Alaskan Holiday

My Rating: ★★★★

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Publisher: Random House - Ballantine

Release Date: October 2, 2018

Genre: Clean Holiday Romance

Before beginning her dream job as sous chef in one of Seattle’s hottest new restaurants, Josie Avery takes a summer position cooking at a lakeside lodge in the remote Alaskan town of Ponder. Josie falls for the rustic charms of the local community—including Jack Corcoran, the crotchety keeper of Ponder’s famed sourdough starter, and, in particular, the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a famed master sword-smith.

Josie and Palmer become close during the long Alaskan summer days, but Josie knows that, come fall, she’ll be returning to reality and the career she’s worked so hard for. Palmer, on the other hand, would like nothing better than to make Josie his wife and to keep her in Ponder. But Josie can’t imagine abandoning her mother back in the Emerald City and sacrificing her career to stay in this isolated town—not even for a man she’s quickly coming to love.

Fate has other plans. Josie misses the last boat out of town before winter sets in, stranding her in Ponder and putting her dream job at risk. As the holidays approach, Josie and Palmer must grapple with the complications that arise when dreams confront reality, and the Christmas magic that can happen when they put their faith in love.

My Review

I've never thought about those that actually brave the bitter cold and make Alaska their home. Though fictitious, Alaskan Holiday gives you a glimpse into what Alaskan life can be like for some, and while I enjoy reading about the circumstances of others, there is no way I could trade my southern sun for all that snow.

Palmer, the hunky Alaskan that cares for the simple things in life, has fallen for Josie, the career-focused Seattleite chef, that was only supposed to be in Ponder temporarily, but has extended her stay longer than expected due to extenuating circumstances. It is during this brief trip to Alaska that Palmer and Josie have developed a connection but, as is real life, it's complicated than that, and becomes even more so when Palmer asks Josie to marry him the night before she's supposed to head back to Seattle, where she has her dream job waiting.

What follows is a tug of war of emotions between Palmer and Josie that is utterly charming, making it hard for us as the reader to not fall in love ourselves! The snowy setting is vivid and bright, coming alive for the reader as a true beauty to behold, and renewing my craving to one day travel to both Alaska and Seattle.

Alaskan Holiday is a fun read, even though the holidays are over. The progression of the story is wonderful, the book being well written, and since I was able to read it while traveling during the holidays it made the story that much sweeter! You really do want to see these crazy kids figure out their prospective situations and find a way to be together. Shouldn't love always find a way??

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House-Ballantine through NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.