This is one of the books that I’ve read quite a lot, as Carole Matthews used to be one of my favourite authors. This book was nice, a little festive treat before Christmas, but for some reason, it did take me a while to finish. I think it was because I wanted more of Louise and Josh, and less about how Kirsten and Melissa were treated by corporate men. They had no personalities when they were with those men! And I do feel for them, but how many times can you put up with someone like that? I found it very dull, very boring, but I loved when they finally took initiative and ended their relationships. Their personalities finally shone, and it made the book much more enjoyable, even if we did only see it happen towards the end.

Josh and Louise are a beautiful couple. I really like the chemistry, I like how he subtly shows his feelings for her, how he doesn’t look at anyone else, even if they try it on him, and it’s a really good old-fashioned romance, which I adore. I love how quickly Josh is accepted into Louise’s family, and how he doesn’t push anything she doesn’t want. I think it’s really sweetly written, and, considering the other men (specimen) there are in this book, I’m glad we had him to balance everything out. 

The ending left us with a lot of questions unanswered. Like, for example, what was Tyler calling them all about at the end? We never found out, because no one picked up. Also, with Lance dead, how did Melissa react? How did his sons react? There was so much put in, that wasn’t actually elaborated on in the end. And we’ve been with these characters since the beginning, and although we don’t like them, surely we deserve to know what happens to them in the end? I mean, I’m assuming Melissa and Martin end up together, but do they? I need to know! A second book would be very kind, and very much anticipated. 

Some of this book was a little unrealistic, and a bit ‘happy ever after-y’, which is a shame, because the rest of it was very interesting to read about. Quite a long book, but it kept me entertained throughout December/January. 

 

We follow Louise at her new job. Having had a child with someone who wasn’t interested, and disappeared as her daughter, Mia, was born. He left her with the house, which she couldn’t afford, and a load of debt, which she couldn’t pay off. Having to move in with her parents, she was delighted to be offered a job at Fossil Oil, where she was getting paid good money, for once. 

The only issue being Tyler Benson, her very handsy boss, who makes every excuse to touch her without her consent. 

Every year, they throw a Christmas party. Not being a person who goes out, Louise isn’t sure if she wants to go, but feels she must, as it is only one night. She gets ready, getting out her little black dress and getting her hair done, before saying goodbye to her family, and going out for a night that will change her life. 

When she gets there, her friend, Karen, who has the hots for a certain Josh Wallace, is already tipsy, with Louise having arrived later than everyone else. However, she’s unaware that the same Josh Wallace is attracted to Louise, instead, and spends all the night trying to get closer to her. And, worst of all, she’s not immune to his charm. Not one to ’sleep around’, especially not with work colleagues, she tries to keep it on a professional level, even though, for the first time, she is very tempted. 

Tyler Benson is married to Kirsten legally, but to his work in reality. Every Christmas, she wants things to be different, and this year is just like that. Tyler promises to take some time off, to be closer with her over Christmas, and she tries to believe him, but it has never happened before. She isn’t in love with him, but she doesn’t know it yet . 

Lance, who is Tyler’s boss, is the man in charge of Fossil Oil, and he is married to Melissa. Yes, the same Melissa that Tyler Benson is sleeping with. Whilst she is in love with him, he just wants to know all of Lance’s actions before they happen. Lance is an alcoholic, always drunk, always pushing his limits, and, because of his actions, always pushing Melissa away. She’s in love with Tyler, but he is just using her. She hopes that one day he will reciprocate her feelings, but her doesn’t. 

During the Christmas party, a lot of ties are donated for charity, and a lot of alcohol is consumed, as Fossil Oil has got a free bar. When an announcement is made, and people’s jobs are questioned, everyone starts to drink a lot more. And everything goes to pot. Melissa finds out her and Lance are moving away (which is a surprise to her, as she finally feels settled) and so she tries to find out Tyler’s feelings for her, but he was using her this whole time. Tyler wants to stay ‘faithful’ to his wife, but is staring out Louise, meanwhile Kirsten is face to face with her old love, Simon Conway. He left the country for work, after Simon and Kirsten both received emails from the other saying they had both moved on. After talking for a while, they find out that the emails were sent by Tyler, in an effort to keep them apart. 

When Louise and Josh are alone in the library, exploring their feelings for each other, Kirsten runs in, and mistakes Josh for Tyler. She leaves, arranging for a taxi, but Simon gets there first. They decide to go to her house, and try their relationship again, and it’s like they never happened. Simon gets offered a position at Fossil Oil, working above Tyler, but he says no, because Kirsten doesn’t want to be put behind a company again. They decide to go abroad, and start their new life there. 

Melissa decides she no longer wants to be lance’s mother, and leaves him, because only he can save himself from his drunkeness. Their driver, Martin, takes her away to a hotel for Christmas, and then, so she doesn’t have to be alone, invites her to his family’s house for Christmas, to which she agrees. 

And Josh, already accepted into Louie’s family by all of them, is invited along too. With Josh being offered a promotion after Tyler’s impromptu resignation, (after thinking Lance knew about his affair with Melissa, he hands it in, not knowing that he is not as irreplaceable as he thought) Louise and Josh need to figure out a way to be appropriate at work whilst they’re dating. However, they still decide to give it a go, and Louise is very happy she went to the Christmas party in the end. Despite the fact she locked her gropey boss in a room and a fire started, and it took him being rescued, naked, to sack her, and Josh for sticking up for her.