Keep Me Warm at Christmas by Brenda Novak

Keep Me Warm at Christmas was the October read for the Brenda Novak Book Group.  I loved the book group meeting that Brenda Novak posted, especially the Christmas cookie decorating contest with her daughter.  You can still watch the book group meeting on her Facebook page. 

 Keep Me Warm at Christmas is the story of two damaged souls staying at their friend’s estate over Christmas.  Tia Beckett has just had her first starring role in a movie that has Oscar buzz, but a horrific car accident has scarred her face making her unrecognizable.  With the paparazzi hot on her trail to get pictures of her injuries, she is happy to house sit for her producer Max and watch his parrot. 

 Seth Turner is a brilliant artist with a troubled past.  After the death of his wife, he feel like he can never find love again.  He’s spending a semester in the town of Silver Springs to help teach art at the New Horizons Boys Ranch that his mother runs for troubled teens.  He is happy to accept his friend Max’s invitation to stay at his estate, but curious about the reclusive neighbor staying at the guest house. 

 I enjoyed the story of Tia and Seth getting to know each other as well as the intrigue of who sent the paparazzi to Silver Springs.  I loved how Tia and Seth’s stories unfolded as well as their love for each other.  I really loved Tia’s story about how you can move on from a traumatizing accident.  Brenda Novak said at her book club that she was intrigued on how star Jennifer Grey’s appearance changed so much after her plastic surgery and how that impacted her acting career.  Tia is facing a similar problem with her appearance changing from the accident.  I also love how Seth had to move on and deal with his heartache from his wife’s death, but also the heartache of being abandoned as a child.  As a famous artist, he had to deal with who is using him for his money versus who loves him for who he is.  I liked that part of the story.  I also loved how supportive he was to Tia.

 I have not read all of the novels in the Silver Spring Series, and this novel did well as a standalone.

 Overall, Keep Me Warm at Christmas is a heartwarming Christmas romance.

 Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com.