By: Jenny Holiday
I am disappointed. I loved, loved Jenny Holiday’s Duke Actually. So much so, that when I realized it was the second book of a series, I immediately read A Princess for Christmas. I found Princess to be more lackluster than Duke, but I still enjoyed the juxtaposition of a cheesy Christmas Hallmark movie but with actual sex. All of this is to say, I was looking forward to the third book, So This Is Christmas, which is the story of Matteo Benz, the King’s trusty and capable equerry, or executive assistant, and Cara Delaney, the outside management consultant tasked with making Morneau, basically the sole company, and thus the whole country of Eldovia more efficient. Instead, I basically feel asleep.
Holiday is a good writer; unfortunately, these characters were extremely boring. First, I cannot believe that these two people referred to each other as “Mr. Benz” or “Ms. Delaney” for half of the book. And not in like, a sexy way. That is insane to me. When I found out that Benz was only 30, I was truly appalled. I get his character is supposed to be a traditionalist, so he would act older than his age, and I kept trying to remind myself that he is supposed to be from a small, European country so he will have different customs, etc., but like– this is weird? What 30 year old man would talk like this? And if he did, why would anyone want to have sex with him?
There were also like 20 pages dedicated to Star Wars v Star Trek v. I do not care. I understand those series have such strong fandoms, but if you are not a part of that (HELLO? HI. I am referring to me) this is nothing I care about and I don’t have the background to grasp what these two characters are (1) talking about or (2) how this is describing some fundamental aspect of their personalities. It was boring.
I am also infuriated that the banter (if we can call it that?) between these two “enemies-to-lovers” often resulted in one, or both characters, “chuckling.” Like he, chuckled, she chuckled, literally no one is chuckling at this. NO ONE. I mean, I am glad these two found each other so they aren’t alone all of their days and they seem to find each other amusing, so great, but it was completely unnecessary to write a book about it.
And, personally, I am fine with a slow burn. I appreciate that more than the plots where the two main characters fall into an insta-lust or love, but again, nothing really happened for so very, very long. We would start a new chapter and two weeks went by where the main characters barely saw each other and the entire book takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Then at one point, they hook up and Matteo is all of the sudden in love with her? Not that she isn’t lovable– I am sure she is super nice since she is so boring, but what? And WHY? And, this is why I am disappointed in this book. It is a double thumbs down from me.
Rating: 🌟🌟/5
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/so-this-is-christmas-jenny-holiday/1140834180
Or an independent bookstore! Try Warwick’s in La Jolla, CA https://www.warwicks.com/book/9780062952127