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.
Titles in the Colorado Ice series include: Maybe This Kiss – Maybe This Time – Maybe This Love – Maybe This Summer – Maybe This Christmas
Title: Maybe This Christmas
Series: Colorado Ice #5
Author: Jennifer Snow
Genre: Christmas Romance, Contemporary Romance
Published: September 26, 2017
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing – Forever
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Maybe This Christmas brings us Emma and Ash’s story. Friends for a very long time, benefits that came along quite naturally and for the most part their relationship drifted along just fine – according to Ash. He was unaware that Emma has taken that final step into love and was looking for far more than they now had, she was looking for forever.
Ash is facing, perhaps a career ending injury right before he could complete an important milestone in his career. An injury brought about by his own brother no less. While they both knew it was a game, they each played to win… for the opposite team. Now Ash is back home, doing his best to recuperate and get back on the ice. He has the best chance of success with Emma’s help. He wasn’t looking at changing their relationship. But now he has to possibly face a life without hockey and a life without Emma at his side. It’s decision time for a man who has always known what he wants, until he almost loses it forever.
There were moments in Maybe This Christmas that I seriously wanted to sit Ash down for a stern talking to – and tell Emma’s sister to butt out and mind her own life. Ash and Emma both have a truckload of issues on their respective plates and their changing relationship is only adding fuel to those situations. Emma has acknowledged that she loves Ash and wants more. Ash has always “loved” Emma, but what she’s asking is more than he can deliver right now with his career on the line. Neither are completely happy, both want more but don’t know how to get it and everyone is giving advice that isn’t helping, at all. A bit of family strife as brother blames brother for a serious injury, guilt at causing that to happen, parents supportive but sort of placed in the middle, unwanted and unneeded interference by well meaning family members all add up to some drama, some re-thinking of priorities and perhaps a happy ending at last.
I enjoyed this story very much. Ash definitely wanted it all and for nothing to change. Life is more complicated than that. And the love of a woman like Emma doesn’t come along every day. This couple is believable, stubborn, definitely steamy and right for each other. Sometimes it takes losing it all to see what the important things and people truly are. I’d recommend this story to any Romance reader whether you love Sports Romance or not. This one will touch your heart and have you believing in Christmas miracles again.
*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.*
Available in a variety of formats including for the Kindle
