4.5 Stars!

Really, never mind the missing person storyline interwoven into this nice novella and just simply concentrate on the love.

It’s been 6 months since Jake and Adrien reunited and though things have been great, there’s still insecurity and doubt and guilt especially on Jake’s part, and it floored me to see the depth of his feelings, feelings we didn’t get very much of from past books. Never fear, Adrien did not shirk at all in return, and I loved the dynamic between these two - intense, poignant, vulnerable, and oh so sexy.

Just wow. This definitely made the turmoil these two went through a lot less hard to bear. I’m a very happy reader. ( )

I have a bit of a soft spot for a good christmas novella, but this one made me quite happy. Great holiday vibes, it hit all the major notes of love and hope and family. Good all around, and a really nice ending to the series. ( )

This is, as many have said, a really good cap to this series. And, if there's more, it is a fine novella break from the novels. It's a great holiday story because it revolves around family, both related and chosen, and how compromise can work if the incentives are important enough. ( )

It’s a charming, almost, novella that fans of the Adrien English mystery series have been wanting to read for a very long time. It’s sort of a standalone story, but really, it isn’t....if that makes any sense:) The mystery has a great “missing person” plot, that works very well by itself... but the point of the novella is totally...Adrien and Jake. If you haven’t read the first 5 books and are into their emotional arc... go find those 5 books and read them... BEFORE you tackle this one...or you will miss most of the joy of watching them grasp the happy ending that neither expected to ever have. The last major entry in this story was the fifth book of the Adrien English mystery series, “The Dark Tide.” When we left the couple, major changes had occurred. Jake was out to the world...was divorcing his wife, who he never should have married in the first place...and had started his own business as a private investigator. Adrien has survived heart surgery...adopted a cat, or the cat adopted him...and for better or for worse, has accepted Jake back into his life. The novella, however, does not pick up from that point. We join them about six months later, after a Christmas trip to London with Adrien’s family. As they settle back into their rhythms at home, we see that life is good... but not perfect. They love each other deeply, but they occasionally overstep the other’s hard lines. Their vulnerabilities are exposed, and it leaves them open to defensive error. Still, watching them navigate around each other’s “soft spots” and handle their own weaknesses is a satisfying contrast to the secrecy, lies, and pain that defined their relationship in the past. Ultimately, I think the focus on their commitment as a couple, and their efforts to make the relationship thrive, explains why the timing...immediately after Christmas...worked so well. This holiday isn’t just a time for family, food, gifts, and good cheer; it can also be a time for cementing bonds. Even though there were some hot romantic scenes... the heartbeats of this story were the quiet moments where Adrien and Jake are not just together but are self-consciously focused on actually building a life. I really enjoyed it, but again, I’m a long-time fan of the series.... the characters.... and this wonderful author. I do so hope that Josh Lanyon will find it in her heart to extend this series and let us see more of Adrien and Jake as they build a life of love and happiness while still working together on the mystery part of the series that is always there. ( )

I see this book as a long overdue epilogue to the Adrien English series. I thought The Dark Tide was a perfect ending to the series, and this novel doesn't spoil that perfect ending - only adds more to it. ( )