Second Chance Christmas (Entangled Flirts)

by Ellen Butler

[Angie]

I've only read a couple of military romances, but Second Chance Christmas seems to be too heavy on the military and really light on the romance. It actually read like a crash course in military life from the perspective of an almost army wife. Emma and Colton had broken up two years ago, when he sprung a move on her, and she refused to give up her career to go with him. Now, he's back from a tour, gotten into a bar fight, and she picks him up from the hospital since he still has her listed as an emergency contact. Neither of them have anywhere to be for the holidays, so Colton stays with Emma while he recovers. Of course they rekindle their romance, but to me it just felt like a lot of talking about military terms for the reader's benefit.

From the very beginning, I thought Second Chance Christmas was very info-dumpy and read like a "day in the life" report rather than a holiday romance novella. I know way more than I ever need to know about the military upon finishing this one. It all felt very forced and unnecessary, as Colton and Emma both bring up different job positions and technical terms for all things military. None of it is romantic in the slightest and I don't see why it all needed to be included. I did like the idea of Emma and Colton reconnecting, and that for once it's the man who gives up his job to be with the woman. But other than that, this novella was a bust for me.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.