Blog Tour + Review: "Wonder with Me" by Kristen Proby

Today, I am excited to participate in the blog tour for Kristen Proby's "Wonder with Me," the latest addition to the With Me in Seattle series.  This novella is releasing as part of the 1,001 Dark Nights collection, which is a great way to sample standalone novellas by new-to-you authors (or enjoy a special bonus story from an existing favorite).  Reading this story was my first experience with Kristen Proby's work, but it definitely will not be my last.  A full review is included at the end of this post, but in short, I adored this sweet, romantic holiday story and highly recommend it for both new and existing readers of the series.  Based on my experience with this novella, I can't wait to check out the rest of the series! 

About "Wonder with Me"

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes a new story in her With Me In Seattle series…

“Get lost in the magic of the season with Wonder With Me!”

Watch the Book Trailer: http://bit.ly/2DFumCh

Reed Taylor doesn’t pay much attention to the holidays—until he receives a surprise present. Four-year-old Piper is the daughter he never knew about, and with the death of her mother, is also now the roommate he never expected. He’s determined to make their first Christmas together one she’ll never forget.

Noel Thompson has gotten her share of strange requests in her career as an interior designer. The call to design a beautiful home for Christmas is more like a dream come true. And that was before she met her new employer—sexy and mysterious, he’s everything she ever hoped Santa would bring her.

As Noel showers his home with holiday spirit, Reed showers Piper with love. And the busy life he’s created for himself no longer seems nearly as important as the one Noel is helping him build with his daughter. But if he can’t convince his decorator to stay, this could be the only year he feels the true wonder of the season.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

My Review

I've been hearing good things about Kristen Proby and the With Me in Seattle series for quite some time now, so I jumped at the chance to check it out via a standalone novella released through 1,001 Dark Nights.  I'm very happy I did because I loved "Wonder with Me."  It was an incredibly sweet story featuring likeable, well-developed characters and an enchanting Christmas setting.

The male lead character, Reed, was very charming, and it was easy for me to understand why Noel, the female lead, fell in love with him so quickly.  It was adorable to see the way Reed doted on his little girl, Piper, and made such an effort to change his life to ensure her happiness.  Noel's burgeoning relationship with Piper was very cute, too.  I loved watching the three of them come together as a family.

While Reed and Noel's romance progressed very quickly, I completely believed in the feelings behind it.  They were obviously very attracted to each other, but the author did a good job of showing that they had a strong emotional connection as well as a physical one. I also really appreciated the story's message regarding the importance of making time for the people and things we love.  It's easy to get caught up in the mundane details of everyday life and work, and I know I can always use a reminder of the need to focus on what's important, especially during the holiday season.

I look forward to catching up on the rest of the With Me in Seattle series soon.

*ARC provided by the author and/or publisher via InkslingerPR.  All opinions expressed are my own.