4.5 stars

After the public implosion of his relationship, Fran moves back to his hometown with his children in tow. Fran really didn't like the town he grew up in, since it is a tourist town with Christmas all year long. However, Fran is determined to make the best of it, giving his children the Christmas they want, even if it includes asking his ex to play Santa for a Christmas Eve ritual with his girls. When the ex says no, Fran ends up asking his high school boyfriend to step in. There is history and pain between them, and both of them seem to be stuck in teenager-hood in each other's minds, but they are working to see past their past. If only Fran could stop lying. Or doing any of the other Fran things that he does.

I really enjoyed this one. It made me laugh out loud a several times, and not at klutzy moments. (Those make me laugh because I am a complete klutz and misery definitely loves company.) There were a lot of real moments in this, with what felt like real people. They weren't prettied up for a romance; they were every day people that I could meet anywhere living imperfect lives, but trying their best. It felt as though Fran had a lot of growing up to do, and he did. Well, he started the journey, at least. Because even though he was a father, he was kind of selfish and self-involved, too. I liked near the end, when Fran sort of had a realization of how much alike he and his ex were, and how maybe that wasn't a good thing. I also liked that the ex wasn't a complete ass, and that Cass (the high school sweetheart), wasn't necessarily perfect, either. And I really liked that he expected better of Fran and held him to those standards, instead of compromising. Romance characters with actual, human flaws, instead of perceived, manufactured ones are a rarity, and I really appreciated them in this story. ( )