Best-selling author Andrew Vitruvius knows that any publicity is good publicity. His agent tells him that often, so it must be true. In the run-up to Christmas, she excels herself – talking him into the craziest scheme yet: getting himself kidnapped, live on TV.
But when the plan goes ahead and Drew is unceremoniously thrown in the back of a van before being dragged to a hut in middle of the Brecon Beacons, it all starts to feel a little bit too real.
Meanwhile, not far away, Lori France and her four-year-old niece Misty are settling in to spend the holidays away after unexpected events leave them without a place to stay. Little do they know they’re about to make a shocking discovery and experience a Christmas they’re not likely to forget …
Title: What Happens at Christmas
Series:
Author: Evonne Wareham
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Published: December 5, 2017
Publisher: Choc Lit
My Rating: 4.5 stars
What Happens at Christmas is not the typical holiday love story that one might expect at this time of year. This story has grit, mystery, some sinister moments mixed in with two people finding an attraction in the middle of a rather unique circumstance.
As an adrenaline junkie who does most of his own extreme research for his fast paced novels, Drew probably wasn’t as surprised as he should have been at the idea of a faked kidnapping on live television. Except… this feels far more real than he ever expected.
Lori’s Christmas plans have certainly turned out far different than she had planned. Major renovations on her home, her niece dropped off by her selfish mother who views motherhood as a mantle to take up when it benefits her, and making impromptu Christmas plans for her sweet niece, Misty certainly were not on her things I’d love to do this Christmas list. Oh, Lori adores little Misty and will do everything in her power to give her a loving celebration but for her sister Lark, well a stern talking to is the least physically damaging thing she could think of at the moment.
Perhaps the most unusual of all thee events was finding a man locked up in a shed on the property Lori and Misty were staying at for Christmas. Not only is this stranger in trouble himself, but it’s also most likely that danger will follow him until they discover just who kidnapped him in the first place … and what the unknown kidnappers have planned when they eventually return. This is turning into a most unusual Christmas indeed.
What Happens at Christmas is an intriguing story that will capture your imagination. The story is mostly mystery with a bit of romance building between Drew and Lori. While their Christmas celebration is quite touching, it’s also clear that there is something sinister going on and they may be in more danger than they realize. As this story spans several months, I certainly had my suspicions. I enjoyed my time in this world with Drew, Lori and Misty. I love a good mystery and that’s what I got here. Not a typical Christmas story but one that I enjoyed very much.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
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