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Reindeer Valley #2
Christmas Grump
Reindeer Valley is a beautiful town of holiday happiness and Christmas cheer.
I hate it.
In fact, I have a plan to destroy the whole thing, reducing this place to a pile of ashes. But I’ll need an assistant, someone devious and cruel who can help me do all the dirty work. Merry is neither of those. In fact, she’s the warmest, kindest person I’ve ever met. Despite this fact, I hire her. She needs my guidance and protection, after all.
As her employer, I’ll help her become the best employee she can be as she performs each of my underhanded tasks to wreck Reindeer Valley. Once I discover she isn’t following my instructions to the letter, I realize she’s in need of punishment. Lucky for her, I’m a very involved employer, and I’m more than happy to give her the discipline she is so sorely lacking. She takes my instruction quite well, and her desire to please me only reinforces how wise I was to hire her.
But what happens when I have to choose between my revenge on Reindeer Valley and my sweet darling Merry?
MINK’s Merry makes certain parts of this Christmas Grump grow three sizes bigger, but it remains to be seen if it’s his heart or his …
I hate it.
In fact, I have a plan to destroy the whole thing, reducing this place to a pile of ashes. But I’ll need an assistant, someone devious and cruel who can help me do all the dirty work. Merry is neither of those. In fact, she’s the warmest, kindest person I’ve ever met. Despite this fact, I hire her. She needs my guidance and protection, after all.
As her employer, I’ll help her become the best employee she can be as she performs each of my underhanded tasks to wreck Reindeer Valley. Once I discover she isn’t following my instructions to the letter, I realize she’s in need of punishment. Lucky for her, I’m a very involved employer, and I’m more than happy to give her the discipline she is so sorely lacking. She takes my instruction quite well, and her desire to please me only reinforces how wise I was to hire her.
But what happens when I have to choose between my revenge on Reindeer Valley and my sweet darling Merry?
MINK’s Merry makes certain parts of this Christmas Grump grow three sizes bigger, but it remains to be seen if it’s his heart or his …
134 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
December 30, 2021
3 Stars
I liked the hero but it's just a bit boring for me and was almost a DNF
Safety: safe
Typical Mink safety
Edit: dual virgins
I liked the hero but it's just a bit boring for me and was almost a DNF
Safety: safe
Typical Mink safety
Edit: dual virgins
December 20, 2021
"Christmas Grump" is the story of Merry and Sebastian.
What a fantastic read!
Hero is a big bad evil grump, who comes to the heroine's town to destroy it. He wants an efficient secretary to torture. But what he gets is a sunshine heroine who thwarts all his plan, steals his heart and makes him her devotee. It was such an endearing read with wonderfully likable characters. Such fun to see the hero have a change of heart, and the heroine was a positive, happy, kind influence all around with a sassy cat.
Loved it!
Safe
4.5/5
What a fantastic read!
Hero is a big bad evil grump, who comes to the heroine's town to destroy it. He wants an efficient secretary to torture. But what he gets is a sunshine heroine who thwarts all his plan, steals his heart and makes him her devotee. It was such an endearing read with wonderfully likable characters. Such fun to see the hero have a change of heart, and the heroine was a positive, happy, kind influence all around with a sassy cat.
Loved it!
Safe
4.5/5
December 18, 2021
If you're looking for something Christmassy,- cheesy, silly with cute funny epilogue, this is your thing
December 18, 2021
Un Grinch demasiado OTT para mí gusto.
•Mi opinión puede contener Spoilers
•Esta destinada a ser un descargo personal no para que alguien más lea pero si lo haces y te ofende, me disculpo porque sé lo que es que te guste un libro y otros lo critiquen
💝Christmas Grump de Mink Serie Reindeer Valley libro 2
Argumento:
Reindeer Valley es una hermosa ciudad de felicidad navideña y alegría navideña.
Lo odio.
De hecho, tengo un plan para destruir todo, reduciendo este lugar a un montón de cenizas. Pero necesitaré un asistente, alguien tortuoso y cruel que pueda ayudarme a hacer todo el trabajo sucio. Merry no es ninguno de esos. De hecho, es la persona más cálida y amable que he conocido. A pesar de este hecho, la contraté. Ella necesita mi guía y protección, después de todo.
Como su empleador, la ayudaré a convertirse en la mejor empleada que pueda ser mientras realiza cada una de mis tareas clandestinas para destruir Reindeer Valley. Una vez que descubro que no está siguiendo mis instrucciones al pie de la letra, me doy cuenta de que necesita un castigo. Por suerte para ella, soy un empleador muy involucrado y estoy más que feliz de poder darle la disciplina que tanto le falta. Ella toma mis instrucciones bastante bien, y su deseo de complacerme solo refuerza lo sabio que fui al contratarla.
Pero, ¿qué sucede cuando tengo que elegir entre mi venganza en Reindeer Valley y mi dulce y querida Merry?
Nota de MINK: Merry hace que ciertas partes de este gruñón navideño crezcan tres tamaños más, pero queda por ver si es su corazón o su ...
Mí humilde opinión:
🎄Estoy acostumbrada a que los libros de Mink sean exagerados, a veces demasiado, y este fue uno de esos.
La idea de la historia me gustó, el grinch de Reindeer Valley y la dulce e inocente chica con espíritu navideño que frustra todos sus planes malvados para arruinar el pueblo fue divertido y hubo mucho vapor festivo pero....
No pude aguantar a los protagonistas!
Merry, pobrecita, puede una mujer ser realmente tan... No quiero poner boba pero sí, boba y además despistada?
No logro perdonarla por perdonar a Sebastian alias grinch oscuro! Noooo quería que lo hiciera retorcer un poco pero no, se lo hizo fácil! Boba!
Sebastian, para mí fue lo peor.
Nunca me pasó tanto con un héroe en los libros de Mink pero a este lo detesté desde el principio y no logró cambiar mí opinión sobre él a lo largo de la historia. No hubo manera. Fue un Grinch demasiado OTT para mí gusto que no se merecía a Merry.
Es una pena porque esperaba leer el libro de la amiga de Nora, Merry con muchas ganas.🎄
November 13, 2023
3 stars
2.5 spice
Short, easy reading for a quick erotic holiday fix. No plot to be found here, folks, at least not one that makes sense, but that's OK.
So like any good Christmas holiday (at least my version LOL), suspend your disbelief, grab cookies and hot cocoa, and get ready to be ho-ho-horny!
2.5 spice
Short, easy reading for a quick erotic holiday fix. No plot to be found here, folks, at least not one that makes sense, but that's OK.
So like any good Christmas holiday (at least my version LOL), suspend your disbelief, grab cookies and hot cocoa, and get ready to be ho-ho-horny!
Read
December 16, 2021This was just ridiculously over the top, but still just so cute at the same time.
December 21, 2021
Who dosen't love a grumpy H and sweet h?
Not gonna say ANYTHING about the book.
Spoilers in the end.
But this will hint you-
[image error]
Dual virgins in there mid 20s.
No-cheating.
No-separation.
No sex scenes with OP.
HEA.
Married with kids.
Not gonna say ANYTHING about the book.
Spoilers in the end.
But this will hint you-
[image error]
Dual virgins in there mid 20s.
No-cheating.
No-separation.
No sex scenes with OP.
HEA.
Married with kids.
December 14, 2021
Cute story of a Christmas grump it got revenge only to have his heart melt when he met his true one!!
Safe read
Dual virgins
No om/ow drama
Epilogue 6 years
Safe read
Dual virgins
No om/ow drama
Epilogue 6 years
December 12, 2021
Deliciously devious and sugary hot. It's a thing, believe me.
This author has a talent to create a James Bond evil master plan and mix it with an adoring dose of sweetness. I love it!
Reindeer Valley is the perfect town for Christmas. It even has a sunshine kind of girl called Merry who is oblivious to her new boss intent on destroying her quaint home. I had a holiday blast with this cute and fun novella. For every step of his scheme, she is able to inadvertently twist it into a lovely alternative to make everyone happy around her.
All the while, the big bad grump of her boss becomes angrier, hornier and crazily obsessed with his new assistant. Cue in the mischievous plots, the naughty punishments, the over-the-top love and the explosive revenge at the end that shakes the whole town. It's so much fun!
This author has a talent to create a James Bond evil master plan and mix it with an adoring dose of sweetness. I love it!
Reindeer Valley is the perfect town for Christmas. It even has a sunshine kind of girl called Merry who is oblivious to her new boss intent on destroying her quaint home. I had a holiday blast with this cute and fun novella. For every step of his scheme, she is able to inadvertently twist it into a lovely alternative to make everyone happy around her.
All the while, the big bad grump of her boss becomes angrier, hornier and crazily obsessed with his new assistant. Cue in the mischievous plots, the naughty punishments, the over-the-top love and the explosive revenge at the end that shakes the whole town. It's so much fun!
December 14, 2021
You know going in Mink is going to have you laughter! It’s a guaranteed safe read. No cheating. No drama (only the good kind) and a healthy dose of steam.
Fun likeable and relatable characters. They the female lead is just so genuinely nice. That’s what I want, as a reader you want to imagine these people. And Mink proves effortlessly that it can be done.
It’s always a yes from me.
Fun likeable and relatable characters. They the female lead is just so genuinely nice. That’s what I want, as a reader you want to imagine these people. And Mink proves effortlessly that it can be done.
It’s always a yes from me.
January 7, 2022
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe
Possible Triggers: Yes
Ending:
Overall: 3.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe
Possible Triggers: Yes
Ending:
December 14, 2021
i think i just have to accept that im not one for christmas romances. they feel too cookie-cutter and formulaic to me. everything is "magical xmas" this and "magical xmas" that. wreaths, sweets, pine trees, a small town. rinse and repeat. im looking forward to january when authors will release normal romances again.
also, the h almost burned to death because of the H, after he'd broken her heart and told the whole town that she's his trusted employee a moment before saying he's there for revenge; kiiinda implicating her since she planned the party that drew the townspeople away while mercenaries destroy the town.
and she forgave him in two seconds. two fucking seconds.
and lastly, we don't know anything about the H and h. not hair color, eye color, occupation, nothing. the H lives in a big mansion but neither we nor, it seems, the h know how he could afford it. we know NOTHING, and they're apparently not curious about each other at all, because they definitely never have a conversation that isn't about xmas. like... a romance taking place at christmastime doesn't negate the need for very basic story elements. yet, authors keep thinking it does. god im looking forward to january.
also, the h almost burned to death because of the H, after he'd broken her heart and told the whole town that she's his trusted employee a moment before saying he's there for revenge; kiiinda implicating her since she planned the party that drew the townspeople away while mercenaries destroy the town.
and she forgave him in two seconds. two fucking seconds.
and lastly, we don't know anything about the H and h. not hair color, eye color, occupation, nothing. the H lives in a big mansion but neither we nor, it seems, the h know how he could afford it. we know NOTHING, and they're apparently not curious about each other at all, because they definitely never have a conversation that isn't about xmas. like... a romance taking place at christmastime doesn't negate the need for very basic story elements. yet, authors keep thinking it does. god im looking forward to january.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2023
As a very silly, over-the-top, and smutty Christmas novella, this was entertaining.
December 23, 2021
I just got MINKED.
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
December 10, 2022
The couple: Sebastian and Merry
Romance trope: secret identity/revenge
Series: Reindeer Valley
Length: 134 pages
Plot: Sebastian has big plans for the town of Reindeer Valley, but none of them are good. He wants revenge for something they did years ago, so he hires Merry to be his assistant and carry out his dirty work, unknowingly. She does the tasks he asks of her, but always with a twist, and Sebastian isn't exactly getting the results he wants, especially since he finds himself falling in love with Merry. But when his big reveal comes, will she be able to forgive him and look past his actions to the hurt inside?
Commentary: Sebastian was devious and mean-hearted. Merry wore him down little by little but not in time for him to decide to not go through with his revenge. He was still making that decision as he was giving his evil villain speech. The way the town forgave him and incorporated him into the town while punishing him was straight-Whoville tactics.
Previous book in the series: Christmas Crush
Romance trope: secret identity/revenge
Series: Reindeer Valley
Length: 134 pages
Plot: Sebastian has big plans for the town of Reindeer Valley, but none of them are good. He wants revenge for something they did years ago, so he hires Merry to be his assistant and carry out his dirty work, unknowingly. She does the tasks he asks of her, but always with a twist, and Sebastian isn't exactly getting the results he wants, especially since he finds himself falling in love with Merry. But when his big reveal comes, will she be able to forgive him and look past his actions to the hurt inside?
Commentary: Sebastian was devious and mean-hearted. Merry wore him down little by little but not in time for him to decide to not go through with his revenge. He was still making that decision as he was giving his evil villain speech. The way the town forgave him and incorporated him into the town while punishing him was straight-Whoville tactics.
“Do you have a boyfriend?” He goes back to glaring down at me. I keep a smile on my face, hoping it’s contagious. “Nope, I have a cat. They’re way better.”
Previous book in the series: Christmas Crush
February 22, 2022
My reviews always contain spoilers, I write them so I can remember the story.
Sebastian hates Reindeer Valley, everyone who lives there, and Christmas. He is set on destroying the town, the town folks, and their Christmas, to help him with his plan he needs a local who can help. He hires Merry who is looking for a job. She’s a real sweetheart and everyone in town loves her. She wants to do a good job for Sebastian but doesn’t understand why he wants to do some of the things he asks her to do. He wants to ruin the holiday display at the center of town by stealing the town’s beloved Rudolph. Merry takes the reindeer but makes it into a scavenger hunt with its own #. Every time she purposely disregards his direct order and does what she thinks is best he punishes her with spankings which lead to sexy times. In the end he lures the whole town away while he sends mercenaries to destroy i. He reveals his diabolical scheme telling everyone it was because his mother a Reindeer Valley resident gave him up for adoption and he was abused as a child that he’s going to destroy everything. Merry can’t believe she helped him do something so bad and leaves, he has fallen in love with her and chases after her with his newly discovered half brother to save Merry and stop the mercenaries. The town forgives him and so does Merry. I love yous and now Sebastian plays the town Santa and they live happily ever after.
Sebastian hates Reindeer Valley, everyone who lives there, and Christmas. He is set on destroying the town, the town folks, and their Christmas, to help him with his plan he needs a local who can help. He hires Merry who is looking for a job. She’s a real sweetheart and everyone in town loves her. She wants to do a good job for Sebastian but doesn’t understand why he wants to do some of the things he asks her to do. He wants to ruin the holiday display at the center of town by stealing the town’s beloved Rudolph. Merry takes the reindeer but makes it into a scavenger hunt with its own #. Every time she purposely disregards his direct order and does what she thinks is best he punishes her with spankings which lead to sexy times. In the end he lures the whole town away while he sends mercenaries to destroy i. He reveals his diabolical scheme telling everyone it was because his mother a Reindeer Valley resident gave him up for adoption and he was abused as a child that he’s going to destroy everything. Merry can’t believe she helped him do something so bad and leaves, he has fallen in love with her and chases after her with his newly discovered half brother to save Merry and stop the mercenaries. The town forgives him and so does Merry. I love yous and now Sebastian plays the town Santa and they live happily ever after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2023
Christmas Grump is book two in the Reindeer Valley series. Book one was super cute, so I excited to try book two. These books are set in "Reindeer Valley," which I'm sure you can guess by the name is a small town full of holiday cheer. This is a pretty... unique / spicy retelling on the Grinch if you ask me. haha.
Our female MC is Merry. Cute name to go along with the town, right? Well our male MC Sebastian hires her as his assistant with the goal to be to destroy Reindeer Valley. He hates Christmas and all the holiday happiness happening. But he figures out Merry isn't exactly following his instructions... and so he decides Merry needs to be.. "punished." And yes, I mean the spicy kind of punished.
Merry is the sunshine, and Sebastian is the grump. Naturally, Sebastian falls for the sunshine, and she makes his heart happy..... so he's no longer the mean ol' grump he once was.
The spicy scenes are hot. But i have to admit, some of the book was a bit boring overall. I'm ot sure I'd read this again to be honest.
Our female MC is Merry. Cute name to go along with the town, right? Well our male MC Sebastian hires her as his assistant with the goal to be to destroy Reindeer Valley. He hates Christmas and all the holiday happiness happening. But he figures out Merry isn't exactly following his instructions... and so he decides Merry needs to be.. "punished." And yes, I mean the spicy kind of punished.
Merry is the sunshine, and Sebastian is the grump. Naturally, Sebastian falls for the sunshine, and she makes his heart happy..... so he's no longer the mean ol' grump he once was.
The spicy scenes are hot. But i have to admit, some of the book was a bit boring overall. I'm ot sure I'd read this again to be honest.
December 13, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Grouchy Stars🥰🎄
I’ll take one super hot grumpy “boss” that only has a soft spot for his bubbly woman who is obsessed with Christmas please! Christmas Grump was an amazing holiday book filled with steamy sexual tension. I can’t explain how much I loved the build up to Sebastian and Merry’s relationship & how they both were perfect for each other.
The grumpy H & sunshine h is an amazing trope and MINK did a great job writing that throughout this book. I got that warm and fuzzy feeling while reading even though Sebastian was fighting himself and his feeling the whole book, but he was not prepared for the Angel that is Merry. It was so fun seeing Merry boss Sebastian around & laugh at his growly antics. They were a beautiful couple with a funny dynamic that worked so well! We got some funny scheming, Sebastian following Merry all over the town, Christmas everything, some seriously steamy scenes, and an HEA with a couple years out! Read Christmas Crush first if you haven’t yet and enjoy the wonderful Reindeer Valley romances found in the joyful little Christmas town.
I’ll take one super hot grumpy “boss” that only has a soft spot for his bubbly woman who is obsessed with Christmas please! Christmas Grump was an amazing holiday book filled with steamy sexual tension. I can’t explain how much I loved the build up to Sebastian and Merry’s relationship & how they both were perfect for each other.
The grumpy H & sunshine h is an amazing trope and MINK did a great job writing that throughout this book. I got that warm and fuzzy feeling while reading even though Sebastian was fighting himself and his feeling the whole book, but he was not prepared for the Angel that is Merry. It was so fun seeing Merry boss Sebastian around & laugh at his growly antics. They were a beautiful couple with a funny dynamic that worked so well! We got some funny scheming, Sebastian following Merry all over the town, Christmas everything, some seriously steamy scenes, and an HEA with a couple years out! Read Christmas Crush first if you haven’t yet and enjoy the wonderful Reindeer Valley romances found in the joyful little Christmas town.
December 19, 2021
I freaking loved this story😍😍😍 The sunshine Merry and her grumpy boss Sebastian. What should be a business relationship changed as soon as they met in person. Sebastian wants revenge for something that happend decades ago and he needs help... but Merry doesn't know what she signed up for. They both fell hard and fast and after a few ups and downs, finally got their HEA😍😍😍 A surprise reveal and a long lost secret made the story perfect👍👍 Insta love, sweet, steamy, and totally safe (DV❤❤) with a great HEA😍😍😍 I really hope we get more stories of Reindeer Valley 🥰
December 19, 2021
A modern day Grinch re-telling with a hint of spice! Merry is all sunshine and rainbows and agrees to work for the scowling, Christmas-hating Sebastian. Unbeknownst to her, Sebastian is setting her up to ruin the quaint town of Reindeer Falls. But their attraction is undeniable and it has Sebastian wondering if revenge is all it’s cracked up to be. This book was cute and fun, the ending felt s little rushed but Merry was such a sweetie! ❄️
December 14, 2021
Grumpy Sebastian
Boy, Sebastian is sure grumpy! Sebastian is also, dominant,protective and OTT! Steamy and adventurous. Sebastian and Merry make a cute couple, brought together in the most unlikely way.
Boy, Sebastian is sure grumpy! Sebastian is also, dominant,protective and OTT! Steamy and adventurous. Sebastian and Merry make a cute couple, brought together in the most unlikely way.
December 13, 2021
This book was amazing! Felt a little different style than Mink’s usual books and I LOVED it! There were still the same themes of course a cat, an obsessed alpha and all the cuteness. Merry was one of my favorite characters ever she was so sassy and so kind. And Sebastian was such a grumpy alpha but of course Merry brought out the softer and very possessive side of him. This book was also dual virgin which makes it even more amazing!
January 7, 2022
An enjoyable read! MINK always manages to pull through. The ending of this felt a tad rushed and lacklustre, but I still enjoyed myself on the whole!
March 30, 2022
2.5 stars
April 18, 2022
Merry will change this Grump's tune!!
Sebastian wants to get revenge against the town of Reindeer Valley, but he didn't count on falling for Merry. Merry was looking for a job but she doesn't follow orders very well and she starts messing up Sebastian's plans for revenge. This is a great read and I highly recommend it!
Sebastian wants to get revenge against the town of Reindeer Valley, but he didn't count on falling for Merry. Merry was looking for a job but she doesn't follow orders very well and she starts messing up Sebastian's plans for revenge. This is a great read and I highly recommend it!
April 24, 2022
I really enjoyed the contrast of the peppy, people-pleaser heroine and the grumpy hero.
December 12, 2023
No hubo suficiente historia para que lo disfrutara. La premisa y los diálogos son ridículos. Tuve que parar varias veces y preguntarme "¿por qué me estoy haciendo esto a mí misma?"
December 15, 2021
This was mink so of course it was fucking adorable, awesome, steamy, sweet with a bite.
September 17, 2024
s h e l v e s :
alpha
boss
caveman
cinderella
endearing fmc
gone for her
grumpy x sunshine
he falls first
instalove
instalust
marshmallow softie
men in suits
moves her in
obsessed
ott
possessive
princess treatment pampering
protective
rich hero
sits her in his lap
takes care of her
virgins (both)
e n d e a r m e n t s :
♥︎ baby
♥︎ little one
k i n k s :
dom
hot bj
just the tip
no condom
no panties
praise
pussy humping
spanking
tss
💦
e n d i n g :
HEA + babies!
🔥
alpha
boss
caveman
cinderella
endearing fmc
gone for her
grumpy x sunshine
he falls first
instalove
instalust
marshmallow softie
men in suits
moves her in
obsessed
ott
possessive
princess treatment pampering
protective
rich hero
sits her in his lap
takes care of her
virgins (both)
e n d e a r m e n t s :
♥︎ baby
♥︎ little one
k i n k s :
dom
hot bj
just the tip
no condom
no panties
praise
pussy humping
spanking
tss
💦
e n d i n g :
HEA + babies!
🔥
December 16, 2021
A Winding, Chaotic, and Angst Filled Path to Love…
Leave it to Mink to put out a couple of holiday stories that are emotional bookends for the season! Where the first book in her Reindeer Valley series, “Christmas Crush” was an innocent epitome of sugary sweetness, this one, aptly named, “Christmas Grump” is full of fire, spice, and intrigue...
Here the author presents the story of Merry and Sebastian, Merry being the shy, seemingly timid and scatterbrained best friend of Ruby who we met briefly in book one. A young woman hoping to land a new job with Sebastian Franklin, the mysterious newcomer who has taken up residence in an old estate right outside of town coveted by the richest of the rich in town. A man who, unbeknownst to Merry, is anything but a stranger to Reindeer Valley, as Sebastian is holding a dark and dastardly secret close to his heart, one that requires him to hire an “assistant” to fully implement. A secret plan that threatens to destroy the very town Merry loves with all her heart. A deed Sebastian is determined to follow through with even though the experiences shared with his new employee creates a chemistry he is quickly becoming unable to deny, and tests his resolve in ways he never thought possible.
What follows is a twisting and turning story of revenge, redemption, and finding love where you least expect it. One filled with anger and bottled-up childhood hurt left to fester and boil over. One so full of dastardly deeds and sneaky plans, you may find the romance blossoming from the chaos a bit hard to believe. And while I loved the return to the darker, kinkier and angst filled plot line I have come to love from Mink, I found this one to be a bit too winding and stretched thin for my taste.
I loved Sebastian’s character here but felt a bit lost where Merry was concerned. Her character, while briefly outlined at the beginning, falls short for me and doesn’t feel fully fleshed out. As such, she comes across as more childish than impish, making the overarching D/s undertones fall a bit flat in some places, and feel a tiny bit icky in others.
In the end I loved the idea of this story. I loved the overall theme and plot/story world arc and would absolutely read fifty more books about other Reindeer Valley inhabitants (like Nora). I just wish this one had been a little longer, so Merry's leading character was more fully dimensional and the connection between her and Sebastian meatier and not as simplified.
Leave it to Mink to put out a couple of holiday stories that are emotional bookends for the season! Where the first book in her Reindeer Valley series, “Christmas Crush” was an innocent epitome of sugary sweetness, this one, aptly named, “Christmas Grump” is full of fire, spice, and intrigue...
Here the author presents the story of Merry and Sebastian, Merry being the shy, seemingly timid and scatterbrained best friend of Ruby who we met briefly in book one. A young woman hoping to land a new job with Sebastian Franklin, the mysterious newcomer who has taken up residence in an old estate right outside of town coveted by the richest of the rich in town. A man who, unbeknownst to Merry, is anything but a stranger to Reindeer Valley, as Sebastian is holding a dark and dastardly secret close to his heart, one that requires him to hire an “assistant” to fully implement. A secret plan that threatens to destroy the very town Merry loves with all her heart. A deed Sebastian is determined to follow through with even though the experiences shared with his new employee creates a chemistry he is quickly becoming unable to deny, and tests his resolve in ways he never thought possible.
What follows is a twisting and turning story of revenge, redemption, and finding love where you least expect it. One filled with anger and bottled-up childhood hurt left to fester and boil over. One so full of dastardly deeds and sneaky plans, you may find the romance blossoming from the chaos a bit hard to believe. And while I loved the return to the darker, kinkier and angst filled plot line I have come to love from Mink, I found this one to be a bit too winding and stretched thin for my taste.
I loved Sebastian’s character here but felt a bit lost where Merry was concerned. Her character, while briefly outlined at the beginning, falls short for me and doesn’t feel fully fleshed out. As such, she comes across as more childish than impish, making the overarching D/s undertones fall a bit flat in some places, and feel a tiny bit icky in others.
In the end I loved the idea of this story. I loved the overall theme and plot/story world arc and would absolutely read fifty more books about other Reindeer Valley inhabitants (like Nora). I just wish this one had been a little longer, so Merry's leading character was more fully dimensional and the connection between her and Sebastian meatier and not as simplified.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews