Big Nick Energy, a standalone novel and book four in the Seasons of Revenge series-My rating is 5 stars.I’ve heard of Morgan Elizabeth, mostly due to the hype around her novel, The Playlist, but THIS book has also received a lot of hype. I’ve been trying to broaden my reading horizon’s and read some holiday novels. With the attention this book has garnered and the appeal of the title, Big Nick Energy, it seemed that this book should be an obvious choice.I couldn’t have picked a better read as my first Morgan Elizabeth novel. I absolutely loved this story. It definitely ran me through the gambit of emotions but most notably, it made me smile and it made me hope that someday, maybe I’ll find a Christmas miracle, too.Anyone who has had to experience single life with children will be able to find something relatable in this story. It is such a feel-good, touching story that everyone else will be able to appreciate it, as well.Shae was an impressive FMC. She had a lot of great qualities but her fierce independence was the one I admired most. She wanted to create her new life for her and her girls without having to rely on anyone else. She wanted to provide everything through her own hard work and determination. The author was able to portray exactly how it can feel as a single mother, especially after an abusive marriage/relationship. She touches on how overwhelming it can be, to always be feeling like you aren’t doing enough for your kids, to be bone tired at the end of every day, to have a never ending laundry list of things that need to be done, to be worried about the damage and pain suffered by your kids while you were in that relationship, to know your children deserve all the things that you cannot possibly provide by yourself…the list goes on. She also hit the nail on the head when she described what dating in this modern day and age is like (haha!) I could write an entire paper about how much I loved Shae’s character…The title of this book was perfect. Nick definitely had that big energy. He was the perfect MMC. He was able to empathize with Shae from the get go, since he had single-handedly raised his own son from infancy. He knew what some of her struggles were like and that gave him a unique perspective of her situation. He was so incredibly patient and understood Shae’s need to always be in control. I loved how he was always reminding her that she had all the power, reminding her that she set the pace, she decided what would or wouldn’t happen between them.The plot was so, so good and this story flowed seamlessly from start to finish. The support characters were written so well, especially Ruby and Harper. They each had their own unique set of issues that they were dealing with. The author really captured the narcissistic personality of their father and I was truly disgusted with him and his antics. The author was also able to capture the magic of Christmas and I found it hilarious that Shae and Nick’s story really began all because of The Elf on a Shelf!!!I feel like I can’t possibly write a review that does this book justice. It was a beautiful story and I loved watching the evolution of the relationship between Shae and Nick AND the relationship between Nick, Ruby and Harper. It was truly a beautiful reading experience. If you’re looking for a holiday novel with an emphasis on love and healing, that will not only make you laugh but possibly make you shed a tear, this is the book for you.
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