Tuesday 3 December 2013

Spotlight & Review: On the 12th Date of Christmas by Nikki Lynn Barrett

Blurb:

After being mugged, Robin Sorenson is left shaken and her spirit in humanity is broken. Worse, she's not sure how to deal with the new anxieties or who to confide in, since she's always preached to pick oneself up and move on. Yeah, she's been the go to girl when anyone's had problems. Christmas is coming, and her belief in magic and miracles has faded.

Then Jonas comes back.

Jonas Aimes made a mistake when he walked away from Robin a year earlier. A big one. He'd loved her, always had and still does, but his desire to please his aging and strict parents took precedence. Back from the overseas internship they'd struggled to get him in, he plans on winning Robin back. What he didn't count on was discovering the shell of the vivacious woman he'd loved.

Broken.

Remembering her love of Christmas, Jonas pulls the holiday heartstrings. What? All is fair and love and war, right?

Twelve days, Twelve Dates.

Robin is speechless when Jonas not only refuses to leave her alone, but dares her to accept his cheesy holiday-themed challenge. Twelve dates to give him a chance to prove that he loves her and is never leaving her again.

But in the season known for miracles, can Robin find the magic needed to open her heart and faith once more ... or will she forever wonder about the ghost of the Christmas past that could have been?


Review:
This book was a total surprise in the most fantabulous of ways. I was expecting a feel good romance which Nikki totally delivered on, but what i was not expecting was all the suspense and drama which had me unable to put the book down. This book is definitely more than just a feel good Christmas romance and I highly recommend it too anyone who loves a good page turner.

Overall i give this 5 out of 5

PS can i have my own Jonas he is so my new book boyfriend.

PPS is it wrong that i want Eric to fix himself up and try and win back Petra


Excerpt:


"You hit Eric's car?" Oh boy, no wonder Jonas sounded so frustrated. Eric wasn't going to let this go easily, especially since they'd seen him with another woman. No wonder Cheyenne and Jacob worried so much! No doubt he had to have made some sort of comment to one of them.
"Yeah. I swear I checked when I backed out! He really came out of nowhere." Jonas sounded defensive.
"Hey, I believe you," Robin said softly, hoping he'd calm down.
"Sorry. I'm just rattled I guess. He gives me the creeps and I never get that way about someone without good reason. I've met him twice and his vibes are never good. You're there alone with the kids? You have the door locked, right?"
"Yes Mom," she joked, but she knew he just had her best interest at heart. "Sorry. I know you're only looking out for me. Of course I locked the doors. Right after Cheyenne and Jacob left."
"That's good. Hey-"
They both were startled by a loud banging sound.
"What was that noise?" Jonas asked. Robin heard the alarm in his voice.
Her heart raced faster as she went to inspect. It sounded like someone was at the front door. "I'm not sure." The pounding got louder. She froze in the living room, the memories flooding back of a few months ago. The same sound, the same fear returned. Her hands shook and she dropped the phone. Still numb, she managed to pick it up and put it back to her ear. Jonas's voice on the other end kept repeating the same question.
"Robin? Talk to me! What's going on?" She heard him swear under his breath.
"I-" She choked on her words. "I think I'm having an anxiety attack. It reminds me of-"
"It's okay. I'm on my way. I'm not too far from you. Just stay as calm as possible and don't answer the door. Stay on the phone with me. I'll be there right away and then we'll call Cheyenne and Jacob. Just keep talking to me, okay? Do you know who's at the door?"
"No. I just- the pounding, the eerie feeling. It reminds me-" she stuttered. God, she was so cold all of a sudden. Words formed in her throat, but she couldn't get them out.
The knocking continued. Then yelling. Damn it, that sounded like Eric. "Jonas? I think it's Eric."
Then the knocking began at the window. The shades were drawn, the curtains closed, but he had to have seen the light.
"I know someone's in there! Don't ignore me!" He sounded pissed and slightly drunk. When would it ever end? Why did he have to keep hounding everyone? It wasn't like he had his son's best interest at heart. He had another child with Petra and he still had to come over here to stir up trouble. Stupid bastard!
"Damn it. Okay, I'm hurrying. Almost there, baby."
"Don't get into an accident, Jonas." She sat huddled on the floor. Her entire body tensed and she was shaking.
"When I get close, I'm going to hang up with you. You call Cheyenne or Jacob. Let them know what's going on and if I have to, I'll call the cops. I don't know what this guy is up to, but I can't imagine it being good."
Whatever Eric wanted, he must have decided to give up. That was very unlike him. The knocking stopped, then Robin heard the sound of an engine. Either Jonas had arrived, or Eric had left. "Did you pull up?" Her voice came out in a quiet squeak. Her leg muscles relaxed first, and she felt the tension leave her body just slightly.
"No, I'm not there yet. Turning down the street now. Oh crap! Someone just peeled out like an idiot. Whoa."
"I think he left. He gave up," Robin whispered. Why she felt the need to talk so quietly, she didn't know.
"I'm pulling up now. I don't see him. I bet that was him that left. I'm coming to the door. Let me in, please. I need to make sure you're okay, because you don't sound like it. If you want to call Cheyenne and Jacob still, we will, or I can stay with you until they come home."
Robin didn't want to ruin their evening, but she knew Cheyenne would freak if she tried to call and heard Robin's distress. She tried to make her legs work to get to the door, but they were weak and almost gave out on her. Fumbling with the lock and the handle, Robin forced her shaky hand to get the door open. Her mouth went dry and she nearly choked on air, but the sight of Jonas on the other side of the wrought iron door gave her a sense of peace. She unlocked that door as well and he immediately rushed in and reached for her. She collapsed in his embrace.

Buy Links:



On the 12th Date of Christmas is a standalone book, but there is another story that's connected, just by the same characters. The book that started it all. The Secret Santa Wishing Well tells the story of Jacob and Cheyenne, and Robin plays a big role in that story. 

Blurb: The magic of Christmas has been lost to Jacob Winston. At the suggestion of his ill sister, Jacob takes a job as a Secret Santa at the mall, hoping to restore his Christmas spirit. Even that doesn't seem to work, until a special little boy ambles up to make a very special wish...
Cheyenne Jensen is struggling to raise her two kids without the help of her ex-husband who refuses to acknowledge his daughter's existence and doesn't provide for the son he does. This Christmas is shaping up to be as heartbreaking as the last, until her son Ben's kind actions lead a stranger to them.
Ah, but it's Christmas time and the magic has begun.
When Jacob and Cheyenne meet, neither can deny their immediate attraction to one another. As situations arise that require they spend more time together, their feelings grow stronger and stronger.
With Christmas fast approaching, the pair learn what matters most in life. Now, if only they could ditch the ghost of Christmases past.
Maybe this holiday will bring some wishes come true- for everyone after all.

Links:


About the author:
Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She's an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade.
Website: www.nikkilynnbarrett.com
Follow me on Twitter: @Stormgoddess925



1 comment:

  1. Thanks for hosting a stop on my tour! :D Love your review :) I think many are crushin' on Jonas right now!

    ReplyDelete