Tag: Christmas fiction

Categories
Uncategorized

Confessions of a Christmasholic: A Grumpy meets Sunshine festive romance for Christmas 2023 

273 pages One More Chapter publisher October 19,2023 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sutton Alsop hates Christmas. So much so, when confronted with a house that looks like Santa himself vomited Christmas all over it, she accidentally (drunkenly) destroys every fairy light, fake reindeer and candy cane in sight. Unfortunately for Sutton, this house belongs to none other than Gus Langston, single dad and owner of the village’s year-round Christmas shop – aka Mr Christmas himself.

But Mr Christmas has a secret only Sutton knows…

With the two of them forced together for the holidays, the sparks between them are hot enough to melt even the coldest of hearts!

MY THOUGHTS

The book is charming and alive with Christmas vibes, many of which we see in plenty of Christmas books. But we love Christmas books and keep reading them.

This one is a bit different in the sense that it’s usually the guy who is grumpy and doesn’t like Christmas or whatever, this time it’s the girl.

Sutton Alsop hates Christmas and then she stumbles upon the home of Mr. Christmas with its glitzy lights that could surely double as a runway. Gus Langston is known about town as Mr. Christmas, he runs an all-year-round Christmas village shop.


Sutton agrees to nanny for him over the holidays with him being a single dad. This is the cutest little family ever.

Mr. Christmas has a secret that only Sutton knows, one that would surprise everyone in town. A spicy Christmas romance that was fun and full of laughter and good times.

You’ll be sure to read it more than once.

Pub Date 19 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“

“Sizzles with drama, intensity and sensuality… “

“Chemistry and connection…”

“Knows how to keep her reader’s attention and on the edge of their seats”

I’ve been a reader all my life and I wrote my first book at the age of eight, and haven’t stopped since. Writing and reading have been my solace and my joy. Stories are where I lose, and find, myself.

I also love traveling, a backpack and an airplane ticket are two of my favorite things. What else? I have the domestic skills of a pot plant, drink far too much coffee and have an on-off, mostly off, relationship with exercise.

I’ve written over fifty books and I write for both the Harlequin Presents and Desire lines. I’ve also published romantic action novels with Tule Publishing and Penguin/Random House’s Intermix imprint.

I spent many boring years in sales, pro-business lobbying and local economic development, but now I’m lucky enough to write full time. I live with my husband in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa and am the proud mom of two amazing young adults.

I am bossed around by two spoiled cats and the worst behaved dog in the world, who also happens to be the size of a small cow. I love meeting readers, so come hang out with me on my social media channels.

Have an amazing day and thanks for stopping in.

Categories
Uncategorized

Somebody like Santa: A Heartwarming Texas Christmas Love Story (The Christmas Tree Ranch #5) By Janet Dailey-Review

About The Book

For Cooper Chapman, moving next door to his newlywed sister in Branding Iron, Texas, is the biggest gift he could ask for this Christmas. The divorced single dad knows his troubled teenaged son only needs the healing balm of big skies and family ties.  But soon after settling into their new home, Trevor falls in with some wild friends at his new school, leaving Cooper leaning hard on youth counselor Jess Graver. With grace and wisdom, Jess soothes Cooper’s worries over his son, even as the elusive beauty stirs romantic feelings to life . . .

With the holiday growing closer, young Trevor finds an unexpected mentor in a local farmer, helping him build a horse-drawn sleigh for the Christmas parade. Now the only thing that could make Cooper’s New Year brighter would be making warm-hearted Jess his own. But when he stumbles upon a secret from her past, it will take more than mistletoe to bring them back together and keep her at his side for all the sweet seasons to come . . .

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

This is the fifth book in the Christmas Tree Ranch series.
Branding Iron, Texas is the home of Cooper Chapman’s newlywed sister and her husband, it’s convenient that there is a rental next to her for him and his young teenaged son to move into for their new start. Moving to the middle of nowhere in this “redneck hell of Branding Iron, Texas” is not Trevor, the thirteen-year-old son’s idea of a good time, he desperately misses Seattle with his friends and where he fit in.
School counselor Jess Graver more than once comes to the aid of Cooper Chapman, calming his worries when his son falls in with a wild crowd at school trying to prove himself worthy.


Jess and Cooper have an immediate attraction to each other, but I wouldn’t call this book a romance as each of them seems to keep pulling away from the other one emotionally for one reason or another.


There are a lot of side stories that could have taken on a book of their own, a hidden secret discovered, working as redemption to right a wrong as an older man gives the teen a chance to make things right, a Christmas parade, violence and abuse, kidnapping.
I did not particularly like the female lead character in this book, in my opinion she is standoffish and not willing to listen to reason.

My favorite characters would have to be Trevor the troubled teen who gains confidence and turns his life around and even goes out of his way to show empathy and help a troubled friend. Another favorite character is Maggie, that firecracker of a little girl, the take charge kind who is everyone’s friend.


For a novella length book, I think there was too much packed into it and some of these side stories should have been explored in the possibility of their own book.

Pub Date 27 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own. 

The Author

JANET DAILEY’s first book was published in 1976. Since then she has written more than 100 novels and become one of the top-selling female authors in the world, with 300 million copies of her books sold in nineteen languages in ninety-eight countries. She is known for her strong, decisive characters, her extraordinary ability to recreate a time and a place, and her unerring courage to confront important, controversial issues in her stories. You can learn more about Janet at http://www.JanetDailey.com.

With much appreciation for your visit today. May you stay safe and warm.

Categories
Uncategorized

All I Want for Christmas, Will these Nashville hopefuls get their big break? By Maggie Knox-Review

About The Book

A pitch-perfect holiday rom com about two oil-and-water reality-star country singers who must fake a relationship in order to win the opportunity of a lifetime, perfect for fans of Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game and Christina Lauren’s In a Holidaze.

Will they hit the right notes this holiday season?

When Sadie and Max are selected as contestants on the famed reality singing show Starmaker, each thinks they’ve finally gotten their big Nashville break. But then they’re paired up for duet week and stun the world with their romantic onstage chemistry. With fans going wild for #Saxie the network demands that they remain a duo on and offstage, or exit the competition. Faking a relationship until their final performance in the Starmaker holiday special shouldn’t be too hard, except for one small problem—Sadie and Max can’t stand each other. 

But with their dreams just within reach, they agree to the ruse. Will their fake relationship be exposed before they can win? Or might their phony connection turn real by the Christmas finale?

My Thoughts

This is the follow up to last years, The Holiday Swap and this year the authors have another holiday hit on their hands. A quick paced hard to put down fun and festive read that will have you grabbing the holiday cookies and hot chocolate while settling in for a great read.
When Nashville country singers Sadie and Max are paired together for a competition on the famed reality singing show Starmaker, they really don’t like each other. Sadie’s producer say’s they must fake-date since they are a singing duo and it’ll skyrocket their career. They only have to do this until their last televised show, it shouldn’t be that hard to do, right?
If you like the fake dating trope/ enemies to lover’s trope this one is for you.
Their first televised fake kiss feels so awkward so why is Sadie all of the sudden feeling so complete being in his arms? Why can’t Max keep his mind on his music and not Sadie?
You’ve got to hand it to Max, he’s a guy who knits dog sweaters in his spare time and has an adorable little dog that he totally pampers.
When Max catches Sadie in the arms of her slimy producer, there must be more to the story, but he storms off. I really disliked the producer’s character, he’s totally unprofessional and wants more from Sadie than a great song.
Max is trying so hard to prove he’s not like his father who is a famous singer, made a lot of mistakes in his personal life and also a drinker. He tries to distance himself from him but does admit they need to have an important talk. I have to give his father credit for trying with Max.
After many starts and stops will Sadie and Max be able to stay together and make beautiful music together? With a few bumps along the way I enjoyed seeing how Sadie and Max’s relationship progresses.

Pub Date 04 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Born Canada

Website

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2242…

Maggie Knox is the pen name for writing duo Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley.

Brown is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author of five novels, including the #1 national bestseller Recipe for a Perfect Wife, as well as the nonfiction bestseller The 4% Fix: How One Hour Can Change Your Life. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Self, Redbook, Today’s Parent, and Chatelaine. She lives just outside Toronto with her family and a labradoodle named Fred.

Stapley is a former magazine editor and the internationally bestselling author of four novels: Mating For Life, Things to Do When It’s Raining, The Last Resort, and Lucky. Marissa’s journalism has appeared in magazines and newspapers across North America, including The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Elle, Today’s Parent, and Reader’s Digest. She lives in Toronto with her family and a precocious black cat named Oscar.

Happy Christmas Eve dear reader friends. Thank you for spending time with me here, liking, commenting and encouraging. You all mean so much to me and I am so grateful for you.

Categories
Uncategorized

New Book Release Review-The Second Christmas by Marta Perry

About The Book

The warmth of the Christmas season and a woman’s return home to the charming Amish community of Promise Glen opens the door to a second chance at love.

When Leah Beiler pictured returning to Promise Glen, she imagined taking everything she learned from her aunt’s business in Upstate New York and starting up a quaint herbal tea shop of her own. What she didn’t expect was for Josiah Burkhalter to insist on helping her. Josiah might have been her childhood sweetheart but they’ve both changed a lot since then and Leah’s not sure she can trust the man who once broke her heart.

Josiah is determined to make the most of this unexpected second chance. When he hears of Leah’s plans to open her own shop, he resolves to help in any way he can–beginning his gentle campaign to win her back by renovating the small cottage on her family’s farm.

During her time away, Leah looked forward to once again spending the holiday season with her family, especially Second Christmas, December 26th, a time of celebrating with extended family and close neighbors like the Burkhalters. But as Christmas nears, her feelings for Josiah grow more confused, strengthened by their time of working together. Now it will take all the magic of the season for Leah to confront her fears and reach for the love she deserves.

Books in the series

My Review

I just love Marta Perry’s books and they always teach us such an important lesson.
This one deals with forgiveness.
This is the fourth book in the Promise Glenn series.
In this one upon returning home Leah Beiler imagines herself starting an herb shop with the knowledge she’s earned from working with her Aunt at her upstate New York herb shop.
Josiah Burkhalter insists on helping her set up her new shop. Now that would be all fine and dandy but he was her childhood sweetheart and her broke her heart when they were childhood sweethearts.
Time has changed and matured them both. Those old feelings flare again, can she trust him to not hurt her and can she trust her own heart?
Life is full of disappointments but to trust and forgive is so important. Sometimes what we think we really want isn’t what we get but we realize what we have is so much better and we are grateful for it. I love the author’s writing style and important lessons learned. This is a joyful and heartwarming Christmas story.

Published September 27, 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Marta Perry is a Pennsylvania-based author of over 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books.

Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she’s not busy writing her next book, she’s usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.

Have you read any books by this author?

Have a great weekend and thank you for stopping by.

Categories
Uncategorized

A Lighthouse Christmas by Jenny Hale-Review

About The Book

A heartwarming page-turner about the beauty of being at home with family, second chances, and the magic of Christmas, when anything is possible… A gorgeous festive treat for fans of Debbie Macomber, Pamela Kelley, and Sheila Roberts.

When her beloved grandmother passes away, Mia Broadhurst returns to the snow-covered seaside village of Winsted Cape, where Grandma Ruth ran the lighthouse overlooking the golden beach.

This will be Mia’s first Christmas without her, and she can’t bear to part with the lighthouse that has been in their family for generations. As she steps into it, childhood memories rush back to her. She can almost hear them playing tag on the steps… But her life is back in New York, dedicated to a busy PR firm, and she has no choice but to sell.

With the snow falling, turning the grounds into a winter wonderland, Mia works with real estate agent Will Thacker. As they restore the historical building, she tries not notice how handsome he is. After all, she’s only home for Christmas… And Will’s deep blue eyes, as stormy as the Atlantic Ocean, tells her he has his own heartbreak to contend with.

Warmed by a crackling fire, Mia packs up Grandma Ruth’s belongings with the help of her mother and sister. But waiting for them is a black-and-white photograph with a faded inscription. The mysterious message is the key to a family secret that has been hidden for decades––one that changes everything.

When Mia finds out the truth, will it save the precious lighthouse and show Mia where her heart belongs? Or will it tear her from Winsted Cape––and Will––for ever?

My Review

This is an author that I will always pick up her books when I see them for such an enjoyable read.
Festively taking place during the holiday season, this highly descriptive book will have you envisioning past family holiday get togethers with gently falling snow and the gentle goodness of family celebrations. Taking place in a light house adds to it charm that will have you wanting to pick it up for a relaxing read.
Family generational story full of secrets,family drama,endearing characters that’ll have you rooting for them,hope,family love and holiday vibes.
A holiday book you’ll want to get lost in, this festive read pairs well with holiday tea and cookies.

Pub Date: 14 Oct 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies.

She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now.” Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family. Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers.

When she isn’t writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.

Website: http://www.itsjennyhale.com; Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jhaleauthor; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennyhaleauthor; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhaleauthor

Grab A Copy Here

What’s on your list of Christmas reads this year? Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by.