Tag: Christmas (Page 9 of 10)

BOOK REVIEW: Holiday With You by Claudia Y. Burgoa & Grahame Claire

BOOK REVIEW: Holiday With You by Claudia Y. Burgoa &  Grahame Claire

I’m so happy I got to be included in this blog tour! I adore Christmas stories and this book had so much holiday charm! Check out my 4 Star Review below ♥.

BOOK REVIEW: Holiday With You by Claudia Y. Burgoa &  Grahame ClaireHoliday With You by Claudia Y. Burgoa, Grahame Claire
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

USA TODAY Bestselling authors Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire bring you an enchanting holiday romance that’s sweet and full of light.

Audrey’s boss gave her one objective—head to the small town of Winter Valley, and acquire that bed and breakfast the company has had their eye on forever. A big sale like this could change her career . . . and she’s the only one who could convince the owner to make the deal.

On her way, she crashes into the truck of sexy, unavailable, single Dad Colin Bradford. The repairs won’t be done until Christmas Eve, so she’s stuck in Winter Valley until her car is fixed.

There’s something magical about being in a small town at Christmas. Life is slower than her hectic job in the city. She finds herself falling for Winter Valley . . . and for Colin.

Though acquiring that bed and breakfast is much harder than she planned . . . Amidst all the hot chocolate, snowflakes, and silent nights, Audrey has a choice to make. Could Colin end up being her Christmas miracle?

Review: Holiday With You was a Christmas story that was filled with romance, secrets, and a lot of fun. With warmth and charm in the pages, this book was such an easy, quick read. So if you’re looking for a Hallmark book to pick up, then you’ll want add this one to your tbr!
This is the nightmare before Christmas. And I’m dressed like a unicorn.
Audrey’s demanding boss sent her out of state, before the holidays, to acquire a B&B in the adorable town of Winter Valley. Along with the message that she was not to return until she had acquired the B&B that wasn’t for sale. Upon arriving to town, she crashed into Colin, a local single dad. And with repairs on her vehicle not being completed until Christmas Eve, she was stuck there where she kept running into Colin and his delightful family during her stay.
“Welcome to the chaos.” He brushes his thumb across my cheek. Briefly, I close my eyes , savoring every millisecond of his touch. It’s powerful. More so than it should be since we’re practically strangers.
I absolutely loved how Aubrey and Colin met! You could tell that they were both attracted and interested in each other right away. However they seemed to prioritize other things in their lives, as more important than love. With Colin’s daughter and Aubrey’s job being their main focuses, I wondered how they could be pushed together. But with a family and townspeople that couldn’t help but meddle, and a place that had all the Christmas charm in the world, it was a lot of fun watching them come together.
“Unicorn.” There’s so much emotion behind the word that it sounds as if it’s been yanked from his soul. I’m afraid to look too deep into the meaning. I’m terrified I won’t hear what I want to. That I won’t see what I want to see.
Colin was my favorite in this story! He was kind, thoughtful, loved deeply and was the most amazing dad ever. His four year old daughter, Perry, was so easy to love too. Watching them interact was so sweet. And the rest of his family was endearing too. It seemed like there was a lot of potential for future books with his siblings *fingers crossed*. But one of my favorite things about Colin was how he called Aubrey unicorn. And each time he did, it made me smile so huge.
Maybe there’s more out there than I thought. Maybe I can have more.
Audrey was a determined person, with a kind heart, who loved her job. While trying to figure out who owned the bed and breakfast, she kept finding reasons why this town made her happy. Which was needed, since it seemed like Audrey was missing joy in her life. And a lot of her newfound joy had to do with Colin. I loved their chemistry and how it added a spark into her life! And I cherished how Audrey, Colin and Perry fit so well together. Their moments were so sweet and precious. But Audrey was heading back home. Her life was in California, not in Winter Valley.
I belong. It’s a dangerous thought, one I should snuff out faster than I can say candle . . . but my heart grips onto it with everything it has.
So with snow, cookies, and lots of holiday charm, this book was so heartwarming. I enjoyed how family played such a big roll and it was impossible not to love the quaint town this story took place in. And if you adore epilogues, like I do, you’re in for a treat. This one made my heart so happy. If you’re looking for a holiday read or adore the Hallmark movie, Let it Snow with Candace Cameron Bure, then definitely add this one to your list! *I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.* About Claudia Burgoa: Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.

She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she’s the ruler of the house. She’s only partially right.

When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At night, she likes to binge-watch shows with her equally geeky husband.

Connect with Claudia Facebook  I  Instagram  I  Amazon  I  Twitter  I  Goodreads  I  Reader Group  I  Website  I  Subscribe to Claudia’s Newsletter

About Grahame Claire: Grahame Claire is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. A writer. A blogger. United by our love of stories and all things romance. There was definitely some insta-love. Hello? Books involved. A little courting. A lot of writing. The result…Grahame Claire. Soulmates. Unashamed of our multiple book boyfriends. Especially the ones that rooted in our heads and wouldn’t leave us alone. Don’t worry. We’ll share. Pleased to meet you. Want to find out what we’re up to?

Connect with Grahame Facebook  I  Twitter  I  Goodreads  I  Amazon  I  Instagram  I  Website

BOOK REVIEW: When the Wind Chimes (Spirit of ‘Ohana #1) by Mary Ting

BOOK REVIEW: When the Wind Chimes (Spirit of ‘Ohana #1) by Mary TingWhen the Wind Chimes (Spirit of 'Ohana #1)
by Mary Ting
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

SOMETIMES ANGELS COME IN HUMAN FORM.

Kaitlyn Summers is heartbroken.

When she receives an invitation to spend Christmas with her family on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, she feels it may be the perfect medicine.

She throws herself into helping her sister’s struggling art gallery, even taking a temporary job for extra money by looking after a little girl from her nephew’s school. She also begins to paint again, something she’s been unable to do since her breakup. It’s tempting to stay on Kauai, but she has obligations back in Los Angeles.

Life gets more complicated when circumstances keep putting her close to Leonardo Medici. Not only is he drop-dead gorgeous, he’s a local celebrity. But Kaitlyn can’t shake the feeling he’s hiding something.

Should she believe the rumors that he’s romancing half the island’s single women?

Or is the random sound of wind chimes when he’s close-by a sign that an angel is near and the secret to her happily ever after?


Review:

When the Wind Chimes was a cozy feel good read!  Sprinkled with Christmas, family and love, this book had all of the feels of a Hallmark movie.  I loved that I kept finding myself smiling and I even had to wipe a few tears away while reading.  With low angst and an ending that had my heart happy long after I finished that last page, I absolutely adored this book.  If you’re looking for a Christmas story that will warm your heart, then definitely pick this one up!

I was oil; he was acrylic, and we could never mix on the same canvas.

The story started off with Kaitlyn Summers, aka Kate, landing in Kauai to spend the holidays with her family.  But not long after arriving, Kate had an interesting run in with Leonardo Medici aka Lee.  And they continued to run into each other, quite literally at times, as the story unfolded.  Each time seemed to shake one of them up.  So when it felt like fate intervened, I loved sitting back and watching where it took them!

I promise with all the unicorns, rainbows, and all the sparkling things.

I loved Kate!  She was an artist who lived in LA and was kind, caring and thoughtful.  But one of my favorite things about her was how fiercely she loved her sister, Abby.  They were the bestest of friends and loved each other with their whole hearts.  They helped one another out, picked each other up and even messed with the other.  But sometimes their intervention was exactly what the other one needed.  Their sisterly love felt like a hidden gem in this book!  So I was rooting for Kate to stay in Kauai.  I also loved the relationship she had with her nephew, Tyler and another little child that easily stole her heart.

His gaze slid to my lips and his eyes darkened. He inched toward my mouth, tortuously slow, as his finger brushed my cheek.
Lee, what are you doing to me?

From the first moment we met Lee, my heart was all a flutter.  He was a local celebrity and the man was as elusive as he was sexy!  Lee was kind, generous, and seemed cautious with his heart.  So of course I wanted to know all of his secrets!  There’s so much I want to say about him, but my lips are zipped.  Just know that the more I got to know Lee, the harder I fell for him.

Lee lowered his darkened eyes to my mouth, then met my gaze with intensity. His voice became rough and deeper. “I don’t think that at all, Kate. If you knew what I was thinking at this moment, you would think I wasn’t being professional.”
I had no idea how to process that as I watched him walk away.

Christmas was in the air and romance, family and charm was splashed across the pages.  The story between Kate and Lee was slow burn and beyond adorable.  And even though it felt like they were worlds apart, at the same time there was a spark between them that couldn’t be denied.  So I kept my fingers crossed!  If you adore Christmas romance stories that are sweet and have family and children in the pages, then definitely add this one to your list!  The next book will be about Kate’s sister, Abby and I can’t wait for her book!

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

BOOK REVIEW: The Trouble With Christmas by Robin Daniels

BOOK REVIEW: The Trouble With Christmas by Robin DanielsThe Trouble With Christmas (Holiday Romance #1)
by Robin Daniels
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Chrissy Jensen lives in a town full of Christmas fanatics. Too bad she hates everything about the holiday. Aside from her justifiable grievances, the endless barrage of displays and events is enough to make any girl gag. Nothing has ever been able to thaw her frozen yuletide heart. But when her brother brings a handsome friend home for the holiday, she starts to reconsider her contemptuous attitude. The deliciously yummy houseguest LOVES Christmas. Pretending to share his sentiment couldn’t hurt. Right?

Wrong. The sudden personality transplant doesn’t sit well with her best friend Nate. He perpetuates the deception in order to get even, which causes an agonizing dilemma. Now, Chrissy must keep up the charade—with a cheerful disposition—or risk being caught in her lie.


Review:

The Trouble With Christmas was absolutely adorable!  If you like Kasie West, Cookie O’Gorman, Lisa Brown Roberts or cute ya romance, then you should definitely check out this book.  The story line was a ton of fun, the characters were so easy to connect to and the Christmas activities were completely entertaining.  I’m so glad I picked this up this book, it was exactly what I needed!

My best friend is the Bob Cratchit to my Ebenezer Scrooge, the Cindy Lou Who to my Grinch.

Christmas Eve Jensen, aka Chrissy, was not a fan of Christmas.  Not only was she born on Christmas day but her town, which was named Rudolph, was the honorary Christmas town in the US.  But this year, Christmas time was finally looking up!  Her brother brought home his gorgeous friend, Evan, who loved Christmas.  So what if Chrissy had to pretend to like Christmas.  What could possibly go wrong?

He stuck his finger into the bowl of icing and bopped my nose with it. “Plus, you’re really cute when your frustrated.”
“I hate you.” I growled.
“You love me.” He grinned and swiped at my cheek with the rest of the icing.

Nate was Chrissy’s best friend and only lived a few doors down from her house.  They were the truest of friends and I loved how they were embedded in each other’s lives. Nate was thoughtful, caring, smart and he even made me sigh out loud.  So when Nate saw that Chrissy was pretending to like Christmas, all for Evan’s sake, what’s a best friend to do.  He helped push along her little lie and got Chrissy in over her head.

“Get out.” I pointed my finger toward the hallway.
Garland’s grin widened. Getting under my skin was a favorite hobby of his. He backed away, fully aware that it didn’t take long for me to resort to violence. “Fine. But for the record, I think he’s into you.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Who’s into me?”
“Now that is the million-dollar question.” My brother shut the door without elaborating, and I plopped onto my bed.

There was so much that I loved about this story.  The small town charm and adorable townspeople.  Chrissy’s family, who was a little over the top at times, but filled the pages with love. And even to Chrissy who grew so much.  We didn’t always see eye to eye, I thought one of the guys she interacted with was annoying and his charming never worked for me.  But the decisions she made towards the end of the book and even how she came to see the holidays made my heart burst with joy!

He held me tighter, then slowly ran one hand up and my back until his fingers twined in the wispy hairs that had fallen from my bun. The move wasn’t anywhere close to feeling friendly. Especially when he leaned down and his lips grazed my ear. “And for the record, I noticed too. You look beautiful.”
“Thanks,” I replied hoarsely. My heart sped up. My stomach fluttered. Goose bumps covered my arms, and I had to fight off a shiver. Something freaky was happening.

So if you’re looking for a Christmas story that has tons of charm and will make you smile, then definitely pick up The Trouble With Christmas.  The romance was sigh worthy and the friendships and family relationships were beyond adorable.  I don’t even want to talk about the challenges, that I had so much fun reading about, because I want it all to be a surprise.  Just know that I loved every single minute of it.  And now I can’t wait to check out the rest of Robin Daniels books!

PS There was a kiss in the pages that completely took me by surprise and I even gasped out loud!  I loved, loved, loved how that unfolded!

BOOK REVIEW: Wish Upon a Cowboy (Cowboys of Creedence #4) by Jennie Marts

BOOK REVIEW: Wish Upon a Cowboy (Cowboys of Creedence #4) by Jennie MartsWish Upon a Cowboy (Cowboys of Creedence #4)
by Jennie Marts
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Hot on the ice and tall in the saddle...

Rancher and hockey coach Logan Rivers' attempts to hire a housekeeper are hindered by women more interested in marriage than meal-planning. So when snarky Harper Evans arrives with zero romantic interest in him, he couldn't be happier. But as he gets to know her, he finds himself hungering for more than her cooking.

Down-on-her-luck single mom Harper Evans came to Colorado with one goal: to find her son and bring him home. Temporary work for a local rancher seems perfect, but to keep the job she has to deny her feelings for the hot cowboy who's heating up her kitchen.

Logan's secret learning disability has caused a financial mistake that could cost him everything. With the holidays approaching and a storm closing in, he and Harper have to save his ranch and fight for her son. But can Harper trust the cowboy who is offering her both a home―and his heart?


Review:

Wish Upon a Cowboy was sweet, sexy and filled with small town charm, friendships and second chances.  With holiday moments sprinkled throughout this story, my Christmas loving self was bursting with joy!  Especially in the latter half, I loved it so much.  With tons of heart, I found myself smiling long after I finished that last page.  So if you love Christmas miracles and happy endings for all, definitely add this one to your tbr!

She needed a star right now— needed something to guide her, to lead her to her deepest desire. She felt more lost than she’d ever been.
She stared into the lights of the tree and prayed for guidance and wisdom and for something to give her hope to hold on to.

Harper Evans was someone I instantly liked.  She was a kind hearted woman, yet her past cast a shadow on how she saw herself.  She made a mistake, went to jail and had to spend a few months away from her son.  She was desperate to get back on her feet and have her son in her life, so she traveled to the cute little town of Creedence, Colorado.  Within those first few pages we got to see how big Harper’s heart was and how she was always trying to help others.  I was so happy when she ended up getting a job working for Logan Rivers.  It looked like her luck was finally starting to turn around.

She set something off inside him, something that made him want to flirt with her, to win her over with his charm and coax that sexy smile onto her face.

I was already infatuated with Logan Rivers from Caught Up in a Cowboy.  And while this book can easily be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend picking up the rest of the books in the Cowboys of Creedence Series.  So Logan was sexy, strong and determined.  He worked on his family’s ranch and the hot cowboy even had me laughing out loud at his cheesy humor.  With just firing his house keeper and his ranch hand, Logan was in desperate need of some help.  Especially since his dad was out of town for an extended time.  The ranch was all on him.  Harper seemed like the perfect solution, she was effective, did an amazing job and helped take a load of stress off of Logan right away.

He lowered his tone as he looked into her eyes. “I think we make a good team.”
“We do,” she whispered, then looked away as if his words embarrassed her.

Logan and Harper were instantly attracted to each other.  Yet she needed to focus on her job, so she could get her son back.  Harper definitely didn’t have time for romance in her life.  And Logan made a huge mistake when it came to his family’s ranch, so he needed to focus on his job.  And with Harper leaving in a few weeks or so, he shouldn’t get attached.  While they both tried to ignore what was between them, it was impossible to do.  Especially when it felt effortless for them to form a friendship and anytime they were near each other, sparks were flying.

What was she doing? Her sole purpose for being here was to get Floyd and get out of Dodge, not to get involved with a smart-mouthed cowboy, no matter how hot that cowboy was or how delicious his mouth tasted.

Wish Upon a Cowboy had so much heart in the pages.  It was also a story about a mom and her son’s love.  Of friendships being formed.  Getting second chances.  And a community pulling together while Christmas was in the air.  And with adorable side characters like Nacho the mama cat, Star the wonder cow and Otis who I won’t say what he was lol, oh my goodness, this book was absolutely adorable!  It was topped off with a meddlesome grandma, peppermint schnapps and a winter storm!

Her breath came out in a harsh gasp. “I’m nothing. You deserve more than someone like me.”
“I don’t deserve you. But I want you. With every part of my soul.”

Wish Upon a Cowboy was a beautiful story about forgiveness, happiness and finding love. It was impossible not to have some happy tears towards the end of this book.   Plus I loved that we got to see some of our favorites from the previous books.  So if you love Hallmark Christmas movies because they’re smile inducing, give you all the feels and have the best endings ever, you definitely have to check this book out.  I’m so thankful that Logan got his own story and the fact that it was during the holidays made it absolutely perfect!

Maybe he believed in miracles after all.

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

If you’d love to go back and catch up with the other hockey playing cowboys in this series, here ya go!

Reading Order & Links:

Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
***Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.***


Caught Up in a Cowboy #1
Reviews:

Jen
 
You Had Me at Cowboy  #2
Reviews:

Jen
 
It Started With a Cowboy  #3
Reviews:

Jen
 
Wish Upon a Cowboy  #4
Reviews:

Jen

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Hot Winter Nights (Heartbreaker Bay #6) by Jill Shalvis

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Hot Winter Nights (Heartbreaker Bay #6) by Jill Shalvis

I absolutely loved this book! So check out my 5 Star Review below and enter a fabulous giveaway! Enjoy!

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Hot Winter Nights (Heartbreaker Bay #6) by Jill ShalvisHot Winter Nights (Heartbreaker Bay #6)
by Jill Shalvis
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Who needs mistletoe?

Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that—but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once . . .

Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to babysit her on her first case. And hot enough to melt his cold heart this Christmas.

Review:

Hot Winter Nights was sexy, hilarious, heartwarming and made my heart beat faster.  I loved this book with my whole heart and soul.  And while it can easily be read as a standalone, I’m a little preferential to this fabulous group of friends and recommend picking up all of the previous books too.  It’s so much fun watching their lives intertwine, see what everyone is up to and falling in love with each couple in this series!

“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he said very seriously.
“I’m not going to rate your performance last night.”
“That’s not—” He paused, his eyes sharpened. “Wait. What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“So you’re saying I
did suck.”
She had to laugh. “Well, if you can’t remember it, how good could it really have been, right?”

While healing from a gunshot wound, Lucas Knight found Molly Malone in his bed the next morning.  Even though nothing happened, Lucas couldn’t remember anything thanks to alcohol and his pain meds, and Molly had way too much fun making Lucas think otherwise.  You see, not only did they work together, but Molly was Lucas’ best friend’s little sister. There had always been this addicting sexual tension running between them.  And they were about to spend even more time together!  When a bad Santa case ended up in Molly’s lap, she secretly took it on.  She would love to go from office manager to private investigator and this could help her get what she wanted.  Thankfully she had Lucas who would help her along the way.

“Molly,” he breathed and shifted so that his forehead rested against hers. Sliding his hands into her hair, his fingertips against her scalp, he held her in place. “Do that again,” he demanded, his voice soft steel.

I. Loved. Lucas!  If you are addicted to alpha males, you have to meet him.  He was honest, trustworthy and also sexy as sin.  He put his whole heart in his job, even if it was broken from the past.  But thankfully he had this fabulous, loud, meddling family that I fell head over heels for.  They added so much heart from just the few scenes they were in.  And he also had Molly filling up his life with light and laughter.

“And one more thing. No talking.”
“How about dirty talk?” he asked. “That doesn’t count, right?”
She surprised him by laughing and lightened his heart.
“Dirty talk is allowed,” she decided, and right then and there, he fell in love.

I adored Molly, she was brave, fierce, loyal yet she heavily guarded her heart.  Her past had physically and emotionally scarred her and even though Molly and I didn’t seem to have anything in common, I clicked with her right away.  While Lucas and Molly worked on the bad Santa case they spent more and more time together. I loved how they joked around and that it was beyond obvious that they wanted each other.  But it wasn’t all fun and games for Molly since she kept putting on the breaks. I got it, but oh it pained my heart. I just kept my fingers crossed that they’d figure it out because together they were something spectacular.

He was taking a chance.
On purpose.
He was putting himself out there and it was fucking terrifying.

It got to the point where they definitely couldn’t ignore what was happening between them.  One thing led to another and words turned to touches, sigh. And through it all I kept finding myself smiling, sighing, laughing and clutching my heart.  Not to mention there were a few scenes that had me screaming while giggling and others where I found myself with tears in my eyes.  This book put me through the emotional wringer.  So of course I definitely recommend Hot Winter Nights.  If you adore alpha males, mysteries, bad Santa’s, strong heroines and a fabulous group of friends then definitely pick his one up!  

PS The Friends references, in some of the titles for the chapters, oh my gosh I loved it!

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

 

 
 
 
 
About Jill Shalvis:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling authorJill Shalvis writes warm, funny, sexy contemporary romances and women’s fiction. An Amazon, BN & iBooks bestseller, she’s also a two-time RITA winner and has more than 10 million copies of her books sold worldwide.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

 

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