Blue Chow Christmas: The Hart Family

Have a Hart, Book 4

By: Rachelle Ayala

Narrated by: Jennifer Groberg

Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

If you love sweet romances (PG-rating), look no further than Rachelle Ayala's Have a Hart series. The Harts are a family of San Francisco firefighters. Their family motto is: Heart comes first.

Cait Hart has been married to Brian Wonder for 12 years, but does she really know him? The redheaded firefighter is dependable, loyal, and kind to others, but he's never let her probe his feelings.

Brian's life is blown open when his former high school teacher and wife of a senator dies in a car crash. When a pair of blue chow dogs show up at his mountain cabin, he is forced to tell Cait his secret - the real owner of the dogs is a boy he believes is his son.

Cait and Brian are tested on the true meaning of love when the boy goes missing and authorities suspect Brian of wrongdoing. Can two lost chow dogs save this fragile and vulnerable family?

Blue Chow Christmas is book number four of the Have a Hart Romance series. It can be enjoyed as a standalone, although characters from the previous books appear here in supporting roles.

1. Melisa and Rob, Christmas Lovebirds
2. Jenna and Larry, Valentine Hound Dog
3. Connor and Nadine, Spring Fling Kitty
4. Cait and Brian, Blue Chow Christmas
5. Jenna and Larry, Valentine Wedding Hound

©2016 Rachelle Ayala (P)2018 Rachelle Ayala Publishing, LLC

Blue Chow Christmas

This story held my interest and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It’s filled with close knit families, romance, suspense and some heartwarming moments. And, let's not forget the two adorable chows.

As we learn more about Brian and Cait in this book, we learn that some people are dealing with emotional and social problems and it takes one person with love, patience and understanding to accept them and love them just the way they are.

The narration was well done. Read with the right amount of emotion when needed and each character was easily recognizable as the story went on. The story was read with the right amount of speed and the right amount of emotion during sweet, humorous and touching moments.

I enjoy all the books in the Hart Family Series and as usual, Rachelle Ayala gives us another great story.

Blue Chow Christmas

Rachelle Ayala has tugged at my heartstrings once again. She never ceases to amaze me with her very thought provoking and emotional stories.

I really enjoyed listening to Brian and Cait’s story.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Enlightening story

This is the story of Cait and Brian who have been married for 12 years. As Rachelle Ayala explains at the beginning of the book, every person with Autism shows different aspects of it. Brian has Autism but hasn't technically been diagnosed with it. He has problems when in a large group of people and the noise gets too much for him. This is a problem since Cait is from the large Hart family. He doesn't always show up at family gatherings.The Hart family doesn't understand why he hasn't shown Cait his love for her like the other fiances do by sending her flowers, etc. Cait and Brian each have secrets that started from the reasons they got married. I love how the story brings more understanding about Autism and the growth that Cait and Brian have in their relationship. Rachelle does another wonderful job with the Hart family story and I look forward to the next one. These are all standalone books but it's always nice to read the others. I think Jennifer Groberg's narrations of the Hart books is great.

Recommended

I think this is my favorite of the 'Have A Hart' series. even withstanding Grady. I have a son with Asperger's among other issues. I see parts of him in Brian, especially the isolation and computer, tho also different. I think Cait & Brian are finally getting a good start from their non-relationship. I hope it continues.

I am discovering what has bothered me about the Harts. They are not very nice to each other, they call it teasing but under it all there is a lot of bullying, either jealousy or plain dislike (can't decide which). Yes, they love the family but it is there just the same.

I guess it is onto the weddings. I do like this new family we have just been introduced to.

I recieved a free Audible copy of this story in exchange for a honest review.

Sweet and Entertaining!

Another wonderful story about the Hart family from Rachelle Ayala. This story revolves around Brian and Cait. It was nice finally getting to know their story after hearing them mentioned in previous books. It is a well written story with some suspense, romance and two lovable dogs who stole my heart. Cait and Brian’s relationship is not straightforward and has some unexpected twists which made the story quite interesting. I really enjoyed this sweet and entertaining story. Though it is part of the series, it can be listened to as a stand-alone. Jennifer Groberg does a nice job with the narration. I received a free copy and am providing an unbiased review.

A sweet story!

Rachelle Ayala never ceases to amaze me with her stories, whether spicy or sweet, I know I will have story that is both fun and worthwhile. This story is about Cait and Brian who we have met in the previous installments. These two are not your usual young married couple, Brian has autism. He has had an series of events in his life with his disorder and it has framed his outlook. Cait loves Brian, and after years of marriage has come to the conclusion that she needs to take control of her life and get her marriage on track. Through several mishaps and events, these two are taken on a path of self realization and self worth. Ayala has beautifully expressed the difficulties of dealing with autism and her ability to express this through the book will hopefully bring awareness to others. The dogs are an integral part of the story and will make your heart sing, especially when reunited with their master, Glen.

Jennifer Groberg is the voice of the Hart family. I love her ability to create the family dynamic with all the siblings, and give each their individuality. This is a very warm and fulfilling story.

Another engaging story in the series

This fourth story in the Hart Family series is neither your typical romance nor second chance romance.
It’s a story about two individuals, Cait Hart and Brian Wonder , who have been together for twelve years in a marriage of convenience. A secret they have kept from Cait’s family.
Brian, a firefighter in Cait’s brother’s station, seems standoffish, and a loner when in fact he might have Asperger’s Syndrome. His feelings are not expressed and he sees life in a very literal sense.
While both Cait and Brian are at a crossroads in their lives, an unexpected revelation is made by Brian and a discovery is made by Cait. Add to this the fact that Brian was a victim of a child molester, and later accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and that the missing child is a boy who might be his son, well, you are sure to have a very intricate story fill with lots of twists and turns.
In the end, will Brian be found innocent of the crime? Will Brian and Cait find out that love has always been present in their lives?
This story is a good addition to the series.
Lastly, the narrator does a good job with the voices .

Lots of love, understanding & the joy of dogs!

This was a great book that explored the differences of people and how they deal with the world. I thought it was very well done in explaining. Plus, there were some sweet dogs that added to the loveliness of the story. A nice romance without all of the sex.
The first of her stories that I have read but prnot the last. The narration was well suited to the book.

Can two blue chows really save a marriage?

One of the reasons that I enjoy books by this author is that she addresses disorders that most ignore. After reading 3 of the Hart books, I've wondered about Cait and Brian's relationship. Brian always seems to be on the outside of the Hart family ruckus...while Cait is in the middle. Now we learn that Brian has Asperger Syndrome...which is thought to on the 'high functioning' scale of Autism. Brian takes things literally and has difficulty with emotion. Cait and Brian eloped right out of hs and have been married for 12 years, but now both their pasts are coming at them like a freight train! Lots of secrets, some horrifying, will the Hart family be able to rally around these two and help them through? I love the Harts and their stories and this one did not disappoint. What part do the Blue Chows play in all of this? Well, they are connected to Brian's past and lots of painful secrets, but they are loveable and loyal...who can resist cute dogs? Love the HEA, which includes all of our loveable Harts.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Cait and Brian

This book is part of the Hart Family series, but is definitely a standalone. This is the first book in this series that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Cait Hart and Brian Wonder have been married for 12 years, but are more like roommates than lovers. Sure, they have sex at an appointed time, but mostly live separate lives. It seems that Brian might have Asperger's Syndrome, a type of Autism. He loves Cait in his own way, but doesn't know how to show it.

Enter two blue chow dogs, Sierra and Melia. While Cait is at her family's mountain cabin, the two bedraggled dogs appear on the property, hungry and tired. Cait soon learns that the dogs belong to Senator Thornton's son, Glen, who has autism. The story progresses from there and soon many secrets are revealed that involve Brian, Cait, Cait's mother, Glen's mother and the Senator.

The story is sweet yet poignant as Brian tries to figure out how to show love and Cait tries to accept that Glen might be Brian's son. There is also some suspense when Cait discovers a photo album with an incriminating photo and when she and Glen are kidnapped.

The fact that Brian's former teacher, Alana Thornton, was actually a child molester and seemed to target young men with mental issues is a very different aspect to a romance novel. The author handled this situation well and the characters reacted in a believable way. The only part of the book that I found a little unbelievable is that Cait had been married to Brian for 12 years and never seemed to suspect his Asperger's.

The narrator, Jennifer Groberg, was perfect for this book. Her reading added a lot to the enjoyment of the book. If you enjoy sweet romances with HEA endings, give this book a chance. It is a well-written story with great characters and the addition of the dogs is always a plus in my estimation.