Book Review | My Greatest Joy – Brooke Fox (Maplewood Falls Series, Book Two)

My Greatest Joy
By: Brooke Fox

Series: Maplewood Falls Series
Book # in Series: 2 of 2
Publisher: Brooke Writes Romance, LLC
Publication Date: November 20th, 2024
My Rating: ✮✮✮✮
My Reading Format: I received an ARC for an honest review

Synopsis:

There’s a reason I hate the holidays, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the literal nightmare of flying three thousand miles in the middle of December.

When my coworker gets the flu, I reluctantly volunteer to take their assignment to write a piece on Vermont’s most famous Christmas small town.

After a delayed flight and driving through a blizzard in a minivan to a mountain cabin in the middle of nowhere, I find myself mixed up in a rental scam.

It’s bad enough the owner walks into my room naked and accuses me of breaking in, but then he tells me all the roads into town are closed. Even if I could leave, all the hotels are booked with tourists for the winter festival.

Even worse, his house is decorated like the North Pole.

Like I said, a nightmare.

The only perk about being snowed in with a lumberjack is that he’s accustomed to the cold and lets me steal his body heat in the middle of the night.

But then that turns into more, and even when I try to resist, I can’t help getting attached. It’ll never work out because we live on opposite sides of the country and have nothing in common.

Except, maybe we do…

My Greatest Joy was previously published as “The Joy of Us” by Kennedy Fox. It’s been re-edited and includes bonus content.

honey-script.light

My Greatest Joy by Brooke Fox is the second book in her Maplewood Falls series. If you’re new to this series, have no fear, My Greatest Joy can be read as a complete standalone. Get a cozy blanket, a warm beverage, and light up your Christmas tree with this cozy seasonal romance! It has been a long time since I last dove into a seasonal read. I tend to get my christmas fix by watching hallmark or classic ‘old favorite’ movies. When I started My Greatest Joy by Brooke Fox, I wasn’t expecting to feel this need to decorate my whole house in seasonal decor. I wasn’t expecting the spirit of the holiday season to overtake my mind! I am LOVING Booke Fox’s seasonal romances!!

Let’s dive into what My Greatest Joy by Brooke Fox is all about! Since Fallon Joy can remember, she’s always despised Christmas. Some say she’s the Grinch. I say, I don’t blame her for her Grinch mindframe this time of the year. But to make matters worse, she’s accepted a job to write an article about the most Christmas-y place she could possibly venture to. The only question is, will the people of Maplewood Falls, Vermont, be able to thaw her icy heart. Or will she have a helping hand in breaking the heart of Maplewood Falls very own lumberjack, Levi White. There’s only one way to find out!!

Now, let’s dive into these characters. Starting with the Grinch, herself, Fallon Joy. First, let me say that Fallon was the least joyous person in this whole novel, especially at the beginning. I couldn’t stop laughing at the irony that was her last name. The laughter escaped me time after time during this moment, especially her point of view chapters. HOnestly, when you get her full story, you will understand all about her hate for the holiday season. My heart felt her pain and her grief. I loved the fact that Fallon gave back what was dished out to her. She definitely is a woman capable of holding her own in a back and forth banter fight.

And then we have Levi White, Mr. Christmas himself. Of all the places Fallon could end up in a blizzard, it had to be with the man who is the epitome of Christmas. I loved how sweet and soft tempered Levi was throughout this novel. He had a mission throughout this whole novel to show Fallon the joy’s that come with the holiday season, and I freaking loved him so much for being the one to lower her walls down. My heart felt every moment between the two of them! I loved how these two were complete opposites, but the more I read, the more it worked for them. He softened her heart, and she brought a playful banter into his life. My heart grew three sizes!!

There is a reasoning behind why I dropped a star on my rating. I gave My Greatest Joy a 4 star rating simply for the fact that I wanted more depth towards the end. I felt the ending was a bit on the fast-paced side of the spectrum. I would have liked a few more moments where Fallon and Levi’s family is concerned, and vice versa. I would have liked to see Levi converse with Fallon’s family. But other than that, everything else was heartwarming.

Overall, I loved the relationship between Fallon and Levi. My heart was invested, and this is exactly what I imagined a holiday romance to be like! I can’t wait to read more holiday romances in the upcoming future!! I need more of this town, these peoples, and this world in my life!!

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