RING IN THE HOLIDAYS is Book 2 in Katie Lane's A Hunk for the Holidays series. The main story is the romance that evolves between Dr. Ellie Simpson and Matthew McPherson. The secondary storyline involves Matthew's sister Cassie and her husband James. Cassie and James were the focus of Book 1. Having now read both books, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have read both in order to enjoy RING IN THE HOLIDAYS. However, this secondary storyline might resonate a little more with anybody who read the previous book.

For me, RING IN THE HOLIDAYS is primarily about family dynamics and how they can influence who you are as well as how you look at sex and relationships. Ellie and Matthew come from two very different family environments. Matthew is part of the big and boisterous McPherson brood. Ellie had more of a dysfunctional background because of her father and his straying ways. Because of the destructive influence her father's lifestyle had on her family growing up, she has certain unconventional ideas about the importance of sex in a relationship. When she meets Matthew for the first time in Las Vegas, she is a thirty year old virgin. I like how virginal Ellie shocks and throws Matthew off his game.

One thing I really like about Ellie is that, in spite of her personal views on sex, she doesn't impose them on people who go to her for advice. She wrote a self-help book that basically says sex is not, and shouldn't be the most important thing in a relationship. A lot of people in the story have a skewed view of her because they misunderstand her intent. I like her interactions with Matthew's family. I think seeing them gives her a taste of the kind of family she didn't have.

RING IN THE HOLIDAYS is all at once extremely sexy, intense, and a compelling story. Sparks fly between Ellie and Matthew. The supporting characters contribute to both the drama and lighter moments. I look forward to reading other books by Katie Lane.