What do You think about The Holiday Serenade (2013)?
At the time of reading I had not realised that this was the fourth book in the series. Now the lack of detail or back story makes sense. Although this reader read this out of sequence, this is not a standalone novel and any reader would benefit from reading the books in order. I believe not reading books 1-3 affected my perception and enjoyment of this book.Don’t get me wrong there were some good bits to this novel; the setting, the domesticity that the setting involved and the scene where she is making the ginger bread house. The characters were OK but the story lacked real passion. It also felt overdone with regards the grand gestures. It felt rushed and lacking; overall this reader felt this novella was just too cheesy.Full Disclosure: ARC received from Netgalley for an honest review.
—Tania Godwin-evans
Holiday Serenade by Ava Miles is a lovely and sweet Christmas novella. Rhett Butler Blaylock is a professional poker player, with an act that includes two “poker babes”. He is in love with Abbie Maven and has come to settle down in Dare Valley and win Abbie’s love. Abbie is a single mother of a teenaged son who has tried to live a respectable life for her son. Dating a guy that is a professional poker play with “poker babes” is not respectable. In many ways, this was not the usual type of Christmas story because of Abbie’s past memories and overwhelming need to appear “respectable” in Dare Valley. Rhett is patient and does everything he can to prove his love. Will it be enough? Being a poker player, he’s betting that he can.This is a stand alone novella; however, if you have read the previous Dare Valley books you will enjoy being able to see many of the characters from the previous books. As secondary characters, they provide this story with the love and family theme that is Ava’s trademark and move the plot along to the HEA that you hope for – especially in a Christmas story. Disclosure: this book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
—Joan
Rhett Butler Blaylock is a professional poker player, a friend of Mac Maven. Mac's sister Abbie Maven previously had a relationship with him which she broke off. She has a 16 year old son, Dustin, and she tells herself that Rhett is not a suitable partner for her and her son due to his wild boy reputation and the poker babes he has around him. She knows the truth about the poker babes, that they aren't a threat but she refuses to listen to logic. Rhett informs Abi that he's not giving up on her and is staying in town permanently and changes his ways for her.It's a lovely story and I may have cried a little when Dustin has a heart to heart with Rhett about his real dad." 'I wish I was your son,' Dustin whispered. It took a moment for Rhett to speak through the blockage in his throat. 'Me too, son. Me too.' "We learn just enough about Matthew Hale and Jane Wilcox to get us interested in their story which is book 6.
—Kooky
