Book Review – Heart of the Holidays by Pat Henshaw

Publisher: JMS Books
Pages: 60
Characters: Dan/Rick
POV: 1st
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb:
Everyone hopes his road to happily ever after will be carefree and smooth, but too often hair-pin turns and detours seem to get in the way.

Having thought he was on the road to forever before, former Silicon Valley programmer Dan Lassiter is leery about pedaling down it again. His elderly companion Charlie urges him to get to know Rick Reardon whose bakery is across the street from Dan’s bicycle shop.

Under the watchful eye of Charlie, Dan and Rick take tentative steps toward each other, all the while trying to avoid potholes such as exes, homophobes, and family problems.

As summer turns to fall and then winter, they hope that the road will be smooth going from their first date and first kiss to having what Rick’s sister euphemistically calls their “sleepovers.” At each step, though, they are tripped up and wonder why there seem to be so many bumps in their road.

Maybe Dan and Rick should heed some of Charlie’s sage advice, or maybe they should listen to their hearts instead of the ghosts from their pasts.

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Review

I enjoyed this sweet romance about two men getting to know, and falling for, each other in a small town. Although I figured out who exactly Charlie was early on in the story, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. I loved how his presence was a constant throughout, and the effect he had on everyone he met.

Both Dan and Rick are likeable guys, ready to go out of their way to help others. I liked how Dan used his IT skills to add tracking and alarms to the bikes he loans—very clever.

This had a wonderful small town feel to it, with the community playing their part, from the owners of Andy/Lucy, and Rick’s sister, Patty, and her children. I loved the name of the town—Sidetrack—and thought it worked on several levels. I liked how Dan and Rick dealt with the hurdles in their way, and shook my head on their behalf in regard to some of the attitudes they encounter when trying to do something nice for the people in their community. Rick’s mother is not a nice person, kudos for Patty and Rick turning out like they have, given growing up with that.

I thought the ending was very sweet and totally the HEA these guys deserve.

4 out of 5 stars.