My Gift Is You: A Risking It All Short Story

Rachel Lacey

Nov 2018 · NYLA

About this ebook

SOMETIMES THE BEST GIFTS CAN’T BE WRAPPED

All Mandy Carson wants for Christmas is a distraction...and maybe a date to her friend’s New Year’s Eve wedding. Ghosts from the past always loom larger this time of year, and Mandy’s having a hard time faking her usual fun-loving demeanor. But when her much-needed distraction arrives in the form of the man who rocked her world the long-ago night of their junior prom, she’s forced to confront the painful scars that caused her to bolt back in high school.

Wildlife rescuer Calvin Rocha always regretted letting Mandy slip out of his life, so when fate brings them together on a snowy mountain road with an injured hawk on Christmas Eve, he’s determined to make the most of this second chance. He agrees to be her wedding date, hoping the romantic weekend will bring them back together. And as the clock counts down to midnight, Cal and Mandy might just discover that the best gift they’ll receive this season is each other.

Ratings and reviews

Mandy, on the way home in a snow storm, thinks she hears a "thunk". Upon further inspection, she realizes she's hit a hawk and it's alive, but tangled up in the grill of her car. Her friend calls for assistance from Cal, a wildlife rescuer. Cal, a blast from the past and the guy she lost her virginity to on Prom night, is even better looking than she remembered. After removing the hawk from her grill, she follows him back to the clinic to "help". What starts off as a night of overwhelming sadness, turns out to be the best decision she's ever made... My Gift Is You is a story of second chances, loss, and love. Mandy's struggle over failing and then losing her sister is heartbreaking. Feeling as though she doesn't deserve love or a happily ever after, she's never considered pursuing a relationship--until Cal. I loved how Rachel Lacey returned to Rosemont Castle, successfully entwining her series! If you're looking for a quick, romantic read this is the novella for you. I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

Rachel Lacey ties together the end of the Risking It All series and the start of her Almost Royal series in spectacular fashion. celebrating the wedding of one of our couples from the Risking It All series at the venue which is the focal point of the Almost Royal series 😍 Mandy is a difficult character to get to grips with. From the beginning, there is a sense of grief that overshadows all of Mandy's life, although the cause of her melancholy is not revealed for quite so time. Uncovering Mandy's background and family situation provide understanding to her negativity, personally, I cannot imagine what impact it would have on anyone's sense of self. Calvin had a huge crush on Mandy through school and only plucked up the courage to approach her at the senior prom, resulting in an unforgettable night for the both of them. When a freak road accident traps a bird in Mandy's car grill it is as if fate has handed Calvin a second chance at the woman of his dreams. However, Mandy is very skittish where relationships are concerned, mainly due to a lot of unresolved issues concerning her family. Undertaking a weekend together to attend Carly and Sam's wedding (Rock with You)  provides Calvin with the opportunity to turn their reunion into something a little more permanent!!! I loved witnessing Calvin break down Mandy's barriers gently with a great deal of care and consideration. It is through Calvin's tender care Mandy is able to shed the cloud that has been covering her for most of her life and create a happy and loving future for herself and Calvin. My only small gripe with My Gift is You was the abrupt ending, I really could have done with an extended epilogue to gain insight into the future of the couples featured in the Risking It All series 😉

Wow. Rachel Lacey knows how to write a great story. Her books catch your attention from page one. I adore how skillfully she puts pen to paper. Her words are captivating. My Gift is You is a unique book. It is a crossover for her Almost Royal series and the final book in her Risking it All series. I must admit I'm heartbroken that this is the final book to the Risking it All series. In My Gift is You we get Mandy Carson and Cal Rocha's story. Mandy and Cal knew each other in high school and Mandy is the one the got away. Their chemistry is undeniable from the beginning. Cal is very charismatic. I love that we get an update on previous Risking it All characters. My Gift is You is the perfect ending to a great series. My Gift is You is a book to be read again and again. Rachel Lacey has written a masterpiece. She gives life to everything she writes and it's clear to see in My Gift is You. Mandy and Cal leapt off the page from page one. Reading this book was like falling in love. So exciting and a bit exhilarating. I felt like I was transformed into their world. As if I was actually there and not just reading a book. As I read it everything else around me disappeared.My Gift is You was a pleasure to read. I was not able to put it down and neither will you. I am sorry to see this series end but grateful to Rachel Lacey for giving us such an exquisite ending. Her words captivated me and I know they will do the same for you.

About the author

Rachel Lacey is a contemporary romance author and semi-reformed travel junkie. She's been climbed by a monkey on a mountain in Japan, gone scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef, and camped out overnight in New York City for a chance to be an extra in a movie. These days, the majority of her adventures take place on the pages of the books she writes. She lives in warm and sunny North Carolina with her husband, son, and a variety of rescue pets.

Rachel loves to keep in touch with her readers! You can find her at:

RachelLacey.com

Twitter @rachelslacey

Facebook.com/RachelLaceyAuthor