Review: Dr. Daddy's Perfect Christmas by Jules Bennett

Title:  Dr. Daddy's Perfect Christmas (The St. John's of Stonerock)
Author:  Jules Bennett
Publisher/Publication Date: Harlequin, October 21, 2014
Format/Source: Paperback, Author
Genre:  Contemporary Romance

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Book Summary

Mistletoe Baby

Pregnant...and widowed. It wasn't quite how Nora Parker had planned to be ringing in the holidays this year. Though she was excited to meet her new baby, the last thing she'd expected was the return of Dr. Eli St. John—the man who'd broken her heart years ago. Now he was back, filling in at his father's practice. He definitely wouldn't be staying in town. And she definitely shouldn't be looking forward to seeing him again!

Eli had left his small town for bigger adventures, assuming Nora would always be waiting. Now she was his best friend's widow, expecting a baby Eli wished was theirs. With the holidays approaching and his time in town dwindling, did he dare make one last effort to claim the Christmas gift he should have accepted years ago?

My Thoughts

I have read several books by Jules Bennett and have enjoyed all of them, so I was excited to have the chance to review Dr. Daddy’s Perfect Christmas, book one of The St. Johns of Stonerock series. Once again, Bennett does not disappoint with Eli and Nora’s compelling, second chance romance story. She did an excellent job of bringing well-developed, small-town characters into existence.

I enjoyed the depiction of the characters. Eli and Nora are reunited early on and had a flood of reemerging feelings—but not so quick—they proceeded with caution as they tested the waters to determine the right course of action. Eli and Nora’s history with one another and their backstories with accounts of betrayal and hurt supported their hesitation to trust and move forward. In addition, all of the characters had a purpose and were skillfully integrated into the story; even though one character in particular was most memorable for the laughable moments she brought to the table—a patient of Eli’s father, the pole dancer.  

I loved the complexity of the characters’ situations. Take Nora for example, she’s recently widowed and pregnant and had a rather full plate from the start. Yet, things weren’t perfect for her just because Eli showed up on the scene. She still experienced a succession of hardships. I liked the fact that Nora’s struggles provided an opportunity for the hero to show his true colors and brought to light Nora’s bond with other characters. 

Along with the believable storyline and characters, I loved the passion in Bennett’s writing that emanated from the page of Dr. Daddy’s Perfect Christmas and simply can’t wait for the next installment of The St. Johns of Stonerock series. 

Rating 4.5/5

***I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

**A Gems for Jules Street Team Member**