Loved these 6 stories and how they all were entwined with each other.

Lots of friendships, relationships, questions and emotions were involved in these stories.

A great and exciting addition from Australian authors. Six festive books that gave me all the feelings of Christmas. A fun bunch of romances.

Thanks to NetGalley and Escape Publishing for the chance to read this book.

I enjoyed this 6 story collection. The authors worked really well together, and the stories meshed well. There were times that I forgot I was reading work by more than one person. It's always interesting reading about an event from multiple perspectives, and it brought a lot of depth to the collection.

His Christmas Feast by Nora James

The focus in this story is on Christophe and his neighbour Emily. They have both had heartbreak in the past and have sworn off relationships. They get off to a rocky start when they disagree on a new fence between their properties.
Chrisophe decides to invite her to his Christmas lunch along with other single friends and finds himself intrigued by her when they are no longer arguing over the fence. Emily is not interested in a relationship, though, as she still hasn't healed from her last one.

To be honest, I felt quite irritated at Christophe's character as he continually disregards Emily when she tells him she isn't interested. In his opinion they have chemistry and the chance to "be something" together and although we see Emily's inner dialogue and know that she feels attracted too despite her insecurities he doesn't know this and continues to pursue her even as she tells him no repeatedly.

I like the way the story resolved, and that redeemed him a little in my eyes.

Her Christmas Kisses by Susanne Bellamy

This sweet story focuses on Xander - a successful businessman who moves around at the completion of each project and Flick - a pastry chef who dreams of taking over the family restaurant and making it her own. When Flick's life is turned upside down, she runs away down the coast and finds herself thrown together with Xander when there's an incident with their vehicles. Neither of them are to blame, but it does mean Flick is stuck in Rainbow Cove instead of passing through as planned. She ends up working for Christophe at his restaurant at the resort and building a friendship with Xander's young sister who is visiting. The more time Xander and Flick spend together, the more their attraction grows. But can they get past the differences in their future plans?

I really enjoyed this book and both of the main characters. Xander was sweet with his young sister, and Flick just seemed like a really friendly young woman.


Her Christmas Homecoming by Shirley Wine

Joe and Marta were childhood sweethearts with a shared musical dream. They are separated by the manipulations of Joe's mother and don't speak for 10 years until Marta returns to their hometown. There are a lot of hurt feelings that need airing between them, but deeper than that is their friendship and chemistry. Joe helps Marta tidy up her mother's house after she has to go into a nursing home. Marta helps Joe acknowledge all the pain he's been hiding from the world and himself.
This is a love story full of healing and second chances.


His Christmas Pearl by Renée Dahlia

Zoe and Kiet meet for the first time at Christophe's Christmas lunch. Their first interaction gets off to a rocky start, but neither of them can stop themselves from going back for more. They are then drawn together when Zoe uses her expertise as a forensic accountant to solve the mystery of who is stealing money from Kiet's family business.

There is a lot of drama and action at the conclusion of this story. The journey to get there flows at an easy pace. I enjoyed the way Zoe learned to trust herself and find her voice.


His Christmas Escape by Shona Husk

This story pulls a little harder on the heartstrings with the rejection and crappy treatment both Jade and Nico receive from parts of their family. They have both learnt that they can't rely on others and resist putting themselves out there for fear of rejection.
After a steamy few days, Jade jets off to another job, and Nico has everything go to pieces at home and is forced to leave and face his fear of trying.
But I think the future looks bright for this young couple!


His Christmas Pride by Renée Dahlia

Sam is Kiet's younger brother, and together, they have dealt with a lot of heartache. Sam is recovering from the end of his previous relationship and has some soul searching to do before he considers dating again.
Mick is relatively new to Rainbow Cove and is using his work as a paramedic to hide from the emotional pain from his last long-term relationship.
The two men meet in an online game and form a friendship. It isn't until the drama surrounding Zoe and Kiet happens that they realise they now live in the same town (with Mick moving only recently). They decide to take a chance and meet in person.
The relationship has a lot of ups and downs, with both men trying to deal with their own baggage. It's not until they accept the past that they can move forward together.

I must say I took my time with this book so I could make the Christmas spirit last. I love Christmas and really enjoyed this collection of stories/books. Each one gave me something different but they all gave me the Christmas feels that I hoped for and wanted. It was such fun reading them all.

Enjoyable, entertaining, fun, Christmassy, romantic and books to read each year at Christmas to get you in the spirit. Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Escape Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

All six “Rainbow Cove Christmas” books are here under one cover. Five Australian authors each write about the men and women who are either connected to, or attending, a Christmas lunch at Christophe Duval‘s home. The lunch is the start of six happy-ever-after stories.

His Christmas Feast by Nora James - French chef Christophe goes all out to produce a lavish feast on Christmas Day and invites various friends and associates to join him. He invites his neighbour Emily over when she tells him she hates Christmas. I found Emily to be over-the-top mean and angry which wasn’t fair on Christophe. She didn’t deserve him, but found happiness in the end.

Her Christmas Kisses by Susanne Bellamy - Flick is offered a job in the Rainbow Cove resort restaurant when her car is written off in the carpark. Resort owner Xander is attracted to the plucky woman and love starts when Flick bonds with his Downs Syndrome sister - this is my favourite book in the series.

Her Christmas Homecoming by Shirley Wine - This is a second chance romance between Marta and Joe. Marta is a very toxic character, and I didn’t warm to her at all, I really felt like telling Joe to run as he could find someone better. But it eventually turns around and the couple get their second chance.

His Christmas Pearl by Renée Dahlia -Zoe loves Christmas and is pleased when Christophe invites her to his house for a Christmas lunch. Kiet meets Zoe when he delivers oysters to the Christmas party party and stays to shuck them. She finds out that he thinks someone is embezzling money from his Oyster Farm and offers to help. From this passing meeting a relationship forms that goes beyond number crunching.

His Christmas Escape by Shona Husk -When Nico first meets Jade she is dressed as an elf. The next time is at Christophe‘s Christmas lunch and they are very attracted to each other. While neither character appeared to have the anger management issues some of the other lead characters in this series do - they had real issues with their respective families that were heartbreaking, but needed more depth, more pages and I think the plot would have had deeper meaning.

His Christmas Pride by Renée Dahlia - Computer nerd, and Oyster Farmer, Sam has feelings for the mysterious Velebit who he has been chatting with online. When Sam finds out Velebit doesn’t live overseas but is actually local paramedic Mark. Both men come from abusive backgrounds - can they connect in real life as well as they do online?

As with all series, there are some you like better than others, what makes this interesting is that because a different author wrote the books (except one author who wrote two) they are interconnected stand alone romances

EXCERPT: He hurried back inside and set out to make the filling for his dessert, a buche de Noel in the tradition of the Christmas logs served in France. He whisked together the butter, icing sugar and vanilla, before gently folding in the raspberry puree he'd made. His guests expected nothing less than a fabulous lunch from a French chef and he wouldn't let them down.
Besides, he was determined to spoil all the lonely souls he's invited, the friends, acquaintances and friends of friends who would otherwise spend the holiday alone. This would be a Christmas to remember, a day without regrets or sadness, he'd make sure of it. For them and for him.

ABOUT 'RAINBOW COVE CHRISTMAS': One gourmet party. Six potential couples. The taste of love? A collection of small-town Christmas romance novellas by favourite Australian authors.

Every year, French chef Christophe Duval throws a lavish Christmas party at his country home in Marandowie. This year, the festivities bring together six potential couples. Will love be on the menu for everyone?

His Christmas Feast - Nora James

After his girlfriend runs off with another man, Christophe swears to stay away from women. That all changes when his sexy neighbour Emily turns up at the party. The trouble is, Emily is the queen of mixed signals and Christophe is along for a rollercoaster ride like no other.

Her Christmas Kisses - Susanne Bellamy

Flick is determined to find the money to buy her family’s restaurant after her parents’ divorce. Xander is a workaholic developer with a special needs sister, Jenny. When they meet through Jenny, it seems like the perfect solution to both their problems — or will their attraction cause more problems?

Her Christmas Homecoming - Shirley Wine

Marta has returned home to put her mother into care and clear out her family home, but the hardest challenge is seeing the man she left behind. Joe is grounded in the soil of this town, but Marta can’t see a future for herself here. Will they find their way back to each other?

His Christmas Pearl - Renee Dahlia

The last thing struggling oyster farmer Kiet wants to do on Christmas Day is deliver oysters to a fancy party. When Christmas-loving accountant Zoe spies Kiet shucking oysters, something about his competent hands draws her to him. Offering her business expertise seems like the perfect excuse to spend time together…

His Christmas Escape - Shona Husk

Nico has been doing his best to keep his family together and off the street since he was sixteen. Jade is travelling the world while studying law. Following Jade makes stepping off the path easy and soon freedom is within Nico’s grasp. But if he leaves, he can never come back…

His Christmas Pride - Renee Dahlia

When paramedic Mick discovers his online crush lives nearby and is just as gorgeous in real life, he’s hooked — but not ready to risk his heart. Sam loves chatting to the mysterious Velebit. When online friendship grows into something more, Sam knows it will never be serious. Velebit lives on the other side of the world…doesn’t he?

MY THOUGHTS: I got a bit of a shock when I opened Rainbow Cove Christmas - instead of the six short stories I thought I was getting, there were six NOVELLAS! 954 pages of romance! I didn't know if I could cope, but I was soon drawn into the first story and eager to continue.

The stories are all interconnected. The main character in each novella is someone who attended Christophe's Christmas dinner, so the characters meander through one another's stories, all involving said Christmas dinner.

There's a lot of food mentioned in this collection, so best not to read this when you are hungry.

I am generally not a great fan of romance, and have never read any of these authors previously, but this collection worked well for me and kept me interested throughout the entire 954 pages.

A delectable feast, with only one novella containing an open-door sex scene. This would make an excellent Christmas gift for the romance lover in your life.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#RainbowCoveChristmas #NetGalley

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Escape Publishing via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Rainbow Cove Christmas by Nora James, Susanne Bellamy, Shirley Wine, Renee Dahlia and Shona Husk for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Having only heard of two of these authors and having read none of them previously, it was a bit of a gamble reading this.

This is a collection of six very short reads, the entire book can be easily finished in an hour.

The writing styles are all vastly different, but they are all very simple, lightweight reads.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.