D.S. Kinahan: Some Unexpected Vacation Baggage

Read in 2025

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222889206-some-unexpected-vacation-baggage

Our story starts with Margaret she is a hard worker and rarely "lets down her hair" for some fun, she is an accountant and used to taking care of everything... including cooking and cleaning after her boyfriend Ben she has been with him for 4 years so she is surprised to come home one evening from work to find a simple note saying he is unhappy so he is bailing on their relationship and he's left... he didn't even say anything before now so what was he so unhappy with?  He also didn't pay for much of anything including their upcoming trip to Canada.  

What is Margaret going to do she had a full trip planned to the Canadian Rockies for 2 and it's doubtful she can get a full refund since it's so close to the trip, instead of going by herself she decides to run an ad looking for a partner to go on the trip and split the costs with and someone takes her up on the offer when she gets on the plane she is shocked to see that it's not a female companion like she originally thought it is Kelly a man and she is floored she can't go on a trip with this stranger now what is she going to do?

Kelly is a wealthy business owner (chain of mattress stores), he is outgoing, outspoken and fun he's not getting off the plane like Margaret wants him to... he paid his share of the trip and he's going she's just going to have to deal with it.  I get that Margaret was just dumped in a bad way but I felt she truly was rude and at times obnoxious towards Kelly who was trying to make the best of things on their trip. 

Kelly is a sweet guy and really does what he can to get Margaret out of her slump and encourages her to enjoy the trip... considering how she is behaving I feel bad that he has to room with her at times, she eventually admits that she's being a stick in the mud and starts to enjoy the trip maybe they could even be friends for the time being. 

Once Margaret starts to break out of her grumpy shell and enjoy herself she and Kelly end up having a night of passion... or two.  Kelly believes that they will continue some kind of relationship afterwards, Margaret still needs time to get over her baggage related to her Ex.

I liked the first part of the book more than the back half of the book, while the book was a cute cozy read after the trip ended there were multiple time jumps the couple ends up moving in together shortly after returning home from vacation, she has a confrontation with her ex then she needs to move out of her apartment due to not being able to afford the rent.  Margaret briefly discusses with Kelly her troubled past with her family but there is really not much drama for this couple minus some mood swings from Margaret and Kelly possibly over sharing things with his younger sister.  

Back half of the book includes a lot about what Margaret is cooking for dinner and how she is redecorating Kelly's home.  Low spice with brief mentions of getting nude but it is closed door.  

The thing that kind of took me out of this story was the dialogue was a bit awkward (if it is a modern day story which I'm guessing it is supposed to be it just was not how younger people would talk) if it wasn't mentioned a few times that the couple were in their 30's I would have thought based on the banter and dialogue that the couple were way older but I guess the couple are old souls.  

The story was ok and cutesy but in the back half once they started using "pet names" they used them ALL the time like every few sentences was a "Babe" "Baby" "sweetie" and talking about lengthy "smooches"... that part for me was a bit over the top... but someone else might love this in their reads.  

This is my first time reading this author, have you read anything by this author?  have you read this book?  what did you think?  

*Strangers --> more  *MMC divorced  x 1  *cinnamon roll MMC  *low drama  *Forced proximity

*happily ever after  *cozy read  *under 250 pages  *Indie author

*mentions of spice but it is closed door with just kisses for those who don't like the spicier stuff

Trigger warnings: mentions of loss of parents