Donna Smith

Huh. Zany, because Evergreen joyfully folded in Every Single Mad suggestion made for an off-the-wall Christmas romance, under girded with her usual self-aware genre bending. I wouldn't say you should start reading here, but it is fun if you are familiar with her usual tone. Witty in a... ...zany way. Yeah: I'm sticking with zany.

Clever! Interesting. Very cool character arcs, and--as with all in this series--very deft juggling tropes and expectations with more than a few winks to the audience of the genre.

I'm sticking with this author.

I like this author! The second by her I've read.

Complex and interesting, and there was actually a moment where I didn't know which trope was going to be engaged and who the romantic lead would actually be--because Evergreen is witty and skillful at acknowledging ALL the tropes in the genre and playing fast and loose with them in the most engaging ways.

Ugh: NO.

Begins with a rape--apparently between the romantic leads of the book!?!, though I quit reading before that became absolutely clear so I may be mistaken--then continues with unrealistic coincidences to move the plot along, relies on a "hooker with a heart of gold" to glamorize sex work, which sticks in my craw because of how dehumanizing and abusive the industry is. Also has a child who is angelic. I didn't like or believe in any of the characters

DNF at 14% My first by this author; probably my last.