Melissa Hill (1) (1974–)

*screams in find me a book that doesn't suck* Obviously Melissa Hill is a popular author of pastel-covered chick lit because she is somehow still writing on a regular basis, but this early attempt (note early and not debut) is atrocious! Hallmark movies should stay onscreen, because obviously trying to transform the time honoured tropes into literature does not work. And I know that because the only reason I wanted to read this mush - at a discount - is because Reese Witherspoon has recently turned the book into a film, which I hope is an improvement but can now never watch.

How do I hate this book, let me count the ways. Firstly, 400 pages is WAY too long. This is a short story in a woman's magazine at best. Hill stretches out her painful prose, full of unnecessary exposition - not only does she tell and not show, but supplies thought, feeling, motive and backstory for EVERY character - by drawing out and repeating scenes and dialogue until I started to wonder if she was writing for children. There are obvious Heroes and Villains, but even the good guys are obnoxious. Case in point being Ethan, the drippy single dad who spends $20,000 on an engagement ring - without consulting his intended fiancée, I might add - but then is too nice to figure out how to get his expensive gift back when there is a mix up with another little blue bag outside the store. He doesn't own up to his girlfriend that there's been a mistake when she opens a cheap charm bracelet instead, and when he tracks the wrongful recipient down, he can't bring himself to tell her boyfriend is a lying dick and he wants his ring back. And the dick boyfriend is all, 'You can't prove that you bought the ring' - really? Tiffany's don't keep records of ridiculously expensive items? They couldn't resolve this whole mess in ten minutes?

We're supposed to care for Ethan, I imagine, because he has big blue eyes and a strong jaw - no, really - and because he's a widowed father to an 'adorable' eight-turned-thirty year old daughter. Atticus Finch, however, he ain't. He literally admits to hunting down a mother figure for his child and doesn't actually love the woman he paid $20,000 for, but she's the villain in the end because - wait for it - she didn't want more children but was prepared to care for his daughter and then had an affair with his friend because she knew she could never compare to the Dead Wife. And the couple on the reverse end of the Tiffany's debacle are no better - Gary the opportunist ring thief is portrayed throughout as crass, chauvinistic, arrogant and dumb as a box of hair, while Rachel is stunningly beautiful, a talented baker and businesswoman and beloved by all - but also lacking in brain cells because she puts up with Gary. And after pages and pages and pages of the same conversation between different characters about the damn ring - she goes back to her lying, thieving, lazy boyfriend. This isn't even a spoiler because I guarantee that anybody who gets to the end of the book will have given up caring - I started skipping all the 'introspective' paragraphs and skim reading through the dialogue just to confirm that there was no need to read three quarters of the book. To summarise, which the author is clearly incapable of doing, 'he wanted the proposal to be something special, something romantic she would remember forever, rather than a long and confusing story about some stupid mix-up.'… (mehr)

My title is "Something From Tiffany's". (2022 reissue)
Cute story, but you really have to suspend disbelief that something like this would happen.
After losing his love Jane to cancer, Ethan Greene plans to propose to his girlfriend Vanessa while in NYC for Christmas, having purchased a 2-carat diamond ring from Tiffany's, with the help of his 8-year old daughter, Daisy. But on Christmas morning, she opens the iconic blue box to find a silver charm bracelet. Realizing there was a mix-up, he tries to find the missing ring, but will he find more than just the ring? Will the Tiffany magic lead him to find his true love?
Meanwhile, a man hit by a cab lies in a hospital while his girlfriend, Rachel, waits for him to recover. He has the ring! Rachel thinks it is for her, and he doesn't tell her the truth.… (mehr)

Ethan decides to take his daughter and his new girlfriend, Vanessa, to New York for Christmas. It used to be his favorite place to share with his now deceased wife. He wants his daughter and Vanessa to share in the magic of this beautiful city. He also has an ulterior motive. He intends to stop by Tiffany’s and purchase an engagement ring.

But, as usual in the way of life. Ethan purchases the ring but in the confusion of an accident, gifts get switched. Ethan follows the ring all the way overseas to try and retrieve his gift. Things do not work out as planned.

I enjoyed this novel. Now, this is your typical Christmas romance. And I had it figured out after 2 chapters. I knew exactly what was going to happen. But, there is just something about this time of year and all the romances. They are quick, easy reads. Perfect for when life gets busy around the holiday. Just plain magical escapes.

Need a good book to get you in the spirit of Christmas…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.… (mehr)