Snowbound at Christmas (Christmas, Colorado, #5)

by Debbie Mason

[kimbacaffeinate]

I went into Snowbound at Christmas blind. I did not realize it was part of a series and had no idea I was going to find myself in the middle of a mystery with suspense, danger and shenanigans. I accepted the title because of the lovely holiday cover. I am a sucker for doors and the color red. What can I say?

We meet ex-cop Cat (playful referred to as Kit-Kat by her sister) working as an assistant to her soap opera star sister Chloe. The two are twins and complete opposites. When they switch places, trouble ensues. Grayson Alexander soon finds himself posing as a British actor and trying to do his job with his vibrant troublesome Grandmother acting as his manager. The setup for the tale was delightful and I quickly settle in. Mason provided a colorful cast of characters from actors, stage crew and townsfolk. I love when even secondary characters have depth and Mason made them all memorable.

While the tale starts in the city, we soon find ourselves in Christmas, Colorado at the family ranch of Chloe and Cat O’Conner. I loved the ranch and I am quite sure characters we met played roles in the earlier books for this series, but I never felt out-of-place.

The characters in Snowbound for Christmas are wonderfully fleshed out and unique. Chloe is the spoiled actor whose neck you will want to ring. Seriously, I kept waiting for someone to slap her. Cat has had her confidence shaken, but she is graceful, kind and surely headed for sainthood. How she has not throttled Chloe is beyond me. Grayson is swoon-worthy; levelheaded and definitely Mr. Tall, Dark and Mysterious. Ty, the makeup artist was delicious, and made me laugh at every turn. Grayson’s grandmother was a trip and her meddling added to the tale. Secondary characters from actors to townsfolk helped balance the tale, and created red herrings.

While the mystery was the focus, Mason weaved in a sweet romance that will satisfy readers. Character growth and a tightly woven plot kept me engaged. Mason weaved in a familiar Christmas Classic before closing lose threads and provided a solid ending. I closed Snowbound for Christmas with a smile.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer