Head over Heels for the Holidays

Jennifer Bernard

Nov 2020 · Lost Harbor, Alaska Book 7 · Jennifer Bernard

About this ebook

Ever since her ex-boyfriend dumped her on Christmas Eve, the holiday season has been tough for Maya Badger—especially since Lost Harbor, Alaska, pulls out all the stops for the holidays. Sure, she could focus on her police work and her father’s recovery from heart surgery. But when her dad’s home healthcare nurse turns out to be her childhood buddy—all grown up and the stuff of her naughtiest fantasies—she may have a solution to her holiday blues. After all, Jay-Jay always was the perfect playmate!

Rune Larsen hasn’t been skinny little Jay-Jay in a long time...not since he and his teen sister were forced to change their names to avoid Cara’s stalker. Taking a job in tiny, remote Lost Harbor seems like the perfect way to stay one step ahead of danger. The fact that his childhood friend is the town police chief is a bonus. Not to mention the fact that Maya has grown into a beautiful bronze goddess. Hell, even her serious cop side is a turn-on...though he’s up for the challenge of bringing some fun back into her life.

In fact, if they can navigate a stalker, a runaway yak, eleventy-billion holiday parties and a criminal investigation into the dark side of Lost Souls Wilderness, Rune just may convince Maya to fall head over heels for the holidays...and beyond.

Ratings and reviews

WOW!!! I loved reading Head Over Heels for the Holidays by Jennifer Bernard, book seven in her Lost Harbor, Alaska series. This story has all the feels, intrigue, suspense, and of course love. Life has not been easy for police chief Maya Badger, especially around the holiday season; Lost Harbor pulls out all the stops in celebrating the holiday season. Maya has been going solo to all the events, especially for the last five years since her ex-boyfriend dumped her on Christmas Eve to marry someone else. She has enough on her plate between her police work and her father’s recovery from heart surgery that she finally asks for some help; a healthcare nurse to work with her dad. Except, the healthcare nurse turns out to be her childhood buddy, Jay-Jay, all grown up, gorgeous, and the stuff her fantasies are made of. Rune Larsen hasn’t been the skinny little playmate Jay-Jay in a long time, not since he and his teen sister changed their names to escape from Cara’s stalker. Finding a healthcare position in tiny, remote Lost Harbor sounds like the perfect way to be a few steps ahead of the danger dodging their heels; having the police chief be a childhood friend is one more bonus. Rune is such a goner after seeing Maya, her becoming a bronze goddess; at least in his eyes. Seeing the serious Maya also draws him in and makes him want to bring some fun back into her life. Now all they have to do is navigate a stalker, a runaway yak, thousands of holiday parties and a criminal investigation into the dark side of Lost Souls Wilderness while Rune tries to convince Maya to fall head over heels for him, during the holidays and after. Ms. Bernard wrote an amazing, emotional, intriguing, suspenseful, and magical story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with suspense, reconnection, magnetic attraction, off the charts chemistry, amusing conversations, and endearing characters, who help Maya and Rune find a forever love, save Cara from a stalker, and solve the mysteries going on around the resort on Lost Souls. I highly recommend Head Over Heels for the Holidays to other readers. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Maya Badger, Chief of Police of Lost Harbor, is tough and gritty. She’s had to be as the only daughter to Harris Badger. Maya lost her mom as a child, so she knows loss. When her ex breaks up with her on Christmas Eve only to marry a few short months later, she’s devastated. Walls up, no more taking chances on love. She’s firmly in “Team Fun”, not “Team Romance”. But she’s lonely and overwhelmed with her dad’s health issues and the mystery involving The Lost Wilderness. The holiday season is fast approaching with the bazillion holiday parties to attend. Maya vows to NOT endure another holiday season alone. Even her dating app yields no one of interest! When in walks “Jay-Jay”... Rune, aka Jay-Jay, was always an ornery child. Rune was adventurous, always getting into trouble. While growing up in Hawaii, Rune meets Maya. They were complete opposites in every way, but they fit. Fast forward...Rune and his younger sister Cara arrive in Lost Harbor. Rune, now a home health RN with EMT experience, applied for a job helping to rehabilitate Harris. Maya can’t believe her luck to be reunited with her friend. Not only does Maya accept his help with her dad, but also asks Rune to be her fake boyfriend for the holidays. This is the perfect ending to the Lost Harbor series! The underlying mystery in all the novels in this series is finally solved. Maggie and Cara’s friendship was so sweet and supportive. The missing yak, the stalker issues, and the bazillion holiday parties were a blast. It was laugh out loud funny! Maya was one of my favorite characters and Rune was her perfect match. Great story! I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

Head Over Heels For the Holidays is the seventh in Jennifer Bernard's lovely Lost Harbor series, set in beautiful Alaska. Lost Harbor is a small town on the edge of the harshly gorgeous wilderness, full of charm and welcome, especially for the holidays. Police chief Maya Badger would prefer to keep her distance, since being on the receiving end of a wretched breakup at the height of the season a few years back. And with her father recovering from heart surgery, she's really got her hands full. When his home healthcare nurse turns out to be a childhood friend who's grown up awfully well, maybe this Christmas will be a chance to change how she feels about this time of year. Rune Larsen isn't the skinny little smart-aleck Maya befriended all those years ago. This temporary job in Lost Harbor is the perfect way to keep his teen sister Cara safe from her stalker. And Maya's professional capability is not just reassuring, it's a serious turn-on. Jennifer Bernard's story hits all the right notes--Maya and Rune's falling for each other is a beautiful unfolding of hearts and emotions. Maya's wrestling with seeing all her friends in happy relationships, and is more than a little hesitant, given her history, while Rune is ready to go all-in once he figures out his own heart. There's also the small matter of the looming threat of the stalker, seemingly countless parties requiring their cheerful attendance, and an unresolved investigation in the Lost Souls Wilderness that they seem to be warned against pursuing... Jennifer Bernard's writing is absolutely captivating. Maya and Rune's emotional journey is heartwarming and has moments of bittersweet, tender joy, and breathtaking passion. Their community is warmly supportive, and also doesn't shy away from speaking truths. Ms Bernard also handles the suspenseful plot deftly, and brings all elements to an extremely satisfying conclusion. Head Over Heels For the Holidays is a delicious read, and I'm excited to reread the whole series!