Just In Time For Christmas by Kim Boykin is a fantastic holiday romance.  Ms Boykin has delivered a wonderful, well written book with lovable characters.  Miranda and Logan's story is loaded with drama, humor and spice.  I enjoyed Just In Time For Christmas and look forward to reading more from Kim Boykin in the future.  Just In Time For Christmas is book 4 of the Lowcountry Lovers Series but can be read as a standalone.  This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

Shelby and Declan's story is mighty complex.  Declan and Shelby knew each other from before.  Then they were friends in college.  Now her sister is posing for his art.  

Shelby is trying to keep it together.  She works hard, she cares for her community, and she has friends who do the same.  Now, her sister is staying with her until further notice.

Declan has come home to take care of his father.  Since being back, he has found a comfort in all things familiar.  Seeing Shelby again has changed everything for him.  She cheers his father up also.

Shelby has a secret that it appears Declan does not know.  To tell him or keep it to herself?  Can the old flame burn bright again or will fear make it impossible to have a love connection?

Declan wants Shelby.  He has glimmers of her and her skin to the point of his memory almost driving him mad.  He needs to get through to her that he is here to stay.

The story is full of strong characters.  The feelings between Declan and Shelby make for good reading and a lasting love.  This is Book 5 from Lowcountry Lovers.  I give this book a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This ARC copy was given free from Netgalley.com and its publisher, for review purposes.  My honest opinion does not reflect Netgalley, nor its affiliates.

Book Description....

Nobody does Christmas like Miranda Hamilton, and now that she finally has her chance to chair Magnolia Bay's tree lighting and the cotillion, which benefits her late mother’s breast cancer foundation, this Christmas is shaping up to be the best ever. That is until her childhood nemesis Logan Mauldin buys his way on her committee and starts making plans of his own.

Logan Mauldin loves to get under Miranda's very sexy skin, and it's only fair. She's been getting under his since long before their first kiss at 13. Logan’s the last man interested in co-chairing a Christmas committee or participating in a sexy bachelor auction, but since that night he interrupted Miranda on a date and cornered her under the mistletoe, he can't stop thinking about her. Or vying for her attention and bugging the hell out of her.

Christmas cheer isn’t the only thing that heats up between the Miranda and Logan, but, thanks to a lie that is as much her fault as it is his, he loses the woman he’s loved since forever. Logan will need a Christmas miracle for Miranda to forgive him. A grand gesture to melt her heart and win her back just in time for Christmas.

Title: Just In Time For Christmas
Author: Kim Boykin
Publisher: Tule Publisher
Series: Southern Born Christmas #2
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:


"Just In Time For Christmas"


What I liked about this novel.....

This was a wonderful captivating Christmas story that was second in this author's series that I really enjoyed reading, The way this author was able to bring out Magnolia Bay's history along with its Christmas traditions was really very interesting read. "Just In Time For Christmas" was a very entertaining story that had a lots of humor that greatly added to the story. What will happen when these two main characters Miranda and Logan have to work together in the Christmas Cotillion fundraising project? There seems to have been a love hate relationship between these two since childhood. Why was this? Well, you will have to pick up the good read to see how this author will bring it all out to the reader. Was Logan now having feeling for Miranda after all of this time? Will Christmas bring these two together? I liked how this author was able to give the reader one amazing read with such heartwarming and entertaining characters that you will not want to put the novel down until you are finished seeing how maybe fairy tales could come true? All that is left to say is after reading this novel you will want to visit Magnolia Bay at Christmas time.

***ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley***

There are stories that make you go “awww, that’s so cute” and there are stories that make you do the aww-thing but also tug on a nostalgic heart-string. This was one of the latter.

The hero and heroine were childhood nemesis, all the teasing, pulling of ponytails, barbs, and sometimes anger only a disguise for their true feelings. Having had a childhood nemesis of my own, I know what that’s like. Unfortunately, my story didn’t end up like the one between Logan and Miranda. So, let’s talk about them and their story, shall we?

At the beginning, I was a bit “meh”-ish about it. The heroine ran a B&B was nuts about Christmas, was chair of the Christmas festival committee. Okay, I guess. Well, the “meh”-ishess lasted only until the hero came into the picture. You see, Logan made a generous donation in order to get the co-chair position on the Christmas festival committee. And reading about Miranda’s reaction to that particular development, I immediately knew where the story was headed and just what was going on. With both of them.

It was funny, light-hearted, sexy, cute, and sweet, and I loved the little flashbacks thrown in to make us understand where the “animosity” between the H/h came from. I loved the bachelor-auction twist, although I suspected there was more to the mysterious bidder than met the eye (I just didn’t guess the right person). The story flowed nicely, the characters were well fleshed-out…I just didn’t like the heroine’s reticence. Or more to the point, I didn’t like how she kept juggling with two guys at the same time, when it was obvious, there was only one possible contender in that mess.
Also, where did that guy disappear to in the end? I mean, he was always there and then just conveniently went “poof”? A bit of a loose end there.

I also felt the last “bump on the road to HEA” was a tad redundant, but it served as the fulfilling of a Christmas wish (or a Christmas miracle), so I guess it served it purpose.

But, the last few objections aside, it was a great little novella with wonderful characters, great small-town environment, and a wonderful romantic story.

***ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley***

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

That was my first reaction after finishing his novella. It was simply awww.

Short, sweet, sexy, funny, a little sad. I loved the initial banter between the heroine and hero, I loved the heroine's spunk, the fact she was a military brat helped immensely in her dealing with Drew (the hero), I adored the hero - the strong, silent type, suffering but determined not to show it, not utterly afraid to show off his vulnerabilities, Navy SEAL ('nuff said)...And the sweet (fairy) godmother playing at matchmaker was the cherry on the cake.

Great author's voice, great story, great characterization, great resolution...To sum it up in one word - awww.

Loved it!