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Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor

(Friday Harbor #1)

Lisa Kleypas (Goodreads Author)

3.75 · Rating details · 17,702 ratings · 1,937 reviews

New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas’s new series begins during the most magical time of year
ONE LITTLE GIRL NEEDS A FAMILY
One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word.
ONE SINGLE MAN NEEDS A WIFE
The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl ...more

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Hardcover, 211 pages

Published October 26th 2010 by St. Martin's Press (first published April 11th 2010)

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Apr 07, 2010 Shawna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Fans of Lisa Kleypas & emotional, sweet contemporary holiday romance

Shelves: contemporary-romance, author-lisa-kleypas, feel-good-read-pick-me-upper, holiday-theme, best-fave-reads-of-2010, love-triangle-vying-courtships, hh-love-commitment-marriage-phobic, kindle, angsty-dark-heavy-lotsa-drama, i-read-kindle

5 stars – Contemporary/Holiday Romance

Let me start by saying that I’m a romance addict, and I read for escapism and rate books solely based on my level of enjoyment and how they make me feel, not the literary value or social relevance.

Lisa Kleypas is my favorite author, and I’ve absolutely loved every book of hers that I’ve read because her characters and stories are always full of life, engaging, and poignant. I was beyond excited about her new contemporary Friday Harbor series, and although I 5 stars – Contemporary/Holiday Romance

Let me start by saying that I’m a romance addict, and I read for escapism and rate books solely based on my level of enjoyment and how they make me feel, not the literary value or social relevance.

Lisa Kleypas is my favorite author, and I’ve absolutely loved every book of hers that I’ve read because her characters and stories are always full of life, engaging, and poignant. I was beyond excited about her new contemporary Friday Harbor series, and although I would have loved for it to be longer and steamier with a bit more romance, the series debut novella, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, is still a deeply moving and utterly satisfying read that, to me, was worth the $9.99 + tax (about the price of a movie ticket) that I paid for it on my Kindle.

Take an adorable six-year-old girl who hasn’t spoken a word since she lost her mother, a hardened bachelor uncle with skewed views on marriage, family, and happily ever who has his life turned upside down, heart touched, and soul healed through the responsibility and unconditional love of becoming his niece’s guardian, another fun loving uncle who opens his vineyard home for them all to live together, a guarded widow with a toy shop who’s love of magic is just what the heartbroken little girl needs, an ugly but lovable Bulldog, and a beautiful, small town island setting and then add several tender, emotional moments, some uplifting holiday cheer, a nice dose of humor, and a touch of nostalgia, and you’ve got an endearing romance that’s a real heartwarming treat.

It’s such a sweet, genuine, and touching holiday story that tugged and wrenched my heartstrings and made me cry in earnest, smile, laugh, and feel all warm and cozy inside like I’d had a nice, comforting, steaming cup of Bailey’s hot chocolate or apple cider in front of a roaring fire on a chilly winter’s day. I usually like my romance a little (okay, much) hotter, and although I would have liked a bit more of Mark and Maggie together, the charming family moments with brothers Mark and Sam showering their precious niece Holly with affection were the most gratifying. I loved it! This gave me a good dose of sentimental holiday spirit that I needed. I just wish there had been more of it, and I can’t wait until the next story in the series. 5 sweet stars!

Favorite quote:

And there were no rules for how to deal with the death of someone you loved. You had to accept that the loss would always stay with you, like a reminder note pinned to the inside of your jacket. But there were still opportunities for happiness. Even joy.

Rating: PG
...more

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May 20, 2010 Lady Jayne *~*The Beach Bandida*~* rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Anyone who wants a sweet, romantic PG-rated holiday novella

Shelves: reviewed, owned-read, romance-contemporary, author-lisa-kleypas, first-in-series, holiday-christmas-stories

5 Stars - Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor , for me, was like…

...A homemade chocolate chip cookie accompanied by a cup of mocha with the right blend of roasted coffee and warm, smooth chocolate. All this, enjoyed sitting looking out at the harbour, with the sea breeze on my face, and the fresh scents of the air after a rain. I see a beautiful rainbow against the blue sky, and spy the dark storm clouds, which had just passed by, away in the distance. I 5 Stars - Also reviewed at: Lady Jayne's Reading Den

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor , for me, was like…

...A homemade chocolate chip cookie accompanied by a cup of mocha with the right blend of roasted coffee and warm, smooth chocolate. All this, enjoyed sitting looking out at the harbour, with the sea breeze on my face, and the fresh scents of the air after a rain. I see a beautiful rainbow against the blue sky, and spy the dark storm clouds, which had just passed by, away in the distance. I feel the warmth of the sunshine against my face, the brightness of the light causing my eyes to glisten. There is a huge smile on my face and I sigh because of the beauty in the “now”, in the precious simple moments of life.

That was how this book made me feel. Or in other words: “Awwww…..” *sighs* ^_^ This book really touched me and gave me the "warm fuzzies".

Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands, Washington

To put it simply, this is a story about loss, grief, change, hope, commitment, family and love.

I finished this book in the wee hours of the morning, with tears in my eyes and a big smile on my face, as I drifted to sleep. Lisa Kleypas is one of my favourite authors. Her writing always paints such vivid pictures in my mind and her characters burrow themselves into my heart.

While, like other Lisa Kleypas fans, I wish this was a full length novel, Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is a sweet and romantic PG-rated holiday novella. The ingredients of this sweet story are: A cute little girl named Holly, who asks Santa for a “mom”; Holly’s guardian uncle, Mark Nolan, the owner of a small coffee-roasting business, trying to be a parent deserving of Holly; two other uncles, Sam and Alex Nolan, drawn together to be there for this little girl; Maggie, a young widow who owns a toy store; the setting of the beautiful San Juan Islands; and the magic of imagination and love.

I loved this for the hope-and-magic-filled holiday novella that it was, and for that reason, it was a 5-Star read, for me. Of course, novellas are never as good as full-length novels, since I always want more - especially more Lisa Kleypas!

I look forward to the full-length novels of the Friday Harbor series: Rainshadow Road (2012), Dream Lake (2012) and Crystal Cove (2013)

Favourite quotes:

“And there were no rules for how to deal with the death of someone you loved. You had to accept that the loss would always stay with you, like a reminder note pinned to the inside of your jacket. But there were still opportunities for happiness. Even joy.”
....

“Staring down at the little girl, Mark experienced one of those moments when you had a sudden and intense awareness of who you had been not all that long ago, and discovered that you were now in a different place entirely.”
....

“For the first time in his life he knew what it felt like to have his heart broken… not broken in a sad or romantic sense, but broken open. He had never known this before, the desire to surround another human being with perfect happiness”.
....

"Something happened to you, they discovered, when you were given the unconditional love and trust of a child. You wanted to try to deserve it"
....

“ Quoting Emily Dickinson: “Forever is composed of nows.” Maggie paused, her smile turning wistful at the edges. “You shouldn’t worry about forever … time runs out faster than you expect.”
....

“As they continued to talk, it somehow slipped into the bonelessly comfortable, unstructured conversation of longtime friends, both of them letting it go where it would.”
....

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the copyright to any of the images used in this review. They are posted to add visuals to the review and for fun. If any of these images are yours and you would like me to remove them, please let me know, and I will do so as soon as possible. If I can identify the copyright, I will do so.

...more

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Dec 10, 2010 UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish rated it it was amazing

Shelves: author-lisa-kleypas, 5-stars, raising-niece, first-in-series-trilogy-duet, own-have-read, must-reread, prequel, 2010-reads, holiday-christmas-themed, keepers

Anyone who reads historical romance has probably already been introduced to the art form that is Lisa Kleypas’ storytelling, so you’ll understand when I say that there really are no words to describe just what a talented writer she is. Therefore, I’ll save you all a lot of time and keep this short.

It must not be easy to give readers the feel of a full length novel in a short story such as this because very few authors actually do it. But with Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, we were given a trul
Anyone who reads historical romance has probably already been introduced to the art form that is Lisa Kleypas’ storytelling, so you’ll understand when I say that there really are no words to describe just what a talented writer she is. Therefore, I’ll save you all a lot of time and keep this short.

It must not be easy to give readers the feel of a full length novel in a short story such as this because very few authors actually do it. But with Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, we were given a truly sweet story with just the right amount of holiday magic. It’s a heartwarming tale that has all the right ingredients to make this a 5 star read. There’s Holly, an adorable little girl whose loss broke my heart. We have Mark Nolan, a very sexy hero who, because he understands the importance of family and was willing - without hesitation - to give up his own life’s plans to care for niece, earned my respect. And finally, Maggie Collins, a truly enjoyable heroine who I came to admire because while she had heartbreaking emotional baggage, she didn’t let it ruin her life. And I haven’t even mentioned Mark’s brothers, Alex and Sam, who were amazing men in their own right and will no doubt have fabulous stories. Wow! All this was accomplished in just over 200 pages.

And why did that surprise me? In a way, it didn’t – this is Lisa Kleypas we’re talking about here – but this was my first contemporary read by her, so I had no idea what to expect. Silly me! There are some authors who might be fabulous writing within the confines of one genre but can’t venture any further than that or they lose their magic. And then there are some authors who, regardless of the genre, can do no wrong. Lisa Kleypas is one of those rarities, and Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is without a doubt, proof of that.

And look at this - I went on longer than I had intended, but when it comes to talking about Ms. Kleypas' stories, that's easy to do.

I'm soooo looking forward to the next book in this series, Rainshadow Road! ...more

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Apr 06, 2010 Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Readers who enjoy romances with family and kids

Shelves: favorites, widow, holiday, adoptive-or-inherited-parents, family, character-grieving-loved-one, favorite-or-autobuy-author, contemporary-romance, kids-in-the-mix, owned-copy

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor was a lovely little morsel to get me into the Christmas spirit (or at least more into it, since I've already started listening to Christmas music on the satellite radio--I'm a Christmas junkie. What can I say?). It was also a great introduction to Ms. Kleypas' new contemporary series. I am very happy with it, and eager to read about Mark's brothers finding their HEAs.

I really loved the heart-warming vibe of this story. I love books that show the incredible bond th Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor was a lovely little morsel to get me into the Christmas spirit (or at least more into it, since I've already started listening to Christmas music on the satellite radio--I'm a Christmas junkie. What can I say?). It was also a great introduction to Ms. Kleypas' new contemporary series. I am very happy with it, and eager to read about Mark's brothers finding their HEAs.

I really loved the heart-warming vibe of this story. I love books that show the incredible bond that can form between a man and a woman (or any group of people who become their own family), and encompass children, either through their own union, or that they have brought into their lives. This book was definitely one of those stories. I have never felt that family has to be limited to the traditional idea of a nuclear bond. Blood bonds are important, but are completely unnecessary in forming a family. This book has that message.

Mark has the magnetic charisma that Ms. Kleypas is so stellar at endowing her heroes with. He also has a little bit of the tortured hero to him, not much, but enough. His family life wasn't great, and after losing his sister, he has taken on the role as guardian to her daughter Holly, not sure if he's up for it, but determined to do his best. Somehow, along the way, his heart is changed from the man who barely does the family thing, to a father who would do anything for his daughter, even if she's only his niece. And his brother Sam also finds an incredible sense of purpose through helping to raise Holly.

What's interesting is the dynamic between Mark, Holly, and Maggie. Initially it seems as though Maggie will be the fairy godmother who comes and makes everything right with Mark and Holly. But it turns out that Mark and Holly do a lot of healing for Maggie, who is still trying to recover from losing her husband, and has sworn off marriage and having kids of her own, afraid and believing she has nothing left to give.

Lisa Kleypas is one of my favorite authors for a reason: She knows her stuff. When I read her books, I am getting a full experience. She puts the heart, a wonderful, exciting love story, the beautiful description, a great, engaging narrative, humor, and pathos all there for me to enjoy. She has a wonderful way with words, a skilled artist who paints a visually-arresting landscape with her prose. Her books never feel flat to me, they are as three-dimensional as if I was there in the scene. I have discovered this sudden urge to go to Washington and explore Friday Harbor, and hope that I will walk past Maggie's toy store, or Mark's coffee-roasting business. I want to look up Rainshadow Vineyard while I am in town. I don't know when I'll get to Washington, but I know I will definitely want to revisit Friday Harbor and its inhabitants again, and this book is short enough to pick up every year to get that lovely Christmas spirit infusion, and to stop by and visit with my new friends that I have made.

If you need a little pick-me-up, and a book to remind you why Christmas is more than just a hassle and a marketing gimmick, but a wonderful time of year to enjoy family and friends, and to remember the most important thing about the season, you will find that in Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor. Because this book shows the power of love to warm hearts and to make bonds where there was no hope for a sense of connection. The power of love to heal what is broken. If you don't believe me, just give this book a read. ...more

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Apr 06, 2010 Dina rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, ebook, novella

2 1/2 stars

It pains me to say this, but I didn't enjoy this read. *ducks rotten tomatoes*

The plot is pretty simple and the book description is good enough to give you the gist of it, so I won't bother with writing a plot summary here. What can I say? I liked the premise of the story, but the book didn't live up to my expectations.

As usual, Ms. Kleypas' writing was solid and made the story flow easily. Her description of Friday Harbor was so charming and vivid that it made me want to move there.

A ...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Stacia (the 2010 club) rated it did not like it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, magical-realism, adult, super-cheese

I am shocked. I didn't believe it was possible for me to EVER dislike a Kleypas book. How could this have happened?

Before I start this review, I must first go back in time a few days...

DATE : December 23

TIME : Lazy afternoon with the kids out of the house

ACTIVITY : My viewing of a recorded movie - Christmas With Holly, based on the book I'm reviewing. Don't ask me why I decided to record and watch it, but I have to admit to being curious about seeing a Kleypas book translated to film.

RESPONSE : ...more

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Aug 19, 2010 Auntee rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: All Kleypas fans; contemporary romance fans; anyone who likes a heartwarming story

Shelves: lisa-kleypas, made_me_cry, contemporary-romance, christmas-theme, 2011_reads, where-s-my-epilogue, shawna-says

No big review, just some thoughts:

Kicking myself for hesitating over this one (when will I learn to listen to Shawna?) Of course I loved it. I didn't care that it was a G/PG-rated romance--the storytelling was second to none, and LK didn't really need to spell out that one incredible love scene. I felt it emotionally, and even shed a few tears near the end of the book. Maggie, Mark, little Holly, Sam, and even Renfield(!) were such incredibly drawn characters, and Friday Harbor? I want to move t ...more

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Dec 30, 2014 Mary rated it it was amazing

Shelves: everything-i-love-in-a-book

What can I say? Lisa Kleypas never disappoints. This is the first book in the Friday Harbor series and I can't wait to read the next. I admit I saw the movie based on this book and I wasn't impressed. It was an okay Halmark movie. But now that I've read the book I like the movie even less. There was so much material here that the movie either ignored or changed. The brothers were changed completely, they could have had their own movies. But enough about a sad movie adaptation. Read this book and ...more

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Oct 18, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorites, amazing-secondary-characters, reviewed-by-me, authors-k, auto-buy-author, character-child-children-featured, animal-dog-in-story, season-winter, genre-romance-contemporary, genre-magical-realism

★★★★★ I've read this mulitple times; just had to listen to the audio. No suprise - it's great too! What follows is the same review I did of the hardcopy.

Magical Realism or Not?

Yes, I do think Kleypas 'blew a kiss toward' magical realism in Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor in the first toy store scene (an enchanted place for everyone) (view spoiler) ...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Rane rated it really liked it

Shelves: old-school-modern-contemporary

With any Lisa Kleypas book, I know am going to be in for an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. With Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor, I didn’t feel the great dynamic story that LK is know for, bur this was a sweet, oh so googey Christmas story.

That was very simple in it’s message if not a tad short on the building of relationship between Mark Nolan and Maggie Conroy. Both have hard their hard knocks in life, with losses that have affected how they interact with others, and how they keep everyone ...more

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Jan 01, 2011 Annie (Under the Covers Book Blog) rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Contemporary romance fans, LK fans

Shelves: author-lisa-kleypas, drinks-on-me, king-of-the-harem, favorites, genre-contemporary-romance, ebooks, first-book-in-series, my-hottie-harem, books-i-go-rabid-over, read-in-2011

There is a reason why Lisa Kleypas is a New York Times Bestseller. For those of you who read historical romances, I’m sure you are aware of Kleypas’s amazing Wallflowers and Hathaways series. Kleypas is simply the queen when it comes to historical romance. Her cunning wit and endearing characters jump out of the pages and settles in your heart where you find yourself scouring her backlist to get that feeling back!

I will admit, I was terrified to read her contemporary novels just because I didn There is a reason why Lisa Kleypas is a New York Times Bestseller. For those of you who read historical romances, I’m sure you are aware of Kleypas’s amazing Wallflowers and Hathaways series. Kleypas is simply the queen when it comes to historical romance. Her cunning wit and endearing characters jump out of the pages and settles in your heart where you find yourself scouring her backlist to get that feeling back!

I will admit, I was terrified to read her contemporary novels just because I didn’t think they would live up to her beloved historicals. Contemporary romance isn’t a genre that I read often and so there isn’t much for me to compare this to, but nevertheless, this book charmed me to my toes!

Mark Nolan lost his sister in a car crash and was thrust into the world of parenting without warning. Handling six-year-old Holly was the last thing on his to-do list. As if cooking and cleaning wasn’t enough, little Holly chose not to say a single word to anyone, scaring Mark to the point where he questioned if she would ever speak again.

Kleypas has a way of making me love all her characters. Mark was SUCH a great guy! He was charming and funny. He was persistent, but never overbearing. And even as his other relationship crumbled, he was still optimistic about that failed relationship, never regretting any of the events. Mark Nolan was just an all-around good guy, the kind that made this book so easy to love.

Maggie is such a sweetheart. Being a widow for two years has stripped some of her hope from her life. But there was still a spark inside her that Mark saw and the two of them had unbelievable chemistry! And although there’s not a lot of steamy sex in this one, their conversations are just as passionate. I especially loved the conversation about coffee. So unbelievably cute!

Then there is Mark’s younger brothers, Sam and Alex who need to have their own books! Sam had the best sense of humour and Alex was already showing some growth as a character.

Holly, of course, was the light of this book, overcoming a personal barrier that had nothing to do with her selective mutism. In the beginning, she asked Santa for a mother, one that wouldn’t replace Victoria. But another one that could guide her through life and I thought Maggie fit that role from their very first encounter with one another.

Christmas Eve at Friday Habor was a book that warmed my heart. I loved it, and if you’re wondering if Kleypas’s contemps are worth the read...THEY ARE! Everything that I loved about her historicals was in this book. It was perfect!

http://underthecoversbookblog.blogspo... ...more

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May 03, 2020 Karen rated it really liked it

4 STARS

Dear Santa
I want just one thing this year
A mom
Please dont forget I live in friday harbor now.
thank you
love
Holly

Well, you would almost be considered as heartless as the Grinch, if you didn't like this one. It was short and sweet, with lots of tugs on your heartstrings. I liked Maggie, but I will admit that she got a wee bit annoying there near the end, stuck on the "I can never love again" mantra. *rolls eyes* Lucky for her, Mark was a tolerant and patient man. I wasn't so sure abo ...more

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Dec 11, 2010 MelissaB rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010-reads, paper-books-i-own, contemporary-romance, christmas-romance, sweet-warm-fuzzy-romances

*** 4 1/2 stars ***

Super cute wonderful Christmas story but it needed to be longer, the ending felt rushed. The characters were very likable and well drawn. I am glad LK will be writing third person contemporary stories now, she does a great job with it.

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Dec 27, 2010 Ronyell rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult-book, sexy-bad-boy-hero, strong-hero, strong-heroine, christmas-books, my-blog-reviews, lisa-kleypas, contemporary-romance, sexy-good-girl-heroine

Whenever I was reading some of Lisa Kleypas’ works, I was always reading her historical romance novels. Well, I just stumbled upon not only her most recent novel to date, but the first contemporary romance novel I have read from her and it is called “Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor.” Be prepared to see Lisa Kleypas’ romantic world contemporary style!

One night, a six year old girl named Holly lost her mother, Victoria, in a car accident and ever since the accident, Holly has never spoken a word to Whenever I was reading some of Lisa Kleypas’ works, I was always reading her historical romance novels. Well, I just stumbled upon not only her most recent novel to date, but the first contemporary romance novel I have read from her and it is called “Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor.” Be prepared to see Lisa Kleypas’ romantic world contemporary style!

One night, a six year old girl named Holly lost her mother, Victoria, in a car accident and ever since the accident, Holly has never spoken a word to anyone. Because Victoria is not around to take care of Holly anymore, Holly is sent to live with her handsome yet shy Uncle Mark Nolan, who has no idea how to take care of Holly. However, Mark soon starts to bond with Holly and tries his best to take good care of Holly. Later on however, Mark meets a beautiful and optimistic woman named Maggie Conroy, who had recently lost her husband to cancer a year ago and she and Holly seem to take a liking to each other. Is this the beginning of a new friendship between Mark and Maggie or will this relationship sprout into love?

This book was more like those cute little Christmas specials you see on television than an actual romance story since it is more focused on the characters’ background stories about their past lives rather than the romantic aspect of the story, which makes this one unique contemporary romance novel. This is not your typical romance novel as it focuses more on the trials of having an adopted family and trying to feel loved again, which I thought that Lisa Kleypas had pulled it off extremely well. What I really loved about Lisa Kleypas’ writing was that she was able to show the audience Holly’s reaction to her mother’s death as she did not speak to anyone and that part of the story was extremely powerful and moving to me since I cannot imagine what the death of a parent can do to a child. I found myself growing attach to Holly as a character since she is such a sweet little girl who went through so much after her mother died and I always sympathized with her situation since I would have felt the same way that Holly did when her mother died, but every time I see Holly’s happiness towards the middle of the book, my heart just melts for her! Now let us move onto the hot couple of the story! Oh my goodness, the best part of this story was Mark Nolan himself as not only does he have one muscular and hot body (which I love) but he has a very sweet and passionate personality that makes him one awesome character. Even though Mark had no experience with taking care of children, he truly cares for Holly and would do anything for her. Another character I really loved was Maggie as she was just as sweet as Mark is and because she also lost someone dear to her which was her husband, her loving relationship with Holly was heartwarming and believable that I just loved every minute that Maggie spent with Holly. From the beginning of the book, Mark and Maggie were meant to be together and what I really loved about their relationship was the fact that they just casually told each other their problems in their lives without feeling uncomfortable near each other.

The reason why I gave this book a four star rating instead of a five star rating is because while Mark and Maggie have great chemistry together, I wanted to see more intimate moments between those two so that this book would be more interesting in the romantic aspect of the story.

All in all, “Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor” is like a romance fan’s dream come true whenever they want to read romance novels during the holidays and I am definitely looking forward to reading Sam and Alex’s side of the story in the next books of the Friday Harbor series! Anyone looking for a good contemporary romance novel check this book out!

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
...more

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Sep 10, 2010 Beanbag Love rated it liked it · review of another edition

This story reminded me so much of the romance shorts I used to read in my mom's Woman's Day magazines. Totally insubstantial and forgettable.

It starts with a big, emotionally engaging event. Mark Nolan's sister, Victoria, is killed in a car accident. She leaves a young daughter, Holly, who is traumatized by the loss of her mother and refuses to speak from that moment on. It's a strong beginning but the rest just doesn't live up to it.

Mark meets Maggie when he goes into her toy store with Holly. This story reminded me so much of the romance shorts I used to read in my mom's Woman's Day magazines. Totally insubstantial and forgettable.

It starts with a big, emotionally engaging event. Mark Nolan's sister, Victoria, is killed in a car accident. She leaves a young daughter, Holly, who is traumatized by the loss of her mother and refuses to speak from that moment on. It's a strong beginning but the rest just doesn't live up to it.

Mark meets Maggie when he goes into her toy store with Holly. Now, San Juan Island is very small so he would have known her personally if she hadn't just moved there. But she's new and pretty and sparks his interest when she connects with Holly right away.

Maggie and Mark have great chemistry and, realistically, they should start dating immediately. Unfortunately Kleypas throws some false obstacles into their path and that's the meat of the story. They're not huge obstacles, nothing life-threatening, mostly just typical. One of them is actually a major cliche in the falling-in-love-again genre. The story is so short, though, they're just sort of glossed over and we get to the end -- exactly like the romances in women's magazines.

And Holly. Adorable kid! So sweet. So wonderful! Understanding on a higher level. How does she act out? By not talking while continuing to be sweet and biddable. If only. Extremely unrealistic kid characterization. It makes the adult characters' job extremely easy and Holly nothing more than a device to get the leads together.

I'm sorry to give Lisa Kleypas a negative review. This is really a 2.5 star read. If you can wait, just get it at the library as Kleypas's publisher is -- as usual -- demanding ridiculous prices for it's HC and e-book editions.

Maybe the next one in the series will be better. Mark's brothers are introduced in this book and they seem interesting, but I think I'll wait and get the next book from the library. I don't recommend spending your hard earned dollars on this until it's on the super-slashed pricing rack. :( ...more

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Feb 14, 2020 Mo rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Nice introduction to the folks of Friday Harbor. Sexy hero, sweet girl, smart, beautiful heroine.

I love the Historicals that Ms Kleypas writes but I am enjoying this contemporary series too - onto book 2 already.

...more

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Dec 29, 2017 Sharon rated it it was ok

I feel kinda duped. This was my first contemporary read by Lisa Kleypas, and it was so dull – I was shocked! A lot of this book felt like it was just flash-forwarding many scenes. I wanted time to see a character really interact in a scene. By the time I reached 60%, I was confused feeling like barely anything happened – character-development-wise AND plot-wise. If the scenes at 60% were at 30% instead, and the author added more good, vivid scenes to show how the characters have grown, and how t ...more

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Sep 22, 2010 Crista rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-star, contemporary, tear-jerkers, series, holiday

Reread on 11/25/12. Better the second time!!

Lisa Kleypas is in a league of her own, and while I don't think that Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor is by any means her best work, it's definitely great. Kleypas has such a unique voice and has a true talent for creating chemistry between her leads. This book is no exception to that rule.

This is a true "making of a family" type of story. It centers around the Nolan family. Victoria Nolan is killed in a car accident leaving behind her sweet 6 year old ...more

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Sep 15, 2011 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

One rain-slicked night, six-year-old Holly lost the only parent she knew, her beloved mother, Victoria. And since that night, she has never again spoken a word. The last thing Mark Nolan needs is a six-year-old girl in his life. But he soon realizes that he will do everything he can to make her life whole again. His sister’s will gives him the instructions: There’s no other choice but you. Just start by loving her. The rest will follow. Maggie Collins doesn’t dare believe in love again, after lo ...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Susan Mallery rated it it was amazing

I adored this book! At 211 pages, it's a quick read, but no less emotional for the short length. A wonderful story that put me in the holiday spirit!

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Apr 07, 2010 Ally72 rated it it was amazing

Shelves: christmas-romances, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Well, I am not sure where to begin with writing about this book. I do know I read it way too fast and wanted more of Mark and Maggie's story by the time it was over. Ms. Kleypas is always good to her readers so I am very confident I will be reading about them again in future books.

Honestly, I usually do not choose stories that feature children prominently in them. I have found that authors sometimes do not have the children act (or talk) age appropriately and it just turns me off (I know I am p Well, I am not sure where to begin with writing about this book. I do know I read it way too fast and wanted more of Mark and Maggie's story by the time it was over. Ms. Kleypas is always good to her readers so I am very confident I will be reading about them again in future books.

Honestly, I usually do not choose stories that feature children prominently in them. I have found that authors sometimes do not have the children act (or talk) age appropriately and it just turns me off (I know I am probably in the minority with that opinion, but it is just the way I sometimes feel). Of course, I should have known Ms. Kleypas would work her literary magic and make Holly instantly endearing. I loved that she was not loud or demanding, but sweet and sensitive.

The family dynamics with the Nolan brothers left me with more questions than answers, but I know I will understand more as future books are released. I instantly liked Mark and how he immediately took his responsibility to Holly seriously. It was obvious that Holly bonded with her Uncle Mark and Uncle Sam and I loved seeing that develop between them. The third brother, Alex, is still a mystery and I am actually looking forward to reading his story next. Although, I think it will be Sam's book that will be released, but I have to check to make sure.

By the time I had finished reading the second chapter, I had instantly loved Maggie. She had already been through a lot by the time she was twenty-eight years old, but still remained a hopeful person. I cannot think of anyone that would have been better suited to help guide Holly as she gets older. She will support Mark and provide the extra hugs and kisses that her Mom would have given her. Ms. Kleypas once again perfectly matched two very different characters. Where does she think of all of these ideas?

I have read reviews from some readers who were disappointed that this story was not as steamy as Ms. Kleypas' other books, but it did not bother me. I also know she has said in interviews that she is not changing the way she is writing and that her future books will be a little steamier. I do not know if this book would have worked as well if she had written it any other way and I am glad she chose this way. "Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor" was the perfect book to read on a cold and dreary day and I am so sad I am finished. My only regrets are I wish it would have been longer and I did have to wait so long for the next book. Oh...and I want to visit the San Juan Islands now!!! ...more

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Jun 08, 2010 valee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: cont-romance

This was such a cute story. I loved it. There was NOTHING wrong with it at all. I definitely enjoyed every second of it, it was simply perfect. I would have given 5 stars to it if it wasn't because it was too ~~damn~~ short and I am dying to get more. Also a short novella will never be as good as a whole long book.

In this first installment of this new series we have two single bachelors who must confront the death of their sister and the adoption of her little girl. Marc and Sam, the Nolan brothers ...more

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Dec 04, 2010 willaful rated it liked it

Recommends it for: foodies

Shelves: story-novella-or-anthology, he-s-just-not-that-into-you

I remember seeing a lot of "meh" reviews of this; I liked it more than that but did find it somewhat... passionless for a romance. I thought it ironic that the hero Mark broke up with a women because he never had any conflicts with her and then went into another similar relationship, based more on compatibility than sparks. This line kind of summed up my dissatisfaction:

"As Mark walked outside with Maggie, he was filled with desire and liking and sympathy, all bound up with a thread of frustrati ...more

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Oct 14, 2015 Elle's Book Blog rated it it was amazing

Shelves: holidays, romance, series-standalones

:: 5 Magical Stars ::

Christmas with Holly is a sweet and refreshing holiday novella. Kleypas shows her readers that love can blossom in the most unexpected and magical ways even when we have lost faith. I was utterly charmed by this book from page 1 all the way until the end and I look forward to reading more books by Kleypas in the future.

** Don't forget, this book was made into a movie called CHRISTMAS WITH HOLLY and it is featured on the Hallmark channel. I have seen it and enjoyed it! **

Re ...more

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Nov 29, 2010 Ridley rated it liked it

Shelves: paper, contemporary, first-reads, 3-star, read-2011, novella-short-story-anthology

While I didn't really enjoy reading this book I received via First Reads, it wasn't a bad book. Nothing about it made me want to walk away from it, but neither did anything really beg for me to continue. Reading through to the end just seemed the easiest thing to do.

Small business owner Mark Nolan has just had his life hit a giant bump in the road. Not only has his sister just died unexpectedly in a car accident, but he's also been named as the guardian of his six year-old niece, Holly. Since ra While I didn't really enjoy reading this book I received via First Reads, it wasn't a bad book. Nothing about it made me want to walk away from it, but neither did anything really beg for me to continue. Reading through to the end just seemed the easiest thing to do.

Small business owner Mark Nolan has just had his life hit a giant bump in the road. Not only has his sister just died unexpectedly in a car accident, but he's also been named as the guardian of his six year-old niece, Holly. Since raising a little girl in a one-bedroom condo isn't possible, he's also moved in with his brother in a large fixer-upper Victorian on a vineyard. To top it all off, Holly has stopped speaking to anyone in the wake of her mother's death. Clearly, Mark has his hands full.

Maggie Conroy is a fellow business owner in their small island community off the coast of Seattle. Unlike Mark, she didn't grow up there, having just moved in a few months ago to open a toy store. She's decided to move somewhere new and start fresh after her husband's death from cancer just a few years ago. Very much Mark's opposite in many ways - as whimsical as he is realistic, from a large, close family as opposed to his smaller, acrimonious one - he's completely captivated by her and her ability to coax Holly out of her silent shell. Maggie herself is drawn to Mark's quiet calm and good looks, though she declares him off-limits since he's involved with someone else and she's unwilling to risk her heart so soon after her husband's death.

All of this is a really great set-up for a book. Clearly you can see how straitlaced Mark, wary of marriage and commitment after living through his parents' contentious relationship, would be attracted to the fanciful toy store owner from a big, happy family. It makes sense that younger sibling Maggie would find herself drawn to the quiet, serious and responsible older brother in Mark. What Kleypas failed to do, however, is to take these excellent character sketches and wonderful plot concept and make it come alive as a story.

Instead, the characters and action feel a bit lost in the storytelling. I think a big part of the reason for this lies with the book's length. Kleypas generally writes full-length novels and it felt like she just couldn't adjust the pacing to the shorter length. As if she felt she needed to cram in a 90k word novel's worth of background and scenery in a short space, parts of the novel read like a tourist brochure.

Growing up in the Edgemoor neighborhood of Bellingham, Maggie and her brothers and sisters had explored the trails of Chuckanut Mountain and played along the shores of Bellingham Bay. The quiet neighborhood offered views of both the San Juans and the Canadian mountains. It was also situated next to Fairhaven, where you could browse through unique shops and galleries, or eat at restaurants where the waiters could always tell you about the freshest catch and where it had been bought from.

She names every shop, restaurant and geographical feature the characters come across, no matter how inconsequential to the story it may be. When the characters mention going to the house Mark lives in, either in speech or pov prose, she always spells it out as Rainshadow Vineyard, never simply "home," "the house," "Mark's home," etc. It felt so much like brand marketing that the setting never felt immersive to me.

Then, for all the time she spends on the niggling details of the environment, the romance felt rushed. Some of their encounters felt natural - his visiting her store, their riding the ferry at the same time coincidentally - but as we got closer to the end of the book, they felt more and more contrived. I did a major headshake when, after meeting her once during trick-or-treating with Holly, Mark's brother calls Maggie to help him with a feverish, puking Holly when Mark was away. I know people think Bostonians are cold, but this is calling on a mere acquaintance for something most people would be reluctant to ask an old friend to do. After this, Mark and Maggie go from subtle flirtation and unacknowledged attraction to engagement in less than two months. They go from first sexual encounter, still with Maggie's insistence that it be casual and not a committed relationship, to engaged in just a few days. Their HEA totally was a "Holy shit! I'm at the end of my word count!" sort of thing.

Since my review is almost as long as the book at this point, I'll stuff a sock in it. To sum up, good idea with weak execution. Not bad, but far from her best. ...more

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Apr 24, 2020 ♥Sharon♥ rated it really liked it

This was such a sweet story. I just love Lisa Kleypas! She always delivers great characters and wonderful stories.

❤'d Holly

❤'d Mark

❤'d Maggie

I even ❤'d the homely bulldog Renfield. :)

On to book #2! ...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, genre-romance-contemporary, re-read-for-comfort, genre-magical-realism, animal-dog-in-story, sweet-with-a-little-spice, amazing-secondary-characters, character-child-children-featured, auto-buy-author, trying-to-be-just-friends

Magical Realism or Not?

Yes, I do think Kleypas 'blew a kiss toward' magical realism in Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor in the first toy store scene (an enchanted place for everyone) (view spoiler) ...more

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Jul 17, 2014 Bonnie rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, romance-contemporary, wintery-christmasy

When six-year-old Holly’s mother dies in a car accident, her Uncle Mark is named her guardian. Holly is devastated and hasn’t spoken in the six months that she’s lived with him. To top it off, Mark just found Holly’s letter to Santa where she was asking for a new mommy. Wandering the local shops in town, the two go into a toy store where the store owner Maggie gets Holly to finally come out of the shell she’s created around herself which sets in motion an attraction between Mark and Maggie.

The s ...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Ian rated it liked it

I really liked this book a lot. It won't make any greatest books of all time lists, I seriously doubt it will even make a "Best Books of 2010" list, but it's light and fluffy, easy reading. I don't read to be challenged, I read to relax and this book definitely fits the bill for me.

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Sep 13, 2010 Mollie *scoutrmom* rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: fans of contemporary romance

Shelves: read-in-2010, romance, read-in-2011, first-reads, read-in-2013

This is a great love story with characters who are both well and deeply drawn. It feels as if the end of the story would only be chapter seven in a full-length novel. The dog alone is worth reading about.

There is not much of a plot in that the story depends on character growth rather than action. The theme here seems to be healing from emotional trauma.

The setting is lovely, I really liked the description of the holiday event where all the boats parade with lights, as the beautiful cover depict ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Play Book Tag: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor / Lisa Kleypas - 3***	1	8	Oct 10, 2017 02:01PM
A Million More Pages: Romance BR - Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor - Dec 1	42	25	Dec 08, 2015 08:07AM
We Love Lisa Kleypas: Christmas at Friday Harbor (Friday Harbor #1)	26	64	Nov 26, 2013 06:42PM
Goodreads Librari...: 0312605870	3	49	Sep 11, 2013 12:19PM
We Love Lisa Kleypas: Christmas With Holly (Movie Version of Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor	87	150	Jan 05, 2013 09:54AM

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About Lisa Kleypas

Lisa Kleypas

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LISA KLEYPAS is the RITA award-winning author of 21 novels. Her books are published in fourteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.