Shop Small Gift Ideas (4)

 Since the holidays will be here before you know it, I thought I would share some cute gift ideas.

Instead of shopping online at places like Amazon, why not shop local?

If you have awesome local businesses, grab items from their stores of gift cards.

If you're shopping for people outside our area, why not get something super cute on Etsy?

I'm going to highlight a new suggestion each week. 

And if you want to support me (Thank you!), I do have a small Etsy shop.

 Happy Halloween!

Because of the holiday, I'm sharing one of my favorite shops and a print from a classic Halloween movie.

(I have 3 prints  - 2 Christmas and 1 Winter - but I have so many favorites)

The shop is HNIllustration. 

I have to confess that the Christmas prints are my favorite. But I also love the bookish ones and fashion/city ones. 

Middle Grade Review: Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life

 

* Part of the Wish series *

Nadine and Daniel are best friends. She creates music. He creates coffee drinks. They talk about everything - including coming from single family homes. Daniel's father past away. Nadine's mother left her family. 

Life is great between the two friends - until a new family moves to town. For one thing, they purchase the coffeeshop where they hang out and where Daniel works. Secondly, Kira becomes the new girl in town. 

Nothing much happens in the small Vermont town, so Kira is instantly popular. And Daniel is smitten with her. Nadine can't figure out why he likes her so much or why he's insisiting on showing Kira how much he likes her through anonymous gifts. But one thing's for sure...this changes Everything! 

My Thoughts: So this series - isn't a series in term of characters, but there's always food involved. And recipes. I was surprised to read about the fictional Vermont town, which would be really close to where I grew up. It's fun seeing landmarks in the book. I love the cute coffee shop where everyone hangs out. If Daniel made hot chocolate drinks the way he makes coffee drinks, I would hang out there too! I love how both Daniel and Nadine have discovered something they're passionate about. I loved their friendship. I enjoyed the romance in the book. I really liked the parents in the book - and how their stories ended. Another winner in this series and I hope there are more books coming!

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Another sweet treat for your middle grade collection! 

Holiday Book Review: Stealing Kisses in the Snow

 

Piper's a single mom with a lot on her plate and the holidays just around the corner. She recently is required to work full time at the inn next door, while the owner is recovering from a fall and subsequent surgery. She wants this year to be perfect for her two kids, a cute four year and and a moody teenage boy.

Piper never imagined that Hazel's grandson would appear to help his grandmother in her time of need. Logan isn't used to staying long in one place. Last time he was in town, he urged this grandmother to sell the inn. She refused. 

Now he's staying put until after Christmas and taking orders from Piper. She's not his type at all, but there's something about her that gets under his skin.

My Thoughts: I didn't realize this was the second book in this series. They can be read as a stand-alone, but there are hints to the previous book. I really enjoyed this book. I felt bad for Piper as she had so much going on with her work and her family. She rarely had a moment for herself. I wish we could have had more interaction between her and her friends. I loved the moments between her daughter Lily and Logan. They were really sweet. The moments between Logan and Ethan were equally charming - but in a very different way. Add in baggage from the past and a meddling former mother-in-law and there are enough obstacles to hinder any romance. But of course it is a romance, so everything turns out perfectly. 

Cover Thoughts: Sweet - although I wish Logan was taller and you could see his tattoos

Source: Gifted

Library Recommendation: A sweet holiday romance for your readers looking for something they might find on the Hallmark channel.

Picture Book Review: Where Lily Isn't

 

Lily, the much loved dog, has died before the book opens.

Her young friend notices all the places that Lily isn't before stating that Lily is in her heart.

A really sweet book that made me tear up. It's a great picture book about the loss of a pet. 

I read this for the Cybil's Picture Book Award. I'm really glad to read this book because it's one that I'm going to be adding to our library's collection. There are not a lot of great books about death for the picture book age, but this book handles it really nicely. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Halloween Freebie

 This week's topic is a Halloween Freebie.

I'm going to use a video I made for work about YA Thrillers!

We have a YouTube Channel where we recommend books all the time!

Give us a like or subscribe!

Shop Small Gift Ideas (3)

 Since the holidays will be here before you know it, I thought I would share some cute gift ideas.

Instead of shopping online at places like Amazon, why not shop local?

If you have awesome local businesses, grab items from their stores of gift cards.

If you're shopping for people outside our area, why not get something super cute on Etsy?

I'm going to highlight a new suggestion each week. 

And if you want to support me (Thank you!), I do have a small Etsy shop.

This week's bookish idea is a pin:

You Say Book Hoarder like it's a Bad Thing

This funny pin (And so very true in my house) is from StellaBookishArt which has bookish items, prints, and bookmarks. 

Aren't they fun?

Holiday Book Review: All I Want for Christmas

 

Leah and her daughter can't wait for Christmas with her grandmother. But when her grandmother dies before Christmas, they're devastated not to have one last Christmas at the planation. Leah and her grandmother have talked about her inheriting the planation, but Leah's stunned to learn that she's only inherited half the house.

She wanted to give her daughter an amazing childhood. Leah wants Sadie to grow up as she did spending summers at the house. Leah's grandmother had a small museum on the property detailing the plantation's history of tobacco farming and slavery. Her grandmother also hosted events, which Leah hoped to continue.

Now, she's not sure what's going to happen. She can't afford to buy out her childhood friend. And he doesn't want to have the property open as a business. Her childhood friend is more than happy to buy her out and the money would help create a wonderful life for Sadie. But Leah's grandmother left the house to both of them for a reason. Can they figure it out before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book about a single mom working to make life magical for her daughter. She's struggling at the moment, but I admire her determination. I think the plantation's history was handled pretty well - but I would have liked more details, especially about the slaves working the plantation. I loved the idea of a big family Christmas and everyone coming together around the food and fireplace. It seemed magical. I enjoyed the romance between David and Leah - but I really loved the moments between Sadie and David. A sweet holiday romance that will make you want to sit in front of the fire to read.

Cover Thoughts: Charming 

Source: Gifted

Picture Book Review: I am One

One person has the power of make a great deal of difference.

I loved this book's message. It's so inspiring. And of course the art work is fantastic. This team is amazing.

Library Recommendation: A must have book for your school and public library

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Recommendations

 This week's topic is all about book recommendations. I've been reading romances forever and I really love Regency romances. So this week I'm recommending some historical romances in case you've never read them and want to give them a try. Many of these books are the first in a series, so if you like them, you have more to read!

With the Bridgerton show coming on Christmas Day from Netflix, it's the perfect time to read this charming series.

 

 

 Have you read any of these?

Review: Paradise Cove

 * Book 2 in the Matchmaker Bay series * 

Dr. Nora Walsh is giving herself two years in this small town. Two years to mend her broken heart. Two years to save enough money to purchase a home with her sister. And two years to not date. 

But the town has other ideas. They are so happy to have a doctor, they will do anything to keep her in town. When Nora befriends the local loner, the town has opinions.

Jake doesn't talk much these days, not since the loss of his son. But there's something comforting about Nora that makes him spill his deepest darkest secrets.

Could there be something more than friendship between the two of them?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this second book and I'm so looking forward to the third one. I enjoyed catching up with old friends, especially the folks at the hardware store. I really liked Nora. I felt terrible for Jake and all that he had been through. But I enjoyed seeing him emerge from his shell. I love how they started sharing their thoughts with each other and how they gravitated towards each other. I quite enjoy this small town.

Cover Thoughts: Charming 

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: A fun romance that's perfect for your library's collection. Give this book to readers who enjoyed Virgin River

Shop Small Gift Ideas (2)

Since the holidays will be here before you know it, I thought I would share some cute gift ideas.

Instead of shopping online at places like Amazon, why not shop local?

If you have awesome local businesses, grab items from their stores of gift cards.

If you're shopping for people outside our area, why not get something super cute on Etsy?

I'm going to highlight a new suggestion each week. 

And if you want to support me (Thank you!), I do have a small Etsy shop.

I love bookish jewelry, so this one is perfect for librarian folks. 

And they have a bookworm one too, if you're person isn't a librarian.

Both are super cute!

It's from the MissBohemia shop - which is a shop dedicated to book lovers!

Vacation Photos

 This year we had BIG plans for vacations. Of course because of the pandemic, those didn't happen. But we did just get back from a long weekend in Maine where we hiked in Acadia. 

Here are a few pictures:

After a grueling and scaring hike, I was so happy to make it to the top

And of course we had our favorite ice cream spot where we ate lots of ice cream.

I'm a huge fan of the peanut butter. But also the Maine Blueberry Ice Cream. 

The weather was great. The foliage was just about peak season. I was so thankful we were able to go and enjoy nature. 

Holiday Book Review: Christmas on Mistletoe Lane

 

Kaitlyn needs a change of scenery after the situation at her job. Her grandmother died, leaving her the family inn - a place where Kaitlyn spent many happy summers. She packs up her entire life and moves - where she discovers a slight hiccup. 

She only owns half the inn. Mitch, a former military man, owns the other half. Kaitlyn remembers her grandmother talking about Mitch over the years. The will stipulates that they must work together for a month before they can sell it.

Kaitlyn's dumbfounded. She can't afford to lose the inn, but Mitch isn't interesting in staying in town. He's avoiding something from his past. But when his new job gets delayed, he has all the time in the world to help get the inn up and running.

Could this new adventure be the start of a new partnership?

My Thoughts: The start of a series (now with 6 books), is charming and sweet. News travels fast in this small town. I really enjoyed getting to know the town. I loved how Mitch and Kaitlyn worked together to make the inn beautiful again. I loved the rooms decorated for famous literary couples. I enjoyed getting to know the past troubles of Mitch and Kaitlyn - and how they came to move past the hurt and the trauma. I loved the couples that stayed at the inn and getting to know them. This book reminded me so much of a Hallmark movie - it was delightful. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.

Cover Thoughts:  Charming

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: A great Christmas romance for your public library's collection. 

Picture Book Review: Mr. Tempkin Climbs a Tree

 

Mr. Tempkin climbs a tree and the tree breaks. Luckily for him, he has a young friend Marky who helps him out during the summer. Marky takes good care of his friend during his time of need.

A sweet story with a great message about kindness and friendship. I loved how Marky wanted to help out his friend and how they made a great team. I loved seeing the moments of the Jewish culture shared in the story. I loved the bright colorful illustrations.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles

 This week's topic is Super Long Book Titles - which to me is five or more words.

These are books I've read this year. 

You Should See Me in a Crown

The Bakeshop at Pumpkin and Spice

Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe 

A Heart So Fierce and Broken

The Girl in the White Van

Four Days of You and Me

Our Year in Love and Parties

The Princess Who Flew with Dragons

I Only Have Pies for You

The Map from Here to There