A McClendon Thanksgiving

A McClendon Holiday Novel, Book 1

By: Sean D. Young

Narrated by: Carmen Jewel Jones

Fashion designer Faith McClendon is back in Chicago to start over. She put her promising career on hold for too long, and she's ready to get back in the game. She's not willing to put her heart on the line again—it's still far too bruised from her failed marriage for that, so when a renewed childhood friendship starts to make her think about second chances at love, she's more than a little hesitant.

Photographer Michael Montgomery was Faith's biggest cheerleader when she decided to move to New York City, and he's been her shoulder to cry on since she came home to Chicago. He's never been able to tell her how he feels, but maybe now is his chance to make the family portrait in his head—the one with Faith by his side—a reality. First, he's going to have to break down the walls Faith has around her heart and convince her they can be so much more than friends.

©2017 Sean D. Young (P)2022 Tantor

Fun, festive romance! 🦃🧡

I was looking for a fun Thanksgiving read and this one was included in audible plus. I wish that Thanksgiving had been more focal but it is def a fun and festive holiday novel. I never heard of this writer or narrator before but I think they are a good pairing.

(Spoilers) I love stories of young and first loves so the prologue reeled me right in! The novel went in a different direction than I expected but I didn’t mind. I figured Faith wasn’t going to get together with Michael at all until the very end. The chosen conflict was instead that Faith could not give herself to him fully until she completely let go of the damage Kevin had done.

Faith is a very strong, compelling, real character. She seemed like an entirely different person in her relationship with Kevin and it was sad to see. I don’t blame her for telling Michael off when he expressed his concerns about Kevin years before. It was def possible that Michael amplified any bad qualities he saw or was speaking from fear bc he loved Faith and wanted her himself. I wonder if Faith’s parents or siblings picked up on Kevin’s true colors beforehand or if Kevin’s charm was too thick around his family to be for them to notice. Kevin likely did not put on a compelling performance for Michael, Faith’s childhood friend.

I really enjoyed Faith’s family and budding career. Her partnering with Michael’s mother is super sweet and clever. I also love how supportive yet annoying her sisters can be lol. Michael is seriously the ideal man but it doesn’t seem forced. I was not expecting the Kevin drama to flare up at the very end but what a twist! I’m glad karma caught up with him and that Faith doesn’t have to worry about him anymore.

I highly recommend this romance, especially around the holidays. I see that there is a whole holiday series book featuring Faith’s sisters so I will def be checking that out!