Home for Christmas: A Texas Story

By: R.J. Scott

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

Can Connor show River a real family Christmas?

When Connor finds River on the roof of the campus admin building, he doesn’t know what to do. His friend is drunk and shouting into a snowstorm, a bottle of vodka in his hand. The easy part is getting River down; the hard part is insisting River comes home with Connor for Christmas.

River doesn’t have a family or any place outside of college that he calls home. Not that it matters to him; he’s happy being alone for Christmas in his budget motel, watching reruns of Elf. Only, Connor keeps telling wildly improbable stories of the perfect family celebrations at his parents’ ranch in Texas, and it’s wearing River down. He didn’t ask to be kidnapped. He didn’t want to fall in love with the entire Campbell-Hayes family. But he does.

From one Christmas to the next. This is Connor’s year to rescue River, and himself, for them both to mess things up, make things right, fall in lust, and finally, for Connor to show the man he loves what being part of a family can mean.

©2018 R.J. Scott (P)2019 R.J. Scott

More Texas? Yes, Please!

I loved it when I read it and even more when I listened to it.

It's been a year since I read Home for Christmas but it all came rushing back to me as I became absorbed in the wonderful voice of Sean Crisden while listening to the audiobook. He will always be the voice of Jack – no one else could ever do Jack's voice like he can. Of course, he does all of the other characters well, too – especially Connor and River. There isn't much else I can say other than, just as when I read the book last year, the tears fell when I listened to it. Sad tears and ultimately happy tears. ❤

Below is a copy of my original review from December 2018.

* * * * * * * *
Home for Christmas is RJ Scott's latest story in her wildly popular Texas series. If you follow this series at all you have to read this one. It's Connor's story – one of Jack and Riley's children and Lexi's twin. If you haven't read anything in this series Home for Christmas actually stands alone quite well. You maybe won't get the same tingly, deep feelings when reading as I did but you will still enjoy it very much. I wouldn't suggest reading any of the other books in this series out of order but this one will work.

The blurb tells you everything about the story except how heart wrenching it is to learn about River's background. With no family of his own, he's envious of what Connor has but still isn't happy when Connor forces him to go home with him to Texas and witness the perfect family that he'll never have.

I'll never get tired of reading books set in this world. RJ Scott knows the perfect writing formula to grab at all of my emotions, make the tears fall, and deliver the perfect happy ending. Home for Christmas is another special gift to her fans of the Texas series. I can't forget to say that there's a dog in the story with a very cute name. 😊

A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

Beautiful story

Loved the story and characters. Will become one of my regular Christmas stories. Thank you for such a great book.

i love this i

i what more i really what this series to cep on going it is one of my favorites just so worth it

Home for Christmas

Home for Christmas is book nine in RJ Scott’s Texas series. I absolutely love this series and Jack and Riley and their families. I was excited to see a book with Connor as an adult because I knew I’d get more of Jack, Riley and their family.

I loved seeing Connor all grown up and seeing the influence of his dads on him. He has a big heart and just wants to make everyone happy. River was a complex character who really needed more than a novella to be truly explored and understood. His story felt rushed. I know this author enjoys the soap opera drama stories, but I wasn’t expecting it in this holiday novella. For those who love drama in their books, this one's for you!

Sean Crisden is a fantastic narrator that brings this story to life! Even when I read this story, I hear his voice narrating it in my head because it’s perfection! He is able to give each character distinctive voices and is consistent with the use. He has a pleasant voice, keeps a great pace and is clear and concise is his narration. He conveys emotions through the characters and lets the focus be on the story and characters, not the narration.

I didn’t get as much of the family as I expected or wanted but, hey, it’s a novella! And it’s about Connor and River and their story was already too short. I would have loved to have a longer story with them. I never felt like their story ended with a HEA because it felt like they only just came together, and the next page was the end. There was a nice epilogue that helped a little, but I really needed more of these two. I needed the payoff for the drama.

OUTSTANDING!

This story has all the feels!!!!
I just fell in love with Connor and River. Watching their love story unfold in all it's glory was amazing. There is sweetness, struggles, misunderstandings but above all else there is love. Love of family. Love of your chosen person.
Getting to revisit with the Campbell-Hayes family is the best Christmas present of all! I loved this holiday story!
Sean Crisden does an amazing job of bringing this story to life!

Awesome Holiday Romance & Series Addition

Audiobook Review November 2019:
Home for Christmas was a delightful treat last Christmas and it was the perfect way to kick off my holiday entertaining season this year. Not a lot I can add to the original review, as I said last year it is always a treat to visit the Double D and a look at the next generation is not only a treat but just pure joy. River's moments with Max were minor in the scheme of things but personally I found them to be endearing but also very telling to River's nature, his ability to let his mind "settle down" in a way he really hadn't upto that point shows that perhaps he's not as "broken" as he thinks he is. As I originally said last year, sometimes the land just has a way of letting a person breathe which then let's a person open themselves up to the people and possibilities around them. As for Sean Crisden's narration? There's really no surprise here that he brings life to the story in a way that makes you feel like you are watching the story play out right in front of you. Brilliant addition to my holiday library.

Original ebook Review December 2018:
Finding River drunk on the roof was the last thing Connor expected to see as he was preparing to head home to the Double D for the Christmas holiday but once he sees him in that state he can't just leave him. River doesn't want to spend the holiday with Connor's happy family but once he arrives in Texas will he open himself up to the welcoming environment of the Campbell-Hayes family and let the man in or will he return to Denver as soon as he can? Will Connor be able to show River that love is possible and that he's not just a charity case?

It's a new Texas story!!!! YAY!!!! EEEP!!!! HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!!! and a thousand other catchphrases that express pure joy! Okay, I got that out now on to the story. 😉😉

When I heard we were going to be visiting the Double D again, my first thought: Jack and Riley! Yes, they are here as are many in the Double D universe and that alone makes this a winner. But Home for Christmas is so much more. The old familiars are there, the land, the horses, but this is Connor's journey. What is it about the Texas series that makes them so amazing? Is it the land, the Double D, the characters, the horses? It is all that put together and so much more than words can say. As a farmer's daughter I can attest to how the land has a way of giving a person(in this case River) a chance to relax, to just stop and breathe. As with so many in this series, River needs more than relaxing but being able to breathe, to take stock, to see what makes Connor Connor, also gives River a chance to see who is looking back at him in the mirror. Basically, the Double D may not be what River wants but at that point in his life, its what he needs and whether you believe in fate or not sometimes life knows exactly where we should be to keep our journey going.

Connor was always the quiet twin but he has definitely found his voice, and speaking as someone who has one of those talkative types in the house it can be frustrating, but there is just something about Connor that even though there are times you know River wants to stuff a huge Christmas bow in his mouth you also know that he finds it endearing. And just like Connor does, there are times you want to wrap River up in bubblewrap just to protect him from the world but also from himself. That's not to say River is a danger to himself physically but emotionally perhaps and you can't help but want to give him a never-ending bear hug. RJ Scott has always had a way of making her characters, who should by all appearances be angsty and over-the-top, real and ones that you could meet pumping gas or buying stamps, Connor and River are no different.

Home for Christmas may be Connor and River's journey of holidays, friendship, discovery, and love it is also the perfect addition to the Texas series. Seeing the Double D again is never a bad thing and getting a glimpse of the Campbell-Hayes family as they grow and age is a true holiday treat. For those asking "can I read Home without having read the others?" my answer is "Probably." My personal opinion however, is to read the series in order but as this is Connor and River's story it can be read without prior knowledge of the others but I personally feel the "little moments" just flow better knowing the family(and ranch)'s history.

Great Holiday Novella!

Overall: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Narration: 5 out of 5 stars
Story: 4 out of 5 stars

River and Conner were such a fun couple to read about. Their interactions were natural even though River was fighting them and Conner was too invested in making things right. River has only had himself to rely on for his whole life. Conner has the "perfect" family so River doesn't see why they would ever work.

I thought the narrator did a great job of telling the story and making me feel invested in it from the beginning. He was able to differentiate all of the characters and really just bring life to the story.

Overall this audio book was one I enjoyed and hope others will as well.

New beginnings at Christmas

River has only had himself to rely on for many, many years. With the end of college around the bend can River open his heart and let go of the demons in his past. Connor, college friend and study buddy, finds River on the edge of his rope and decides to bring him home with him for the holidays. But will being around a true family be too much for River to handle? Or will this be just the thing that can open his future to finding happiness and true love? Emotions run high with wonderful characters you cannot help but fall in love with and once again Sean Crisden is the perfect narrator. One of the best Holiday books I have listened to this season. Once again RJ Scott does not disappoint.

a great holiday novella

Home for Christmas is a great holiday novella. It’s full of love and family with characters you couldn’t help but be drawn to. It’s a well-done hurt/comfort story with just the right balance of angst and sweetness. Recommended if you are in the mood for a Christmas story about opening your heart to love, hope and future possibilities.

I am a bit torn with the narration. Sean Crisden did a stellar job portraying the different characters and all the emotions really came through, especially River’s and Connor’s. However, I found his reading a little too fast. There were some moments where I thought a slightly longer pause would have been needed. I almost missed some parts where the characters did something because the sentences ran together. Slowing down the audiobook to 0.5X made it sound weird. I’m not sure if the reading speed is how Crisden typically narrates. I have listened to two of his audiobooks by Megan Derr and Riley Hart and I enjoyed how he read them.