tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post7027405751978108089..comments2023-10-25T11:03:29.174-04:00Comments on Impressions of a Reader...: TBR Review: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (Friday Harbor #1) by Lisa KleypasHilciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-87219334410638692332012-12-26T15:02:41.466-05:002012-12-26T15:02:41.466-05:00Nath, you're right, the brother's bond wit...Nath, you're right, the brother's bond with Holly was good. As a matter of fact, I thought all the scenes with Holly were sweet. I guess I had more of an issue with the romance, and the Christmas theme was minimal considering that it is part of the title. It was an ok read for me... average, just nothing that I will really remember. It just surprised me because this is Kleypas. O_o<br />Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-53285220780648722832012-12-24T18:47:54.103-05:002012-12-24T18:47:54.103-05:00I gave it a B-, but I agree with you, too short an...I gave it a B-, but I agree with you, too short and not enough development. I just really liked the brothers' bond with Holly. It was sweet :) And seriously, the Christmas scenes should have been more prominent. But as I said, I thought it was touching how the brothers rearranged their lives for Holly.nathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02626894830238717124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-23352639490983070532012-12-20T08:36:11.763-05:002012-12-20T08:36:11.763-05:00Alex, I wondered if the movie was going to go with...Alex, I wondered if the movie was going to go with the "dark" side (Maggie's grief and Mark's dysfuctional family) and make it dramatic or "lighter" and make it a happy, Hallmark, feel-good Christmas story. <br /><br />I'm not sure that I'm going to read this series. This novella didn't intrigue me enough to pull me into it.... although I DO have the latest book in the series (it was a gift), Alex's story. I might read it at some point to find out what's up with him. Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-57860097580661123612012-12-20T08:32:11.504-05:002012-12-20T08:32:11.504-05:00Wendy, I do think the word count had something to ...Wendy, I do think the word count had something to do with it. She has published a couple of shorter stories, but not many... When it comes to Mark's character, I think that his background was lightly explored so that she could then go into it in the novels about the other two brothers later on when she wrote the rest of the series. That didn't help this novella IMO. As far as the movie? I'm not surprised that the storyline was changed, I've seen that happen too many times! It is the reason I prefer to read the book. <br /><br />Phyl, I agree. There are sweet moments particularly those with Holly. I thought those were quite tender too. But yes... I prefer reading Kleypas' words in a book than seeing someone's else's interpretation of her story on TV, whether I love the book or not. :) Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-4169654374754864302012-12-20T00:04:17.401-05:002012-12-20T00:04:17.401-05:00I totes agree that the characters could have used ...I totes agree that the characters could have used a little more page time, but I did like the story and the introduction to the series. Is it the best of Lisa K? nope but it was sweet. The movie is a bit different and sort of easier to buy their quick relationship because while Maggie went through something bad it wasn't as bad as in the book, nor the Nolan/Nagle (really, that's what they went for in the movie) brother's past was as dark. <br /><br />Oh and you see more of Maggie, Holly and Mark in the next book, Rainshadow Road, they aren't front and center but they do show up from time to time. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-30152215213884102222012-12-19T21:24:13.652-05:002012-12-19T21:24:13.652-05:00I read this when it first came out. It was sweet e...I read this when it first came out. It was sweet enough, but I agree that the story was too short. I watched the movie last week. Yep, Hollywood changed it a ton. The book, IMHO, was much better.Phylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14665665401551658932noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-71035428636396905462012-12-19T17:29:10.512-05:002012-12-19T17:29:10.512-05:00Maybe it was the novella length? I'm not wide...Maybe it was the novella length? I'm not widely read when it comes to Kleypas' backlist, but I don't recall her having published many shorter works. Some authors just work better with a longer word count.<br /><br />I haven't read the book or watched the TV movie, but from rumblings I saw on Twitter, it seems like they Hollywood-fied it quite a bit. As in, they changed more than a few things from page-to-screen.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12485867264936716806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-26121742631051903512012-12-19T16:40:36.912-05:002012-12-19T16:40:36.912-05:00Lynn, I didn't watch the movie. I wonder if ev...Lynn, I didn't watch the movie. I wonder if events were further developed there? Don't know. <br /><br />I also prefer (and love) Kleypas' historical romances. I also loved both of her contemporaries, Sugar Daddy and Blue Eyed Devil. Unfortunately, I didn't find the gripping qualities that kept me reading those novels in this novella. The characters didn't grab me either. Interesting. Hilciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17765831808358693421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1444239480570451270.post-38119206171332322112012-12-19T16:30:41.982-05:002012-12-19T16:30:41.982-05:00I was curious about this one since it was made int...I was curious about this one since it was made into a TV movie, but I've been finding that when I want to read Kleypas, I'm usually wanting one of her historicals. Somehow her voice in those seems more distinct to me than in contemporaries.Lynn Spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10579942084034105870noreply@blogger.com