Category: Holiday Romance

TITLE: A Cold Creek Noel
AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/13/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Caidy Bowman had been the apple of her family’s eye—until a devastating tragedy forced her to hide from the world. She was used to devoting her time to the animals on her family’s ranch. Then widower Ben Caldwell and his two adorable children arrived in Pine Gulch, and suddenly, Caidy wanted more than a life in the shadows….As the town’s new vet, Ben needed a place to stay for the holidays—and for his family to heal from their own loss. He absolutely wasn’t looking for love again! But Caidy Bowman’s sparkling green eyes and sweet smile touched Ben’s broken heart, giving him hope for a new future. Their future—if he could convince the beautiful cowgirl that Christmas was a time for new beginnings….

REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this book. I have not read the other in the “Cowboys of Cold Creek” series but even though you can tell that there is background stories that were in other stories this one can certainly stand alone.

This has everything a holiday romance should have. Family, animals, snow and love. Honestly I think it would make a great movie for Hallmark or Lifetime. It even had me tearing up at one point.

Caidy is superwoman but yet is down to earth and really just a woman who is trying to make her life perfect after her world was torn apart years ago. Ben is trying to get his life together for himself and his kids. They really are a match made in Heaven.

This is a perfect holiday story and will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: A Winter Wonderland
AUTHOR: Fern Michaels +3
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/30/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Four special holiday offerings from today’s favorite authors remind us that when love is on your list, you never have to stop believing…
“A Winter Wonderland” by Fern Michaels
Angelica Shepard left New York for Christmas in Colorado to relax and unwind—but an out-of-control snowboarder almost had her laid to rest. When she wakes up in the hospital, all she remembers is the handsome angel who saved her…
“The Joy of Christmas” by Holly Chamberlin
Not all happiness is good for you—or that’s what Iris Karr thinks when she decides to move away instead of marrying her sweetheart Ben. Even years later, living with that decision isn’t easy—until a familiar face comes to call her home for the holidays…
“The Christmas Thief” by Leslie Meier
Elizabeth Stone is ready for a white Christmas in Tinker’s Cove, Maine—until a fancy Yule ball at the Florida hotel where she works dumps snow on her plans. The sponsor’s jewels have gone missing and the police are asking about her ties to a cute mystery guest. Good thing Elizabeth’s mother, Lucy Stone, flew down to surprise her. ‘Tis the season for a little investigating…
“The Christmas Collector” by Kristina McMorris
Estate liquidator Jenna Matthews isn’t one for Christmas nostalgia. But when one grandmother’s keepsakes suggest a secret life, unwrapping the mystery leads Jenna—and her client’s handsome grandson—to the true heart of the holiday spirit…

REVIEW:
I was going to review these books separately but honestly I can say the same things about all of them. The stories are just ok. The characters never really connect to each other. There is actually a sad element to these stories. This was not the feel good holiday novel I expected. I was disappointed in all of the stories. They might have been better if it was not set up as a holiday read but seeing as a fan of romance I want a feel good story not sadness.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: A Fool’s Gold Christmas
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/25/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The unrelenting cheer in Fool’s Gold, California, is bringing out the humbug in dancer Evie Stryker. She learned early on that Christmas miracles don’t happen, at least not for her. And this year seems like no exception. An injury has forced her to return to the family fold, no matter that they’re estranged. She won’t add to the awkward scenario by being seduced by the bad-boy charms of her brother’s best friend, the last man she should ever want to date. Even when she’s recruited to stage the Fool’s Gold winter festival, she vows to do as promised, then move forward with her life anywhere but here.Jaded lawyer Dante Jefferson is getting used to the backwater town he now reluctantly calls home, but the pounding of little dancers’ feet above his temporary office is more than any man should have to take! When he confronts their gorgeous teacher, he’s unprepared for the attraction that sears him down to the soul. Evie is his best friend’s sister — off-limits unless he’s willing to risk his heart. Dante has always believed that love is the most dangerous force in the universe, but that was before he had to reckon with the magic of a certain small town, where miracles do seem to happen….

REVIEW:
There is no place I would rather spend Christmas than Fool’s Gold. With the beautiful backdrop of the California mountains Christmas comes alive in the latest of the Fool’s Gold series from Susan Mallery. Fool’s Gold is the type of town we all wish we belong to with people willing to help and a place where a newcomer can feel at home. But when Evie is brought to the town by her family after breaking her leg she feels more like an outsider than part of the family. The only place she feels at home in on the dance floor so when asked to teacher the children the winter dance she agrees even as she plans her escape from the town after the holidays.

Dante has also been brought to Fool’s Gold against his will by his business partner Rafe (Summer Days #7). With the past that Dante has the best thing he can do with the ladies is love ‘em and leave ‘em and he has gotten good at just that. But when Evie and her troupe dance into Dante’s life will he recognize a good thing and will either of them be willing to overcome the past to believe in love and learn that Fool’s Gold really can be home? Both are unaware that the lure of Fool’s Gold is not only in the spirit of the season but the spirit and heart of the town.

I could not put this book down. This is the 10th in the series and I have loved everyone of them but there is just something extra special about Fool’s Gold at Christmas time. I wanted to walk the streets, see the decorations of the town and watch the performance on Christmas Eve. I wanted to drink peppermint martinis at Evie’s house with the girls and wanted to walk up to Dante and hug him after smacking him upside the head. Mallery has a way of transporting you to the town of Fool’s Gold and as a reader you can feel the love she has for her (unfortunately) imagined town which makes the reader love it to. Pick up “A Fool’s Gold Christmas”, make a cup of hot chocolate, snuggle up on the couch and I promise you in a few hours when you finally set the book down you will be ready to start decorating your house for the holidays.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: My Kind Of Christmas
AUTHOR: Robyn Carr
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/23/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon| B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
PATRICK RIORDAN ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT NOTHING COULD MATCH THE ADRENALINE RUSH HE GETS FROM HIS JOB. BUT THIS CHRISTMAS, PATRICK’S PULSE IS REALLY RACING…

The Riordan brothers may have a reputation for being rough-and tumble, but Patrick has always been the gentle, sweet-natured one. These days, his easygoing manner is being tested by his high-octane career as a navy pilot. But for the Riordan brothers, when the going gets tough…the tough find the love of a good woman. Except the woman who has caught Patrick’s attention is Jack Sheridan’s very attractive niece. Angie LeCroix comes to Virgin River to spend Christmas relaxing, away from her well-intentioned but hovering mother. Yet instead of freedom, she gets Jack Sheridan. If her uncle had his way, she’d never go out again. And certainly not with rugged, handsome Patrick Riordan. But Angie has her own idea of the kind of Christmas she wants—and the kind of man! Patrick and Angie thought they wanted to be left alone this Christmas—until they meet each other. Then they want to be left alone together. But the Sheridan and Riordan families have different plans for Patrick and Angie—and for Christmas, Virgin River–style!

REVIEW:
4 1/2 Stars This is part of the Virgin River series however since I have not read any others and yet I loved this book I feel comfortable saying you can read this as a stand alone as well… but it will make you want to go back and read the others.

There is not much about Christmas in this story. In fact Christmas doesn’t even come in the story by the time it finishes so if you are looking for a book to get you in the holiday mood this is really not it but it is such an enjoyable read that you will forget you wanted to read a holiday story.

The characters of Patrick and Angie are just so wonderful. You can feel the connection between them from the first scene they have together. The background characters (which have had their own books) are great too. I really did love everything about this book. I have never read a Robyn Carr book before so I was not sure what to expect but her writing is very smooth and flows really well. She is able to bring you into the moment with each scene she writes. The ending of the book had me tearing up a little bit which is not something that happens very often so when it happens I know the book has brought me to a place that many others have not.

I would highly recommend you meeting Patrick and Angie and spending the holidays with them. It is a story you won’t want to miss.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

TITLE: A Christmas Hope
AUTHOR: Joseph Pittman
PUBLICATION DATE:   09/25/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
ONE FINAL CHRISTMAS WISH COULD CHANGE THEIR LIVES FOREVER…

Nora Connors Rainer has returned to her hometown, Linden Corners, to tend to her elderly but spunky pie-baking mother–and to nurse a broken heart.  To keep busy, Nora opens “A Doll’s Attic,” a consignment shop where locals can unload their unwanted heirlooms.  And the upcoming holidays are bringing a host of interesting objects–and people–through her doors.

Eighty-five year old Thomas Van Diver hands Nora her first challenge: track down a rare, vintage item that holds powerful childhood memories for him–memories of his father and their last Christmas together before he went off to the war and never returned.

Helping them both is Brian Duncan, whose farmhouse and windmill Thomas once called home.  Together with his irrepressible young charge, Janey Sullivan, Brian will uncover the mysteries of Christmas past–and create a Christmas present that just might restore their hope, and fulfill everyone’s deepest wishes.

REVIEW:
I cried! I honestly can not tell you the last story I read where I even got choked up neither less had to grab a tissue but this one I had a tissue in hand for the last third of the book. This is a very well written story that I can only hope Hallmark Channel or Lifetime is smart enough to buy the rights to. This story has a bit of romance to it but that is not what this story is about. This is the story of Thomas and the past he is trying to return to by finding the book his dad gave him as a child. There is a lot of loss in this book but also the underlying moral that family is what and who you make it to be.

Set in a typical “Norman Rockwell” small town the characters come alive as the holidays approach the town. The main character of Thomas is a old man now and the type of man that you want to sit down on a porch rocking chair with and hear his stories. The author has really written Thomas in an endearing and captivating way. You really just want to invite him to dinner. Nora and Brian are strangers who for their own reasons have come to town, Nora returning to live with her mom and Brian who was “just passing through” years ago but for reason beyond his control has stayed.

While Thomas is written really well, I am not sure that the other characters way of speaking was typical of the current time frame. Even the children sometimes spoke “too proper” for their age and some odd comments were made that just felt a little off (I mean really what 80+ year old man has not heard of strawberry pie?) but none of these oddities take away from the delightful and poignant story. As I said above I can see this book being made into a made for tv movie and I hope if it is one day turned into a movie they will do this book justice because it deserves to be enjoyed.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.