Top Ten Tuesday: Snowy Books

 This week's topic is Snow Covered Books read this year:

Have you read any of these?

Middle Grade Review: Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate

 

Sylvie Jones has been wishing to attend the magical culinary school:  Brindille School of Culinary Arts and Magic for ages. A long time ago, her mother was accused of cheating in a competition. Now they both have a chance to clear their names. 

 Her mother's been invited to participate in another cooking competition.  

 Many students in Sylvie's class are hoping that she will fail. Sylvie overhears many disgruntled comments. Some of them lead her to discover a plot that could ruin her mother's dreams and her own. Can she uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago? Could her mother be in trouble now?

My Thoughts: I love the idea of magic influencing baking. Sylvie had a hard time trusting people - and with good reason given her mother's history. This book had lots of twists and turns.  Sylvie was very much a rule breaker, with good excuses. Like in any school, you had bullies, cheats, and some obsessed with rankings. This was such a fun read; I loved the class moments and cooking moments. While this book did wrap up, I can't help but wish for more stories set in this school.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: ARC sent for Review

Publication Date: December 9, 2026 (tomorrow)

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your middle grade/younger YA readers for school and public libraries

Hand this to readers: Who like cozy foodie magical reads

Board Books: Christmas Books

Here are some Christmas board books:

Another fun addition to the series. I love the slides and turns.  And the ending is so cute! 

This isn't a new story, but it's new to the library. Little Critter was a favorite character of mine has a kid, so this is a cute adaptation of the classic story. 

This is the most adorable of the series and that's saying something. The message in this book is magical. I can't recommend this series enough. 

This ugly sweater book is adorable- featuring six different animals in very different sweaters. And they all have a touch and feel element. Readers are going to love this one. 

A sweet family story about love and animals at Christmas

This touch and feel book says goodnight to animals inside and outside the house in this sweet Christmas story. 

Christmas Movie Reviews (2)

A few more Christmas movies I've recently watched:

* this is from last year's Hallmark movies that I missed

This takes place in an Ice Castle! It's really cool looking and impressive. I would spend a night there. I love the slide and all the small details. She's an architect and he's a Prince. I loved this one.

Apple TV:

This is a Christmas movie the same way Die Hard is one - lots of action, danger, and family drama. Similar to the first movie, but with the addition of Kit Harrington.

On Hallmark

From the meet cute (pictured) to the ending, this one was fantastic. I loved all the intersecting stories.  I enjoyed that it took place in 24 hours. 

Did you watch any of these? Thoughts? 

Christmas Romance Review: Grace & Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon

Grace and Henry both lost their spouses and both are struggling with grief. Their moms set them up with a very obviously ploy. Grace realizes that Henry needs a friend; someone who understands grief. And maybe she could use one too. They start texting and talking about holiday movies and then watching them together. Could there be something lurking underneath the surface.

My Thoughts: I did not realize this was a book about grief when I started it. I almost stopped reading it and I'm SO GLAD that I did not. Because while it is about grief, it's also about living. And it was really funny. I lost track of the number of times I laughed out loud. The banter between Henry and Grace was awesome. I loved Grace's kids. This was a charming romance I devoured. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your adult romance collection.

Review: Fake Skating

 

Dani and Alex used to be best friends every summer. But they broke up - each believing the other ghosted them. Now Dani's moving back to town. It's the middle of senior year and she's been wait listed at Harvard. She's trying to impress them, but it's hard when you're a military brat and you move all the time. Her social anxiety doesn't help matters either. 

Alex isn't thrilled to see Dani. Things have changed since they saw each other last. He's become a hockey god. Last year his hockey team fell short of their championship goal. This is the last chance. Alex feels like a weight is on his shoulders. He needs to go pro in hockey in order to help his family. But his shoulder is hurt, his reputation isn't great, and he's caught in a compromising position with Dani,

What's the most logical thing to do? Pretend to fake date his ex-best friend. What could go wrong?

My Thoughts: I loved this book; I didn't want it to end. I loved the fake dating. I loved untangling what really happened all those years ago between Alex and Dani. I loved their banter (Although there was a nickname that I didn't love - just a nitpicky thing that kept pushing me out of the story). I loved Mick and his hockey status - especially how he made all the guys around him act. I loved how he admitted that he was wrong and worked to make it up to Dani. I hated Dani's father. I loved that Dani and Alex were both readers - and those lunches in the library were perfect. I loved the moments between friends. This is my first Lynn Painter and it won't be my last.

Cover Thoughts: Adorable - BUT there's no figure skating in the book, so it's a bit misleading

Source: My Library (an ARC did arrive for me after the book release)

Library Recommendation: A must have book for you school or public library collection.

Christmas Picture Books Reviews: (2)

The start of Christmas Picture Books. I adore Christmas picture books. 

Here are a few new favorites:

I didn't know anything about the history of the plant, so this was interesting. I didn't know there were so many variations of the flower. 

Jake has a LONG list of items he'd like from Santa. He asks for Santa to write back, when Santa writes back, Jake is surprised. Santa doesn't like his letters or his attitude. 

This is a funny book about Christmas, greed, and kindness. The ending is perfect. 

The mice spy a Christmas cookie on the table. They have to be sneaky and not wake the cat. There are so many snacks on the table.

Lots of food, a little danger, and a sweet ending. The treats will make readers hungry! 

A man is gifted a partridge in a pear tree from his true love who is away at Christmas. But as the gifts kept coming, the house seemed too small. But when they leave the house, the chaos starts. 

This was such a funny book! I loved this different take on the classic song. 

The newest Miss Maple book, and possibly the last book, is stolen just before the very first reading. No one wanted this book to be the last one. 

This is the 7th book in this series and it's still charming. Everyone is a suspect in this clever mystery. 

A clever spin on the classic The Night Before Christmas. Perfect for any Taylor fan - young or old. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Still Hope to Read

 This week's topic is a freebie, but here are 10 books I still hope to read by the end of the year.

These books are checked out from the library and just waiting to be read:

Have you read any of these? Which one should I start with?

Middle Grade Review: North for the Winter

Virginia and her father are moving just days before Christmas. Virigina's mother died and she feels like she's also lost her father. After an accident that involves a flat tired, Virigina flees the car because she spies...something in the woods. There she finds a reindeer.

She accidentally takes the reindeer's compass. Without the compass, the reindeer can't find Santa. Virginia needs help. A neighbor asks if she wants a tour of the town. Benny and Virigina might be the only hope to save Christmas. 

My Thoughts: This was such a fun graphic novel. I love that it's based off a story from 1955 when a young boy called the military asking for Santa Claus. The military began tracking Santa Claus after that moment. I loved how Benny and Virginia became fast friends. I felt terrible for Virginia for the death her mom and her absent father. I love how everything turned out. This is a magical graphic novel all about hope, friendship, and the magic of Christmas. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A magical graphic novel all about Christmas.