Close to You in Christian rom coms and romances

May 09, 2017 Rissi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review, most-anticipated, 2016

Close to You by Kara Isaac – An Intelligent Contemporary Romance Set in New Zealand | Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Nothing has gone quite as she always imagined it might.

Allison Shire is living a life she never expected. Instead of using her prestigious education as a scholar, she is instead squiring around clients as a Tolkien tour guide. Her life fell apart following a disastrous relationship, and the ensuing fallout with her family.

Jackson Gregory has his own troubles. One of which being the fact th Close to You by Kara Isaac – An Intelligent Contemporary Romance Set in New Zealand | Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Nothing has gone quite as she always imagined it might.

Allison Shire is living a life she never expected. Instead of using her prestigious education as a scholar, she is instead squiring around clients as a Tolkien tour guide. Her life fell apart following a disastrous relationship, and the ensuing fallout with her family.

Jackson Gregory has his own troubles. One of which being the fact that he emphatically does not want to be a part of this Tolkien tour. But in order to realize his aspirations in the business world, taking the tour to appease the one man whose opinion matters is a must.

Two hearts, two different stories. Will Allison and Jackson find a way to overcome these obstacles – and what happens when feelings of a different kind spark between them?

"...you undo me. When I'm around you, I forget about everything else. And it scares me more than anything ever has.” - Kara Isaac

As this is one of those books that has been on my shelf for an embarrassingly lengthy timeframe, my expectation of it was neutral by the time I read it. Lest this come across as something I don’t mean to imply, let me further expand on what I mean by this. When a novel releases, there is always a certain anticipatory attachment to it. Most of the time I try to stay away from the fray and not read others reviews (unless I’ve already reviewed the book) so as to remain impartial while I read and review the book. With this novel, because so much time elapsed, I had distanced myself from those reviews.

I knew many of my friends loved this book, but the basic facts were all I knew.

Fortunately for me, this was a grand thing going into this novel. The story is an elegant canvas of copasetic and conflicting emotions. Before I delve into more about this, I will say one thing as a drawback. And coining it as a “drawback” isn’t even fair since this is more a personal preference than flaw. The fact that the entire book is centered on The Lord of the Rings is lost on me. I know Tolkien is considered one of the literature greats, but his books is not a part of my comfort zone. That said, in the overall picture of the story, this didn’t damper my affection for these characters.

Allison is a wounded, complex being who I enjoyed getting to know. She kept a lot inside her, and doesn’t play well with people trying to force their agenda on her. For a period of time, this is Jackson. Jackson forces her to drop her guard, and in turn she gets under his skin. No easy feat considering he too has buried emotional scars. Together, they’re a perfect foil to each other’s pain, sorrow and long-buried pasts.

Though the characters are endearing like none other (the romance, and the “fighting” look beyond mere “swoons”), perhaps what I appreciated most about this book is its intellect. This is about the relationships, and a romance, yes, but it’s also so much more than this. Close to You digs deeper than the normal additives. It’s about reconciling with your past. It’s about surrendering to the point of being vulnerable, and it’s about the lessons we learn from these emotions.

This is a whimsical delight of an adventure. The setting (hooray for a non-US-small-town setting!) is exciting, and the concept unique. In a word, Isaac’s debut is breathtaking. ♥ ...more

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Apr 27, 2016 Natalie Walters rated it it was amazing

Oh, my, word. Love. Love. Love this story. As I write this review I have another tab opened up on my computer searching for the first flight I can find to New Zealand. Close to You is Ms. Isaac's debut novel and probably the first novel in its genre that I am head-over-heels in love with (And yes. It's perfectly acceptable to fall in love with books!).

Ms. Isaac introduces us to an incredible cast of characters who literally charmed their way into my heart the minute I started reading their story ...more

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May 09, 2016 Jessica Kate rated it really liked it

Shelves: best-of-christian-romance

Loved it! Funny, sweet, and with a setting so unique I was intrigued from start to finish! Made me want to watch Lord of the Rings again, loved learning tidbits about the movies. :)

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Oct 30, 2015 Iola rated it it was amazing

To the best of my knowledge, Close to You by Kara Isaac is the first novel from a New Zealand author contracted and published by a major US Christian publisher. That alone is worth five stars, at least from this parochial Kiwi reader. Those of you who can’t see the appeal of a romance novel set in the Land of the Long White Cloud (and the land of hobbits) should leave now and go back to … I don’t know. What do people who don’t like New Zealand or hobbits read? Do they read? Can they read?.

Anywa To the best of my knowledge, Close to You by Kara Isaac is the first novel from a New Zealand author contracted and published by a major US Christian publisher. That alone is worth five stars, at least from this parochial Kiwi reader. Those of you who can’t see the appeal of a romance novel set in the Land of the Long White Cloud (and the land of hobbits) should leave now and go back to … I don’t know. What do people who don’t like New Zealand or hobbits read? Do they read? Can they read?.

Anyway, on to the novel.

Allie is short of money, as her funds are currently tied up in a messy divorce. She’s working as a tour guide delivering high-class (i.e. seriously expensive) tours of New Zealand’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie locations, making good use of her PhD in English literature. Unfortunately, she now loathes all things Tolkien.

Jackson’s company has just gone bust, and he’s accompanying a long-lost—and rich—uncle on Allie’s Lord of the Rings tour in the hope he can persuade uncle to invest in his next business idea. Unfortunately, he knows nothing about Tolkien, hobbits or Lord of the Rings … despite telling his uncle he’s a die-hard fan.

Naturally, Allie and Jackson start off on the wrong foot and equally naturally (this is Christian romance!), things change as they start to get to know each other. Throw in a tour bus full of seriously eccentric characters, a wily uncle and a weasly almost-ex-husband, and the stage is set for fun and romance.

I loved all the Kiwi touches, from the nail-biting approach to Wellington Airport to the lush greenery of the Waikato, the “scents” of Rotorua, the majesty of Queenstown, and the Tolkien tourist mecca of Hobbiton (which is even better in real life). The writing was good, with a good dose of humour (people actually speak Elvish?) and a subtle underlying Christian theme.

Recommended for fans of Carla Laureano and Susan May Warren. And New Zealand, and Tolkien. So that should cover pretty much everyone.

Thanks to Howard Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. ...more

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Apr 26, 2016 Laurie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favs

This stunning debut fuses moments of laugh-out-loud humor with poignant plotlines set in the unique New Zealand backdrop of the Lord of the Rings movie set. I would recommend this book, not only to those who love all things Middle Earth but to anyone who loves a heartwarming love story and characters so fun and real that you can't help but root for them! ...more

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Nov 03, 2015 Jaime Jo Wright rated it it was amazing

Witty, intelligent and so very unique. I don't read a lot of contemporary romance because I feel, outside of the romance, there isn't a lot of plot. Kara Isaac brings tension and humor and a good story, not just a romance. The romance is clean but swoonworthy. I really enjoyed the tension between the hero and heroine and the unique setting of New Zealand. Whether you love Lord of the Rings or not, you'll LOVE it through the eyes of Allie and Jackson, because in the end, it's not at all about a h ...more

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May 01, 2016 Janie Winsell rated it it was amazing

Close To You by Kara Isaac is a Contemporary Christian Romance with Comedic relief throughout. It is Mrs. Isaac’s debut novel, and she does not disappoint.

Set in New Zealand, this story weaves amazing scenery with a delightful group of interesting characters. Although I have never been to New Zealand, Mrs. Isaac’s imagery of the country makes me want to grab my passport and pack a bag to go and explore this amazing place.

Allison Shire is a tour guide trying to get a divorce from her lying, che ...more

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Feb 20, 2017 Janet Ferguson rated it it was amazing

Shelves: adult, fiction

Delightful story and I loved the Lord of the Rings references!

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Nov 22, 2017 Karen Collier added it

Fans of romantic comedies will love this debut novel. Such a fun read! Its situational comedy, quirky supporting characters, and witty banter had me grinning and chuckling, even as I got to know and empathize with the lead characters in their struggles and disappointments.

The unique backdrop of a Lord of the Rings themed tour in New Zealand sets this book apart from the start, and makes it quite memorable. There are some fabulous descriptions and details throughout the book, the kind that make m ...more

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Apr 07, 2016 Winnie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: default

I was so excited to read Kara Isaac's debut novel, Close to You, and I was definitely not disappointed!. The cover and story description were very intriguing, and who can resist a novel set in New Zealand? I must admit, I'm about as familiar with Tolkien's works as Jackson was, but the story was so well-written that it didn't matter that I'm Lord of the Rings and Hobbit challenged. If I hadn't known, I would never have guessed it's a debut novel, because it is so creative and engaging. It is als ...more

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Apr 16, 2016 Heidi rated it really liked it

Equal parts funny and poignant, I thoroughly enjoyed Close to You. The heroine of the novel was fantastic! So fun to root for and yet her missteps were plausible, well-timed and kept the pages turning. From the witty dialogue to the diverse and intriguing cast of characters and clever plot, this debut novel is a delightful read. I look forward to more from this talented author.

Thank you Net Galley and Howard Books for a complimentary ARC.

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