A REVIEW OF "A GLORIUS CHRISTMAS" by Sara Arden

Blurb
 Madelyn Morrison is going home for Christmas to get an interview with America’s newest
sweetheart. Madelyn grew up with the hero, so she knows she’ll get the interview, but she has bigger
problems. The biggest stands six foot two inches and his name is Johnny Hart. He left her standing at
the altar. And there’s no part of the small town that doesn’t hold some memory of him and her broken
heart.
From the moment Johnny Hart met Madelyn, he knew she was too good for him. Then he fell hard, he fell fast, and for a moment he believed they could have everything. Until reality intruded...and he
behaved like a coward. Now fate has brought her back to Glory and given him a second chance. Dare
Johnny believe that the magic of the holidays could bring him the most special gift of all?

First of all I am late getting this review posted. As always life likes to throw craziness my way and distract me worse than Doug

Anyway, on with the review.

Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Instead of using stars or coffee cups etc. I am using trophies on my blog because.
     1. It's my blog and I like trophies
     2. If getting one trophy if good--how about multiple trophies?
SO my rating system is up to 5 trophies.  1 being ok and 5 being fan-freakin-tastic.

I give "A Glorious Christmas"...

Four trophies!!!!
Here is why.

I thoroughly enjoy those sweet romances and second chance stories. I also have a spot within the cold recesses of my heart where Christmas love stories make me go Awww. Perhaps it is because the holidays always fill me with nostalgia and oogy feelz. Or that my faith in humanity and hope is stronger then, but in any case, I've always enjoyed a nice cozy holiday love story.

The first thing I like is the character growth. These two, Madelyn and Johnny, have a second chance at love and thankfully enough time has passed for them to learn about life and themselves. Not only have they grown between the last (failed) attempt at HEA but they continue to grow and learn throughout the story. Some fairly important epiphanies occur, guiding them towards the lives they long for. Character growth is a definite "have-to" in any story but especially in a second chance plot. They both finally get some answers about what went wrong and both of them have to take a hard look within themselves in order to decide what is important and how to proceed.

Next is Madelyn Morrison. Now that she has returned home to Glory, she realizes how much she missed home. When she was younger, she couldn't wait to leave and try her hand at NY living but now that she has accomplished nearly everything she had dreamed of, she is considering moving back home. When she sees Johnny, the spark is still there and although she is still hurt by what he did, she also feels that she still belongs in his arms. While she is tough and smart, she also has learned that some things may be more important than her pride. Like love and forgiveness. But trusting him again may be harder than she expected.

Johnny Hart is definitely the epitome of manliness. Powerful, hard, chiseled and loves cars. He owns the local mechanic shop. When the reader is introduced to him under a lovely 67' muscle car and he comes out with work worn hands, I could almost smell the garage and the car wasn't the only thing purring. (I will admit to having an obsession with large, strong, working man hands. You know the kind. The strong hands that can lift up a curvy woman without breaking a sweat or can capture the hands above the head... But I digress)

Sigh...

 

 

Anywho--when Johnny was young. He messed up royally. He was young and naive and afraid and made a decision that would affect not only him but also Madelyn. Unfortunately, he thinks it was for her own good. Now after a few heated debates about making decisions for her and a few other heated moments--he's beginning to realize that maybe he chose wrong. And maybe his happiness resides in Madelyn.

The main characters a wonderfully written and so are the supporting characters. Madelyn's friend India is a hoot. I look forward to reading about her in future books. And Reed Hollingsworth is an arresting character that tweaks my interest as well. I love me a blue collar worker but I also loves me a tightly controlled, powerful, well-dressed aristocratic man who never looses his cool--until he meets that one character, that one woman that gets under his skin. I really hope that he gets his own story as well.

Everything in the story works together nicely to bring the story into vivid color. The scenery as well as the relatable people.
And the hope, love and trust theme plays nicely into the holiday spirit. It is just the book to read cuddled up by a cozy fire, drinking hot-cocoa (or coffee) and watching the lazy snowflakes play outside the window. It is stories like this the remind us what love is all about and why hope is important during the holidays and all year round.