Tag: cHRISTMAS

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A Christmas Duet by Debbie Macomber

288 pages Ballantine Books October 15, 2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of becoming a professional songwriter, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of spending Christmas with her family and dodging her mother’s meddling questions about her love life.

When Hailey’s close friend offers her the use of her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo holiday retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in the small town of Podunk, Oregon, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin has been invaded by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the son of the town’s main store proprietor—and an incredibly handsome and charming former musician to boot—is more than willing to help.

Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s positive feedback and encouragement inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, interrupting and threatening her newfound peace and confidence. Meanwhile revelations from Jay present complications of their own. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.

MY THOUGHTS

Reading Debbie Macomber’s latest Christmas book every year is a long-standing tradition I have. I’ve loved every single one of them. They brighten my day and I always look forward to them.

A woman in love with music doesn’t have her dreams work out the way she had hoped. Settling is what a lot of us do when our dreams don’t come true. She settles on becoming a high school band teacher. Several years ago, a relationship didn’t work out because he wasn’t interested in her dreams and encouraging her, so she walked away from this relationship.

When a close friend suggests she spends Christmas at her family’s cabin she’s delighted. Breaking from tradition she won’t be spending Christmas with her family, but she needs this alone time to regroup.
Upon arriving she’s struck by the beauty of the area and can’t wait to relax. Not so quick though there’s a few wild animals in her remote cabin and Podunk, Oregon, isn’t all she thought it would be.

When Jay, the son of the town’s store owner helps her out she is taken by his good looks, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s a musician. As they spend more time together, she comes to realize just how encouraging he can be about her music and talking with him feels as though they’ve known each other for a long time.

The book explores the mother daughter relationship. A meddling mother needing to know everything about her love life and ready to try to push an old boyfriend on her that the mother really likes. A daughter who knows she needs time away from her family this Christmas so she can grow emotionally and figure out what’s best for herself.

An emotional book showing the strength of family relationships and a few surprising twists in the bumpy road we call life. Guaranteed to make you smile and give you a happy feeling as you read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.



THE AUTHOR

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Thank you for stopping in.

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Christmas in July reads with adorable dogs on the cover: Puppy Love at Mistletoe Junction and Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas

352 pages Avon publisher October 15, 2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

From the author of Dog Days Forever, a heartfelt, holiday contemporary romance perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins, and Susan Mallery, in which a young woman returns to her small hometown and ends up fostering a pregnant dog with—of all people—the man she used to love.

Lucy Buchanan and Theo Taylor have never gotten along…like ever. Not when they were children, not when they were teenagers, and definitely not as adults…though that last part might be more Lucy’s doing than Theo’s. It was the summer after she graduated college when their antagonism towards each other boiled over into something… hot.

That is until Lucy left town in a flash, leaving everything behind for warm Los Angeles. But now she’s returned after seven years following a bad breakup, and a newfound disillusionment with La-La Land.

As for Theo, he doesn’t know and doesn’t care about whatever happened to make Lucy come back. His lingering resentment is enough to keep her at arm’s length until she inevitably leaves again. The problem is, being around each other has proven that their friction isn’t going anywhere, especially when it leads to some pretty intense heat.

The two have no idea what they’ve rekindled, but things get even more complicated when they rescue a pregnant dog together, taking on joint responsibility of caring for her.

Lucy and Theo must find a way to overcome their past, first for the sake of the dog and her litter, and for their own wounded hearts. 

MY THOUGHTS

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I loved it. It has zipped right up there as my favorite book of the holiday season this year and I read Christmas books all year so that’s really saying something. Okay, so it didn’t hurt that the cover is so darn appealing. After all who can resist a huge lug of a dog and her adorable puppies?


A second chance romance that everyone seems to know is going on except for the main players. Seven years ago, Lucy Buchanan and Theo Taylor were romantically involved. Keep in mind this couple doesn’t get along, never has from the time they met during childhood all the way through everything they’ve been through together.

From teasing to arguments, it’s not happening. But is this just a front for how they really feel for each other again. With Lucy back from LA with a bad breakup under her belt she can’t help noticing how Theo has matured but this doesn’t stop them from being on each other’s last nerves again. With smoldering looks and mistletoe kisses it may be cold outside but this couple doesn’t need a fireplace to keep themselves warm.

The star attraction of the show was Bear, a huge dog Lucy found that brings the couple together more than ever. It’s not all bows and ribbons in this one though as we have some angsty scenes. An exciting feel-good spicy romance perfect for holiday reading.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Shannon Richard lives in Tallahassee, FL with her adorable rescue dog Teddy—not that she’s biased or anything. She enjoys experimenting with a new recipe in the kitchen or perfecting an old one. It’s typically done with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc in hand. She has no shame for the amount of reality T.V. she indulges in, listens to entirely too many podcasts, and is now a plant lady.

293 pages September 19, 2023 publication date Crooked Lane Books publisher

ABOUT THE BOOK

It’s beginning to look a lot like murder in the sixth installment of this charming cozy mystery series, perfect for fans of Donna Andrews and Jacqueline Frost.It’s the beginning of December in Rudolph, New York, America’s Christmas Town, and business is brisk at Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, a gift and décor shop owned by Merry Wilkinson. The local amateur dramatic society is intensely preparing a special musical production of A Christmas Carol. But it’s not a happy set, as rivalries between cast and crew threaten the production.Tensions come to a head when a member of the group is found dead shortly after a shopping excursion to Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. Was someone looking to cut out the competition? Everyone in the cast and crew is a potential suspect, including Aline, Merry’s mother, and Merry’s shop assistant Jackie O’Reilly, who was desperate for a starring role.It could be curtains for Christmas—and for Merry—unless the killer can be ferreted out of the wings.

MY THOUGHTS

Rudolf, New York is full of Christmas cheer, or is it. This charming Christmas time cozy mystery has the local drama club preparing for the annual Christmas production.

When a member of the team is found dead, we find out some of the members are jealous of the roles others are playing and think they deserved the part. Is this enough to take the merry and bright out of the holiday season?

As the snow flies so do tempers in this cozy that kept me guessing as I flipped pages.


An author whose books I don’t miss has done it again with another satisfying cozy mystery presentation.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than forty books: clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Year Round Christmas books for Crooked Lane, the Tea by the Sea mysteries for Kensington, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series for Crooked Lane Books, and the Lighthouse Library series (as Eva Gates) for Crooked Lane.

Vicki is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. Her work has been nominated for the Derringer, the Bony Blithe, the Ontario Library Association Golden Oak, and the Arthur Ellis Awards.

Vicki is the recipient of the 2019 Derrick Murdoch Award for contributions to Canadian crime writing. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

Enjoy your day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Christmas in July: A few short wintery reviews for you. A Winter Warmer at the Little Cornish Kitchen and Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

339 pages One More Chapter publisher September 30, 2022 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

St Aidan: a cosy Cornish village where friendships are made for life and it’s always cocktail hour somewhere…

A clean slate in the world’s cosiest cottage by the sea…

When Gwen Starkey and her best friend, Ella Simpson, arrive in St Aidan to take on a cottage renovation, it’s the fresh start they both so desperately need. But when their new adventure begins with them unintentionally breaking into their neighbour, Ollie Lancaster’s cottage – thinking it’s their new home – and Gwen accidentally flashing the gorgeous Ollie before they flee, the life-long friends realise that life in Cornwall is going to be anything but quiet!

They also quickly discover that they’re in over their heads and it’s going to take a village to turn their cottage’s narrow walls into the luxurious hideaway of their dreams. St Aidan is full of colourful characters just waiting to welcome them, if only Gwen and Ella can find the courage to start leaving the past behind them…

MY THOUGHTS

A Winter Warmer has all the good feels you need with characters from previous books in this series. It’s a true delight to do a catch up with the characters and I’m delighted that the characters have such heartwarming news to share.

This is Gwen Starkey and her best friend, Ella Simpson’s story. They need a reset; life has been rough recently. A trip to St Aidan is just what these best friends need. An awkward and embarrassing meeting with their neighbor Ollie Lancaster has Gwen sure she needs to avoid Ollie for life.

As I was reading this sweet and emotional rom com I was invested in the characters well-being. Gwen and Ollie both are hurting and broken though they may not always show it on the outside they’ve both gone through similar circumstances and need to heal.

As they start to heal will their relationship stay the same or fall part as they’re not the same people they were when they first met. A moving read, I felt empathy for the characters as they explore happiness for the first time in a while with each other.

Upbeat and inspiring!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR


I write fun, flirty fiction, with feisty heroines, and lots of heart.

Writing is fab, because I get to wear pretty shoes instead of wellies. I live in a cottage up a mountain road in Derbyshire, where my family and pets are kind enough to ignore the domestic chaos. Happily, we’re in walking distance of a supermarket. I love hearts, flowers, happy endings, all things vintage, most things french. When I’m not on facebook, and can’t find an excuse for shopping, I’ll be walking, or gardening. On days when I want to be really scared, I ride a tandem.

340 pages One More Chapter publisher October 13, 2022 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

The gorgeously romantic new novel in the ‘Cosy Campervan series’ – next stop: Christmas markets, mince pies and kisses under the mistletoe!

Christmas feels like a real gift for Lucy this year. Her cosy coastal cottage is starting to feel like home, her new pizza business is getting the locals ‘All Fired Up’, and she can’t wait to spend it with her new flame Jack, the charismatic owner of the Cocktail Campervan.

Winding along the snow-dusted Northumberland coast for a whirlwind of Christmas markets and celebrations, Lucy and Jack can’t resist stealing a few kisses under the mistletoe. But there’s a twist in their romantic tale when Lucy’s ex turns up in the village. As her past closes in, Jack becomes increasingly distant. And Lucy worries he’s holding back a few secrets of his own . . .

Will Christmas bring a cold spell for Lucy and Jack? Or could it really be the most wonderful time of the year?

MY THOUGHTS

The author writes such cozy and charming books. This rom com featured couple Lucy and Jack. Lucy has a new pizza business, and the locals are just gobbling it up. Business is booming. Jack is the owner of the new Cocktail Campervan.

As the snow falls, and the village gets that soft, glowing romantic look romance is also on the minds of Lucy and Jack as they steal a few kisses under the mistletoe.

What will Jack think when Luvy’s ex shows up and they seem to be spending time together? A gem of a Christmas feel good story. Hot chocolate with marshmallows and a cat to snuggle makes this a delightful day long read perfect for fireside reading.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.


THE AUTHOR


Family, friends, food, a glass of bubbly and, of course, a good book make me smile. I love writing emotional stories about love, loss, and family, that explore how complex and yet beautiful love can be. I also like to write romantic comedy, letting the characters have a bit of flirty fun too! I believe in following your dreams and working hard towards them, which led me to HarperImpulse (HarperCollins) and a publishing deal (woop!) after many years of writing. Stunning Northumberland is my home – sandy beaches, castles and gorgeous countryside that have inspired my writing.

Find me on Twitter: @_caroroberts

and Facebook: www/facebook.com/CarolineRobertsAuthor

I hope you’re having a marvelous day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Can’t Wait Wednesday

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released.

I’ve read several books by the author and have enjoyed them. I’ve gotten into cozy mysteries in the past few years, now I can’t get enough of them.

Pub Date Aug 20 2024

The eighth installment in a charming cozy mystery series set on an island off the New England coast and featuring the cat cafe owner Maddie and her cat JJ.

Beware the cats of Christmas past…

It’s the holiday season on Daybreak Island, and Maddie James is looking forward to stepping out of the limelight, watching the island’s Christmas decoration competition from afar, spending time with her boyfriend and family, running tours for visitors as part of the festivities and spreading holiday cheer through cute cats in jingle bell collars.

But trouble hits close to home when word gets out that Donna Carey, the publisher of the island’s only daily newspaper where Maddie’s best friend Becky is editor, may be selling the business. Becky is a diehard journalist and to her, selling the only newspaper on the island is a fate worse than death. She publicly opposes the potential sale, wreaking havoc on her relationship with her big boss.

Maddie is sympathetic, but she has her own problems – like getting pulled into a role on the Christmas event committee despite her best efforts to stay far removed, and solving the case of a mysterious cat breeder trying to sell expensive designer cats as holiday gifts on the island. But then Donna winds up dead—electrocuted by her own Christmas decorations—and it appears to be more than an accident. To make matters worse, Becky becomes suspect number one. Maddie is thrown into another murder investigation in order to save her best friend from a Christmas behind bars.

Thank you for stopping in. I hope your day is great.

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Christmas at Corgi Cove: A heartwarming tail with mischievous Corgis

352 pages publisher Avon publish date October 17, 2023

ABOUT THE BOOK

If you’re looking for the perfect feel-good Christmas novel, then look no further than Annie England Noblin’s newest novel. This book will absolutely delight readers looking for a sweet and sassy read—and not to mention enchant the fans of Annie’s signature canine characters.

Rosie Reynolds had come to lakeside Corgi Cove as a lost, lonely girl abandoned by her own mother, but there she discovered a true place to call home. She loves her Corgis, Bonnie and Clyde; loves the lakeside life; and loves her aunt and uncle most of all. But when she discovers their struggling inn is about to be bought out by some big city chain, she hatches a plan: to win a contest naming theirs the best Christmas-themed inn in the USA. It’s a long shot, but she knows if the whole town pulls together that they can do it.

But she didn’t count on Everett St Claire, who emerged from his gleaming, black BMW, straightening his tie and asking himself how did a big-city guy like him find himself in a speck on the map like Corgi Cove? And how fast could he get back to the city? After all, it couldn’t be that difficult to convince one elderly couple to take the money to retire.

He didn’t count on getting sucked into life on the lake. Sure, the people might be…eccentric, and Rosie might seem like a pain in the backside, but there is something alluring about the place. And with the holidays nearing, and the deadline looming, Rosie and Everett are about to discover the magic of a Christmas at Corgi Cove.

MY THOUGHTS

A quick and delightful comfort read.
I love reading Christmas books all year round and if they have dogs added that’s such a fun addition.

Rosie Reynolds is the niece of the innkeepers, and their inn is called Corgi Cove. Two corgis’ live there, Bonnie and Clyde. They all reside at Corgi Cove with Rosie’s aunt and uncle who adopted her as a child when her mother left her.


Corgi Cove, located in Texas is beautiful but struggling financially. Nearby a big-name developer is buying up property and turning it into vacation spots.


Everett St Claire comes to Corgi Cove looking to make a quick sale and be back home in time for Christmas. He doesn’t count on getting to know the family and falling for Rosie. The family doesn’t want to sell the inn but if they don’t, foreclosure will happen in the new year. With the family of course not wanting Everett around, especially Rosie how will this problem resolve?

Now I’ve seen this plot before, failing family inn leaking money, the family doesn’t want to sell and somehow it gets saved. You know what though I like the premise of this, especially with the dogs, it’s such a charming read.

Rosie is so upset her family’s inn needs to be sold or it’ll go into foreclosure. When Everett is there on day a family emergency happens and he saves her uncles life. The family warms up to him after this, but Rosie seems to be running hot and cold.

I think you’ll be charmed by this Christmas book with the mischievous corgis. You’ll want to see how things turn out with the inn; can it be saved? Will Everett continue to get the cold shoulder from Rosie or will her heart melt as the temperature warms? Cute, fun read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annie England Noblin lives with her son, husband, and three dogs in the Missouri Ozarks. She graduated with an M.A. in creative writing from Missouri State University and currently teaches English and communications for Arkansas State University in Mountain Home, Arkansas. She spends her free time playing make-believe, feeding stray cats, and working with animal shelters across the country to save homeless dogs.

Have a terrific day and thank you for stopping in.

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A couple of cozy mystery reviews for you, including: The Twelve Books of Christmas and A Book Club to Die For

319 pages Berkley publisher October 24, 2023 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

San Francisco book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright and her hunky security-expert husband, Derek Stone, face a locked-room murder mystery during the holidays in Scotland.

In the middle of a wonderful Christmas holiday in Dharma, Brooklyn and Derek receive a frantic phone call from their dear friend Claire in Loch Ness, Scotland. The laird of the castle, Cameron MacKinnon, has just proposed to her! They plan to be married on New Year’s Day, and they want Derek and Brooklyn to be their witnesses. And while they’re visiting, Claire hopes that Brooklyn will be able to solve a little mystery that’s occurred in the castle library—twelve very rare, very important books have gone missing.

Once in Scotland, Brooklyn starts working on the mystery of the missing books but is soon distracted by all of the thumping and bumping noises she’s been hearing in the middle of the night. You’d think the Ghost of Christmas Past had taken up residence. But when one of the guests is poisoned and another is killed by an arrow through the heart, Brooklyn and Derek know this is not the work of any ghost. Now they must race to find a killer and a book thief before another murder occurs and their friends’ bright and happy future turns dark and deadly.

MY THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed the setting of this one, a wonderful sounding castle in Scotland and even better the description of the library in the castle was swoon worthy.


Though this is the seventeenth book in the series, it’s the only Christmas themed one and I’m all for Christmas books.
Book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright and her husband are enjoying their holidays when they receive a call from Brooklyn’s friend Claire in Loch Ness, Scotland. She is so excited at having just received a proposal from laird of the castle Cameron MacKinnon.

With a New Years wedding to take place they want Brooklyn and Derek to be their witness.
When they arrive, they are tasked with helping to solve the case of twelve missing books, these are rare and irreplaceable books.
If that isn’t enough their sleep is disturbed by loud bumping and crashing noises and several guests have hit their expiration dates a little early.


I want to visit the library in this Scottish castle, especially at holiday time.
The mystery was mostly about the missing books not the murder. The book moved at a decent pace though and I enjoyed the character development. The husband-and-wife team made for an interesting read especially with him being a security-expert and having all the investigative tools needed.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

300 pages Berkley publisher November 1, 2022 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a member of an exclusive book club is checked out, spunky librarian Trudell Becket must sort fact from fiction to solve the murder.

The Cypress Arete Society is one of the town’s oldest and most exclusive clubs. When assistant librarian Trudell Becket is invited to speak to the group about the library, its modernization, and her efforts to bring printed books to the reading public, her friend Flossie invites herself along. Flossie has been on the book club’s waiting list for five years, and she’s determined to find out why she’s never received an invitation to join. 

But not long after Tru and Flossie arrive for the meeting, they’re shocked to find the club’s president, Rebecca White, dead in the kitchen. Rebecca was a former TV actress and local celebrity, but was not known for being patient or pleasant. She’d been particularly unkind to the book club’s host for the evening, who also happens to be the mother of Detective Jace Bailey, Tru’s boyfriend. And Rebecca had made it clear that she didn’t think Flossie was book club material.

With her boyfriend and one of her best friends wrapped up in a murder, Tru has to work fast to figure out who cut Rebecca’s story short before the killer takes another victim out of circulation….

MY THOUGHTS

A cozy mystery series involving a library and a cat? Yes please, sign me up.
Tru, an assistant librarian, runs a secret library checkout room in the libraries’ basement with discarded books because the library has decided to go with digital books only. I hope this never happens to the libraries I go to.
The book checkout doesn’t involve technology just the old-fashioned cards you sign books out with.


The Cypress Arete Society invites assistant librarian, Trudell Becket to speak at their book club. After Tru informs her friend Flossie of this, she won’t take no for an answer and invites herself to the meeting. Now Flossie has been trying to join this book club for five years and there’s never been an opening yet.

In the kitchen, club president Rebecca White is found dead by Flossie and Tru. Not known to be overly friendly she has been rude to Tru and holds steady on her insistence Flossie is not getting into the book club. Is it a matter of sour grapes that has this former TV actress and local celebrity found stone cold on the floor? Fast paced mystery that kept me guessing and enjoying this book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping in today.

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2 Quick reviews of Christmas books: Santa and Company and Christmas Mittens Murder

Thank you for visiting my holidays and seasonal blog for these reviews.

See my reviews on my blog here

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Catching up, a few Christmas book reviews for you: Winter Fires at Mill Grange and Single all the Way

416 pages Aria publisher November 11, 2021 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mill Grange is putting on a show this holiday season!

When young Dylan Harris‘s former babysitter (and soon to be step-sister), Harriet, needs a last-minute venue for her acting troupe’s outdoor production of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale, the staff at Mill Grange throw open its doors, keen to fill their halls with guests over the holiday season… but they may get more drama than they’d bargained for!

With pageants and plays to arrange, a much-anticipated book launch, an unexpected arrival, a heart-warming offer, and a little bit of the manor’s magic, this Christmas is one that Thea, Tina, Sam, Shaun, Helen and Tom – along with retirees Bert and Mabel Hastings – won’t soon forget…

MY THOUGHTS

This is the last book in the Mill Grange series as we’ve read through the seasons with the book titles. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the generations of the family over the series and have seen so much character development.


Will Mill Grange be up for all that’s asked of it? Harriet, Dylan Harris’s former babysitter (and soon to be stepsister) is out of options and is in desperate need of a venue for her acting troupe’s outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale.

With staff more than eager to please they offer their help in any way. Let’s just say, if it can go wrong, it’ll go wrong.

The characters have highs and lows. A welcoming return of characters we’ve met in the other books in the series had me excitedly flipping pages and feeling right at home. Small town charm, sweet romance and community togetherness. This is a fun book not to miss.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

264 pages Boldwood books August 18,2022 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Dani’s boyfriend (and boss!) dumps her for a younger model, the only silver lining she can see is to be able to spend Christmas at home with her family after years away.

Determined to surprise them, Dani turns up unannounced in her hometown, excited to see that the festive season in Marram Bay is in full swing with Christmas lights twinkling on every corner. But disaster strikes when she finds her parents’ house is empty and they appear to have gone away on holiday!

Christmas alone and single is not ideal, and when Dani starts bumping into old friends, neighbours and potential love interests, she can’t face telling them the truth. So in a panic she claims to be home to throw a Christmas party for the whole town – easier said than done with 12 days to go before Christmas…

As the fake party approaches, little does Dani know that there may be someone there under the mistletoe for her, if she can just let her guard down and see them…

MY THOUGHTS

I haven’t read many books by Portia MacIntosh but the ones I’ve read have made me chuckle at the predicaments the characters get themselves into.
In this one Dani’s boss/boyfriend dumps her right before Christmas. Haven’t these women learned anything, why they keep continuing to date their boss in these books is beyond me. That’s one thing that’ll never turn out well.

With no dates for the holiday, she’s got it all planned, with her extra time she’ll go visit her parents for the holiday and just show up as a lovely surprise. The surprise is on her though when she finds out her surprise visit is a bust as her parents are not home but on holiday themselves without telling her. Deciding to stay there while they holiday, she runs into old friends and acquaintances.

She’s hopeful a romance may just come knocking this Christmas season for a little kissing under the fairy lights. Cute, romantic seasonal read packed with humor.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Have a super day and I’m always so happy to see you here. Thank you!

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The Perfect Christmas Gift: a feel-good Christmas romance

339 pages HQ digital October 22, 2021 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Can neighbours become more than just good friends this Christmas?

Bella Moore is excitedly counting down the days to Christmas. That is until she arrives home one evening to find her boyfriend leaving her for another woman. Completely heartbroken, Bella is left wondering if Christmas can still be the same this year.

Next door, Bella’s neighbour Nick is facing his first Christmas as a single dad and doubting whether he can make it the magical time his son Freddie deserves.

Determined to fix both Christmas and their broken hearts, Bella comes up with an idea: a Christmas giving tree for the whole village, where the community can unite and secretly give each other the Christmas presents they truly need.

As Bella becomes chief elf, taking donations and delivering gifts with much-needed help from Nick and Freddie, the two neighbours grow closer and start seeing each other in a whole new light.

But when Nick’s estranged wife returns just before Christmas, is their budding romance over before it’s begun? Or will love be Nick and Bella’s perfect gift this Christmas?

MY THOUGHTS

Such a warm and lovely book. This one kept me reading late and I didn’t even mind.
Teacher Bella Moore has a lot on her mind, getting her primary students ready for the holiday school program is taking her time and thoughts. When she arrives home a bit early and discovers her boyfriend preparing to leave her for another woman, she never saw it coming.


When she seems less fortunate families in her neighborhood struggling to buy Christmas gifts for their families, she has a plan she implemented where gift tags with needs are hung from a Christmas tree and others donate the gifts. She then wraps and delivers the gifts.


Her neighbor Nick is worried he won’t be able to have the special holiday his son would like this year as a single dad. His mother has gone away and the son, Freddie misses her tremendously. As Nick and Freddie volunteer to help Bella with her Christmas charity they draw closer.

Nick’s wife and Freddies mom returns to the family right before Christmas and is ready for a second chance. Will Bella’s newfound feelings be for naught, or will it be a shiny and sparkly holiday, one to remember? I read this quickly, such a delightful read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As well as writing cosy romances, Katie also writes romcoms set in dreamy holiday destinations as Annabel French and royal historical dramas as Emma Royal. When she’s not writing, you can find her chasing around after her two kids, two dogs and one husband!

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Wreck the Halls: By Tessa Bailey

368 pages Avon publisher October 3,2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.

Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show. 

While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.  

MY THOUGHTS

Wreck the Halls is another book by a new to me author I wanted to try. There is something to be said about trying new to you authors, there’s also something to be said about staying with the authors you are familiar with and enjoy. This was another author that a lot of people seem to like with a lot of reviews.

If you’re looking for a book that gives you Christmas vibes and you feel like you’re wrapped in Christmas, this one isn’t it. With that said, I thought the plot was lacking and by lacking, I mean almost nonexistent. What the author was trying to convey could have been made into about a 150 page, or less book. This had over 300.

I think the author was trying to go for cute and clever, maybe, with the main characters names. Beat and Melody. You can draw your own conclusion with the names. Beat and Melody are the son and daughter of two big name singing stars who were pregnant at the same time.

The band broke up and the two women have refused to speak to each other ever since. Beat is being blackmailed and each time he has to pay a higher fee to keep his mother’s name from being smeared. The women haven’t seen each other in years but there is a real push to have them reunite onstage for a Christmas show. With a romance between the adult children of such rock superstars you can imagine the chaos that ensues.

There were some heartwarming scenes, and this book may be just right for you.

Pub Date 03 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.

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