My Rating: ★★★★★
Publisher: Mirror Press
Release Date: December 7, 2018
Genre: Clean Romance
Hailey Walsh has always loved Christmas, and this year the holiday was supposed to be the most magical of all, spent with her large family and her fiancé in preparation for their wedding just two days after. Then Gage broke their engagement.
Now, instead of playing in the snow with her nieces and nephews, Hailey’s building a playground with children she’s never met before, spending her Christmas with strangers in Hawaii, on a service program she hopes will lift her spirits and help her begin to pick up the broken pieces of her life and heart.
Gage Stevens didn’t want to spend Christmas in Hawaii any more than he wanted to break his engagement, but sometimes fate has a way of slamming a guy against a wall and forcing him to tough decisions— for the good of others, be that his ex-fiancée or his mom. And while he’s certain that no ocean breeze or tropical wonderland can heal what’s wrong, one glimpse at a familiar head of red hair and Gage realizes fate may not be done with him yet.
Now, instead of playing in the snow with her nieces and nephews, Hailey’s building a playground with children she’s never met before, spending her Christmas with strangers in Hawaii, on a service program she hopes will lift her spirits and help her begin to pick up the broken pieces of her life and heart.
Gage Stevens didn’t want to spend Christmas in Hawaii any more than he wanted to break his engagement, but sometimes fate has a way of slamming a guy against a wall and forcing him to tough decisions— for the good of others, be that his ex-fiancée or his mom. And while he’s certain that no ocean breeze or tropical wonderland can heal what’s wrong, one glimpse at a familiar head of red hair and Gage realizes fate may not be done with him yet.
My Review ♥️
Hailey experiences a nightmare that those of us that have been engaged would not wish on their worst enemy: her fiancée abandons her a few weeks shy of their wedding. To make matters worse, the wedding had been set for December 27th due to Hailey's incredibly large family all being in town for the holidays. Because Hailey cannot face her family and deal with the holidays this year, she takes a trip to Hawaii, but this trip is not full of rest and relaxation as one would think she deserves. This is a special Hawaiian Holiday, a program where Hailey is on vacation with nine other individuals who are also struggling this holiday season for various reasons. Don't judge a book by its cover takes on a whole new meaning as Hailey finds out the reason each person is there, and is shocked when she discovers that one of the nine is her ex-fiancée, Gage.
Though incredibly predictable, this story tugs on your heart strings in a beautifully sentimental way. The manner in which the program is ran is different and refreshing, and you find yourself wishing you could be there, putting in hard work, and helping those hurting individuals make it through the holidays.
Though the writing style is simplistic, Michele Paige Holmes does a wonderful job of drawing the reader in. I loved the Hawaiian setting and though I have never been there myself, after reading Hawaiian Holiday I feel like I have set foot on those white, sandy beaches. You feel a connection with the characters, your emotions becoming intertwined with theirs. There were a few moments that were so poignant that I had to literally fight back tears. What these characters went through felt so real, and as you neared the end of the book you hoped against hope that they would each find their own happiness.
What I expected when I picked up Hawaiian Holiday was nothing like what I received from this book and that is a good thing. As a reader, I gleaned a few nuggets of wisdom for my own life, like the importance of thankfulness, and putting others ahead of ourselves. These are wonderful words of wisdom and this is a wonderful, and endearing story that is worth your time.
Get to Know Author Michele Paige Holmes
Michele Paige Holmes spent her childhood and youth in Arizona and northern California, often curled up with a good book instead of out enjoying the sunshine. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education and found it an excellent major in which to indulge her love of children’s literature.
She is the author of ten published romance novels, including contemporary series, Hearthfire Historicals, and the Forever After series. She is also the author of four novellas, three in the Timeless Romance Collection.
When not reading or writing romance, Michele is busy with her full time job as a wife, mother, and grandmother. She and her husband live in Utah with their five high maintenance children and a shitzu that resembles a teddy bear.
Connect with Michele Paige Holmes Online
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