Adult Review: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor

Mark Nolan never thought about being a father until one rainy night, his sister died in a car accident. Now, he's a father to six year old Holly. Ever since the accident Holly hasn't said a word. Mark isn't sure how to reach her, but he knows that he'll do anything to protect her and make her smile again.

He bullies his brother into letting them live in his fixer-upper. The three of them start adjusting to their new situation. One day in town, Holly and Mark walk into the local toy store. There they meet Maggie who believes in Magic. Although she's struggling from her own heartbreak, she might have some to share.

My Thoughts: I loved this Christmas tale. My heart when out to all the characters who made me smile and laugh, but who also tugged at my heartstrings. I would love tales about the other two brothers.

Cover Thoughts: I Love this cover. I love the blend of Christmas with landscapes - simply beautiful.

Source: My library

Challenge:

Mysterious Saturday Review: Mischief of Mistletoe

Jane Austen's friend Arabella Dempsey's life took a turn for the worse. She's spent the last several years as a companion for her Aunt. Recently, her aunt married a man Arabella thought would ask for her hand. Now, in order to save her pride and gain some sort of freedom, she's taking a teaching position at Miss Climpson's Select Seminary for Young Ladies in Bath.

After her interview for the position, she runs into a gentleman. As she falls to the ground, his Christmas pudding falls with him. As she leans over to pick up the pudding, she notices writing disguised within the pudding.

Together Arabella and Turnip reveal the message - stating a location and meeting time at an outdoor party. They immediately suspect French spies surrounding England. Arabella agrees to accompany the blundering gentleman to sniff out the potential spy.

Will the uncover the spies and their plans or will danger find them?

My Thoughts: This book takes places after The Seduction of the Crimson Rose and before The Temptation of the Night Jasmine. I love this series for its blend of Regency Romances with spies! Plus, this edition to the series holds a favorite historical person: Jane Austen! As the adventure unfolds, the characters make way for a Yuletide house party - which the readers have witnessed from a very different perspective which I quite enjoyed. This installment of the series stayed in the Regency era and did not mention the modern day characters. Plus, Turnip's blunders, while funny, often work in his favor.

Cover Thoughts: I really like it. I love the mistletoe around the cover and the title wrapped up like a present.

Source: My Library

Challenge:

Ten Things: Christmas/Holiday Tales

This year, I'm participating in All About {N}'s Holiday Book Challenge. I can't tell you how excited I was when I saw this challenge, because I'm such a HUGE lover of Christmas stories. It might have to do with my birthday being so close to Christmas that it's always been the most Magical time of year. I always look forward to October when the first Christmas stories come out! It's going to hard to narrow down the choices, but I'll try.

Winter Dreams, Christmas Love: one of my favorite books from childhood, it's sadly out of print now.

12 Dates of Christmas: A cute tale that made me want to write my own teen Christmas romance. I started writing it earlier this year. The first draft is now complete.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle: The first Christmas book I read this year, just a sweet romance revolving around a toy store.

Christmas Cookie Club: told technically in one night during the annual party, it's the story of twelve women and how their lives connect through their struggles and successes.

Lakeshore Christmas: I read this last year and immediately fell in love with it, It's a romance between a librarian and a man with a troubled past. I loved the librarian connection.

Auntie Claus: One of my new favorite Christmas books. It's magical and adorable.

Holly and Ivy: A book my mother bought me when I was young. I re-read it every year. It's the story of a young orphan girl who spies a doll in the window of a toy store. They immediately know they're meant to belong to each other.

Runaway Sleigh: Another favorite from my childhood. It's about two sisters. One takes an inadvertent ride on the back of a sleigh. Her parents are frantic with worry. The ending is super sweet. I can't read this book without thinking of my sister.

Snow in Love: When her boyfriend returns for to Alaska for the holidays, he just call her immediately. Jess finds out that he's brought a girl with him. She puts a plan into action to make him jealous.

On Strike for Christmas: A group of women declare a strike for Christmas as they're tired of being unappreciated by their husbands. Their husbands retaliate by taking over. Hilarity ensues.

What are some of your holiday favorites? Do you have books that you re-read every year?

Spotted: Arrow booktrailer

Just saw this video! I can't wait for Arrow, I really love this series.



Are you waiting for it too?

Book of the Month: November

This was a tough month to choose from, but....

is the winner. Read my review here.

Adult Review: Holiday Affair

Karina's determines to make this Christmas magical for herself and most importantly her three children. It's the first holiday season since the divorce. She's so worried about them.

When the opportunity arises for a free vacation at The Christmas House B&B, she jumps at the chance. Sure, she'll have to evaluate the B&B for her sister, but it will be worth the quaint holiday experience.

She and the kids head from sunny California to cold snowy Michigan where they meet Reid and his daughters. Together they share a Christmas they'll never forget.

My Thoughts: A cute holiday romance read. It dove a little too fast into the romance for me. I loved the sabotage parts and how they solved all the issues that popped up. I loved how the kids interacted with each other and Karina and Reid.

Cover Thoughts: Cute cover, but it doesn't match the book. I wish it had a picture of the B&B on it. I know there are tons of books with houses on the cover, but I just feel like this doesn't match at ALL.

Source: my Library

Challenge:

Adult Review: Mrs. Miracle

Both Seth and Reba can't stand the Christmas holidays due to tragedies in both their lives.

Seth's wife died leaving behind twin boys. For the past several years, the boys have been living with their grandparents. Now, the boys have come home. Seth isn't sure how to go about raising them. His job requires tons of hours, which leaves the boys with a housekeeper. All of the housekeepers have quit. It's beginning to look hopeless until Mrs. Miracle shows up on his doorstep.

Betrayed by love, Reba isn't sure how to go about handling the Christmas season. She refuses to talk with her sister or even be in the same room with her. This makes dinner at her parent's house hard to plan. All she knows is that she can't forgive her sister.

Can Seth and Reba learn to trust in the magic of Christmas once again?

My Thoughts: I love Christmas books and I'm a huge Debbie Macomber fan so this was a perfect read. It's actually the first book - the second book Call Me Mrs. Miracle came out this year. I read that book without knowing about the first. Even though I'm very particular about the order in which I read books, in this case, it didn't matter. Both books are sweet, light-hearted and full of the wonder of Christmas. I enjoyed how both adults look a hard look at their lives to see what might be missing.

Cover Thoughts: This is a new cover - a bit different than the one I read, but it's lovely. I'm a sucker for Christmas covers

Source: Inter-Library Loan

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