crossing any final lines.
I'm not normally a big fan of single parent romances, but I liked this one a lot! Cole was a fun kid and I liked his relationship with his dad. I also liked how his relationships with his dad and Julia impacted the relationship between Julia and Buck.
Overall, if you're looking for a steamy enemies to lovers holiday romance with fun (and sad) moments and good characters, I'd recommend giving this one a try!
4/5 stars.
This was a fun Christmas/holiday read! There were some moments that Julia and Buck shared with Cole that made me smile and remember my own childhood memories of doing those things (especially sledding!) which made it really fun for me to read.
While there were lots of fun moments like this, the theme of loss is also heavily explored in this one. There is a lot of sadness and grief in the book, and it can become quite heavy.
The plot was a little bit far fetched, but the chemistry between the characters worked really well. Buck was an alpha-male type of guy who wanted to protect Julia and Cole from everything, but when he got called out on it he would evaluate and reassess his actions which I liked to see. There were a couple of moments where he made me feel a little uneasy with the way he went about getting what he wanted, but while he might have been pushy (quite a bit at times) he did wait for consent from Julia before crossing any final lines.
I'm not normally a big fan of single parent romances, but I liked this one a lot! Cole was a fun kid and I liked his relationship with his dad. I also liked how his relationships with his dad and Julia impacted the relationship between Julia and Buck.
Overall, if you're looking for a steamy enemies to lovers holiday romance with fun (and sad) moments and good characters, I'd recommend giving this one a try!
December 10, 2020
The best book from this series yet! Julia is a teacher at the local school and loves her job so much but gets upset when she finds a student without a jacket during the coldest time of the year. Deciding to confront the parent after weeks of no response, she takes the child home and is surprised to what she finds in the parent, Buck. Buck is really confused as to why his son’s teacher is at his home, especially with how private and reserved he is. After an explosive conversation, Julia leaves, only to get into an accident that totals her car and injures her! With nobody home, she takes a rideshare home and goes to school the next day banged up, and when Buck confronts her at school the same day, he is the one surprised and immediately feels guilty and decides to take care of her for the weekend. This was my favorite book from the series – as they spend time together, Julia and Buck fall in love! But when a misunderstanding threatens the relationship and Julia goes home, potentially leaving town for good, where does that leave their relationship? Without giving the story away – go read this book! I really enjoyed it and it was my favorite one yet from this author. I’m interested to see if she continues this series too – I loved the crossover between this book and the previous one tying them together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
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