Author: Cassie Rocca
Publisher: Aria
Publication Date: October 2016
Genre: Chick-Lit / Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN
Description: Giving a present is not always easy. Clover O’Brian knows that only too well: her job consists of helping people in the arduous task of choosing unusual gifts. Christmas is coming, New York is buzzing, and Clover, who has always loved the festive period, savors the atmosphere.
Cade Harrison already has everything in life. A Hollywood actor, he is handsome, rich, famous and popular. Success, however, has its downsides; having just emerged from a disastrous relationship with an actress, he feels a need to hide away in an area unfrequented by stars, in a house lent to him by a friend, far from prying eyes – especially those of tabloid reporters. But as chance will have it, the house in question is right opposite the one occupied by Clover, who until now has seen Hollywood actors only on the big screen. Two quite different lives meet by chance, at the most exhilarating time of year…
My Thoughts: Christmas in New York is one of my bucket list items. Watching the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center, ice-skating (OK, watching the ice-skaters), horse-drawn carriage ride through Central Park, hot-chocolate at Serendipity all bring an atmosphere of Christmas joy to my mind and in this story, I got to tag along with Clover and Cade and experience it through their eyes. Not all of these things happen in this story, but these are the things I would love to do in New York at Christmas.
I liked Clover and Cade, but it was little off-putting for me at first how abrasive she comes across when she meets Cade for the first time. She struck me as a little rude and obnoxious at first, but I soon chalked it up to her trying to keep things light. After meeting her family, I understood why she keeps many people at arm’s length. Cade is very guarded and suspicious of people, being a Hollywood superstar and with good reason. Hiding out on Long Island for Christmas sounds like the perfect escape from the Hollywood gossip rags and the bad breakup he left there.
Clover and Cade couldn’t be more opposite in everything; in fact their lives, likes and dislikes are polar opposites from one another. I really didn’t see how they would find their way to one another; much less create enough chemistry to fill a story. Cassie Rocca does a good job of revealing not only both characters in all of their vulnerability, but using their insecurities to break down the walls they each have built around themselves. I enjoyed watching this couple learn to trust each other and let their guard down.
My Final Verdict: A good choice for readers who enjoy a cute story in New York at Christmas. It will make you want to go outside and make snow angels.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of A New York Love Story from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment