This second chance holiday romance was originally written as a screenplay, and I could totally see it working as a movie. The constant bantering/bickering, fast-paced romance and overall storyline would work well in that format. As a book, I needed a smoother transition from hate to love. The story takes place over a 36-hour period and our hero is fully expecting to propose to another woman as soon as they reach their destination, so it’s a delicate balance for sure. It was easy to see that these two former spouses still had a lot of love buried beneath a mountain of hurt and miscommunication, so it was fun to see their bickering transform into bantering. They had some solid chemistry, and I liked the merging of Layne’s upscale rom com vibes with her real-life husband and co-author’s comedic background. I liked all the banter, it was just a little too mean-spirited for a little too long, and that’s why I can’t round up my rating. But there’s a lot to like within the pages.
The story follows Katherine, a workaholic who is fully aware of the reputation she’s earned over the years. Christmas has been tough ever since her father passed away on the holiday, and she hasn’t had a family to call her own since her divorce four years ago. So when she’s injured on the 23rd and discovers that her emergency contact is still her estranged ex, it’s a surprise to them both. Katherine and Tom haven’t seen each other since their divorce, and there are clearly some unresolved feelings bubbling beneath the surface for them both. Though they both thought they’d closed that door and fully moved on, seeing each other again brings back all sorts of unwanted memories. But Tom is trying to get home to see his family for Christmas – and propose to the girlfriend who is already there – so watching over his ex was not in the plan. Since Katherine is temporarily in his care, she’s got to accompany him… no matter how complicated the journey may be.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Layne’s, so it’s always great to see a new release from her. And I liked the addition of LeDonne’s influence, which seems to have amped up the comedy and banter. I’m never going to complain about that. I also enjoyed the concept, and it’s much more of a holiday romance than I anticipated, albeit focused on the road trip aspect. The forced proximity was excellent and the second chance scenario worked better than I expected. I obviously didn’t love that Tom was basically engaged to someone else for the ENTIRE book, but the pacing made that easier to handle. It’s an exceedingly slow burn with just a kiss at the end, reminiscent of a Hallmark movie – though no Hallmark movie has as much bite as this banter. I think the book would’ve been stronger with a longer length and more time to let the romance flourish. These two are bickering right up until the end, so I did get a bit of whiplash in the turnaround. With more quiet moments and some sexual tension, I could’ve easily seen myself upping my rating. I needed more from the romance, but there are plenty of solid components.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ET1xlm
Audio Note:
The audio is great! The runtime is under 8 hours, so it’s easy to binge in a single day. There’s also zero spice, so you could listen at the office without trouble. I like Tim Paige just fine, and he does a good job in this as well. His voice (though not a personal favorite) fit the tone well, and he’s a skilled performer. It’s my first experience with Brianna Cohen, and I liked her. Her crisp, clear voice worked well for Katherine’s character, and her voice was easy to listen to. The only negative about her is that she took a deep, audible breath between paragraphs. That probably should’ve been edited out, as it was noticeable and kinda irritating at times. Once I heard it, I couldn’t stop hearing it, if you know what I mean. But that’s my only minor complaint about the audio – I liked it.
Find it on Libro.fm here!
Audible: https://amzn.to/3MIVi8f
Blurb:
From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne—and her real life husband and high school sweetheart, Anthony LeDonne—comes a new holiday romcom that is sure to warm even the coldest heart.
Katherine, an ambitious NYC attorney, gets diagnosed with a concussion and must be monitored for 48 hours to make sure it doesn’t get worse. Unfortunately, she forgot to update her emergency contact so the person they call is her ex-husband, Tom. Unable to be left alone, Katherine reluctantly agrees to travel to Chicago with Tom for the holidays. But thanks to a blizzard, what should have been a quick plane ride turns into an antagonistic overnight misadventure that stirs up old feelings even as Tom prepares to propose to his girlfriend on Christmas Eve.
A delightful meet-cute between The Proposal and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Emergency Contact is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Sally Thorne.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ET1xlm
About the Authors:
Featured in Oprah Magazine and PopSugar, Lauren Layne books have sold millions of copies worldwide. Snappy banter, sexual tension, and a fairy-tale happy ending are a hallmark of the Lauren Layne brand. Library Journal has described Lauren’s work as “exceptional,” and the books have been described by USA TODAY as “romantic comedy at its finest.”
Anthony LeDonne is a stand-up comedian. He lives in New York City with his high school sweetheart and overweight Pomeranian.
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