Author: Christine d’Abo
Narrator: Nick J. Russo
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Run Time: 3 hours and 43 minutes
Category: Contemporary, Holiday
At a Glance: Excellent pacing packs a lot of character development and story into this deceptively brief run time.
Reviewed By: Cassie
Blurb: The last thing Cole expects to get for the holidays is dumped. But there he is, in the airport on his way to Banff for a romantic getaway, helplessly watching as his boyfriend’s ex declares undying love, proposes – and is accepted. With a few weeks to go until Christmas, Cole’s mood dives from jolly to jaded. But instead of sitting at home alone and feeling sorry for himself, he goes to his favorite bar, McGregor’s, for a pint and some company.
The moment Owen McGregor sets eyes on Cole, he knows there’s something wrong. So he takes it upon himself to ensure that Cole has a happy holiday: 12 outings for the 12 days before Christmas. Even if he can’t quite think up 12 activities that don’t involve getting the forlorn hunk into his bed.
With each outing they take together, Cole realizes that the love he thought he’d shared with his ex was less than perfect. And that Owen might prove to be more than just his rebound remedy.
Review: This is the perfect story to get you in the Christmas mood, if you’re not there already. The characters are sympathetic and well written, and the pacing is exceptionally good. I kept checking the run time thinking I had to be farther along than I was. Not in a bad way, but because it felt like so much had happened already, so I was sure there must only be minutes left to go, and I couldn’t figure out how it all could be resolved in that time. Every time I looked, I was thrilled to find that I still had more book to go. It really felt like a bigger book than it was, and it was all down to really excellent pacing.
The characters have plenty of room to grow and develop in the deceptively brief run time. And what starts as a couple of nice, if sad, men agreeing to spend time together to brighten their holidays, evolves beautifully into much more. Both Cole and Owen have well executed character arcs, each developing and deepening as the story progresses. The secondary characters are well drawn and likeable, and there are moments of humor throughout.
Nick J. Russo does his usual good work in this audiobook. He’s an excellent reader with a pleasing voice, and he emotes well in scenes. Though his character voice range isn’t broad, he does differentiate vocally between the characters in a capable way, and it’s generally easy to tell who’s speaking. I’m never worried about narration when I pick up a book with his name on it; I know he won’t be distracting or miss the mark in his reading, and he’s never disappointed me.
I was knitting Christmas gifts as I listened to this book, and I can’t think of a better way to spend 3+ hours. I loved being curled up, enjoying a great story while thinking warm and fuzzy thoughts about my loved ones. It just felt like Christmas. Christine d’Abo takes this couple from distinctly non-festive places in their lives, to falling in love and the quiet joy of the holiday, and she took me on the same journey. Whether you’re looking for a holiday-themed read or just a good romance with satisfying character development, pick Rebound Remedy up. It’s a lovely book.
You can buy Rebound Remedy here:
[zilla_button url=”http://adbl.co/2gSbw01″ style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Audible [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”http://apple.co/2gSbKnT” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] iTunes [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”http://amzn.to/2hVAwBa” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon US [/zilla_button][zilla_button url=”http://authl.it/B01MRN9IY9?d” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Amazon Int’l [/zilla_button]
The Novel Approach Reviews 
Leave a Reply