Saturday again and that means another Stacking The Shelves post hosted at Reading Reality. This is a post to share which books we’ve received this week, may it be by mail, library, NetGalley, arc from an author, bought, borrowed or some other way of acquiring it.
Once again, we are having rain here in Pennsylvania. Once that lets up, we’ll have cooler more Fall like temperatures here in Pennsylvania. I’ve not done a lot of reading this week as I’ve been doing some deep cleaning of the house now that it’s not so humid. By deep cleaning I mean cleaning walls and wiping down the wood trim. Stuff that you’re more than happy to ignore most of the time.
Anyways, on to my acquired books this past week.
RECEIVED FROM NETGALLEY
Maybe it would be better if NetGalley didn’t love me so much? LOL
BOOK MAIL THIS WEEK
And what have you added to your reading stack this week? Thanks for stopping in and have a relaxing day.
This is a new to me author and when I saw there was a cover reveal for this book, I knew I had to participate. Looking forward to reading this and I hope you’ll enjoy the cover too.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Bella’s Countryside Christmas
An uplifting festive romance perfect for fans of Hallmark Christmas movies and authors such as Phillipa Ashley, Trisha Ashley, Sue Moorcroft, Rebecca Raisin and Donna Ashcroft.
Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.
Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.
A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.
But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas …
Just look at this beautiful cover. Isn’t this eye-catching?
Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it.
A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for over a hundred sweet treats at clairehuston.co.uk. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.
Their son, Travis, is due to take some important exams, but will he be able to concentrate when a serious crush derails his schedule?
As their fortieth birthdays approach, some significant celebration will be required, but how can Veronica agree to Owen’s life-changing request?
The fifth standalone episode of ‘Christmas on The Close’ shows how sharing a treasured life with someone does not necessarily result in sharing the same treasured dreams.
MY THOUGHTS
Set at Christmas time though I feel this novella would be a fun read any time of the year. The Close is all about neighbors and this one feature Veronica and Owen and their son Travis. The couple are approaching forty. Though a couple they don’t have the same dreams. Their son Travis is growing up before their eyes, where has the time gone? No longer a child, but not quite grown he’s in a different life stage than them and they’re having a hard time relating to each other. We get a glimpse of life with the other neighbors, and I’m intrigued enough to want to read the other stories in this series now as well. Heartwarming and fun. A great read!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I write contemporary fiction in the form of novels, novellas and short stories.
I have two series of linked standalone stories; one is a collection of Greek holiday reads called Aegean Sun and the other is Christmas on the Close which is set in a suburban cul-de-sac and reveals what is happening in each of the neighbours’ houses over the festive period.
I live in Lancashire where I have a large garden which takes a lot of maintenance, but I also enjoy reading lots of different genres and watching the soaps Emmerdale and Neighbours because I love character-based stories.
Holly Berry is finally in a place where she can see her happy ending: a beautiful daughter, who’s growing ever sweeter by the day, a new home she can make her own, and – of course – her partner-in-crime, Evan.
But when tragedy strikes, Holly’s life is thrown into turmoil. And, perhaps in denial, she decides to cancel all of her Christmas plans in favour of some healing of her own.
She thinks spending time with Evan’s family will help, but it’s her own family she needs to be with right now. Luckily, they know this, and follow her out to the States to join her in her alternate holiday plans.
They say that time heals all wounds, and with her loved ones around her, can she hope for a brighter tomorrow…?
A heart-wrenching and ultimately uplifting story about friends, family and true love lasting forever, from the bestselling author of the Wildflower Lock series
MY THOUGHTS
Having read Hannah Lynn’s previous books in the series I am familiar with her writing style and enjoy her writing very much. This book is not what I was expecting at all. No matter how much you plan life with all the best intentions it can change just like that, in the blink of an eye.
I’d advise reading the other books in the series, so you have Holly Berry’s backstory. Holly is happy in life, she runs her sweetshop, has a beautiful young daughter and has a strong romantic relationship that is on the verge of engagement.
A tragedy occurs and in an instant life changes for her. The book has a lot of emotions running through it, dealing with loss and uncertainty. After her tremendous loss she gets a lot of support from family and friends.
Though the book is heartbreaking at times there are heartwarming times as well especially involving her precious daughter who though doesn’t completely understand what has happened has much love wrapped around her. Beautifully and emotionally written and highly recommended.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Hannah Lynn is the author of over twenty books spanning several genres. Hannah grew up in the Cotswolds, UK. After graduating from university, she spent 15 years as a teacher of physics, teaching in the UK, Thailand, Malaysia, Austria and Jordan.
August has only a few hours left in it, and I won’t be able to finish any of the other books I have started before the end of the month. Let’s get on with what I was able to read this month. here in my recap.
Have you read any of these? Are any of these on your tbr list?
267 pages Publisher Kensington Cozies publication date September 24, 2024
ABOUT THE BOOK
New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon continues her enchanting Kitchen Witch Mystery series featuring everyone’s favorite, spellbinding kitchen witch Mia Malone.In a triumph for Mia’s catering business and cooking school, Mia’s Morsels is chosen to host a fall festival event in their Idaho mountain town—which means managing a bunch of stage moms and their social-media obsessed daughters as they get ready for the big beauty contest. There’s a lot riding on the results of the Harvest Moon Festival—it’s where the local coven leader is chosen for the following year.But after one contestant is found in a compromising position with a judge, and another drops out when her mother is killed in a freak hiking accident, the coven suspects magical meddling. With a week to go before the coronation of the new queen, Mia must draw on her sleuthing powers to find out what’s going on—and whether this competition has gotten a little too cutthroat . . .
MY THOUGHTS
I’ve really enjoyed the author’s cozies, and this is part of the Kitchen Witch series, #6 and I’m glad to see not the end of the series.
Mia, a kitchen witch lives in Magic Springs, Idaho. She’s excited to be catering the Miss Magic Springs Harvest Pageant with her catering business and cooking school, Mia’s Morsels.
When a pageant mom is found dead, and another is hospitalized she must try to solve this mystery in time for a new queen to be chosen. Is magic in use here and can the coven solve this in time before another disaster strikes? Lots of twists and turns that had me guessing right til the end.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Award-winning New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Lynn Cahoon, pens several cozy mystery series including The Tourist Trap Mysteries, The Kitchen Witch Mysteries, Survivors’ Book Club Mysteries, The Farm to Fork Mysteries, The Haunted Life Mysteries, and The Cat Latimer Mysteries. The Bainbridge Island Mysteries will be released in 2025. No matter where the mystery is set, readers can expect a fun ride. She lives in a small town in Eastern Tennessee like the towns she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies.
Thank you for visiting today. Are you ready for Fall, I sure am.
Join the residents of Railway Lane for one last magical adventure…
Globetrotting Libby Jacobs has lost her job but is looking forward to spending more time in her home village of Cranfield.
She dreams of turning her chocolate making hobby into something more permanent. There’s only one problem – Ethan Connolly.
Despite being soul mates growing up, Libby hasn’t been close to Ethan since their disastrous date at the school prom. But now he’s back and he has just what Libby needs… a large kitchen! But can they even bear to be in the same room together?
Ethan never stays in Cranfield too long as it reminds him of his parents’ terrible marriage. But when disaster strikes, he’s forced to stay and help realise his grandad’s dream of a Christmas train. Can the whole village help Ethan create a seasonal spectacular in time?
Can Libby confront her secrets and realise her dreams?
And can Ethan ever stop running from his past and trust his heart?
Perhaps the magic of winter on Railway Lane might just give Libby and Ethan a second chance after all.
MY THOUGHTS
I enjoy holiday books, and this one takes us through Halloween and Christmas. Having read one of the other books in the series I was familiar with some of the characters but always look forward to meeting new ones too.
I love the location this takes place in, so charming and how exciting to once again return to Railway Lane and its charming cottages. Being made redundant at work has Libby Jacobs with her feet firmly planted on the ground as she was an airline flight attendant and now, she’s not.
Returning home doesn’t leave her with a lot of down time as she had thought it would. She decides to pursue her dreams of becoming a chocolatier. Her former childhood friend and past love Ethan is also home again, and he has just what she needs, a large kitchen to pursue her dreams of chocolate making.
As memories surface from times past can this second chance at love really work or will it drift away like those first snowflakes? Reading about the steam engine and its resurrection was so much fun and it really makes me want to take a train trip.
We see a depth to the characters as they weigh their options and don’t just jump into getting back together again. The romance was sweet. I enjoyed the holiday descriptions. Though this is the last book in the series I look forward to seeing what the author will come out with next.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Alison Sherlock is the author of the bestselling Willow Tree Hall books. Alison enjoyed reading and writing stories from an early age and gave up office life to follow her dream. Her series for Boldwood is set in a fictional Cotswold village.
Is it rational to hate my billionaire boss because he’s too nice?
Maybe not.
However, it’s definitely rational to apply to become a billionaire stranger’s housewife so I can quit being a personal assistant.
When—in a shocking turn of events—I encounter billionaire scarcity and learn I’ve signed up to become my boss’s wife before Christmas, I backpedal so hard I’m liable to pull something.
Shame indeed my too nice boss picks this moment to blackmail me.
The agreement is simple: I date him; he pays off my crippling debt; I have until the end of November to decide whether or not I’m saying “I do.”
It’s one measly autumn, and then I’m free.
There’s no way I’ll fall in love before this contract’s up…
Even if Finnegan Marsh proves to be so much more than nice.
Hating the Cinnamon Roll CEO is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with cozy autumn vibes, office romance, and plenty of closed-door sizzle.
~
Enjoy the other full-length books in the Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Spice series, which can be read in any order:
Hating the Cinnamon Roll CEO is part of an Autumn themed rom com series consisting of eight books. So far, I’ve only read the first book. These are closed door romances.
This one is a billionaire romance, my first read of this type and I enjoyed the characters. This is a bit of a twist around the mmc is usually the grump and the fmc is usually sunshiny. Our female main character, Marcella is an introverted grump and the (Cinnamon Roll) CEO, Finnegan is sunshiny.
The problem is Marcella finds Finn too outgoing, too sunshiny and too friendly. As the story progresses, we see both are strong characters and I enjoyed seeing their interactions. Lovely autumn feeling with mentions of pumpkins, yummy desserts and oh so tantalizing autumn drinks.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Camilla Evergreen is an alias of USA Today bestselling author Anne Stryker. Originally intended as a dumping ground for all things lacking fantasy, Camilla/Anne came to the shocking discovery that writing sarcastic, chaotic romcoms full of quippy heroines and adoring heroes has a kick to it.
Camilla/Anne’s neurodivergent tendencies leave her hyperfocused on writing sweet and sassy romances from dawn till dusk and lending whatever her current creative obsessions are to her characters. From arranged marriages to falling for the boss, there’s lots of love to go around.
251 pages Boldwood Books publisher March 2, 2023 publication date
ABOUT THE BOOK
Bella is happiest running her tiny antique business from the front room of her cottage on the Boardwalk.
To ensure she has enough income coming in, she also rents out two of her bedrooms to paying lodgers.
But she didn’t count on having a secret crush on Jack Collins, one of her lodgers and her best friend’s brother…
As if life wasn’t complicated enough,her world-travelling mother appears on her doorstep on the same evening that Jack’s ex-fiancée arrives on the Boardwalk determined to win him back.
Bella has a lot of thinking to do and soon discovers that not all gems sparkle.
So charming, what is not to love when you live in a brilliant cottage on the boardwalk overlooking the breathtaking sea. Going out your front door the sea spray cools you and the view is amongst the best you’ve ever seen.
Bella seems to be living the charmed life, a little antique business she runs out of the front room of her cottage and renting out a couple of rooms to boarders for supplemental income. Life is great, she’s wonderful friends, since childhood with Jack, her best friends’ brother.
Would it be weird to start to have romantic feelings for him? Would he think it was weird? Would she lose her friendship with her best friend? Ugh, so much to think about, should she try to take that first step?
When something unexpected happens in her family will she embrace the changes, or will it be a hinderance to all she has accomplished so far? A heartwarming rom com about the choices you make not only affecting yourself but those closest to you.
Warmth, family, choices, personal growth and friendships all blossom in the gorgeous book.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Welcome to my author page. I write a contemporary romance series set on the island of Jersey where I live with my three rescue dogs near two beautiful beaches.
Jersey is part of the Channel Islands and the largest of them, next is Guernsey – think The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society. We are nestled in the Bay of St Malo fifteen miles from the French coast and I can see the beach from my bedroom windows. There is a huge French influence here in Jersey from place names to food. We have countless beautiful views and over thirty beaches, and it occurred to me that if I love living here this much maybe readers might enjoy escaping to this pretty, romantic island through my books.
My latest series set on a fictional farm on the island is my Hollyhock Farm series. Welcome to Hollyhock Farm came out in May 2024 and Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm will be out on 16 November, with a third book following in 2025.
As for my other books, New Beginnings by the Sunflower Cliffs (originally published as A Jersey Kiss and a finalist in the Contemporary Romance Category, Romantic Novel of the Year Awards (RoNAs) and the Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers, is the first book in a four-book series. I’ve also written my five-book Golden Sands Bay series and three-book Sunshine Island series, all of which are out now.
Follow this page to receive alerts each time I have a new book published.
Acclaimed inspirational African American romance author Pat Simmons brings you a love story filled to the brim with everything you’re looking for:
Emotional, poignant fiction that explores what it means to take care of family
Christian romance that delves into the connection between two people
An uplifting story about embracing love and giving others—and yourself—one more chance
When it comes to being a caregiver, Kym Knicely has been there and done that. Then she meets Charles “Chaz” Banks and soon learns that every caregiving situation is different. Chaz takes care of his seven-year-old autistic granddaughter, Chauncy. Although Kym’s attraction to Chaz is strong, she has to decide whether a romantic relationship can survive and thrive between two people at different stages in life. It’s a journey with a different set of rules that Kym has to play by if she and Chaz are to have their happily ever after and the faith and family they envision.
MY THOUGHTS
A wonderful story, filled with the goodness of faith, family and acceptance. An older gentleman is the caregiver of his granddaughter, who is autistic. Many grandparents are not done raising children as they’re doing it all over again with their grandchildren.
Kym is a career woman, childless and at a very different stage in her life than Charles. Meeting each other as they start spending more time together, they wander if a relationship could become a possibility with how different they are.
A clean, Christian romance that I enjoyed. The cover is so appealing to me as well especially with Fall right around the corner.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of forty-plus titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance and recipient of the 2022 Leslie Esdaile Trailblazer Award. Christmas Dinner was also an Emma Award winner for Book of the Year. Christmas Dinner and Here for You were featured in Woman’s World Magazine.
As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and GPS-guided chauffeur. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and has worked in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. Visit her at http://www.patsimmons.net.
Vegan Book Blogger 