Tag: Christmas

Book Review: You Make It Feel like Christmas, by Sophie Sullivan  

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin.

Title: You Make It Feel like Christmas
Author: Sophie Sullivan  
Genre: Romance   
Rating: 4 out of 5

Maisie Smart has a don’t-look-back policy–not on the choice she made to be a photographer (despite her family’s wishes) and not on the one-night stand she had six months ago. Sleeping with someone she barely knew was out of character; sleeping with a professional hockey player who bolted the morning after is a whole new level of embarrassing. Getting invited to spend the week at Tickle Tree Farm with her family this Christmas is a sure way to fill her with holiday spirit. Until the universe throws a Grinch in her festive plans in the form of the one man she hoped to avoid.

Nick King is a mess. After a significant injury lands him on the bench for every game for the rest of the month, he has more time to dwell on the one night stand he can’t get out of his head. With time on his hands, his anxiety hovering, and the holidays around the corner, he figures visiting his sister and nephew at their Christmas tree farm will be a good way to lie low and sort himself out. He’s in for a surprise when it turns out Maisie is staying at his sister’s and his attraction for her hasn’t lessened one bit in the last six months. Apparently, neither has her anger at him for bailing. But Christmas is the time for second chances, and the forced proximity may help Nick and Maisie unwrap feelings neither of them can walk away from twice.

Reading a Christmas-themed romance in mid-August in Texas was a bit of a stretch, I have to say. The heat index is 110 degrees, so it was hard to feel at home on a Christmas tree farm the week of Christmas, but the setting was more incidental than an integral part of the story, so it worked. I loved the Smart family and their relationships, although Maisie’s mom wasn’t my favorite. Watching Maisie be brave enough to admit her dreams to the people in her life was great, and I loved how Nick managed to be believably vulnerable despite the culture he thrived in.

Sophie Sullivan is from Canada. You Make it Feel like Christmas is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review:  The Christmas Cookie Wars, by Eliza Evans

Image belongs to Penguin Group Putnam.

Title:  The Christmas Cookie Wars  
Author:   Eliza Evans       
Genre: Romance        
Rating: 4 out of 5

Melody Monroe will do anything to help her nine-year-old twin boys muster up the holiday spirit. Especially since they lost their father, the boys have started questioning the point of Christmas at all.

So, when Melody learns the school’s Yuletide Cookie Club has disbanded due to dissension in the top ranks, she knows she must take over the cookie club herself, even if it means dealing with the infuriating school principal, Jonathan Braxton.

But when a small argument turns into a town-wide bake-off between her and Jonathan, Melody finds that her competitive spirits have turned romantic. Love can’t be in the cards. Her focus is on her boys, and saving Christmas. This year, will Melody be willing to let go of the past and embrace the magic of the holidays for herself?

This was a cute, fun read. Melody’s fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants way of living made me laugh—but kind of made me shudder, too. Jonathan came off as very buttoned-up at first, but it was nice to see him let his guard down. This was a quick read that had me laughing as I breezed through it.

Eliza Evans is a bestselling author. The Christmas Cookie Wars is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group Putnam in exchange for an honest review.)













































Website:      https://elizaevansbooks.com/Amazon:    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CT2Z779Q/ref=x_gr_bb_kindle?caller=Goodreads&tag=x_gr_bb_kindle-20 Title:  The Christmas Cookie Wars  Author:   Eliza
Evans       Genre: Romance        Rating: 4 out of 5 Melody Monroe will do
anything to help her nine-year-old twin boys muster up the holiday spirit.
Especially since they lost their father, the boys have started questioning the
point of Christmas at all.  So, when Melody learns
the school’s Yuletide Cookie Club has disbanded due to dissension in the top
ranks, she knows she must take over the cookie club herself, even if it means
dealing with the infuriating school principal, Jonathan Braxton. But when a small
argument turns into a town-wide bake-off between her and Jonathan, Melody finds
that her competitive spirits have turned romantic. Love can’t be in the cards.
Her focus is on her boys, and saving Christmas. This year, will Melody be willing
to let go of the past and embrace the magic of the holidays for herself? This was a cute, fun
read. Melody’s fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants way of living made me laugh—but kind
of made me shudder, too. Jonathan came off as very buttoned-up at first,
but it was nice to see him let his guard down. This was a quick read that had
me laughing as I breezed through it. Eliza Evans is a
bestselling author. The Christmas Cookie Wars is her newest novel. (Galley courtesy of Penguin
Group Putnam in exchange for an honest review.) Book Review:  The Christmas Cookie Wars, by Eliza Evans

Book Review: A Heartfelt Christmas Promise, by Nancy Naigle

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title: A Heartfelt Christmas Promise
Author: Nancy Naigle  
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

Vanessa Larkin was supposed to be spending Christmas in Paris, France on a business trip she hoped to enjoy as a working vacation. Instead, she’s been assigned to Fraser Hills, North Carolina—home of the Best Fruitcake in the USA—to convert her company’s property into warehouse space and shut down Porter’s, the fruitcake factory. Offering retirement packages and selling locals on new job opportunities may not spread holiday cheer, but Vanessa believes she’s helping secure the town’s future.

Mike Marshall’s family founded Porter’s. For decades, the factory served as the lifeblood of the community until his grandfather sold the business to a Chicago corporation. The sale cost the town its independence—and the Marshalls their family ties. A horse farmer, Mike was never involved with his grandfather’s company, but still felt Fraser Hills lost part of its identity. And as a widower raising a teenage daughter, he’s suffered enough losses in one lifetime. News of the factory’s closing means losing another piece of the town’s legacy.

Far from the skyscrapers and rapid pace of the city, Vanessa finds herself enjoying the easygoing rhythms of rural living. With Mike as her guide, she learns to appreciate the simple pleasures found in shared holiday festivities among friends. Fraser Hills is a town she is growing to love—and Mike is someone she is falling in love with. Now all Vanessa needs is a Christmas miracle to give her newfound friends and home a gift they’ll cherish for many New Years to come.

This was a sweet, easy read that made small-town life sound appealing. And I kind of wanted to sample that magical fruitcake!

I liked that Vanessa wasn’t portrayed as a stereotypical uncaring city girl, but as someone truly trying to do her best to help the people and town of Fraser Hills. I thought all the characters were well-done and believable, the setting was realistic and charming, and this was a solid, enjoyable read.

Nancy Naigle lives in North Carolina. A Heartfelt Christmas Miracle is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Christmas Angels, by Nancy Naigle

christmas angels
Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press.

Title:  Christmas Angels
Author:    Nancy Naigle
Genre:  Romance
Rating:  4 out of 5

Liz Westmoreland spent summers growing up the in the little town of Antler Creek, where her grandparents ran an inn. When they sold it, it broke her heart, although she treasured the memories. When she stumbles upon a listing for what looks like her beloved inn, she buys it sight unseen, and is horrified when she finds her new purchase in disrepair, making her wonder if the place will ever shine like it did in her childhood.

Matt Hardy missed out on buying the inn, but he just hopes the new owner won’t make thing worse like the last ones did. When he realizes his childhood crush is the new owner, he’s eager to help her restore the inn, even if she doesn’t quite remember him. But when an accident has Liz questioning if she’s even meant to turn the inn around, he and the residents of Antler Creek must come together to convince her she’s found her home.

Christmas Angels was a sweet romance read, even for someone who doesn’t like Christmas stories months early. The author captures the small-town feel well, although I wonder if places so completely uplifting and friendly even exist (I mean, everyone supported and liked her, which seems unlikely). I thought the romance resolved itself a little too quickly and seamlessly, but this was a cute read.

Nancy Naigle is a bestselling author. Christmas Angles is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)