Category: Winter Romance Wednesday

TITLE: Snowfall On Haven Point
SERIES #: Haven Point #5
CHARACTERS: Andrea & Marshall
AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/27/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
There’s no place like Haven Point for the holidays, where the snow conspires to bring two wary hearts together for a Christmas to remember

It’s been two rough years since Andrea Montgomery lost her husband, and all she wants is for her children to enjoy their first Christmas in Haven Point. But then Andie’s friend asks a favor—to keep an eye on her brother, Sheriff Marshall Bailey, who’s recovering from a hit and run. Andie will do anything for Wyn, even park her own misgivings to check on her grouchy, wounded bear of a brother.

Marshall hates feeling defenseless and resents the protective impulses that Andie brings out in him. But when a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, something in Marshall begins to thaw. Andie’s gentle nature is a salve, and her kids’ excitement for the holidays makes him forget why he never wanted a family. If only he and Andie can admit what they really want—each other—their Christmas wishes might come true after all.

REVIEW:
This is a very sweet holiday story with a bit of mystery thrown in. Marshall is a good guy with a heart of gold for his town but not to any women and for sure not for any children. Andie is a lovely widowed mom of two young children so of course they are a match made in heaven. The kids are a perfect addition to the story as well.

The story did drag a little with the whole “I can’t be in love with him but I am” and “I shouldn’t be in love with her but I am” kind of attitude. Marshall gets a bit testy sometimes and has to apologize and Andie accepts but then he does something and you realize why she lets him be a grouchy guy.

This is a perfect by the fire story to get the reader in the mood for Christmas and romance.

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

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TITLE: Mistletoe Cottage
SERIES #: Harmony Harbor #1
CHARACTERS: Sophie & Liam
AUTHOR: Debbie Mason
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/25/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
‘Tis the season for love . . .
Sophie DiRossi loved growing up in Harmony Harbor. But after fleeing in disgrace many years ago, it is the last place she wants to be. Left homeless by a fire, she’s forced to go back to the small coastal town that harbors a million secrets, including her own. Sophie sees this secret reflected every day in her daughter’s blue eyes-and she must keep it hidden from the only man she has ever loved.

Sophie’s return is a shock for everyone . . . especially Liam Gallagher. The firefighter had some serious feelings for Sophie-and seeing her again sparks a desire so fierce it takes his breath away. Now Liam will do whatever it takes to show Sophie that they deserve a second chance at love, even if everything they’ve concealed threatens to keep them apart. In this special town at this special time of the year, Sophie and Liam can only hope for a little holiday magic…

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts I don’t recall reading a Debbie Mason novel before but this will not be my last one. I can totally understand why Ms Mason has a reputation for writing wonderful holiday stories. I decided to read this one since it was the first in a new series. I look forward to reading the next one.

There is a lot happening in this story. A lot of emotion that is palpable as the reader gets further into the story. This is a story of a second chance at love when the first chance never really had a chance to get started.

As a couple others have said the part I had a hard time with was all the characters. Sophie and Liam’s story is great but there is a lot of background characters that can get a bit confusing. But no matter this holiday story is well worth the read.

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

TITLE: Kentucky Christmas
CHARACTERS: Billie & Andrew
AUTHOR: Sarah Title
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/05/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Welcome back to Hollow Bend, Kentucky, where love (and laughter) are just around the corner.
When Andrew Bateman rolls into town in the midst of a snow storm, his first thought is that the place is hardly big enough for a dog crate, let alone the vet practice he’s looking for. Next thing he knows, his life is flashing in front of him—a depressingly short flash—as he skids right into the side of the local bar.

Things start looking up when the vision he wakes to is not the Angel of Death, but a doctor. Well, actually a vet. Make that a vet tech, wearing red mittens. Who invites him home, where every inch is covered in holiday sparkles, cookies to be decorated, and an odd assortment of stray dogs, cats and puppies…

There’s nothing merrier than a white Christmas in Kentucky!

REVIEW:
2.5 Hearts This was a very short story. Only about 40 pages so I will keep this short. This is just an ok story. First there is way too many people named in this story and it gets confusing. Second the characters just really didn’t connect and finally it is written as if the characters are only teenagers and don’t have a mature bone in their body. Just not as good as I hoped.

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

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TITLE: Snow Angel Cove
CHARACTERS: Eliza & Aidan
AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 10/28/14
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne welcomes you to a small town full of big surprises that are both merry and bright…

Nothing short of a miracle can restore Eliza Hayward’s Christmas cheer. The job she pinned her dreams on has gone up in smoke—literally—and now she’s stuck in an unfamiliar, if breathtaking, small town. Precariously close to being destitute, Eliza needs a helping hand…for her sick young daughter’s sake as well as her own. But she’s not expecting her holiday hero to almost run her down with his car!

Rescuing Eliza is pure instinct for tech genius Aidan Caine. At first, putting the renovation of his lakeside guest lodge in Eliza’s hands assuages his guilt—until he sees how quickly he could fall for her. Having focused solely on his business for years, he never knew that what his life was missing was Eliza and her little girl. But is he willing to risk hoping for a yuletide romance that could lead to forever?

REVIEW:
4.5 Hearts Perfect Holiday story filled with the Christmas spirit, love, family and romance. Right from the beginning you want to take Eliza in your arms and hug her. Sheesh I mean the woman moves to a new town to find the B&B she is going to run burned down and is still smoking and then as she walks to a restaurant to think about her next steps she is hit by a car. I mean come on the woman needs a hug. And then there is Aidan who has been going through a hell of his own and is learning there is more to life than work and then he goes and runs into a woman with a child. How much can one man deal with? Well that accident changes both of their lives forever. And let me tell you Maddie just adds to the sweetness of the story.

This is a great book to put you in the holiday spirit. It is wrapped around decorating the house for Christmas, snow is falling, lights are up, family is coming in and food is cooking. I mean all you need is a warm fire to curl in front of and this book has that too.

Why not 5 stars when I enjoyed it so much? Well it gets a bit wordy in some places and some ideas are repeated just enough times you make you think “ok enough” but then it passes and the joy of the book comes back. Honestly, just pick up the book, tell the family to go Christmas shopping, curl up and get yourself into the Christmas spirit because that is what will happen when you read this story.

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

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TITLE: Christmas Under A Cranberry Sky
SERIES #: A Town Called Christmas #1
CHARACTERS: Piper & Gabe
AUTHOR: Holly Martin
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/22/16
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N-Coming soon

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
This year spend a wonderful Christmas on Juniper Island, where love can melt even the iciest of hearts…

Piper Chesterfield lives a glamorous life traveling the world and reviewing the finest hotels. She calls nowhere home, she works alone and that’s how she likes it. For long ago Piper decided that to protect her heart she should lock it away.

So when Piper’s next assignment brings her to the newly opened Stardust Lake Hotel for the festive season, the last person she expects to face is Gabe Whitaker, the man who broke her heart so completely she could never love again.

But Piper isn’t the only one who has been frozen in time by heartbreak. Gabe hasn’t forgotten the golden-eyed girl who disappeared from his world without a trace.

Now fate has reunited them on Juniper island, can the magic of Christmas heal old wounds? And can this enchanting town be the one place Piper can finally call home?

Curl up with this gorgeously romantic tale and let the glistening snow and the roaring fires of Stardust Lake Hotel get you in the festive spirit this Christmas.

REVIEW:
This is a sweet story. Honestly though it does not have a lot to do with Christmas and doesn’t exactly put the reader into a holiday mood. It is a quick read set in the Scotland islands but it really doesn’t have a Scottish feel. Very few words are written with an accent.

The story is predictable but sweet. I never really connected with any of the characters but Wren is sweet even if Frozen is mentioned a number of times too many.

All in all this book is enjoyable.

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

TITLE: The New Year’s Wish
CHARACTERS: Olivia & Garrett
AUTHOR: Dani-Lyn Alexander
PUBLICATION DATE: 12/01/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Typing out memos is anything but torturous when your boss is this hot! Dani-Lyn Alexander’s irresistible new yuletide romance is a lighthearted office romp that will make you long for the company holiday party.

Olivia Calloway isn’t cut out for the nine-to-five life. She’s a born entrepreneur. She just has to figure out her soul’s true calling—and she’s given herself until the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve to do it. With her trust fund dwindling and only two and a half months to go, she takes an assistant position at prestigious law firm Harris & Harris. The problem is, Olivia’s a terrible employee—incessantly late, forgetful, and clumsy. Not that her gorgeous new boss Garrett Emerson seems to mind. Beautiful, charming Olivia has been on his mind ever since she ran into him, literally, sprinting to the interview. But Olivia’s first big assignment—to plan an elaborate last minute New Year’s Eve party for the entire company—could make or break her job entirely. With Ms. Harris herself demanding perfection, a jealous office rival rooting for Olivia to lose, and even Garrett dreading the affair, can Olivia finally prove herself—or will an unforeseen complication send her back to the drawing board? All she wants for the holidays is to be her own boss—and to ignite the flirtatious sparks between her and Garrett…so she can file their relationship under love.

REVIEW:
Ever had one of THOSE days? Well Olivia has one of those lives. She can’t get anywhere on time. She forgets important things. She is just a mess. The problem is so much happens to Olivia that it got old kind of quickly. And giving this book is only about 75 pages that is saying something.

Garrett is a single dad who is trying to make his daughter his first priority while still making a living. I liked Garrett even though really this was not his story. This story is more about Olivia and her blunders. There is also his daughte.. And the author did a pretty good job of speaking for her even though sometimes she sounds older than her 5 years.

All in all this is a cute short story. Will it get you in the holiday mood? Nope but it is a quick read and enjoyable.

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

TITLE: A Cold Creek Christmas Story
SERIES #: Cowboys of Cold Creek #14
CHARACTERS: Celeste, Flynn & Olivia
AUTHOR: RaeAnne Thayne
PUBLICATION DATE: 11/17/15
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Sparkle In The Snow Leads To So Much More

Celeste Nichols has always preferred to keep to herself in her hometown of Pine Gulch, Idaho…until she becomes an instant celebrity! When one of her children’s stories becomes a major success, she’s suddenly the talk of the town. Celeste should be gloriously happy…but something, someone, special is still missing from her life. Could the return of her childhood crush be the answer?

Flynn Delaney has moved back home for his daughter’s sake. Yet all the millionaire’s resources can’t help the little girl heal from the tragic loss of her mother. Shy librarian Celeste and her stories do hold some indefinable magic, though. Flynn came home looking for support—can he find that, and true love, in the one who got away?

REVIEW:
4.25 Hearts This was a sweet perfect get you in the holiday type story with all emotions that can possibly be felt.

In the last book Celeste wrote a book about Sparkle the reindeer and in this story the book has hit the bestsellers list and is even up for a movie deal. As a quiet small town librarian and with the history she has she just wants to be out of the limelight. And then Flynn comes in with his adorable daughter who has been through her own traumatic experience. And Celeste doesn’t think she can stop her heart from loving either of them.

I really liked Celeste even though she is very quiet and not one for big adventures but she has a heart of gold and wants nothing more than to please her family and the children who patron the library and The Christmas Ranch. Even though she is quiet something about her really calls to the book lover in all of us. Flynn is a father who is trying to get the little girl back to herself after her experience that caused her physical and emotional scars. And then there is Olivia who was written wonderfully. So many times children are written either too old or too young for the age the book claims they are but Olivia really sounded like a 7 year old.

This story is really more about Celeste and Olivia than about Celeste and Flynn even though the romance is there and sweet between them this is more about the relationship two children have with the past both recent and a decade before. It is very touching. It is a read any fan of romance will enjoy.

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