Tag: holiday

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Once Upon a Christmas Carol: (A Sweet Christian Fiction Holiday Story with Themes of A Christmas Carol set in Michigan)

176 pages Revell Publisher Publication Date September 2,2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

What will happen when a tropical escape from holiday blues turns into a snowy wonderland filled with joy and cheer?

Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, with a birthday on December 25 and too many dashed childhood expectations, she would rather avoid the holiday season. And working in the design industry where she manages seasonal decor for wealthy, entitled clients certainly hasn’t helped!   

So, this year her goal is to flee to the Bahamas–by herself–bah humbug! But bad weather and God’s radically different plan redirect her flight to blustery Michigan, where she gets stuck on her aunt’s farm and discovers a different kind of Christmas–one wrapped in love, family, and holiday spirit.

Melody Carlson’s Christmas novella delivers all the charm of a holiday Hallmark movie, is rooted in Christian faith, woven with sweet romance, and features A Christmas Carol themes.

MY THOUGHTS

Once again, the author writes a lovely Christmas story that tugs on your heartstrings.
Carol Langstrom strongly dislikes Christmas. With a Christmas birthday and way too many disappointing holidays as a child Christmas is something she’d rather avoid at all costs.
A tropical vacation is what she’s planned this year, sun, warmth and relaxation. Others can have Christmas she’ll leave those memories behind though.
Bad weather has other plans for her though as she’s stranded on an aunt’s Michigan farm that she hadn’t ever met. A beautiful example of how changed plans aren’t always a bad thing. Found family, feel good story, unexpected romance and holiday spirit.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Have a wonderful Wednesday. Thank you for stopping in.

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Christmas on Fifth Avenue- Blog Tour

ABOUT THE BOOK

Christmas on Fifth Avenue

Welcome to New York, where the Christmas lights dazzle, the snow is falling and love is just around the corner…

Evie Green’s Christmas dream turns into a nightmare when a viral video makes her the laughing stock of the internet. But then a 5 star hotel sees a PR opportunity and invites her to New York for a Christmas she’ll remember forever.

Enter Noah Sanderson, a disgraced soccer star seeking anonymity. Forced to fake a festive romance for the cameras, sparks fly – but not the twinkling Christmas kind!

As Fifth Avenue sparkles in all its holiday glory, can The City that Never Sleeps show these two frosted hearts that, maybe, the best love stories are the ones you never see coming.

Don’t miss this cozy Christmas spin off series from the million-copy-bestselling author of the Romantic Escapes series! Each book can be read as a standalone.

Guaranteed:

Forced proximity

Grumpy sunshine

Happy ever after

Cozy comfort read

New York Christmas magic – think red velvet bows, chunky tartan-knit scarves, giant red baubles, the Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree, Macy’s, The Nutcracker and more!

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/Brand-Christmas-Romance-Julie-Caplin-ebook/dp/B0DJ6HS9NJ/

MY THOUGHTS

After reading several books by the author I knew I’d want to read this book, the most current before this, A Little Place in Prague. I loved that one as I did this one.
This is the first book in a new series, Christmas Escapes #1.
This is such a fun romantic holiday book. Perfectly imperfect couple that have things to work out on their own and together.
The descriptions of The Plaza were warm, festive and brimming with holiday cheer. Now I want to experience a New York Christmas.
A cozy Christmas read that’ll have you cheering for the couple as this one’s perfect for the holidays.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jules Wake aka Julie Caplin is an internationally bestselling author with over 2 million sales over twenty five books including the highly successful Romantic Escape series which has been translated into over 24 languages. Her books have topped the charts in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Iceland, Italy, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

After reading English at university, Jules Wake worked in PR where she honed her fiction writing skills on press releases and swanned around Europe taking journalists on gastronomic press trips. These visits inspired the locations of many of her books. She’s now a full-time author and what better job is there than making stuff up! It certainly beats housework.

As an avid romance fan, she’s written in several genres including historical romantic fiction, contemporary women’s romance fiction and romantic comedy. October will see the publication of her twenty eight book, Christmas on Fifth Avenue.

Social Media Links

https://www.facebook.com/JulieCaplinAuthor/

Instagram @juliecaplinauthor

Happy Terrific Tuesday! Thanks for stopping in!

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Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne

320 pages Publisher Canary Street Press Publication date October 7, 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

Christmas has always been single mom Holly Goodwin Moore’s favorite time of year. The twinkly lights on the tree, the cookies in the oven, the snow on the ground. But she’s just not feeling it this year. The wedding in her ex’s family is almost here, her daughter, Lydia, is bursting at the seams to be a flower girl…and Holly couldn’t be dreading it more. She told a little white lie about having a new boyfriend as her plus-one, hoping to save face. She needs a date for the wedding…and she needs it now.

Ryan Caldwell wants to be free this holiday season. So even he isn’t sure how he landed in Shelter Springs, looking after his niece, Audrey, with his estranged father down the road. But when he meets Holly, she makes him want to belong for the very first time. So, they make a deal: he’ll be her date if she’ll help him give Audrey a true Christmas to remember while her mom is away.

MY THOUGHTS

A very get you in the Christmassy mood kind of fun romantic book.
I loved all the characters right away, especially the young daughter. What can I say, young children always make a family story so much better in my opinion.
Tough as nails, Ryan Caldwell, a Navy pilot man isn’t sure how he’s been roped into babysitting his niece this holiday season while her mom is in rehab but somehow, he has and while in town he wants to make the holiday season special for her.
She’s just doing her job right? Holly Goodwin Moore is a florist and preparing the flowers for her ex’s wedding, no problem. She can handle it right, especially when they already have a baby on the way.
When Ryan and Holly meet, Ryan finally feels as if he’s come home and this fake dating thing is starting to feel a little too real when real emotions and stolen kisses turn into the real thing.
Lots of holiday cheer in this upbeat read that’ll have you want to start holiday decorating and baking.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR

1 Publishers Weekly, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including seven RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at http://www.raeannethayne.com.

Have a lovely weekend. Thank you for stopping in.

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On a Midnight Clear: A 3-in-1 Christmas Western Historical Romance Novella Collection

304 pages Bethany House Publishers Publication date September 2, 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Shepherd’s Heart by Tracie Peterson
On the frontier, widowed sheep rancher Vincent Duran seeks a mother for his two children. Angel Lewis agrees to marry him despite believing Vincent will never truly love her, but as they work together during a fierce winter storm, will their broken hearts finally find peace, joy, and love? 

No Room at the Inn by Misty M. Beller
When Noah Bentwood and his charge are snowed in while traveling through the Rocky Mountains, he must stay in a barn since the stage inn has no vacant rooms. Then innkeeper Hope Palmer’s family heirloom disappears, and she and Noah work together to find it before Christmas. While the snowfall holds them captive, will unexpected feelings bloom?

A Star in the West by Karen Witemeyer
Friendly correspondence with Stella Barrington evolves into something more when Harvard mathematics professor Frank Stentz arrives in Waco, Texas. As the two experiment with extending their relationship beyond letters, an impossible dilemma arises between love and logic. Will her wise man be able to calculate a way for them to be together?

MY THOUGHTS

I have read many books by each of the authors, so I was excited to see a novella collection with all of these authors contributing to it.
These are Christian fiction authors who wrote clean, well thought out enjoyable Christmas stories with each having a connecting theme. I loved each story equally and am grateful I had a chance to read them.

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

Thank you for stopping in.

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Christmas at the Nantucket Restaurant (The Nantucket Restaurant series Book 2) 

208 pages Sourcebooks Landmark Pub Date Oct 07 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nantucket’s famous Christmas Stroll is always the first week of December and this year Mimi’s Place co-owners want to do something extra special for the restaurant. It will be Emma and Paul’s first Christmas together as a couple and Mandy’s first holiday as a newly divorced mother of two. Although Mandy does have a promising new relationship, she wants to take things very slow, and the holidays are for sure not the time to dive in too deep.

Their sister Jill and her new husband, Billy, are planning to spend the whole month of December on Nantucket too, juggling remote work for the executive search firm they own together in Manhattan with relaxing, spending time with family, and helping out at the restaurant too.

Gina Caruso, the awesome bar manager, is spending her first winter on Nantucket after having lived for years in Boston. It’s a bit of an adjustment―winters on Nantucket are so much quieter than the city life she was used to. She’s even more confused when someone she had a major crush on back in the city moves to Nantucket, while Jared Hawthorne, the new sous chef at Mimi’s Place makes it his mission to introduce Gina to all of Nantucket’s holiday festivities. Suddenly her boring winter is starting to look a lot more interesting.

MY THOUGHTS

This is my first read by the author and I really loved the book.
I also appreciate it being a clean read a well.
Three sisters inherit a restaurant and it’s their story as they run it along with other women.


The book is warm you feel a happy good feeling while reading it and surely want to recommend it to a friend.
It’s a story of family and friends.

I loved seeing the support the sisters gave to each other as they all lead similar yet different lives. All have things going on, children, relationships, business but yet at Christmas time things seem a bit brighter a bit less stressful. I look forward to diving in and reading more books by the author.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR

Pamela M. Kelley is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of women’s fiction, family sagas, and suspense. Readers often describe her books as feel-good reads with people you’d want as friends.

She lives in a historic seaside town near Cape Cod and just south of Boston. She has always been an avid reader of women’s fiction, romance, mysteries, thrillers and cook books. There’s also a good chance you might get hungry when you read her books as she is a foodie, and occasionally shares a recipe or two.

Feel free to sign up for her list to hear about new releases as soon as they are available as well as extras like early bird discounts. Just cut and paste into your browser, http://eepurl.com/IZbOH

Thank you!

~Pam

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Death by Chocolate Pumpkin Muffin (A Death by Chocolate Mystery Book 8)

272 pages Publisher Kensington Cozies Publication date April 29, 2025

Look at that poor dog. I think he is as frightened of the spider as we are. I’ve been enjoying the cozy mysteries lately. I hope you’re not getting tired of my reviews of them.

ABOUT THE BOOK

One of the sweetest places to visit in Eastport, Maine, is Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White’s bakery, the Chocolate Moose, where people treat themselves to the most decadent desserts. But the island town also seems to cater to those with bitter dispositions . . .

Decorations of cobwebs and creatures are just being taken down across Eastport’s picturesque houses as the community says farewell to Halloween and ushers in winter with the unique confectionaries found only at the Chocolate Moose. Revelers have gathered on the waterfront for a party at local celebrity Hank Rafferty’s ramshackle mansion, known as Stone House. The home repair TV show star and his guests await a devilish dessert delivery from Jake and Ellie—who arrive just after Hank falls to his death from the house’s turret’s balcony.

Despite his show’s popularity, Hank was not exactly beloved in Eastport, prompting the police to conduct a homicide investigation. Their number one suspect is the temperamental boyfriend of police chief Lizzie Snow, whom Hank openly hit on during the party. Although he may be hotheaded, Lizzie doesn’t believe her boyfriend is capable of killing anyone.

And neither do Jake and Ellie. Plenty of people had motive to want Hank dead—a disillusioned admirer, a school bully, and a discontent wife among them. Did any of them take the murderous plunge, or is there another ghost in Hank’s shady past yet to be revealed?

MY THOUGHTS

Eastport, Maine, is the home of famous bakery, the Chocolate Moose. The Chocolate Moose is set to cater a supposedly haunted mansion where things go bump in the night and is rumored to have ghosts. The waterfront property is the setting for a party taking place that is owned by a tv celebrity by the name of Hank Rafferty.

He and his guests are awaiting a mouthwatering delivery of fresh baked goods. Oh, there was a delivery alright, and it wasn’t baked goods it was his body falling from an upper balcony right in front of all the guests.
Hank wouldn’t have won any popularity contests and there are several suspects lined up by the police.


Quick after Halloween themed cozy mystery that kept me reading and finished it in a day.
A surprise ending.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR

Sarah Graves lives with her husband John, a musician and luthier, and their black Labrador Retriever in a house very much like the one Jacobia Tiptree is remodeling in Eastport, Maine. When she’s not writing Jake’s adventures, Sarah works with her husband on the house and she plays the 5-string banjo.

Happy weekend. Thank you for reading my post today!

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In the Blink of a Pie (Maple Syrup Mysteries, 3)

320 pages Publisher Poisoned Pen Press Publication date October 22, 2024

ABOUT THE BOOK

USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns is back with the third installment in the “delightfully sweet” Maple Syrup Mysteries, transporting readers back to the cozy town of Sugar Ridge, Vermont, where things are bound to go from sweet, to sour.

Sometimes, there’s no one you can crust…

It’s Thanksgiving in Sugar Ridge, Vermont, and Leila Khoury, manager of Sappy Endings Farm, is ready to usher in the holiday season by hosting a pie-baking contest. The day is meticulously planned, from the judging panel to the maple lattes, and Leila can’t wait for the entire town to enjoy some sweet treats.

But when a neighbor drops dead from sampling a poisoned pumpkin pie, it’s not just Leila’s perfect day that’s in jeopardy―her livelihood is now at stake. And after yet another near-fatal incident, she realizes an even more terrifying truth: the killer wasn’t targeting her neighbor, but someone even closer to home! 

Can Leila figure out who’s behind the murder, before the dough hits the fan?

Includes delicious holiday pie recipes!

MY THOUGHTS

In the Blink of a Pie is the third book in the Maple Syrup Mysteries series and I’ve read and loved them all.


A Fall themed cozy mystery has Leila Khoury returning to Sugar Ridge, Vermont, as the manager helping her mother run Sappy Endings Farm after the passing of her father selling maple syrup/sugar. along with her mother running the gift shop and cafe it’s become a pretty popular place for locals and tourists alike to stop in.


A Thanksgiving pie baking contest with them being dropped off at the farm to be judged will just add to the farm’s busy season but they’re ready for it. Business is so brisk that Leila hires a local woman to help her mother in the cafe, and she already has experience running a bagel shop, so she fits in nicely and is such a big help.


The day of the pie judging is here, and the town’s folks are all aflutter with excitement but when someone drops dead from the tasting of the pies to be judged the business drops like a rock at the farm and cafe.


While this is a cozy mystery to solve, I enjoyed that its main focus wasn’t just on this. There are other side stories and developments, a romance developing for Leila, her relationship with her boyfriend’s daughter, mother daughter strengthening relationships after it has been strained for a while.

Best friend relationships and clues that are well paced as we figure out who the suspects are and why they may have done it.
The pacing was even and on track and I really enjoyed the book a lot. I hope to see more in the series soon.

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

MEET THE AUTHOR

Website

https://www.catherinebruns.net

Twitter

Genre

Mystery

Catherine is the USA Today bestselling author of the Cookies & Chance mysteries. She lives in Upstate New York with her very patient husband, three sons and several spoiled pets. She holds a dual B.A. in English and Performing Arts and is a former newspaper reporter and press release writer. Catherine also writes the Italian Chef, Maple Syrup, and Cindy York mysteries. Her book, For Sale by Killer, won the Daphne du Maurier award for Mainstream Mystery/Suspense.

Happy weekend. Thank you for stopping in!

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Fatal Fudge Swirl: An Ice Cream Shop Mystery

320 pages Publisher St. Martin’s Paperbacks Publication date June 27, 2023

ABOUT THE BOOK

A movie production brings drama―and murder―to a close-knit New England village, forcing Riley Rhodes to scoop out the suspects.

Former CIA librarian and amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes is loving her fresh start as the manager of the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. The leaves are turning, tourists are leaf-peeping, and Penniman, Connecticut is putting finishing touches on the weekend long Halloween Happening. But the village is also buzzing. Former child star Cooper Collins is overseeing the production of a romantic comedy that’s filming on the town green and his domineering socialite mother, Diantha, is planning her lavish Halloween themed wedding at her Inn on the Green. Her fiancé has run the Inn’s kitchen for years, ably aided by his recent ex-wife, chef Mary Ann Dumas. An old friend of Riley’s, Mary Ann turns to her when the bride requests a spooky ice cream wedding cake.

But the weekend takes a frightful turn when Diantha is found dead and suspicion falls on Mary Ann. The cast of potential suspects is long―each wedding guest had a chilling motive to kill the vicious heiress. Can Riley unmask the murderer before another guest ends up on ice?

MY THOUGHTS

Though this is the third book in the series it’s my first read of this series.
It is an intriguing book loaded with Halloween and spooky themes and let’s not forget ice cream.


The town of Penniman, Connecticut is all alight this Halloween weekend as former child star Cooper Collins is in charge of the filming happening on the town green. To top it off his bossy mother getting married is the talk of the town with a lavish Halloween themed wedding at her Inn on the Green. Her husband to has worked in the inns kitchen for years aided by his former wife.


When the bride to be requests a spooky wedding cake and then is found dead all eyes turn to the former wife but is she the responsible one?
What a clever way the murder was carried out I’ve never seen this ingenious way written about in a mystery before.


Loved the twists and turns and now I’m hungry for ice cream.

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

About the author

Books? Travel? Ice Cream? Yes, please! Former librarian Meri Allen loves exploring the back roads – and ice cream shops – of her native New England. She also writes the award-winning Lobster Shack Mystery series as Shari Randall. Check out her travels, recipes, book giveaways and fun in her quarterly newsletter, The Scoop. Sign up on https://www.meriallenbooks.com. Happy reading!

Happy Thursday! Thank you for stopping in.

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The Gingerbread Bakery (Dream Harbor) (Book 5)

384 pages Publisher Harper Collins Publication date September 16, 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.

❄️❄️❄️❄️

As owner of her beloved Gingerbread Bakery, Annie Andrews should have a love life to match her business; sugary and sweet. But instead, she’s locked in a game of words with the irritatingly upbeat bar owner down the street.

Mac Sullivan has everything he wants, except the girl he dreams of. It’s easier to argue with Annie than get her to talk to him but with Jeanie and Logan’s wedding coming up, they’re about to spend a lot more time together.

As the snowflakes fall and with romance in the air, will Annie see that the one she loves to hate might just be her perfect match after all?

The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy romantic novel with an enemies to lovers dynamic, small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

Forced Proximity

Enemies to lovers

Found family

Small Town

MY THOUGHTS

This is Dream Harbor book number five and it’s absolutely lovely. I’m delighted I got a chance to read it. We continue on with the same characters while adding a few new characters in to make it even better. I love having the familiarity of past characters to anchor a book.
A small-town cozy spicy holiday romance.


Our two main characters have known each other for years and he’s been crushing on her this whole time, but she had no idea.
They did have a bit of a romantic past that didn’t last but that hasn’t kept him from still wanting to be with her.


She’s always treated him as an annoyance and when he’s returned to town she seems to notice him, really notice him. Where have these feelings come from, she wonders, this isn’t supposed to be happening. A second chance romance that’ll have you cheering the characters to actually stay together this time. And yes, there are kittens in the book, who can resist that?


We also meet the main characters from the next book in the series, and I can’t wait to read it next Spring.

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

About the author

Laurie Gilmore is a #1 New York Times, Sunday Times, and Globe & Mail bestselling author who writes steamy small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. The first book in the series, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, was featured on Good Morning America and was named the TikTok Shop Book of the Year 2024.

She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.

Happy Tuesday may you brighten someone’s day !

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The Pumpkin Pact Blog Tour

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Pumpkin Pact

Welcome to The Pumpkin Patch at Pickle Grove.

Andi is worried that her relationship with Drew has become dull and boring. They never do anything exciting these days, in or out of the bedroom. So when a swoon-worthy stranger appears she is instantly swept off her feet.

When they unexpectedly meet again, they realise they have more in common than they thought possible so draw up a pact to spice up their lives! The plan they conjure up while working together at The Pumpkin Patch, to make their partners jealous, brings them closer than ever.

Andi plucks up the courage to finish with Drew but there are no signs of Andrew doing the same and she thinks she’s lost him forever.

With meddling exes, misunderstandings and miscommunication getting in the way, can The Pumpkin Pact bring them back together?

Purchase Link – https://amzn.eu/d/iAh5Mtx

MY THOUGHTS

I’m really drawn to cute Fall covers and this one has Fall vibes on the cover and throughout the book.
A nice curl up with a blanket and warm drink kind of book.
An unexpected meet cute has Andi and Andrew meeting because of her adorable Husky, Pumpkin. Despite the insta attraction on both of their parts they both have partners though neither is happy in their current relationships.


Who could resist a pumpkin patch in all its Fall glory it’s really such a lovely descriptive Fall book. A spicy Autumn romance that though I enjoyed our main characters my favorite character is Pumpkin the dog, she really stole the show with her mischievous and delightful antics.


I enjoyed seeing the resilience Andi has as she sticks up for herself despite all she’s going through, and the encouragement Andrew gives her. Will a few misunderstandings derail this holiday romance, or will Andrew be just the whipped cream Andi needs on her pumpkin spiced drink? Lovely little romance I’ll be on the lookout for more by the author.

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

Follow Charlie Dean on Twitter – https://twitter.com/CharlieADean

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