Holiday by Candlelight by Laurel Greer

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Title: Holiday by Candlelight
Author: Laurel Greer
Series: Sutter Creek Montana #3
Published by: Harlequin Special Edition
Release Date: October 15, 2019
Format: Paperback
Pages: 224
Genres: Contemporary, Holiday, Romance
Potential Triggers: View Spoiler »avalanche PTSD « Hide Spoiler
Source: Library
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 Diversity Reading Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks
My rating:

Blurb:

A tragic accident ended the life he once knew

Is a Hanukkah miracle right around the corner?

This year, Dr. Caleb Matsuda could do without holiday cheer. After an avalanche robbed him of his ability to practice surgery, he struggles to make it through each day. He may be intrigued by new colleague Garnet James, but she’s also a search-and-rescue volunteer who could be in danger at any moment. If only she wasn’t perfect for the man he used to be…

My Review:

3.5 stars — While I really enjoyed how unique this book was, I found all the conflict and strife to be a bit hard on my heart.  It was real, but I’m just not as into that much push and pull I guess.  It’s like, we had 2 characters who were both struggling with the after effects of trauma/life changes, and while they were totally pulled in by the other, they couldn’t seem to find a way to meet in the middle.  Don’t get me wrong, they got there…and I think I actually believed it in the end, it felt realistic and right.  But it was a HARD journey, with both characters having some less than stellar moments that just…well, it made it a bit harder.

I enjoy them together, but I think I just personally prefer couples with less…conflict?  Angst?  I don’t know.  I don’t know how to describe it.

While I’m wanting to go back and read the rest of this series, I picked this one as my current read because I thought I might get some religious diversity for my challenge.  Alas, Caleb is non-practicing, so I can’t see myself counting it.