Page 38 of 431

BOOK REVIEW: How The Grump Saved Christmas by Claire Kingsley

December 29, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

How The Grump Saved Christmas by Claire Kingsley
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Hardworking Isabelle Cook has a serious problem. Her family farm, site of Tilikum’s Christmas Village, is in trouble. Big trouble. And worst of all? The man trying to buy it is none other than the grumpiest, grinchiest man of them all—Elias Stoneheart.

That’s a big nope. She’s not letting him get involved. Not with his heart made of coal.

Elias Stoneheart is in the business of making money, not friends. Especially when his boss is promising a long-awaited promotion. All he has to do is convince one struggling family to sell their farm.

The problem? It’s Cook Family Farm. And Isabelle Cook is his ex.

He might have history with Isabelle, but this is just business. A Christmas-loving farm girl is not going to come between him and his ambition.

And Christmas? He hates it. Christmas Village needs to go.

But as Elias spends time in the small town, holiday spirit—and Isabelle—get under his skin. And she might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.

Author’s Note: a sassy farm girl takes on a grumpy businessman in this stand-alone small-town Christmas romance. Saucy banter, a guard donkey, plenty of holiday cheer, and a heartwarming happily ever after that will make you believe in the magic of Christmas.

Review:

How the Grump Saved Christmas was a second chance, grumpy sunshine adult romance that was a lot of fun! With a Christmas tree farm, snow, hot cocoa with whipped cream and holiday sprinkles and lots of holiday cheer, this romance book was the perfect book to read in December!

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…
No, I wasn’t. I was dreaming of a cup of dark roast— the coffee here was exceptional— and the shot of Irish whiskey I was going to add to it that were going to get me through the rest of this nightmare of an afternoon.

Elias was such a cynic and a complete grump. In that first chapter alone he showed us what a jerk he could be. Especially when he took on the job to convince his ex’s family to sell their land so his company could build a data center. Not only would he get a promotion if the sale went through, but that ex wasn’t just any old ex. She was the woman he had wanted to marry. So I tried to find little clues here and there that he had a heart. You could see them if you looked closely….like when he threatened Damien that he would kill him if he bothered his assistant again haha. So when he came face to face with Isabelle again, I loved how she affected him. And how she slowly started to change him too!

My heart tried to do something. Start beating again, maybe. Whatever it was, it hurt and I did not like it.
Straightening my shoulders, I swallowed back the sensation. Forced it behind a wall of ice where it wouldn’t get in the way.
When she turned to face me, her eyes widening with surprise, I didn’t even flinch.
Despite the fact that she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

This story alternated between the two of them and I adored Isabelle! She had a strong work ethic, loved her family, and adored the tiny town she lived in. Yet her parents’ farm was struggling. They were in so much debt, and while selling financially made sense, it hurt Isabelle’s heart to think about it. But thankfully she was surrounded by a strong community and the most amazing best friends. And an ex that was starting to remind her why she fell in love with him years ago in the first place.

There was no slow-motion retreat filled with angst. His cold eyes left mine and he turned around and walked away.

When we got to hear Elais’ backstory, oh my Santa, I hurt for his 11 year old self. I understood how he turned into what he was. But I still wanted to see him become the man I knew he could be! So I was elated that we still had so many moments of happiness with Elias. I was screaming during some of the moments with Isabelle’s parents. This story was so much fun while also touching on the emotional side!

“How do I look at her?”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Like you want to jingle her bells.”
I groaned.

Small town romance, friendship and love made this Christmas story shine brightly! While there was steam on the pages, it wasn’t detailed. And the side characters could have easily held their own book. Cole was a farmhand who was such a good friend! And I adored Alice and her daughter Maddie! Their endings made me shed happy tears! I also Isabelle’s parents too! So with moments that will not only warm your heart but make you laugh out loud too, this book was a blast! This is my first book by Claire Kingsley, and I am looking forward to discovering more of her backlist books!

BOOK REVIEW: The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner

December 28, 2023 / Jen / 4 Comments

The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
In this unforgettable story full of charm, wit—and just a bit of magic—a woman down on her luck is given a second chance at fixing her life and trying one year all over again. Perfect for readers of Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle.

Sadie Thatcher’s life has fallen apart in spectacular fashion. In one fell swoop, she managed to lose her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend—all thanks to her big mouth. So when a fortune teller offers her one wish, Sadie jumps at the chance to redo her awful year. Deep down, she doesn’t believe magic will fix her life, but taking a leap of faith, Sadie makes her wish, opens her eyes, and . . . nothing has changed. And then, in perhaps her dumbest move yet, she kisses her brother’s best friend, Jacob.

When Sadie wakes up the next morning, she’s in her former apartment with her former boyfriend, and her former boss is expecting her at work. Checking the date, she realizes it's January 1 . . . of last year. As Sadie navigates her second-chance year, she begins to see the red flags she missed in her relationship and in her career. Plus, she keeps running into Jacob, and she can’t stop thinking about their kiss . . . the one he has no idea ever happened. Suddenly, Sadie begins to wonder if her only mistake was wishing for a second chance.

Review:

The Second Chance Year was a brother’s best friend romance that asked the question, what if you made different choices? How would your life turn out? This was an adult romance story that was so easy to read and enjoy!

What if someone had looked into a crystal ball last December and warned me about the terrible year I was about to have? Would I have done something differently?

Sadie Thatcher was at the end of her horrible year. Her boyfriend broke up with her. She was fired from her job. And she was living at her brother’s best friend’s apartment, while her parents were demeaning her life decisions. When a New Year’s party sent her back to January 1st, of the worst year of her life, she thought she could change fate. And how things worked out. Little did Sadie know she was in for a huge life lesson!

He lets out a small laugh, shaking his head, and he seems almost bitter. “I’ve wanted the same thing all my life. But…” His expression darkens. “I’ve never had the courage to reach out and grab it.”

Jacob was my absolute favorite! He was a delicious marshmallow who was smart, kind and oh so thoughtful. In the past, I loved how he noticed little things about Sadie. And in Sadie’s New Year, he was still shy, but she saw so much more of him. I loved all of her extra moments with Jacob. How their relationship grew. How there were bumps along the way. And nothing was truly easy.

I never thought I’d wish to have that year back, instead of this one.

Sadie was so easy to like. She could be rough around the edges, but she stood up for those she cared for. And in trying to fix all of her wrongs in the past, it left her a different person. She was muted and that created situations to go completely sideways. So I loved how as the year went on, we spent a chapter or few in each month, that she saw things in a different light. That she grew as a person. And realized exactly who she wanted to be.

This friendship with Jacob is a second chance I’m truly grateful for.

Rounding out this story was her amazing brother, Owen, and I adored her friendships with Zoe and Mrs. Kaminski. There were also her parents, who I severely struggled with. And Xavier and her ex whom I have so many horrible thoughts about. But what stood out was that each character was unique and made a stamp on Sadie’s life.

It’s all coming together just like I wanted it to.

The Second Chance Year was a heartwarming, adult romance that analyzes ones choices. While it dealt with heavier topics of sexism, sexual harassment and even bullying, the characters in this story and their interaction and lives added so much lightness to the pages. So while I guessed how quite a few things played out, I still enjoyed this story. And I’ll be looking forward to future releases from Melissa Wiesner.

PS I want to know which Tom Petty song please. 🙂

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: To Kill a Shadow (Mistlands #1) by Katherine Quinn

December 27, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Jude Maddox knows nothing of love or even light. He knows only his grim duty as the Hand of Death, to lead the Knights of the Eternal Star into a land filled with nightmares and certain demise. It’s only when he sees her―a young woman with wild, amber eyes who’s as fierce, defiant, and swift as the shadow beasts themselves―that he feels the warmth of life in his blood…

The other Knights may fear their lethal commander, with his hard, merciless demeanor. Outcast Kiara Frey sees only a leader, a man who knows how to survive. Someone like her. But wanting him is as treacherous as the shadows themselves…and just as seductive.

With a kingdom on the verge of collapse, the Knights must now venture into the darkest heart of the land and uncover the secrets of the misted shadows, where evil will prey upon their minds and feast on their flesh.

It will betray their senses.
It will surpass their nightmares.
Most of them will die.

Review:

To Kill a Shadow was a young adult romantasy that was set in a dark and deadly world! Foreshadowing, death, angst, unthinkable choices, and creatures that were made from nightmares bled through the pages. So in a world that was surrounded in gloom and shadows, I loved that the romance was the lightness to not only this story, but to each of the characters too.

Fate might have brought me here, but from now on, I would be the one to choose my destiny.

Kiara Frey was a fierce and brave heroine that was so easy to connect with. Her thoughts were enjoyable and I loved how she stood up for others. She had no problems doling out violence and her courage landed her right in Jude Maddox’s sights. Jude was known as the Hand of Death and while he was out collecting boys to become the Knights of the Eternal Star, he ended up taking Kiara along too, instead of her brother. Their kingdom was up against so much unknown and it all led us on a wild ride!

“He smiles,” I teased, knowing I was poking the beast. I didn’t care. “And here I thought you would crack if you smiled. Shame.”
Jude caught his breath, eyeing me from beneath thick lashes . “You’d have liked that, wouldn’t you?”
“Immensely,” I answered, unable to keep the smile from widening on my own face.

Kiara and Jude were both my favorite characters in this story. Right away I loved how Jude was a complete mystery. He seemed like an assassin, worked for the crown, yet I had so many questions. When the darkness seemed to swallow him whole, he still had this kindness that would peak out at times for Kiara. Whether he was leaving something that would help her, or even just his words, each time he showed kindness it made me fall that much harder for him. And as we learned about his past, it was hard not to feel so much pain when it came to him. Jude was a tortured soul so many will fall for!

Ironic how the very man I once thought I despised now rendered me speechless.

There were so many moments that were memorable within this story. The bathing scene. The library. So many more I won’t even mention. Just know that their conversations were fun and smile inducing. There were also other characters in the story, and while I liked a few of them, I was greedy and only wanted Kiara and Jude. With adventure set out in front of them, or maybe it was even a death sentence, I was gripped to the pages to see what would happen next!

I didn’t think as I bolted, didn’t consider what I ran toward. There was only instinct and a desperate need to act.
To slay the darkness itself.

To Kill a Shadow was a young adult romantasy set in a blood thirsty world. While we are given clues as the story proceeded, so much was wrapped in mystery. And by that final page we were given so many answers, yet we were also left begging for more! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next and will be reading the second book in this series.

“You say you’re a monster”— he dug deeper into the wound, and tears streaked my cheeks—“ but a monster didn’t rescue me, didn’t make me believe in hope again.”

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: This Spells Love by Kate Robb

December 18, 2023 / Jen / 6 Comments

This Spells Love by Kate Robb
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A young woman tries to heal her heartbreak by casting a spell to erase her ex from her past, but she wakes up in an alternate reality where she’s lost more than she wished for in this witty, whimsical friends-to-lovers debut.

What if one little wish changed everything?

When Gemma gets dumped by her long-term boyfriend, she reacts the way any reasonable twenty-eight-year-old would: by getting drunk with her sister, kooky aunt, and best friend, Dax. After one too many margaritas, they decide to perform a love- cleansing spell, which promises to erase Gemma’s ex from her memory. They follow all the instructions, including a platonic kiss from Dax to seal the deal.

When Gemma wakes up, she realizes that this silly spell has worked. Not only does it seem that she never dated her ex, but the rest of her life is completely unrecognizable. The worst part: Dax has no idea who she is.

To reverse the spell and get back to her old life, Gemma must convince her once-best-friend-now-near-stranger to kiss her. But as she carries out her plans, she finds herself falling for him—hard. Soon, Gemma begins to wonder whether she even wants to go back to the way things once were. What if Dax was The One all along?

Review:

This Spells Love was an absolutely adorable, addictively fun, steamy friends to lovers romance! I loved the characters, the storyline kept me guessing, and this book captured my heart so effortlessly. Kate Robb is my favorite debut author of 2023, and I can’t wait to read whatever she releases next!

His voice is so firm. Assured. “Stuart was not the guy.”
“You have to say that because you’re my best friend.”
“No.” He looks up at me with a look I cannot decipher. “It’s because I’m your best friend that I shouldn’t say that.”

From that first page, I clicked with Gemma. Her voice made me smile and laugh. She was so easy to like, and I wanted to be friends with her. Her older sister Kiersten was hilarious and I loved how strong their relationship was. They were each other’s best friends. And their Aunt Livi rounded them out in a way that made my heart happy, I loved how strong their bond was with each other. With her best friend Dax in tow, the four of them did a spell which had Gemma waking up in alternate reality. Cleansing her ex from her life truly worked, and her new life was so exciting! Yet….. Dax who was her best friend in the entire world didn’t remember her. With one month counting down to get Dax her to kiss, and back to her old life, everything spiraled in ways Gemma could never imagine!

Logically, I should be over the moon right now. I am living the manifestation of my dream. But yesterday’s fleeting few moments with Dax have me longing for a life where nights like that were the norm and not the exception.
“I want my best friend back.”

I was completely obsessed with the ride this book took us on, while also having so much anxiety for Gemma. She had no clue what the last four years had been like in this realty. There were people who know her, who she sure didn’t know back! Yet thankfully she still had her aunt and sister in her life. Their love and support were beautiful. Yet she didn’t have her best friend Dax to lean on. And not have him even knowing her cut so deep. How was she supposed to get him to kiss her, let alone even hang out with her? It all seemed like so much! As we watch Gemma try her best to get to know Dax, my heart was sinking. She came across in a way that had me laughing out loud, but wouldn’t get her anywhere with Dax. And just when it felt like the planets would align and she could have a hint of relief, nope, something else would shake it all up. The angst in this book was so beautifully done!

And I . . . I don’t know how to feel. The tiny part of my brain not bogged down with beer is screaming, Think about the consequences. The rest of me has been lulled into a dreamy haze by the deepness of his voice and the smell of his damn lotion. Every cell of my body feel like it’s tuned to the highest frequency.
I stop walking.
To catch my breath. Or steady my mind. Or stop my body from vibrating. I don’t know.

Dax was someone I easily liked in her other reality, but in this one we got to see other sides of him. He was so easy to love, and was a sigh worthy book boyfriend! Dax was sweet, kind, charming and stepped in to help others without a second thought. And as he allowed himself to be around or talk with Gemma, my heart would soar with hope! So as they spent more time around each other, it felt like the beginnings of something more than friendship. Almost like there was some heat thrown in there. So while I was laughing, smiling and falling for Dax right along with Gemma, I got her hang up that this was her best friend. She wasn’t supposed to have those types of feelings for him! Or was she?

“If we stop this here. Could you be only my friend?”
Dax closes his eyes, and for a very long moments, I’m worried he’s going to say no. Finally, he opens them. “Yes, I can. But to be very transparent, I don’t want to.”
“I don’t want to either.” The words leave my mouth, and they are so achingly true that I hold my arms out, close my eyes, and I jump.

I loved watching Gemma succeed in this new life. I was so elated for her when she would have the most wonderful day. And when Gemma’s relationship with Dax seemed to go somewhere, I couldn’t be happier for her! Gemma and Dax together were hot, steamy and so seductive! I loved that even when everything could be going wrong around them, there was still this intense desire and chemistry between them that couldn’t be ignored. So as the days went by, it was so easy to get attached to this life. To want Gemma to make the choice to stay here. Yet there was so much going on that I can’t say that also left me wanting for her to go back to her old life. I wasn’t sure how Gemma would proceed. This Dax was everything she never knew she wanted, yet so much hang in the balance so going back felt oh so right too.

He smiles when he sees me.
And suddenly, I know. We are the same here. The universe could make us live a thousand different lifetimes, and we’ll always find a way to be there for each other.

Sacrifice, love, friendship, and thoughtfulness laced through the pages creating a beautiful, memorable story. This friends to lovers romance is one of my favorite reads for this year! And it’s also one that I will definitely be re-reading again and again. I loved this story, the characters were so real, and that ending wow I did not see that coming at all. It made me want to jump up and down and cheer at the top of my lungs. I loved it so much! So if you love adult romance, definitely put this one on your tbr! I can’t recommend it enough!

PS I love Frank!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEWS: The Holiday Mix-Up by Ginny Baird, Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber & The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews

December 15, 2023 / Jen / 4 Comments

The Holiday Mix-Up by Ginny Baird
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
While You Were Sleeping meets The Wedding Date with a fun Puerto Rican holiday twist in NYT and USA Today bestselling author Ginny Baird's latest sweet romance, in which a diner waitress agrees to be her patron's fake date...only for him to land in a coma and her to be stuck playing his sweetheart with his family all week long.

Lonely-hearted waitress Katie Smith has nowhere to go for Christmas, and a huge crush on her gorgeous diner patron Juan Martinez. So when Juan asks Katie to pose as his girlfriend for holiday festivities at his family's winery, Katie leaps at the chance…that is, until an accident lands Juan in a coma right after giving his folks the "news." Katie knows she should tell the Martinezes the truth, but when they immediately embrace her, Katie is reluctant to let her fantasy of a family holiday go. And then there's Juan's brother, Mateo, whose smile tugs at her heartstrings just right―and who tells her perfect Juan might not be everything he seems.

Second son Mateo Martinez loves his brother, but Juan's plan to "rebrand and expand" Los Cielos Cellars has cost their family too much and put its entire tradition in jeopardy. Katie seems to understand, but she's still committed to Juan…even when Mateo starts to wish her gentle heart and beautiful smile were committed to him instead. With the winery at stake, secrets on all sides, and Juan due to wake up any day, can Katie and Mateo follow their hearts to a Christmas miracle, or will this mix-up ruin their chances?

Review:

The Holiday Mix-Up was an over the top heartwarming, but also awkward, Christmas romance. Katie went along with one of her restaurant patron’s wishes that she be his fake girlfriend for Christmas. She had been falling for him the last few months, yet moments later he ended up in an accident that left him in a coma. Katie found herself conflicted, but played along with the Martinez family that she was Juan’s girlfriend. So with picking out a Christmas tree, meals at their house, horse rides, to even trying on something that made me gasp, Katie quickly found herself wrapped up in the Martinez’s lives. I wasn’t sure if Katie was extremely lonely or if she was incapable of saying no? But regardless, the family’s antics were entertaining. And the more time she spent with them, Katie couldn’t deny she was falling for her fake boyfriend’s brother. I really enjoyed the beginning, while the latter half of this book seemed to stall for me. But still, it was so easy to listen to, was festive, and I’m going to try another book by this author.

Twelve Days of Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Friendly and bubbly, Julia Padden likes nearly everyone, but her standoffish neighbor, Cain Maddox, presents a particular challenge. No matter how hard she’s tried to be nice, Cain rudely rebuffs her at every turn, preferring to keep to himself. But when Julia catches Cain stealing her newspaper from the lobby of their apartment building, that’s the last straw. She’s going to break through Cain’s Scrooge-like exterior the only way she knows how: by killing him with kindness.

To track her progress, Julia starts a blog called The Twelve Days of Christmas. Her first attempts to humanize Cain are far from successful. Julia brings him homemade Christmas treats and the disagreeable grinch won’t even accept them. Meanwhile, Julie’s blog becomes an online sensation, as an astonishing number of people start following her adventures. Julia continues to find ways to express kindness and, little by little, chips away at Cain’s gruff façade to reveal the caring man underneath. Unbelievably, Julia feels herself falling for Cain—and she suspects that he may be falling for her as well. But as the popularity of her blog continues to grow, Julia must decide if telling Cain the truth about having chronicled their relationship to the rest of the world is worth risking their chance at love.

Review:

Twelve Days of Christmas was a grumpy sunshine holiday romance. This book made me laugh out loud at times. And I loved watching Julia try to bring out Cain’s kind side each day they got closer to Christmas. Yet I had a hiccup when she visited someone special in his life. I felt like that was a little backhanded with how she learned information about him. But regardless of that, this was a very cute, sweet and quick book to listen to. There was lots of Christmas cheer, cheesy goodness and an epilogue set in the future that will leave you smiling.

The Santa Suit by Mary Kay Andrews
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
When newly-divorced Ivy Perkins buys an old farmhouse sight unseen, she is definitely looking for a change in her life. The Four Roses, as the farmhouse is called, is a labor of love—but Ivy didn't bargain on just how much labor. The previous family left so much furniture and so much junk, that it's a full-time job sorting through all of it.

At the top of a closet, Ivy finds an old Santa suit—beautifully made and decades old. In the pocket of a suit she finds a note written in a childish hand: it's from a little girl who has one Christmas wish, and that is for her father to return home from the war. This discovery sets Ivy off on a mission. Who wrote the note? Did the man ever come home? What mysteries did the Rose family hold?

Ivy's quest brings her into the community, at a time when all she wanted to do was be left alone and nurse her wounds. But the magic of Christmas makes miracles happen, and Ivy just might find more than she ever thought possible: a welcoming town, a family reunited, a mystery solved, and a second chance at love.

Review:

This was an adorable small town romance. Ivy Perkins was so easy to like, and she had just bought a farm house to get her new start. Newly divorced and with only her dog, who was the cutest, I loved watching her settle into the small town. With a Christmas letter that added a little bit of holiday mystery, to making new friends, to even finding love, this book had all of it. Plus I was pleasantly urprised that everyone got a happy ending. The romance in this story was most definitely instalove, so I didn’t feel a strong connection between the two characters. But I always seem to struggle with that trope. So if you’re looking for a light and sweet heartwarming Christmas story, that is a Hallmark movie in a book, this may be it if you like instalove!