Christmas at Gate 18
Amy Matayo
Contemporary Holiday
Supermodel Rory Gray just wants to go home. After wrapping up a three-day high-fashion photo shoot overseas, she’s exhausted and ready for the holiday. A holiday that involves Hollywood parties, air-kissing the industry elite, and a whole lot of fakeness…but whatever. Once she gets through that torture, she’ll head to her beloved Seattle and the life of anonymity she misses so much. In less than twenty-four hours, she’ll be there.
Colt Ross has spent the past six months detaching himself from the Hollywood world he grew up in, and home is the last place he wants to be. But he’s been called back by his overbearing father for reasons he can only imagine. Likely reasons that involve taking over the family corporation or fund raising among Hollywood elite—something Colt has no interest in being part of. Not that he has a choice; when you’re the son of an industry executive, rubbing elbows comes with the territory. In less than twenty-four hours he’ll be home. After all this time away, home no longer appeals to him. Especially not at Christmas. Leave it to his father to ruin a holiday.
But when a late-season hurricane grounds both of their flights in the Dominican Republic, Rory and Colt find themselves stuck at the airport far longer than anticipated. As weather conditions worsen, they both begin to realize that this Christmas will be spent with strangers packed inside a single airport terminal—specifically at gate 18.
Rory and Colt are faced with a choice: band together in their misery or make this Christmas one they will never forget. For two people who aren’t real fond of the holiday, this Christmas might turn out to be the best they’ve ever had.
Uncaged Review: After finishing up a photoshoot, supermodel Rory wants nothing more than to get home before the holidays. But when a hurricane grounds all flights out of the Dominican Republic – Rory finds herself stranded at the airport with everyone else. When she finally doses off, she wakes to find herself next to Colt, not knowing who he really is. They form a strange bond and friendship with trying to get through an awful situation.
I enjoyed this more than I would have expected. The dialog is fun and fast, and the characters are likeable, although the bit of suspense is anti-climatic for the build-up it had. The author gave you enough of the backstory on both main characters that you can get on board with and connect well enough. The ending was a bit too fast, but all-in-all, it’s a fun read. Reviewed by Cyrene
4 Stars
