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One Last Gift
’I think I've figured out that sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don't expect...'
Follow your heart on this heartwrenching and uplifting romantic journey, from London to the Hamptons to the south of France and the beautiful Welsh mountains, from the author of Always, in December.
For as long as Cassie can remember, there had always been the three of them: Cassie, her beloved big brother Tom, and Tom's best friend Sam.
Since Cassie and Tom's parents had died, and Sam's dad was never around, the three kids had stuck together like glue, getting into mischief, with Tom always looking out for Cassie, and Tom's best mate put on earth to annoy her.
Now they are adults and nothing much has changed: Tom is sorted, cocky Sam is going places and Cassie is... well, Cassie thinks she's figured it all out.
And then tragedy happens and three becomes two.
For Cassie picking herself up and moving on seems unimaginable. But then she finds the envelope with her name written on it, asking her to follow the clues to a treasure hunt carefully laid out for her months before. It promises to lead her to one last gift.
And suddenly what seemed like an ending just might be the beginning of something remarkable, unexpected, beautiful and new...
Follow your heart on this heartwrenching and uplifting romantic journey, from London to the Hamptons to the south of France and the beautiful Welsh mountains, from the author of Always, in December.
For as long as Cassie can remember, there had always been the three of them: Cassie, her beloved big brother Tom, and Tom's best friend Sam.
Since Cassie and Tom's parents had died, and Sam's dad was never around, the three kids had stuck together like glue, getting into mischief, with Tom always looking out for Cassie, and Tom's best mate put on earth to annoy her.
Now they are adults and nothing much has changed: Tom is sorted, cocky Sam is going places and Cassie is... well, Cassie thinks she's figured it all out.
And then tragedy happens and three becomes two.
For Cassie picking herself up and moving on seems unimaginable. But then she finds the envelope with her name written on it, asking her to follow the clues to a treasure hunt carefully laid out for her months before. It promises to lead her to one last gift.
And suddenly what seemed like an ending just might be the beginning of something remarkable, unexpected, beautiful and new...
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 4, 2022
465 people are currently reading
36543 people want to read
About the author
Emily Stone
5 books1,543 followersHello, I'm Emily! If you've found this page then welcome, and thanks so much for showing an interest in my writing.
If you read my novel then I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you want to get in touch then I'd love to hear from you - I've just joined Twitter, so come and say hello! (@EmStoneWrites)
If you read my novel then I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you want to get in touch then I'd love to hear from you - I've just joined Twitter, so come and say hello! (@EmStoneWrites)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,004 reviews
August 25, 2022
What a lighthearted, feel-good, motivational romance! It made me smile! It embraced my soul and touched my heart gently.
The recap of blurb: Cassie and Tom raised each other after losing their parents at young age. Tom’s best friend and Cassie’s first crush Sam always supported them at their hardest times but now Tom is dead, Sam is far away from Cassie’s life. The letter her brother left behind takes her their traditional scavenger hunt which will help her to take a trip to memory lane to embrace her own happiness.
Cassie’s self growth, second chances, friends to lovers, seizing the moment and grief story was so engaging, genuine. The sensitive subject about losing your loved one handled so well without wrenching your heart.
The evolution of the characters and Cassie’s scavenger hunt trip from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside which turns into a secret journey to find herself was extremely meaningful, heartfelt. That’s the way she reconnects with her old friends, getting out of her shell to discover more about life, happiness,letting go and confronting to Sam for their unresolved feelings.
There are so many misunderstandings and miscommunications between Cassie and Sam as expected. It made a little frustrated but they resolved perfectly.
Overall: definitely a great, feel-good, pocketful of sunshine reading I truly enjoyed!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Dell for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest feelings and thoughts.
The recap of blurb: Cassie and Tom raised each other after losing their parents at young age. Tom’s best friend and Cassie’s first crush Sam always supported them at their hardest times but now Tom is dead, Sam is far away from Cassie’s life. The letter her brother left behind takes her their traditional scavenger hunt which will help her to take a trip to memory lane to embrace her own happiness.
Cassie’s self growth, second chances, friends to lovers, seizing the moment and grief story was so engaging, genuine. The sensitive subject about losing your loved one handled so well without wrenching your heart.
The evolution of the characters and Cassie’s scavenger hunt trip from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside which turns into a secret journey to find herself was extremely meaningful, heartfelt. That’s the way she reconnects with her old friends, getting out of her shell to discover more about life, happiness,letting go and confronting to Sam for their unresolved feelings.
There are so many misunderstandings and miscommunications between Cassie and Sam as expected. It made a little frustrated but they resolved perfectly.
Overall: definitely a great, feel-good, pocketful of sunshine reading I truly enjoyed!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Dell for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest feelings and thoughts.
August 30, 2022
Last December, a debut novel caught me by surprise and made my favorites list! It was called “Always, in December” by Emily Stone.
See review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This one wasn’t quite as good, but for my friends who love binging on “Hallmark” movies and Christmas reads, this one might still fit the bill.
This is a “romance” book but not a Rom-Com-no laugh out loud moments or witty banter here.
Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age, and were raised by an Aunt who provided care but not much emotional support. Fortunately, they had Linda who ran the local Pub, to help “mother” them, and each had a “best friend” to lean on, in Hazel and Sam, who they spend most of their time with.
Each Christmas, Tom sends Cassie on a scavenger hunt to find her gift, although the clues are often so cryptic that she may not solve the puzzle until well into the New Year.
When the book opens, Cassie is crushing on Sam-and thinks when he kisses her TWICE one evening, that it’s time to announce their true love to the others. 🙄 When he disagrees, their friendship is ruined. They are still estranged five years later, but then Tom is killed in an accident.
At this point, I am struggling a bit with this story, and Cassie’s immaturity.
And, then Sam does something inexcusable too.
How will I ever be able to root for these two to get together?
Around the 50% point, the book picks up.
It’s about five months later and a lot has changed. Cassie begins the scavenger hunt that Tom had already put together prior to his accident, and a couple of others in Cassie’s inner circle need her to help them with the things that they are struggling with.
We will fast forward another three months, then to six months and finally to the one year anniversary of Tom’s death and the conclusion of his last scavenger hunt.
Fortunately, Tom’s scavenger hunt will lead to personal growth for both Cassie and Sam, and there ARE a few really touching moments along the way, but this book didn’t touch me emotionally in the same way that the author’s first book did.
Despite the loss of Tom, this is actually a light read, as the book didn’t dive too deeply into the characters emotions. Conversations are very surface level, for the most part.
3.5 ⭐️
Available October 11, 2022 if you are looking for a Christmas read to add to your December TBR list. 🎁
Thank You to Dell for offering me an ARC, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
See review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This one wasn’t quite as good, but for my friends who love binging on “Hallmark” movies and Christmas reads, this one might still fit the bill.
This is a “romance” book but not a Rom-Com-no laugh out loud moments or witty banter here.
Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age, and were raised by an Aunt who provided care but not much emotional support. Fortunately, they had Linda who ran the local Pub, to help “mother” them, and each had a “best friend” to lean on, in Hazel and Sam, who they spend most of their time with.
Each Christmas, Tom sends Cassie on a scavenger hunt to find her gift, although the clues are often so cryptic that she may not solve the puzzle until well into the New Year.
When the book opens, Cassie is crushing on Sam-and thinks when he kisses her TWICE one evening, that it’s time to announce their true love to the others. 🙄 When he disagrees, their friendship is ruined. They are still estranged five years later, but then Tom is killed in an accident.
At this point, I am struggling a bit with this story, and Cassie’s immaturity.
And, then Sam does something inexcusable too.
How will I ever be able to root for these two to get together?
Around the 50% point, the book picks up.
It’s about five months later and a lot has changed. Cassie begins the scavenger hunt that Tom had already put together prior to his accident, and a couple of others in Cassie’s inner circle need her to help them with the things that they are struggling with.
We will fast forward another three months, then to six months and finally to the one year anniversary of Tom’s death and the conclusion of his last scavenger hunt.
Fortunately, Tom’s scavenger hunt will lead to personal growth for both Cassie and Sam, and there ARE a few really touching moments along the way, but this book didn’t touch me emotionally in the same way that the author’s first book did.
Despite the loss of Tom, this is actually a light read, as the book didn’t dive too deeply into the characters emotions. Conversations are very surface level, for the most part.
3.5 ⭐️
Available October 11, 2022 if you are looking for a Christmas read to add to your December TBR list. 🎁
Thank You to Dell for offering me an ARC, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
October 7, 2022
Sweet story, not as good as the last one I read by this author but overall a decent read.
Cassie and her brother Tom lost their parents at a young age and have been raised by their standoffish aunt. Together with Cassie's best friend Hazel and Tom's best friend Sam, they go on many adventures together. Cassie had feelings for Sam, which she thought were reciprocated, but it ends up they are on two different paths and Cassie is embarrassed and doesn't want to be around Sam much after that.
Since they were very young, Tom has made a treasure hunt for Cassie on Christmas where she follows the clues to find her gift. One year, Tom goes to Argentina and is killed in a tragic accident. Cassie discovers that he had finished that year's hunt before he left, and she has the first clue. Can she progress through her grief to accept one last gift?
This is a sweet story overall about facing your fears and moving forward after tragedy. There are a couple of things that keep this from being as good as it could have been. The beginning of the book to me felt like a YA novel. The characters are super immature and Cassie gets all upset that Sam doesn't want to declare their love to the world after a couple of kisses. But the main shortcoming I felt was that this book never gets very deep emotionally.
Always, in December broke me when I read it last year because it was so emotionally touching. One Last Gift tries to get there, but to me it just didn't fully succeed. I admired Cassie's journey and was rooting for her to dig deep and discover her inner bravery, but overall everything stays very surface level, even when she is in the depths of her grief.
This is a worthwhile read regardless, and although it's not really a holiday story it is perfect for the holiday season.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Cassie and her brother Tom lost their parents at a young age and have been raised by their standoffish aunt. Together with Cassie's best friend Hazel and Tom's best friend Sam, they go on many adventures together. Cassie had feelings for Sam, which she thought were reciprocated, but it ends up they are on two different paths and Cassie is embarrassed and doesn't want to be around Sam much after that.
Since they were very young, Tom has made a treasure hunt for Cassie on Christmas where she follows the clues to find her gift. One year, Tom goes to Argentina and is killed in a tragic accident. Cassie discovers that he had finished that year's hunt before he left, and she has the first clue. Can she progress through her grief to accept one last gift?
This is a sweet story overall about facing your fears and moving forward after tragedy. There are a couple of things that keep this from being as good as it could have been. The beginning of the book to me felt like a YA novel. The characters are super immature and Cassie gets all upset that Sam doesn't want to declare their love to the world after a couple of kisses. But the main shortcoming I felt was that this book never gets very deep emotionally.
Always, in December broke me when I read it last year because it was so emotionally touching. One Last Gift tries to get there, but to me it just didn't fully succeed. I admired Cassie's journey and was rooting for her to dig deep and discover her inner bravery, but overall everything stays very surface level, even when she is in the depths of her grief.
This is a worthwhile read regardless, and although it's not really a holiday story it is perfect for the holiday season.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
August 5, 2022
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Last September I read and so loved Always, in December, so when I got an email asking me to read and review Emily Stone's new book I jumped at the chance. Christmas in July you say? Count me in! I adored this precious book so much. It is an incredible story about a brother and sisters love for each other. I really appreciated this take on the story as I am remarkably close to my own brother so it gave me all the feels.
This is a sad story to start but as you read on you will find plenty to smile about. The scavenger hunt was a lot of fun and I loved watching Cassie grow from an awkward eighteen-year-old to a fierce woman in her twenties. Sam too redeemed himself to me, as he seemed like such a cad to start off with and I was so happy when he grew a conscience.
Who would think that a book about grief, loss, and falsehoods would make such a lovely story? Emily Stone, that's who and the writing is so real and natural that I was able to read all 340 pages in a couple of sittings.
Heartbreaking yet beautiful at the same time One Last List isn't your typical Christmas romance and I liked that about it.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and Emily Stone for the giving of the ARC.
#OneLastGift #NetGalley
October 11, 2022
Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age. Tom has always looked out for Cassie and tried to include her in everything, including activities with his best friend, Sam. One thing that Cassie always looked forward to were the scavenger hunts her brother created for her every Christmas.
Sadly, Cassie gets the phone call we all fear, informing her that she has lost her brother, Tom as well. Devastated Cassie tries her best to move on. It is hard because she has lost his best friend Sam as well. They became estranged after a ski trip and after harsh words were spoken, Cassie has kicked Sam out of her life. Immediately after she finds an envelope with her brother's writing on it. She knows what is inside. One last scavenger hunt!
Tom has left Cassie clues which send her off to do and experience new things. As Cassie follows the clues, she learns about her brother, her friends and herself. Along the way she finds something else as well - love.
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I shook my head and did some deep sighing at some of the characters and their choices. I felt for them and felt their pain. Cassie, Sam, and Tom have/had flaws and at times were messy but they were likeable.
This book touches on death and grief, but it mainly touches on friendship, love, personal growth, and moving on. It's about saying goodbye and new beginnings. It was right up my alley and was a nice change of pace and put a smile on my face.
Emily Stone impressed me with Always, in December and I had high hopes for this book. She did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
#OneLastGift #NetGalley
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Sadly, Cassie gets the phone call we all fear, informing her that she has lost her brother, Tom as well. Devastated Cassie tries her best to move on. It is hard because she has lost his best friend Sam as well. They became estranged after a ski trip and after harsh words were spoken, Cassie has kicked Sam out of her life. Immediately after she finds an envelope with her brother's writing on it. She knows what is inside. One last scavenger hunt!
Tom has left Cassie clues which send her off to do and experience new things. As Cassie follows the clues, she learns about her brother, her friends and herself. Along the way she finds something else as well - love.
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I shook my head and did some deep sighing at some of the characters and their choices. I felt for them and felt their pain. Cassie, Sam, and Tom have/had flaws and at times were messy but they were likeable.
This book touches on death and grief, but it mainly touches on friendship, love, personal growth, and moving on. It's about saying goodbye and new beginnings. It was right up my alley and was a nice change of pace and put a smile on my face.
Emily Stone impressed me with Always, in December and I had high hopes for this book. She did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
#OneLastGift #NetGalley
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
August 22, 2022
One Last Gift by Emily Stone
One Last Gift is a sweet story of friendship taking place in a small town atmosphere. The characters are lovely and the Christmas setting puts you in the holiday spirit. Stone explores a range of emotions in the book including love, grief, anger and forgiveness.
One Last Gift is a slow burn with romance woven in. Keep the Kleenex close by as they may come in handy while reading this touching book. This novel would make a wonderful Hallmark movie. In fact, parts of it remind me of the show Virgin River. The author left room for a sequel so my fingers are crossed.
One Last Gift by Emily Stone is available on October 11th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for sharing this heartfelt book with me. Your kindness is appreciated.
One Last Gift is a sweet story of friendship taking place in a small town atmosphere. The characters are lovely and the Christmas setting puts you in the holiday spirit. Stone explores a range of emotions in the book including love, grief, anger and forgiveness.
One Last Gift is a slow burn with romance woven in. Keep the Kleenex close by as they may come in handy while reading this touching book. This novel would make a wonderful Hallmark movie. In fact, parts of it remind me of the show Virgin River. The author left room for a sequel so my fingers are crossed.
One Last Gift by Emily Stone is available on October 11th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for sharing this heartfelt book with me. Your kindness is appreciated.
December 20, 2023
Lectura romance perfectă de citit în decembrie. Veți avea parte de romance, trăiri, umor, emoții, pierdere, daruri, sărbători și liniște.
Veți avea nevoie de șervețele 🥺
Veți avea nevoie de șervețele 🥺
December 13, 2022
Thoughts: I have heard how sad Emily Stone’s previous holiday book was, and this one was no different. Sad to it’s very core, yet ultimately uplifting, this book is the epitome of what this time of year represents for so many. While the holiday rom-coms are a lot of fun, sometimes it’s nice to read something with a little depth behind it and I think you’ll find this one fits the bill.
Read if you like:
•second chance romance
•women’s fiction
•found family
•always, in december
Thank you to Netgalley, Dell and PRH Audio for my ARC and ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Read if you like:
•second chance romance
•women’s fiction
•found family
•always, in december
Thank you to Netgalley, Dell and PRH Audio for my ARC and ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 16, 2022
Perfectly charming! Add it to your holiday reading list.
July 5, 2023
One Last Gift is Cassie's story, but it is also Tom's story. Cassie and Tom are siblings with Tom being the oldest. Sadly, they lose their parents at a very young age and are sent to live with an aunt. Being that Cassie is younger she doesn't want her aunt but her mother, which is of course understandable. Tom is Cassie's buffer, her so to speak protector in life, comforting her during sad times when he himself is going through turmoil but he doesn't show it. As you could imagine the siblings are close in their relationship. For quite some time Tom and Sam have been best friends, nothing they wouldn't do for each other. You know what they say about wanting to date your brother's best friend, but Cassie doesn't heed this and makes her feelings known to Sam during a skiing trip. Sam seems to reciprocate these feelings, but he brushes off her feelings and she is really hurt. With how nice of a guy Tom is you really become attached to him and then to find out he passes away in an accident is devastating. Understandably Sam is beside himself with grief with his best friend gone and Cassie blames him for not being able to help him and that just piles on the guilt. I enjoyed seeing the witty banner between Sam and Cassie when they aren't at each other's throats. The one really neat thing is each year at Christmas time Tom sets up a treasure hunt for Cassie to solve and the clues get harder each year. It was such an emotional time reading as she goes through the clues and solves them. The clues take her to places outgoing Tom knew she would have never gone on her own and they have her doing things she wouldn't have had the courage to do. The book is very encouraging but yet very emotional. In a way it's as though Tom is still here in a small way giving Cassie the encouragement and pick me up, she needs. Such a fabulous book. I recommend this to everyone needing a quiet moment of reflection and a dose of encouragement.
Pub Date 11 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Pub Date 11 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
October 29, 2022
Emily Stone ripped my heart out and pieced it back together again!
Exploring the topic of grief and forgiveness, there was a very soft, tender tone throughout. I don't know how to explain it, but this story felt like a cozy rainy day. It was sad, yes, but so comforting too.
Although her brother Tom is gone, Cassie discovers one last Christmas Scavenger Hunt adventure he organized before his tragic passing. Through flashbacks and letters, I loved how the essence of Tom was still very much alive. In a way, it was his story too. His big brother energy will warm your heart.
In the midst of all this is a romance between Cassie and Sam, Tom's best friend. Oof, this relationship hurt in the best way. Mistakes are made, hurtful words are said, but I loved the pull Cassie and Sam continued to have for each other after so many years. These two travel a very complex road to find their happily-ever-after, but I promise it's worth it.
(heat level: closed door)
Exploring the topic of grief and forgiveness, there was a very soft, tender tone throughout. I don't know how to explain it, but this story felt like a cozy rainy day. It was sad, yes, but so comforting too.
Although her brother Tom is gone, Cassie discovers one last Christmas Scavenger Hunt adventure he organized before his tragic passing. Through flashbacks and letters, I loved how the essence of Tom was still very much alive. In a way, it was his story too. His big brother energy will warm your heart.
In the midst of all this is a romance between Cassie and Sam, Tom's best friend. Oof, this relationship hurt in the best way. Mistakes are made, hurtful words are said, but I loved the pull Cassie and Sam continued to have for each other after so many years. These two travel a very complex road to find their happily-ever-after, but I promise it's worth it.
(heat level: closed door)
January 1, 2023
Having lost their parents at a young age Cassie and Tom were especially close. Growing up Cassie, Tom and Tom's best friend Sam were inseparable. Now years later Cassie is grieving the loss of Tom and Sam has become someone Cassie can no longer rely on. As Cassie slowly emerges from the fog she's been shrouded in she discovers the first envelope in the yearly treasure hunt Tom had organized for Cassie every Christmas since she was a young girl. Each clue leads Cassie to seek the help of friends and step outside her comfort zone to discover what is important in life and navigate the future she desires.
Heartfelt and sweet with loveable characters who touched my heart.
Heartfelt and sweet with loveable characters who touched my heart.
December 30, 2023
O lectură cu încărcătură emoțională și un traseu tumultos.
Este oarecum previzibilă și clișeică dar totodată un reminder că putem trece peste obstacole, că există bunătate în oameni și că ne putem urma calea mult visată dacă avem un strop de curaj.
Este oarecum previzibilă și clișeică dar totodată un reminder că putem trece peste obstacole, că există bunătate în oameni și că ne putem urma calea mult visată dacă avem un strop de curaj.
November 2, 2023
✩ 3 stars
~
i hated the miscommunication but other then that it was a fine read
~
i hated the miscommunication but other then that it was a fine read
November 22, 2023
3.5 stars
January 4, 2023
I chose this book to read during the 2022 end-of-year festivities and I am glad I did. It's a heartwarming, slow-paced story about romance, grief, family, and finding the strength to overcome and grow.
My favorite part is the treasure hunt of which the "One Last Gift" is based on and aptly titled. I like the author's writing style and characterization.
Many thanks for the print copy I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: October 2022.
My favorite part is the treasure hunt of which the "One Last Gift" is based on and aptly titled. I like the author's writing style and characterization.
Many thanks for the print copy I received in a Goodreads giveaway. Publication date: October 2022.
October 4, 2022
4.5⭐️ If you are looking for a heartwarming and emotional Christmas book that will probably make you cry both sad and happy tears, do not skip on Emily Stone’s One Last Gift. It is a story about the loss of a loved one and finding yourself in the process. Alternating between the perspectives of a young woman and her brother’s best friend, across multiple years, there is a romance storyline you will be routing for, but I definitely say the book leans more towards women’s fiction. The main characters, as well as the supporting, were multi-dimensional and complex, with flaws that felt authentic and allowed for great character growth. While there were misunderstandings/ miscommunications between the two main characters I did not love, their individual journeys and history made it worth the wait. There was also a scavenger hunt that left me with ALL the feels!!
Read if you like:
-Scavenger hunts
-Emotional holiday reads
-Stories that tackle grief of a loved one
-Friends to lovers
Read if you like:
-Scavenger hunts
-Emotional holiday reads
-Stories that tackle grief of a loved one
-Friends to lovers
December 7, 2022
“𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰, […] 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
I really enjoyed this book, and I love the idea of basing Christmas around a treasure hunt for a gift. But this last treasure hunt really was like they all knew it would be the last one. I shed a lot of tears and laughed a lot too, there were just so many emotions.
I went into this blind, I didn’t even realise it was a romance, and I’m glad I did. It gave me extra surprises, although you know all along how you hope it will end! Cmon it’s a typical romcom! It’s not entirely set at Xmas with the book spanning over several years and quite a good chunk of it actually being set in spring and summer - so personally wouldn’t have picked it up for a Christmassy read but it was really incredible book that will have you crying endlessly! It was really original and really unputdownable.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
I really enjoyed this book, and I love the idea of basing Christmas around a treasure hunt for a gift. But this last treasure hunt really was like they all knew it would be the last one. I shed a lot of tears and laughed a lot too, there were just so many emotions.
I went into this blind, I didn’t even realise it was a romance, and I’m glad I did. It gave me extra surprises, although you know all along how you hope it will end! Cmon it’s a typical romcom! It’s not entirely set at Xmas with the book spanning over several years and quite a good chunk of it actually being set in spring and summer - so personally wouldn’t have picked it up for a Christmassy read but it was really incredible book that will have you crying endlessly! It was really original and really unputdownable.
August 24, 2022
Unfortunately, this book was another case of an amazing premise that couldn't quite deliver.
My biggest problem with this book was the pacing--there were 7 time jumps in this book, some spanning months, some spanning even years--and each time jump made me more frustrated than the last because they were so unnecessary. Adding time jumps can't be a shortcut for characterization--seeing the characters actually change and grow would've been so much more satisfying.
In my opinion, this book would've been best served in a format where the chapters alternated between the present, with Cassie completing this scavenger hunt in the wake of Tom's death, and the past, with relevant flashbacks/Cassie completing a scavenger hunt when Tom was alive. Instead, we started the book with backstory that really was only necessary for the writer to know and not as much for the readers (for example: what was the point of an extensive skiing scene, where Cassie was afraid the whole time, only for this scavenger hunt to revolve around Cassie facing her fears and never once going back to retry skiing?) and then jumped forward five years.
With that story structure, there could've been more relevant flashbacks that would've aided in each character's development, without needing to jump months or years into the future, and we could've gotten to know Tom better, which would've made his passing that much more emotional for the reader.
In the end, I unfortunately wouldn't recommend reading this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My biggest problem with this book was the pacing--there were 7 time jumps in this book, some spanning months, some spanning even years--and each time jump made me more frustrated than the last because they were so unnecessary. Adding time jumps can't be a shortcut for characterization--seeing the characters actually change and grow would've been so much more satisfying.
In my opinion, this book would've been best served in a format where the chapters alternated between the present, with Cassie completing this scavenger hunt in the wake of Tom's death, and the past, with relevant flashbacks/Cassie completing a scavenger hunt when Tom was alive. Instead, we started the book with backstory that really was only necessary for the writer to know and not as much for the readers (for example: what was the point of an extensive skiing scene, where Cassie was afraid the whole time, only for this scavenger hunt to revolve around Cassie facing her fears and never once going back to retry skiing?) and then jumped forward five years.
With that story structure, there could've been more relevant flashbacks that would've aided in each character's development, without needing to jump months or years into the future, and we could've gotten to know Tom better, which would've made his passing that much more emotional for the reader.
In the end, I unfortunately wouldn't recommend reading this book.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2022
Only giving this three stars because I ended up reading it in a day even though I ended up skipping some parts. It’s not as bad as a two-star book but not a solid three-star read.
I really wanted to like this book. Always, In December was my baby and I gave it a five-star rating so I was actually counting down the days until this one was released. Maybe that’s why I was disappointed because my expectations were just so high.
To start oın a positive aspect though, it was indeed a quick read. Very heavy topics and a lot of chapters on how to tackle grief but still, it was easy to get through. If you are behind your reading goal, pick this one up.
But if you are done with your reading goal and have a long list of holiday books you can choose from, I’d say think twice. Why? Let’s get into it.
First of all, this book wasn’t Christmas-y at all. It has Christmas scenes, multiple ones but the majority of the book takes place in a year so I really wasn’t feeling festive when I was reading it. It might be a personal preference but still, don’t expect that feeling when you’re reading this.
Cassie, the MC, and Sam, the love interest who can be counted as the other MC was apart for most of the book. This is a reoccurring theme for the author as it seems. It worked in her other work but failed on this one.
I will keep talking about the rather weird love dynamic but they can be counted as minor spoilers so before I get to that part, let me talk about the treasure hunt which is the main thing in this book. The so-called last gift. Now now, it wasn’t bad. A little cheesy but it wasn’t bad. However, everything was just so convenient I just had to laugh. It was like Tom, the big brother who’s also the mastermind behind the hunt just knew he’d die and planned everything accordingly. They all just worked like clockwork, even though Cassie was behind schedule. I just couldn’t believe nothing went wrong with this hunt, NOTHING. Even though Tom wasn’t there to fix it or Cassie was almost always late to the next clue, it just somehow worked perfectly. No, I refuse to accept this.
This part will involve spoilers! Read at your own risk.
Let’s talk about the romance aspect, shall we? Which was mediocre, to say the least. When it wasn’t being totally and absolutely weird.
So Tom kisses Cassie, freaks out because he is afraid of commitment, and ends up kissing another girl in front of her. This incident not only sabotages their blossoming relationship but it kills their whole dynamic. After this, they rarely talk and see each other when Tom plans a meet-up with both of them. So almost no contact.
Years later, more than five years to be exact, Sam wants to give this whole thing another chance so he ends up professing his undying love and Cassie runs away because he left her once they were teenagers.
I have two issues with this whole ordeal. First of all, my dear Sam how can you claim to love someone who is practically a stranger to you? You don’t know her at all? I get that they grew up together but five years is a very long time. Not to mention how he was engaged just four months ago and had a string of girls before that. He could’ve just asked her out on a date or something but no, he just had brought out the big guns.
Now the second issue, is how Cassie runs away from him because of what happened years ago. YEARS AGO. She had millions of logical excuses not to date him but she chose to go with “You broke my heart all these years ago.” GIRL BE FOR REAL. I know the author wanted to add a third-act conflict but it was just a big fail. They weren’t even interacting for most of the book anyway. (Months after this, they get back together and have their happily ever after but guess what? It happens off the page, we just hear about it.)
In the end, this book was definitely something else. I wouldn’t say nobody should read this but I would not recommend it to a friend.
I really wanted to like this book. Always, In December was my baby and I gave it a five-star rating so I was actually counting down the days until this one was released. Maybe that’s why I was disappointed because my expectations were just so high.
To start oın a positive aspect though, it was indeed a quick read. Very heavy topics and a lot of chapters on how to tackle grief but still, it was easy to get through. If you are behind your reading goal, pick this one up.
But if you are done with your reading goal and have a long list of holiday books you can choose from, I’d say think twice. Why? Let’s get into it.
First of all, this book wasn’t Christmas-y at all. It has Christmas scenes, multiple ones but the majority of the book takes place in a year so I really wasn’t feeling festive when I was reading it. It might be a personal preference but still, don’t expect that feeling when you’re reading this.
Cassie, the MC, and Sam, the love interest who can be counted as the other MC was apart for most of the book. This is a reoccurring theme for the author as it seems. It worked in her other work but failed on this one.
I will keep talking about the rather weird love dynamic but they can be counted as minor spoilers so before I get to that part, let me talk about the treasure hunt which is the main thing in this book. The so-called last gift. Now now, it wasn’t bad. A little cheesy but it wasn’t bad. However, everything was just so convenient I just had to laugh. It was like Tom, the big brother who’s also the mastermind behind the hunt just knew he’d die and planned everything accordingly. They all just worked like clockwork, even though Cassie was behind schedule. I just couldn’t believe nothing went wrong with this hunt, NOTHING. Even though Tom wasn’t there to fix it or Cassie was almost always late to the next clue, it just somehow worked perfectly. No, I refuse to accept this.
This part will involve spoilers! Read at your own risk.
Let’s talk about the romance aspect, shall we? Which was mediocre, to say the least. When it wasn’t being totally and absolutely weird.
So Tom kisses Cassie, freaks out because he is afraid of commitment, and ends up kissing another girl in front of her. This incident not only sabotages their blossoming relationship but it kills their whole dynamic. After this, they rarely talk and see each other when Tom plans a meet-up with both of them. So almost no contact.
Years later, more than five years to be exact, Sam wants to give this whole thing another chance so he ends up professing his undying love and Cassie runs away because he left her once they were teenagers.
I have two issues with this whole ordeal. First of all, my dear Sam how can you claim to love someone who is practically a stranger to you? You don’t know her at all? I get that they grew up together but five years is a very long time. Not to mention how he was engaged just four months ago and had a string of girls before that. He could’ve just asked her out on a date or something but no, he just had brought out the big guns.
Now the second issue, is how Cassie runs away from him because of what happened years ago. YEARS AGO. She had millions of logical excuses not to date him but she chose to go with “You broke my heart all these years ago.” GIRL BE FOR REAL. I know the author wanted to add a third-act conflict but it was just a big fail. They weren’t even interacting for most of the book anyway. (Months after this, they get back together and have their happily ever after but guess what? It happens off the page, we just hear about it.)
In the end, this book was definitely something else. I wouldn’t say nobody should read this but I would not recommend it to a friend.
November 15, 2022
Lovely and charming and heartwarming and cozy. A wonderful holiday read.
October 3, 2022
One Last Gift by Emily Stone is a heartwarming tale about grief and surviving the holidays. It’s a heartwarming and hopeful book with an enemies-to-lovers trope.
Story Recap:
Cassie and Tom lost their parents when they were young and went to live with their aunt and uncle, who were able to provide for their physical needs, but were not as good at providing for their young emotional needs. Tom is older and has always been there for Cassie, along with his best friend Sam.
Tom dies suddenly just before Christmas and Cassie is devastated. She relied on her big brother for comfort, and now she doesn’t have anyone. Tom’s friend Sam, is just as lost as Cassie, but instead of grieving together, they drift apart. One day Cassie finds an envelope with Tom’s handwriting. Every Christmas, Tom sent Cassie on a scavenger hunt in order to find her gift. Did Tom do that again?
My Thoughts:
I love a good treasure hunt, and this one was a lot of fun. The beginning of the book is a bit sad, due to the death of Cassie’s brother, Tom. I was surprised that Tom remained such a main character in this book, especially as he was killed early in the book.
Tom’s best friend Sam was a difficult person to like at the beginning of the book. He lost his best friend, and he believes it was his fault, so he does some questionable things, but that’s all due to his grief. He absolutely redeemed himself by the end of the book.
The middle of the book bogged down just a bit, but once I got past that, the story flew by. I enjoyed the treasure hunt and enjoyed watching both Cassie and Sam deal with their grief and find their way to each other.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend One Last Gift to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Story Recap:
Cassie and Tom lost their parents when they were young and went to live with their aunt and uncle, who were able to provide for their physical needs, but were not as good at providing for their young emotional needs. Tom is older and has always been there for Cassie, along with his best friend Sam.
Tom dies suddenly just before Christmas and Cassie is devastated. She relied on her big brother for comfort, and now she doesn’t have anyone. Tom’s friend Sam, is just as lost as Cassie, but instead of grieving together, they drift apart. One day Cassie finds an envelope with Tom’s handwriting. Every Christmas, Tom sent Cassie on a scavenger hunt in order to find her gift. Did Tom do that again?
My Thoughts:
I love a good treasure hunt, and this one was a lot of fun. The beginning of the book is a bit sad, due to the death of Cassie’s brother, Tom. I was surprised that Tom remained such a main character in this book, especially as he was killed early in the book.
Tom’s best friend Sam was a difficult person to like at the beginning of the book. He lost his best friend, and he believes it was his fault, so he does some questionable things, but that’s all due to his grief. He absolutely redeemed himself by the end of the book.
The middle of the book bogged down just a bit, but once I got past that, the story flew by. I enjoyed the treasure hunt and enjoyed watching both Cassie and Sam deal with their grief and find their way to each other.
Recommendation:
I highly recommend One Last Gift to anyone who enjoys women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 16, 2022
***I received the ARC from NetGalley and physical copy from the publisher***
This book was so beautifully written and dealt with such heavy topics in a very relatable, vulnerable way. This book was emotional, introspective, insightful, and deep. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. So glad I was able to read this story.
This book was so beautifully written and dealt with such heavy topics in a very relatable, vulnerable way. This book was emotional, introspective, insightful, and deep. If I could give it 6 stars, I would. So glad I was able to read this story.
September 14, 2022
One Last Gift
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 10/11/22
Author: Emily Stobne
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Pages: 400
GR: 4.28
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and relied on each other. 20 years later, Cassie has lost Tom as well. She's never felt more alone. Then she finds an envelope with her name on it, it's the first clue in the Christmas scavenger hunt Tom made for her every year. Tom's clues set Cassie on a heart-wrenching and beautiful journey that will change her life--if she lets them. And as she travels from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside, she reconnects with old friends, rekindles a lost love, and most importantly, rediscovers herself. But once she's solved the final clue, will she be brave enough to accept the gift her brother has given her--and the love it's led her to?
My Thoughts: With the author’s first name the same as mine, I knew I would love this book! The tropes follow a second chance romance and friends to lovers, which is right up my ally. The story reminds me of a classic Hallmark Christmas movie, one of the reasons I requested the title. Even with the loss of Tom, it is still a lighthearted read as the character’s emotions were not deeply dived into. The characters were well developed, flawed, emotional, chemistry, and creatively written. Cassie’s character was written very immature in the beginning of the book, however, she and Sam grew tremendously through the book, even if I did not care for Sam at first, he does redeem himself. The author’s writing style is heartwarming, romantic, sweet, and just written so well. If you love Hallmark Christmas movies like me, you will like this book. It is just heartwarming and puts a cozy blanket over you. I will be adding her first book to my TBR. It hits the shelves next month on the 11th!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 10/11/22
Author: Emily Stobne
Publisher: Random House Publishing
Pages: 400
GR: 4.28
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House Publishing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and relied on each other. 20 years later, Cassie has lost Tom as well. She's never felt more alone. Then she finds an envelope with her name on it, it's the first clue in the Christmas scavenger hunt Tom made for her every year. Tom's clues set Cassie on a heart-wrenching and beautiful journey that will change her life--if she lets them. And as she travels from London to the Welsh mountains to the French countryside, she reconnects with old friends, rekindles a lost love, and most importantly, rediscovers herself. But once she's solved the final clue, will she be brave enough to accept the gift her brother has given her--and the love it's led her to?
My Thoughts: With the author’s first name the same as mine, I knew I would love this book! The tropes follow a second chance romance and friends to lovers, which is right up my ally. The story reminds me of a classic Hallmark Christmas movie, one of the reasons I requested the title. Even with the loss of Tom, it is still a lighthearted read as the character’s emotions were not deeply dived into. The characters were well developed, flawed, emotional, chemistry, and creatively written. Cassie’s character was written very immature in the beginning of the book, however, she and Sam grew tremendously through the book, even if I did not care for Sam at first, he does redeem himself. The author’s writing style is heartwarming, romantic, sweet, and just written so well. If you love Hallmark Christmas movies like me, you will like this book. It is just heartwarming and puts a cozy blanket over you. I will be adding her first book to my TBR. It hits the shelves next month on the 11th!
November 1, 2022
3.5 stars
Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don’t expect. That's the idea behind Emily Stone's newest book following Always, In December .
After their parents died when they were young, Cassie’s older brother Tom has always looked out for her. The two of them and Sam, Tom’s best friend, have always been a trio, although as they’ve gotten older, Cassie’s feelings for Sam have complicated things a bit. And then she realizes Sam isn’t the person she thought he was.
And then tragedy strikes, leaving her more alone than ever. But when she is given an envelope with Tom’s handwriting on it—horrible handwriting she always teased him about—she realizes this is the first clue in his annual Christmas treasure hunt that he always did for her. He had promised this year’s hunt would be truly epic.
If she follows the treasure hunt Tom planned, will it bring her closer to him, or will it hurt more in the end, because it’s the last one he’ll ever do? What if she can’t even figure out the clues without him?
Cassie realizes that she’s less alone than she thought. And more than that, she realizes that Tom wouldn’t want her to live a life of grief and fear—he’d want her to pursue her dreams and never settle. But when she gets to the end of the hunt, what will be the treasure she finds?
One Last Gift is a sweet, emotional, friends-to-lovers romance about finding your way to the life you were meant to live, not the one you’re expected to. Like most romances, it’s predictable, but that’s part of the appeal. And while you expect a reasonable amount of push and pull in romances, there was a little too much of it in this book, plus one-sided miscommunication. But it still made me tear up!!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don’t expect. That's the idea behind Emily Stone's newest book following Always, In December .
After their parents died when they were young, Cassie’s older brother Tom has always looked out for her. The two of them and Sam, Tom’s best friend, have always been a trio, although as they’ve gotten older, Cassie’s feelings for Sam have complicated things a bit. And then she realizes Sam isn’t the person she thought he was.
And then tragedy strikes, leaving her more alone than ever. But when she is given an envelope with Tom’s handwriting on it—horrible handwriting she always teased him about—she realizes this is the first clue in his annual Christmas treasure hunt that he always did for her. He had promised this year’s hunt would be truly epic.
If she follows the treasure hunt Tom planned, will it bring her closer to him, or will it hurt more in the end, because it’s the last one he’ll ever do? What if she can’t even figure out the clues without him?
Cassie realizes that she’s less alone than she thought. And more than that, she realizes that Tom wouldn’t want her to live a life of grief and fear—he’d want her to pursue her dreams and never settle. But when she gets to the end of the hunt, what will be the treasure she finds?
One Last Gift is a sweet, emotional, friends-to-lovers romance about finding your way to the life you were meant to live, not the one you’re expected to. Like most romances, it’s predictable, but that’s part of the appeal. And while you expect a reasonable amount of push and pull in romances, there was a little too much of it in this book, plus one-sided miscommunication. But it still made me tear up!!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
August 6, 2022
If, like me, you are an emotional reader, please make sure you have a box of tissues or two at hand whilst reading this. The title and blurb let you know that this will not be an easy read, but it is undoubtedly a very worthwhile and fulfilling one. With themes of friendship, loss and grief, found family, being brave whilst scared, and love in all its many shapes, sizes and colours, One Last Gift is an utterly captivating read. So much so that I couldn't put it down and read until the early hours of the morning in my desire to finish it.
I had worried that reading a "seasonal" book in August would temper my enjoyment, but despite many of the scenes being set during the Christmas period, this book can be read year-round. Whilst there are jumps in the timeline they are clearly labelled, allowing the reader to readily stay abreast of the when as well as the where. We also get much-needed chapters from Sam's point of view, they were intrinsic to the success of this book in terms of understanding character motivation and seeing growth. I also appreciated that the author kept the timeline linear rather than hopping around as it allowed the reader to warm to both Cassie and Sam before fear, bad decisions and tragedy tore them apart.
One Last Gift is very much a character-driven story and those characters were engaging, easy to like and imperfectly human. They made mistakes and let fear rule them but not conquer them, facing up to those fears and discovering bravery isn't in doing something but in doing something despite being scared. I loved that through the letters and recollections of others Tom remained an active character with Cassie getting to know him in new ways.
This is a new-to-me author who has firmly placed herself on my reading radar. I very much plan on reading her first book, Always, in December and look forward to reading future work by her too.
I had worried that reading a "seasonal" book in August would temper my enjoyment, but despite many of the scenes being set during the Christmas period, this book can be read year-round. Whilst there are jumps in the timeline they are clearly labelled, allowing the reader to readily stay abreast of the when as well as the where. We also get much-needed chapters from Sam's point of view, they were intrinsic to the success of this book in terms of understanding character motivation and seeing growth. I also appreciated that the author kept the timeline linear rather than hopping around as it allowed the reader to warm to both Cassie and Sam before fear, bad decisions and tragedy tore them apart.
One Last Gift is very much a character-driven story and those characters were engaging, easy to like and imperfectly human. They made mistakes and let fear rule them but not conquer them, facing up to those fears and discovering bravery isn't in doing something but in doing something despite being scared. I loved that through the letters and recollections of others Tom remained an active character with Cassie getting to know him in new ways.
This is a new-to-me author who has firmly placed herself on my reading radar. I very much plan on reading her first book, Always, in December and look forward to reading future work by her too.
January 27, 2023
I'm not crying.... well... maybe a little
I read Always in December and absolutely fell head over heels for it. I was a complete emotional wreck when I finished. I was so excited to read One Last Gift. I was emotional throughout the entire book, but it didn't hit me quite as hard as the author's other book.
Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and have relied on each other for anything and everything in life. For years Tom has always put together a Christmas scavenger hunt for Cassie to make the holiday better. Tom went on a trip and was killed in an accident, leaving Cassie and Sam (Tom's best friend) to deal with grief. Cassie soon realizes Tom had put together a scavenger hunt and she wants to finish it to remember her brother.
One Last Gift is truly an emotional read about overcoming grief and facing your fears. While this didn't make me a sobbing mess, it still dug deep into my heart. I really wish we could have seen a lot more of Cassie and Sam and had them both fleshed out more. It almost read as if they were teenagers because of the immaturity at some points. I loved the past memories throughout the book and made me really get into my feelings.
I definitely can't wait to read more from this author.
I read Always in December and absolutely fell head over heels for it. I was a complete emotional wreck when I finished. I was so excited to read One Last Gift. I was emotional throughout the entire book, but it didn't hit me quite as hard as the author's other book.
Cassie and Tom lost their parents at a young age and have relied on each other for anything and everything in life. For years Tom has always put together a Christmas scavenger hunt for Cassie to make the holiday better. Tom went on a trip and was killed in an accident, leaving Cassie and Sam (Tom's best friend) to deal with grief. Cassie soon realizes Tom had put together a scavenger hunt and she wants to finish it to remember her brother.
One Last Gift is truly an emotional read about overcoming grief and facing your fears. While this didn't make me a sobbing mess, it still dug deep into my heart. I really wish we could have seen a lot more of Cassie and Sam and had them both fleshed out more. It almost read as if they were teenagers because of the immaturity at some points. I loved the past memories throughout the book and made me really get into my feelings.
I definitely can't wait to read more from this author.
December 9, 2024
Un ultim dar de Crăciun-Emily Stone
Când am văzut numele autoarei, m-am rugat să nu fii scris o carte lacrimogenă, pentru ca eu nu am inima lui Stone si "de Stone", la prima carte citită de această autoare m-a secat de lacrimi.
Sunt mici destăinuiri cu intervale de timp intre ele, toate petrecandu-se in preajma Crăciunului.
Cei doi frați, Tom si Cassie au fost crescuti de mătușa lor, dupa moartea părinților. Chiar dacă ei au crescut, încearcă de fiecare data sa se întâlnească in preajma sărbătorilor.
Ca o scurtă paranteză, a tot mentionat de "Vanatoarea de comori", tot speram să pot descoperi una...sper ca până la final să am parte de ea.
Iar dorința mi se îndeplineste...începând cu pagina 150, iar acum nu sunt sigură că mai vreau sa iau parte la ea, pentru ca stiu ce urmează, imi iau șervețele cu mine.
"Un ultim dar de Craciun" pentru Cassie este că toate indiciile o scot din zona ei de confort, dar, pentru că întotdeauna exista un "dar", nu este singurul "dar" oferit...
Pot spune ca a avut un happy-end, dar ...ii acord 3.5☆
Sam m-aș fi asteptat să fie mai integru, cerebral, cred ca el a fost cel care m-a dezamagit pe parcursul cărții ...
Când am văzut numele autoarei, m-am rugat să nu fii scris o carte lacrimogenă, pentru ca eu nu am inima lui Stone si "de Stone", la prima carte citită de această autoare m-a secat de lacrimi.
Sunt mici destăinuiri cu intervale de timp intre ele, toate petrecandu-se in preajma Crăciunului.
Cei doi frați, Tom si Cassie au fost crescuti de mătușa lor, dupa moartea părinților. Chiar dacă ei au crescut, încearcă de fiecare data sa se întâlnească in preajma sărbătorilor.
Ca o scurtă paranteză, a tot mentionat de "Vanatoarea de comori", tot speram să pot descoperi una...sper ca până la final să am parte de ea.
Iar dorința mi se îndeplineste...începând cu pagina 150, iar acum nu sunt sigură că mai vreau sa iau parte la ea, pentru ca stiu ce urmează, imi iau șervețele cu mine.
"Un ultim dar de Craciun" pentru Cassie este că toate indiciile o scot din zona ei de confort, dar, pentru că întotdeauna exista un "dar", nu este singurul "dar" oferit...
Pot spune ca a avut un happy-end, dar ...ii acord 3.5☆
Sam m-aș fi asteptat să fie mai integru, cerebral, cred ca el a fost cel care m-a dezamagit pe parcursul cărții ...
December 19, 2022
DNF.
Still counting because I read 75% of the book, but I could not bring myself to finish.
Still counting because I read 75% of the book, but I could not bring myself to finish.
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