Katherine first met her mom’s neighbor, Jared Randall, while on the roof trying to install the Christmas lights as her deceased father always had. Both her mother and her next door neighbor had called Jared and told him several reasons why he had to rescue her. Thus began an attraction which neither could explain nor eliminate. But Katherine had been there, done that—and still bore the scars of loving a womanizer. Jared’s past had prompted his feelings of no commitment.

Of course, that was before Paul returned and started blackmailing his ex-wife. This story has a complicated storyline. It is packed with intrigue, suspense, infidelity, and, again, blackmail. Ms. Judith Gilbert has written this complex plot with several twists and turns which just become more interesting the further I read. Her characters all have endearing qualities, but their flaws are not ignored. The minor characters exist as more than trivial parts to the book. They are all written so that it seems almost as if the reader was in the midst of all the turmoil and strife, as well as the love displayed toward family and close friends.

This tale included not one, but two, actual love interests. Katherine’s father had died 10 months prior and her mother had a “friend.” Thomas was not only her friend but her neighbor. Ms. Gilbert presented this close-knit neighborhood in an intricate way which allowed me to view it as if I actually lived there. She did a brilliant job of weaving this story in an amazing way which presented the entire plot in a fresh new, and exciting, manner. I really enjoyed reading this modern-day Christmas story. I highly recommend it.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Brenda Talley
January 7, 2008