Tonight is the night of the office holiday party and Olive Harper, a paralegal for a New Jersey law firm, was put in charge of the planning. To her surprise, a new employee has been hired at the firm and has brought his brother, Murphy Scott, as his guest. When Murphy wakes up on a strange couch in a strange house, he is curious and concerned until he is greeted by the beautiful woman whom he met last night at a holiday party. Instantly intrigued by her long night shirt and knee high socks, neither Murphy nor Olive could know where a chance meeting at an office holiday party might take them, but thanks to a Secret Santa, they are about to find out.
~Review~
Secret Santa by Jennifer Benson
Book Review by Nicole McCurdy
4* star ****
Even though the holiday season is over and we’re now all relegated to discussing post-Christmas diets and our dreary exercise plans to shift the overindulgence of turkey and potatoes Secret Santa by Jennifer Benson was the perfect remedy to help me over the January blues. Told in dual points of view from Olive, our witty, pretty and down-to-earth paralegal and Murphy a crude talking picture of perfection with a massive... sense of humour. I’ve never had the pleasure of reading any of Jennifer’s work but given the smooth writing style and bright, clever use of dialogue I fear I may have been missing out greatly.
The problem with Christmas novella books is they tend to all stick to the same feeble template and can be incredibly predictive, however with Secret Santa the timeline although not very long never seems rushed or forced, the romance doesn’t come across as insta-love either, though I have no problem with it at all. Murphy is a delectable piece of book boyfriend material, he’s supremely handsome and humorous, yet his comedy is possibly an accidental kind of thing rather than by design due to the fact the man has no filter, if he thinks it, he says it regardless of the situation or audience. Olive too was a perfect female protagonist, smart and capable, independent without coming across as stubborn and had a lovely sense of self-worth as well as humour. The implementation of some ridiculously hot and scandalous sex scenes, Murphy and Olive’s banter and interaction with each other and a well written storyline with a bit of ex-girlfriend drama to interrupt the equilibrium set this book up for total success.
If you’re looking for a smooth transition from your post-Holiday blues into the real world Secret Santa has enough sharp dialogue, steamy scenes and wit about it to infuse you with a nice warm feeling and hopefully enough happiness to push you through to Valentine’s Day. A fantastic quick read.
~ Buy Links ~
My couch night was made up of my coziest pajama boxer shorts, my softest button down pajama shirt, my softy soft knee high socks and my hair thrown up in a messy bun on top of my head. I settled in to start reading my newest Kindle download. I was reaching for my mug of hot chocolate from the side table when my phone buzzed. I looked toward it and debated on whether or not to even check it, but it might have been Mikella. She had told me she would be working late tonight from home and might be calling…ugh
M: Well it took me five fucking days to finally get your number, but I got it. I had to do a couple of things I’m not proud of and will have flashing before my eyes at my final moments, but they were worth it. How about a little pic to make up for my acts?
O: Who in the hell is this?
M: Wow, you’ve forgotten me already. Well, how about I give you a reminder of your body pressed up against mine in your hallway with you only wearing a flimsy pajama shirt that barely covered the little boxer shorts that barely covered your ass. Your braless tits rubbing up against me causing my morning wood to get even more painfully hard.
O: Holy shit! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?
M: I kissed your mouth with this mouth and I’d love to do it again and again and again. Then kiss even more places on you.
O: Seriously, who is this?
M: Woman, you had better fucking know who this is. Grrrr
O: Did you just Grrr at me?
M: I did and if you don’t type my name in your next response I’m getting on a plane and I’m going to remind you exactly who I am.
O: Oh Merick. How are you? It has been forever.
M: Woman!!! I have the phone in my hands
O: Oh sorry M… what was it again.
M: I’m dialing the airport…
O: Good! And when you get a hold of them you can tell them that the WOMAN you are coming out here to see is presently wearing another pajama shirt as well as an even smaller pair of boxer shorts and knee high socks. Murphy :p
M: Damn I was hoping to be on the plane by the time you ‘said’ my name.
O: And what would you have done when you got here?
M: Open your front door and find out
O: What? Are you really… stop
M: Olive?
M: Olive?
M: Woman!!
O: They are beautiful thank you :/
M: What is the :/ for? What you don’t like Gerbera daisies and Asters? You have a bunch of pictures of them around your house.
O: No, no. I do I love them, thank you.
M: Then why the :/ not the :D
M: Hello?
O: I’m here. I was just putting them in a vase. They are now up on my mantel. Pic attached
M: Holy Shit! I miss those lips. Did I really just meet you six days ago?
O: Yup. At a wonderful beautifully decorated country club that you drank yourself into a stupor at that required me to bring you home with me. Are you going to tell me what that was about BTW?
M: I had just lost a major deal and was pissed. Then I was dragged by my older brother to his new firm’s holiday party which was held in an awesomely decorated winter wonderland by a lady who has great legs that I would love to have …
M: Has it really only been six days? You’re sure?
O: my legs wrapped around your waist and my back pressed up against my hallway wall
M: as I run my tongue over the seam of your lips then slide in your delicious mouth until you are moaning for more
O: Murphy?
M: Yes
O: I really wanted you to be at my front door when I opened it :(
M: Me too :(
M: can we get back to you moaning my name?
Quick fire
Why did you start writing?
I see stories in my head and feel the need to put them down
Who inspires you to write?
The voices in my head
Who would you love to write with?
Oh my, what a question – so many that I would name – Nicholas Sparks and E.B. White
What makes you start writing?
The constant chattering of the voice in my head
Do you set deadlines?
I probably should just to force myself to keep on track. I’m easily sidetracked.
Any advice for any new starters?
Work with outlines, set deadlines, make friends in the indie world, treat others how you want to be treated, be willing to ask for help and help in return when asking for help.
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