The TBR Pile
Reece Greene had a terribly childhood. His mother left when he was very young, and his father was an alcoholic who never gave him any presents, despite his birthday being on Christmas Day. His dad never said he loved him, but did tell him he was lucky he wasn't being "thrown away," like people do with the unwanted gifts they get for Christmas. Grinch-award for that despicable man! Reece is now a very rich man in his early 50's, who makes his living designing homes for the very rich, who expect their smart-technology to control every aspect of their lives. He's never been married, and in the first chapter gets his ring back from the blonde gold-digger he'd proposed to. Life has been very unkind to this man, so it's no wonder he's such a grouch! Reece's partner convinces him to take some time off--both to forget his unfaithful ex-fiancée, and to scout out a new location for them to build luxury condos. Calliope Whobrey was divorced many years ago when her husband insisted she get plastic surgery to keep her looking younger and thinner. She escaped to lick her wounds to a bed and breakfast on the side of a mountain in Colorado, run by her grandmother, Martha Whobrey. They've made a comfortable living by hosting repeat customers year-after-year, for the different holidays. Christmas is their favorite time. Of course, Reece and Calliope feel an instant attraction to each other, in this short romance. We get alternating chapters giving each one's point of view. Martha keeps inviting Reece over to enjoy the holiday season with them, and he's the grinch who tries to steal their holiday cheer and good will. Repeatedly. Until his heart starts to grow warmer, and he realizes the error of his ways. In the Dedication, the author says she is trying to write a Hallmark Romance. Since I've never seen one, I don't know if she succeeded but this is a cute love story that brings together two people who shouldn't have anything in common. Reece has a hole where his heart should be until Calliope and her grandmother fill that hole with love. Through them he learns to love himself, and Calliope finds a man who will stay with her because he loves the image of himself he sees reflected in her eyes. Her love makes him feel lovable, and she's the first and only person who has ever done that for him. He's a grouch no more!
