Review: Sugar Pine Trail

* Book 7 in the Haven Point series *

Julia Winston’s been putting her life on hold for everyone else around her. With her parents both deceased, her life has become empty. She must start living again. At a book club, she writes down a bucket list for the year. Julia know she’s not really going to achieve her goals, but she can’t be the only person without a goal. Plus she needs to come out of her comfort zone.

She’s renting out the upstairs of her house to her friend’s devastatingly handsome brother. She knows that a librarian isn’t his type, but a girl can dream. Julia can barely hold a conversation with him without blushing, but she can’t go back on her decision now. Hopefully all their encounters won’t be so awkward.

When she notices brothers in the library day after day, she starts to worry about them. Julia gives them a ride home one night when she spies them walking alone at night after the library closed. She discovers that their mother left them three days ago and hasn’t returned. The older boy, who’s eight, has been doing his best, but there’s no heat in their place. Julia calls Child Services. When she realizes that the boys will have to move towns and will likely be split up, she offers up her home.

Jamie finds Julia at her wits end and stays to help out. From that moment, things take a turn. They make a plan for Thanksgiving, which involves Jamie’s family. Their holiday isn’t the same, but they forget about their family troubles for just a bit.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book in the series. Haven Point crossed with Hope's Crossing in this book. I haven't read Hope's Crossing, but clearly it's on my list on books to read. I think knowing those characters would enhance the story for readers, but it's not necessary to enjoy this one. Of course, I loved seeing favorite characters again and meeting with Caine family. I enjoyed reading more about them. I loved the two boys. Clint and Davy stole the book for me with their antics. I felt terrible for them, but loved how they made a home with Julia. I really liked the interactions between Jamie and Julia - how they both thought they were stereotypes, but how they helped each other break out of their rules. They both had sad pasts, but helped each other move past them. Another great book in this series, I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

Cover Thoughts: Charming, but this and the title do not really fit with the story
Source: My Library
Reviewed: Also for Fresh Fiction

Library Recommendation: Grab this series for your public library!

Adult Review: Just in Time

Avery just came back from her time in Ireland, which she loved. Now her hometown seems small because her famous ex-boyfriend's back in town.

Roman's hiding a secrets about this next season in the NHL. Out in due to injury, he's spending quality time in his hometown since he left for the majors. The entire town treats him like a celebrity and it's beginning to annoy him.

The whole town's pushing them back together. It's not that they don't like each other or have great chemistry - but is there too much water under the bridge for them to make their relationship work again?

My Thoughts: The last of a trilogy featuring 3 friends finding love in Alaska. I love the small town charm, the meddling townspeople, and the strength of friendships. I loved the moments with Roman, Avery, and the hockey players. Lots of banter, humor, romance, and friendship makes this a great winter read!

Cover Thoughts: perfection
Source: Inter-Library Loan

Adult Review: Perfect Christmas

Cassie wanted to find her perfect match. She wants it all: the perfect husband, the perfect kids, and most of all the perfect Christmas. In talking with her best friend, Angie mentions a matchmaker. He costs an absolute fortune and he's rude, but he's worth his weight in gold because he guarantees the outcome.

Cassie bits the bullet and contacts him for an appointment, Right away she finds him abrasive, arrogant, and annoying. Yet, she complies with his wishes to complete three tasks before Christmas. Each task will show him insight into her character.

As Cassie completes each task, she comes to realize love might already be in her heart...

My Thoughts: Another sweet holiday romance tale. I do love Debbie Macomber's way of storytelling. It doesn't matter that I knew the ending of the story, because the pleasure was reading it unfold. It was amusing, sweet, annoying, and wonderful in all the right places.

Cover Thoughts: Love it! It's the dinner table from one scene

Source: My Library

Challenge: Holiday Reading Challenge

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:

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?

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:

Ex-Mas

Three years ago, Lila made a decision that changed her life. She dumped her boyfriend, fixed her hair, and become BFFs with the most popular girl at school. Now, she's in a position that might jeopardize everything she's worked so hard to achieve over the years. Her parents are finally going out of town and she's throwing the biggest bash of the year. But everything goes wrong. First of all, her college boyfriend has a final he needs to take and can't come home for the party. Next her brother squeals to her parents. When she calls off the party, her friends asks if she wouldn't mind if the party still happened at her house. To retaliate against her third grader brother, she leaves out homework for science in plain sight that screams global warming might kill the North Pole. She never imagines that her brother and his friend would travel to the North Pole to save Santa. Now she's stuck on the road with her ex boyfriend as they try to track down their two brothers before their parents discover the truth. Will they find the boys before they kill each other?

A cute holiday romance filled with finding your true self and your real friends. I ADORE this cover plus the title's cute too.