Tag Archives: Holiday

Christmas in Winter Hill

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Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher:  Fleming H. Revell Company
Genre: Holiday
Source: Purchased

Goodreads: Krista Galloway is not a fan of Christmas. After her rough childhood in multiple foster homes, the holiday season just brings too many bad memories to the surface. But when she accepts a job as a city manager in the mountain town of Winter Hill, Washington, Christmas is part of the deal. The small town is famous for its Christmasville celebration, something that the city manager . . . well, manages.

As she tries to make her tiny new apartment feel like home for her and her eight-year-old daughter, Emily, Krista begins to wonder if this move was a mistake. She doesn’t always feel welcomed in the close-knit town, and Emily continually wonders, “Where’s the snow?” Can a friendly stranger and his family help restore Krista’s Christmas spirit before the big day?

Bestselling author Melody Carlson invites you to spend this holiday season in a town you’ll never forget–and never want to leave. 

Ope’s Opinion: This was a really cute, sweet, short story – perfect at a busy time of year.  Get your favorite hot drink, find a quiet spot, put your feet up and enjoy this read.  The characters are ones you will really like and the story is full of good feelings.

The ending felt a little rushed, but it was what you expect for a good holiday read.

Christmas Angels

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Author: Nancy Naigle
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Genre: Holiday Book
Source: Purchased

Goodreads:  Growing up, Liz Westmoreland dreamed of taking over her grandparents inn located in the small mountain town of Angels Creek only for it to be sold before she ever got the chance. While browsing the internet, she stumbles upon a listing for what looks to be the picturesque inn and it’s set to go to auction. Liz places a bid, and by a miracle, wins the auction. But when she gets there she finds the property in significant disrepair.

When Matt Hardy narrowly lost the inn and property that butted his land, he just hoped it wasn’t another city slicker coming to make matters worse after the previous owners gutted the place for an art gallery. But the minute he recognized the sweet, freckle-faced girl from his childhood and heard her plans to reopen the inn, he jumps at the chance to help his childhood crush restore a place where he made so many fond memories.

While working on repairs, Liz and Matt discover her grandmother’s collection of angels in one of the cabins. When the angels start mysteriously showing up all over the inn, she begins to look at them as reassurance—that restoring the inn is what she’s meant to do. But when an accident leaves Liz feeling like she made a mistake, will Matt—and the residents of Angels Creek—be able to show Liz that she’s found a home? And possibly true love as well?

Ope’s Opinion:  This is such a wonderful Christmas read.  I enjoyed it from beginning to the very end.  The characters are believable and you root for them.  I want to go to their town and stay at the inn.  When Nancy Naigle writes I see it – she does such an awesome job of descriptions.

This story just took me away and made me relax at a time when that doesn’t happen too often!

The ending was exactly what you want at Christmas – makes your heart warm.

Coming Home for Christmas

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Author: RaeAnne Thayne
Publisher:  HQN
Genre: Holiday Romance
Source:  Katie at Little Bird Publicity

Goodreads:  Hearts are lighter and wishes burn a little brighter at Christmas…
Elizabeth Hamilton has been lost. Trapped in a tangle of postpartum depression and grief after the death of her beloved parents, she couldn’t quite see the way back to her husband and their two beautiful kids…until a car accident stole away her memories and changed her life. And when she finally remembered the sound of little Cassie’s laugh, the baby powder smell of Bridger and the feel of her husband’s hand in hers, Elizabeth worried that they’d moved on without her. That she’d missed too much. That perhaps she wasn’t the right mother for her kids or wife for Luke, no matter how much she loved them.

But now, seven years later, Luke finds her in a nearby town and brings Elizabeth back home to the family she loves, just in time for Christmas. And being reunited with Luke and her children is better than anything Elizabeth could have imagined. As they all trim the tree and bake cookies, making new holiday memories, Elizabeth and Luke are drawn ever closer. Can the hurt of the past seven years be healed over the course of one Christmas season and bring the Hamiltons the gift of a new beginning?

Ope’s Opinion: This is a wonderful holiday story.  A great read during a hurried time of year.  I like the way Thayne develops characters, weaves a wonderful story and writes so you can see it.  

My only small complaint about the book is, that in the beginning, Thayne tends to repeat facts.  It slows the story down.  Other then that, I would recommend this book.

The ending is everything you expect and want with an opening for the next book.

 

One Day in December

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Author: Josie Silver
Publisher: Broadway Books
Genre: Holiday, Romance
Source: Purchased

 

Goodreads: A love story about what happens after you meet, or rather, don’t meet the one.

Laurie is pretty sure love at first sight doesn’t exist anywhere but the movies. But then, through a misted-up bus window one snowy December day, she sees a man who she knows instantly is the one. Their eyes meet, there’s a moment of pure magic…and then her bus drives away.

Certain they’re fated to find each other again, Laurie spends a year scanning every bus stop and cafe in London for him. But she doesn’t find him, not when it matters anyway. Instead they “reunite” at a Christmas party, when her best friend Sarah giddily introduces her new boyfriend to Laurie. It’s Jack, the man from the bus. It would be.

What follows for Laurie, Sarah and Jack is ten years of friendship, heartbreak, missed opportunities, roads not taken, and destinies reconsidered. One Day in December is a joyous, heartwarming and immensely moving love story to escape into and a reminder that fate takes inexplicable turns along the route to happiness.

Ope’s Opinion: This was so much fun to read!  Seeing the story unfold from both Laurie’s and Jack’s perspective gave another dimension to it.  This would make a good Hallmark Christmas movie.

The friendships are really the center of this book.  Seeing them each care about the other more then what they want for themselves brought the holiday spirit into the story.

The journey to the end that you want and expect took a lot of turns along the way. A very satisfying read!

His Promise

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Author: Shelley Shepard Gray
Publisher: Avon Inspire
Genre: Amish, Holiday, Suspense
Source:  Molly at Harper Collins

 

Goodreads:  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s latest Christmas novel in her Amish of Hart County series.

It’s set to be a white Christmas in Hart County, and Grace King is pet-sitting in a beautiful home with only a difficult dachshund for company. Just as she starts to miss the bustle of her large Amish family, Grace runs into a familiar face. Living right next door is John Michael Miller. He’s a fireman now, but five years ago, he had courted her older sister, then broke her heart. Seeing him again stirs Grace’s anger, but also reminds her of deeper feelings she’s done her best to deny.

The infatuation John Michael once saw in Grace’s eyes is long gone, though his complicated attraction to her remains. He had walked away all those years ago when he realized he was falling in love with the wrong sister. Now, as suspicious fires are set in their community, that’s not an option. Grace dismisses his warnings, and John Michael vows to keep an eye on her. But he can’t help wondering if he’s reconnected with Grace, only to risk losing her again.

Now all John Michael wants for Christmas is to keep Grace safe, in the hopes that they can one day have a future together.

Ope’s Opinion: I had not read a book about Amish people before, so I was a little surprised by some of the words used – gut ( good ) and Jah ( yes ), etc.  It wasn’t hard to understand just felt like the author was trying to make sure we knew it was Amish.  She also mentioned several times either Amish or English to make sure the reader knew there was a difference.

The writing seemed simplistic to me – at times choppy,  short sentence, as if written for a beginner reader.

The story had one basic romance in it, the major part of the story was suspenseful, which I enjoyed. The ending was exactly what you expected and wanted.  A good one for the Christmas season.

Snowfall on Lighthouse Lane

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Author: Joann Ross
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Holiday, Romance
Source:  Claire at Little Bird Publicity

 

Goodreads:  Lose yourself in the magic, charm and romance of Christmas in the Pacific Northwest as imagined in JoAnn Ross’s heartwarming Honeymoon Harbor series.

Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, Jolene Harper is forever indebted to the mother who encouraged her to fly—all the way to sunny LA and a world away from Honeymoon Harbor. Although Jolene vowed never to look back, returning home isn’t even a question when her mom faces a cancer scare. Which means running into Aiden Mannion all over town, the first boy she ever loved—and lost—and whom she can barely look in the eye.

Aiden’s black-sheep reputation may have diminished when he joined the marines, but everything he’s endured since has left him haunted. Back in Honeymoon Harbor to heal, he’s talked into the interim role of police chief, and the irony isn’t lost on the locals, least of all Aiden. But seeing Jolene after all these years is the unexpected breath of fresh air he’s been missing. He’s never forgotten her through all his tours, but he’s not sure anymore that he’s the man she deserves.

Despite the secret they left between them all those years ago, snow is starting to fall on their picturesque little town, making anything seem possible…maybe even a second chance at first love.

Ope’s Opinion: As I started reading this book, I felt I had walked into the middle of a conversation.  A lot of people were talking and I didn’t know their relationships.  This is the second in a series and I had not read the first one, so maybe that would have made a difference.

Aiden talking to Bodhi seemed a little strange to me.  I had to keep reminding myself that Bodhi wasn’t really there.

I did like that it was set in the North West.  I liked the romance, although it took a long time come together.  I liked that the ending was what I was expecting.

Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners

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Author: Gretchen Anthony
Publisher: Park Row
Genre: Holiday Fiction
Source:  Kristin of Kritters Ramblings

 

Goodreads:  A formidable matriarch learns the hard way that no family is perfect in this witty, sparkling debut novel

Dearest loved ones, far and near–evergreen tidings from the Baumgartners!

Violet Baumgartner has opened her annual holiday letter the same way for the past three decades. And this year she’s going to throw her husband, Ed, a truly perfect retirement party, one worthy of memorializing in her upcoming letter. But the event becomes a disaster when, in front of two hundred guests, Violet learns her daughter Cerise has been keeping a shocking secret from her, shattering Violet’s carefully constructed world.

In an epic battle of wills, Violet goes to increasing lengths to wrest back control of her family, infuriating Cerise and snaring their family and friends in a very un-Midwestern, un-Baumgartner gyre of dramatics. And there will be no explaining away the consequences in this year’s Baumgartner holiday letter…

Full of humor, emotion and surprises at every turn, Evergreen Tidings from the Baumgartners brings to life a remarkable cast of quirky, deeply human characters who must learn to adapt to the unconventional, or else risk losing one another. This is the story of a family falling to pieces–and the unexpected way they put it all back together.

Ope’s Opinion: Gretchen Anthony has such wonderful flow in her writing.  She does a lot of descriptive writing, but it is not over done.  I am not sure I am explaining very well – it just flows and makes you go right along for the ride.

This is the perfect holiday read – if you think your family is off the wall, weird or unusual with secrets – read this one and she’ll make you feel like it is all normal!!  It makes you snicker a little at how ridiculous families can be.

The story is told from multiple perspectives – that really helps you get to the truth of what is going on.  Each perspective is distinctively different.

An enjoyable read!

Out Now

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Ready to start the holiday season early?
RaeAnne Thayne has her new book out today!

Goodreads:  He’s giving her children a season of wonder…

Dani Capelli seized a chance to start over in a small town with her daughters. Now, facing her first Christmas in Haven Point, she wonders if leaving New York was a mistake. Dani loves working alongside veterinarian Dr. Morales, but her two children aren’t adjusting to small-town life. And then there’s Dr. Morales’s son, Ruben—Dani’s next-door neighbor. Gorgeous, muscled and dependable, the deputy sheriff is everything she secretly craves and can’t bear to risk loving…and losing.

Ruben never pictured himself falling for a big-city woman like Dani. But beneath her prickly facade, she’s caring and softhearted and she needs all the love and protection he can give. When Dani’s teenage daughter starts acting out, Ruben draws on family traditions to show the girls just how magical a Haven Point Christmas can be. But can he convince Dani that she’s found a home for the holidays—and forever—in his arms?

Thank you Claire at Little Bird Publicity for this one.

Coming Soon…

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…. On a Bookshelf near you!

In November I hope to read….

Publication Date: November 16, 2017
Publisher: Ballantine Books

Goodreads:  Christmas is the season of the heart, and #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber is here to warm yours with a delightful holiday novel of first impressions and second chances.

Merry Knight is pretty busy these days. She’s taking care of her family, baking cookies, decorating for the holidays, and hoping to stay out of the crosshairs of her stressed and by-the-book boss at the consulting firm where she temps. Her own social life is the last thing she has in mind, much less a man. Without her knowledge, Merry’s well-meaning mom and brother create an online dating profile for her–minus her photo–and the matches start rolling in. Initially, Merry is incredulous, but she reluctantly decides to give it a whirl.

Soon Merry finds herself chatting with a charming stranger, a man with similar interests and an unmistakably kind soul. Their online exchanges become the brightest part of her day. But meeting face-to-face is altogether different, and her special friend is the last person Merry expects–or desires. Still, sometimes hearts can see what our eyes cannot. In this satisfying seasonal tale, unanticipated love is only a click away.

What is coming soon …. to a bookshelf near you?

Let me know – I am always looking for a good read!