Review: Maybe This Christmas (Colorado Ice #3)

Maybe This Christmas (Colorado Ice #3)

by Jennifer Snow 

Blurb:

All wrapped up . . .

One more game. That's all that stands between NHL star Asher Westmore and a major career milestone. But then his brother bashes him against the hockey boards, sidelining him for months. Over Christmas holidays, no less. If staying off the ice doesn't drive him crazy, staying with his family will. The only bright spot amidst the mistletoe and twinkle lights: His best friend, Emma, is a physical therapist. And working out with her improves his body and his spirit.

One last time. Emma Callaway was in trouble the minute she and Asher added benefits to their friendship. How is she supposed to resist a funny, caring guy who makes her toes curl? Her heart was safe while he lived in a different state. Now that he's back home recuperating, though, it's only a matter of time before she blurts out her feelings. Emma's only hope is that with a little holiday magic, she'll get the best Christmas gift of all.

Themes: Contemporary

Rating: 4.25 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

Long time friends with benefits to short term lovers… yeah that could never go wrong, right?

This story is further proof that men are not so bright when they lead with the wrong head, or at least when they try to convince themselves that is what they are doing.  This latest story about one of the Westmore brothers, hockey legends and men that have no problems finding women until the one woman they want for life finds them, was a challenge to read.  Mainly because it reminds me of the thick-headedness of so many men.  Jennifer Snow has a way of creating characters that are perfectly believable  in their behaviors and putting them into situations that challenge them to change their spots, or in this case prove that they have been hiding their true colors all along.  Emma has been in love with Asher for as long as she can remember but she refused to hold him back or give up her own dreams so he could live his, but when their friendship became something more they continued to hook up whenever the chance permitted.  But when a catastrophe leaves Asher sidelined in his hometown and in need of Emma’s skills as a healer he never imagined that his feelings for her would be impossible to hide, even from himself. I fully appreciated the predicament that Emma found herself in and wasn’t sure how I would have handled it myself, but I do know that she was a woman determined to do everything she could so that the love of her life never had to give up his dreams; that kind of sacrifice makes her a great woman in my book, much better than me for sure.  Some might say that she was silly to give up her own dreams for Asher’s but I have always believed that when you truly love someone you will give up any and everything to see them succeed and find their happiness, even  if it means it isn’t with you.  Asher was too much for me at times and I wanted to slap some sense into him, but his petulance was finally forgivable when he showed that he was really just terrified of losing Emma altogether.  Asher has loved her for so long, hiding that feeling until they both could meet their professional goals, keeping the hope and love buried until what his brain thought  was the right time to explore it fully.  Of course that was his real problem; the brain knows nothing about love and should never lead an emotional decision.  I enjoyed seeing Asher and Emma rubbing against one another, every now and then rubbing the wrong way and causing some friction, but mostly proving to one another they truly were meant to be.  The heat between them is unmistakable and I can honestly say that I don’t understand how they kept their friends and families from knowing about them for so long. There were also a lot of growing pains for these two in their own rights in this story and I loved the way they blossomed individually as well as a couple, finding their way in the world despite obstacles and drama.  Jennifer Snow makes the most mundane of topics and settings fascinating and I find myself really wanting to travel to Colorado to find myself a sexy hockey hottie.  Thanks for another round of fun Jennifer.

*ebook provided by publisher (via netgalley) for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.