When I saw the cover of this book on Netgalley I immediately wanted to read where this story was about. It sounded like a lot of fun so I requested it and was super excited when I got approved to read it. ‘An Unexpected Christmas’ was the first book I read for the HoHoHo Readathon that I participated in, and it was the perfect book to start.

In ‘An Unexpected Christmas’ we meet Adele. Adele is going to her family’s cabin to get away from everyone after she finds out her boyfriend of a view months is cheating on her. Although it’s almost Christmas, her favorite holiday, Adele is determined to be alone and forget about Christmas this year. What she didn’t expect is to find Jace, her brother’s best friend in the cabin. Adele has had a secret crush on Jace for years. But Jace has never had eyes for her. Being stuck with him in the cabin can only end bad. He is definitely not someone her heart would be save with. But when they find themselves forced to spend Christmas together, things start to feel very different fast.

‘An Unexpected Christmas’ is a perfect Christmas read if you ask me. Both main characters Adele and Jace are fun to get to know. This book is written from both their point of views, which I really loved, and which made this book even more fun. There is a lot of chemistry between them, and it was so fun to read about how they slowly grew closer together.

If I think of Romantic Christmas books, I definitely think of cozy cabins in a snow covered land. And this story takes place in that kind of world. It definitely made me feel all those Christmas feels. There is Christmas tree decorating, Christmas movies watching, making a snow man.. I mean this book had it all. Even a dalmatian!!

I loved the romance between Adele and Jace. It was really fun reading about them, and there were a lot of sexy romantic scenes I definitely couldn’t get enough of. Sure, the story was a little ‘too’ perfect at times. For example they had all the food and ingredients they wanted for everything they wanted to make! How? I want that!! And I have access to the grocery story all the time. But it didn’t bother me at all.

Yes, ‘An Unexpected Christmas’ is a perfect Christmas read that I finished in one day. I loved it and I definitely want to read more books by Shannon Richard.

4.5-Stars for the swoon-worthy full length read An Unexpected Christmas by Shannon Richard, Book 1 in Taking the Shot series. It's cliche & probably not real helpful to include 'must read' when describing a book, but I have no other words to really convey the need to one-click & read this book, especially for those who enjoy the romance genre, it is a truly amazing, heartfelt romance. Once in a while I enjoy a romance with alot of steam, and if that's what you are looking for, this book is Not It. Why, because a romance with a lot of steam typically means little else and that definitely does not describe this book. but only once in a while since they usually contain little else, other than the steam, but that does not describe this book. Shannon Richard creates the perfect balance in this book, it contains just enough steam & heat, so many sweet, tender moments & tons of snarky banter, to be considered a magnificent, awe-inspiring read & a must have in every romance reader's Kindle library. The author does an amazing job writing this tremendous story detailing Jace & Adele's quest for love in An Unexpected Christmas. Both Jace & Adele want to get away from it all, from everyone, to spend Christmas alone. But, 'unexpectedly' they both retreated to the James family cabin, without knowing of the others plan. It seems fate intervenes, by way of mother nature at least it seems that way when for days they are snowed in, or, maybe it's just finally perfect timing ..... after 6 years. Jace's thoughts & words can only be described surprisingly as romantic at heart as he contemplates their original "what happens at the cabin, stays at the cabin" agreement & realizes he wants more, realizes he loves Adele, how long he has loved her he doesn't know, but he knows he wants to love her forever, realizes she is it for him, forever! But, does Adele break his heart when she says she wants to stick to the original agreement? Jace wants to make Adele happy, wants to do what she said she wanted by sticking to the agreement with 'this' (between them) being over when they leave the cabin? When the NHL lockout is over, when Jace closes the cabin door with a thud & never looks back, will they ever be able to find their HEA? Your eyes will definitely be glued to the pages, won't be able to put the book down, willing the two heartbroken souls to figure it......Definitely Recommend An Unexpected Christmas & Can't Wait for Book 2 in the Taking the Shot series with Sean & Felicity's story.
Full disclosure, Idid receive an advanced copy, ARC, of this book from the author and publisher INscribe NYLA via NetGalley but I am voluntarily leaving my voluntary opinion & review.

Adele is a consume designer and is dating a well known actor, when through the tabloids she finds out that he had a moment of indiscretion. Not wanting to be around family and people in love, while being freshly raw over the incident, she decides to visit the family cabin. Unbeknownst to her, He long-time crush and her brother's best friend/hockey teammate, is skipping the Christmas for similar reasons and is already at the cabin. There has been an attraction between the two for six years. He has been told by her brother that she is off limits, therefore Jace has never acted on his attraction. Adele has always viewed Jace as a player, therefore she has forbidden herself to act on her attraction.

I really enjoyed the storyline of this book. It is set at Christmas time. Adele loses her Christmas spirit and Jace helps her find it. All while getting to really know each other on a personal level. What worked for me was the fact that these are two people that have been in each other's life in transient ways. There is an attraction that is almost forbidden from each of the character's perceptions. The undertone of the book kind of eludes to "Christmas magic" in the fact that they are each stuck together at the family cabin. This cabin is where Adele's two brothers had fell in love with their spouses during similar visits to this cabin. Adele's mom reminds her of this fact and you get the vibe that mom "knows" this is what will ultimately happen with Adele and Jace.

What didn't work for me, is when Adele gives her trust to Jace and they have their moment of passion, I feel like it happened repeatedly over the course of a couple of chapters. I found myself skimming through those scenes after a while.

Good Christmas-time story. HEA and lots of sexy-time if you like that kind of thing. I feel like it could be tones down a tad. However, overall a good read.

Synopsis: Adele James needs to get away from publicity after a scandal with her now ex boyfriend. She goes to her brother’s secluded cabin to spend the holidays. As she pulls into the driveway she notices she will not be alone. Her brother’s hockey teammate is there whom she has had a crush on for 6 years. As a snowstorm hits leaving them stuck in the cabin, their chemistry is unavoidable as they wait out the storm.

I devoured this holiday read. The flirty banter between Adele and Jace made you want to keep reading. They kept denying the chemistry even though they knew they should be together. It was a quick read that put you in the holiday spirit. I look forward to reading the other books in the series. Do not miss out on this one!

At first I really did not like it, I found that there were a lot of repetitions and then there was only sex scenes. But I enjoyed it the story! In my opinion it was a bit long to start but once it started I could not put my book down! I liked the story so much that I would totally read the other books of the series. I also found that the characters were very reliable! Thank you netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book! I do not regret it!

Adele James is nursing a broken heart and has decided that instead of spending the holidays with her family she is going to go to the family cabin for a little alone time. But once she pulls in the drive she soon realizes that she isn't the only one in need of some solitude, her brothers teammate is already there enjoying some alone time. Spending the holidays, in close quarters with a handsome hockey hunk is not what she had in mind, but a storm is brewing and leaves her with no choice. A few days with him can't be all that bad, right?

With his hockey world up in the air, and his personal life unusually quiet, Jace Kilpatrick decides to spend a few days in the mountains, all by himself. But an unexpected surprise shows up on the doorstep, and quickly brightens up his dull little solitary vacation. When Adele wanders through the door, he's hit with a case of desire that he has no idea what to do with, acting on it would be so wrong, but it could be a lot of fun too! For a long time he has thought of her as just a friend, but for some reason he is seeing her in a whole new light, and he likes what he sees. But he's pretty sure she doesn't feel the same way... or does she?

An Unexpected Christmas was the perfect remedy for my holiday blues, it inspired smiles and tons of holiday spirit! I loved watching these two circle around one another and fight the sparks brewing between them, they had some serious heat going on. Ms. Richardson really outdid herself with this one, the words were absorbing, and the characters were perfectly crafted, I loved it!! I am anxious to see what she has in store for us next, if this first story is any indication of what is to come, the next one is sure to be just as amazing!! Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it'll leave your heart happy!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

I've received a ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you're looking for a cute mushy holiday romance to put you in the Christmas mood? Look no further because this is it! Besides this novel being a great way to start the holiday season, I would say the romance escalated pretty quickly from a crush that lasted six years for then Adele and Jace to finally say their I love you in a matters of days (literally) which prompted the three star rating but what can I say, it's must be a Christmas miracle!

Adele and Jace have been friends for 6 years through her brother. She has longed for him but felt he didn't return the feelings. Accidentally stuck in a snow storm together, they find out they have more in common than either of them thought.

Fantastic holiday read,. Little bit of sports thrown in for fun. Super steamy and great friends to lovers romance. Loved the back story on Jace and Adele's loving family. I hadn't read the previous books in the series but this one stand fine on it's own. In fact, I may pick up the two about Adele's brothers as well.

Great read!

4 stars
Cute Christmas/love story, Loved Jace! I was pleasantly surprised but this book. I pocked it up from Netgalley and I am glad I did!

I’m a big of Shannon Richard. I randomly found her book, Undone, on the Walmart shelf. Loved the cover. Read the blurb. I had to buy the book. I’ve been addicted since. Real talk.

I was so excited to hear that Shannon was writing a new book... and it’s her first that isn’t in the Country Roads series! Ah!!
This series is set around... wait for iiiiit... HOCKEY PLAYERS! *happy dance*
And guess what the trope is... brother’s best friend! Yes! A fan favorite trope that include a hot as hell hockey player... SOLD! Am I right?!

For real. I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read. Sweet with some sexy. They’re trapped in a cabin together because of a blizzard but they definitely find some fun ways to keep warm. *wink, wink* *nudge,nudge*

It’s another winner from Shannon Richard! Be sure to grab a copy and dive into this sweet and steamy holiday read!

Adele and Jace really helped get me in a very nice Christmas spirit. This was such a sweet holiday read with some hot & spicy lovin' thrown in.

Adele James is running away from the paparazzi after her actor boyfriend is caught quite literally with his pants down in a very public cheating way. Jace Kilpatrick just wants to unwind and relax while still waiting to get back on the ice from the months long lockout of the NHL. Time away at the Jamses cabin is just what he needs. Time away at the family cabin is just what she needs. When they both end up there snowbound together things start to get steamy. But she's his best friends little sister and very off limits, he's her secret crush of six years but he doesn't need to know that. Sometimes the line needs to be crossed and what happens at the cabin stays at the cabin. Vegas rules after all. But can things return to the way they were before or will both their lives be irrevocably changed with no hope of them staying away from each other and being no more than just friends.

If you're looking to get in the holiday spirit with a good seasonal read then you should definitely put this one on your list.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

When Adele is confronted with her boyfriend’s cheating, she decides not to celebrate Christmas with her family but to go to the family cabin on her own. However, her brother’s best friend and hockey teammate, Jace, is also there with the same idea. And a snow storm is coming.

No, this book is not original but is is a warm and christmassy story about two people spending Christmas together and realizing there might be a future for them if they would let go of their trepidations.

Great if you want to cuddle up,with a book near the fire place!

Adele and Jace share An Unexpected Christmas and it's a sweet Christmas romance.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.

AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS is an unexpected surprise! I really enjoyed this story by Shannon Richard. I'm going back to read the other books in this series. I loved getting to know Adele and Jace,

I have a thing for hockey romances and this book was an unexpected treat. From the moment I picked up this gem I could not put it down. I just loved Jace and Adele. From there very first meeting you could just feel the chemistry between these two people. Both of them kept there distance because Jace was Adele's brothers best friend and we all know sisters of best friends are off limits. When they are stranded together in a cabin during a snow storm the pull between them becomes too much and they give in to what they feel. They make a deal with each other. What happens at the cabin stays at the cabin. What happens when feelings get involved? What happens when there time together ends sooner then they expected? Pick up this book and find out because you will not be disappointed at all. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series because I am 100 percent positive that Felicity and Sean's book is going to be just as amazing as this one. Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wowza
First off I was not expecting this to be a sexytime book. So that should be my first thing as I don't normally read those types of books. Having said that means that this book was way out of my comfort zone, but I still liked it. Adele and Jace were such likable characters who are realistic when it comes to their type of relationship. Jace is a hockey player and Adele works on a tv show which means that they live very separate lives and only see each other around the holidays. They have been brought together by Adele's brother who is also Jace's teammate who is one of Jace's best friend. Their family has taken Jace in as he doesn't have a family of his own really anymore which again makes it so they spend a lot of the holidays together.
This year because of heartbreak that they are both feeling for different reasons they each on their own have decided to spend the Christmas holiday on there own at the Family cabin. Jace has been there for days when Adele suddenly shows up without knowing he was already there.
With both of them suffering from heartbreaking and feeling inadequate compared to there friends/families they end up confiding information in one another that no one else knew.
Over time things get physical and more physical and then the feelings actually start to feel real to both of them.
If they actually make it last or not though is something you will have to read to find out.

Overall I did find myself enjoying this book. I loved that there was actually a storyline and it wasn't all just about sex. There were real feelings underneath everything and problems that they help each other workout. I did enjoy this book and I'm shockingly interested to see if they make a cameo appearance in the next book.


I did notice a few inconsistencies when it came to the book itself and food that was being made, but that was just simply an error I believe.

An Unexpected Christmas was a delightful romance that's the perfect read to get you in the holiday spirit.

Adele James loves the Christmas season but this year instead of enjoying the festivities she's dealing with the fallout of her famous boyfriend cheating on her. To escape, Adele decides to head to her family's cabin to be alone only to arrive and find her brother's best friend already occupying the cabin. Jace Kilpatrick has never been big on Christmas and being on month three of an NHL lockout, celebrating the holiday is even lower on his priority list. His plans to be alone are put on hold though after Adele arrives and brings a massive snowstorm with her.

Adele is hurting pretty badly after her boyfriend cheated on her and photos ended up in the tabloids. Adele took a chance on Troy as she knew he had a reputation as a player and because of the way it turned out she's adamant she won't date someone like that again. Usually Adele loves the holidays and typically goes all out in celebrating which was something I really related to as I myself am a huge fan of the Christmas season.

Jace had a bit of a difficult home life growing up after his mother died and his father ignored him. It wasn't until after Jace became friends with Adele's brother that he became part of a family that truly cared about him. Jace is used to being a fairly active person and as a result of the NHL lockout, he's going a bit stir crazy due to the lack of games and practices.

Adele and Jace's relationship progresses very quickly but because they have six years of friendship prior to the book it doesn't feel rushed at all. The friendship they have is one of the best parts of their relationship and I enjoyed them just hanging out watching The Great British Bake Off. Once the two acknowledge their attraction to each other, their relationship advances pretty quickly both physically and emotionally. As to the physical side, the two have amazing chemistry and the scenes between them are very well done. The issues that come up in the relationship made sense and I understood where the characters were coming from.

I ended up really enjoying An Unexpected Christmas and I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author in the future. I definitely recommend this book if you're in the mood for a good holiday romance.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

This is book 3 in a series, It stars Adele James who has had the hots for her brothers bestie Jace for 6 years. He has had a thing for her too but he is a manwhore so her brother told him to leave her alone. Until Christmas where Adele's heart has been broken by her actor boyfriend and a snowin in the mountains and the two decide to explore a relationship.

But it is just sex. Or is it? What happens when Jace wants more? Adele has gotten over one manwhore, she has a tough time believing that Jace could be loyal to her. I loved how her family gets involved and how Jace wants to fight for her heart. This was a hot, sexy romance but also so romantic I totally swooned.