Review: Secret Valentine by Cherry Christensen

Print Length: 120 pages

Publisher: esKape Press (February 7, 2018)

From Goodreads.com: Professor Hannah Wagganer spends her days teaching and her nights dating Glen Arbor’s new mail carrier, Jasper Morgan. Not only does he spark Hannah’s heart, but he has become best friends with her cat, Jingles. 

As Hannah prepares for the church Valentine’s Day potluck and makes cards for local veterans, her relationship with Jasper takes a detour when a snowstorm hits town and she seeks refuge at his cottage. While there, Jasper is a warm and gracious host, but at the same time, he's turned as cold as the February wind. Doubt creeps in, leaving Hannah worrying that she’ll end up spending another holiday alone. 

Once again, blessings and suspicions abound when an anonymous donor pays to have the church pipes repaired and other locals suddenly find solutions to their problems. Is it coincidental or the work of a secret valentine? 

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My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

This is technically the second book with these characters, although it is not billed as being a part of a series. The first story, Secret Angel, served as an introduction to these characters, while this story added another chapter to their story. Both of these books however can be read as a stand alone story. 

This was a sweet and clean Christian accented (meaning there are bible scriptures woven throughout) novella. It is also a quick read - perfect for a rainy (or snowy) afternoon. 

On the whole I enjoyed this story. I loved being able to see how the relationship between Jasper and Hannah has escalated, while also watching a romance bloom between Dylan and Bree.  The characters seem strong - but I wish there was more to go on. I feel (as I did with Secret Angel) that these stories would be better if they were longer. The plot moves along quickly, but I feel like there is so much potential that we are missing out on in regards to these characters. I love the fact that these are clean romances (no sex), but I feel like some of the tension and drama that is present in this novel doesn't reach its full potential. Instead of calling it "love at first sight", I would like to have watched them fall in love. In fact, one of the characters even comments on how it seems like their relationship has progressed rather quickly - and it feels like that for the reader as well. 

Overall, I believe this will appeal to those who enjoy Christian novels, as well as those who enjoy clean novels. I would read more from this author. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                               Secret Valentine is available from Amazon.com