Christmas Paradise

Rating:
Summary: Timeless Tales review
Review: By TT reviewer Shannah Biondine

Tarralee Roessel breeds and trains sled dogs and wolves in the northwestern Cascade Mountains. Tyrone Shields is a Hollywood producer/director looking to make an important documentary film about wolves and wolf hybrids. He wants an expert animal trainer to work as technical advisor and is referred to "Terry" by her brother, David. David neglects to mention the animal expert is his sister.

Foul weather and a misunderstanding ending in gunfire and physical injuries to both Ty and Tarry combine to throw them into an unlikely alliance. But Ty is grateful for the opportunity to spend time with Tarry, wanting to persuade her to become his film's technical advisor. Tarry, a stubborn loner, has no interest in the project, but develops quite a personal interest in the film's creative genius.

Despite its title, this book isn't really a seasonal romance focused strictly on Christmas. The wintry setting lends itself to the holiday season and there are some pivotal scenes involving gifts and family togetherness. But the real storyline revolves around the question of commitment--and I, for one, find this a weak central conflict. A number of scenes felt contrived, and I would have liked to learn more about both the animal training occupation as well as filmmaking. The book glosses over these unusual occupations and possibilities for strengthening the conflict by enriching the characters through their work. Instead, it follows a standard plotline, with a jaded, handsome hero/rake and wallflower heroine who must prove she's much more beneath the surface.

Readers looking for light escapism along with their hot cocoa by the fire on a cold night should enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Sooooooooo NOT Worth the Price!
Review: Tarralee "Tarry" Roessel was happy on her mountain. She had her crossbred wolf-Malamutes to train to be good sled dogs and was enjoying being alone. After raising 5 younger brothers by herself when her parents died when she was 16, she could definitely use some solitude. Sure she was 30 and still a virgin, never even been involved in a relationship, but she took care of her family and that was what mattered. Her brothers kept hoping that Tarry would get off the mountain and get a life, but they knew how stubborn she was so they had to go with subtle methods. So they didn't tell famous director/producer that their sibling who was great with animals was a girl.

When Tyrone Shields, said famous director, headed up to the middle of nowhere, he was very surprised to see a woman there. He wasn't sure who she was, but it appeared that a pack of vicious wolves were attacking her so he shot one of them. The next thing he knew, he had shot her in the side and himself in the shoulder and the little spitfire was yelling at him. Tarry wanted nothing more than to see Tyrone out of her life for good, but, with a blizzard coming in, she knew he would never make it down the mountain.

Even though Tarry was always kind and polite to people, she found herself snapping at Tyrone every time she spoke to him and couldn't wait for him to leave. But she found out that he played dirty - he wanted her to train her animals for his documentary about wolves and to get her off of the mountain so she could start living a real life. So, with her brothers' help, he "kidnapped" her, took her to his family's estate, and set about persuading her. Once Tarry decided to participate, Tyrone all but ignored her. Was she imaging the physical attraction between them? When she eventually manages to persuade Tyrone to get involved with her, she knew it was a mistake because they were from completely different worlds - and Tyrone didn't even believe in marriage! Tarry knew that she needed to cut Tyrone out of her life for good, if only it didn't feel like she was cutting her heart out too...

Christmas Paradise is a classic romance story with the jaded playboy falling for the inexperienced yet beautiful and talented woman. They have nothing in common and he doesn't believe in true love and marriage and stuff, but she manages to change his mind and they end up happily ever after. The book did this plot quite well, but was a little repetitive in the middle. Tyrone and Tarry had the same argument over and over again, which was pretty tiresome. Also, Tyrone seemed to bring out the worst in Tarry and she was quite the shrew when he was around. The ending was really abrupt, but it did end happily. I was disappointed that the author didn't develop the whole animal trainer for the movies better. It was just used as a device to get the two of them together and then it wasn't really mentioned again. I got to read this book free through an ebook service so I didn't shell out [$$] for it and I would recommend that you not pay this price either, it was okay, but go buy the 4 other books you could get for the price of this 1!