When a specific clause changes the yearslong dynamics

Synopsis

A Hideaway Harbor holiday rom-com from bestselling & award-winning author Lydia Michaels!

Three billionaire brothers. One ultimatum. And a childhood best friend who just became the prize.

The Christmas rush began the moment Magnus Hawthorne informed his sons that his billion-dollar empire would come with one hell of a holiday clause—whoever marries first inherits everything.

Too bad they all want the same woman.

Wren Wilde, Hideaway Harbor’s unintentional cat lady, is sick of bossy Hawthorne men controlling her non-existent love life. After years of their territorial interference, she’s finally going after what she wants. But Greyson, Soren, and Logan have other plans—one of them must marry, and all three brothers want Wren.

With no clue how her boring life turned into a billion-dollar competition, Wren refuses to play along. But when three alpha males turn on the holiday charm and refuse to take no for an answer, her defenses crumble.

Wren must decide which brother wins, and this Christmas, her choice comes down to love.

“A steamy, small-town, holiday romance with an unforgettable love triangle that’s guaranteed to heat up readers’ hearts this winter!”

Tropes: Protector • Three Possessive Alpha Males • Billionaire Brothers • Grumpy/Sunshine • Holiday Romance • Small-Town • Rom-Com • Friends-to-Lovers • Long-Time Crush • First Love • Virgin • Christmas Ultimatum • Holiday Rush • Christmas Competition • Steamy Romance • Childhood Best Friend • Family Rivalry • Won’t Take No for an Answer

My review

Wren Wilde has grown up together with the Hawthorne boys. Especially a common grief years ago made their bond unbreakable. Although Wren has to admit that having Greyson, Soren and Logan acting not just as her best friends, but also as bigger brothers, made her love life rather non – existing. And while she loves her boys, their lives couldn’t be more different. Where Wren is known as a real cat – lady and runs The Haven, a place for peace and quiet, Magnus Hawthorne has built a billion – dollar empire to be inherited by the boys. But what nobody expected is that Magnus has added a clause before Greyson, Soren or Logan can inherit the business. A clause that the one whoever marries first, gets it all. And the three siblings think there is only one woman perfect for them… Wren. But no matter how much Wren loves the brothers, it is not enough to marry any of them. Or is there?

I have to admit, the friends that I had while growing up, aren’t my friends anymore. Not that something happened, but sometimes, that is just how life goes. So at the start of the book, I was a bit envious of the friendship between Wren, Greyson, Soren and Logan. Of course there is also the grief of losing their mothers, who were also best friends, that brought them all even closer.

On the other hand, I do have an older brother, a very protective one too. And in that aspect, I could completely understand Wren’s frustrations, as those three brother, with the best intentions, kind of ruined her love life… But when you love, you love that person, those people, completely, no matter how often they irritate you, right?

Obviously, it is not a secret what the shocking clause is that the men’s father, Magnus has added. As I am not part of the richer population of world, I truly wonder if the rich people can truly be that bold, and even crazy…

And while you may think that the Hawthorne boys are driven by money to get married as soon as possible, it is obvious that this is not the case. It is just that the brothers don’t want to lose what their family has built. And when there is so much at stake, I could understand why the only option the brothers see, is Wren.

Again, don’t go thinking that they are taking the easiest option. They truly care and love Wren, all in their own specific way. And Wren knows them inside and outside, she knows them and they know her inside and outside.

But I loved it how Wren just dismisses all of the men. Not because she doesn’t love them and she doesn’t care about their inheritance. And getting married to just any of the brothers could be an easy option, but I liked reading how Wren wants to be loved in the way that you should be loved.

Wren has been though a lot, and is in a way still finding her feet. She loves running The Haven, is perhaps even a bit excentric, but she also has her own personal struggles and issues.

But no matter what she is going through, she has one of the kindest hearts in the world. And that does not only show in the care she has for cats, but also the way she keeps on looking after her father and just how she knows how to help his through his own demons.

And let’s not forget how she is always there for any of the Hawthorne brothers, even if in the past and present they hurt her somehow.

In reviews, you have to be honest. Thus I must say, I had my own favourite Hawthorne brother. And perhaps he isn’t the easiest person to like, but in a way, or at least for me, he was.

There is so much I want to say about how the story evolves, and how many swoon – worthy moments there are. But that also means giving you all already an idea how the story will evolve. And I just won’t do that, as you have to discover it all by yourself.

What I also liked in this book, how there are several ups and downs. Because things don’t always go right from the first time, not in real life. And falling in love is perhaps the easiest bit, but it is also about keeping that love, not per se protected, but open and embracing.

We see in this book, how important it is to communicate openly about what is going through your mind, to protect your loved ones, but finding the balance and not become overprotective. And it is about the lengths you are ready to go for the person you love.

Lydia Michaels wrote a wonderful, heartwarming story about all the aspects of love, and that one special love. And the book started of with a peculiar clause, that made me frown, but I finished the book with a big, happy, satisfied smile on my face!  😊