All I Want for Christmas

They say you never get over your first love... and lucky for us, these characters didn't. Add a sexy Irish musician and a second chance at love and you have a great holiday read on your hands.

4.5 rating

This was a great Christmas read. I was surprised with how much the author managed to fit into the small amount of pages, and thought she created some really believable characters who you were routing for throughout the entire book. There was quite a bit of back story about Cassie and Sean that grounded the characters and gave the book more depth that is usually missing in shorter reads. It felt like it was well paced, with the detail levels just right.

I also loved Cassie and Sean. I thought their growth and progression of emotions was realistic and crafted well, it also had me unable to stop reading. The author created a great relationship that was engaging, heartbreaking, and heartwarming.

Overall this is one of the best Christmas reads I've picked up so far this year and I'm glad I took a chance on it.

Enjoyable Christmas read!

A Christmas story of hope & miracles. After years of separation, many pitfalls along the way & almost making the same mistake that broke them up in the first place, love wins. The opposite of Love is not hate, but indifference, and this book points that out.

Now that's a love story!

Rating: 5/5 Recommend: Yes Stat: Second Chance Love Romance/Chemistry: Yes Conflict/Drama: Yes HEA: Yes Re-read/Keeper: Yes

a good story of second chances for the holiday. Very doable!

I loved this book! Years before Cassandra and Sean were in love. Sean thinking he knows what best and because he loves Cassie so much decides to break it off. Years later with out knowing Cassie enters a bar that Sean owns. They see each other but does love get rekindled. The angst was there the sensuality was Hot. Must read for the holidays!

Four writer friends, love and laughter, families and festivities, Christmas and miracles……a magical Christmas In New York!!!!
Christmas In New York series is the compilation of four writer friends and their wonderful stories of lost love, second chances, friendships and relationships and the magical wishes of Christmas that gives four friends a future of love, trust and understanding.
This Christmas (Jake and Sabrina) – Jeannie Moon All I Want For Christmas (Cassandra and Sean) – Jennifer Gracen A Light In The Window (Jade and Ben) – Jolsye Barnett Goodness And Light (Elena and Lucas) – Patty Blount And they all can be read standalone!

The magic of “Christmas In New York series” continues with “All I Want For Christmas”, as Jennifer Gracen weaves an enlightening web around Cassandra and Sean, a love that lost its wings seven years ago. Cassandra Baines is successful as the youngest assistant English Lit professor at NYU, has a wonderful circle of friends, a loving family and she loves the city she lives in. Yet, she yearns for that one man who can make it all the more fulfilling and share her life. And her wish brings her up close and personal with her first love Sean McKinnon.
Musician and bar owner Sean McKinnon has no idea what hit him, when he sees HIS Cassie in his bar. He had loved Cassie with his soul, but social barriers and his own insecurities have taken Sean away from Cassie and he hasn’t been the same ever since. But now fate has brought Cassie to him and he has no intention of letting go.
But Cassie and Sean have a lot of catching up to do in dealing with the past that broke them apart and the future that is precariously on the ledge. Cassie may seem the eve confident, intellectual woman, but she needs Sean to balance her life, and Sean needs to get over his social restrictions and trust Cassie with his heart. Jennifer Gracen does a fine job of exploring the feelings and uncertainties in their relationship, giving them the maturity of putting their fears to rest for a beautiful future together.

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It was perfect for holiday reading.. It was sweet and fun to read. I did like cassandra from other series. I was wonder who her ex was. I did like both characters and how they found their way back again. it was cute.

Excellent read!! When Sean McKinnon walks away from Cassandra Baines and shatters her heart she never thought she would see him again. But a quick stop in a local pub brings them face to face for the first time in seven years. Great story with deep emotion making this a definite must read. I highly recommend it.

Four separate and standalone books about four women who are have been friends since they were children. Their mothers are sorority sisters. When they were born they formed their own sorority based on their friendship and without Greek letters.

First is Sabrina Gervais, a single mother to 9-year old Charlotte. Bree for short, she still pines of Jake Killen, her only lover and Charlotte’s father. Out of the blue, Jake comes back to Bree’s life. Charlotte wants her daddy; Bree wants her lover back but there is too much water that has passed under the bridge. Can Bree and Jake forgive each other for all their mistakes and their hurt to give Charlotte a family she had been wishing for every Christmas since she could remember? (This Christmas by Jeannie Moon)

Then there is Cassandra Baines, the quintessential New Yorker. On a fast track on her career, Cassie almost has everything except the man she loves; Sean McKinnon broke her heart seven years ago. Then she walks into his bar and all bets were off. The question, will their careers continue to pull them apart or are they willing to compromise this time? (All I Want for Christmas by Jennifer Gracen)

Next, we have Adirondack girl-in-transition Jade Engel and her childhood best friend turned nemesis, Ben Stephens. They meet in upstate New York, in their hometown of Starling. But while Ben has found his own niche and on his way up his chosen career, Jade’s career is in the doldrums. With memories of teen angst and high school bullying, Jade has to find forgiveness in herself even before she can take the first step to Ben. Question is, will Ben even be there to meet Jade halfway?

And finally, we have Goodness and Light by Patty Blount, the most heartbreaking story! It follows Elena Larsen and Lucas Adair, two September 11 orphans. It’s been 13 years, but the events of that fateful day are as fresh as newly fallen snow in their memories. Their attraction to each other is palpable but will it develop into love that can heal their hearts?

All four books are easy reads, which you can actually finish in one sitting being novellas. Great storytelling using concise words; all four books are thoroughly enjoyable. Though they are solid stories as they are, their brevity is also their downfall. After reading each book, I wanted more. I want deeper background stories; I want more interaction among the hero and the heroines. And perhaps, that is my Christmas wish for this book!

All four books are Rated T and YA for teens and young adults. There are sex scenes but they are implied rather and not graphic.

This is something I haven’t done before. I’m saying the same thing at the beginning of each of this series reviews. I highly recommend reading all four of the stories. None is too long, but all fit together wonderfully.

All I Want for Christmas is part of the Christmas in New York series. In the past I have enjoyed the Montana series from this publisher. Then found the Southern series, which is also very good. However, I love, love, love this series.

I would be hard press to say which of these novellas is my favorite. The entire series is a true delight. Five girlfriends whose mothers were best friends so they are more like family than friends. By the end they feel like part of your family too. While each has a different author, all are well written.
All I Want for Christmas is Cassandra’s story. While she is close to all her friends, she is closest to Sabrina, so you find out that she is having guy trouble in This Christmas. She has everything you would want in life except for true love. This is a second chance romance where she and Sean are older and wiser. It is realistic, heart felt and heart-tugging writing, just the kind that keeps you reading. Loved the growth and emotion that the author gave these two.

Handsome Irish musician and New York City at Christmas time, doesn't get much more romantic than that! Or so I thought. But this story delivered even more romance.
Heartrendingly beautiful love story, all about finding your place in this world, being able to trust, forgive, forget, second chances, and about the knowledge that you have found the one. This story just pulled all the emotional high notes, I laughed, I was in tears, smiled, and at the end just was happy. I enjoyed that Sean and Cassandra took their time to get to know each other again, that they talked about the difficult issues between them, how open they were with each other, and how at the end they didn't give up on each other.
Lovely story indeed!

Loved the story of Cassie and Sean. They have a history from seven years ago but then parted. An accidental meeting now in a New York bar, bring back the memories of what they had. Now both have matured and grown, do they have that leap of faith to make it work. Loved the Irish brogue of Sean, I can just hear him talking in mind. All of the Christmas music and decorations will surely put you in the mood for the holidays. Highly recommend.
This is part of a series of Christmas in New York about four friends that their mothers were soriety sisters in college. They can be read as stand alone, but you will want to read all of them.
I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review.

I love Christmas books and this book was good. It is a short and fun read. Really enjoyed the characters in this book.

Satisfying and delightful holiday read! I very much enjoyed both the characters and the plot. I would recommend this book to those who like heartwarming romances.

This is the second book in the Christmas in New York series and I really liked it. This is the first book I have read by Jennifer Gracen and I really liked her writing. Like the first book in the series, she has a good voice and paces the story well.

I really loved the characters she developed, their personalities and their story line really resonated with me. Their second chance at being each other's one true love felt so real that you were really rooting for them. I thought the author did a really good job of showing why the break up occurred; the gap in their worlds and the couple's struggle to overcome the difference came through in her writing.

Cassandra's inability to trust Sean not to hurt her felt true to the story. As far as our H, Sean, his efforts to redeem himself were definitely Hero Worthy. What's not to like about a hunky Irishman trying to make things right? I liked that this wasn't an instant fix and that they really had to overcome the hurt to get it right the second time. I definitely recommend this novella.

I use Goodreads rating: 4 Stars is I really like it and recommend it to others. I received this as an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Have really been enjoying Christmas in New York Series. These emotional reads capture the heart and draw you in. All I Want For Christmas by Jennifer Gracen is Cass and Sean's story. Sean thought he was doing the right thing when he ended his relationship with Cass. He wanted her to hate him so he broke her heart in such a way that he felt she would never forgive him. Feeling that Cass was destined for better he felt he would just hold her back. Seven years later a chance encounter brings them face to face. A heartbroken Cass does not want a rehash of the past-where she is left angry and crushed again. Sean realizes he has never gotten over Cass and that he hurt himself just as much as he hurt her when they broke up. I would recommend All I Want for Christmas by Jennifer Gracen. An enjoyable story with heart

***I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion***

All I Want for Christmas is book #2 in the Christmas in New York series and like the first book in the series it's about a second chance in love.

Seven years ago Sean broke Cassandra's heart when out of the blue he broke up with her when she was sure that they were meant to be together forever.

A short time later Sean moved to LA and they haven't spoken since.

After seeing the Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center with her best friend Sabrina they both go to a bar and are shocked to see that the bartender is no other than Sean that moved back to NYC 2 years ago- from all the bars in the city Cassandra end up at Sean's bar and it seems like a Christmas miracle has brought them back together.

Cassandra is not sure if she should stay at the bar and talk to Sean but he convince her to stay so they could talk.

Sean never forgot Cassandra and he hope she'll give him a second chance and they'll be able to have a fresh start but it's not going to be easy to win Cassandra over since he broke her heart all those years ago and she find it very hard to trust him again.

At first I didn't understand why Sean broke up with Cassandra but as the story progress I learned the reasons behind the break up and it made it easier for me to like Sean and believe he really deserve a second chance with Cassandra.

All I Want for Christmas is a great holiday novella, I loved reading about NYC during the holidays and how Sean and Cassandra are trying to get back together and forgot about the past and learn to trust one another.

Another great holiday novella from Tule Publishing.

I may have "All I Want For Christmas Is You" stuck in my head for days now. This was a great read and I adored all of the characters, especially Sean! Jennifer Gracen did a great job developing such a sexy Irish lad! I also really loved Cassie and her determined personality. She seems like someone you could really be friends and have a good relationship with. Will definitely be recommending this to others!

All I Want For Christmas is a sweet story which I have thoroughly enjoyed reading. Set largely in the Irish bar which is jointly owned by Sean McKinnon and his friend Jimmy it tells the story of Sean's reunion with love of his life Cassie. Seven years earlier Sean abruptly ended their two year relationship despite being head over heels in love with her and she with him, so getting back together is not going to be plain sailing. Nonetheless the attraction is undeniably still there and it was fun watching these two work through their differences and rediscover the love that never died. Both Sean and Cassie (Cass to everybody else) are likeable characters. She's book smart and working as an Associate Professor of English at NYU while he's street smart. I love Sean's upbeat, cheeky personality and felt myself cheering him on through the book. I got annoyed with Cassie at times because she just didn't seem to get things that were plain as day to me. As you can see, I got involved in this one and have no hesitation in recommending it.

This is a great Christmas love story. This is the first book I've read by Jennifer Gracen but will definitely be reading more by her. I loved everything about this book!

"All I Want for Christmas" by Jennifer Gracen is the second book in the multi-authored "Christmas in New York" series. The series tells the tale of a group of girlfriends and the men they fall in love with. I read all four books in one day. Once I started with book one, I just couldn't help myself and had to find out what was in store for the other friends. ^.^ While each book can be read as a standalone, I do recommend that they be read in order because the stories are loosely connected.

Cassandra "Cass" Baines is living a life many women her age would envy. She has a job that she enjoys and lives in a city she loves. She's surrounded by her closest girlfriends, each one more of a sister than anything else. The one thing that's missing is someone she could consider a soul mate. She thought she had that years ago but he abruptly ended their relationship, one she thought would end in marriage, and she's never been the same since.

Sean McKinnon hasn't had the easiest life but he decided to leave Ireland to join his best friend in New York in order to start over. He met a beautiful young woman and they fell madly in love with each other. He was ready to give her the world but when he was confronted with just how different they were, he felt the right thing to do was to let her go so that she didn't have him holding her back. He left for Los Angeles but his heart stayed in New York.

Years later, Cass enters a bar and comes face to face with the one man she's ever fallen for and the same man who broke her heart. On the other hand, Sean can't quite believe that Cass, of all the bars in the city, is standing in the one he co-owns. Cass is still holding on to a great deal of anger, especially since she never fully understood Sean's reasons for ending their relationship. Sean wants another chance to win her heart and knows he's got his work cut out for him.

Just like with the first installment, this second book is a second chance romance between two people who are different but loved each other immensely. When Sean let Cass go, he truly believed he was doing what was best for her but the Cass he sees years later is wary and stiff in spite of her professional success. What he did may have been good for her professionally but it scarred her personally. But then, learning about his childhood makes it easier to understand why he did it.

"All I Want for Christmas" gave me the opportunity to get to know Cass better after she was introduced in "This Christmas" and showed that there was something behind the no-nonsense persona she initially gave off. Sean was a great character and the guy had me swooning at the end. ^.^ This was a fast but quite enjoyable holiday read and did well in continuing the high standard set with the first book. "All I Want for Christmas" gets four stars. ♥

Taking a leap of faith is a choice not just and action and sometimes it may not always be that easy....Ok I just love how this book draws you in and make you feel like your right there in the crowd and your there in New York celebrating christmas. I love the relationship these girls share its not about being friends but being sisters. I love Anna and your relationship with her brother Sean and the relationship with Cass. Cassandra is a no non since person but deep down she has a lot going on and on her plate. I really loved her heart and her spirit. This book is so worth the read and its getting into the christmas spirit.

other books in the series:
This Christmas (Jake and Sabrina) – Jeannie Moon All I Want For Christmas (Cassandra and Sean) – Jennifer Gracen A Light In The Window (Jade and Ben) – Jolsye Barnett

Sean and Cassie reconnect in a bar after the tree lighting in New York City 8 years after he left her heartbroken. This is book 2 is a 4 book series that are all stand alone novellas. A nice quick read that has our two lovers finally talking about their pasts and how it affected them when they fell in love.

Cassie Baines has devoted her adult life to her career. She has a wonderful set of girlfriends that are like her sisters. She hasn't given herself any chance at romance since Sean McKinnon broke her heart seven years ago. When Bree and Cassie meet in Manhattan for drinks, the last person she thought of seeing is Sean. Sean has never forgotten the girl he loved and broke her heart. It must be Christmas magic or fate that had her walk in at his bar. I loved this book! I was up til 3 in the morning so I could finish it. I know that I will be reading this again and again

I love Christmas stories and this one was a great addition to my collection! Add to that a sweet romance about reunited lovers and I quite enjoyed All I Want for Christmas!

Cassie and Sean dated seven years ago, but he broke things off suddenly and broke her heart. Years later Cassie shows up at his bar not knowing she's about to see a ghost from her past. Sean instantly realizes he wants another chance, knowing for the last seven years he made a mistake in leaving her. Cassie is gun shy at first, but the two decide to start getting to know each other again and take things slow. Of course, they both are still in love with each other so things tend to pick up quickly ;)

I really enjoyed reading about Cassie and Sean's reconnecting and finding love again. They had a few bumps to get over and forgiveness to find, but in the end they got their HEA!

All I want for Christmas was the perfect love story. A must read!

Title: All I Want For Christmas By: Jennifer Gracen Publisher: Tule Publishing Series: Christmas in New York Book 2 Reviewed By: Arlena Dean Rating : 5 Review:
All I Want for Christmas, by Jennifer Gracen

Book Description.......

"Cassandra Baines almost has it all: a flourishing career as one of the youngest English Lit assistant professors at NYU, an apartment in a city she adores, and a close circle of lifelong girlfriends that are like sisters. The only thing she doesn’t have is someone special to share it with. She’s been married to her work since Sean McKinnon broke her heart seven years ago.

Musician and bar owner Sean McKinnon keeps busy – too busy for a love life. He blew it with Cassie all those years ago, and no one has held a candle to her since.

But then one fateful night, of all the people in New York City, Cassandra walks into his bar, and he’s drawn to her as strongly as ever. She wants nothing to do with him, but he’s not going to give up so easily.

Can a bit of New York Christmas magic help two people take a second chance on true love?"

What I liked about this novel....

This was another good story about another sorority sister and was the second book in the Christmas in New York series that are stand alone reads. I liked how this author puts these stories together with each one comes face to face with that special someone from their past. This story was a story of Sean who will unite with a lost love Cassandra after eight years. "All I Want For Christmas" was a well written quick fantastic read of a rekindling of a romance that I would recommend to you as a good read.

very good book of lost & found love. 7 years after they broke up Cassandra walks into a bar to get out of the cold with her best friend Sabrina & come face to face with the love of her life Sean. They broke up because Sean didn't think he was good enough for her because he was dyslexic & had ADHD & not very book smart like she was. Now 7 yrs later they realize that their feelings haven't changed for each other & fight to find their way back to one another. Truths come out & old wounds are opened up again on both sides to try to push them apart again. Will love actually help them find their way past every obstacle?

4 stars

All I Want for Christmas was a beautiful and warm read about taking a second chance at love.

I really enjoyed reading Sean and Cassandra's story, they touched my heart with their heartache at being apart for so many years.
I was a very happy girl when they both finally left the past behind and allowed themselves to trust their hearts and the love they have always shared.

Thank you Netgalley and to Tule Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This second chance at love story tells us of the romance between Cassie and Sean. In their first go around Sean broke Cassie's heart when he left her, mistakenly thinking that he would hold her back from her academic dreams. Now a chance meeting several years later rekindles their flame. But will Cassie let her heart be mended by the one who shattered it so completely?

I really enjoyed this story! Sean is a handsome, friendly guy and he is fully aware of the hurt he caused Cassie and himself when he broke up their relationship. Having this second chance, he is determined to do things right and this means admitting to his secret fears and failings. Cassie is understandably hesitant and wary of getting involved with Sean again, but her attraction to him has never died. The sexual tension between them is evident from the first time they encounter each other again and the love scenes between them are sweet and tender. I liked the fact that they have matured and are able to see that both of them made mistakes in their previous relationship that contributed to its breakup. I felt for Cassie and her indecision on whether to give Sean a second chance. This was a lovely, feel good story that will leave you with a smile on your face. 5 stars!

Review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1126206315

Cassandra walks in to the bar with her friend Bree and sees no other then they man who broke her heart is many years ago, Sean. They talk to catch up and he says how sorry he is, but the question is can they move on and take a second chance on the love that's still there?

All I Want for Christmas by Jennifer Gracen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cassandra walks in to the bar with her friend Bree and sees no other then they man who broke her heart is many years ago, Sean. They talk to catch up and he says how sorry he is, but the question is can they move on and take a second chance on the love that's still there?

View all my reviews

This was a wonderful story and great addition to the Christmas in New York series. This was touching and lovely, full of holiday scenes and spirit. Can't wait to read more by this author!

This was a great, quick holiday read! I love how the books in this series all relate to each other!

All I Want for Christmas is a wonderful, heartwarming story of second chance love. Seven years previously, scholar Cassandra Baines is left broken-hearted by the love of her life, Irishman Sean McKinnon. But when she and her best-friend Bree walk into a bar and are faced with him serving, feelings and emotions are unleashed.

"I hated that you let me go; that you didn't fight for me, for us"

I adored Sean. Aside of the fact he's Irish (swoon), he wears his heart firmly on his sleeve. He's honest, determined, thoughtful, has a vulnerable side and he woo's. I love a man who woo's and if he managed to steal my heart, God help Cass. And as his reasons for leaving her become evident, my heart hurt.

"Give me a chance, Cassie. And I'll romance ya within an inch of your life."

Filled with festive feeling, revelations and romance, this little book is a wonderful emotional read which left me with an unexpected little tear trickling down my cheek. It was a pleasure to read.

(This is the second novella in the Christmas in New York series - four romantic festive novellas focussing around four lifelong friends. I've read the series a little out of order - I read the last novella first, but in fairness, whilst it contained an epilogue and the first a prologue, they could be read as you wish.)

LOVED this book. It was so so good. I told everyone that I know that uses a Kindle to get this book.

3 - Of all the bars in all of New York, she'd walked into his.

I am a great fan of the second chance at love trope, what tends to sour it somewhat for me is when the couple in question, then go and make the same mistakes again second time around. Cassie and Sean somewhat fall into this category, and it did have a slightly negative effect on my enjoyment of the second novella in the Christmas in New York series.

"Don't make a promise you can't keep."

Being in novella form it was still enjoyable as the whole situation wasn't overly played out, and I liked the fact that Sean basically put his heart and nuts on the line for Cassie in an attempt to prove himself to her this time round.

The continuation of the lives of the other girls though this novella gives it good flow as well, so I would still recommend you read it if you are looking to read the series as a whole.

"So Irish. What are you doing for Christmas?"

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

Let me start by saying this series was a holiday treat! All four books in the Christmas in New York series published by Tule Publishing thru their Holiday Books community of writers were fantastic. Each was unique yet held the same feel good holiday heart-warmth you want to read this time of year!
All I Want for Christmas is another second chance romance story. If you read This Christmas (book 1 in the series) then you already know that these four books are based on four friends who's mothers were sorority sisters. The gist in this story is Cassandra drops by a bar to get a drink with one of her BFF aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand cue unexpected sighting of past love, Sean. Sean and Cassandra dated pretty seriously over 7 years before but broke things off. And now all kinds of emotions and feelings are swarming about and we have ourselves a VERY determined Irish man who wants his Cassie back!
I'm just gonna put it out there that this was an emotional read for me and I found myself tearing up at the end. It was an absolute pleasure to read!

ARC provided by Tule Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review!

All I Want for Christmas was a beautiful and warm read about taking a second chance at love.

In their first attempt at a relationship Sean broke Cassie's heart when he left her, because he thought that he would hold her back from her academic dreams. Cassandra is out with her friend Bree for a drink and a fun evening, but when she enters the bar she notices that the bartender is Sean, her ex-boyfriend, who broke your heart and who she has never really gotten over.

It's a second chance of love for the two of them, but since they are both hurt by what happened previously between them, there are some things to deal with and work through. Cassandra isn’t sure about getting involved with Sean again, because she doesn’t want to get her heart broken again.

This is a great story with a little holiday magic.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review**

The books in tho series are about a central group of characters, but each is written by a different author. It was a nice way to be introduced to different authors, and I liked that each and a slightly different style. The characters were strong, and the story lines were interesting

This is another delightful second chance romance. Cassandra Baines is one of the youngest English Lit assistant professors at NYU. She loves living in NY and has a circle of friends who are just like sisters to her. It is whilst she is out with one of these that they go into a bar and, across a crowded bar, she makes eye contact with Sean McKinnon, who broke her heart seven years ago. The chemistry is still there between them, they are irresistibly drawn to each other but the memories of pain and desertion are strong. He ran from their relationship but seems desperate to rekindle their love. Can she trust him again? Will she let him back into her life?The history between them is rich, with great memories now tainted by their break up. Cassie didn’t really understand why Sean felt he had to leave. Will she understand now if he swallows his pride to explain? Is it worthwhile risking further heartache for both of them?

The characters are excellently portrayed, warts and all. The author makes it easy to empathise with them both by her empathetic writing which draws the reader into their relationship. I was amazed to find that, although written by different authors, the Christmas in New York series all involve the same core characters. This is a great series and definitely different! I was impressed by the way the characters maintain their key personality traits and their actions interlink through the books. These authors certainly worked well together and I enjoyed the resulting stories!

A part of the best friend's Christmas set featuring Bree, Jade, Cassie, Kara and Elena, "All I Want for Christmas" is Cassie's story. his was one of my favorites in this series, but I'm a sucker for Irish men, and Cassie's one-that-got-away is definitely worth catching. All of these stories are short so they don't have the length to fully develop the characters or their interconnecting stories. But what's here is good and a festive, feisty, fun read. Enjoyed curling up on the couch, cocoa in hand reading this installment. this book tackles what is likely the most difficult relationship less to learn, acceptance. Building a relationship isn't about rebuilding the person, it's about loving them warts and all exactly as they are because people really don't change. But most people don't get that, which is why over half of marriages in the US end in divorce. But there is hope in this read which will make readers feel that love is real and it can be sustained. And isn't that why we read romance novels? I think so. This is a great escape into the place that most of us single ladies (and probably half the married ones) would like to be.

In book two of the Christmas in New York Series we follow Cassandra "Cass" Baines and Sean McKinnon.

Some seven years ago, Sean McKinnon broke Cassandra Baines' heart. Since then she focused all of her energy into her studies and her professional career, becoming one of the youngest English Literature assistant professors at NYU.

Sean McKinnon broke up with Cass thinking he was doing her a favor; he believed he would only hold her back. He always felt breaking up with her was the most horrible event in his life; but always thought it was for the best. Now a bartender / bar owner, he spends his time just going through life.

Of all the bars in New York city Cass, just happens to walk into Sean's bar when out with her friend Bree (read book one); Sean can't believe his eyes when he see's Bree approach his bar and right behind her is Cass.

Sean sets out to woo Cass and show her this time he wants a forever. He wants to show her that this time no doubts will tear them apart.

The story is enjoyable and Sean is such a good guy. Granted his own self doubts about not being good enough for girl like Cass led to him screwing up the first time. So far the series has been really good, I can't wait to see what comes in the next two books.

Rating 4 out of 5 Read@Book

This was a wonderful second chance at love book. I loved the characters and the accent of the leading man! Swoon!

I enjoyed this Christmas book from start to finish!

Well done! 4.5 stars from me. Recv'd a copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy these Christmas stories about rekindly love! I really loved Sean and his honesty and vulnerability. It also doesn't hurt that he is an Irish gentleman! I was also impressed how much of a story Gracen was able to pack into this little novella, and I was thankful because the story didn't seem lacking.

I already sent in my review for this title. I emailed NetGalley and they said they’re having problems with titles appearing to need feedback when it’s already been sent.