Chances are if the book is a Christmas romance I'm going to love it. Jenn McKinlay's The Christmas Keeper was perfect for me. I loved the characters and loved being about the feel the Christmas spirit.

I tried to do a buddy read with a friend for this one as the synopsis really intrigued me. Unfortunately, I just couldn't get into it as I didn't feel enough for these two to make me want to keep reading.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

he Christmas Keeper, the second Happily Ever After romance by Jenn McKinlay, can definitely be read as a standalone. It is a sexy opposites-attract tale full of Christmas spirit.

Publicist Savannah has come to North Carolina to help her friend launch her bookstore, and, in doing so, restore her own professional reputation. A real city girl, she cannot wait to get back to her life in New York City and wants nothing to do with Christmas loving cowboy Joaquin. Quino is enamored with Savy from the moment he lays eyes on her and is determined to make her his wife…by Christmas. Brought together by their friends and a common goal, the pair finds their attraction irresistible and holiday magic hard to ignore.

The Christmas Keeper is wonderful to read anytime but perfect in the days leading up to Christmas. It is replete with everything needed for a perfect holiday experience…festive decorations and traditions, a sleigh ride, favorite movies and foods. What could easily pass over into Hallmark movie cheesiness is tempered with real life problems and ghosts from the past. I really enjoy all of the seasonal merriment.

I admit that it took a bit for me to really get into Savy and Quino’s story. I liked Quino from the beginning. What is there not to like about a handsome, genuinely kind man who puts his family first? He is not too perfect to be relatable, and he grows and learns to accept change as the book moves along. I am a bit in love with him. It took me much longer to warm up to Savy, but she becomes much more appealing as she loosens up and decides what is important to her. Quino’s sister Desi is a sweet addition, and romance author Destiny is fabulous.

Romance is not always my preferred genre, but I devour author Jenn McKinlay’s mysteries. Her style here is breezy but with substance, and her gift for writing engaging characters and witty dialogue shines here. No matter what, McKinlay’s books are fun, escapist reading, and The Christmas Keeper is no exception. Highly recommended.

I've read other books by McKinlay but this was an incredibly boring romance. I struggled to connect with each character and ended up not enjoying it at all. I'll stick to her mysteries in the future.

Ok now that Halloween is over it is time to start tackling my ever-growing pile of Christmas books I picked up in the last year! Long-time book friends know that each year I do at least one Christmas cowboy romance, just for fun!

In this sweet romance, a publicist and cowboy may find that fate has brought them together after all!

Savannah leaves NYC to help her best friend launch a romance book store in North Carolina. Savannah is career-focused to her core—a tough childhood has made her certain that marriage and kids aren’t in the cards for her. But when Joaquin sets eyes on her, he knows she is the one for him—despite her disinterest in dating or love. But this cowboy has a little bit of Christmas magic and some help from the Happily Ever After bookstore on his side!

Full of fun banter, sexy chemistry, and sweet moments—this is a perfect holiday romance to spend a few hours escaping into the Christmas spirit! Adorable!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Loved the characters, the chemistry, and the setting. That's about the best that you can hope for in a cozy romance.

Jenn McKinlay returns with a holiday-themed novel in the Happily Ever After series. Since this is a fairly new series, I still think I’m warming up to the world and characters. That being said, it took me a while to really get into Joaquin and Savannah’s characters. McKinlay’s writing in this series tends to be quite light, which ideally would make it easy for me. However, something about the beginning of the story was lacking for me and it took me a little bit to finish it.

As a reader of many years, I like to see the different writing styles that an author can have and I definitely think that McKinlay is one of those versatile writers who is able to switch up her tone really well. I like the fact that her series don’t have a similar feel to them and they are very different from one another, so I’m looking forward to trying out more books in the series. I hope that they will grow on me more.

There were many ups and downs forJoaquin and Savannah but the end did prevail. This is the first book that I’ve had the pleasure to read by Ms. McKinlay and I’m looking forward to reading the first book in this series.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I adore a good Christmas story and this was def a cute book!

What I liked:

The cover. I do (sometimes) love me a cowboy 😉

Savannah. What a feisty character!

The overall warmness of the book. I haven’t read book 1 in this series, but you can tell these characters are warm and loyal and ready to help a friend in need. Plus, the setting is SO perfect.



Bottom line: Need a slightly sugary read with a side of steam? The Christmas Keeper is just what the doctor ordered!

As a crime fiction reader, I came to the Happily Ever After Romance series after reading Jenn McKinlay's cozy mysteries. I started with "The Good Ones", the first in the series, and enjoyed the romance bookstore setting, the architect/cowboy hero and the hint of a mystery that came through with the discovery of a secret room. However, I simply could not get into "The Christmas Keeper". The book seemed slower to start and I didn't feel that same connection to the protagonists, Joaquin and Savannah. While I'm sure the book will appeal to fans of light romance novels, and it did have plenty of McKinlay's trademark humour, there simply wasn't enough conflict to maintain the tension and keep me turning the pages.

I'm a huge Jenn McKinley fan and I love reading her books. This one did not disappoint. I liked that the author jumped into another genre. I usually read her cozy mysteries, but this one was a romance. The storyline was fun, and there was just the right amount of romance to keep me invested in the main characters relationship.

Savannah Wilson is in town to rebuild her bruised and battered reputation by helping her best friend market her new bookstore. She much prefers big city living to the small town she finds herself in—although it does have its own charm, if she’s honest with herself. And there is Joaquin Solis, who she knows she must resist at all costs. He could derail all her plans. Besides, they aren’t a good fit even if Joaquin feels otherwise. When the two get wind that the bookstore might be in trouble, they agree to work together to build up publicity to turn the store’s fate around. This is Joaquin’s chance to show Savannah that their growing attraction to one another can amount to more than just a short-term fling.

You have to love a book that partly takes place in the Happily Ever After Bookstore. At least this reader has to. I have yet to read the first book in the series (you can bet I will!), but that did not hurt my enjoyment of A Christmas Keeper. It stands just find on its own. I really liked the very independent Savannah who was cheated out of her successful publicity career. She really suffered a blow when she lost her job, and is trying to get back on her feet again. Joaquin owns a horse ranch that offers horse therapy. His parents died in a terrible accident years ago, leaving him to care for his younger sister who had suffered a brain injury in the accident. It’s obvious he loves his sister very much. Family is extremely important to him. It was impossible not to fall for Joaquin. At least I would if I were in Savanah’s shoes. He is quite the catch!

In some ways, A Christmas Keeper reminded me of a Hallmark Christmas movie—only much better. It is sexy and charming with just the right amount of humor and drama to make this a fun read.

Edited review! I posted a review for a different book by mistake! Too many Christmas books! (if that is possible.)

I was just introduced to the term "cinnamon roll hero," and Joaquin Solis in The Christmas Keeper by Jenn McKinlay is the cinnamon rolliest. You all can keep your Christmas grinches and bad boys, give me all the good guys, lovers of Christmas, and cinnamon rolls! Joaquin has had his share of hard times, but he has turned those hard times into full blown Christmas cheer. And now he has set his sights on Savannah Wilson, who is in town trying to pick of the pieces from her career now in shambles and assisting her friend in getting her romance bookstore running smoothly.

I loved everything about The Christmas Keeper. Cute main characters, tons of Christmas cheer, a romance bookstores, and a cast of great side characters in a cute little town. And of course Christmas cowboys. Though it was book two in the series, it was easy to jump into the story. And now I need to go back and read book one. I have been recommending this book to all my friends. This one is easily a 4 star read!!

Steamy Christmas romance that I really enjoyed! A great pick for the season and kept me engaged throughout!

I read The Good Ones by Jenn McKinley and could see this book coming in the distance. There was a hyper focus on Quino’s and Savy’s first meeting. And it was a meet cute if I have ever seen it. I was super happy with the speed of their relationship. There was only minor emotional constipation. I appreciate that.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. My review is solely my own, however, not influenced by the gratis copy.

This story is a sequel to the first book in the “Happily Ever After” series, and while enjoyable, was not as humorous as book 1. This story obviously takes place at Christmas. While the author’s Ugly Christmas Sweater theme was funny the first time, it got old pretty fast.

There is little involvement with Perry, the only teenager in the series. A new character is introduced, Joaquin’s (Quino) younger sister, Desi (short for Desiree). She is 25 years old, hardly a teen like Perry, but suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury ten years earlier, so she is not a typical 25-year-old, either. Both parents died in the same car accident, so she and Quino are the only family members left. Quino is her legal guardian and takes his responsibilities seriously. He not only inherited her care, but also the family business, the horse farm.

As in book 1, this book features an animal (or several, in this case) that serve to comfort or entertain their humans. Here, it’s not a cuddly kitten, but a cantankerous old mare with a ‘tude.
Desi has decided that what she want in life is to work with rescue elephants in Africa, and her decisions cause Quino serious anxiety. Needless to say, he acts as though he’s her father/boss/overlord, and she resents it, even though she knows he means well.

Never having experienced a TBI, nor ever having known someone who had, I can’t speak with any authority on the subject. But my first reaction was to side with him because is a serious injury, and who wouldn’t err on the side of caution? Who wouldn’t be beside themself if the injured sib just up and left without a word? Hardly the action of a responsible adult.

We aren’t told until later that Desi has been seeing a doctor, but the doctor still seems a bit too casual about Desi’s grand adventure. Sure, Desi deserves a degree of independence if she knows what she is doing, but traveling alone around the globe for the first time is hardly the same, and I’d be worried, too, if my impaired sister suddenly went missing. So that part of the story felt like quite a stretch.

As in book 1, this book features characters with a sad history or troubled past. Quino and Desi lost both parents in the same accident that injured Desi. Savy’s parents are alive but could care less if she is alive or dead. Quino is a nurturer and loves family, so he’s a tonic for Savy’s soul—plus easy on the eyes, as we’re told on numerous occasions.

There are other developments in the story but I don’t want to give away the whole plot. Suffice it to say there is the same amount of psychologizing as in book 1, with characters who make mistakes, learn their lessons, apologize, are forgiven, and reunited.

This is a mainstream romance novel with a happy ending, slightly more intelligent than average. There are a few scenes of premarital sex if that is an issue, but they are tastefully written, not in detail.

The book is a fast read, with unique characters, but in my opinion, was not as satisfying as book 1. If you love horses, however, you may feel differently!

With revenge fueling Savannah’s mind, determination is the key. Nothing will stand in the way of this obsession. Not even the hot and laid back rancher. Joaquin knows that Savannah is the gal for him, unfortunately that memo didn’t reach Savannah!! With a little nudge from their friends, the two embark upon a steamy ad festive holiday. Did I mention their might be a romance in the mix??

The Christmas Keeper is a sweet Christmas romance from author Jenn McKinlay. The second installment in the Happily Ever After series was a bit slow moving in the beginning, making the novel hard to connect with initially. As a huge fan of Jenn’s other series, I always look forward to seeing what will land on my reader next. The Christmas Keeper was light and full of charm, but I did have to push through the beginning to get wrapped up in the spirit of this novel.

This book will bring out your Christmas spirit! This is the second book in the Happily Ever After series. This story follow Savannah and her best friend Maisy, running the romance book store called Happily Ever After. After losing her high powered job in New York City, Savannah comes to the small town of Fairdale to help out her friend. Her dream is to get back her reputation and head back to the city. After meeting Joaquin, a friend of Maisy's husband, things get a little off course. Nice Christmas time read!

The Christmas Keeper is the perfect holiday read because it is filled with Christmas spirit. Joaquin Solis knew he met his future wife and just had to figure out a way to make her his. Savannah Wilson is in Fairdale to help her best friend’s bookstore after being unfairly terminated as a publicist. Joaquin/Quino jumps at the chance to help Savannah/Savy find ways to bring in customers to the bookshop and hopefully she’ll see him and his finer points. Savy is attracted to him but knows she’s here temporarily and it can’t go anything further than friendship. What she hadn’t expected was the slow seduction and charm he showed her in mistletoe kisses, ice skating, and his over the top Christmas decorations and ugly sweaters.
What an absolutely delightful story! I thoroughly enjoyed the journey she took me on. It flowed well and the new and old characters helped the story move forward effortlessly. Quino was very charming and lovable. I don’t think Savy had a chance to NOT fall in love with him. Savy just couldn’t resist and wanted the chance to live in the moment and enjoy. Quino learned the hard way that change can be a good thing and that family stays with you no matter where you are. This story hit home and touched my heart with all the good things I love about the holidays and family.

The Christmas Keeper by Jenn McKinlay is the second novel in the Happily Ever After series, but that didn’t stop me from swooning and enjoying this holiday romance filled with sweaters, books and magical moments.

Despite, not having read the Good Ones I decided to jump in any way and it paid off. While I plan to go back and read Ryder and Maisy’s story, this works as a standalone.

Full review will post at Caffeinated Reveiwer on December 3rd. Link provided.