Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber

Alaskan Holiday by Debbie Macomber ISBN-13: 9780399181283 Hardcover: 256 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books Released: Oct. 2, 2018

Source: ARC review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Before beginning her dream job as sous chef in one of Seattle's hottest new restaurants, Josie Avery takes a summer position cooking at a lakeside lodge in the remote Alaskan town of Ponder. Josie falls for the rustic charms of the local community--including Jack Corcoran, the crotchety keeper of Ponder's famed sourdough starter, and, in particular, the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a famed master swordsmith.

Josie and Palmer become close during the long Alaskan summer days, but Josie knows that, come fall, she'll be returning to reality and the career she's worked so hard for. Palmer, on the other hand, would like nothing better than to make Josie his wife and to keep her in Ponder. But Josie can't imagine abandoning her mother back in the Emerald City and sacrificing her career to stay in this isolated town--not even for a man she's quickly coming to love.

Fate has other plans. Josie misses the last boat out of town before winter sets in, stranding her in Ponder and putting her dream job at risk. As the holidays approach, Josie and Palmer must grapple with the complications that arise when dreams confront reality, and the Christmas magic that can happen when they put their faith in love.


My Review:
Alaskan Holiday is a romance novel and doesn't actually involve a holiday in Alaska. The heroine is a big-city gal whose family and a big career opportunity await her back at home. She just finished a short stint in the middle of nowhere as a cook at a hunting lodge. She's fallen in love with a swordsmith who hates crowds and is socially awkward. This is where the story begins. The "falling in love" had already happen, and we only get a quick summary of how they had spent special time together.

This was simply the story of overcoming the obstacles between them. It's basically all about her deciding if she loves him enough to give everything up for him and of him feeling jealous because he's sure anyone else had a better chance with her (except maybe Jack, the comic relief). But even though he's insecure, he's a giving fellow who wants the best for the woman he loves. There was no sex or bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.