Taking over the world, one book at a time
Winter Romance Wednesday returns Wednesday, September 20th.
Do you enjoy snuggling up with a mug of hot cocoa, a log fire and a warm blanket on a chilly day?
What would make that even better? A great holiday romance to read.
Here is your chance to learn about new releases coming this holiday season.
Winter Romance Wednesday returns next Wednesday, September 20th.
Do you enjoy snuggling up with a mug of hot cocoa, a log fire and a warm blanket on a chilly day?
What would make that even better? A great holiday romance to read.
Here is your chance to learn about new releases coming this holiday season.
TITLE: How the Witch Stole Christmas
SERIES #: Witchless in Seattle #5
CHARACTERS: Steve Cartwright and crew
AUTHOR: Dakota Cassidy
PUBLICATION DATE: December 12, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N | Audible (coming soon)
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The game is afoot in Ebenezer Falls, Washington, and this time someone is trying to ruin Christmas!
With twists, turns, and suspects aplenty, amateur sleuth Stevie Cartwright is determined to find a murderer and her missing familiar before the silver bells tarnish!
USA Today bestselling cozy mystery author Dakota Cassidy serves up mayhem and murder in How the Witch Stole Christmas, Book 5 of her bestselling series, Witchless in Seattle Mysteries
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas–!
Er, not so much. . .
It’s Christmas, and I, ex-witch, Stevie Cartwright declare this my favorite time of year! I love the decorations! The food! The Hallmark Channel holiday specials! This year promises to be better than ever because for the first time in a very long time, I’m going to have more than just Cheez Whiz, Triscuits and the wish to be surrounded by family and friends.
My carefully planned holiday bonanza includes all the usual suspects. My bat familiar Belfry, my dog Whiskey, my ever-present ghostly spy friends–dashing Brit Winterbottom, stalwart Russian Arkady and my parents.
However, nothing comes easy for this amateur sleuth, not even a neighborhood decorating contest. You know, the one I’ve been painstakingly prepping for months? Something goes horribly awry with my Christmas display (think bikini-clad carolers, pink flamingos and real, live turkeys) to start.
But the worst? The dead body of the famous Chef Pascal Le June in my nativity scene!
It becomes clear someone’s trying to ruin my Christmas, and that someone must pay! But when Belfry goes missing, and the danger takes on a paranormal edge, I find I have more to lose than ever before. . .
This cozy mystery has a complete cast of oddball characters from witches to ghosts and bats to psychics. Witchless In Seattle Mysteries is a spin-off of Dakota Cassidy’s bestselling paranormal romance series, A Paris, Texas Romance.
REVIEW:
Awe…. another grand adventure for Stevie, amateur sleuth and royal pain it the Eb Falls Police forces backside, Cartwright and crew. But this time around someone is trying to ruin Stevie’s perfect christmas. How could someone do such a thing? Well…. Stevie has a few people that are not quite her fans. But still dead bodies, Easter decorations, Mardi Gras bead and bikini clad carolers….. Someone is pulling out all the stops. But who and why. And where the heck is Belfry??
Another good story from Ms. Cassidy. I am loving all the adventures that Stevie, Win and Belfry go on. With each story I keep hoping that we are closer to a resolution for the Adam Westfield issue, the new Fakebottom issue and the Stevie and Win on different plans issue. At the same time that I am hoping for these to be solved I also don’t want this series to come to an end. Can’t wait to see what is up next.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Dakota Cassidy in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: The Holiday Gift
SERIES #: Cowboys Of Cold Creek #15
CHARACTERS: Faith & Chase
AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/22/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
With two kids and an active life, widow Faith Dustin only wants peace and quiet for Christmas. But her snowy Pine Gulch ranch is nothing but chaotic. All that keeps Faith going is her helpful neighbor, cowboy Chase Brannon. He’s always been “good ol’ Chase,” her faithful friend. Until he kisses her under the mistletoe…
Years ago Chase blew his chance with the woman he’s loved since childhood. Now he’s determined to step out of the friend zone…and into the role of husband. But the scared and stubborn Faith won’t let herself fall. With Christmas just days away, Chase will need all the magic of the season—and the help of her two matchmaking children—to unwrap a second chance at love.
REVIEW:
Thayne is becoming one of my favorite authors. I have enjoyed her books and while I have not read this entire series I am slowly catching up. Thayne has a way of pulling the romance out of every character and the reader falls in love with this sweet and simple romance.
This is a story of second chances. Faith and Chase have known each other since they were teens. While they went off and had separate lives they now have a second chance. Faith is a widowed mom and just doesn’t think she can let her heart go again.
Give this book (or series) a chance. You will not regret it.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Christmas At Lilac Cottage
SERIES #: White Cliff Bay #1
CHARACTERS: Penny & Henry
AUTHOR: Holly Martin
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/20/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome to the charming seaside town of White Cliff Bay, where Christmas is magical and love is in the air…
Penny Meadows loves her home – a cozy cottage decorated with pretty twinkling fairy lights and stunning views over the town of White Cliff Bay. She also loves her job as an ice-carver, creating breathtaking sculptures. Yet her personal life seems frozen.
When Henry and daughter Daisy arrive at the cottage to rent the annex, Penny is determined to make them feel welcome. But while Daisy is friendly, Henry seems guarded.
As Penny gets to know Henry, she realizes there is more to him than meets the eye. And the connection between them is too strong to ignore…
While the spirit of the season sprinkles its magic over the seaside town and preparations for the ice sculpting competition and Christmas eve ball are in full swing, can Penny melt the ice and allow love in her heart? And will this finally be the perfect Christmas she’s been dreaming of?
Like a creamy hot chocolate with marshmallows, you won’t want to put this deliciously heartwarming novel down.
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts I think I read these stories out of order and while mostly that was not a problem I think it put me at a small disadvantage. However that being said the story is very sweet and certainly has the Christmas feel. I didn’t realize it was brit-lit which is not one of my favorites.
What I did enjoy was the humor of the story. The ice sculpting is just too funny in some scenes.
This is a great holiday book to curl under a warm blanket, by a fire with a warm beverage and it will put you into the Christmas spirit.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: The Christmas Cake Cafe
CHARACTERS: Jen & Jon
AUTHOR: Sue Watson
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/14/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Heart-warming and hilarious, a story that will make you laugh, cry and bring a smile to your face. Get ready for another deliciously amazing Christmas treat from Sue Watson….
As the Prosecco chills and Bing Crosby croons, Jen Barker just knows that her long-term boyfriend is about to propose. But instead of a diamond ring nestled in her champagne flute, Jen finds cold flat rejection. Her once perfect life and dreams of a husband and family seem even further from reach.
A working holiday to the Swiss Alps with her younger sister Jody might not be the Christmas Jen had it mind, but it offers her the chance to recharge her batteries and recover from heartbreak.
When Jen meets handsome ski instructor Jon Zutter her hopes for a happy-ever-after seem within her grasp again. Jon is kind and gorgeous and as they bond over Sachetorte at the picturesque Cake Café, Jen thinks he might just be her perfect man. But a relationship with him comes with a catch – and there are some things even cake can’t fix.
As the snow falls and Christmas approaches, could this be the place that restores Jen Barker’s faith in love?
REVIEW:
2.75 Hearts So the good part. I enjoyed this was an older couple. Jen is in her 40’s and it gave hope for us old folks’.
Not the not so good. I just didn’t feel it with the characters. The sisters are drastically different and Jen is a bit whiney to me. I also thought the romance was too quick and in a snap they were head of heels. Jen also spent a lot of time obsessing over her ex which seemed like a jerk to me so when she finds the new love it almost seemed desperate.
Now with that being said the story is an ok holiday romance.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: The Trouble with Mistletoe
SERIES #: Heartbreaker Bay #2
CHARACTERS: Keane Winters & Willa Davis
AUTHOR: Jill Shalvis
PUBLICATION DATE: September 27, 2016
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
If she has her way …
Willa Davis is wrangling puppies when Keane Winters stalks into her pet shop with frustration in his chocolate-brown eyes and a pink bedazzled cat carrier in his hand. He needs a kitty sitter, stat. But the last thing Willa needs is to rescue a guy who doesn’t even remember her …
He’ll get nothing but coal in his stocking.
Saddled with his great-aunt’s Feline from Hell, Keane is desperate to leave her in someone else’s capable hands. But in spite of the fact that he’s sure he’s never seen the drop-dead-gorgeous pet shop owner before, she seems to be mad at him …
Unless he tempers “naughty” with a special kind of nice …
Willa can’t deny that Keane’s changed since high school: he’s less arrogant, for one thing—but can she trust him not to break her heart again? It’s time to throw a coin in the fountain, make a Christmas wish—and let the mistletoe do its work
REVIEW:
Ms. Shalvis is one of my favorite authors and I always love picking up one of her stories. The Trouble with Mistletoe, book two in her new Heartbreaker Bay series, is another really good read. I love that Ms. Shalvis is able to create a world that makes me want to move to that town and create characters that make me wish were my group of friends.
Willa and Keane’s story is so much fun. I really enjoyed reading their story. I also love Ms. Shalvis ability to make us fall in love with the secondary characters. I really can’t wait to see what is next in this series!
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Edelweiss & Avon in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
TITLE: Miracle On 5th Avenue
SERIES #: From Manhattan With Love #3
CHARACTERS: Eva & Lucas
AUTHOR: Sarah Morgan
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/29/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It will take a Christmas miracle for two very different souls to find each other in this perfectly festive fairytale of New York!
Hopeless romantic Eva Jordan loves everything about Christmas. She might be spending the holidays alone this year, but when she’s given an opportunity to house-sit a spectacular penthouse on Fifth Avenue, she leaps at the chance. What better place to celebrate than in snow-kissed Manhattan? What she didn’t expect was to find the penthouse still occupied by its gorgeous—and mysterious—owner.
Bestselling crime writer Lucas Blade is having the nightmare before Christmas. With a deadline and the anniversary of his wife’s death looming, he’s isolated himself in his penthouse with only his grief for company. He wants no interruptions, no decorations and he certainly doesn’t appreciate being distracted by his beautiful, bubbly new housekeeper. But when the blizzard of the century leaves Eva snowbound in his apartment, Lucas starts to open up to the magic she brings…This Christmas, is Lucas finally ready to trust that happily-ever-afters do exist?
REVIEW:
I enjoyed this story a lot. I believe a woman in a book can be 1) Someone you want to be 2) Someone you want to be friends with or 3) Someone you can’t stand. Eva is certainly one that falls into the second category. Eva would be a great friend. Always happy and there for her friends but she is sad on the inside. Always there for someone else but they do not see into her sad soul.
Lucas is a bit of a nightmare at first. I am not a fan of one of the main characters spending their time mourning for a lost love and then bam! they are in love with someone new. And that is a bit of what Lucas does. But once he has fallen the couple really do fit together.
I enjoyed the background characters as well. This is a sweet holiday romance that any fan will enjoy.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Three Christmas Wishes
CHARACTERS: Riley, Jo & Noel
AUTHOR: Sheila Roberts
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/18/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Three friends, three wishes—one Christmas!
Riley Erickson, her pregnant sister, Jo, and their friend Noel are all wishing for the same thing: the perfect man. Or at least men who are perfect for them. Riley’s hasn’t turned out to be too impressive, dumping her for her bridesmaid three weeks before the wedding. Jo’s husband is being perfectly stubborn. And Noel has given up completely.
When the three women visit a shopping-mall Santa on a lark, the guy is full of predictions. Riley’s going to meet her perfect man in a memorable way. Noel is going to get a good man to go with that house she’s trying desperately to buy. And Jo, well, a new man is about to come into her life. What on earth does that mean? She already has her hands full with the one she’s got. As for Riley and Noel, they have some holiday challenges to meet…
But Christmas wishes can come true, as these three women are about to discover. Because in spite of romantic setbacks and derailed dreams, this truly is the most wonderful time of the year!
REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts I can’t ever remember reading a Sheila Roberts book (but I read a lot) but this will not be my last. This story had a little of everything. Happiness, heartbreak, sisterly love (biological and nonbiological), angst and Christmas spirit.
This story pulls you in from the beginning and it was hard to put down. The sisters each have their own issues going on. Riley is heartbroken from her finance’ duping her, Jo has angst about her Navy man re-enlisting and Noel just wants to keep her home.
Can their wishes come true? Well of course…. It’s Christmas time after all. This is a perfect story to curl up in front of the fire with hot cocoa and a warm blanket and enjoy.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: Christmas Under a Starlit Sky
SERIES #: A Town Called Christmas #2
CHARACTERS: Neve and Oakley
AUTHOR: Holly Martin
PUBLICATION DATE: 1019/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Step inside a beautiful winter wonderland where love, laughter and cosy nights by the fire will make this Christmas one to remember.
Neve Whitaker loves managing the Stardust Lake hotel. She gets to work alongside her wonderful family and she’s spending Christmas on the most enchanting, snow-covered island in Scotland. So why is her heart so heavy this festive season?
It might have something to do with the gorgeous actor Oakley Rey, the man she finished with before he left for California and the man she loves more than anything. With Oakley’s career in Hollywood soaring, Neve is convinced she’d only hold him back. She had to end it with him – at least that’s what she keeps telling herself.
But now she has a secret she’s struggling to keep, and when Oakley arrives on Juniper Island determined to win her back, Neve is thrown off balance. Will Neve’s fear of having her heart broken again push Oakley away for good, or is it time for her to take a leap of faith?
Get swept away by this deliciously sweet and heartwarming tale, and spend an unforgettable Christmas on Juniper Island.
REVIEW:
3.5 Hearts This is the second in the Town Called Christmas series. I read the first one and enjoyed it so I requested this one as soon as it came to NetGalley. And again I enjoyed the story very much.
There is a lot of drama in this story and I am glad they didn’t do the love triangle with Neve, Oakley and Adam as I thought they might. Neve and Oakley needed to be together.
This is a nice holiday romance.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
TITLE: All I Want For Christmas
CHARACTERS: Leah & David
AUTHOR: Jenny Hale
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/06/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
All I Want for Christmas is a big, cozy Christmas story about the importance of family, the strength of childhood friendships, and learning to trust your heart.
Fans of Carole Matthews, Susan Wiggs and Susan Mallery – and anyone who likes the glow of Christmas lights and the rustle of wrapping paper – will fall in love with this feel-good Christmas treat.
Christmas comes once a year . . . But true love comes once in a lifetime.
Snowflakes are falling, there’s carol singing on every corner, and Leah Evans is preparing for a family Christmas at her grandmother’s majestic plantation house in Virginia. It won’t be the same now that her beloved Nan is gone, but when Leah discovers she has inherited the mansion, she knows she can give her daughter Sadie the childhood of her dreams.
But there’s a catch. Leah must split the house with a man called David Forester. Leah hasn’t heard that name in a long time. Not since they were kids, when Davey was always there to catch her.
Now David is all grown up. He’s gorgeous, successful, and certain of one thing: Leah should sell him her half of the house.
They can’t agree, but as they share memories over wine by the log fire, Leah notices a fluttering in her stomach. And by the look in his eyes, he’s starting to feel it too.
Will it be Leah or David who must give up their dreams? Or, with a little bit of Christmas magic, will they finally understand Nan’s advice to them both about living life without regrets … and take a chance on true love?
REVIEW:
I don’t know. I just wasn’t overly impressed with this story. Leah is a bit whiney for me and David is a bit stiff. It is slow with a bit too many words if you ask me.
There is not too much romance in this romance novel. I really don’t get this story. I mean I realize that Nan was trying to get Leah and David together but David is so determined to get the plantation but I don’t even understand why he thinks he is entitled to it.
All in all not bad just not great.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.