But one man, in particular, stands out among the rest of Josie's new friends: an intriguing swordsmith whose very existence forces her to question whether her heart wants to return to Washington at all.
I'd like to thank Rachel at Arrow Publishing for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and for my ecopy of Alaskan Holiday to review.
Debbie Macomber returns with another gorgeous feel-good read that will warm even the coldest of hearts. Over the years her Christmas books have been some of my favourites to read in the build up to what can be a crazy time of year and Alaskan Holiday was no different. Although I will say off the bat that this one doesn't have as much of a festive feel to it as some of her more recent stories, other than it is set in the weeks leading up to Christmas, but that didn't matter at all as I was soon lost in this magical story featuring city girl Josie and local Swordsmith Palmer.
For Josie coming to Ponder, a remote town in Alaska, was only supposed to be a short term thing whilst waiting for her dream job as a sous chef to be ready but it looks like Ponder and its residents, especially Palmer, have worked a place into her heart. So it's bittersweet that it's now nearly time for her to leave everyone behind and return to Seattle but maybe fate has other plans in store for her.
When we meet Josie and Palmer it is clear that they already have deep feelings for one another, although neither has declared them to one another, other than they spend every free moment together enjoying their peaceful surroundings. As the time draws nearer it's local old boy Jack who tries to play cupid and force them to admit how they really feel about each other, and maybe force Palmer's hand or make Josie change her plans, albeit he has an ulterior motive in mind.
Although the story rightly centres on the relationship between Josie and Palmer, I have to secretly confess that it was Jack that stole the show for me and he certainly provided his fair share of comedic moments especially where his 'advice' to Palmer regarding Josie was concerned. I was literally cringing, and laughing, at the pure awkwardness as you truly never knew what he was going to say next. He was always loitering in the background, food never far from his thoughts, and was a willing taster to sample whatever creation Josie is cooking or baking.
One of the things I love about Debbie Macomber's books is that there's always a sense of place and community within the stories and that's no different in Alaskan Holiday with its remote setting of an island in Alaska that is literally cut off for months, and its cast of quirky characters who welcome Josie into their lives as one of their own. The idea that come a certain point in time there are no regular ferries to leave Ponder creates its challenges for city girl Josie, and like her I couldn't imagine not being able to leave any time I wanted without making special arrangements.
I loved the theme within this story showing that no matter how much you think you have your life and future planned out, fate can play its part to turn everything you thought you wanted upside down and make you re-evaluate your future. It's how you take the cards that have been dealt to you and either run with them or look at what other choices you have.
Alaskan Holiday is a contemporary romance that will draw you into the world of Josie and Palmer, whose lifestyles are seemingly the polar opposite to one another, and will have you rooting for them to find their happy ever after despite the obstacles they face.
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