Katie Bailey

review - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2023/12/29/seasons-schemings-by-katie-bailey/

Season’s Schemings is super light-hearted and fluffy romcom that made me laugh and smile throughout the book. I needed this after a series of brutal romances. It reminded me while I’m hooked to dark and not normal romance, I still love romcom that makes everything around me feel lovely.

Writing is gripping, entertaining, fast-paced and flawless. I enjoyed dual perspective and both characters have show more refreshing voice. Apart from flirty banter and hot kissing scene this is pure closed-door bedroom romance.

The plot seems straightforward and predictable, Sandra Bullock’s The Proposal reimagining minus grumpy tight-laced heroine and reluctant hero, and yet the author managed to make it stand out on its own.

It has everything one loves in Hallmark movies – awkward first meet, hilarious drunken night in Vegas that ends up with both characters getting married to fulfill their purpose (revenge on ex for Maddie and permanent visa for Seb that will let him play hockey), family drama, one bed, lost in the stormy night, and many sweet and lovely moments.

I loved both Maddie and Sebastian and was rooting for them from the beginning. It was amazing to see them developing feelings slowly. It was lovely to see how this relationship made Maddie gain confidence and have the courage to stand up for herself and how Seb for the first time in his life put his love for hockey on secondary and learned to give the people he loves priority.

I was worried about Maddie for what would happen once Seb got his visa and honestly, I expected there some misunderstanding especially when Seb got another contract but they both handled that situation very maturely.

All secondary characters made the plot even more entertaining. I enjoyed all the hockey matches and Seb’s teammates were just fabulous. I so loved how they planned a surprise wedding in the end. That was my most favorite scene in the entire book. End is perfectly lovely HEA. This was my first sports romance and I can definitely say it won’t be the last.

Overall, Season’s Schemings is entertaining, fun, cozy, delightful, Christmassy, no-conflict romcom that I recommend to all holiday and sports romance readers. show less

If you read only one Christmas novella this year, read this one.

Quotes:
"Any longer and I'm sure we'll both want to electrocute ourselves with the Christmas lights."
"Sounds like a festive way to go."

A shocked silence falls over the room. I expect it's the calm before the storm. And man, I've never been so excited for a storm. I snuggle into Seb's side. "Oops." I spread my left hand over my husband's chest, flashing my ring for the room to see. "Did I forget to mention that Sebastian's my show more husband?"

"You look at her like my daddy looks at my mommy. And they're super happy together. So, I'm going to say yes. She is lucky to be married to you."

"And if you feel like killing someone, I'm not above stabbing Adam's gingerbread man with a toothpick."
"Excuse me?" Seb raises a brow at me. "Didn't you say you have a tradition where you make gingerbread people in everyone's likeness for Christmas?"
Wow, I mentioned that once, weeks ago. This guy listens. "Uh-huh," I reply.
"Well, I'm bringing a new tradition." Seb shoots me a cheeky grin. "Voodoo cookies for anyone who upsets my wife." show less

.75 star. it's just full of cliched writing (although for sure it could have been worse) and the i've-known-you-for-two-weeks-and-love-you-more-than-life-itself blech that i can't stand, plus a boss/employee power dynamic that i hate and was never really discussed as a realistic issue. there were a couple of good lines here and there but in general the voice and tone didn't work for me at all.

3.5