Unexpected Gifts

A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance, Volume 1

De: Elena Aitken

Narrado por: Jennifer Drake Ford

When you're looking for a little escape to the rugged mountain landscape that's as beautiful as it is wild, unwind at Castle Mountain Lodge.

Christmas represents everything Andi Williams is supposed to have, and doesn't. Running away to a remote mountain lodge in the Canadian Rockies, sounds like the perfect way to escape, until a mix-up finds her sharing a villa with sexy, rough around the edges, Colin Hartford.

Colin's determination to enjoy the holiday he's missed for the last five years sweeps Andi into a season of joy that she's not sure she's ready for. Can Andi open herself up to everything the holidays have to offer…including love?

©2013 Elena Aitken (P)2013 Elena Aitken

Great story

Storyline was intriguing, loved the characters . narrator really kept me listening. Looking forward to next in series.

Bad narrator but sweet story line

The narrator has no inflection or change in her voice. It's rather awkward. It does not do justice to the story. She sounds happy even when she is mad. I love the story line i should have read the book.

Pretty good non-sexual Christmas romance :D

3.5-4 stars

This was a pretty good story. I liked both Colin and Andi and enjoyed their story. This is the first book I've read by this author and I may try more of her work in the future. Be warned though....there is NO SEX in this story. It's a nice Christmas romance but don't expect much steam.

Andi is an event coordinator. She isn't feeling the Christmas spirit because earlier in the year she lost a baby and her boyfriend left her when she needed him most. Now with the holidays and the families all having special times Andi isn't feeling very cheery. She decides to get away to a mountain resort to avoid all the Christmas stuff at home.

Colin has been living in the tropics doing security systems for years. He had a fiancee that cheated on him and ended up pregnant with another man's baby and now he doesn't get involved in relationships. He hasn't been back to Canada for years and decided that this year he wanted snow and a "real Christmas" so his assistant booked him at a mountain lodge that's known for it's Christmas activities.

Andi and Colin meet at check-in. There's a mix-up in reservations and Andi doesn't have a room after all. Colin recognizes Andi during all of this and it ends up that Blaine (Andi's ex) had introduced them about a year before. Colin finds out Andi is no longer with Blaine and is there alone without a place to stay. There's a blizzard outside and Colin's villa has 3 bedrooms so he offers Andi a place to stay. Andi isn't sure if it's a good idea but Colin seemed alright when she met him before and it was take his offer or sleep on a couch in the lobby so she agrees. Colin and Blaine weren't very close and don't have a good relationship so Colin doesn't know what happened between Blaine and Andi but he quickly realizes that he doesn't care just as long as it's over because he really likes Andi. He also realizes her problem with the Christmas season and decides to make it his task to get her to have fun over the holidays. They go ice skating and have some other activities and things go well between them. Regardless of the fact that Colin doesn't do relationships and Andi doesn't do anything but relationships, both of them can't help but to want to explore the possibilities between them. Things are going well and Andi and Colin are helping to throw a holiday ball at the Lodge when things go to crap in the form of Blaine showing up and being a complete jerk and showing just why Andi shouldn't be with him. This causes some issues in the growing relationship between Colin and Andi but fortunately Andi tells Blaine off and he leaves (I just wish she'd have told Blaine off earlier). Andi and Colin end the story in what would probably be a HFN. They admit to falling for each other (yes, it's an insta-love thing) and decide to be together but since it ends immediately after that I'm not sure if it's established enough to be considered a HEA so I'm going with HFN.

This was a pretty enjoyable story. I liked Andi and Colin and liked their story. My only complaint was that when Blaine showed up Andi should have told him off right away and not given him the opportunity to stick around and cause more problems. Overall though it was pretty good and a nice use of a few hours. I'd recommend this for people in the mood for a Christmas romance with no sex in it. :D

Lovely Christmas Romance

This romantic novel really reminded me that this could happen in real life as depicted by the author. I should know, and the main character, Andi, does just that as she tries to escape the humdrum of her real life for the Christmas vacation. Only to find love awaiting her there, when she accepts an invitation that the Castle Mountain Lodge resort sent to her office.
After spending time living in the Caribbean, Colin enters, determined to enjoy the true Christmas spirit, with snow, ice-skating, mountains and he rescues a damsel in distress. The blossoming attraction is on, although romance can be depicted without the 'heat'.
This story is a wonderful blend from start to finish, with a delightful pair of main protagonists, and a great mix of secondary characters.

Jennifer Drake Ford was great in her depiction of the various personalities and it was a pleasure to listen to this audiobook as narrated by her. It was exciting, thrilling, romantic and thoroughly enjoyable and I would strongly recommend this book.

The cover pulled me in and the story didn't let me down. Love your writing style Elena.

Cute Christmas Romance

Very Festive Christmas Romance. A bit predictable but I still loved it. It was a very quick read. very light hearted and fun.