Holiday Spice is the sixth book in The
Shaughnessy Brothers
series by Samantha Chase. Although the book is part of a
series, it can
easily be read as a stand-alone novel.
Darcy Shaughnessy adores her family. They are as close as
any family could be. She also adores Christmas and cherishes
every moment of it, from the preparation onwards.
Benjamin Tanner used to enjoy Christmas, but after losing
his parents just weeks before the event a few years ago he
hates it. How can he ever celebrate the occasion again when
his parents are in their graves, never able to enjoy the
season again? His brothers try to ease him past his grief,
but he only gets angry at them because in his mind they
aren't grieving enough. He loves his family, but the less he
sees them the easier it is for him.
Darcy meets Ben when she takes a job helping him to organize
and do the necessary writing in a book showing his fabulous
woodworking. There is an instant attraction between them,
but can it ever lead to anything when they are so very
different when it comes to their views on family and Christmas?
This story had me hooked from page one. I related so much to
Darcy. I adore Christmas so it was a pleasure to read how
much she
enjoyed the season. I could understand how Ben felt as well
and I was so sad for him. The way the author develops the
characters was very believable. There was no magic potion,
just honest -- heart-wrenching at times -- soul-searching on
both their parts. The romance as it develops was wonderful
to read, and I often had to laugh at how one minute they are
furious with each other, but the next, admitting, if only to
themselves, that they could easily fall into bed with the
one that at the time is so infuriating them. I don't read
many contemporary novels, but I am so glad that this is one
of the ones I chose to read. It was a real pleasure.
Darcy Shaughnessy has gotten used to her overbearing
brothers chasing away any man she wants to date. But a
chance meeting with a brooding — and deliciously handsome
—
artist is about to make this holiday season one to
remember.
There's only one thing Benjamin Tanner loves more than
his
woodcarving: solitude. Then he gets snowed in with Darcy
in
his cozy cabin in the woods, and their heated feelings
begin
to melt the icy barrier between them.
With Ben's need for privacy and Darcy's love of family
and
social life, will opposites still attract once the snow
clears and the holiday festivities come to an end?