Flashback Friday - Ex-mas by Kate Brian

Written by: Kate Brian
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Release Date: October 6, 2009
Source: Purchased
Buy: IndieBound | amazon | Barnes and Noble

Rating: 4 stars - Turn on the Xmas lights and sit back, I really liked this story.

Synopsis:  Two Exes. One holiday adventure.

Merry Ex-Mas?

Seventeen-year-old Lila Beckwith's parents just left for vacation, and Lila's all set to throw the holiday party of the season. But when her Christmas-obsessed little brother, Cooper, discovers that global warming is melting the North Pole, he and his best friend, Tyler, take off on a runaway mission to save Santa.

Lila has to get Cooper safely home before her parents get back on Christmas Eve. But the only person who can help her is Tyler's older brother, Beau — a.k.a. Lila's musician, anti-everything ex-boyfriend.

It'll take more than a Christmas miracle for Lila and Beau to overcome their differences and find their fugitive brothers. But could a journey destined for disaster help these polar opposites fall in love...all over again?

So I picked up this book in early November thinking that it would be perfect for Flashback Friday, the Holiday Edition. I honestly didn't know much about the author except that yes, I've seen the Private series books. They look good, but I never seem to pick them up. Let me tell you, I'll be changing that tone because I really, really liked Kate's writing in Ex-mas. What I thought was going to be a cute, fluffy Christmas story actually turned out to be, well yes, adorable and well written.

First off that opening incident where Lila's parents find out about her party plans and she takes revenge out on her little brother for telling them? HA! So real. And the "revenge" was spot on perfect. Except, well, it backfires in the worst way possible. Lila has to take a road trip-chase to find her brother as well as her ex-boyfriend's brother (they ran off together), and she has to take the trip with Beau, HER EX.

The omgsocute tension filled moments made me smile as much as a cup of hot chocolate (marshmallows only, hold the whip cream) on a snowy day.

Here's a sample of Beau and Lila's chemistry (from chapter 6):

     "I mean, did you even think for five seconds what Cooper might do?" Beau continued. "When you basically told him Santa Claus was in mortal danger?"

     Oh, right. She  should have guessed immediately. The Beau Hodges Blame Game.

     "I don't know," she said, pretending to think it over. Beau drove way too fast down the residential backstreets of their town, headed for the train station at a speed that would get them a hefty speeding ticket if clocked. "I guess I thought that maybe it would be cool to ignore two eight-year-olds for two hours and then act all shocked and surprised that something happened to them while they were unsupervised." She looked at him. "Oh no, wait. That's you."

See what I mean? Their tension and panic jumps right off that page, doesn't it? So if you're not quite done with the holidays, like me, pick up Ex-mas and get ready for a delightful treat of a story. I'm off to buy the first book in the Private series instead of take down any decorations. This Mundie Mom has her priorities straight as usual.