Tag: #holiday

Book Review: A Christmas Revelation by Anne Perry

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

A CHRISTMAS REVELATION by Anne Perry is an intriguing Victorian era Christmas novella with heart. This novella is written featuring secondary characters from Ms. Perry’s Monk series, the realism of the seamier side of Victorian London and a mystery to be solved. This Christmas story can easily be read as a standalone.

Nine-year-old urchin, Worm lives at the Portpool Lane clinic. He witnesses a beautiful blond haired woman being abducted by two men by force on the streets of London. When he returns to the clinic, he seeks the help of Squeaky, the clinic’s bookkeeper and former brothel owner. Squeaky knows better than to get involved in others’ business, but he hates to disappoint Worm.

As Worm and Squeaky learn more of the abducted woman and the mystery surrounding her, Ms. Perry intertwines the charming Victorian Christmas stories and traditions that Squeaky is sharing with Worm. These two unlikely rescuers work to help the blond haired woman and hopefully celebrate Worm’s first real Christmas with all their friends at Portpool Lane clinic.

This is a heartwarming Victorian Christmas novella that keeps the reader turning the pages to solve the mystery around the blond woman. Squeaky is a wonderfully flawed and realistic character. Worm is loving and caring even after having spent his early years homeless on the streets. I loved his worry for the blond woman and his amazement at the Christmas traditions. I enjoyed this addition to Squeaky and Worm’s stories.

Thanks very much to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eArc.

Book Review: Lone Star Christmas by Delores Fossen

 

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

LONE STAR CHRISTMAS (A Coldwater Texas Novel #1) by Delores Fossen is a holiday contemporary romance that has the perfect blend of laughter, tears, family and romance. This is the start of a new series featuring the Laramie brothers and the small town of Coldwater, Texas.

Buck McCall has taken in difficult to place foster kids onto his ranch with the help of his housekeeper, Rosy for decades. They are going to finally marry and Buck wants nothing more than to have Callen return home for the wedding because he needs help because of secret he is keeping.

Callen Laramie left Coldwater at the age of eighteen and never looked back. Even though Buck gave him and his brothers a good home, he had too many bad memories he wanted to leave behind. He is now a rich cattleman in Dallas. He has no intention of going back to Coldwater, even for the wedding until Buck’s daughter, the one who was always off limits, shows up in his Dallas office personally asking him to come home because she is worried about Buck.

Shelby McCall has grown into a beautiful spitfire who trains and rehabs horses. She is excited for her father and Rosy’s wedding, but she also feels that her father is keeping a secret about his health. She wants Callen home, not only for her father, but for herself. She wants what she could not have when she was too young. Even if Callen will not stay, she plans on having, even if only for Christmas, the one who left her behind.

Callen and Shelby were wonderful main characters to start this series off. His dark and hurt to her light and love. Callen had so much to deal with, Buck’s secrets, reuniting with his brothers and dealing with the past. Shelby was always there and helping him even as it broke her own heart. The secondary characters in this book could have easily overshadowed the main romance, but Ms. Fossen did a great job of making them quirky and interesting without overshadowing Callen and Shelby’s story. This book has small town characters that made me laugh out loud and a swoon worthy HEA. There are well written sex scenes that have as much heart and laughter as heat. I am looking forward to the rest of the Laramie brothers’ stories.

This is a wonderful Christmas romance that I can highly recommend!

Book Review: In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon

RATING:  4 out of 5 Stars

IN PEPPERMINT PERIL (Book Tea Shop Mystery #1) by Joy Avon is the start of a new cozy mystery series. A murder, a missing heirloom ring and greed over a new will to be announced by the dame of Haywood Hall all threaten the holiday spirit in Heart’s Harbor.

Callie Aspen has returned to Heart’s Harbor for the holidays to help her great aunt, Iphy run Book Tea, a vintage tea and pastry shop where every pastry is based on a mystery story or includes a mysterious clue to be solved. Callie travels the world as a tour guide, but has fond childhood memories of Haywood Hall and its occupants so she is excited to be helping her great aunt prepare for a special party at the hall. Instead of a surprise engagement and the announcement of the will’s new terms, a dead body is found in the conservatory.

Callie and Iphy use their love of mystery books to follow all the clues, but a certain deputy finds Callie’s interest intrusive. Callie persists because of her love for all involved and even Deputy Falk comes around to aid her in a mutual quest for the killer. Can Callie help the residents of Heart’s Harbor find a killer and help to reveal their secrets and true desires to celebrate a joyous Christmas?

This book was a fast and easy read that kept me guessing the identity of the killer. Callie, as the main character had to deal with her own emotional baggage on returning to the hall besides the murder mystery which gave her character depth. All of the secondary characters were interesting and entertaining including Callie’s foster Boston terrier. There are many twists and red herrings in the mystery plot. Overall, an enjoyable and entertaining cozy holiday mystery read.

Thanks very much to Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Christmas Surprise on MacLean Mountain by Randi Alexander

 

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

Not only is this the most emotional Christmas novella I have read this year, it is one of my favorite contemporary romance novellas of this year! CHRISTMAS SURPRISE ON MacLEAN MOUNTAIN by Randi Alexander is a lot of emotion packed into a very few pages.

Doctor Booker MacLean gets a call three days before Christmas from his estranged wife for a meeting. He hardens his heart for what he expects to come, but he is completely unprepared for he finds.

Sybil MacLean knows she made a horrible mistake in not trusting her husband over rumors and leaving seven months ago. She wants him back, but she wants his forgiveness and love, not just acceptance due to her secret.

This is a powerful story of a man raised to be logical and unemotional in his decisions. His pride could be the end of the happiness and love her truly wants. It is also a story of forgiveness and understanding of differences. Ms. Alexander’s usual stories are hot and steamy. This novella has no sex and yet is not really sweet because it is so emotionally charged with real feelings and emotions that make the H/h come to life. This HEA had me in tears, in a good way.

A beautiful Christmas story good for the whole year!

Book Review: A Frost Family Christmas Anthology (Frost Family & Friends, #1-3)

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

If you want to read one sweet contemporary holiday romance or have time for all three in this anthology, plus the added bonus short story, this is a wonderful collection. A FROST FAMILY CHRISTMAS ANTHOLOGY (Frost Family & Friends, #1-3) contains the romance stories of all three Frost siblings, set in small town Vermont around Christmas with a connecting mystery that is solved in book #3. They can be read as standalone books, but I hope you take the time to enjoy them all as I did.

Book #1 – What Child Is This by C.J. Carmichael

Garrett Frost has taken over the full-time operation of the family maple syrup farm from his father. As a widower with a small son he relies on his mother and he hasn’t really moved on since his wife’s death two years ago. His new PR manger, Lily Parker has moved from New York City and is doing a great job, but she doesn’t let anyone get too close. When Lily finds an abandoned baby in the Nativity scene at the farm, it brings her emotional past to a head. Both Garrett and Lily have a lot of past emotions to deal with before they can find a way to move forward together.

Book #2 – Home for Christmas by Roxy Boroughs

Jimmy Frost left town to prove his worth and rarely returns, because he has a secret that has always made him feel different. When he comes home this Christmas, it is for his job. As he stops on the town square, he runs into his high school love. April Rochester is back in town on her grandfather’s farm. She wants to start a school for autistic children, like her son. When Jimmy suddenly appears in town again all of the old feelings do, too. But will he stay or will he be gone again after his visit?

Book #3 – The Holly & The Ivy by Brenda M. Collins

Jocelyn ‘Joey’ Frost has made her dream of being a police office a reality in her hometown. She is up for an upcoming promotion so she is always working to prove herself. There have been a series of petty vandalisms all aimed at the mayor and he wants it solved. As she works that case, her best friend works the case of baby Holly found in the manger. When an ice storm hits, Joey pulls her returning high school flame out of a ditch. Noel ‘Fletch’ Fletcher is an Army brat who became a military policeman and served in Afghanistan. He is visiting his aunt and has come back to claim the only girl he has ever loved.

BONUS STORY – The Gift by C.J. Carmichael

Kindergarten teacher, Amy Frost finds a battered and neglected little child at her door on Christmas Eve. Has her one Christmas wish come true? And how can she explain this to her deputy boyfriend, Gray Cassidy?

These are all fast, easy to read stories with a lot of heart and small town charm that will entertain you on a cold winter night.

Book Review: Silver Bells: A Holiday Romance by Jacquie Biggar

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

SILVER BELLS: A Holiday Romance by Jacquie Biggar is a holiday novella that was sweet and easily read in one sitting curled up on the couch while the weather outside is frightful.

Joel Campbell, award winning mystery writer, has moved from Scotland to Vancover Island. He wants to be closer to his grandmother and hopes the change will get him over his writers’ block. Hating his fame, he has walled off his heart, become gruff and hates anyone interrupting him and yet, he is lonely.

Christy Taylor is an artist who has started her own shop attached to her rented home. Her life cannot be more hectic. She is attempting to grow her clientele, while caring for her small daughter, Jill, who has been diagnosed with Type 1, Juvenile diabetes. Christy is a great mother, but her divorce and her ex’s attitude toward their daughter has made her distrustful of any help from any man.

These two need to open up their hearts and learn to trust again before it is too late.

This novella is an enjoyable and quick read. I loved the characters in this short read, but being short, I felt some of the character development was lost. Jill was adorable and her disease was handled extremely well. I also feel this novella was not really a Christmas or holiday story, just a winter setting.  That said, still a good heartfelt novella for a cold winter day.