Title:  Jingle Bell Harbor
Series:  Bell Harbor  #3.5
Author:  Tracy Brogan
Genre:  Contemporary Romance, Christmas Romance
Published:  October 20, 2015
Publisher:  Montlake Romance
My Rating:  5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

As assistant buyer for the world’s second-largest Christmas store, Kelsey Parker feels like a holiday harlot. She’s contractually obligated to promote the yuletide season. All. Year. Long. And it’s taking a toll on her spirit. But when her clueless, self-absorbed boyfriend goes on their long-anticipated romantic vacation—without her!—Kelsey is beyond disappointed to find herself tromping through the Bell Harbor snow instead of lounging on a tropical beach.

Drew Hampton is considered quite a catch among the Bell Harbor bachelorettes, but when his high school dream girl, Kelsey Parker, shows up at his grandfather’s Christmas tree lot complaining about her love life, he decides it’s long past time to get her under the mistletoe himself.

As things heat up between the two, a surprise visitor arrives, making Kelsey an offer she can’t quite believe. Now she must decide what matters most, and she just may discover the key to her happiness.

Read on for my thoughts on Jingle Bell Harbor.   No true spoilers, promise.

Jingle Bell Harbor is exactly the type of Christmas story I love.  It’s a novella, so it fits into the, at times, shorter periods that I can relax with a Christmas story during the hectic schedule we all keep around the holidays.  And it’s lighthearted and fun.  I enjoy deep drama, sure, but there are times I simply want a fun, cute romance with limited trauma involved.  I want to see two people fall in love and Jingle Bell Harbor gave me everything I needed from another addition to the Bell Harbor series this Christmas.

Kelsey has frankly had enough of Christmas, she’s up to her eyeballs over Christmas, and she is thrilled to be leaving anything resembling snow far behind as she and her boss/boyfriend head to Hawaii for the holiday for sand instead of snow.

That is until her endearing, outrageous grandmother fell and broke her hip and needs Kelsey’s help back home in Bell Harbor this Christmas.  The absolute last place she wanted to be with its snow drifts and over abundance of Christmasy cheer on every surface imaginable.  To make it worse, instead of coming home with Kelsey, her arrogant boyfriend wasn’t giving up sun and surf for anyone and continued on their vacation without her.  The Jerk!

Drew has had a crush on Kelsey for pretty much as long as he can remember.  He’s all grown up now and nerdy as always, he’s a science teacher it’s kinda required  (grin) but Drew gives nerds worldwide hope since he is a handsome and sexy devil.  When Kelsey shows up in Bell Harbor once again, Drew is determined to act on his  affection for this feisty lady.  Yeah, she has a worthless boyfriend, sorta kinda – but it’s time that Kelsey realized what a real man in love acts like.

Jingle Bell Harbor is a delightful Christmas story with believable characters and a situation that is realistic.  Plus adorable secondary characters, always a plus in my opinion.  Come on, who can’t love a grandmother who devours Fifty Shades of Grey?  If you’re addicted to Christmas stories, (raise hand), and you enjoy a lighthearted romance with lovable characters – then what are you waiting for?  Go pick up Jingle Bell Harbor and get your Christmas happy mood on – it’s never too early.. in spite of what Kelsey thinks.  🙂

*I received an e-ARC of Jingle Bell Harbor from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available for the Kindle