Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Wish Me Home 
SERIES: Home for the Holidays
AUTHOR: Joelle Lynne
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 132 pages
RELEASE DATE: November 23, 2022
BLURB:
All Emmett Butler wants is to get home to the aunt who raised him, but a Chicago snowstorm and handsome flight attendant Cody Summers might change his plans.
Cody is content to fly for the holidays, but taking this year off seems like a good idea. When he meets Emmett, he just wants to see him smile, especially if it helps to distract him from his own family issues.
With the right Christmas wish, and some airplane shenanigans, can the two discover the true meaning of home?
Wish Me Home is a standalone Christmas novella that features a grumpy airline passenger just trying to get home and a sunshiny flight attendant determined to help him have a great Christmas; even if he doesn’t realize that he’s part of what’s needed to make that perfect Christmas happen.
REVIEW:
Emmett is at O’Hare waiting for his flight home to San Diego for the holidays. His aunt who raised him after his parents death is waiting for him there. He moved to Chicago when he graduated college earlier in the year and he’s anxious to be back. The snowstorm grounding the planes isn’t exactly welcome either. Apparently he was not a believer about Chicago winters. LOL!
Cody is a flight attendant who was supposed to be working Emmett’s flight, but when it’s cancelled he drags Emmett to a bar to get a drink and wait for the line to die down around people trying to rebook. Emmet is reluctant but Cody grabs his bag and off they go. Emmett is truly a gloomy Gus and doesn’t really seem to want to talk to Cody. Nevertheless, there is an obvious attraction between them.
The manage to get a flight the next day with seats next to each other. Then they settle in for a night on the floor at O’Hare. There are some shopping, shenanigans and food before a couple of hours of sleep. The flight home is interesting and it’s clear Emmett is also a nervous flier. Cody takes care of him 😉
When they arrive in San Diego, they have a poignant farewell – but have exchanged numbers. Emmett goes home with his Aunt who is curious who the guy was that he was kissing. Emmett tells her about their meeting at the airport and that Cody will be alone at Christmas.
Cody had shared with Emmett that his relationship with his family is fractured and that he hasn’t gone home for the holiday for years. Emmett’s aunt wants him to invite Cody for Christmas Eve, but Cody declines and Emmett isn’t happy. They manage to make up on Christmas and Cody confesses that he’s talked to his parents and has agreed to see them for New Year’s but he’d like Emmett to go with him. Hmmmm. How is this going to work out? You’ll have to read to find out.
So this is the first book I’ve read by this author. There’s nothing wrong with the writing, but I did find some of the writing and dialog a bit stilted – sort of unnatural or something. It took me quite a while to warm up to these characters and their instalove is a bit jarring – especially since it seems neither of them have ever had a real relationship before. I loved Emmett’s aunt. Cody’s parents? Not so much. That whole relationship just didn’t make any sense to me and since their “come to jesus” moments were off-page, I never did understand it. Not my favorite story this year, but if you’re in the mood for disrupted holiday travel bringing about surprises, then you might enjoy this one. Definitely if you’re sitting in O’Hare with your flight cancelled, you might feel a unique kinship with these characters. 😉
RATING: 
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