Holiday Thursday Review: Winter Street

The Quinn's Christmas doesn't go as planned when Kelley and Mitzi's marriage collapses. It changes everything as everyone examines their relationships. Are they working? Do they need something more?  When everything starts to crumble, who will pick up the pieces? Can Christmas be saved?

My Thoughts: This isn't your typical Christmas romance book; it's more of a book that celebrates the season through reality. I like how it made me think of the relationships in my life (I even dreamed about big family gatherings). I liked how it takes place over just a few days leading up to Christmas and Christmas Day. While I like how everything took a deeper look at their relationships, I wish that this book ended on a different note. I hope there's a sequel coming, because I want to know how it all turns out. While I went into this book with the wrong perception, I really enjoyed it.

Side Note: When talking with a co-worker about this book, she mentioned that some of these characters have popped up on the author's previous works. I wish I had known that...

Cover Thoughts: Beautiful
Source: BEA book 2014

Holiday Review Thursday: Maybe This Christmas

* Last book in a the O'Neil Brothers trilogy.*

Brenna has loved Tyler O'Neil since they were kids. They've always been best friends and nothing more. Now that he's back full time at the family resort, she's not sure if she can handle her feelings. It's torture being around him.

Tyler's main focus these days is on his daughter Jess. He just got her back after all these years. He's trying to fill the hole in her life, but he's afraid he's going to get everything wrong. He's lucky that his daughter adores his best friend and that Brenna's there to help him through the tough times.  What would he do without her?

Will this Christmas change their relationship forever?

My Thoughts: I loved this trilogy - the setting was perfect and more than anything I wanted to be on that mountain in the resort. The characters were great - and I love seeing favorite characters from the previous two books. I really liked Jess, but felt horrible for her and what she's been going through with her toxic mother and rough time at school. I cried a little, I laughed, I devoured this book. A fantastic ending to the trilogy and great Christmas story!

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Holiday Thursday Review: An Island Christmas

Felicia and her sister will be home in Nantucket for Christmas. Felicia's decided to use the holidays for a small wedding. AS she's not girly and hasn't been dreaming of this day for years, she asks her sister to plan it.

Once she and her adventurous boyfriend land, it's clear that her mother's not sold on idea of her marrying Archie. Jilly would rather her daughter marry their next door neighbor.  Will wedding bells ring or will Christmas be ruined?

My Thoughts: I think this is a companion novels to a book that came out last year. I really liked the family dynamics - and the moments between the two sisters. I loved the cat and how the family reacted to him, especially Jilly. I liked how adventurous Archie was and how he inspired the rest of the family at times. I really liked the ending. A fun Christmas read filled with family and togetherness. I'm looking forward to going back and reading the first book.

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: My Library  

Holiday Thursday Review: Mr. Miracle

Harry Mills begins his time on Earth as a guardian angel. He's allowed to help only those students in his class. Harry think it's going to be a piece of cake. He's waited a long time for his chance and he's not about to screw it up, but he's not prepared for the all the human emotions.

Addie returns home for the holidays and for good. She doesn't want her mother spending the first Christmas with her father alone. She's shocked to hear that her mother and their next door neighbor are planning a cruise over the holidays.

In order for the two women to go on the cruise, Addie's forced to help her arch nemesis. A car crash landed him with two broken wrists and he's having a hard time getting around. On top of that, she's returned to school in hopes of finally being able to get her GED and moving on to something better in her life.

Can she help out an old friend without old feelings coming into play?

My Thoughts: I look forward to a new Debbie Macomber Christmas book each year. I love them. This one was really good, but not my favorite. I really liked Harry and how he kept making mistakes and having to fix them. I liked how he dealt with understanding emotions. I liked the fact that Addie count admit to her troubles and her pride, while also doing something about it. I loved the classroom and meeting the rest of the class. I would love reading more about those characters, especially Danny and Andrew. While I liked the romance, I wanted more: more details on how Erich broke her heart as kids, more on why she forgave him, and more on their future. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it

Source: my Library
Fun Fact: This book has been turned into a movie for this Christmas season.

Holiday Review Thursday: Death with All the Trimmings

* Book 5 in the Key West Food Critic Series *

Hayley's doing an in depth article about a famous New York chef (once part of a duo), now opening her own restaurant in Key West.  Unfortunately for Edel Waugh, nothing is going her way. Accidents keep happening in the kitchen. She's asked Hayley to help her determine the source of these incidents in hope that everything will run smoothly on opening night.  But when a fire destroys her kitchen and her ex-husband's found dead on the property, Edel becomes the prime suspect. Can Hayley help her clear her name and get her restaurant back in business?

My Thoughts: I really love this series and this one was especially great. Obviously I love Christmas books (As you can see each week). Although I always want snow on Christmas, Christmas by the water seems really nice. I really liked the idea of a woman chef trying to distance herself from her ex-husband and seeing if she can make it on her own. As always, there's lots of talk about food which makes my mouth water. Hayley deals with a lot in this book in her personal life especially with her very unstable job, her potential romance, and her mother. She handled the drama well and I can't wait to see how it all changes in the next book. 

Upcoming Release: This book will be available December 2nd
Cover Thoughts: LOVE it!
Source: ARC sent for review

Holiday Thursday Review: Christmas Bouquet

Last Christmas Caitlyn, caught a wedding bouquet. Getting married in the near future isn't in her plans, but plans often change. When Caitlyn realizes she's pregnant, she's not exactly thrilled.

Noah wants to marry her, but Caitlyn's dragging her feet. Marriage and a baby spell the end of her dream of going back to Africa and helping as a doctor there.

With hectic schedules and added pressure of trying to figure out her future, Caitlyn isn't ready to make major life choices.  Will she be able to have a family and make her dreams come true?

My Thoughts:  I love the O'Brien family but they're a bunch of meddlers when they don't get their own way. They add humor to the story. I love the family meals and seeing favorite characters again. I love seeing Caitlyn and her twin grown up. I hope her twin gets her own story next. I admired Caitlyn for wanting to help others and return to Africa, but the story didn't seem like it had enough conflict. While I enjoyed this book, it wasn't my favorite in the series. The cover and the title are a little deceiving as the book takes place during the entire year, although it starts and ends at Christmas. I wish there were more details of the season. Still, it was a fun fast entertaining read.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: My Library

Holiday Review Thursday: Santa's (Zany, Wacky, Just Not Right!) Night Before Christmas

With Mrs Claus not feeling well, Santa has a hard time getting ready for his big trip this year. He even washes his suit in purple paint. This accident has a rippling effect on Christmas - and not in a good way. How ever will he fix it?

My Thoughts: It's an entertaining story and I think kids will really enjoy it - especially all the changes to Christmas. As an adult reader, I wasn't crazy about the message of whose job is should be to do the laundry. I wish that the changes to Christmas happened for a different reason, not a sexist one. The illustrations are great, showcasing all the differences - much to Santa's horror.

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: Sent for Review

Holiday Review Thursday: Christmas with Holly

Now that's it's snowed, it's officially time to read and review holiday books! They will range from picture book to teen books to adult romances.

So I'm cheating today to talk about Christmas with Holly - based on the book which I ADORED Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor.

I really enjoyed the movie, but I still think the book's better. 

What I liked: The banter between the brothers (even if they were NOT how I pictured them)

Holly was charming. And she played by twins:

Eloise Mumford as Maggie

The chemistry between Maggie and Mark

What I didn't like: It just didn't have all the magic from the book, which is hard to capture. 

I wasn't crazy about the brothers. None of them were how I pictured them.

Did you see the movie? What were your thoughts?